Lincolns Gettysburg Address The battle was waged on

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

The battle was waged on Pennsylvania soil on July 1 -3, 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg was a Union victory and the turning point of the war. n 6334 died (2834 Union; 3500 Confederate). n 28, 209 wounded (13, 709 Union; 14, 500 Conf. ) n 20, 264 missing (6, 643 Union; 13, 621 Conf. ) n Dedication service for the cemetery originally scheduled for 23 September 1863, but was postponed when the n

The people of Gettysburg asked Lincoln to be the keynote speaker but he declined – he had a war and a country to run and could not say definitely he would be there. n Edward Everett, a Unitarian minister, former governor of Massachusetts, and Sec. of State under Millard Fillmore, was chosen as keynote speaker – he was considered the best orator in the nation at the time. n November 19, 1863 was cold and drizzly – 15, 000 people came to the service. n

n n n Everett spoke for almost two hours, detailing the history of those who fought the battles – it also chastised (scolded) the South. Lincoln spoke second – he recognized the need to dedicate the cemetery and honor those who were buried there, but he also knew that he needed to gain support for a war that was becoming so costly to both sides. Lincoln noted that the CW was a test of ideals for which the colonials fought in 1776. He urged Americans to devote themselves to the task begun by the honored dead – “to preserve freedom for all Americans. ”

The speech begins with the words, “Four score and seven years ago …” That is 87 years. n Lincoln spoke for slightly more than two minutes! n