The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1-3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is considered the decisive battle of the American Civil War. The Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by General George G. Meade, defeated the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee. The battle is considered a turning point in the Civil War, as it marked the end of Lee's second invasion of the North and solidified the Union's control over the important state of Pennsylvania.