Harriet came running back to the union forces as she was clearly frightened. She arrived as she looked out they soon turned their heads.

"What is going on Harriet?" George asked. Meade was wondering what the she-cat found out about the troop movements Harriet was out of breath as she soon caught up as she began to speak.

"The Confederates, they're about to attack, we must be ready to fight them." Harriet responded. Meade froze in his tracks as he soon snapped out of it. He knew that he needed to be prepared as he soon turned to the army he was assigned to.

"All right, we heard the young little snapper, be prepared to move." George gave the order. Soon they began to move upward as they wanted to confront Robert and Mapleshade as they were getting closer and closer to the town that was to get caught up. Soon it was all about to come to a head.


Mapleshade's POV

July 1st, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

A brass band was playing as Mapleshade and Robert lead the army through the countryside as it was clear the town was preparing to defend against their forces. Robert looked out as he was looking at the town itself and the activity. He soon turned to Mapleshade.

"You ready for the day?" Robert asked, the band continued to play as the troops began to line up and several generals were also here to guide the attack. Mapleshade smiled as she looked out, down at the blue uniformed cats as she knew they would be easy pickings for a hungry animal looking for food.

"You bet I am, I'm more than prepared." Mapleshade responded with confidence. Soon the general knew that Mapleshade was going to help her out.

"Nice to meet you Maple leaf, Robert told me everything about you and I sense you have some level of confidence hidden away in that beautiful cat that is you. I'm George Pickett." He introduced himself. Pickett soon drew his saber as he was ready to make the move into the town. Waving the saber around, he ordered the army forward. Mapleshade and some of the cavalry went on ahead to try to tie down the main force until Pickett arrived. Mapleshade drew her saber and ordered the attack.

Mapleshade instead of charging head on, she decided to split her force into three groups. The center force would try to distract the troops long for the troops to arrive and deal heavy damage. Soon the horses split away as they ran off in two different directions. Muskets fired as the horses and their riders were knocked off balance. They soon prepared to reload when Mapleshade and the rest of the cavalry came charging out. The troops were caught in the middle of a reload session as they were struggling to get the bullets into the chamber. Mapleshade got out her revolver taking shots at the cats in the field as her revolver would allow it. Cats were shot as she drew her saber and rode off. Soon the main force came running in to finish this line off. Blue uniformed cats came charging in as they fired their muskets at Mapleshade and the attackers. The residents headed inside as they wanted to duck from the fighting. Soon some cats began to even fire a couple of cannonballs at the gray uniformed cats as Mapleshade rode out. The first ball blowing up a crowd of gray uniformed cats as Mapleshade continued charging, swinging her saber around, slicing cats open as she kept charging. Soon the second cannonball fired as the shot had less luck than the first one, Gray cats flew everywhere but not the density they wanted it to be. Mapleshade continued to ride along as she headed for the artillery cannon. Backed up by some troops, they were able to disable the cannon before a third shot was ready to be fired. Soon the union cats were in full retreat. Mapleshade pointed her saber to chase them down and hope they don't go to the bluffs outside the town.

"After them." Mapleshade gave the order as they continued to fight their way through the town. Minor skirmishes continued for the rest of the day. They were victorious in securing the town but now lay an even bigger challenge, the enemy was settling in on the bluffs outside of town as Mapleshade was preparing to charge out and finish them off but seeing how exhausted they were, they decided not to pursue them to the bluffs, that would wait another day.


Day 2

Mapleshade and Robert were matching through as they had plenty of troops out there as they were getting ready to begin the attack. Robert turned to Mapleshade as he was outlying he instructions.

"Okay Mapleshade, I want you to take the most organized troops and cavalry you have while we bombard them from the town. You're task would to be taking the little round top as I can trust you with that?" Robert outlined her task. Mapleshade nodded as she turned with her horse.

"Be prepared to move, little round top will be our objective. We march in to take their flanks." Mapleshade firmly gave the instructions, the cats nodded as they picked up their rifles. Soon the cannons ceased as Mapleshade drew her saber. "Now let's move." Mapleshade gave the order. She rode out first with her horse as they began to move out. Mapleshade looked up as the forces began the advance. Soon before they knew it they would be there. "Charge!" Mapleshade ordered. They soon began running at the union lines.

