One hundred forty four years ago today (November 19) President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address. The Civil War had entered its third day. And for three days more than ninety thousand soldiers from the Army of the Potomac and about seventy five thousand troops from the Army of Northern Virginia had fought at a crossroads in Pennsylvania's fruit growing hill country. The clash between the Union and Confederate soldiers in the market town of Gettysburg stands as the largest land battle ever fought in the western hemisphere. On this day in history President Lincoln came to the site to consecrate a cemetery in their honor. The brief Gettysburg Address marked a defining moment in the Civil War. University of Illinois Extension's Todd Gleason reads the address.

Four score and seven years ago…

1:40

…not perish from the earth.

Live Tag: University of Illinois Extension's Todd Gleason reading the Gettysburg Address. Abraham Lincoln delivered the famous speech 144 years ago today.