GETTYSBURG ADDRESS

Lincoln's famous speech

After the terrible losses during the Battle of Gettysburg in July, A permanent burial ground was established at Gettysburg for those soldiers killed there. On November 19, 1863, it was formally dedicated. Famed orator Edward Everett spoke at the distinguished gathering for two hours, not an unusual length of time in those days. President Abraham Lincoln had been invited, as a courtesy, to give "a few appropriate remarks". Only three minutes long, Lincoln agreed with most of the press who called the speech a failure, destined to be quickly forgotten. Today, however, it is honored as one of the immortal works of American literature.