Final answer:
The Union army won the Battle of Gettysburg, a critical victory that resulted in massive casualties for both the Union and the Confederates, with approximately 23,000 and 28,000 casualties respectively. The battle featured the disastrous Pickett's Charge, which led to heavy Confederate losses and marked the last Confederate attempt to invade the North.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1-3, 1863, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was a pivotal moment in the American Civil War. The Union army, led by General George Meade, achieved a crucial victory over the Confederate forces commanded by General Robert E. Lee. This battle began somewhat by chance as both armies were maneuvering and unexpectedly encountered each other, leading to a confrontation that soon escalated. The Confederates initially had success on the first day but were unable to break the Union defenses over the next two days.
On the third and final day, Lee ordered a bold and disastrous frontal assault known as Pickett's Charge, resulting in massive Confederate casualties. Over half of the approximately fifteen thousand soldiers partaking in the charge were killed or wounded, and this effort is frequently cited as the 'High Watermark of the Confederacy.' In total, the Union suffered around twenty-three thousand casualties, while the Confederates had about twenty-eight thousand, marking the highest casualty rate of the war. The aftermath of Gettysburg, along with the Union victory at Vicksburg, turned the tide of the war in favor of the North.
Photographs, like Figure 16.11 depicting the dead at Gettysburg, starkly illustrate the grim reality of the conflict, underscoring the heavy human toll. Following their defeat, Lee's forces retreated south. The Battle of Gettysburg represented the last time that Lee would attempt an invasion into the North and marked a significant shift in the momentum of the war towards the Union.