The Battle of Gettysburg was fought between July 1 and July 3, 1863. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the United States Civil War, with over 51,000 casualties—soldiers killed, injured, or otherwise lost to action—combined. Around 3,100 U.S. troops were killed, while 3,900 Confederates died.

One of Lincoln’s greatest leadership traits was his sense of integrity and his strong belief in his principles. Such leadership inspires the loyalty, dedication and confidence of those around you. Finally, Lincoln’s communication skills were extraordinary. He was not a slick or even a great public speaker.

In it, he invoked the principles of human equality contained in the Declaration of Independence and connected the sacrifices of the Civil War with the desire for “a new birth of freedom,” as well as the all-important preservation of the Union created in 1776 and its ideal of self-government.

In a must-win clash, Union forces halted the northern invasion of Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army. The Union’s eventual victory in the Battle of Gettysburg would give the North a major morale boost and put a definitive end to Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s bold plan to invade the North.

3,100

50,000

The Union

Gettysburg Was the Turning Point of the War The Battle of Gettysburg fought on July 1–3, 1863, was the turning point of the Civil War for one main reason: Robert E. Lee’s plan to invade the North and force an immediate end to the war failed.

4 Facts You May Not Know About the Battle of Gettysburg

• The Second Day’s Battle was the largest (and most expensive) of the three.
• Female soldiers fought on both sides of the battle.
• The wagon train of wounded Confederates was 17 miles long.
• Gettysburg is considered the “high watermark of the rebellion”

The two reasons that are most widely accepted as determining the outcome of the battle are the Union’s tactical advantage (due to the occupation of the high ground) and the absence of J.E.B. Stuart’s Confederate cavalry on the first day of fighting.

The second day in itself ranks as the 10th bloodiest battle of the Civil War—with far more casualties than the much larger Battle of Fredericksburg. Fact #4: Of 120 generals present at Gettysburg, nine were killed or mortally wounded during the battle. No other battle claimed as many general officers.

Gettysburg was founded in 1786 and named after Samuel Gettys, an early settler and tavern owner. The Borough was incorporated in 1806. Although the Civil War continued two years following the battle at Gettysburg, the battle is viewed as the turning point of the war.

After his victory at Chancellorsville in Virginia, Confederate commander Lee decided to focus on invading the North in what he called the Gettysburg Campaign. The plan was to try and get some leverage in the North by forcing Northern politicians to stop prosecuting the war.