Battle of Gettysburg (E Pluribus Duo)

The Battle of Gettysburg is the most famous battle of the Civil War. The battle was the first and final battle of the Harrisburg Campaign, which, if successful, would have likely caused the defeat of the Federation. The battle was the bloodiest of the war, with over 60,000 total casualties.

The main commanders of the battle were Robert E. Lee for the Union and George Meade for the Confederacy. Lee put P.G.T. Beauregard in charge of his right flank and Stonewall Jackson in charge of his left flank.

The battle lasted five days, before the Union troops finally retreated. The retreat, according to a book later written by P.G.T. Beauregard, was a result of three causes: The death of Stonewall Jackson, and slow reaction by the left flank; The rainstorms on October 7th which created an easy cover; and the depletion of cannonballs for the Union.

Both sides captured many prisoners of war. About one third of all prisoners of war from the Civil War were taken during Gettysburg, including John Gibbon, an important general during the battle, and Benjamin Alvord Jr, who would sue in Alvord v. Confederate States about the constitutional right to pardon. The Prisoners of war would be an important issue after the war.