Why Was the Battle of Gettysburg Fought

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought in July 1863 in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was one of the American Civil War's most bloodiest and significant battles. It was the centerpiece of Southern Gen. Robert E. Lee's Gettysburg Campaign, a planned invasion of Northern soil. It ended in Lee's eventual retreat on July 4, but there were significant reasons for Lee's attempt at invasion.

Supplies

The winter of 1863 was hard on Lee's men, and they were in great need of food. Lee hoped by invasion he could acquire food from Northern farms and warehouses, as well as give time for Virginia's food supply to regrow.

Failure at Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg, Mississippi, was the last Southern stronghold on the Mississippi River, and was quickly being taken by Northern Gen. Ulysses S. Grant during the Gettysburg invasion. Lee's plan was to take attention away from the Southern defeat by claiming victory in Gettysburg

Foreign Interests

Both France and Great Britain had not recognized the Confederacy as an independent nation, and Lee hoped a successful invasion into the North would give enough faith for the two world powers to do so. If recognized, the growing peace movement in the North would be given more power and there was a chance that Lincoln's administration would have to call for peace.

References

• American Civil War: American Civil War Battle Gettysburg Pennsylvania July 1-3 1863
• Factasy: American Civil War: The Battle of Gettysburg