The Battle of Gettysburg
The fighting broke out on July 1, 1863 at about 8 O'clock in the morning. Two Confederate Brigades under the control of General Heath; their goal was to occupy the once small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Unknowing the town was occupied by two Union Calvary Brigades under the command of General John Buford. Buford's men were able to hold the Confederates off for about an hour. They were later forced to retreat but later General Reynolds came to the rescue and assisted with McPherson's Ridge. General Lee arrived at the battle at about 2:30 and gave A.P Hill the permission to join on the attack on General Meredith and his Iron Brigade, the union forces were unable to hold their positions. They were forced to retreat towards the Seminary. The Confederate attack was so great that the Union was forced to retreat to Cemetery Hill were the Confederates made their attack. They attacked Sickles 3rd Infantry at the Peach Orchard. On day 2 the Union Forces were holding onto their positions at Cemetery Hill. The Confederates were able to reach the Cemetery gate but the Union firepower was too strong. On the third and last day of the battle, both sides were lined up about a mile apart. The silence was broken at around 1O'Clock and lasted until 2 O'clock. Then, both sides moved out from their position and began fixing their bayonets for a fierce hand-to-hand combat that lasted almost 50 minutes. Thousands of men were killed and wounded. This is know as the historic Pickett's Charge. A total of about 51,000 men were lost in the battle.
The fighting broke out on July 1, 1863 at about 8 O'clock in the morning. Two Confederate Brigades under the control of General Heath; their goal was to occupy the once small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Unknowing the town was occupied by two Union Calvary Brigades under the command of General John Buford. Buford's men were able to hold the Confederates off for about an hour. They were later forced to retreat but later General Reynolds came to the rescue and assisted with McPherson's Ridge. General Lee arrived at the battle at about 2:30 and gave A.P Hill the permission to join on the attack on General Meredith and his Iron Brigade, the union forces were unable to hold their positions. They were forced to retreat towards the Seminary. The Confederate attack was so great that the Union was forced to retreat to Cemetery Hill were the Confederates made their attack. They attacked Sickles 3rd Infantry at the Peach Orchard. On day 2 the Union Forces were holding onto their positions at Cemetery Hill. The Confederates were able to reach the Cemetery gate but the Union firepower was too strong. On the third and last day of the battle, both sides were lined up about a mile apart. The silence was broken at around 1O'Clock and lasted until 2 O'clock. Then, both sides moved out from their position and began fixing their bayonets for a fierce hand-to-hand combat that lasted almost 50 minutes. Thousands of men were killed and wounded. This is know as the historic Pickett's Charge. A total of about 51,000 men were lost in the battle.