Gettysburg campaign facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gettysburg campaign
Part of the American Civil War
Opposing commanders George G. Meade (left) and Robert E. Lee (right)
Date June 3 – July 24, 1863 Location Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia Result Union victory
Belligerents
Union	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
Joseph Hooker George G. Meade (from June 28)	Robert E. Lee
Units involved
Army of the Potomac	Army of Northern Virginia
Strength
85,231–104,256 ("present for duty")	75,000
Casualties and losses
32,043 total (3,642 killed; 16,576 wounded; 11,825 captured/missing)	27,000–32,000 (estimated)

The Gettysburg campaign was a major military invasion of Pennsylvania. It happened in the summer of 1863 during the American Civil War. General Robert E. Lee led the main Confederate army into the North. This was the first time the Confederates tried a full invasion of a free state.

The Union won a huge victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. This battle took place from July 1 to 3, 1863. Both sides suffered many losses. General Lee managed to get most of his army back to Virginia. The Gettysburg Campaign was a turning point in the war. After this, Lee's army was slowly pushed back towards Richmond. The war ended with his surrender in April 1865.

After winning the Battle of Chancellorsville, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north. He hoped to get supplies, hurt Northern spirits, and encourage people who wanted the war to end. The Union Army of the Potomac was first led by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker. Then, from June 28, it was led by Maj. Gen. George G. Meade.

Lee's army left Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 3, 1863. The biggest cavalry battle of the war happened at Brandy Station on June 9. The Confederates then crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains. They moved north through the Shenandoah Valley. They captured Union soldiers at Winchester in the Second Battle of Winchester. This was from June 13 to 15.

After crossing the Potomac River, Lee's army moved through Maryland and Pennsylvania. They reached the Susquehanna River. They even threatened Harrisburg, the state capital. But the Union Army was chasing them. Lee soon realized the Union army had crossed the Potomac. He quickly gathered his army around the town of Gettysburg.

The Battle of Gettysburg was the deadliest battle of the war. It started by accident on July 1. Confederates pushed Union cavalry and infantry back through the town. The Union soldiers then set up defenses on Cemetery Hill. On July 2, most of both armies were there. Lee attacked both sides of the Union line. These attacks were stopped, and many soldiers were lost on both sides. On July 3, Lee attacked the Union center. This huge attack, called Pickett's Charge, failed. Lee ordered his army to retreat on the evening of July 4.

The Confederate retreat to Virginia was hard. There was bad weather and tough roads. Many small fights happened with Union cavalry. But General Meade's army did not attack hard enough. Lee's army crossed the Potomac River safely on the night of July 13–14.

Why Did the Gettysburg Campaign Happen?

Lee's Bold Plan to Invade the North

After winning the Battle of Chancellorsville, General Lee decided to invade the North again. He wanted to disrupt the Union's war plans for the summer. This move would also let his army get away from their defenses in Virginia. It would allow them to gather food and supplies from Northern farms. This would give war-torn Virginia a much-needed break. Lee's army could also threaten major cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. He hoped this would encourage people in the North who wanted peace.

Lee made some mistakes in his thinking. He thought Northerners were as tired of the war as Southerners. He read anti-war newspapers and believed they showed true Northern feelings. He didn't realize how determined President Lincoln was. Lee also knew his army needed supplies. So, his main goal was to raid the North for food and other goods.

Lee was very confident in his experienced soldiers. He dreamed of a big victory that would end the war. He believed the Union army would be tired and spread out. He thought he could crush them and end the war quickly. He hoped this would make the North recognize the Confederacy as an independent country.

The Confederate government had a different idea. They wanted Lee to help their soldiers at Vicksburg, Mississippi. But Lee refused. He believed a strong attack in the Northeast was better. Lee's plan was similar to his 1862 invasion of Maryland. He trusted his army completely after their victory at Chancellorsville.

Who Fought in the Gettysburg Campaign?

Confederate Army: Lee's Forces

Lee's army began moving on June 1. Soon, they were deep into Maryland. Union forces moved north on similar paths. Lee's cavalry, led by General Jeb Stuart, was supposed to find out where the Union army was. But Stuart failed. Instead, he raided Union supply trains. He did not rejoin Lee until the Battle of Gettysburg had already started. Stuart took Lee's best cavalry units. This left the main army with weak cavalry that couldn't scout well.

