The Gettysburg Address The Civil War was one of the bloodiest and deadliest conflicts in United States history. At Gettysburg, there were three consecutive days in July when the greatest number of soldiers were injured. There were a total of 51,000 soldiers missing, injured, or dead (Goodheart 1). There was no place to bury all the dead. There were about 7,000 bodies of soldiers left on the battlefield. Some were buried in shallow graves and had very little identification (Goodheart 1). With the heat and rain, the town began to smell of rotting animals mixed with the odor of human bodies (Borrit 5). The governor decided to create a national cemetery where all the fallen soldiers would have a place to be honored. This is where one of the famous speeches. As President Abraham Lincoln gave his speech, he held the speech in his hand. If he reads it or recites it from memory, no one will ever know (Carmiecheal 68). When he finished his speech, the crowd was silent, after a short pause, scattered applause began, followed by cannon fire to greet the president. Finally, President Abraham Lincoln got back on his horse and rode toward Mr. Wills' house (Carmicheal 72). The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches given by President Abraham Lincoln. As the years go by, more and more historians attempt to analyze his speech to see if they can determine what President Abraham Lincoln was trying to tell the people. In the article "Abraham Lincoln's Invitation to Speak at Gettysburg and the Significance of the Gettysburg Address", Roger Norton mentions how President Lincoln's main goal was to dedicate the battlefield to all the men who died and to explain to the nation why the Civil War was worth fighting for. Depending on which generation analyzes the meaning of the address, it will vary. Historians have attempted to analyze President Abraham Lincoln's speech; some say he was trying to remind the people on what basis the country was created, namely freedom and equality. Eric Foner mentions it in the book “Give Me Liberty!” An American History" that Lincoln, in his speech, "identified the nation's mission with the principle that "all men are created equal," spoke of the war as bringing a "new birth of liberty," and defined the essence of democratic government” (529). Some say it was the beginning of democracy. Adam Goodheart states, “By invoking images of the renaissance and emphasizing the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, he gave Americans a new understanding of war – and the purpose of the nation” (4). Mike Wereschagin says: “Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was a milestone in the nation's history. The recasting of the discourse was like a struggle for something greater than the country for which it was waged” (1). As there are many different opinions on President Lincoln's intention regarding this speech, in the end they all seem to be related based on how it is delivered.