What role did the Battle of Gettysburg play in the victory of the North in the American Civil War

What role did the Battle of Gettysburg play in the victory of the North in the American Civil War?

The events of July 1st-3rd 1863 otherwise known as the Battle of Gettysburg played a significant role in the eventual victory of the twenty-three state Union over the eleven state Confederacy. The battle ‘will always be remembered as the turning point of the Civil War’ and foreshadowed General Robert E. Lee’s eventual surrender at Appomattox Court House, April 9th 1865. The A3 class handout comments,

The Southern defeat at Gettysburg, coupled with the loss of Vicksburg on July 4, marked a turning point in the Civil War. Never again did the Confederacy possess the power sufficient either to invade the North in force or to impose peace through victory on the battlefield.

Firstly the Pennsylvania blood-bath led to large Confederate military casualties, in essence a great portion of the Confederate forces were eliminated on the fields of Gettysburg. While, in contrast the Union suffered mildly from the attack. The South was reduced to instituting defensive ploys rather than launching an attack on the North, as was intended by taking Harrisburg and Baltimore through victory at Gettysburg. Secondly, the victory resulted in the withdrawal of any consideration of European intervention and aid to the Confederacy, an asset that could lead to the defeat of the Union. Furthermore, the Battle of Gettysburg unravelled the dubious leadership of General Lee and his contemporaries. Finally, the Union victory over three short days lead to further significant Northern victories at Atlanta and Five Forks (April 1st,1865), that paved the way for the abolishment of the separatist Confederate States of America.

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Firstly, the Battle of Gettysburg highlighted the vast differences in quantity and quality of resources between the North and agrarian-concerned South. This superiority held by the North in resources, existed from the beginnings of ‘the irrepressible conflict’. Lee led an army at peak strength of 76,000 men during the campaign, but was outnumbered by some 14,000 men. The three days of conflict saw 165,000 participants from both sides, with more than 51,000 casualties inflicted along the plains of Gettysburg. Confederate causalities totalled some 20-25000, including the 15,000 men involved in the suicidal General George E. Pickett’s charge, at least a third of General Lee’s army. The damage done to Union forces, the more numerous of the two, was not so dramatic and devastating, losing 23,000 casualties. The catastrophic loss of numbers forced Lee to retreat south west into Virginia to an inevitable defeat in 1865. While the Union held a considerable advantage in numbers throughout the war, Gettysburg was a turning point and aiding in the Union victory as the Confederacy lost a great number of men, and could not recover again. Historian James Anderson comments,

The South was reduced to a defensive war. Such a war it would wage for two more years.

The Union defeat of the South at the Battle of Gettysburg lead to the withdrawal of any serious foreign intervention. The South’s defeat also destroyed any chance of gaining any military aid. During the war, General Lee’s forces were focused advancing into Northern territories rather than taking over the North. The invasion of Harrisburg or Baltimore was then vital to Southern interests. James Anderson comments,

A great victory on Northern soil might also lead to European mediation in the struggle.

From the beginnings of the war, the South relied heavily on foreign intervention with the belief that European nations needed their cotton for their textile industries. A Southern perception arose these European investors may if necessary, fight the North to get their cotton. This proved to be false, as England and France found other sources of supply for cotton and profited from trade as a neutral. Rather than France and England being dependant on the Confederacy, the South itself became isolated. Despite this and a passive intention from England to avoid war with the United States, several commerce destroyers were built in England for the Confederacy. However, England remained neutral to an extent while sympathizing with the North’s moral stance to fight slavery and cheap labour. While there were apparent discrepancies between allegiances, what remains clear is the South’s defeat at Gettysburg proved costly in gaining important European aid.

Furthermore the North’s victory at Gettysburg highlighted the faulty leadership of General Lee over the Confederacy. Gettysburg was the pinnacle of defeat for the Confederacy. Lee’s true leadership qualities were brought into disrepute after ordering Pickett’s suicidal onslaught. ‘Pickett’s forces were totally annihilated and cost the South an unacceptably large portion of its army.’ Lee also ignored the suggestions of his contemporaries such as Lieutenant-General James Longstreets’ advice to avoid confrontation. Historian Russel Heywood comments,

Longstreet advised strongly against the attack, pointing out that concentrated artillery fire from the Union could seriously cut their attacking force. Lee was adamant….in the end, Longstreet obeyed….The attack was a disastrous failure.

Lee’s, the South’s greatest general authoritative but powerful leadership was important in early Southern victories. The damage done was not forgotten by the Confederacy, who under Lee were forced to flee to Virginia with a demoralised army and suffer further defeat at Five Forks, April 1st 1865.

Finally, the victory of the Union at the Battle of Gettysburg lead to further victories and that would contribute to the inevitable end of the American Civil War. As ‘the Army of the Potomac had won its first clear-cut victory’, Lee retreated to Virginia and lost Vicksburg to General Ulysses S. Grant, only one day after the loss at Gettysburg. Five days later Port Hudson, the last Confederate river fort, surrendered. With the Mississippi River now under Union control, the Confederacy was geographically divided into two parts and in ruins with no vigorous leadership to take charge. Finally in July 1864 the Shenandoah Valley was taken and on September 2nd, 1864 Lieutenant William T. Sherman’s ‘army of the West’ took Atlanta. The defeat of Confederacy and end of the Civil War was now merely a formality. Once the Federal victory at Five Forks, Virginia on April 1st 1865 was complete, the final hurdle had been conquered by the Union that was made able by their victory at Gettysburg.

In conclusion, the North’s defeat of the South at the Battle of Gettysburg was significant in the final defeat of the Confederacy to end the American Civil War. The ‘battle in Pennsylvania was a turning point in the Civil War of the United States,’ as it emphasised the vast difference in resources between the sides, lead to the withdrawal of any foreign intervention, uncovered the questionable leadership qualities of General Lee and paved the way for further important Union victories. The bloodiest battle on American soil proved to be the ‘turning point’ and ‘beginning of the end’ for the American Civil War. The battle would maintain a unified America and stable political centre, Abraham Lincoln comments at an address delivered at the cemetery at Gettysburg,

These dead shall have not died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom- and that government of the people, by the people, shall not perish from the earth.