the story of Tillie Pierce page 4 by ric gustafson
By 1862, General Robert E Lee knew that in order to defeat the Union army, he would have to invade the North. To the people of Southern Pennsylvania, there was deep concern. Pennsylvania was a Union state and it was close to the Mason Dixon line. Lee knew that in order to win the war, he had to march into, fight and win a battle in the North. His army needed food and supplies and the North was full of each. Not only that, Lee knew his army needed a boost in morale to continue the war.
Lee wanted to threaten key cities in the North including Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Taking one of those cities might influence a country like France to join it's fight.
In September 1862, the two armies fought at Antietam near Sharpsburg Maryland. The two day battle was costly for both armies with no clear victory for either side. It was the single bloodiest day of battle in US history. One month later, Confederate forces raided Chambersburg 25 miles west of Gettysburg. They took supplies, horses and burned warehouses. In December 1862, Confederate forces won a victory at Fredericksburg Virginia which was just south of Gettysburg.
Tillie Pierce and the other residents of Gettysburg knew it was only a matter of time before war came to their doorstep.
research help: ' Tillie Pierce' by Tanya Anderson
Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric
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