Gettysburg: the defining battle of the American Civil War

The battle of Gettysburg, which took place from 1-3 July 1863, has been seen as the turning point in the American Civil War.

This battle in Pennsylvania was the high point of the Confederate invasion of the North, led by the most eminent American commander, Robert E Lee. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

Gettysburg was also a defining moment in American national identity; it inspired Abraham Lincoln’s iconic address and forms part of the background to modern US society.

Frank Baldwin is a military historian and battlefield guide. He is a former Army Officer and a member  of the British Commission for Military History.