S. G. Elliott & Co., Elliott's Map of the Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (1864)

The Battle of Gettysburg was fought from July 1st to July 3rd, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Before the battle, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s 75,000-man army had just won the Battle of Chancellorsville and was planning to launch a second invasion of Union territory. His army was moving toward Pennsylvania, looking for fresh supplies and food. Meanwhile, Union General George Meade was leading the 90,000 Army of the Potomac northward, making sure his army was between Lee’s and Washington D.C. Meade sought to both defend the routes to D.C and pursue Lee’s army. After Lee’s army crossed the Potomac, a spy informed him that Meade’s army was close, so Lee moved his army to Gettysburg. On July 1, a Confederate division marched to Gettysburg to seize supplies, and in an unplanned engagement, ran into the Union cavalry. Fighting then ensued and reinforcements joined both sides of the fight. Confederate soldiers numbering 30,000 overwhelmed the 20,000 Union soldiers, causing the Union to fall back through Gettysburg. On July 2nd, the Confederate soldiers wrapped around the Union position and Lee launched a heavy assault on the Union’s left flank. Union forces had to use reinforcements to fight back, while the Confederates were also attacking the Union on the right. The Confederates gained ground on both ends, but the Union defense held strong. On July 3rd, the final day of the battle, Lee wanted to capitalize on the gains his army had made the day prior and launched renewed attacks on the Union’s lines. Confederate General James Longstreet commanded a dramatic infantry assault against the center of the Union position composed of 12,500 Confederate soldiers, about half of which were a part of General George E. Pickett’s Virginia infantry division. This attack ended very poorly for the Confederacy with about 60 percent of the men experiencing casualties in what is now known as Pickett’s Charge. Pickett’s Charge solidified the Confederate’s defeat at Gettysburg causing them to retreat. The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point for the Union in the Civil War, but it was also the bloodiest single battle of the war, with an estimated 50,000 casualties. This map by S.G. Elliott documents the carnage of the battle, showing breastworks and rifle pits, graves of Union and Confederate soldiers, and even horse carcasses. In addition, the map shows roads and streets relief by hachures, vegetation, drainage, houses, and names of residents. The map has served as an important resource for historians and preservationists seeking to understand the events and aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg.