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July 3, 2006


Casino Battle: Viva Las Gettysburg

American Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg

During the American Civil War (1861–65), Company K, 1st Pennsylvania Reserves, was made up of men from Gettysburg. This unit was present in the Army of the Potomac during the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1–3, 1863. As nearly 160,000 soldiers descended on the small village, the battle raged all around and through the town. On July 1 the Theological Seminary was the scene of much heavy fighting, and the Seminary buildings—as well as those of Pennsylvania College and most other public and many private buildings—were used as hospitals. President Abraham Lincoln visited the town in November 1863 to attend the dedication ceremony of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, where he gave his Gettysburg Address.