Gettysburg: The Battle, Research Paper Example

At the beginning of the civil conflict between north and south, no one could have predicted that a small city in Pennsylvania would witness the most violent clash between the opposing forces and that the outcome of that battle would determine the fate of hundreds of thousands of people and the fate of the nation itself. Lincoln’s most celebrated speech was delivered at Gettysburg, and with his brief remarks, an ideal was established there that will make the events of July, 1863 forever etched into the American psyche. Understanding Gettysburg, then, means to understand how the United States emerged from its adolescence into its adulthood. This paper analyzes the battle from a perspective of its three days duration, making the case that each of the three days was the most significant to its outcome. While it is tempting to tackle the events that framed both Union and Confederate movements in and out of the city, it is not the purpose of this paper to do so. The focus here will be devoted to reporting what happened in Gettysburg during those tedious hours of battle on July 1-3.

Day 1

July 1 was the most important day of the battle, because Union forces, overwhelmed by Confederates, were given the opportunity to retreat through the small city and into a place of safety.

This account from a 15 year old girl, gives an eye witness account of how the impending battle flooded the small city with fear. We were having our literary exercises on Friday afternoon, at our Seminary, when the cry reached our ears. Rushing to the door, and standing on the front portico we beheld in the direction of the Theological Seminary, a dark, dense mass, moving toward town. Our teacher, Mrs. Eyster, at once said: ‘Children, run home as quickly as you can.’ It did not require repeating (Dyson, 2004, p. 213).  General Buford’s (USA) cavalry division, already in Gettysburg, was intercepted by Generals Heth and Pender (CSA) on the outskirts of town. The fighting began at dawn. By late morning, Heth’s forces, then two miles away marched forward to meet General Reynold’s (USA) corps on a field of battle. This conflict forced Heth’s men to withdraw to a high ridge just west of the city. Early on, Reynolds was mortally wounded, which was a terrific blow to union leadership. Taking his place was General Howard (USA). Both sides brought up reinforcements. Criticisms have been levied against CSA leaders for giving precious time to Union forces. The tactic of delay worked miracles for USA. With the passage of each hour during that day, Union forces grew stronger as more and more of them gained access into the city. General Lee’s (CSA) army arrived in the early afternoon. Full intelligence reports were not available to him, so he was quite apprehensive about forcing a large scale engagement. Likewise, his maps were not fully reliable. He wanted a better idea of the topography of the area before he assigned his troops a place to settle. At that time, military strategists prized high ground as the best vantage point form which to launch offensives and to stave off an enemy. So, it is altogether logical that Lee desired such a position. While he deliberated these things, two of his generals, Rodes and Ewell, arrived and attacked the right side of the corps then commanded by Howard.

By mid afternoon, Heth joined the fighting, which migrated from the west to the north of town. General Early’s (CSA) division came up to join the fighting. So did General Pender (CSA). Their simultaneous assaults crushed Union forces along a line known as Seminary Ridge. Later, both of the Union corps were in full retreat, fleeing through the city and onto a rise just beyond the town called Cemetery Hill.  By this time, it is estimated that Union losses were approaching 10,000 while Confederate losses were only at around 6500. Already the battle had been costly for both sides.

The result of the activities that day yielded a victory for the Confederates, if viewed from a loss perspective, but because of their retreat, Union forces were able to seize the prized high ground just to the south, where they began immediately to reinforce throughout the night.

Day 2                                                                                                         

July 2 was the most important day of the battle, because CSA forces were unable to dislodge USA forces from their strategic strongholds, even though they had gained some ground and kept their losses on par with Union losses.

Lee was encouraged by the successes from the previous day. He decided to send soldiers, under the guidance of General Longstreet (CSA), to a place they called Little Round Top. This was along the Federal left. The plan that unfolded set Longstreet’s men in attack on the Federal left while General Ewell’s men conducted a similar offensive on the Federal right, on a smaller scale.

By this time, the Union army had reconnoitered, only to find that they had gathered to about full strength. General Meade (USA), in command of the entire Union forces, had found the time to position his men in a shape of a fish hook that stretched all the way from the base of Little Round Top, through Cemetery Ridge, to a place known as Culp’s Hill. Try as they might, Union forces found it impossible to reinforce their position as they desired. “The thin soils on the crest of the ridge, and on the Little Round top and Culp’s Hill meant that entrenchments were not possible” (Doyle, 2006, p. 142). At some point, General Sickles (USA) decided that there was an open place, called then and now, simply, the Peach Orchard, and he ordered his soldiers to move to take up residence there. This unexpected move brought even more control of high ground to the Union effort.

