![]() ![]() Lincoln’s famous address that November honored the men who stood their ground against a furious assault. By a wide margin, Gettysburg spilled more blood than any other Civil War engagement. Casualties - including wounded, captured and missing - topped 50,000 for the two armies combined. The National Park Service records 3,155 Union and 3,500 Confederate deaths over the three days, but some students of the battle believe that the Confederate death toll was much higher. The battle was also an epic slaughter, the bloodiest chapter in a fratricidal war. Two immense armies collided in the fields and orchards and woods around Gettysburg, Pa., on July 1, 1863, and fought for three days, full-bore, no quarter given, a massive smash-up that was arguably the pivotal moment of the great conflict that sits at the heart of American history.Ībraham Lincoln called what happened in Gettysburg “a new birth of freedom,” a phrase that chiseled its way into our national civic poetry and the wall of his memorial. The main Stone Sentinels website explores over 50 related battlefields and other important Civil War sites from Pennsylvania to southern Virginia.It was the biggest battle of the war, unequaled in scale and violence by anything seen before or since on this continent. The Civil War in the East provides unit histories, biographies, and additional information of interest. Many of the pages on this site have links to two companion sites. They were people’s homes and shelters, and each has its unique story. The farms and other buildings around Gettysburg were not just background scenery to the battle. Over 50 tour maps let you see where the monuments are in relation to each other, the main roads and the terrain features of the park. The War Department also placed markers for each of the Confederate artillery batteries at the locations where they fought. In the early days of the park the War Department erected markers to over 100 Union and Confederate headquarters. These help visitors to understand the battle by detailing the actions of the brigades, divisions and corps. There are even two civilians – one who grabbed a gun and joined the fight, and another who represents the sacrifice and suffering of women in the Civil War. Over 40 monuments honor individuals. Most are to generals. But there is also a Medal of Honor recipient and two chaplains. There are only a few monuments to individual Confederate units. Most Confederate monuments have been erected by Southern states honoring all the veterans of that state. There are even some monuments to units that were not there. Almost every Federal regiment and battery that fought at Gettysburg is represented by one or more monuments. These are the most numerous monuments on the battlefield. Monuments to Union regiments and batteries There is also supporting information and links to background histories and biographies. ![]() This site lets you explore the battlefield, with photographs, text and map locations for each of the monuments and markers. Over 1200 monuments and markers help visitors explore one of the great turning points in American history. ![]() Many later returned to the Gettysburg battlefield to pass their memories on to future generations through messages of stone, bronze, and iron. The survivors knew they had been through one of history’s great struggles. More than a quarter were killed, wounded, or went into captivity. ![]() For three days over 160,000 men fought for their competing visions of America. The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest and deadliest battle of the American Civil War. ![]()
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