Press Officer Rick Purnell writes ….

Carnage at Gettysburg…

A member of Paignton Probus Club, Paul Young gave the Teignmouth club members an illustrated insight to a pivotal battle during the American Civil War (1861-65) – the battle of Gettysburg Pennsylvania in 1863.

This was the time when the North American ‘territories’ were joining together to form the ‘Union’ by President Abraham Lincoln who promoted a one nation state, He supported the abolition of slavery for all who wished to join.

The Southern States who would not denounce slavery broke away from the Union and formed the ‘breakaway’ Confederate States which lead to the 4 years of Civil War.

The Union was more industrialised with 22m people versus the Confederates mostly an agricultural economy of 9m citizen plus 3.5m slaves.

The Union was represented by the Army of the Potomac consisting of some 82,000+ infantry troops, 372 artillery pieces and 36 cavalry regiments, better equipped, horses state provided and pay $13 a month.

The Confederates by the Army of North Virginia had some 75,000 or more infantry, 270 artillery pieces and over 9000 cavalry who had to provide their own horse with pay of $11 a month.

Napoleonic tactics were still how battles were conducted at the time.

The Confederate Army led by General Robert E. Lee was mobilised marching north to attack the Union’s Capital Washington. The Union Army was marching south to engage the ‘enemy’ to prevent the attack.

The two armies managed to pass each other. The Confederates on passing Gettysburg, a group went on a raid as they heard there was a store with lots of boots the troops needed. The Union scouts located the Confederates and the Union army about turned to go North and the Confederates approached back to the south to engage. Unionists arrived first and set up superior defensive positions around the town.

The sides were not evenly matched with Unionist holding the advantage from the start. Three days of bloody battle ensued with very high casualties on both sides. The final Confederate effort known as ‘Pickett’s Charge’ on the last day consisted of some 16,000 infantrymen charging from open ground on the Union Army positions. The defending Unionists prevailed but both suffering dreadful casualties.

The Union                   – 3155 killed, 14,529 wounded and 5365 captured in POW camps.

The Confederates        - 3900 killed. 18.735 wounded and 5425 captured (The Unionists claim their numbers captured were much more).

The total deaths during the American Civil War exceeded 750,000, more than the combined total number of Americans killed in ALL wars since.  

Member Roger Williams gave the vote of thanks.