Gettysburg Battle A Turning Point Essay

After, at the Battle of Gettysburg, Lee divided his troops and caused a disaster at Pickett’s Charge (“Role”). It devastated his army and gave the Union power (‘Robert E. Lee Biography.”). The South never recovered from this battle, but Lee kept fighting (“Role”). Though he made crucial mistakes, no one really ever questioned the tactics he used (Holzer). Lee was very respected even though he failed to win the war for the South (“Robert E. Lee.”

Most Americans are aware of President Lincoln’s famous speech at the battlefield of Gettysburg, but despite the fact that Lincoln’s eulogy was commemorative many people today likely have forgotten the circumstances surrounding the battle. Shaara tells the story from the perspective of both the Union and Confederate generals, which allows the readers to amerce themselves in the situation unlike any other Civil War book. It’s no surprise that at the beginning of the novel the confederate army is happy with the direction they are going. Up to this point they have completely beaten back the North by beating them in battles fought on their side, and with Robert E. Lee as their general, the South is confident that they are going to be the victors.

Lee’s second in command after the death of Lee’s most important general--“Stonewall” Jackson, rises up to the challenge of commanding a large portion of the Confederate Army. Longstreet, who I believe was a man ahead of his time, knew the fast changing style of warfare had to parallel that of the booming changes in technology. General Longstreet is depicted by Shaara, as a full-bearded, intelligent man who was very stubborn and sympathetic, but had an immense respect for his commanding officer, General Lee. With the heavy burden of sending men to their deaths, Longstreet wanted to take upon a defensive strategy to the battle. General Lee who had multiple aggressive, offensive victories before Gettysburg deferred Longstreet’s tactics and continued to press forward.

The union had won the war. Lee hated to surrender, but he knew that was the only thing left to do. “ ‘I suppose there is nothing for me to do but go and see General Grant,’ he told an aide. ‘And I would rather die a thousand deaths.’ ” (Robert E. Lee www.biography.com).

Lee was against succession and was a proud U.S. Army Commander. He had been the Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy and was a very successful Army Officer. He loved the U.S. and the Army. “The South, in my opinion, has been aggrieved by the acts of the North, as you say. I feel the aggression, and am willing to take every proper step for redress.

There are few men who, even in defeat, have their names remembered and revered for centuries. Robert Edward Lee was one such man. Hundreds of years after his life and death have passed, Americans still widely regard him as one of America’s greatest generals. He is well-deserved of this title. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, said that Lee was the finest general “...the English-speaking peoples have brought forth” (Horn).

The guidance he gave to Stoneman via a very long and eloquent letter ended with “Let your watchword be fight, fight, fight, bearing in mind that time is valuable to your General as it is to the Rebels.” Stoneman attempted to follow this guidance by attacking small enemy positions but did not complete his primary mission of cutting supply lines. In addition to General Stoneman’s failure, Major General Hooker’s change in plans from an offensive envelopment to a defense created confusion among the Union Corps Commanders. Major General Hooker fails to describe his new visualization to his subordinate commanders. Hooker does not communicate the new plan to any of his corps commanders except Generals Stoneman, and Sedgewick.

“Boom, pow” you hear as a bullet whirl right past you almost striking your heart, your men jaunt among you, with friends and family you know and love. It is your fault and your duty if they die, you can be a hero, a coward, or a man slaughterer. This was the everyday life of General Robert E Lee, he was almost always in the life of battle, this gentleman was a gutsy leader and an extraordinary man. Lee has sacrificed his daily life for his wife and his country, he contributed to amazing jousting techniques, many say he is one of the best generals in the world. People say that he is a bad man just because he fought for the south, but he argues that he does not have any regard in the method of slavery, but he could not let his home down.

“On the afternoon of July 2,1863, the second day at Gettysburg, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain led the 20th Regiment Maine Volunteers, fewer than 500 officers and men, up the steep slope of Little Round Top and into the pages of history.” ( Longacre ) . In May 1863, Gettysburg had begun with General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia's second invasion of the North. On its second day, Lee ordered an attack on Union forces just south of Gettysburg. His men, fresh off a successful first day of fighting, stormed the Union army’s left flank, but they were repelled as a result Chamberlain’s famous bayonet charge down Little Round Top.

The Battle of Gettysburg was a three day fight in which an estimate of 51,000 soldiers were killed in total, but besides all of the casualties, what else makes this battle special? The Battle of Gettysburg was a huge factor in the abolishment of slavery. It is one of the most important battles because it created new war strategies and was the turning point in the Civil War, which led to the Gettysburg Address. The Confederate general, Robert E. Lee, was very confident because of his army utmost victory.

The American Civil War changed Americans and their ideals about freedom in many ways. Northern and Southern United states began to have simmering tensions for the states’ rights versus federal authority, plus westward expansion, and slavery had huge effects on the states. An election which made anti-slavery Republican Abraham Lincoln the president of the United States of America in 1860, caused seven of the southern states to concede from the Union to make The Confederate States Of America soon after four more joined afterwards. It changed Americans in many ways as neighbors fought each other through the 4 gruesome years of the war. Conflict between the sides were like fights between brother and brother instead with many deaths.

The most important battle during the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg. This was a battle that took place over three days in the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. This battle was the turning point of the civil war which successfully stopped the Southern Confederate Armies led by General Robert E. Lee from taking over the north. The Battle of Gettysburg was the most important battle of the Civil War because it was the largest of the civil war battles, successfully pushing back southern armies away from the north, and was the major defeat of the south. The battle of Gettysburg is still considered to historians to not only be the most important battle of the Civil war but the deciding factor towards victory.

The Union now outnumbered the Confederacy so they had a better chance of winning (Document B.) THe loses of the Confederates help explain why Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War. The 2nd reason Gettysburg was a turning point was because of the geography or location of the war. Robert E. lee took the battle to the North . (Document A) Lee did this to surprise the North because most of the war was fought in the South.

The Union pushed back the Confederates, there were many lives lost and soldiers wounded and even missing, the confidence of soldiers and generals were gained and lost. They both had their own advantages for the battle and each knew that the higher ground was better, but one side came out with the victory and that was the Union. Let's find out more about why the Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point of the war. The first reason that this battle was a turning point, according to (Doc. A) was that the Union pushed back the Confederates and won this battle.

The Battle of Saratoga in September and October of 1777 is the turning point of the Revolutionary War because the French joined with allies, British troops surrendered their arms, and the Patriots had crucial victories. It was a victory for the Patriots in the American Revolution and is the most decisive battles in history. The Battle began as a plan by the British to control New York and isolate New England from the Southern colonies and put an end to the Revolution. Which ended as an opportunity for the Patriots.