As mentioned in many other blog posts, we have visited Gettysburg on several occasions. It is difficult to pick one particular visit to discuss; however, this blog post and video are dedicated to the history of the Gettysburg Battlefield.

We have visited the battlefield numerous times, gaining firsthand experience through various modes of transportation. From riding through in the car to rented road carts to Segways, we have experienced the Gettysburg Battlefield in so many different modes that everytime we go, we see something new.

We have several different videos and blog posts about areas and segments of the battlefield and throughout the town of Gettysburg, but we have dedicated the following to the establishment of the park itself. Following the video, we provide a summary of the history of the Gettysburg Battle, in case you are unfamiliar with the events that occurred during the first four days of July 1863.

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 through July 3, 1863, stands as one of the most pivotal moments of the American Civil War. It marked the climax of General Robert E. Lee’s second invasion of the North and would become the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil. The engagement occurred around the crossroads town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a place neither army had originally planned to fight, but where circumstance and strategy collided with monumental force.

In the weeks leading up to the battle, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia moved north through the Shenandoah Valley and into Pennsylvania. His goals were several. He hoped to relieve war-torn Virginia from constant conflict, gather supplies from the fertile northern farms, and pressure northern public opinion by threatening cities to the north. A major victory on Union soil might also influence foreign powers considering recognition of the Confederacy.

The Union Army of the Potomac, newly commanded by Major General George G. Meade, moved north in pursuit. Meade had only recently taken command but acted swiftly and cautiously. His mission was simple. Stop Lee’s advance and protect Washington and Baltimore from the Confederate threat. Neither commander anticipated Gettysburg as the site of the massive clash.

On July 1, Confederate forces approaching the town from the west and north encountered Union cavalry under General John Buford. Understanding the strategic importance of the ridges south of town, Buford’s cavalry dismounted and held off the Confederate advance long enough for Union infantry reinforcements to arrive. This early stand delayed the Confederates and set the stage for control of the high ground.

Throughout the first day, fighting intensified. Confederate troops under Generals Hill and Ewell pushed Union forces back through Gettysburg and onto Cemetery Hill. Although the Confederates won a tactical victory by driving the Union troops from their initial positions, they failed to seize the critical high ground before nightfall. This oversight would prove costly in the days ahead.

By the morning of July 2, both armies were fully assembled, each numbering around seventy-five thousand to ninety thousand men. The Union army formed a fishhook-shaped defensive line stretching from Culp’s Hill down Cemetery Ridge and anchored at Little Round Top. Meade strengthened his positions, recognizing that the terrain gave him a defensive advantage.

Lee, confident in his army’s abilities, ordered a series of coordinated assaults on the Union flanks on July 2. He believed that if he could break these positions, he could roll up the entire Union line. The attack began late in the afternoon, with Confederate forces striking the Union left at places that would become legendary. The Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, Devil’s Den, and Little Round Top.

One of the most dramatic episodes of the second day occurred on Little Round Top. Union Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the Twentieth Maine held the extreme left of the Union line. Repeated Confederate assaults threatened to overwhelm them. In a desperate moment, Chamberlain ordered a bayonet charge that successfully drove the Confederates back and secured the flank.

Further north, the Union center and right also saw fierce combat, especially around Culp’s Hill. Confederate forces attempted to exploit gaps and seize the heights, but Union reinforcements successfully maintained the line. By the end of July 2, both armies had suffered heavy losses, and the Union still controlled the high ground.

July 3 brought Lee’s most ambitious and ultimately disastrous plan. Believing the Union center on Cemetery Ridge to be weakened, he ordered a massive frontal assault involving about twelve thousand Confederate soldiers. This attack would become known as Pickett’s Charge, named for General George Pickett, one of the division commanders leading the assault.

Before the attack, Confederate artillery opened one of the largest bombardments of the war, aiming to soften the Union lines. However, due to poor visibility and misjudgment, much of the fire went over the Union positions. When the Confederate infantry advanced across open fields toward Cemetery Ridge, they faced devastating artillery and rifle fire.

Pickett’s Charge ended in staggering losses. Few Confederate soldiers reached the Union line, and even fewer managed to breach it. The attack collapsed, and the survivors were forced to retreat across the same deadly ground. The failure marked the turning point of the battle and dashed any hope Lee had for victory on northern soil.

On July 4, Lee prepared for a defensive stand but soon realized his army was in no condition for further fighting. With rain falling and thousands of wounded needing care, he began a retreat back toward Virginia. Meade pursued cautiously, unwilling to risk a reckless engagement after such heavy fighting.

The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in an estimated fifty-one thousand casualties on both sides. The scale of death and suffering stunned the nation. Farms, fields, and homes around Gettysburg were transformed into makeshift hospitals, and the aftermath would shape the town for generations.

Strategically, Gettysburg marked a major shift in the Civil War. Lee’s army would never again launch a large-scale invasion of the North. While the war would continue for nearly two more years, the defeat at Gettysburg, combined with the Union victory at Vicksburg on the same day, signaled a turning tide in favor of the Union.

In November 1863, President Abraham Lincoln visited the battlefield to dedicate the Soldiers' National Cemetery. His brief but powerful Gettysburg Address reframed the war as a struggle for freedom and unity, honoring the sacrifice of those who had fallen and strengthening the resolve of the Union cause.

Today, the Battle of Gettysburg remains one of the most studied and commemorated events in American history. Its fields, hills, and ridges stand preserved as part of the Gettysburg National Military Park, where visitors can walk the grounds, reflect on the events, and remember the immense cost of the conflict. The battle continues to hold a profound place in the story of the United States.