Stuart rode behind the Union army, near the coast. He was out of touch with Lee for a week. This meant Lee didn't know where the Union army was. Stuart finally found Lee's location by reading a Philadelphia newspaper. But the news was a day old. Stuart was also slowed down by wagons full of captured goods. He didn't arrive at Gettysburg until July 2. Sometimes, uncensored newspapers helped the Confederates learn about Union movements.

Lee's army threatened Harrisburg, Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Local volunteer soldiers quickly formed to stop Lee. But they were no match for Lee's large, experienced army. When Lee finally learned about the approaching Union army, he ordered his scattered forces to gather at Gettysburg. Gettysburg was a town with many roads in a wooded area. Over three days, July 1-3, both armies arrived bit by bit. Confederates came from the north and northwest. Union forces came from the south and east. By July 1, Meade was south of Lee. This cut off Lee's escape route and forced him to fight.

Union Army: Meade Takes Command

Joseph Hooker, who led the Army of the Potomac, was slow and afraid to fight Lee. He wanted to attack Richmond, the Confederate capital. But President Lincoln said no. Lincoln replaced Hooker with George Meade on June 28. This was just three days before the battle began. The new commander quickly chased the Confederates north.

Meade's advance was slow, but he was closer than Lee knew. Lee underestimated Meade. He thought Meade would be easy to predict and slow to react, like Hooker. Meade wanted to defend further south. But when the battle started at Gettysburg, he rushed all his army units there.

Meade used shorter routes to stay close behind Lee. He cut off Lee's escape back to Virginia. Lee had to fight. He rushed to gather his scattered forces at Gettysburg before Meade could defeat them one by one. Lee had about 60,000 infantry and 10,200 cavalry. Meade's staff thought Lee had 140,000 soldiers. Lee was fooled, believing Meade had twice as many soldiers. In reality, Meade had about 86,000.

Even though the main Confederate army was in Pennsylvania, Lincoln couldn't send Meade more troops. Most of the 700,000 Union soldiers were not fighting. They were holding defensive positions. Lincoln was afraid to move them. He urgently asked for 100,000 civilian volunteers. But these untrained and poorly led men caused more problems than help. When the battle started, they often ran away.

Key Events of the Gettysburg Campaign

The battles of the Gettysburg Campaign happened in this order:

Lee's Army Marches North

Gettysburg campaign (through July 3)      Confederate      Union Cavalry movements are shown with dashed lines.

On June 3, 1863, Lee's army began to move northwest from Fredericksburg. One part of the army stayed behind to protect Richmond. By June 4, the Union army knew some Confederates were moving. The next day, Union General Hooker told his troops to be ready to march. Meanwhile, two of Lee's army groups were camped near Culpeper.

Hooker ordered a small attack across the Rappahannock River. This skirmish started around 5:00 p.m. Union troops crossed the river and took Confederate positions. Lee briefly stopped his army's movement. But when he saw Hooker wouldn't push further, he ordered his troops to continue. On the same day, a Union general reported that all Confederate cavalry was in Culpeper County. Hooker decided to attack the Confederate cavalry. He ordered General Alfred Pleasonton to lead the attack.

Lee joined his army in Culpeper on June 7. He ordered his cavalry to move north through the Shenandoah Valley. He also told another general to distract Union forces and gather cattle. Lee also asked for more troops from North Carolina. On June 9, Lee ordered General Stuart to cross the Rappahannock. Stuart was to raid Union positions and hide Lee's army as it moved north. Stuart gathered his cavalry near Brandy Station.

Brandy Station: Cavalry Clash

Overview of the Battle of Brandy Station

Alfred Pleasonton's Union force had 8,000 cavalry and 3,000 infantry. Stuart had about 9,500 Confederates. Pleasonton planned to attack the enemy from two sides. One group would cross the river at Beverly's Ford. Another group would cross at Kelly's Ford, further downstream. Pleasonton didn't know exactly where the enemy was. He also thought his force was much larger than it was.

