[AltaGuy]

During the three day battle of Gettysburg - possibly the bloodiest ever battle - General Lee tried to build on the recent successes of the Confederates by launching a foray north into Union territory. After a series of small victories for the Confederates, the Union army had dug in on a steep hill above Gettysburg in a “U” formation. Believing victory to be imminent, a cavalry assault was led by General Pickett up a steep hill on the center of the Union position. 12,500 cavalry charged into a hail of cannon, artillery, and gun fire leading to almost 12,000 dead Confederate cavalry and fewer than 1,000 dead Union soldiers. Although there was some fierce hand-to-hand fighting on the ridge, riding horses up a steep incline into heavy artillery has never made much sense since.

The failed assault led to Lee retreating and ultimately a complete reversal of fortunes in the Civil War.