On June 24, 1863, General Robert E. Lee led his Confederate Army across the Potomac River and headed towards Pennsylvania. In response to this threat President Lincoln replaced his army commander, General Joseph Hooker, with General George Mead. As Lee's troops poured into Pennsylvania, Mead led the Union Army north from Washington to meet the Confederate Army. Another incident that occurred before July 1, but is credited to the Battle of Gettysburg, is the death of George W. …showed first 75 words of 745 total…

…showed last 75 words of 745 total…he was quickly asked to participate in the program and he accepted. At noon on November 19, 1863 the ceremonies began before a crowd of thousands. President Lincoln's speech lasted only two minutes, but it has been immortalized in history as the Gettysburg Address. The reverend in charge of the dedication, Edward Everett is said to have remarked that the President said more in two minutes than he had been able to say in his two hours.