During the American Civil War, General Robert E. Lee led his army into Pennsylvania in 1863 with the hope of achieving several objectives. First, he aimed to relieve the pressure on northern Virginia, the scene of many battles in the previous years. Second, he intended to ravage Northern soil in order to demoralize the North's will to fight. Third, he hoped to secure a decisive military victory over any Northern armies that might oppose him, perhaps leading to the seizure of the North's capital.
First time round (September 1862) - to impress the British, who were treating this campaign as a test of Confederate viability, with a view to granting recognition and sending military aid.
Second time round (June 1863) - to gather supplies from this prosperous state, as the South was starved of imports by the blockade, and its farmland increasingly ravaged by combat and troop movement. In particular, he had his eye on a boot-and-shoe factory near Gettysburg, as his troops were largely going barefoot.
To invade Pennsylvania, occupy more of the territory surrounding Washington, and defeat Northern armies on their own soil.
As before, in his earlier attempt to invade the North, he had divided his army into widely-separated divisions, and then had to concentrate them in a hurry when he was wrong-footed by events. Gettysburg was where he more-or-less collided with the Army of the Potomac, though he was also motivated to plunder an industrial region where there was - among other things - a boot-and-shoe factory nearby, where the Confederates could replenish their chronic footwear shortage.
First, Maryland (Battle of Antietam). Next, Pennsylvania. (Battle of Gettysburg). After losing this battle, Lee would shake his fist at the sky, declaring that even the skies were against him in Pennsylvania.
They were part of Lee's only two attempts to invade Pennsylvania.
Trying to invade Pennsylvania in July 1863 - according to Longstreet, one of the Generals blamed for the defeat at Gettysburg. Otherwise his strategies and tactics were very sound. His basic mistake was to throw in his lot with the Confederates in the first place. If he'd stayed in the U.S.Army, the war would not have lasted long.
To invade Pennsylvania, occupy more of the territory surrounding Washington, and defeat Northern armies on their own soil.
Many believe Lee's greatest asset was his ability to invade Pennsylvania. The Gettysburg Campaign took place in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia in 1863.
As before, in his earlier attempt to invade the North, he had divided his army into widely-separated divisions, and then had to concentrate them in a hurry when he was wrong-footed by events. Gettysburg was where he more-or-less collided with the Army of the Potomac, though he was also motivated to plunder an industrial region where there was - among other things - a boot-and-shoe factory nearby, where the Confederates could replenish their chronic footwear shortage.
First, Maryland (Battle of Antietam). Next, Pennsylvania. (Battle of Gettysburg). After losing this battle, Lee would shake his fist at the sky, declaring that even the skies were against him in Pennsylvania.
They were part of Lee's only two attempts to invade Pennsylvania.
General Robert E. Lee would invade the Union state of Maryland in 1862 and Pennsylvania in 1863, but was driven out after the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, respectively.
Pennsylvania, where he was defeated at Gettysburg, and never tried to invade the North again. He would shake his fist at the sky, and shout "Even the skies are against me in Pennsylvania."
The plan to invade the prosperous state of Pennsylvania, to forage for his men and plunder the state for supplies.
Trying to invade Pennsylvania in July 1863 - according to Longstreet, one of the Generals blamed for the defeat at Gettysburg. Otherwise his strategies and tactics were very sound. His basic mistake was to throw in his lot with the Confederates in the first place. If he'd stayed in the U.S.Army, the war would not have lasted long.
That Confederate general was Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.
They did not invade the North again, and they did not win the war.
The rich farmland of Virginia had been devastated by the fighting, and the Confederates were on short rations. Lee decided he would need to invade the prosperous Northern state of Pennsylvania for food supplies. Also the men were often barefoot, and there was a boot-and-shoe factory at Gettysburg.