A battle never planned, but occurred simply by circumstance–
This important Civil War Battle took place within three hot summer days, July 1 to July 3, 1863, around the small market town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
In the summer of 1863, General Robert E. Lee was in command of the Army of Northern Virginia. Seeking a settlement toward peace thus ending the war, General Robert E. Lee decided upon an invasion of the north. This decision eventually brought the war to the doorsteps of a small town called Gettysburg.
General Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, 75,000 strong, was heading north to central Pennsylvania. On June 30, Lee learned that the 95,000 men of the Union Army of the Potomac, led by Major General George G. Meade, were following them.
Lee ordered several brigades to travel east to check their location and to forage for supplies for his troops. Northwest of the town of Gettysburg they met. A skirmish ensued and as the battle heated, word was sent back to both commanders that the enemy was found and reinforcement troops proceeded to the area.
As southern forces continued a relentless attack against the entrenched Union troops, the additional Confederate forces launched an all-out 
offensive which drove the Union forces through the streets of Gettysburg to a defensive line south of town. Thus, after the first day of battle the 5 mile Confederate line traveled from Seminary Ridge on the west side of the town of Gettysburg, through the town and eastward toward the area called Culp’s Hill. As additional Northern reinforcements arrived on the field, they occupied a 2 mile defensive position commonly referred to as a fishhook formation along Cemetery Ridge and Culp’s Hill.
Having been somewhat successful in 2 days of battle with the Union army, General Lee, believing his army was incapable of being conquered, decided to attack what he expected to be the weakest position of the Union line the next day. General Meade, at the same time, held a council of war with his corp commanders and decided to remain in a defensive position for the battle expected the next day. Thus the decisions made by both commanders would lead to one of the most famous days of the American Civil War.
July 3, 1863 – The third day of battle began w
ith another unsuccessful attempt by the Confederates to take over and occupy Culp’s Hill. Meanwhile, a mile east of Gettysburg, a Confederate Cavalry of 6,000 troopers held orders to attack the Union rear. Union cavalry with a strength of 5,000 confronted them in a hot firefight that contained and turned the Confederates back.
Retreating back to Seminary Ridge, General Lee waited and upon seeing General Pickett and realizing the defeat that occurred, advised Pickett to reform his division in the event of a Union counterattack. Pickett, looking at Lee responded, “General Lee, I have no division.” With these words, and after 3 days of devastating carnage, the battle ended with the Confederates being defeated and retreating back to Virginia the next day.
Lee’s retreat began on the afternoon of July 4. Behind him, this small town of only 2,400 was left with over 51,000 casualties. Over 172,000 men and 634 cannon had been positioned in an area encompassing 25 square miles. When the battle had ended, 5,000 dead horses and the other wreckage of war presented a scene of immense devastation.
