What was the purpose of Gettys Berg battle?

Answer 1

The objectives of the Gettysburg Campaign for the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia were:

1. Advance into Pennsylvania to threaten Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Baltimore and Washington.

2. Advance into Pennsylvania to draw the Union Army of the Potomac north resulting in both armies moving out of the Shenandoah Valley, which had suffered crop losses for over a year by constant fighting there.

3. To draw the Army of the Potomac into a major battle and to totally defeat it, which would:

A. Open the route to Baltimore and Washington

B. Generate Diplomatic Recognition of the Confederacy by European countries, in particular Great Britain.

The objective of the Army of the Potomac was to defend Northern ground against the Confederates. The Army of the Potomac was moving in reaction to the movement of the Army of Northern Virginia.

To see why the Armies fought at Gettysburg, you should study the maps of the town and the surrounding areas including Adams County, Franklin County, Cumberland County, and York County, and you will see the major roads enter Gettysburg looking like a spider web. With that many roads, it was easier and faster to move the armies and their supply wagon trains from various locations to Gettysburg. It was a natural place for the armies to meet there.

Answer 2

There was no purpose to it. The battle happened by accident and became one of the worse in the war.