A MOST GLORIOUS FOURTH

Observations from the past

On the Fourth of July, 1863, the nation passed through what would eventually be seen as the most deadly crisis in its entire history. Beginning on July 1, seven corps of the Army of the Potomac slugged it out with three corps of the Army of Northern Virginia outside of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Each side weighted their armies differently, but estimates put the Union forces at about 110,000, the Confederates at about 85,000.