The Battle of Gettysburg
...tural Southerners needed slaves to work on the farms because without them there would be much more work to do. On the other hand, Industrial Northerners didn’t need slaves at all. They considered slavery as un-Christian and immoral. Although some people from South also thought that slavery is wrong, their hands were tied because they were dependent on it for their economy. Thirdly, for the slave states, Abraham Lincoln’s election meant that slavery would be abolished. Actually, all that Lincoln wanted was to prevent it from spreading to the free states. Several states seceded from the Union and created the Confederation. During the war, which began in 1861, the Confederation achieved many successes e.g. at Bull Run and Fredericksburg. General Lee decided on the invasion on Gettysburg because of 2 main reasons. One was destroying the railroad bridge at Harrisburg and the second, pressing the war to the North. In this way the Confederates could stop to defend Richmond and focus their attention away from Virginia. So, that is how the battle began; now lets look at its course. The battle of Gettysburg lasted three days. On the first day, General Lee sent Confederate Army to the Gettysburg. Its troops attacked the Union Cavalry on McPherson Bridge. The Union forces prevailed until afternoon, when they were overpowered by southern troops, which arrived to help the Confederate Army. Federal corps were forced to retreat to Cemetery Hill. On the second day, the Union forces were strengthened by reinforcements. General Lee directed Longstreet to march south until he reached the Union flank. Well-prepared Federal Army was ready for Lee’s offensive. Longstreet attacked the left flank, which soon collapsed. Then, The Confederate Army pursued to Little Round Top, which was the enemy’s base, but the Union checked their advance. In result, Little Round Top was still in federal hands. On the last day of the battle, Lee was still convinced of Confederate victory. He directed General Longstreet to attack the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. First, the general opened a bombardment of the Federal line. Later, massed infantry of 15000 Confederate troops, called “Pickett’s Charge”, arrived. Nevertheless, The Confederate forces failed to break the Union center, pounded by federal artillery and musketry. The attack ended in disaster and the battle of Gettysburg was over. The aftermath of the battle came together with the next day. It was the 4th of July, the anniversary of the Independence Day from England, when Lee, hurting from Gettysb...