The battle of Gettysburg was the Civil War’s deadliest and is widely credited with being a turning point after the Union army stopped Confederates from advancing further into the North.
That much is clear.
What former President Donald Trump has to say about the battle that claimed over 50,000 lives over three days is less direct.
“Our Union was saved by the immortal heroes at Gettysburg. Gettysburg, what an unbelievable battle that was, the battle at Gettysburg, what an unbelievable. I mean, it was so much and so interesting, and so vicious and horrible, and so beautiful is so many different ways,” Trump said at a rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, about two hours from Gettysburg.
Trump continued: “It represented such a big portion of the success of this country. Gettysburg, wow. I go to Gettysburg’s Pennsylvania to look and to watch, and the statement of Robert E. Lee, who’s no longer in favor, did you ever notice that? No longer in favor. ‘Never fight up him, me boys. Never fight up hill,’ he said. Wow. That was a big mistake. He lost his great general.”
The riff had some people scratching their heads.
Lee, of course, commanded the Confederate army. The goal was to defeat the Union forces and then push further North and conquer the United States.
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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
