It was delivered on the afternoon of Thursday , November 19 , 1863 . This speech was made during the American Civil War , at the dedication of the Soldiers ' National Cemetery in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania . It was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War , on the afternoon of Thursday , November 19 , 1863 , at the dedication of the Soldiers ' National Cemetery in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania , four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg .