The question asks about the number of American soldiers who died during the Battle of Gettysburg, with four options provided:
- 26,000
- 2,350
- 1,863
- 51,000
To determine the correct answer, we have to consider historical records and data associated with the battle.
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, was one of the bloodiest battles during the American Civil War. The battle resulted in a significant number of casualties, including those killed, wounded, captured, or missing. However, the question is specifically about the number of soldiers who died.
After analyzing historical records:
1. 26,000: This number is exceedingly high and more closely corresponds to the total casualties of the battle (including wounded, captured, and missing soldiers), not just the deaths.
2. 2,350: This figure underestimates the number of soldiers killed in the battle.
3. 1,863: This is a precise number that corresponds to the documented number of soldiers who were killed during the battle.
4. 51,000: This number greatly exaggerates the total number of combatants affected (including deaths, injuries, and missing soldiers) and does not represent the number of deaths alone.
Thus, the most accurate number reflecting the soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg is:
1,863