The union cats were prepared as they fired their musket volley at them. Several gray uniformed cats were cut down as they sent to reload. Mapleshade drew her revolver as she began firing away. The bullets soon came to the blue uniformed cats as they connected into them killing a couple and wounding a few. Mapleshade knew there was no time to reload so they had to commit to their sabers and bayonets. The Union cats soon finished reloading as they fired off again, more confederate cats were shot down as Mapleshade waved to keep pressing the attack. They soon began to charge forward as she knew the weight of their numbers would completely decimate them as the troops were struggling to reload. Soon their forces began overcoming the obstacle as she swung the saber around, slicing up the blue uniformed cats as she continued her rampage. They knew because of this attack alone, they were very close to breaking through the little round top. The union cats were beginning to fall back as they knew they didn't want to be overrun. Mapleshade, much like day one, waved her saber giving the order to chase them down before they would retreat further back. They soon rode out.


Joshua's POV

Joshua looked out at his cats as they were falling back, they wanted to defend themselves as they knew the weight of their foes was coming right on top of them. Soon one of his troopers spoke.

"She's on us, we're being over ran alongside the left end of the hook, if they cut the string, we'll be surrounded!" One of the cats gave out the situation. Joshua's eyes flared as he knew if they would break through they would be surrounded. He soon got out his saber.

"Fix your bayonets, we're driving them back." Joshua soon began leading the counter attack. He soon arrived on the top of the mound as Mapleshade was preparing to head up and take the ridge above. "The enemy is here and they're coming for us! With the might of our numbers, we should be able to push them down and cause them to fall back, get ready." Soon the union cats began to charge down the hills as Mapleshade and her troops were charging up the hills. Mapleshade looked ahead as a flurry of musket fire began going off. Cats on both sides began to fall. Mapleshade knew there was no point in holding them off but she had to try to get them to retreat.

The bayonets were thrusted into the gray uniformed cats as they were struggling to push them back. Mapleshade knew she couldn't maintain order as she reloaded her revolver. She soon began riding along to make sure the enemy didn't catch her. She soon began firing off at short range in the hopes that they were able to hold them off and this is where Mapleshade's legendary luck finally vanished. Mapleshade continued firing off as she charged at Joshua directly. Joshua soon charged out as Mapleshade did the same. Soon their sabers were being swung back and forth as they were desperate to trying to block the troops, When suddenly, a burst of musket fire opened up, tearing the horse down as it neighed and reared up before falling backwards. Mapleshade bailed off the horse as she knew her objective now was to flee. Soon the disorganized confederate forces began falling backwards, they were so close to a breakthrough but now with no way to describe what had happened, she knew she had to speak to Robert front and center.


Mapleshade's POV

Mapleshade wandered off as she was stumbling around. She looked like she had taken a relatively nasty beating as Robert looked out at her. He was shocked and appalled about what had went on.

"Maple leaf, what happened, why do you look beat up?" Robert asked her wondering what exactly what happened, Mapleshade looked like her face has been piled driven through several industrial machines as she was unable to respond.

"We were having it a nice go on their forces but then when we began the charge up the hill, they began charging down and it turned into a vicious bayonet fight, my horse was torn from me again and I don't know what to say about this." Mapleshade mewed as she was ready to break down from this battle, Robert held her in his paws as he was stroking her head.

"There, don't cry there, we still got another day at this. We must keep moving forward and hopefully break their lines." Robert mewed as he knew there was still a shot at victory but even the old tom knew himself that he was wrong. His words would end up backfiring.


Day 3

Due to Mapleshade's breakdown, she wasn't going to be participating as the leader in the last day of the battle but she knew that she had to still fight if they were going to win. Robert and George were looking out at the center of the field. Since yesterday's battle, the reserves were moved to the flanks, leaving the center completely open to an attack. Robert was looking at George as he outlined his plans.

