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 the Statesn Civil war (Johnson 84). The Battle of Gettysburg was a decisive engagement in that it arrested the quislings&8217 second and last major impact of the North, destroyed their offensive strategy, and forced them to fight a defensive state of war in which the slowness of their manufacturing capacity and transportation facilities doomed them to defeat (McPherson 25). The legions of the Potomac, under the Union general George Gordon Meade, numbered about 85,000 the colleague soldiery, under prevalent Robert E. lee side, numbered about 75,000 (Johnson 90). After the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 2 to 4, an all important(p) victory for the Confederates, Lee divided his army into terce corps, commanded by three lieutenant generals James Longstreet, Richard Stoddert Ewell, and Ambrose Powell hummock (Johnson 91). Lee then formulated a plan for invading Pennsylvania, hoping to avert another federal offensive in Virginia and planning to fight if he could get the federal army into a vulnerable position he also hoped that the invasion might augment Northern war-weariness and lead the North to recognize the independence of the Confederate States of America (Johnson 85). In pursuit of this plan, Lee crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains, proceeded up the Shenandoah Valley, and, crossing atomic number 101, entered Pennsylvania (Clark 86). Upon learning federal soldiery were northward of the Potomac, Lee decided to concentrate his whole army at Gettysburg (Clark 86).On June 30, Confederate troops from General Hill&8217s corps, on their way to Gettysburg, truism 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 advance brigades and the federal cavalry division commanded by major General John Bu ford, supported by infantry under major(ip) 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 forward 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 wagon train, composing of wagons and ambulances, stretched for over 17 miles (Johnson 190). Meade considered pursuit, but set(p) that the defensive nature of the Appalachian passes prohibited full pursuit (Johnson 191). Meade did irritate 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 keep up Lee angered Lincoln, who expected a deci sive victory (Johnson 192). Also, the escape of vigorous pursuit showed Meade as being too cautious. Lee hurting from Gettysburg, was forced to return 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 coupled States president Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (McPherson 192). He presented it in dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery honoring those who died in the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.