The battle, which followed shortly behind General Grant's successful capture of Vicksburg, was hailed as the turning point in the Civil War, shifting favor toward the faltering Union just in time for Independence Day.
Centuries later, battles such as Pickett's Charge and Devil's Den are unable to be forgotten. In fact, Gettysburg seems to be the most remembered battle of the entire war.
But that memory comes with a high price. Gettysburg marked one of the bloodiest battles of the war. In total, the Union suffered over 23,000 casualties. Confederate casualties, while harder to estimate, were around 28,000. Almost a third of Lee's officers were killed, wounded, or captured. Together, both sides suffered a loss of men numbering over 57,000. Photographer Timothy O'Sullivan took pictures of the dead in the days after the battle, naming his collection, "The Harvest of Death." One of the captured Confederates was a ranger named Lewis Powell. On this day, in 1865, Powell was on trial for his life, having be charged with attempting to murder Secretary of State William Seward.
Though the Union snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, the news brought mixed reactions in Washington. The happiness of finally seeing a northern won battle was tainted by the insane number of lives that battle claimed in the end. Other complained that General Lee was able to retreat back down south with his remaining troops, meaning the war would continue to rage on and, therefore, it was almost as if Lee had won.
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln spoke at the dedication ceremony for the newly established Gettysburg National Cemetery. There, he used his Gettysburg Address to honor the fallen soldiers and give new meaning to the war's purpose.
In remembrance of this hopeful but tragic anniversary, I will be posting facts and photographs relating to the battle that turned the tides of victory.
Until next time, stay tuned.
XOXO, Kate
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