Day One

The Battle of Gettysburg was started when a Confederate raiding party stormed Gettysburg looking for boots and other supplies. There the party met with George G. Meade's cavalry triggering the battle. The raiding party and the Union forces began to exchange fire. The Confederate forces pushed the Union to higher ground. General Lee decided to attack immediately to prevent the Union from entrenching themselves. Both sides camped and prepared for combat the next day.

July 1, 1863

Day Two

General Lee knew that the Confederate army could capture the high ground that the Union was camped out, also called "Little Round Top", on if he attacked from the left side. The Union held a strong defensive position on their hill. On the south side of the hill, the fighting was fierce. One general said that "the blood stood in puddles in some places on the rocks." After attacking Little Round Top, the confederates attacked Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill. The fighting lasted till nightfall and the Union held their position.

July 2, 1863

Day Three: Pickett's Charge

On the third day of the battle, General Lee planned to attack the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. The Confederates shelled cemetery ridge with cannon fire. They thought they had severely damaged the Union's artillery, but they did little damage. General George Pickett was given the job to charging the Union center. For on mile, Pickett's forces slowly made their way up a hill to Cemetery Ridge while being showered by Union cannon fire. They suffered many casualties. When some Confederate soldiers reached the ridge, the Union reinforcements added to their defeat. The Confederates sad 7,500 casualties. General Lee then started a retreat to Virginia.

July 3, 1863