"General Pickett, we will attack the center, but I think you're right about the plan General. But all I would do is give you 2 more divisions other than the one you have, the generals are stronger and more rested so that will be 3 divisions including yours General Pickett. Your objective will be that clump of trees yonder. The attack will be proceeded by mass artillery barrage, our barrage will be focused on that one little section of the area. Once the artillery is done, your charge will break the line." Robert laid out the instructions, George nodded. Mapleshade marched forward with the divisions as they were nervous but once the artillery would do its job, they would be able to charge through and break in that line. Soon the artillery began going off "You will have 15,000 cats at your disposal, you may begin when ready but plan it and plan it well. We stake everything on this." Robert told George on how he soon do it and when he was ready, the cannons began to open fire.

Mapleshade looked up as the cannons were firing away but since there wasn't enough cannonballs, they quickly burned their ammunition so this attack had to be it. George soon waved his saber as Mapleshade held her musket. She was to attack on her paws today. Soon the charge began as all the gray uniformed cats went charging out onto the field to the defensive positions but what they didn't know, it was a trap.

The cats in the blue uniforms looked up as they had lost several cannons in the process but it wasn't really going to break their nerves. They raised their rifles as they waited for the command. Soon the enemy barrage began firing as cannonballs began to rain down on them. Mapleshade could only watch as the cannonballs tore through the troops as the yelps of injured confederates wailed in the air. Mapleshade contininued to charge out as many of her cats were being struck down with the cannonballs. Mapleshade and the others were still making progress as they moved towards their lines soon the cats knew they were in sight as they cocked their muskets. Mapleshade knew she was nervous but they continued charging in formation. Soon the union cats fired as their muskets went off. Mapleshade soon split from the group as the cats began getting shot down the cannonballs continued exploding around them as more and more cats were being cut down at an incredible rate. Mapleshade's mind began flashing back to Fredericksburg a few months back but the tables have completely turned against her. Instead of her unleashing hell on her enemies and cutting them down, it was their turn to get a taste of their own medicine. Mapleshade could only watch as her fellow troops in command were getting shot down. She soon got up as she continued to charge into the fray to support her fellow comrades. She raised her musket and fired the shot missing as she went to reload. More muskets from the enemy fired as Mapleshade fell onto her back. She wasn't struck by a musket ball but she was too scared to go on even further. Mapleshade looked up as more muskets continued to fire, a small group of cats made it to the wall, but they were ultimately beaten back. Mapleshade continued to look on like a deer frozen in the headlights. The muskets fired again as more cats were torn down. Soon the attack was over as Mapleshade and the others began to withdraw from the area. Their plan had utterly failed and Mapleshade was left shattered. As the wounded and demoralized cats stumbled back, Robert looked on with devastation as if this whole thing was his fault. George came up to him as Robert began to speak.

"How did it go George, it seems you have had a rough go." Robert asked as he was wondering how the attack went. George faced him as his face was filled with sorrow.

"The plan utterly backfired." George responded. He soon looked down as he was beginning to weep. Mapleshade staggered along with the troops as she looked at them wondering what had happened.

"General Pickett you must rally your division for defense if they do decide to counter attack." Robert gave the orders wondering if the enemy would go on the attack but George looked at Robert as he wanted to break the news to him.

"General, I have no division." George responded, he soon walked away without saying another word as Mapleshade watched, it turned out that this charge alone with 15,000 cats at their disposal, they lost 50% of their entire army. Mapleshade and Robert soon walked away to prepare for the counter attack but the Counter attack would never come and they soon retreated back to Virginia. The Thunderclan Union had just scored a massive victory and that wasn't enough.


Ulysses' POV

A day after the battle in the east, John Pemberton of the Vicksburg Garrison wandered out as he was waving the white flag. Ulysses and William were looking at him as they were wondering what he was going to say.

"Okay we give up, we surrender, please let us be free." The scrawny tom cat mewed. The Blue uniformed cats began herding the prisoners out as they got the news that Vicksburg finally fell. The Union now held the Mississippi River. And better yet it was Thunderclan's Independence Day.

"Who's up for a party?" Ulysses asked in celebration, there was no better day to surrender onto than today.

[A/N]: I took a bit of a break as I wanted to take three days on this, one day for each of the three battles. Mapleshade is utterly decimated and these next few chapters will be on Ulysses and Sherman as well as some new faces.

Also should I do the battle with the black cats since I want to give them some action? I sensed they would play a significant role in the war and another long worded speech chapter will be coming up so I'll give you a reminder on that. See you next chapter, that is all.