The turning point... of the American civil war. Gettysburg Pennsylvania ... July 1863.
One hundred and fifty five years ago the battle between the states resulted in a major defeat of the Army of Northern Virginia by the Union Army and was a major turning point in the war... The beginning of the end for the south. The battle lasted three days... July 1st, 2nd, & 3rd.
This was also the deadliest battle of the civil war, or for that matter in all of American history. Total casualties... 51,000 men. Union... 23,000... Confederate ... 28,000 men.... in one battle.
Why the deadliest... Advancements in weapons and cannons, and the ability to kill and mame, was far in advanced of the outdated tactics of warfare. Wave after wave of lines of confederate troops crossing nearly a mile of open fields, advancing towards the union army entrenched on the high ground behind a stone wall. Taking continuous fire in the open fields.
Some other factors that influenced the confederate defeat... General Lee's Calvary, commanded by J.E.G.. Stuart was off from the battle and did not contribute to the outcome. Then there's the fact that Lee had lost his best General "Stonewall" Jackson in an earlier battle, ironically by friendly fire from his own troops. Both Generals could have greatly influenced the outcome.
Gettysburg is one of the significant battles of the war followed by General Sherman's campaign through the south, destroying Confederate supply lines, railroads, food supplies, and burning Atlanta, which was a deep blow to southern moral damaging their resolve to wage war, and then capturing Savannah.
One important concept about the war. Even though the leadership, the powers to be, and the plantation owners had their reasons (slavery) to resolve the union and form the Confederacy, the overwhelming majority of the confederate soldiers were not fighting to preserve slavery. Through compelling propaganda they were convinced that they were fighting to preserve their way of life and go against the powerful control of the northern government. So the vast majority were NOT fighting to preserve slavery. Nor was the union soldiers fighting to abolish slavery... they were fighting to preserve the union. Even after Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and freed all slaves, the union soldiers were fighting to preserve the union.
In any event... reenactments to commemorate Civil War battles are still popular in telling the story to preserve the memory of the battle and all those that served on both sides and those that made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.
Here's to remembering...
