July 1–3, 1863Reputable sourceWell documented
The Battle of Gettysburg
On the timeline · around July 1–3, 1863 ·
What happened
Over three days in Pennsylvania, Lee's second invasion of the North was defeated in the largest battle ever fought in the Western Hemisphere, culminating in the failed assault known as Pickett's Charge. The battle produced some 51,000 casualties — the most of any Civil War battle.
Why it matters
Gettysburg was the turning point of the war in the East; after it, Lee's army could never again mount a major offensive.