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Cadence-the beat, time, or measure of rhythmical motion or activity South-states that seceded from the United States of America. These states wanted slavery to stay because they heavily relied on it. States included Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. These states are also known as the Confederacy. Gettysburg-most important battle of the war. Took place in Pennsylvania. The battle lasted for 3 days. Union-collection of 23 Northern states which fought the rebellious Confederacy during the Civil War. Also known as The United States of America Infantry-foot soldiers marching and fighting together. The vast majority of Civil War soldiers were infantry. Calvary-soldiers mounted on horseback fighting as a unit. Confederate-soldiers that fought for the South or the Confederate States of America. McPherson's Ridge-Battle on July 1 that the Confederates won. Cemetery Ridge-Place where the Union army retreated. Ran due south from Cemetery Hill. VFT MENU

Little Round Top-rocky hill at the southern end of Cemetery Ridge Devil's Den-Giant boulders, masses of rock and crevices at the base of Little Round Top. General Longstreet's army attacked the Union army from here. Culp's Hill-Hill next to Cemetery Hill where the Union troops attacked from. Cemetery Hill-Gave the Union troops a big advantage against the Confederate troops. cannon-Union troops these against the Confederates. Placed them on Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. musket-rifle used by both armies in the war. North-states that were against slavery. States included Oregon, California, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. Also known as the Union. VFT MENU

Day 1 Day II Day III

On July 1, the great Battle of Gettysburg began with Confederate troops attacking Union troops on McPherson Ridge, west of town. Outnumbered, the Union forces managed to hold until afternoon when they were overpowered and driven back through town. In the confusion, thousands of Union soldiers were captured before they could rally on Cemetery Hill, south of town. Long into the night Union troops labored over their defenses while the bulk of Meade's army arrived and took positions. Military Strategies Wikipedia PBS map Why did they meet at Gettysburg Pennsylvania and Gettysburg, Why did Lee invade the North? Click VFT MENU Battle of Gettysburg

Military Strategy Wikipedia PBS Map Click On July 2, the battle lines were drawn up in two sweeping arcs. The main portions of both armies were nearly a mile apart on two parallel ridges; Union forces on Cemetery Ridge facing Confederate forces on Seminary Ridge to the west. Lee ordered an attack against both Union flanks. James Longstreet's thrust on the Union left broke through D.E. Sickles' advance lines at the Peach Orchard, left the wheat field strewn with dead and wounded, and turned the base of Little Round Top into a shambles. R.S. Ewell's attack proved futile against the entrenched Union right on East Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. VFT MENU Battle of Gettysburg

On July 3, Lee's artillery opened a bombardment that for a time engaged the massed guns of both sides in a thundering duel for supremacy, but did little to soften up the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. The climax of the Battle of Gettysburg came when Major General George E. Pickett, in a desperate attempt to recapture the partial success of the preceding day, spearheaded a massed infantry of some 12,000 Confederate troops across the open field toward the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. Raked by artillery and rifle fire, Pickett's men reached but failed to break the Union line, and the magnificent effort ended in disaster. In 50 minutes, 10,000 in the assault had become casualties, and the attack - forever to be known as Pickett's Charge - was now history. Military Strategy Wikipedia PBS Map Click VFT MENU Battle of Gettysburg

With the failure of the Charge the battle was over - the Union was saved. There were 51,000 casualties making Gettysburg the bloodiest battle of American history. Over 172,000 men and 634 cannon were positioned in an area encompassing 26 square miles. Additionally, an estimated 567 tons of ammunition was expended and, when the battle had ended, 5,000 dead horses and the other wreckage of war presented a scene of terrible devastation. The Confederate army that staggered back from the fight at Gettysburg was physically and spiritually exhausted. Lee would never again attempt an offensive operation of such proportions. Meade, though he was criticized for not immediately pursuing Lee's army, had carried the day in the battle that has become known as the High Water Mark of the Confederacy. The war was to rage for two more terrible and tormenting years but the Confederacy never recovered from the losses of Gettysburg. And through the deepening twilight of Confederate military might, all who had been to Gettysburg, would remember. VFT MENU Click Battle of Gettysburg