The outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, during the American Civil War, was a significant turning point for the Union. The battle resulted in a decisive victory for Union forces, led by General George Meade, against Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Considered the largest battle ever fought on American soil, Gettysburg marked the beginning of the decline of the Confederate military's offensive capabilities. The high casualties incurred by both sides, along with Lincoln’s subsequent Gettysburg Address, underscored the war's moral stakes and helped galvanize public support for the Union cause.