The Killer Angels :: essays research papers

     The novel starts bulge when Harrison, a Confederate spy, reports to James Longstreet that 80,000 to 100,000 confederation soldiers have marched within two hundred miles of Lees position near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Harrison also bears news of a change in sum leadership. Major General George Meade had replaced "Fighting Joe" Hooker as commanding officer of the Union Army. Lee sees this change as an opportunity to strike patch the new commander gets his bearings. He decides to concentrate on Gettysburg, the small townsfolk where several roads in the area converge, where he intends to cut the Union army off from Washington, D.C.      First shots are fired at diff part as Rebels attack Bufords dismounted cavalry. former(a)r that day Lee orders Ewell to take assert of Cemetery Hill. Ewell did non follow orders and the union gained control of the Hill instead. Late in the afternoon, on the second day, Colonel Chamberlains 20th Maine regiment is moved into the woods. Colonel Vincent orders Chamberlain not to withdraw from his new position at the left flank of the Union line. The Confederates engage with the Union troops and Chamberlains 20th Maine cadence and time again. Finally when ammunition is low Chamberlain plants the order to fix bayonets, and charges down the hillock driving the rebels back. That same day Lee orders Longstreet to attack the Union center, and Longstreet advises against it. They pass on break," Lee insists. He directed Longstreet to take three divisions. Longstreet passes the order along to his generals Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble. Pickett and other commanders lose most of their men in the battle. As the survivors cast back, Lee finally admits his error to Longstreet, who gives his order to retreat.The two personalities that stand come to the fore the most in my mind are Robert E. Lee and Joshua Chamberlain. Lee and Chamberlain portion out many similarities. They are idealistic, optimistic, and have faith and pride in their men. both(prenominal) care about their men, yet do not hesitate to use them, including Chamberlains own brother, for the sake of the cause. The men under Lee and Chamberlain demonstrate them a great deal of respect. Chamberlain is somewhat of a father finger to his men, as is Lee to James Longstreet.     Joshua Chamberlain is an unusual man, formerly a college professor, and views the state of war and the men around him more as a philosopher then a military man. On his march toward Gettysburg he sees a row of nonviable confederates from a previous battle, and wonders whether the towns people will give them a decent burial or leave them for the buzzards.