Around 4:30 a.m. on June 9, Union troops crossed the Rappahannock River. They immediately met Confederate forces. After being surprised, the Confederates fought back. They stopped the Union advance near St. James Church. The second Union group, led by Gregg, was delayed. They finally attacked across Kelly's Ford at 9:00 a.m. Gregg's force split after crossing the river. One part attacked west, the other pushed north to Brandy Station. Between these two Union forces was Fleetwood Hill, where Stuart had been camped. Stuart was surprised again by Gregg's attack from behind. He sent soldiers from St. James to stop the Union advance in the south. When Gregg's men charged up Fleetwood Hill, Confederate soldiers met them at the top.

For several hours, there was fierce fighting on the hill. Many confused charges and counter-charges happened. A group of Union soldiers sent to Stevensburg were tricked into leaving. They then went to help Gregg on Fleetwood Hill. Generals Lee and Ewell came to watch the battle. Lee ordered infantry reinforcements to move close, hidden, in case the Union broke through. Meanwhile, Union forces at St. James started to gain ground. Pleasonton ordered all Union forces to retreat across the Rappahannock. As the threat to Brandy Station ended, the Confederate infantry went back to their camp. By 9:00 p.m., all Union troops were across the river.

Brandy Station was the largest cavalry battle of the war. It was a draw. Pleasonton retreated before finding Lee's infantry. Stuart claimed victory, but he was embarrassed by being surprised. The battle showed that Union cavalry was now as good as the Confederate cavalry.

Winchester: Clearing the Valley

After Brandy Station, Union sources reported Confederate infantry at Culpeper. But Hooker didn't act right away. The day after the battle, Ewell's Confederate Corps marched toward the Shenandoah Valley. Lee wanted Ewell to clear the valley of Union forces. Another part of Lee's army would march east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A third group would also march through the valley. By June 12, Lee's army was moving through Chester Gap.

At the same time, Hooker still thought Lee's army was near Fredericksburg. He believed Lee's army was larger than his own. Hooker suggested attacking Richmond. But Lincoln told him, "Lee's army, not Richmond, is your true objective." Meanwhile, Ewell's Corps was nearing Winchester.

Major General Robert H. Milroy commanded the Union soldiers in Winchester. He had 6,900 troops in Winchester and 1,800 men ten miles east. The Union defenses were three forts on high ground outside town. Milroy had been harsh to the local people. Confederate troops wanted to defeat him. The Union general-in-chief, Henry Halleck, wanted Milroy to move his extra troops to Harpers Ferry. But Milroy's commander didn't follow these orders. He didn't know Lee's infantry was coming. He didn't order Milroy to leave Winchester until June 13. By then, Milroy was in great danger from a much larger Confederate force.

Ewell planned to defeat the Union soldiers. He sent two divisions directly to Winchester. Another division moved east to defeat Union troops at Berryville. Then it would turn north toward Martinsburg. These movements surrounded the Union soldiers with 23,000 Confederates. On June 13, Ewell's troops cut Milroy's telegraph connection. The Berryville troops escaped and went back to Winchester. Ewell's men continued north to Martinsburg. Ewell was unsure about attacking Winchester's defenses. But he found an unguarded hill west of the forts that overlooked the battlefield.

By 11 a.m. on June 14, Ewell secretly moved his forces to take that hill. To distract the Union, Ewell ordered small attacks. At 6 p.m., Confederate cannons fired on the Union's West Fort. Confederate soldiers then charged and captured the fort and a Union cannon. As it got dark, Milroy decided to retreat from his two remaining forts.

Ewell expected this. He ordered his troops to block the Union escape route. At 3:30 a.m. on June 15, Confederates stopped Milroy's men on the Charles Town Road. Milroy ordered his men to fight their way out. But when more Confederates arrived, Milroy's men began to surrender in large numbers. Milroy himself escaped. But the Second Battle of Winchester cost the Union about 4,450 casualties (4,000 captured) out of 7,000 soldiers. The Confederates lost only 250 out of 12,500.

Hooker's Pursuit and Cavalry Skirmishes

"Fighting Joe" Hooker didn't know Lee's plans. Stuart's cavalry successfully hid the Confederate army's movements. Hooker first thought about attacking Richmond, the Confederate capital, since it was unprotected. But President Lincoln strongly reminded him that Lee's army was the real target. Hooker's orders were to chase and defeat Lee. He also had to stay between Lee and Washington and Baltimore. On June 14, the Union Army left Fredericksburg. They reached Manassas Junction on June 16. Hooker sent Pleasonton's cavalry again to break through the Confederate cavalry screen. He wanted them to find the main Confederate army. This led to three smaller cavalry battles from June 17 to June 21 in the Loudoun Valley.

