There are countless battles which have shaped America and the history of our country. These battles have been fought tirelessly by soldiers who want freedom, independence, or justice. Men, women, and children have given their lives to fight for our democracy and the rights which 21st century Americans have. Each battle has had a lasting impact on our nation and they have each sculpted the views we hold today. The attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and hundreds of other deadly conflicts have taken place on American soil over our nation’s history. However, they all pale in comparison to the Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg, which took the lives of some 50,000 soldiers, is considered the major turning point in the American Civil War. General Robert E. Lee was the commander for the Confederacy. He is known known as a heroic figure due to his great leadership. He became very famous during the United States Civil War. From a very early age, he was …show more content…
Meade was the commander of the Union. He was an American Civil War leader, who is greatly remembered as a conquering hero of the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as the final commander of the Army of the Potomac. His education began in Baltimore at the Institution of Mount Hope. He then moved to further his education at West Point and graduated in 1835. He served in the military for a total of two years; one in Massachusetts, and the other in Florida. He then resigned his military service, for an interest that he had in civil engineering. He then returned to the Army in 1842, and up until the courageous outbreak of the Civil War, he played the role in being a topographical engineer. In 1861, he was gratefully given the privilege of being a brigadier general. In his battle against Glendale, he was severely injured, yet he still managed to lead many divisions. It was after the Battle of Gettysburg that he was announced as the head general of the Potomac
Robert E Lee was a famous war general born to Revolutionary War hero Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee (www.civilwar.org).For 17 years, instead of serving in the military, Robert E Lee served as an officer in the Corps of Engineers. It was not until the 1846 war with Mexico that Robert E lee started to get involved with military duties. When Robert E Lee was a member of general Winfield Scott’s staff, Robert E Lee earned 3 brevets for gallantry and earned the rank of colonel.
A brilliant engineer and highly capable organizer was George B. McClellan, He also was a commander of the war. George B. McClellan is often remembered as the great organizer of the Union Army of the Potomac. He helped construct railroads for the military early on before all of his fame came upon, he also was ranked 2nd in a class of 59 in his Military academy, along side with 20 others who would become full rank generals during the Civil War. He was very successful during his command in war, just many people thought he was bait cautious at times which ultimately led to him being let off.
Thomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson (January 21, 1824 – May 10, 1863) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and the best-known Confederate commander after General Robert E. Lee. His military career includes the Valley Campaign of 1862 and his service as a corps commander in the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee. Confederate pickets accidentally shot him at the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863. The general survived with the loss of an arm to amputation, but died of complications from pneumonia eight days later. His death was a severe setback for the Confederacy, affecting not only its military prospects, but also the morale of its army and of the general public.
Grant was a very prominent figure of the time period and led the Union to victory and helped heal the fractured United States afterward. General Grant began his military career at West Point when he was just sixteen. He was top of his class and when he graduated, he began his four years of service and went into combat in the Mexican-American War. He was promoted to captain as a result of his bravery during the war. After this, his four-year commitment to the army was up, he left and did not expect to come back.
Meade: Meade was Born in Cadiz, Spain, and “came to America after he and his family were financially ruined during the Napoleonic Wars”(___). He obtained the opportunity to go to the United State Military Academy, in 1831, and graduated there. He ended up being Commander of the Army of the Potomac from June 28, 1863 – June 28, 1865. Note: “General John G. Parke took temporary command during Meade 's absences on four occasions during this period”(___) Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was located within the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac and “provided operational direction to Meade from May 1864 to April 1865, but Meade retained formal command”(___). He was commander of the Army of the Potomac during the Gettysburg Campaign, Bristoe Campaign, Mine Run Campaign, Overland Campaign, Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, including the Battle of the Crater, and Appomattox Campaign, including Lee 's surrender at Appomattox Court House(___).