Longstreet subsequently ordered an attack. His forces were successful in penetrating and dispersing the opposing forces from the Peach Orchard. Advances were also made by Ewell’s counter-maneuver along the ridge of the cemetery. Both Longstreet and Ewell, however, were unable to exploit their offensives, and both had to retire from the ground that they gained.

Actually, Ewell’s attack occurred closer to evening, long after the incident in the peach orchard had calmed. Ewell’s forces tried at every level to puncture Meade’s line. They came close at several places and at several times, only to see the broken Union seams receive reinforcement.

The day ended in exhaustion for both sides. The loss of life had been extreme. The results ended in stalemate.

Day 3

July 3 was the most important day of the battle, for on that day neither side held back and threw the full weight of their fury against each other. It was this day that caused the battle to end as both sides limped off to fight anther day in another place.

Lee had grown in his confidence in his men by what he had witnessed from the previous two days. Following a meeting with Longstreet, he ordered an assault on the Federal line. This assault was to be led by General Pickett (CSA).  By this time, Ewell’s number had been reinforced, so he was to be in on it too. The Confederates, by Day 3, now had the assistance of its most brilliant cavalry officer, General Stuart, whose orders were to gallop behind the Union line and attack it from the rear. If Stuart found success, the Union flow of communication and supply would be effectively cut off.

At that time, orders could not be communicated except by courier. There was a miscommunication between Lee and Longstreet, so the coordination of the Longstreet-Ewell offensive did not occur as planned. Lee was forced to shift his strategy in mid fight. He determined that, instead of biting attacks at the ends of the Union lines, he would snap at its very center, where he reasoned that they would least expect to be challenged and, therefore, would be least prepared to defend.

After “softening” the Federal center with artillery fire, Lee’s plan required Generals Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble’s (CSA) 12,000 men to march across an upwardly sloping field to meet their enemy. On the other side of the line, Ewell’s attempts had not been successful. His men stopped their fighting just before noon and before the massive march began. In early afternoon, an ugly, two-hour blast of cannon threw back and forth across the beautiful field.

“Pickett’s Charge,” as the march has come to be known, turned out to be one of the bloodiest, most awkward attempts at battle that this country has ever known. The Confederate forces were plowed down as they made their way toward Union lines. At only one place did they break though the line. This place has come to be known as the “high water mark” of the Confederacy, for it represents the northernmost point of aggression that the South ever achieved during the Civil War.

As almost 6000 Confederates lay dead or dying, Stuart’s men were being repulsed at the Federal rear. This brought this conflict in Gettysburg to its fateful conclusion. In just three days, almost 50,000 people were either killed or wounded. “Lee was never again able to take the offensive and the Confederacy was unable to make good on the losses it suffered” (Furtado, 2008, p. 7). The Civil War would not experience this kind of singular carnage again.

Conclusion

This is perhaps the most important battle ever waged by U.S. citizens. “Gettysburg has always been a metaphor for the Civil war as a whole. Its mythical status exceeds its actual military importance” (Smith, 2003, p. 56). If that had not been true prior to the sitting president’s visit there some months later, it certainly was thereafter. The implications of the battle were immense. “For the Confederates, a victory would have secured European recognition and thus their future as an independent nation. The Union victory turned the tide and resulted in a unified America” (Wells, 2006, p. 481).

Works Cited

Doyle, Peter. “Military Geology and the Battle of Gettysburg.” Geology Today 22, 4 (2006): 142-149.

Dyson, Rick. “The Civil War on the Internet: A Selection of the Best Web Sources for Educators.” Social Studies 95, 5 (2004): 211-216.

Furtado, Peter. “Gettysburg.” History Today 58, 9 (2008): 7.

Smith, Adam. “Gettysburg: Memory, Market, and an American Shrine.” History Today 53, 2 (2003): 56-57.

Wells,Cheryl. “The Colors of Courage: Gettysburg’s Forgotten History: Immigrants, Women, and African Americans in the Civil War’s Defining Battle.” Journal of Southern History 72, 2 (2006): 481-482.