The Battle of Gettysburg was fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, during the American Civil War. It was a turning point in the war, as it marked the last major Confederate invasion of the northern states. The Union victory in the battle was a major blow to the Confederate Army, and it is considered one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the United States, with over 50,000 casualties on both sides. The battle is often referred to as the "High Water Mark of the Confederacy", as it was the closest the Confederacy came to winning the war.