![]() ![]() The Civil War (1861-1865) was an epic period in the American experience. His simple explanation told the story: "We gained nothing but glory, and lost our bravest men." James must have wondered how he could possibly describe this enormous loss to his loved ones. The Confederacy lost the Battle of Gettysburg and never again, in a major action, was able to fight on Union soil. But in less than an hour, one-half of the men who marched with him became casualties. James and his comrades believed that the fate of the Confederacy hung on their efforts. ![]() He explained that on July 3 his unit had been ordered to march about one mile over open, slightly undulating farmland toward a battle-hardened Union army that was defending its own northern soil. James of the 11th Virginia Infantry, Confederate States of America, sat down to write a letter to his family telling them of his experiences at the Battle of Gettysburg. This lesson is part of the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) program. ![]()
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