Battle of Gettysburg :: essays research papers

What was supposed to last 90 days, presently dragged on for more(prenominal) than two years. It was apparent, now more than ever, that little was being accomplished scarce the taking of hundreds of thousands of lives. The war between the Union and Confederacy had been in a sort of deadlock w present each side could claim victories as at large(p) as defeats. By this time the south had the upper hand militarily wise, and coming off a magnificent tactical mastery at Chancellorsville in May. General downwind headed the Confederacys, Army of Federal Virginia, General Meade headed the Unions Army of the Potomac. Both sides saw the pick out to win that one, crucial victory to turn the tide completely in their favor. They would get their chances at a small town in Pennsylvania. The affair was dubbed the Battle of Gettysburg for the town of Gettysburg, PA. By June of 1863 General lee side asked President Davis to frame his army north out of VA. Davis granted lee side permission . Lee, with 75,000 troops, made his direction north, just west of the Blue Ridge Mountains into Maryland. Lee made boot 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 roughly a mile northwest of town, Colonel Bufords cavalry unit met Lees III Corps headed by General Hood. Much to his dismay 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 non to be detected. Meade with 100,000 men would arrive piece by piece in the next two days from the south of town. The battle was inevitable 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 identical could see what was unravel ing. These armies saw a similar 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.