The Gettysburg The Gettysburg ExperienceExperience

By:By:

Frank Schwartz, Chris Frank Schwartz, Chris Umbrell, Nick Taylor, Chris Umbrell, Nick Taylor, Chris

Walker, & Steve MellorWalker, & Steve Mellor

Gettysburg Battle Gettysburg Battle SummarySummary

The Battle of Gettysburg was generally regarded as the The Battle of Gettysburg was generally regarded as the turning point in the American Civil War. It was when the turning point in the American Civil War. It was when the fate of the war started to turn towards the favor of the fate of the war started to turn towards the favor of the Union. It was fought between July 1Union. It was fought between July 1stst-3-3rdrd, 1863., 1863.

The Commander of the Union forces was General George The Commander of the Union forces was General George G. Meade. The commander of the Confederates was G. Meade. The commander of the Confederates was General Robert E. Lee.General Robert E. Lee.

In a plan to try to overtake Washington, D.C., Lee marched In a plan to try to overtake Washington, D.C., Lee marched his Confederate forces north into Pennsylvania to try his Confederate forces north into Pennsylvania to try attack the city from the west. General Meade’s forces were attack the city from the west. General Meade’s forces were sent by Ulysses S. Grant to intercept Lee’s army and push sent by Ulysses S. Grant to intercept Lee’s army and push them back. Both armies converged in and around the small them back. Both armies converged in and around the small south-central Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg. Here is the south-central Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg. Here is the chronology of the Battle:chronology of the Battle:

Summary of Gettysburg Summary of Gettysburg (cont.)(cont.)

Day 1 (July 1Day 1 (July 1stst, 1863)-The two armies began to collide at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, , 1863)-The two armies began to collide at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, as Lee urgently concentrated his forces there. Low ridges to the northwest of town as Lee urgently concentrated his forces there. Low ridges to the northwest of town were defended initially by a Union cavalry division, which was soon reinforced with were defended initially by a Union cavalry division, which was soon reinforced with two two corps of Union infantry. However, two large Confederate corps assaulted them from the northwest and north, collapsing the hastily developed Union lines, sending the defenders retreating through the streets of town to the hills just to the south.

Day 2 (July 2Day 2 (July 2ndnd, 1863)-On the second day of battle, most of both armies had , 1863)-On the second day of battle, most of both armies had assembled. The Union line was laid out in a defensive formation resembling a assembled. The Union line was laid out in a defensive formation resembling a fishhook. Lee launched a heavy assault on the Union left flank, and fierce fighting fishhook. Lee launched a heavy assault on the Union left flank, and fierce fighting raged at raged at Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, Devil's Den, and the Peach Orchard. On the Union right, demonstrations escalated into full-scale assaults on Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill. Across the battlefield, despite significant losses, the Union defenders held their lines.

Day 3 (July 3Day 3 (July 3rdrd, 1863)-the third day of battle, July 3, fighting resumed on Culp's Hill, , 1863)-the third day of battle, July 3, fighting resumed on Culp's Hill, and cavalry battles raged to the east and south, but the main event was a dramatic and cavalry battles raged to the east and south, but the main event was a dramatic infantry assault by 12,500 Confederates against the center of the Union line on infantry assault by 12,500 Confederates against the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Pickett's Charge was repulsed by Union rifle and artillery fire at Cemetery Ridge. Pickett's Charge was repulsed by Union rifle and artillery fire at great losses to the Confederate army. Lee led his army on a torturous retreat back great losses to the Confederate army. Lee led his army on a torturous retreat back to Virginia. Between 46,000 and 51,000 Americans were casualties in the three-day to Virginia. Between 46,000 and 51,000 Americans were casualties in the three-day battlebattle

I. Visitor Center/MuseumI. Visitor Center/Museum

Visitor Center/Museum Visitor Center/Museum (cont.)(cont.)

The Visitor Center is a fairly recent addition to the The Visitor Center is a fairly recent addition to the Gettysburg National Park. It opened up in 2008. Gettysburg National Park. It opened up in 2008. After purchasing tickets for the Center, one After purchasing tickets for the Center, one proceeds to watch a 20-minute film that shows the proceeds to watch a 20-minute film that shows the highlights of the battle. Afterward, one makestheir highlights of the battle. Afterward, one makestheir way upstairs to the Cyclorama, a 360-degree wall way upstairs to the Cyclorama, a 360-degree wall painting showing the battle with sounds and painting showing the battle with sounds and special effects.special effects.

From there, one proceeds downstairs to the From there, one proceeds downstairs to the Gettysburg Civil War Museum, where it has Gettysburg Civil War Museum, where it has hundreds of images and exhibits to read and hundreds of images and exhibits to read and experience.experience.

Museum ExhibitsMuseum Exhibits

ExhibitsExhibits

Group photo at Visitors Group photo at Visitors CenterCenter

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Lincoln’s Gettysburg AddressAddress

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate... we can not consecrate... we But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate... we can not consecrate... we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government : of the people, by the people, for the of freedom—and that government : of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.people, shall not perish from the earth.

Site of Gettysburg Site of Gettysburg AddressAddress

Shots of Battlefields and Shots of Battlefields and MonumentsMonuments

Battlefields/Monuments Battlefields/Monuments cont.cont.

The Eisenhower EstateThe Eisenhower Estate

General Robert E. LeeGeneral Robert E. Lee

Little Round TopLittle Round Top

Little Round Top cont.Little Round Top cont.

Devil’s DenDevil’s Den

Devil’s Den cont.Devil’s Den cont.

Pickett’s ChargePickett’s Charge

Pennsylvania MonumentPennsylvania Monument

Damn Yankees!!Damn Yankees!!