which battle was the turning point of the war?
The battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) is considered the turning point of the Civil War. Gen. Robert E. Lee's defeat by the Army of the Potomac forced his Confederate forces to retreat; they never recovered. Lee was emboldened by his victory in Chancellorsville, Va., in May 1863 and hoped to solidify his seeming advantage in Gettysburg.