The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863)

For the second time in the war, General Robert E. Lee marched into Northern territory, this time into Maryland and Pennsylvania. Lee had hopes to surprise the Union army, win the battle, and start peace negotiations or at least receive foreign aid. Lee did surprise the Union army with a bombardment, however, he did not win the battle. What took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the bloodiest battle of the war, amounting to over 50,000 casualties. 

 Peter Rothermel: Charge of the Pennsylvania Reserves at Plum Run,
Battle of Gettysburg
Found at: http://19thcenturyusapaint.blogspot.com/2012/09/civil-war.html

Prior to the battle, the Confederates surrendered Vicksburg. In effect, the Union controlled the Mississippi River and the western theater of the war. Soon after Vicksburg, the Battle of Gettysburg took place, and delivered a major blow to the Army of Northern Virginia (Lee's Army). Now the Confederacy was in a corner, weak, and vulnerable, which is why Gettysburg is considered to be the turning point of the civil war. The result of the battle excited the North, but put the South in dispair.

Interesting Fact: Lincoln did not honorably bury Confederate dead, he only dedicated the cemetery at Gettysburg to the dead of the Union.

Map of the Battle of Gettysburg
Found at: www.civilwar.org