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The Army of the Potomac, now commanded by General George G. Meade, followed the Confederates northward. General Meade led the army of about 90,000 troops to victory against General Lee's army of about 75,000. The two forces met accidentally in the little town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The shooting began when a Confederate brigade ran into Union cavalrymen in Gettysburg on July 1.
The two armies spent the first day maneuvering for position. Northern troops settled south of town in a strong defensive position. Lee tried to crack the left side of the Union's defense on the second day. The assault crushed a Northern corps, but failed to occupy the position. Only July 3, Lee decided to aim directly at the Union center. General George E. Pickett's troops advanced across an open field and up the slopes of Cemetary Ridge into a murderous Northern discharge. The reached the crest of the ridge, but could not hold the position. Lee withdrew his wornout army to Virginia. Never again would Lee be able to launch an offensive into a Union state.
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