GETTYSBURG, BATTLE OF; July 1, 2, and 3, 1863. Early in May the rebel generals had decided upon a concentrated advance upon the northern states. The campaign, inaugurated by the drawn battle of Chancellorsville, bad given no decided advantage to either side, and for nearly a month the opposing forces had, remained in position on opposite sides of the Rappahanock; when Lee's determination to invade the north was followed by a rapid concentration of all his forces, amounting to 100,000 men. Of these, 15,000 were cavalry, and were under Stuart's command. Slowly and cautiously the vast body of men, severally commanded by Longstreet, Ewell, and A. P. Hill, pro ceeded by various routes in the direction of the Potomac. At Hagerstown, 31d., two columns of the army amalgamated their forces and pushed on to Chambersburg, Pa., where they fell in with a third body under Ewell, who was prepared to advance upon Harrisburg. Meantime, however, the union force under Meade, fully alive to the move ments of the enemy, was prepared to intercept Lee's supplies, and harass the rear of his army in every way. It was clear to the confederates, that no successful issue was pos sible, unless they could rout Meade, and proceed unmolested. Lee, accordingly, ordered a concentration of all his forces near Gettysburg, without any very clear notion as to the exact whereabouts of his enemy. It thus happened that when the advance guard of the confederate army was within 6 m. of Gettysburg, it was ascertained that the town itself was in the possession of the union force. The first encounter took place 2 m. n.w. of Get tysburg, with a decided advantage for the national forces, who took 1000prisoners, but when, a few hours later, reinforcements under Hill and Ewell arrived from Carlisle, the union force was driven back, with a loss of 5,000 prisoners, beyond the town. Early
next morning the struggle recommenced. Both armies had taken up strong positions, the union army having possession of Cemetery ridge, 1 m. s. of Gettysburg, while the greater portion of Lee's force was established on the Seminary ridge, and supported by a large corps under Ewell, 2 m. distant. The number of men engaged on either side was about equal, and amounted to between 70,000 and 80,000. The fortunes of the day varied several times, and the terrible conflict raged throughout the succeeding day with little intermission; but with the final result that Lee was forced to retreat across the Potomac, with the shattered remains of his army. The losses upon these eventful days were variously estimated, and the rebel loss has never been exactly ascertained, but it is conjectured that his killed, wounded, and prisoners were about 36,000, while on the union side the loss amounted to 23,190, of whom 2,834 were killed, 13,713 wounded, and 6,343 missing.
The battle of Gettysburg is generally regarded as turning the tide of success against the rebellion. The surrender of Vicksburg took place almost exactly at the same time, and these two disasters foreran the steady decline of the confederacy. Congress passed resolutions of thanks for the victory to gen. Meade and gen. Howard, and in a subsequent vote the name of gen. Hancock was included.