The Story of the Gettysburg Address Author:Kenneth Richards On April 12, 1861 the Civil War between the Northern and Southern states began. After two years of fighting, the Southern army lost the most important battle of the war at Gettysburg, PA. Many thousands of good, brave men from both sides died because of the fighting there. The townspeople decided to honor the dead by dedicating a cemetery nea... more »r the batttle and asked President Lincoln to speak at the dedication. The President wondered what he could say to honor such brave men. This is the story of what he said in his "Gettysburg ADdress" and why. This is a Cornerstones of Freedom book.« less