Before I begin with Cambria County Newspaper coverage of Gettysburg. I just want to take some time to review the events of the actual battle.
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought July 1–3, 1863, was a pivotal Union victory and the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, marking a turning point in the conflict.
The Battle of Gettysburg occurred when Confederate General Robert E. Lee, after victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, launched a second invasion of the North in June 1863 to pressure the Union and potentially gain foreign recognition for the Confederacy. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, numbering around 75,000 men, moved through Maryland into Pennsylvania, aiming for Harrisburg and possibly Philadelphia. The Union Army of the Potomac, under newly appointed Major General George G. Meade, pursued Lee to defend Northern territory and protect Washington, D.C.
July 1, 1863
The battle began unexpectedly when Confederate forces under Major General Henry Heth encountered Union cavalry led by Brigadier General John Buford near Gettysburg. Union infantry reinforcements, commanded by Major General John F. Reynolds, arrived, but Reynolds was killed in action. The Confederates initially pushed Union forces through the town, but the Union regrouped on high ground at Cemetery Hill, establishing a strong defensive position.
July 2, 1863
On the second day, Lee attempted to flank the Union positions. Heavy fighting occurred at Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, and Culp’s Hill. Despite significant Confederate gains in some areas, Union forces held key positions, using interior lines to reinforce threatened sectors effectively. Union General Daniel Sickles’ forward movement to the Peach Orchard created a vulnerable salient, resulting in heavy casualties for his III Corps.
July 3, 1863
The final day featured Pickett’s Charge, a direct assault by approximately 12,500 Confederate troops on the center of the Union line at Cemetery Ridge. The attack was repulsed with severe Confederate losses, marking the high-water mark of the Confederacy. Lee’s army, battered and depleted, retreated to Virginia on July 4, ending the battle.
Casualties and Outcome
The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in approximately 46,000 to 51,000 casualties, including killed, wounded, captured, or missing soldiers, making it the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The Union victory halted Lee’s invasion of the North and shifted the momentum of the war in favor of the Union.
Now onto local Cambria County Newspaper Coverage from "The Democrat & Sentinel" and "The Ebensburg Alleghanian". I don't have access to "The Johnstown Tribune" just yet - so their coverage is missing. Remember these papers were published once a week and given the publish date of July 9th - the news included would already have been a week old. But having said that - let me tell you I was so looking forward to seeing what they both had to say about this important event - but was I in for a let down. Their coverage is underwhelming in the Sentinel at best and basically nonexistent in the Alleghenian. I am just amazed by it all - both papers spent more time fighting with each other - one was a Copperhead paper and the other backed the Union League.
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First off - this clipping from "The Alleghanian" - dated July 9th. which did their best to down play that there was any kind of battle at all. I just don't get it. And that's it for this paper that backed the Union League. You would have thought they would have been happy about the Union victory.
The rest of these clippings are going to be from "The Democrat & Sentinel" which backed the Copperhead movement. It reads to me that they aren't completely happy either that we won ...they hate Lincoln and his policies that much....strange to say the least. After this - they published a couple of Official Dispatches for the rest of their coverage - which would have been sent to them by telegraph,
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