Bugle editorial
Really … was Battle of Gettysburg
all that decisive, important?

Civil War historians sometimes debate whether or not the Battle of Gettysburg, fought July 1-3, 1863, was decisive.

First, some facts, although historians differ as to numbers …

• the battle was the deadliest fought on U.S. soil with nearly 8,000 killed and tens of thousands injured;
• it was the first major Civil War battle fought in the North;
• approximately 165,000 men were engaged at Gettysburg – a town of some 2,400 residents at that time;
• the Union army, under the command of Gen. George Meade, numbered some 94,000 as opposed to 72,000 Confederates under Gen. Robert E. Lee;
• on the last day, Gen. George Pickett launched the famous “Pickett’s Charge” against Union lines resulting in 6,800 Confederate wounded and 1,100 dead in less than an hour;
• estimated total battle casualties were approximately 51,000, of which 23,000 were Union killed, wounded or missing in action compared to 28,000 Confederates.

The Battle of Gettysburg generally is accepted as the turning point in the war with the Southern army retreating after the battle and never again initiating an operation of that magnitude. Ironically, the North and the South met in Gettysburg by chance as a Confederate brigade discovered Union cavalry when entering the town to find food. Neither Meade nor Lee, however, initiated the battle or gave consent for it to begin.

Interestingly, the Pennsylvania conflict was fought during some of the hottest days of the summer with temperatures in the 90s. Also, Meade was in command of Union troops for only three days prior to the battle. He relieved Gen. Joseph Hooker who was defeated in May at Chancellorsville and who felt hampered by Gen. Henry Halleck, a longtime adversary.

President Abraham Lincoln, of course, underscored Gettysburg as a key event with his famous five-minute speech Nov. 19, 1863, honoring the victims of both sides. And, at Gettysburg’s 150th anniversary in early July this year, some 250,000 visitors made their way to the nearly 6,000-acre battlefield.

Evidence points to the conclusion that Gettysburg, indeed, was decisive and important. And it stands as a monument to perhaps the most key event in the history of our nation.