Battle of Gettysburg Flashcards
beginning of the American Civil War
south carolina fired on fort Sumter
southern states
confederate states of america
states that stayed loyal to Washington DC
union
causes of the war
slavery
to prevent or allow the spread of slavery into the territories
what is the Confederate army in the eastern theatre
the army of northern virginia
the union army in the eastern theater
the army of the potomac
military leaders for the battle of Gettysburg
general Robert e lee
general Robert e lee called him his “old war horse”
James longstreet
much blame for the defeat is placed on him
Richard s Ewell
cavalry
jeb Stuart
the best known and beloved commander behind lee
stonewall jackson
union; who was the overall commander during gettysburg
George meade
considered one of the heroes of the battle
Winfield Scott hancock
Daniel sickles II corps, war’s most prominent
political generals
lee’s greatest triumph (“perfect” battle)
battle of the Chancellorsville
bloodiest single-day battle in American history
battle of Antietam
reasons for lee’s invasion
- divert northern troops from Vicksburg
- take the fighting war from war-ravaged virginia
- deliver a knockout blow to the north on northern soil to end the eastern stalemate
lee sends his infamous order to Richard ewell
take that hill, if practicable
Ewell did not take the hill. Reasons for failure:
- troops were exhausted
- troops from both corps were utterly disorganized
- ambiguous orders from Lee
Longstreet divisional commander Lafayette mclaws began the assault on
sickles III corps
picketts charge
2 hour artillery dual
a stonewall 260 yards in length where union riflemen 4 rows deep were waiting
the angle
results of the battle of Gettysburg
- turning point battle of the American Civil war
- the mythical invincibility of robert e lee’s army of northern Virginia was shattered at Gettysburg
- Gettysburg is the greatest land battle ever fought in the western hemisphere
