Robert E. Lee Essay -- essays research papers

The battle of Gettysburg was fought on July 1 through July 3, 1863, considered by most military historians the turning point in the American Civil War ( magic trickson 84). The Battle of Gettysburg was a decisive contest in that it arrested the Confederates&8217 second and last major invasion of the North, destroyed their offending strategy, and forced them to fight back a defensive war in which the slowdown of their manufacturing capacity and transportation facilities doomed them to defeat (McPherson 25). The Army of the Potomac, under the juncture general George Gordon Meade, numbered about 85,000 the Confederate army, under prevalent Robert E. downwind, numbered about 75,000 ( privyson 90). afterward the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2 to 4, an important victory for the Confederates, lee side divided his army into three corps, commanded by three lieutenant generals pile Longstreet, Richard Stoddert Ewell, and Ambrose Powell Hill (Johnson 91). Lee then formulated a p lan for occupy pop, hoping to avert a nonher federal offensive in Virginia and planning to fight if he could get the federal army into a vulnerable military position he also hoped that the invasion might increase Northern war-weariness and channel the North to recognize the independence of the Confederate States of America (Johnson 85). In interestingness of this plan, Lee crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains, proceeded up the Shenandoah Valley, and, crossing Maryland, entered Pennsylvania (Clark 86). Upon learning federal multitude were north of the Potomac, Lee decided to digest his whole army at Gettysburg (Clark 86).On June 30, Confederate troops from normal Hill&8217s corps, on their way to Gettysburg, saw federal troops that Meade had moved down to intercept the Confederate army (McPherson 102). The Battle began on July 1 outside of Gettysburg with an encounter between Hill&8217s attack brigades and the federal cavalry division commanded by Major General John Buford, supp orted by infantry under Major General John Fulton Reynolds (McPherson 103). Hill encountered stubborn resistance, and the fighting was undecided until Ewell arrived from the north in the afternoon. The Confederates pushed against General Oliver Howard&8217s corps and forced the federal troops to retreat from their prior positions to Culp&8217s Hill and Cemetery Ridge, southeast of Gettysb... ... captured or missing (Johnson 91).Lee retreated west and southwest through Hagerstown, Maryland and into Virginia. Imboden&8217s police van train, composing of wagons and ambulances, stretched for over 17 miles (Johnson 190). Meade considered out of bounds, but determined that the defensive temperament of the Appalachian passes prohibited full pursuit (Johnson 191). Meade did harass Lee&8217s retreat, which resulted in minor skirmishes and capture of various Confederate units, but did not materialize (Johnson 191). Meade&8217s decision not to pursue Lee furious capital of Nebraska, who expected a decisive victory (Johnson 192). Also, the lack of vigorous pursuit showed Meade as being too cautious. Lee hurting from Gettysburg, was forced to go past to Virginia. The war was far from over and lasted another 2 years (Johnson 192). The Gettysburg Address, a famous speech, was delivered later that year by United States president Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (McPherson 192). He presented it in dedication of the Gettysburg content Cemetery honoring those who died in the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.