Pleasonton ordered Gregg's division to move west from Manassas Junction to Aldie. Aldie was important because roads there led through mountain gaps into the valley. Confederate cavalry was entering Aldie from the west. Three Union brigades entered from the east around 4 p.m. on June 17. Both sides were surprised. The Battle of Aldie was a fierce four-hour fight. About 250 soldiers were lost in total. The Confederates retreated toward Middleburg.

While fighting happened at Aldie, Union cavalry arrived south of Middleburg. They drove back Confederate guards. Stuart was in Middleburg and managed to escape. His brigades then defeated the Union cavalry in an early morning attack on June 18. The main part of the Battle of Middleburg happened on June 19. Union cavalry attacked Stuart's line west of Middleburg. Stuart stopped the attack, counterattacked, then fell back to defenses half a mile west.

On June 21, Pleasonton tried again to break Stuart's screen. He advanced on Upperville, nine miles west of Middleburg. Union cavalry and infantry attacked. Another Union cavalry division moved northwest against Stuart's left side. But they made little progress. The Battle of Upperville ended when Stuart fought fiercely while retreating. He took up a strong defensive position in Ashby's Gap.

Stuart had successfully defended his screen for almost a week. This made him decide to start his most debated adventure. This was Stuart's raid around the Union army's eastern side.

Hooker's main pursuit with most of his army began on June 25. He learned that Lee's army had crossed the Potomac River. He ordered the Union Army to cross into Maryland. They were to gather at Middletown and Frederick.

Confederate Invasion of Pennsylvania

President Lincoln asked for 100,000 volunteers from four states. They were to serve for six months to stop the invasion of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin asked for 50,000 volunteers. Only 7,000 responded at first. Curtin asked New York for help. New Jersey also sent troops. The War Department created a new section to organize defenses in Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia were possible targets. Defenses were set up. In Harrisburg, the state government moved its important papers to safety. In southern Pennsylvania, the Gettysburg campaign was called the "emergency of 1863." Thousands of people fled north and east to avoid the Confederates. This changed who lived in some southern Pennsylvania towns.

One main goal of the campaign was for Lee's army to get food and supplies outside Virginia. Lee gave strict orders to his army to cause as little harm as possible to civilians. Food, horses, and supplies were usually not just taken. But Confederate money given to Northern farmers was not well received. Some towns, like York, Pennsylvania, had to pay money instead of giving supplies. If they didn't, their towns would be destroyed. During the invasion, Confederates captured up to 1,000 black people from the North. Some were escaped slaves, but most were free men. They were sent south into slavery.

Ewell's army continued deeper into Pennsylvania. Two divisions went through the Cumberland Valley to threaten Harrisburg. Another division marched east over the South Mountain range. They occupied Gettysburg on June 26. This happened after small fights with local militia and cavalry. The Confederates demanded payment from Gettysburg. But they didn't get many supplies. Soldiers burned railroad cars and a covered bridge. They also destroyed nearby rails and telegraph lines. The next morning, Ewell's troops left for York County.

Confederate soldiers reached the Susquehanna River on June 28. Militia guarded a long covered bridge at Wrightsville. Confederate cannon fire made the militia retreat and burn the bridge. Confederate cavalry raided Mechanicsburg on June 28. They fought with militia at Sporting Hill on June 29. This was the northernmost fight of the campaign. The Confederates then moved toward the defenses of Fort Couch. They fought there for over an hour. Later, they went back toward Carlisle.

Stuart's Controversial Cavalry Raid

Jeb Stuart loved riding around enemy armies. He had done it twice before in 1862. He probably wanted to do it again after the Battle of Upperville. He also needed to make up for being surprised at the Battle of Brandy Station. What Lee actually told Stuart on June 22 has been debated ever since. But the main idea was for Stuart to guard mountain passes. He was also to cross the river with the rest of the army. He needed to protect the right side of Ewell's army. Instead of taking a direct route north, Stuart chose to ride between the Union army and Washington. He moved north through Rockville to Westminster and into Pennsylvania. He hoped to capture supplies and cause trouble near the enemy capital. Stuart and his three best cavalry groups left Salem Depot at 1 a.m. on June 25.

