tary). This single maneuver would prove to be the turning point in the war.With the repulse of Pickett's Charge, the Battle of Gettysburg was virtually over. On the night of July 4, Lee began his retreat to Virginia, expecting a counterattack from the federal army. Meade, however, did not attack, probably because of heavy rains that hampered the pursuit of the retreating Confederates(Three). During the three days of battle, the Union Army had about 23,000 casualties, and the Confederates had at least 25,000(Military).This battle alone shows a crucial mistake on the behalf of the Confederacy. General Lee had hoped that in winning a major battle on the eastern coast (Three), he would gain some international recognition from such countries as Great Britain (Military). Though Virginia had been controlled by the Confederacy for most of the war, The Union had achieved large successes in the West (especially Tennessee and Kentucky). General Lee reasoned that a decisive victory by his army on the eastern front would lead to possible international recognition and or union capitulation. As Lee reasoned, two options were available: an invasion of the North or defeat by attrition (Military). He had hoped that, by taking this war North, he would relieve the offensives against Richmond (from which originated the battles of Fredricksburg and Chancellorsville)(Military). He never could have known just how great his mistake would effect the war.Gettysburg was a key example of some of the mistakes that the South made during the Civil war. The battle had cost the confederates a total of 33%(Lee 308) of their troops to wounds or death. I will end this assignment by showing you just how disastrous this was through a letter that General Pickett wrote to his wife shortly after his charge on Round Top.On the Fourthfar from a glorious Fourth to us or to any with love for his fellowmenI wrote you just a line of heart-break. The sacrifice of life on that blo...
