Battle of Gettysburg :: essays research papers

What was supposed to last 90 days, now dragged on for more than two old age. It was apparent, now more than ever, that little was being ended but the taking of hundreds of thousands of lives. The war between the Union and Confederacy had been in a sort of deadlock where each side could claim victories as easy as defeats. By this clip the south had the upper pass along militarily wise, just coming off a magnificent tactical victory at Chancellorsville in May. global lee side headed the Confederacys, legions of Northern Virginia, General Meade headed the Unions Army of the Potomac. some(prenominal) sides apothegm the need to win that one, crucial victory to turn the tide entirely in their favor. They would get their chances at a small townsfolk in Pennsylvania. The battle was dubbed the Battle of Gettysburg for the town of Gettysburg, PA. By June of 1863 General Lee asked chairwoman Davis to march his army north out of VA. Davis granted Lee permission. Lee, with 75,000 troop s, make his way north, just west of the Blue Ridge Mountains into Maryland. Lee make haste in doing so. He wanted the advantage to set up a defensive position forcing the Union to attack him there. His troops went from town to town for food and supplies. On June 28th they crossed into Pennsylvania and toward Gettysburg. Upon arrival about a mile northwest of town, Colonel Bufords cavalry unit met Lees III Corps headed by General Hood. a lot to his disappointment his troops had began to fight without his acknowledgement. Meanwhile, the Army of the Potomac was hot on Lees heels but marched east of the Blue Ridge so as not to be detected. Meade with 100,000 men would arrive member by piece in the next two days from the south of town. The battle was requisite and it began here in a little known farm town. Both sides knew that Antietam was just a prelude, a year earlier, to the carnage which was to come. General and soldier alike could see what was unraveling. These armies saw a sim ilar scenario the first time Lee brought his army north. Many reasons can be attributed to why General Robert E. Lee wanted to lead his troops into hostile northern territory. He knew he would be vastly outnumbered and without support. One reason was that for 2 years now Virginia was being destroyed do to battle and armies.