Unfortunately for Stuart, the Union army was already moving. His planned route was blocked by Union infantry. This forced him to go further east than he or General Lee expected. This stopped Stuart from meeting Ewell as ordered. It also left Lee without his main cavalry force. These cavalry were the "eyes and ears" of the army. Lee was advancing into unknown enemy territory without them.

Stuart's command reached Fairfax Court House. They were delayed for half a day by a small fight on June 27. They crossed the Potomac River at 3 a.m. on June 28. In Maryland, the cavalry attacked the C & O Canal. This was a major supply line for the Union Army. They captured canal boats and cargo. They entered Rockville on June 28. This was also a key supply road. They tore down miles of telegraph wire. They captured 140 new, fully loaded wagons and mule teams. This wagon train slowed Stuart down. But he thought Lee's orders meant gathering supplies was important. The Confederates' closeness caused worry in Washington. Meade sent two cavalry brigades to chase them. Stuart reportedly told a prisoner that if his horses weren't tired, he would have captured Lincoln and his cabinet.

Stuart had planned to reach Hanover, Pennsylvania, by the morning of June 28. But he rode into Westminster, Maryland, late on June 29. Here, his men briefly fought and defeated two companies of Union cavalry. They chased them a long way on the Baltimore road. Stuart claimed this caused "great panic" in Baltimore.

Meanwhile, Union cavalry commander Alfred Pleasonton ordered his divisions to spread out. They were looking for Confederates. Kilpatrick's division was on the right side of the Union advance. They passed through Hanover on the morning of June 30. Stuart's column met Kilpatrick's rear as it passed through town. They scattered the Union troops. The Battle of Hanover ended after Kilpatrick's men regrouped. They drove the Confederates out of town. Stuart's brigades were better positioned to guard their captured wagons. So, he didn't take advantage of the fight with Kilpatrick. To protect his wagons and prisoners, he waited until nightfall. Then he went around Hanover, adding five miles to his march. After a 20-mile trek in the dark, his tired men reached Dover on July 1. At the same time, Confederate infantry began fighting Union cavalry at Gettysburg.

Stuart left some troops and the wagon train at Dillsburg. He headed for Carlisle, hoping to find Ewell. Instead, he found nearly 3,000 Pennsylvania and New York militia. After firing a few shells into town on the evening of July 1, Stuart burned the Carlisle Barracks. He ended the Battle of Carlisle and left after midnight. He moved south toward Gettysburg. The fighting at Hanover, the long march with wagons, and the brief fight at Carlisle greatly slowed Stuart. This delayed him rejoining the main army.

Stuart and most of his command reached Lee at Gettysburg on the afternoon of July 2. He ordered his troops to cover the left rear of the Confederate lines. They moved to the Hunterstown Road, four miles northeast of town. This blocked any Union forces trying to get behind Lee's lines. Two Union cavalry brigades were looking for the end of the Confederate left side. Union General Custer attacked Stuart's men in the Battle of Hunterstown. Stuart's men counterattacked. When more Union cavalry arrived, Stuart didn't press his attack. An artillery duel happened until dark. Stuart then pulled back toward Gettysburg.

Meade Takes Command of the Union Army

On the evening of June 27, Lincoln sent orders to replace Hooker. Hooker had argued with Halleck about defending Harpers Ferry. He angrily offered to resign. Halleck and Lincoln quickly accepted. George Meade, a general from Pennsylvania, was ordered to take command of the Army of the Potomac. This happened early on June 28 in Frederick, Maryland. Meade was surprised. He had said before that he wasn't interested in leading the army. When an officer from Washington woke him with the order, he thought he was being arrested. Meade didn't know Hooker's plans or where the army was. But he kept the army moving quickly. He told Halleck he would "Move toward the Susquehanna, keeping Washington and Baltimore well covered, and if the enemy is checked... to give him battle."

Map showing the position of Big Pipe Creek in relation to Gettysburg

On June 30, Meade's headquarters moved to Taneytown, Maryland. He gave two important orders. The first ordered a general advance toward Gettysburg on July 1. Gettysburg was 5 to 25 miles away from his army units. The second order, called the Pipe Creek Circular, set up a possible defense line. This line was on Big Pipe Creek. Engineers had said it was a strong defensive spot. Meade could have stayed there and waited for Lee to attack. Or, it could be a fallback position if things went wrong at Gettysburg.

