With a "Rebel Yell" the Battle was Won - By the North

An important battle occurred today. It took place in a sleepy little hamlet in the hills of Pennsylvania. The fighting was fierce and when it was finished after 3 days, it was the most costly one to ever be fought on United States soil. From July 1 - 3, 1863 the small community of Gettysburg with a population of 2400 would play host to a carnage which resulted in as many as 51.000 casualties. This includes almost 8,000 dead; over 27,000 wounded; and over 11,000 missing. This astronomical figure is amazing for only 1 person from Gettysburg itself was killed. A woman named, Jennie Wade, killed by a stray bullet while baking bread, according to legend. The Civil War of the United States had been in full force since 1861, but now, this battle would be a proving ground. A decision was going to made with the outcome of this one battle and it was going to be fought on Northern soil for the first time since the war began. This was important and the combatants knew it. Along the roads from the South marched the Southern Army with General Robert E. Lee in command. Between the Confederates and Washington prowled the Northern Army, commanded by George Meade,when suddenly they met in a wheat field just outside of Gettysburg. Here skirmishes were fought and suddenly 25,000 men from the South and 20,000 from the North met to begin a fight lasting 3 days. The men of New York and Vermont were a part of this first collision. This would include ancestors of mine and the great- great- great grandfather of my husband. By July 2nd, the fighting had spread across Little Round Top through Devil's Den while escalating at Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill. The cannons laid down heavy fire, thundering across the rolling hills which surrounded the town. Infantryman screamed and shouted as cannon fire burst around them. Horses screamed from the punishing barrage as they were struck and all around were the cries of the wounded and dying. Barns were confiscated and turned into makeshift surgeries. Outside of them a growing pile of limbs were tossed as the wounded were brought in and legs and arms were amputated. The stench of burnt flesh spread across the fields and the townspeople remained hidden inside their homes. On July 3rd, Lee attacked again. The Confederate fired between 150 and 175 cannons at Cemetery Ridge where the Union forces lined up against them. After a short time, Union cannons started firing back and thunder rolled across the valley as the two forces used whatever means they had to intimidate the other. Suddenly, 12,000 Confederate infantrymen rose under the command of Major General George Pickett and screaming their "Rebel Yell" began a charge toward Union lines which was over a mile away. Union cannon barrages and snipers began picking away the Rebels. Heat exhaustion and obstacles such as fences slowed the Confederate advance. Again, the sounds of horses and men screaming from this filled the air and when the infantrymen finally began hand to hand combat the fighting was fierce for the outcome would prove who the eventual winner of the war would be. As the battle ended, Lee was forced to retreat with a medical wagon train filled with wounded that was 17 miles long. Although, the North fell back at times from the force of the Confederates, they persevered and "Held the line" and finally drove the Confederates back. July 4th, 1863 fell on the sounds of screams, moans, and cries from the wounded and dying. An informal truce occurred between the two sides as they gathered their wounded and buried as many men as they could. In the end, over 8000 men were quickly buried and over 3000 horse carcasses burnt outside Gettysburg due to the heat of the summer. However, the townspeople became very ill due to the stench which filled their air. General Lee began his retreat to Virginia, along with a medical wagon train filled with wounded which stretched for 17 miles. In a campaign which was suppose to be his finest hour, Lee was handed his most devastating loss. One third of his officers were dead, wounded, missing, or prisoners. The Army of Virginia would never regain its former glory. On top of this, word was received that General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union had defeated the Confederates at Vicksburg. The war would last another two years, but the North had found victories and confidence in their Army. The hamlet of Gettysburg would never be the same. Nor would the Union when it was finally reunited; but the government which began as an experiment was now known as the "government by the people, for the people, of the people" by President Abraham Lincoln. This is why these first three days of July are so important. This country endured a civil war of catastrophic events and the Battle of Gettysburg was its most devastating. Yet, the United States endured, learned, and grew to become the country it is today. A land of freedoms for ALL and a democracy which instills the hopes of indentured people everywhere; and though we have our problems and different ideals when that day of truce, July 4th, arrives, with it comes the importance of that day from our Revolutionary forefathers that freedom shall ring across this nation and the people of the United States of America will endure all obstacles which try to remove our liberties from us.