Gettysburg National Cemetery
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.  We are met on a great battle-field of that war.  We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow - this ground.  The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.  The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Abraham Lincoln  November 19, 1863

The Turning Point of the Civil War

It was the hope of Gen. Lee that by attacking in the north, he may turn the opinion of the people so they would demand an end to this long and costly war.   This was the only battle fought on northern soil, and this was a gamble that he lost. July 1, 2, 3, 1863..three days of intense fighting which resulted in a Confederate loss here, and the following day another one at Vicksburg - the southern forces are doomed.  Gettysburg and the victory for the Union forces does not end the war, it will be another two years before the Union is saved with the ending of the Civil War.

The first day of the battle saw the Northern forces retreat to Cemetery Hill after an encounter with Elwell's forces. Elwell failed the orders to take the hill.  As the Union forces gather strength, the Confederates inflict heavy causalities on the boys in blue.  Rebel forces capture about 5,000 prisoners.

Day two did not see much progress and the Feds still are in control of Cemetery Hill.   Under intense cannon fire from the rebels, the Feds still hold the hill. Both sides take heavy losses.

On July 3, the battle continues. Both sides make extensive use of the cannons, and a heavy cloud hangs over the battlefield.  Under the command of Meade, the Union forces slow their shelling, his reason being to save ammo. The Rebels think that this is due to their shelling. They form to advance on Cemetery Hill.

They advance with a force of 15,000 strong. Under very heavy losses from the Union rifles and cannon shot, the Rebels continue the advance on Cemetery Hill.  Rebel forces soon are on the hill and the Union forces fall back. Again, the heavy bombardment from the Union positions finally drives the Rebels back.

Gen. Lee's forces have been inflicted with heavy losses.  Under the cover of darkness, Lee takes his troops and moves to Seminary Ridge and waits for the Union forces to attack. On July 5, Lee crosses the Potomac River and is back on southern soil. Of 163,000 men from both sides, the loss in dead is 51,000.

It was not until Nov. 19, 1863 that the battlefield became a national cemetery, and on that day, Lincoln delivered those immortal words in his Gettysburg Address.  Today this military park has more than 2,000 monuments of every size and shape dedicated to those fallen soldiers of the Blue and Gray Uniforms.  It was not until April 5, 1865 that Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant at Appomattox Court House, and so a war that pitted brother against brother came to a close.

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 Gettysburg National Park and Cemetery