Show heavy losses marked civil war engagement in the hotly contested battle of gettysburg july 1 2 and 3 1803 1063 general lees army of northern virginia about strong was defeated by the federal army of the potomac composed of about men under general meade on july 1 hills and ewells confederate corps drove union troops oft off seminary ridge through gettysburg and back to cemetery ridge Cene cemetery tery hill and gulps culps hill the following day longstreeth Long streets corps drove the union III corps under sickles SIc kIs from an advanced position at the peach orchard back to cemetery ridge and the Con confederate confider feder ate army occupied seminary ridge about 3 p m on july 3 general pickett led confederates in a daring ch charge arge across the valley between the two ridges up the slopes 0 cemetery ridge into murderous li ai tillery and musket fire but was forced back in defeat by the philadelphia brigade fewer than of cf picketts men got back to confederate lines and lee began the withdrawal of his men union losses were put at approximately while confederate losses were about |