The Civil War was in its third year. When troops entered Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the South seemed to be winning the war. But Gettysburg was a turning point. From July 1 to July 3, 1863, the Confederacy and the Union engaged in a bitter, bloody fight. Through strategy, determination, and sheer blind luck, the Union won the battle. Inspired by the valor of the many thousands of soldiers who died there, President Lincoln visited Gettysburg to give a brief but moving tribute. His Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in American history.