The Attack Across Gettysburg
On July 3, 1863, thousands of Confederate soldiers crossed open fields toward a Union position at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Their attack lasted only a short time, but its outcome and human cost became an important part of the Civil War’s history.
The Civil War was fought between the United States, known as the Union, and the Confederacy, formed by Southern states that had left the Union. Slavery was central to the conflict. At Gettysburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee hoped to defeat the Union army on Northern soil. After two days of fighting, he ordered an attack near the center of the Union line.
The assault is often called Pickett’s Charge, but George Pickett commanded only one of the groups involved. Soldiers under James Pettigrew and other commanders also took part, so it is sometimes called the Pickett-Pettigrew attack. About 12,500 Confederate soldiers advanced toward Union troops posted along Cemetery Ridge.
Before the advance, Confederate cannons fired at the Union position. The bombardment did not destroy the Union defenses as hoped. As the attackers crossed the fields, Union cannons and soldiers fired on them. Some Confederates reached the Union line and briefly broke through, but Union troops pushed them back. The attack failed.
- assault:
- A forceful attack.
- advance:
- A movement forward, especially toward an enemy.
- bombardment:
- An attack using repeated cannon fire.
- defenses:
- People or structures used to protect a position from attack.
- consequences:
- Results or effects of an event.
- retreated:
- Moved back or withdrew from a position.
- invasion:
- An act of entering a place with an army to attack or take control.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What was Lee hoping to accomplish at Gettysburg, and where did he order the attack?
- 2Why is the name Pickett-Pettigrew attack more inclusive than Pickett’s Charge?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“The Attack Across Gettysburg” is a explanatory article reading passage about Battle of Gettysburg, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (288 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.