No visit to Gettysburg is complete without a visit to the Gettysburg Battlefield where one of the greatest battles of the American Civil war was fought in 1863.
Gettysburg National Military Park
The Gettysburg Battlefield was the site of one of the greatest battle of the American Civil War. It was at this location that more men fought and died than in any other battle before then or since then.
It looks like a lot of work to make a fence like this!
The battle took place July 1, 2 and 3 in 1863 and was one of more than 2,000 total land engagements of the Civil War. Even though it didn’t end the war or really even gain anything for the North or South, it’s still called the great battle of the war.
I think I could fire this thing!
The meeting between the North, which was under the command of General Robert E. Lee and the South which was under the direction of General George G. Meade happened by chance. A Confederate brigade was out scouting for supplies and saw some of Meade’s cavalry on a ridge west of town.
Can you believe I went all the way to the top of this observation tower!
The Battle of Gettysburg Pennsylvania began on July 1 when the Confederate troops attacked the Union cavalry division on McPherson Ridge, west of town. Even though the Union forces were outnumbered, they were able to hold, and even drive the Confederate army back when and infantry division was added.
The battle was over on July 3, and Lee began his retreat on July 4th. There was a lot of devastation left behind with more than 51,000 casualties. After this battle was over, the war continued for two more years before it was finally over.
The Pennsylvania Monument in the Gettysburg Battlefield
