Gettysburg-"Turning point"of the Civil War?

[JMadonna]

(07-15-2013 05:59 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Now, what's your opinion as to which victory in the first few days of July 1863 was the most important -- the fall of Vicksburg to Union forces, or winning at Gettysburg?

Depends on which criteria you use.

Vicksburg was more important from the Union's strategic point of view. Secondly, Pemberton lost his entire army of 30,000 without firing a shot. Compare manpower losses to both sides and Vicksburg is the winner.

Militarily, the victory at Vicksburg cut the amount of territory held by the Confederates to whatever Lee and the Army of Tennessee could hold. Gettysburg re-won the State of Pennsylvania.

Psychologically, Lee was the king of the battlefield so his loss gave the propaganda organs in the east something good to write about.