Who won the Battle of Gettysburg?
Another way of viewing the victory and defeat question is by examining which side completed its objectives. The southern Army was tasked with breaking through the Union lines and surrounding or capturing Washington. This would have almost certainly led to recognition of the Confederacy by England and France and would have forced an end to the war. They did not accomplish this goal. The Union was tasked with stopping the southern Army and breaking its ability to conduct the war. They were able to stop the southern advance, but the defensive posture taken by the Union Army left it unable to stop the retreat of the Confederate forces. Although the Confederacy was unbroken, it was damaged sufficiently to never again be able to mount a major attack. Thus the Union goals were partially met. The Union forces which were badly hurt in the battle were replenished with new recruits and equipment over the following months, while the South lost far more people than it could replace. So again, in th
