The "first shot" marker in Gettysburg, PA

On this day in 1863, General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate forces met U.S. General Meade and the Union forces at Gettysburg. It would be the CSA's "high water mark" in the American Civil War.

Over the course of three days, thousands of Americans lost their lives as the fractured Union continued the struggle that would define us as a nation. To this day, vultures still circle the field. Some scientists theorize that some of the birds could be the very same ones that reaped the grim spoils of that very battle.

Casualties (estimates vary):
Union KIA - 3,155
Union Wounded - 14,530
Union MIA - 5,365

Confederate KIA - 2,600 - 4,500
Confederate Wounded - 12,800
Confederate MIA - 5,250

To learn more about Gettysburg, visit:
The American Civil War - The Battle of Gettysburg
Military History Online - The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg Official Records and Battle Description
Three Days at Gettysburg
Gettysburg National Military Park

I had the privilege of being one of the reenactors at the 135th anniversary reenactment at Gettysburg in 1998. For some battles, we had near accurate numbers. I had a bird's eye view of Pickett's charge from behind the Union lines, up the hill from the 69th New York (Fighting Irish). It was both awesome and terrible, my enjoyment tempered with the knowledge that while reenactors get up at the end of the battle, thousands of Americans didn't in 1863. The battlefield is one of the most amazing locations I've ever visited - make a point to go.

UPDATE: Be sure to visit JackArmy to see some of his pics of the 135th Anniversary of Gettysburg. I'll try to find and post some of my "bird's eye" photos this weekend.