=====Battle of Gettysburg=====
===Lede===

The Battle of Gettysburg was a pivotal engagement of the American Civil War (1861-1865), fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This three-day battle marked a significant turning point in the conflict, as Union forces under Major General George Meade repelled Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in one of the war's bloodiest clashes. The decisive Union victory halted Lee's second invasion of the North and is widely regarded as the high-water mark of the Confederacy. The battle resulted in massive casualties on both sides, with combined losses exceeding 50,000 men killed, wounded, or missing. Its aftermath included President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (November 19, 1863), which reaffirmed the principles of equality and democracy that underpinned the Union cause.

===Current State===

The Battle of Gettysburg stands as the largest and bloodiest engagement of the American Civil War, with combined casualties exceeding 50,000 men. Fought over three days from July 1 to July 3, 1863, it saw critical engagements including the Battle of McPherson's Ridge on the first day, the fierce fighting at Little Round Top on the second, and the disastrous Confederate assault known as Pickett's Charge on the third. Union forces under Major General George Meade successfully defended key positions such as Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill against the Confederacy's Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee.

The battle marked a turning point in the war, ending Lee's second invasion of the North. Its aftermath included President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, which transformed the battlefield into a symbol of national unity and democratic ideals. In 1895, the site was designated as [[gettysburg-national-military-park|Gettysburg National Military Park]] to preserve its historical significance. The battle also highlighted the contributions of units like the Union's [[iron-brigade-role-in-the-battle|Iron Brigade]] and XI Corps, whose actions played pivotal roles in the conflict.

While this section covers the immediate events and consequences of the Battle of Gettysburg, a more detailed historical narrative can be found on [[battle-of-gettysburg-history]].

===Viewpoints===

The Battle of Gettysburg is evaluated differently by historians and scholars based on perspective. From a Union viewpoint, the battle was a decisive victory that boosted Northern morale and ended Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, solidifying Meade's leadership as a turning point in the war [[battle-of-gettysburg-union-perspective-viewpoint]]. Confederate assessments often frame the engagement as a strategic misstep with heavy casualties, though some argue it demonstrated Union vulnerabilities [[battle-of-gettysburg-confederate-perspective-viewpoint]]. Historical revisionists debate whether Lee's offensive was overextended and question Meade's cautious pursuit of the retreating Confederates after Gettysburg [[battle-of-gettysburg-revisionist-debate-viewpoint]]. The scholarly consensus, however, emphasizes the battle as a critical moment that halted major Confederate offensives in the Eastern Theater [[battle-of-gettysburg-scholarly-consensus-viewpoint]].

===Related Pages===

- [[gettysburg-address-history|Gettysburg Address history]]
- [[american-civil-war-battles|American Civil War battles]]
- [[robert-e-lee-military-strategy|Robert E. Lee military strategy]]
- [[george-meade-leadership|George Meade leadership]]
- [[civil-war-turning-points|Civil War turning points]]
- [[iron-brigade-role-in-the-battle|Iron Brigade role in the battle]]
- [[cemetery-ridge-and-culps-hill-significance|Cemetery Ridge and Culp's Hill significance]]

===Footnotes===

1. James M. McPherson, *Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era* (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988).
2. Jared Frederick, *Gettysburg National Military Park* (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2014).
3. Harry W. Pfanz, *Gettysburg - The Second Day* (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1987).