Lee Gathers His Army

Lee didn't know how far north the Union army had moved. This was because Stuart's cavalry, his "eyes," was missing. Lee only found out the Union army had crossed the Potomac from a spy. By June 29, Lee's army was spread out. They were from Chambersburg (28 miles northwest of Gettysburg) to Carlisle (30 miles north of Gettysburg). Some were even near Harrisburg and Wrightsville on the Susquehanna River. Ewell's Corps was almost at the Susquehanna. They were ready to threaten Harrisburg. Early's Division occupied York, Pennsylvania. This was the largest Northern town captured by Confederates during the war. Longstreet and Hill were near Chambersburg.

Lee ordered his forces to gather around Cashtown. This town was at the base of South Mountain, eight miles west of Gettysburg. On June 30, part of Hill's Corps was in Cashtown. One of Hill's brigades, led by General Pettigrew, went toward Gettysburg. Pettigrew's commander said he sent Pettigrew to look for supplies, especially shoes.

When Pettigrew's troops neared Gettysburg on June 30, they saw Union cavalry. This cavalry was led by General John Buford. Pettigrew returned to Cashtown without fighting. When Pettigrew told his commanders what he saw, they didn't believe him. They thought it was just Pennsylvania militia. Lee had ordered his army not to start a big battle until all his forces were together. But Hill decided to send a strong scouting force the next morning. He wanted to find out how many enemy soldiers were there. Around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, two brigades of Hill's division advanced to Gettysburg.

The Battle of Gettysburg: A Three-Day Fight

Battlefield of Gettysburg (1863)

Battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863

Battle of Gettysburg, July 2

Battle of Gettysburg, July 3

The two armies clashed at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. The first day had three parts as more soldiers arrived. In the morning, two Confederate brigades were slowed down by Union cavalry. As Union infantry arrived, Confederate attacks were stopped. But Union General Reynolds was killed.

By early afternoon, more Union troops arrived. The Union position formed a semicircle around the town. Ewell's Confederate Corps began a huge attack from the north. Union lines held under heavy pressure. But one part of their line was overrun. The third part of the battle came as Confederates attacked again from the north and west.

Heavy fighting caused the Union line to break. Some Union soldiers fought their way back through the town. They lost many men and were captured. Others simply ran away. They took strong defensive positions on Cemetery Hill. They waited for more attacks. General Lee had given orders to take the heights "if practicable." But General Ewell chose not to attack. Historians still debate if the battle would have ended differently if he had attacked.

On the second day, Lee tried to use his first day's success. He launched many attacks against the Union flanks. After a long delay, Longstreet attacked the Union left side. His division attacked Little Round Top and Devil's Den. To their left, another division attacked the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard. Neither attack fully succeeded. But the Union III Corps was almost destroyed. General Meade sent 20,000 reinforcements to stop these attacks. The attacks ended with a failed Confederate assault on the Union center. That evening, Ewell's Corps attacked the Union right side. They attacked Culp's Hill and East Cemetery Hill. But both attacks were stopped. The Union army had strong defenses. Meade managed his forces well. Both sides lost many soldiers. But the armies' positions stayed mostly the same.

After attacks on both Union flanks failed, Lee decided to attack the Union center on the third day. He planned to support this attack with a new push on the Union right. But fighting on Culp's Hill started early with a Union counterattack. This was hours before Longstreet could begin his attack on the center. The Union troops on Culp's Hill were reinforced. The Confederates made no progress after many useless attacks that lasted until noon. The infantry attack on Cemetery Ridge was called Pickett's Charge. It began with a huge artillery bombardment at 1 p.m. This was meant to weaken the Union defense. But it didn't work well. About 12,500 men marched three-quarters of a mile across open fields. They faced heavy Union artillery and rifle fire. Some Confederates reached the stone wall that protected Union defenders. But they couldn't hold their ground. They were pushed back with over 50% casualties.

