Gettysburg was the high-water mark of the Confederacy, the deepest penetration into Union soil Lee’s army would ever achieve. For three days, the fate of the war hung in balance on those Pennsylvania hills, and the Confederate dream of victory seemed tantalizingly close. But in the end, Lee’s gamble failed, and his shattered army limped back across the Potomac. The price had been steep, and the consequences enormous. For the Union, the victory came like a lifeline. It steadied a nation growing weary of bloodshed and doubt, shoring up both morale and political unity when Lincoln needed it most. Northern resolve, so close to breaking, found new strength in the carnage of Gettysburg. The defeat robbed the Confederacy of its momentum and stripped away the illusion of invincibility that surrounded Lee’s army. From this moment on, the tide of war would flow north to south, and the Union, though battered, would not turn back.

Gettysburg. July 1 - 3, 1863.
Union Forces: ~ 115,000 men.
Confederate Forces: ~ 76,000 men.

Additional Reading and Episode Research:

• Luvaas, Jay. The U.S. Army War College Guide to the Battle of Gettysburg.
• McPherson, James. Battle Cry of Freedom.
• Stackpole, Edward. They Met at Gettysburg.
• Coddington, Edwin. Gettysburg: A Study in Command.

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