Wrap-up of Gettysburg

The three days of the battle at Gettysburg proved to be a turning point in the War between the States. The Confederates, always outnumbered, but supremely led by General Lee, would not venture into Yankee territory again in the war. From this point on, they were merely committed to protecting their home states from invading Federal forces.

Lee had a superior understanding of tactics that enabled him to defeat his opponents when outnumbered, and he did this over and over in battles leading up to Gettysburg. His hammer and anvil tactics were shear logical genious, and he was able to roll up the enemy lines every time. That is, until he lost Gen. Jackson at Chancellorsville. Stonewall acted as the hammer to Lee's anvil. When he tried the same tactics at Gettysburg, with Longstreet as his hammer, it was not successful. Longstreet's tentativeness proved to be fatal in the end.

I have found a really good website for photo references and the like for the war. This is the link for the Gettysburg page from it.

I am including some random old photos of commanders at the battle. Remember that by clicking directly on the photos on this blog, they will enlarge.