A poll

[Maj.general]

Tell me

[bankssoldier12]

Gettysburg since it was the closest the confederacy came to gaining independance. :twisted:

[Bucktail72]

Although I live in Central PA and visit Gettysburg at least 3 times per year, I do not believe it had the most signifigance in The Civil War. Don't get me wrong, Gettysburg was HUGE in the war. If Lee would have executed, the world would be changed forever. Anyway, exactly one day after Pickett's infamous charge, the Missisippi city of Vicksburg fell, cutting the Confederacy in half. Take for instance, if Vicksburg would have been better manned and protected, the siege could have lasted a few more years. Therefore, causing the Union to put a little more emphasis on the city. Perhaps, even a complete pull-out of troops from the city and focused on other parts of the war. With the confederacy in half, The Union was much better off. It was a wonder why Washington kept as many troops in vicksburg when Lee marched North. You would expect the Union to make another blunder in sending reinforcements to the Army of the Potomac. Luckily, for history, they didn't. And that was what won the war for the Union, they finnally trusted their Generals, and they came through.

[Bucktail72]

That is a very good point. The knock-out blow was neccassary. Although, if they would have relieved Vicksburg that would have stalled the Union. I think we all know Lee could have held off Meade just like he did everyone else for 2 years. The slowing down of the war would have won the war for the South politically, like you mentioned. The north was growing war wreay and with defeat in Vicksburg, McClellan could be president.

[Bucktail72]

That much is true, but in order to see what made the biggest impact you really have to look at them as a one, two punch. The two losses in two days was a devastating blow to the South. They just couldn't find a way to recover. Lee's army was a few steps away from being virtually destroyed if only Meade would have pursued, the Confederacy was practally cut in half, and the South was now growing war weary.

[gettysburg man]

the siege of vicksburg, the union army just starved them and there were not alot of deaths but for gettysburg, it was a see-saw battle. so there were more deaths the biggest turning point of the battle for the union was pickett's charge. pickett made a foolish move. he attacked without longstreet's orders. most of pickett's men died before they could reach the union and those few who made it were quickly killed. so in that battle alone more men died than in the revolutionary war, the war of 1812, the mexican war, and the spanish-american war combined.