Robert E. Lee is the most prominent Confederate general in the civil war history of the United States. Scholars are divided about the brilliance of Robert E. Lee as a military leader because he has a mixed legacy of success and failure. He is a controversial figure because suffered earth shuttering losses and he also won inspirational victories (Arnold 6). General Robert Edward Lee displayed military leadership in the American Civil war because he mastered the art of pitch battles (Carmichael 50). Historically, his greatest asset was his reputation because it provided him with respect and the loyalty of Confederate soldiers.
The Battle of Gettysburg was considered one of the most important battles fought in the Civil war. This battle was fought from July 1st to July 3rd, 1863. Although it may have been a short battle, it turned the Civil war into a completely different direction. Before Robert E. Lee’s attempt at Pickett’s Charge, the Confederates had been defeating the Union countless times. The battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the civil war because Robert E. Lee’s attempt to invade Union Territory ultimately failed, the Confederates lost a lot of soldiers, and the Union’s army of Potomac was now winning the civil war instead of the Confederates.
The Civil War was the bloodiest battle on American soil, killing around 600,000 men on both sides. With so many deaths, individuals have been recognized as heroes or villains. One of the heroes of the Civil War was Joshua Chamberlain, a brigadier general who helped the Union win the Battle of Gettysburg. He lead the 20th Maine Regiment on a bayonet charge down Little Round Top, forcing John Bell Hood and his Confederate army to retreat. Their charge had the Union successfully defend the crucial Little Round Top.
“On the afternoon of July 2,1863, the second day at Gettysburg, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain led the 20th Regiment Maine Volunteers, fewer than 500 officers and men, up the steep slope of Little Round Top and into the pages of history.” ( Longacre ) . In May 1863, Gettysburg had begun with General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia's second invasion of the North. On its second day, Lee ordered an attack on Union forces just south of Gettysburg. His men, fresh off a successful first day of fighting, stormed the Union army’s left flank, but they were repelled as a result Chamberlain’s famous bayonet charge down Little Round Top.
Why was the battle of Gettysburg a turning point The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the battles of the American civil war. Called the turning point of the war the Battle of Gettysburg was a Union victory. This was the victory the Union needed to turn the outcome of the battle around.
The Civil War is considered to be the bloodiest episodes of warfare in American History. During this war, there were numerous well known battles. One of the most famous battles was called the Second Battle of Bull Run. The Second Battle of Bull Run was fought over August 28-30, 1862. Although this battle lasted only 3 days, there were approximately 22,000 casualties during this span.
The Battle of Gettysburg was a three day fight in which an estimate of 51,000 soldiers were killed in total, but besides all of the casualties, what else makes this battle special? The Battle of Gettysburg was a huge factor in the abolishment of slavery. It is one of the most important battles because it created new war strategies and was the turning point in the Civil War, which led to the Gettysburg Address. The Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, was very confident because of his army utmost victory.
The Battle of Gettysburg was July 1 - July 3, 1863 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg was a game changer in the Civil War for 3 reasons: the geography, morale, and losses. The first reason Gettysburg was a turning point-or game changer- was because the Confederates lost a lot of men. The Confederates lost about 34% of their men (Document B.)
This was his dream was to be able to teach young men about the military the best that he could. People said the way that he taught was questionable at times. Although the way that he taught his students back then during the Civil War still uses the basic way that he had set up for teaching. He was a very strong respectful military leader, but his time needed to end early due to a tragedy that had happened during a battle.
“On the afternoon of July 2,1863, the second day at Gettysburg, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain led the 20th Maine Volunteers, fewer than 500 officers and men, up the steep slope of Little Round Top and into the pages of history.” ( Longacre, Civil War Times: “Chamberlain and the Facts”) . In May 1863, the turning point of the Civil War, Gettysburg, had begun with General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia's second invasion of the North. On its second day, Lee ordered an attack on Union forces dug in just south of town. His men, fresh off a first day of fighting, stormed the Union army’s left flank, but they were repelled as a result Chamberlain’s famous bayonet charge down Little Round Top.