Final answer:
The third day of the Battle of Gettysburg featured Pickett's Charge, a devastating Confederate assault led by Major General George Pickett. Over half of the Confederate attackers were casualties, marking the effort as a significant loss for the Confederacy and a pivotal moment in the Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
On the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, a critical event took place that is known in history as Pickett's Charge. After unsuccessful attempts to flank the Union army, General Robert E. Lee ordered an assault straight up the middle, targeting the Union center on Cemetery Ridge. This charge was led by Major General George Pickett and consisted of approximately 12,500 Confederate soldiers marching across an open field where they faced intense artillery and gunfire from the well-entrenched Union forces.
The scale and outcome of Pickett's Charge had significant consequences. It resulted in over half of the participating Confederate soldiers being killed or wounded. This attack on July 3, 1863, became known as the "High Watermark of the Confederacy" and was not only a turning point of the Battle of Gettysburg but also marked the last time Lee would attempt to invade the North. The Confederates retreated, and the battle concluded with staggering casualties for both sides and marked a decisive moment in the American Civil War, ultimately shifting momentum towards the Union in both the eastern and western theaters of the war.