Two years after the start of the Civil War, the Union and Confederate armies met in one of the most famous battles of the Civil War; the Battle of Gettysburg. A battle that played a crucial role in determining how both sides would continue to fight future battles. The Battle of Gettysburg took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the first three days of July 1863. Although not victorious, it was at the Battle of Gettysburg that General Robert E. Lee was able to be proclaimed master of the organization of the war. It was the summer of 1863 that marked a turning point in the civil war. It is estimated that tens of thousands of people have already died as a result of the war waged by both the Union and the Confederacy. With no definitive side to declare victorious, there were still thousands dead at the end of the civil war. The Battle of Gettysburg was a decisive triumph for the Union, although the South continued to fight for two more years. The Strategic Setting On the eve of July 1, 1863, thousands of Union soldiers were already stationed in the small town of Gettysburg. Most of these soldiers were widely dispersed throughout Gettysburg. A large presence of Union soldiers gathered on the west side of Gettysburg, near McPherson Ridge. They were responsible for the security of the western edge of Gettysburg. After changing command, Major General George G. Meade then assumed command of the Union troops two days prior. General Lee's army was also dispersed, and Lee began moving his troops toward Gettysburg. Large northern cities like Philadelphia; Washington DC; and Baltimore were all under threat of attack from the Confederate Army of the North...... middle of paper...... armed to take the lead. Later, a misinterpretation by General Meade caused the Union to lose a large number of soldiers and nearly lose a very valuable position at Little Round Top. The Union troops maintained their composure, however, and defeated the Confederate attack on Culp's Hill, forcing the Confederates to retreat. The ultimate mistake that changed the course of the battle occurred on the third day when the Confederates believed they had destroyed the Union artillery. If a different approach than General Picket's had taken place, rather than through open fields, then perhaps General Lee's army would have won the Battle of Gettysburg and maintained its position on Northern soil. The terrible losses and the withdrawal of the South were important turning points in the war. The South had to abandon its efforts to bring the war to the North from that point on..