150 Years Ago

(The defense of Little Round Top by the 20th Maine on the 2nd day of the battle.)

On July 3 1863 the three day long Battle of Gettysburg ended with an heroic but futile mass infantry assault on the Federal Army's center commanded by General George Picket (CSA). The assault was easily repelled by the well positioned Union troops who decimated the 15,000 Confederate's as they advanced over open ground in a classic Napoleonic style bayonet attack. Following the failed charge Confederate General Robert E. Lee conceded the battle and withdrew his army back into Virginia. Most historians consider the Gettysburg campaign to have been the South's last real chance to win the Civil War.

Combined casualties from the three days of battle exceeded 50,000 killed, rivaling the number of US losses over the entire Vietnam War.