01 July - The Battle of Gettysburg begins in the American Civil War.

 

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from 01 July to 03 July 1863, was a pivotal engagement during the American Civil War. Taking place in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, it was one of the war's largest and most significant battles, involving the largest number of casualties in the entire conflict.

The battle began when Confederate forces, led by General Robert E. Lee, clashed with the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by General George G. Meade. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had invaded the North, hoping to relieve pressure on Virginia, win a decisive victory on Union soil, and possibly influence foreign powers to recognize the Confederacy.

On the first day of battle, Confederate forces gained ground, pushing Union defenders back through Gettysburg to the high ground south of the town. On the second day, heavy fighting took place at locations such as Little Round Top, the Wheatfield, and Devil's Den. Despite significant Confederate attacks, Union forces held their positions.

The third day of battle saw Lee launching a massive assault known as Pickett's Charge, directed at the center of the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge. The charge, involving some 12,500 Confederate soldiers, was repulsed with heavy losses, marking the failure of Lee's invasion.

The Union victory at Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War. It ended Lee's attempts to invade the North and put the Confederate forces on the defensive. The battle also had profound strategic and symbolic importance, boosting Northern morale and diminishing hopes for Confederate independence.

President Abraham Lincoln later delivered his famous Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in November 1863, further emphasizing the battle's significance and reiterating the Union's commitment to preserving the nation and the principles of liberty and equality.

The Battle of Gettysburg remains one of the most studied and commemorated battles in American history, symbolizing the broader struggle of the Civil War and the fight to define the future of the United States.