Gettysburg Turns Tide: Union Halts Lee's Invasion
Confederate General Robert E. Lee gambled everything on invading the North, and for two days it nearly worked. On the third day, he ordered 12,500 men to cross three-quarters of a mile of open ground under concentrated artillery fire in what became known as Pickett's Charge. Barely half returned. The three-day battle produced nearly 51,000 casualties combined, making it the bloodiest engagement of the entire war. Lee's shattered army retreated to Virginia, never again possessing the strength to mount a major offensive. Lincoln later traveled to the battlefield and delivered a 272-word address that redefined the war as a struggle for human equality rather than mere political union.
July 1, 1863
163 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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