wooded region of Chancellorsville. The battle was a desperate one. It was decided by a flank attack made by Stonewall Jackson, who unexpectedly fell upon and routed the Union right wing. But the Confederates suffered a severe loss. Jackson was severely wounded, and died of pneumonia a few days afterward.1 The battle continued during the next day, and ended in Hooker recrossing the river. It was the most destructive defeat experienced by the Union armies during the war. The total loss in killed and wounded was thirty thousand, of which Hooker's army lost about seventeen thousand. Lee's Advance to Pennsylvania.-The victories of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville gave the greatest encouragement to the South, and there was a wide-spread feeling that now was the time to invade the North and win some signal Washington or Baltimore might be captured, possibly Philadelphia or New York. Vast supplies might be gained, and perhaps terms of peace dictated from the national capital or the great cities of the North. success. Inspired by the vision of such splendid possibilities, Lee began a rapid march northward through the Shenandoah Valley, crossed the Potomac into Maryland, and advanced through that State to Pennsylvania, reaching the small town of Gettysburg on the 1st of July. March of the Union Army.-The threatening movement of Lee, and doubt as to his purpose, threw the Union commanders into a state approaching consternation. To guard Washington was the first thought, and a hasty march north began, with the mountain ridge that bounds the Shenandoah 1 Jackson was shot by his own men. He had been reconnoitring the Union line, and on his return he and his staff were mistaken for Federal cavalry and were fired upon, Valley on the east between the two armies. On the discovery that Lee was advancing into Pennsylvania, Hooker's army was hastened forward by forced marches to cover Harrisburg and Philadelphia. On the march General Hooker resigned, on account of differences of opinion with the War Department. General George G. Meade took command in his place. The First Day's Battle at Gettysburg.-That a great battle was imminent was evident. Events decided where it should be fought. The Confederate advance reached Gettysburg on July 1, and was there met by an advance force of Union cavalry. A fight began. Reinforcements were hurried up on both sides and the skirmish became a battle. In the end the Federal forces were driven back and General Reynolds was killed. Retreating through the town, the defeated army took a position along the crest of Cemetery Ridge, a range of elevated ground just south of Gettysburg. The position was a strong one for defence, and Meade hurried up the rest of the army by forced marches to secure it. All that night regiments and brigades marched up by moonlight and took their allotted posts. But when morning came much of the army was still miles away.1 The Second Day's Battle.-Lee's army, which was about seventy-three thousand strong, extended along Seminary Ridge in a concave line, facing the convex ridge on which Meade's army was posted. The lines occupied by the two armies were about twelve miles in length. Meade's army was about eighty thousand strong, but part of it was still a day's march distant, pressing forward with all speed. The battle of July 2 was mainly between Sickles's and Longstreet's corps, the struggle being largely for the pos 1 It is said that mere chance made Gettysburg the field of battle. Meade had selected a position at Pipe Creek, fifteen miles to the southeast, to make his stand. The movement of cavalry which brought on the battle was intended merely to screen his line of march. On the other hand, Lee had not proposed to fight except on the defensive, but found himself forced to attack his foe or retreat, his line of advance being cut off. session of two hills, called Round Top and Little Round Top. If Longstreet had won these, he would have commanded the Union position and might have defeated the army. But he failed to do so. The battle was fierce and destructive, but the Federals retained the hills. The Third Day's Battle.-On July 2 the Confederates had been successful on their left, where they won a position on Culp's Hill, on the Union right. But they failed to retain it, being attacked and driven out at daybreak of the 3d. Thus the flanking movements on both wings had failed. On the 3d, Lee made a desperate attack on the Union centre, hoping to break through Meade's army at that point. About one o'clock he began a cannonade from one hundred and fifty pieces of artillery, and for two hours shot and shell were poured upon the Union lines. Then General Pickett, with fifteen thousand men, marched against Meade's centre. Across the plain, a mile in width, marched that devoted band, with the steadiness of long discipline. A hundred cannon tore gaps in their ranks. Volleys from long lines of infantry were poured upon them. No troops could endure that terrible slaughter. They fell in hundreds. The front reached the Union lines, but only to yield as prisoners of war. The remainder fled from the fatal field. The desperate struggle was at an end. In the three days' fight Meade had lost twenty-three thousand men, Lee over twenty thousand. The Retreat.-On July 4, Lee's retreat began. His attempt to invade the North had proved a costly failure. And the host of veterans he had lost could never be replaced. He hastened to the Potomac, followed by Meade's army. The river was safely crossed and Virginia once more reached. Various strategic movements of the two armies took place during the remainder of the year, but there were no conflicts of importance. |