During and after Pickett's Charge, two important cavalry battles also happened. One was about three miles east, called East Cavalry Field. The other was southwest of Big Round Top mountain, called South Cavalry Field. The East Cavalry Field fight was an attempt by Confederate cavalry to get behind the Union lines. They wanted to use any success from Pickett's Charge. Union cavalry stopped the Confederate attacks. In South Cavalry Field, after Pickett's Charge failed, Union cavalry made reckless charges. These were easily stopped.

The three-day battle at Gettysburg caused the most casualties in the American Civil War. Between 46,000 and 51,000 soldiers were lost. Along with the Union victory at Vicksburg on July 4, Gettysburg is often called the war's turning point.

Lee's Retreat Back to Virginia

Gettysburg campaign (July 5–14)

Lee managed to escape back to Virginia. It was a difficult march with flooded rivers. Meade was blamed for not capturing Lee's army, which was vulnerable and outnumbered.

After Pickett's Charge, the Confederates went back to their positions. They built defenses for a counterattack. When no Union attack happened by the evening of July 4, Lee knew he couldn't do anything more. He had to take his damaged army back to Virginia. Lee started his army moving late on July 4. They went toward Fairfield and Chambersburg. Cavalry was assigned to protect the long train of wagons. These wagons carried supplies and wounded men. They used the route through Cashtown and Hagerstown to Williamsport, Maryland. Thousands of seriously wounded soldiers were left behind at Gettysburg. But even with over 20,000 casualties, Lee's army still had high spirits. Their respect for him was not lessened.

However, when the Confederate army reached the Potomac River, they found it hard to cross. Heavy rains on July 4 flooded the river at Williamsport. It was impossible to cross by foot. Four miles downstream, Union cavalry destroyed Lee's lightly guarded pontoon bridge on July 4. The only way to cross was a small ferry at Williamsport. The Confederates could have been trapped. They might have had to fight Meade with their backs to the river.

The main route for Lee's army was through Fairfield and over Monterey Pass to Hagerstown. A small but important fight, the Battle of Fairfield, happened while Pickett's Charge was still going on. This fight stopped the Union from blocking this route. Union cavalry tried to seize foraging wagons. But Confederate cavalry stopped them. The Confederates then charged and overwhelmed the Union soldiers. There were 242 Union casualties, mostly prisoners. The Confederates had 44 casualties.

The journey for the wagon train was very difficult. It rained heavily starting July 4. The 8,000 wounded men suffered in wagons without springs. The train was attacked along the way. On July 5, civilians in Greencastle attacked the train with axes. They attacked the wagon wheels until they were driven off. That afternoon, Union cavalry attacked the column. They captured 134 wagons, 600 horses and mules, and 645 prisoners. About half of the prisoners were wounded. These losses made Stuart so angry that he demanded an investigation.

Early on July 4, Meade sent his cavalry to attack the enemy's rear. He wanted them to "harass and annoy him as much as possible in his retreat." Most of the Union cavalry went out. Some moved toward Cashtown. But most moved south of Gettysburg. Union cavalry went directly to Frederick. They were joined by another division on July 5.

Late on July 4, Meade held a meeting with his commanders. They agreed the army should stay at Gettysburg until Lee moved. They also agreed that cavalry should chase Lee if he retreated. Meade sent a division to check the Confederate line. By July 5, Meade learned Lee had left. But he waited for the scouting results before ordering a general chase.

The Battle of Monterey Pass began as Union cavalry easily pushed aside Confederate guards. They met 20 Confederate soldiers guarding the road. These Confederates, helped by other cavalry and a cannon, delayed 4,500 Union cavalrymen until after midnight. Union General Custer charged the Confederates. This broke the standoff. Union troops reached and attacked the wagon train. They captured or destroyed many wagons. They also captured 1,360 prisoners, mostly wounded men, and many horses and mules.

As Meade's infantry began chasing Lee on July 7, Union cavalry left Frederick. They wanted to destroy the wagon train before it crossed the Potomac. By 5 p.m. on July 7, they were half a mile from the parked trains. But the Confederates stopped their advance. Union cavalry heard fighting nearby and asked for help. Other Union cavalry had moved toward Hagerstown. They pushed out two small Confederate brigades. However, Confederate infantry drove the Union cavalry through the town. More Confederate brigades arrived. Hagerstown was recaptured by the Confederates. Union cavalry decided to help the attack on the wagon train at Williamsport. Stuart's men pressured the Union cavalry from Hagerstown. The Union cavalry gave way, exposing the other Union cavalry's rear. The Union cavalry gave up when darkness fell.

