1863

Battle of Gettysburg Begins in Pennsylvania

By 1863 the American Civil War had raged for two years, with Confederate General Robert E. Lee seeking to relieve pressure on Virginia and possibly influence Northern politics. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia invaded Pennsylvania in late June. On July 1, advance Confederate forces under Major General Henry Heth clashed with Union cavalry under Brigadier General John Buford west of Gettysburg while seeking supplies. Union infantry from the I Corps under Major General John F. Reynolds arrived to support, leading to intense fighting on McPherson Ridge and eventually through the town. Reynolds was killed early in the engagement. By evening, Union forces had withdrawn to defensive positions on Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill as more Confederate troops arrived.

Why it matters: The three-day battle that opened on July 1 became the bloodiest of the Civil War and marked the high-water mark of the Confederacy in the East. It ended Lee's second invasion of the North, boosted Union morale, and set the stage for later Union victories that preserved the United States.

Union Holds Little Round Top at Gettysburg

In the summer of 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's second invasion of the North reached a climax near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where Union forces under General George G. Meade had taken defensive positions on high ground. On the second day of the battle, July 2, Lee ordered attacks against both flanks of the Union line, including a critical assault on Little Round Top on the Union left. Confederate troops under General John Bell Hood advanced up the rocky slopes against a thin Union defense initially held by Colonel Strong Vincent's brigade. The 20th Maine Regiment under Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, facing ammunition shortages, fixed bayonets and charged downhill in a desperate counterattack that repelled the Confederates. The Union victory on this key terrain preserved Meade's flank and contributed to the overall Federal success at Gettysburg.

Why it matters: The successful defense of Little Round Top prevented the Confederates from turning the Union left flank and seizing a dominant position that could have altered the battle's outcome. It highlighted the importance of terrain and rapid tactical decisions in Civil War engagements. The stand helped ensure the Union's strategic victory at Gettysburg, which marked a turning point in the war by ending Lee's offensive capabilities in the North.

Battle of Gettysburg Concludes with Pickett's Charge

During the American Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's second invasion of the North reached a climax in southern Pennsylvania. Union forces under Major General George G. Meade had taken defensive positions on high ground around Gettysburg after several days of fighting. On the battle's final day, July 3, 1863, Lee ordered a massive infantry assault across open fields against the Union center on Cemetery Ridge, known as Pickett's Charge, following an artillery bombardment. Approximately 12,500 Confederate troops advanced under devastating fire, briefly breaching lines before being repulsed with heavy casualties. Lee then withdrew his army southward, ending the campaign.

Why it matters: The Union victory at Gettysburg, with over 50,000 total casualties, halted Lee's northern offensive and is widely regarded as the war's turning point, boosting Northern morale and enabling later advances. It preserved the Union and contributed to the eventual Confederate defeat while shaping modern understandings of Civil War strategy and sacrifice.

Confederate Forces Surrender at Vicksburg

After a 47-day siege, Confederate lieutenant general John C. Pemberton capitulated to Union major general Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863, ending the Battle of Vicksburg. Grant's forces had encircled the Mississippi River stronghold in May, cutting off supplies and bombarding the city relentlessly. Pemberton's 30,000 troops marched out and stacked arms; many were paroled rather than imprisoned. The victory gave the Union complete control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two and fulfilling a key strategic objective outlined by President Lincoln. News of the surrender reached the North on July 4, coinciding with celebrations of Independence Day and boosting morale after earlier setbacks.

Why it matters: Vicksburg's fall secured Union dominance of the Mississippi, isolating Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana from the rest of the Confederacy and enabling further western campaigns. Grant's success elevated him to overall command of Union armies the following year. The date also cemented July 4 as a day of Union triumph in the western theater of the Civil War.

Civil Rights 19th Century North Americahigh

New York City Draft Riots Erupt

The American Civil War entered its third year with the Union facing manpower shortages after victories like Gettysburg. Congress had passed a conscription law in March 1863 that allowed wealthy men to buy exemptions, angering working-class immigrants who bore the burden. On July 13, the first draft lottery in New York City sparked immediate violence as crowds attacked the draft office on Third Avenue, destroying the wheel used for selections. The unrest quickly escalated into four days of riots involving arson, looting, and targeted attacks on African Americans, whom rioters blamed for the war and job competition. Police and militia eventually restored order, but the violence left over 100 dead and highlighted class and racial tensions in the North.

Why it matters: The riots represented the largest civil insurrection in U.S. history outside the Civil War itself and exposed deep divisions over conscription and race. They forced temporary suspension of the draft in New York and influenced later policies on exemptions while underscoring the war's domestic costs.

54th Massachusetts Leads Assault on Fort Wagner

During the American Civil War, Union forces under Brigadier General Quincy A. Gillmore sought to capture Confederate Battery Wagner on Morris Island, South Carolina, as part of efforts to threaten Charleston. The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first African American regiments raised in the North, was selected to lead the second major assault on July 18, 1863, following an initial failed attempt earlier that month. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw commanded the 54th as roughly 600 of its members advanced across open beach under heavy artillery and musket fire toward the fort's walls. The attack failed to take the position, resulting in over 1,500 Union casualties including the death of Shaw and many from the 54th, though the regiment's bravery was widely reported. The engagement highlighted the combat effectiveness of Black soldiers and helped shift public and military attitudes toward their enlistment.

Why it matters: The battle demonstrated the valor of African American troops, contributing directly to the recruitment of nearly 200,000 Black soldiers in the Union Army and bolstering arguments for equal treatment. It became a symbol of the fight for civil rights within the military and inspired later depictions such as the film Glory. The event reinforced the broader pattern of African Americans pushing for inclusion in the war effort and national institutions.