Why Did the Battle of Gettysburg Start?

The Battle of Gettysburg was a watershed moment in the Civil War. Fought on July 1 to 3,1863, it was a devastating defeat for the Confederacy in terms of manpower and resources.

Features

Gen. Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, believed that a push into Pennsylvania would keep Federal forces from ravaging the Virginia countryside and would draw Union resources away from Gen. Grant's siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Geography

Lee thought his soldiers could live off the rich Pennsylvania farmland, sending excess supplies home to needy Confederate soldiers and civilians.

Time Frame

Lee won the Battle of Chancellorsville two months before the Battle of Gettysburg. His army began marching toward Pennsylvania June 3, 1863.

Significance

Lee believed that capturing Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, would weaken Union morale and allow his army to threaten Philadelphia, Baltimore, or Washington, D.C., thereby forcing President Abraham Lincoln to negotiate for peace.

Effects

Gen. Joseph Hooker, having lost to Lee at Chancellorsville, resigned his command, leading Gen. George Meade to marshal Union forces at Gettysburg.

Misconceptions

The popular story that the Battle of Gettysburg began when Confederate soldiers entered the town looking for shoes is only partly true. Confederate troops searching for shoes did spy Union regulars, but withdrew, only to return the next day.

References

• York Daily Record
• The History Place

Resources

• Civil War Home