TURNING POINT: The road to Appomattox — Part 2: 1863.

The article focuses on the military leadership and key battles of the American Civil War in 1863, highlighting Abraham Lincoln's efforts to reorganize Union forces after a series of setbacks. It details the appointment and eventual resignation of Union General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker following his defeat at the Battle of Chancellorsville, the subsequent leadership of Major General George G. Meade at Gettysburg, and the strategic significance of Ulysses S. Grant's siege and capture of Vicksburg. The narrative also covers the Confederate Army's internal conflicts and setbacks in the western theater, culminating in Grant's successful campaign to break the Confederate hold on Chattanooga. The article underscores the turning points in the war that shifted momentum toward the Union while acknowledging the continuing challenges ahead.