The Battle of Gettysburg

American History Hit

History Hit

America, History

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 3 July 2023

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The first three days of July 1863 saw the bloodiest single battle of the American Civil War. This clash between the Unionist and Confederate armies quickly became the stuff of legend.

But what actually happened at Gettysburg? Professor Glenn LaFantasie joins Don for this episode to take us through the key figures in the battle, their strategies and whether this really was the turning point of the Civil War.

Produced by Sophie Gee. Edited by Teän Stewart-Murray. Senior Producer was Charlotte Long.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	It's mid-November in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1863.
0:05.0	Clear, cool?
0:07.0	Around 50 degrees, we are walking with our neighbors,
0:10.0	all of us returning from the dedication of a new cemetery that holds the Union dead from the battle here four months ago back in early July
0:18.0	Everybody's walking not too many are talking it has been a day to mourn the dead. All around the muddy fields there are still
0:26.2	remnants of the fighting, clothing, discarded shoes, pieces of weapons, people have
0:31.7	been injured finding things.
0:35.4	The ceremony was held a short spell from town.
0:38.0	Edward Everett, the famous orator, spoke for about two hours laying blame at the feet of the Confederacy, no argument there.
0:45.0	Some music was played and then the President Abe Lincoln himself rose up and spoke.
0:49.7	Only for a couple minutes was all, but it's his words I'm wondering about. The world will
0:55.5	little note nor long remember what we say here but it can never forget what they
1:00.8	did here.
1:07.0	Can't speak to the first part, but he's sure right about the second. No matter how much we try, the marks of this battle will not leave us any time soon,
1:11.0	and may very well never do so. Hello, welcome to American History Yet. Nice to have you back. I'm Don Wildman.
1:34.0	This week, 160 years ago, July 1st through the 3rd, 1863,
1:40.0	one of the most consequential battles in American military history took place within our own borders.
1:46.0	In South Central Pennsylvania, the Battle of Gettysburg between forces of the Army of the Potomac,
1:51.0	under the command of General George Meade, and the Army of Northern Virginia,
1:55.2	led by Robert E. Lee.
1:57.1	The broad strokes of this clash are the familiar stuff of recorded history, legend almost,
2:02.4	northernmost incursion by southern forces seeking to bring
	...

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