The high water mark of the Confederacy

The Battle of Gettysburg, in early July, 1863, began promisingly for Lee and his Confederate forces, but as the fighting progressed it became clear that in a pounding match where Meade’s Union force remained nailed defensively to high ground it would take a master stroke on Lee’s part for the Confederates to prevail. Attacks to turn the Union flank had failed leading to a decision to launch a concerted direct assault of converging regiments on the centre of the Union line, which was commanded by Hancock. The...