Design
The Story of the Battle of Gettysburg, Told Through Maps
Though limited, these sketches help explain what happened, and why.
During the early morning hours of July 3, 1863, the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee issued orders for a massive military assault on Union troops. It proved to be disastrous for the Confederates, forcing Lee to retreat and ultimately abandon his attempt to reach Washington, D.C. through Pennsylvania.
As Rebecca Rosen points out over at The Atlantic, surveillance technology lacked much in the way of aerial capabilities, leaving Lee unaware of just how many Union troops he was attacking on the final two days of battle.