Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and Union blockade of GA's coast

General Lee in charge of the Confederates decided to give up his defensive strategy and attack the Union. The Battle of Gettysburg took place on July 1 - July 3, 1863 in Pennsylvania. The Confederates attacked with 75,000 soldiers, while the Union defended their land with 85,000 men under General Meade's direction. This was also considered then largest battle of the Civil war and the largest battle ever fought in North America. After three long days the South retreated having lost about one-third of their army or 28,000 men. However, the Union lost only 23,000 men and could have ended the war, but Meade decided not to pursue the fleeing Confederates. This vital win and the win at Vicksburg were considered the turning point of the civil war. Only a few months later the Union decided to attack the Confederate in North Georgia. From September 19-20, 1863 the Battle of Chickamauga had the second highest number of casualties. Rosecran, the Union general was not an aggressive leader and at one point misinformed that there was a gap between his men. He tried to fix the gap by only creating a larger gap where Confederate general Braxton Bragg attacked. The Union had to retire to Chattanooga and the South could consider this battle one their first victories in a while. In the aftermath the North had 16,170 casualties and the South had 18,454 casualties. This battle and the battle of Chattanooga later lead to Sherman's March to Sea. The Union blockade of Georgia's coast ruined the economy of the South. To transport goods they had to use the rickety railroads because ships were stopped if they tried to leave the South by Union ships. Moreover, cotton exports decreased 95% and there was famine in the South. Most importantly Lee's army had few supplies and this caused many riots to break out.
Pictures:
1.http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Battle_of_Gettysburg.jpg
2.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chickamauga
3.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chickamauga
4.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Scott-anaconda.jpg