Lee's rearguard cavalry fought with Union cavalry in the South Mountain passes. This was the Battle of Boonsboro on July 8. It delayed the Union chase. In the Battle of Funkstown on July 10, Stuart's cavalry continued to delay the Union. This fight near Funkstown, Maryland, caused almost 500 casualties. It was also the first time Union infantry fought Confederate infantry since Gettysburg. Stuart successfully delayed the Union cavalry for another day.

By July 9, most of the Union Army was in a five-mile line. Other Union forces protected the flanks. By July 11, the Confederates had a six-mile, strong defensive line. Their right side was on the Potomac River. Their left was southwest of Hagerstown. This covered the only road to Williamsport.

Meade told General Halleck on July 12 that he planned to attack the next day. He held another meeting with his commanders on July 12. They decided to postpone the attack. They wanted to scout the Confederate position first. Meade did this the next morning. By then, Lee was tired of waiting for Meade to attack. He was also upset to see Union troops digging their own defenses. Confederate engineers had finished a new pontoon bridge over the Potomac. The river had also gone down enough to be crossed by foot. Lee ordered a retreat to start after dark. Two of his army groups and the artillery would use the pontoon bridge. Ewell's corps would cross the river by foot.

On the morning of July 14, Union scouts found the Confederate defenses empty. Union cavalry attacked the rearguard of Lee's army. This was a Confederate division still on a ridge. The first attack surprised the Confederates. Hand-to-hand fighting happened. Union cavalry attacked again. They hit the Confederates from the right and rear. The Confederates lost many prisoners. General Pettigrew, who survived Pickett's Charge, was badly wounded here. This small success didn't make up for Lincoln's frustration. He was upset that Lee had escaped. Lincoln reportedly said, "We had them within our grasp. We had only to stretch forth our hands and they were ours. And nothing I could say or do could make the Army move."

The two armies didn't face each other again for almost two weeks. On July 16, Confederate cavalry held the river crossings at Shepherdstown. They stopped Union infantry from crossing. Union cavalry approached the crossings. The Confederates attacked them. But the Union cavalry held their ground until dark before leaving.

The Union Army crossed the Potomac River on July 17–18. They advanced along the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They tried to get between Lee's army and Richmond. On July 23, in the Battle of Manassas Gap, Meade ordered a Union corps to cut off the retreating Confederates. They were to force their way through Manassas Gap. At first light, Union troops slowly pushed the Confederates back. Around 4:30 p.m., a strong Union attack drove the Confederates. But they were reinforced by more Confederate troops and artillery. By dusk, the uncoordinated Union attacks stopped. During the night, Confederate forces retreated into the Luray Valley. On July 24, the Union army occupied Front Royal. But Lee's army was safely beyond reach.

What Happened After the Campaign?

The Gettysburg campaign was General Robert E. Lee's last major attack in the Civil War. After this, his army only reacted to Union moves. Lee lost over 27,000 soldiers during the campaign. This was a huge loss for the Confederacy. The campaign only met some of its goals. It stopped Union plans for a summer campaign in Virginia. It temporarily protected Virginia's people and economy. It also allowed Lee's men to get food and supplies from Maryland and Pennsylvania. They carried these back, which helped them continue the war. However, the idea that Lee was unbeatable was shattered. Not one Union soldier was moved from the Vicksburg Campaign to stop Lee's invasion. (Vicksburg surrendered on July 4, the day Lee ordered his retreat.) The Union lost about 30,100 soldiers in the campaign.

Meade was heavily criticized for letting Lee escape. This was similar to how General George B. McClellan was criticized after the Battle of Antietam. Under pressure from Lincoln, Meade launched two campaigns in the fall of 1863. Both failed to defeat Lee. Meade also faced humiliation from his political enemies. They questioned his actions at Gettysburg and his failure to defeat Lee during the retreat.

On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln spoke at the dedication of the national cemetery at Gettysburg. His Gettysburg Address changed how people saw the war. He called for a "new birth of freedom." This meant that ending slavery became an important goal of the war.

Images for kids

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  Northern Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania (1861–1865)

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  Gettysburg campaign, (1863)