General Lee and the Confederate Army fought fiercely at the Battle of Gettysburg. But they went down to defeat. The Northern soldiers refused to break. Lee, at last, had to stop fighting. The Confederate army suffered great losses and was forced to return to the South.
Many more battles would be fought during the Civil War. Some were just as terrible as the one at Gettysburg. Yet few are remembered so well.
Gettysburg was the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on the North American continent. More than 3,000 Confederate soldiers had been killed. Two thousand five hundred Union soldiers were killed. Many thousands on both sides were wounded. The terrible job of clearing the battlefield was left to the Union soldiers who had won the battle.
Five months later, the president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, gave his memorable speech at the Gettysburg cemetery.
President Lincoln felt it was his duty to speak at the dedication ceremony. He hoped his words might ease the sorrow over the loss of so many. He knew he needed to lift the spirits of the nation.
For a few moments, let us imagine that it is November 19th, 1863. The weather is cool. There are clouds in the sky. A huge crowd awaits the ceremony. Military bands play.
It is almost noon. We have arrived at the Gettysburg cemetery. Fifteen thousand people have come to hear a famous speaker -- Edward Everett -- and President Abraham Lincoln. A prayer is said, and Mr. Everett begins to speak. For two hours, he speaks. He talks of ancient burial ceremonies. He tells how the young soldiers who had died here should be honored. At last, Edward Everett finishes.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25