In the summer of 1863, General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia advanced into Pennsylvania in a daring offensive to win the Civil War in a single campaign. They met the Union Army at a quiet crossroads town called Gettysburg, and engaged in the greatest battle ever fought on American soil. Three days of combat ended on July 3 with Pickett's Charge, a heroic assault by nine of Lee's brigades against the Union defenses on Cemetery Ridge. Their repulse at the stone wall became known as the high-water mark of the Confederacy. At the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery that November, Lincoln used the occasion to deliver his Gettysburg Address, a short, two-minute speech that became the most famous in American history.

In this original retelling of the Gettysburg story, Iain C. Martin draws upon firsthand accounts-from the generals to the lowly privates and civilians caught in the epic struggle. Readers will discover history through the experiences of two Gettysburg teenagers-Matilda Tillie Pierce and Daniel Skelly. Featuring the artwork of Don Troiani, original photos, full-color maps, interesting tales, and trivia, Gettysburg gives young readers a fascinating look into this great turning point of American history-and just in time for the 150th anniversary of the epic battle.