I love that when Sam Elliott was issued a brand new uniform for the film, he called costume expert Luster Bayless and asked how to properly age his uniform and did so in his motel bathroom.
I’ve heard somewhere that this movie, and in particular this scene, is the closest thing we Americans have to a Shakespearean play and Shakespearean soliloquy. I tend to agree with that statement. 🇺🇸
I love this actor but his reading is terrible. I can only imagine John Wayne playing it and John Ford directing- it would have been a masterpiece. It’s an adequate movie.
Great scene, powerful scene, Shakespearean, but if you think this is the first instance of a (maybe) Shakespearean soliloquy (soliloquies are usually spoken by the speaker to themselves and to the reader) in the nearly 400 years of American Literature then the American education system has utterly failed. There's probably dozens in Moby Dick and maybe a few in Red Badge of Courage...a story about the Civil War written in the 19th Century and not 1974.
He is describing exactly what Longstreet faced on day three with Pickett's Charge. "The way you often feel before an ill considered attack, knowing it will fail. But you can not stop it. Must even take part. Help it fail!"
@@kenlandon6130 In my understanding he was referring to the Union's failures especially at Fredericksburg and was lamenting the fact that it was probably going to happen again. Thankfully, it was the other way round
For all of the praise Col. Chamberlain and the 20th Maine received for their gallantry at Little Round Top (and rightly so), Buford’s cavalry division deserves as much, if not more. It’s arguable that if it weren’t for his actions on day 1 of the battle, the Union may have lost. Preventing the Confederates from entrenching themselves in the hills and on the high ground allowed the Union to do just that themselves, and forced Lee to assault their positions with lesser numbers from a weaker tactical position. It was incredibly crucial, and Buford is severely underrated in this moment. He saw what was going to happen before even Longstreet, Lee, Meade, Hancock, and all the commanders before they even knew there was going to be a battle.
Chamberlain gets way too much credit. The real savior of Little Round Top was a brigadier general from the Army Corps of Engineers. Gouverneur K. Warren, who recognized the position's vulnerability and sent messengers to find troops to hold it. And then there was Col. Strong Vincent, who was the first to respond to Warren's request and managed to get his brigade up there just in time.
Colonel Gamble, Buford's pessimistic subordinate, is such an interesting chharacter. He's a man who carefully considers all the ways a thing can go wrong so he is mentally prepared,, but then makes it clear that his pessimism does not flow from a lack of courage. He took a near miss from a cannonball and was back on his feet commanding his men in seconds. The man wasn't a cheerleader, but he was made of solid steel.
Buford's brigade commanders Col Devin and Col Gamble were fine officers who are as much responsible for the victory at Gettysburg as any other for how the held against not one but TWO confederate corp converging on them from different directions simultaneously.
I was reading about General John Buford and how he and his calvary fought for time at Gettysburg for Union reinforcements to arrive. He and his men deserve full credit for holding off Confederate advances from A.P. Hill and General Ewell's corps. I really admire Buford. His studies of calvary tactics at West point paid off.
@@sirus976 Yes. I agree. Union 1st corps came in time to help Buford's calvary, who held off the Confederate advance for over 2 hours. They paid a price , though. Suffered heavy casualties, including the Iron Brigade.
It occurs to me that Sam Elliott's role in this movie is *exactly* like John Buford's role at the Battle of Gettysburg. Elliott has only one major scene in the movie. (He appears in a few others.) But in this one scene, Elliott commands your attention, as Buford makes the decision that will change the outcome of the battle. Elliott (as Buford) is "reading" the battlefield, thinking like a chess master (which is a contrast to Elliott's rough-hewn demeanor). Buford knows what is coming, and knows that if he takes action now, he can prevent a massacre of Union troops. His decision was the linchpin of the battle's outcome, just as Elliott's one scene is the linchpin of this movie's story.
He did an Awesome job in the role. Great scene when General Reynolds finally arrives at Gettysburg...So many actors did a good job with their historical characters...General Lee- Martin Sheen, General Longstreet- Tom Berenger and Jeff Daniels as Chamberlain.
Actually I think Charles Bronson looked a lot closer to Buford. And he was still acting in 1993, though his career was about to be over. I think he could have done a great job if he was in Eliott’s place, and it would have been a nice way to wrap up his career.
@@LicardoDeBousee imo this is probably the only Sam Elliot film where his mustache isn't number one. It's gotta be Jeff Daniels' walrus stache and BAYONETS!!!!!!
This is probably my favorite scene in the movie. Burford, perfectly performed by Sam Elliot, tells us how tomorrow will probably go. It shows us how much thought he puts in planning attacks and predicting how different outcomes are.
On June 30, 1863, John Buford (Brigadier General US Cavalry) was in command of two brigades (approx. 2,700 troopers) that were the eyes and ears of the Federal army shadowing General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, as they journeyed northeast shielded between the Pennsylvania mountains. John Buford took unequivocal and brilliant leadership and forged a sound battle plan that worked better than expected and worked against overwhelming odds of 7:1. He explained to his officers what was at stake: the culminating battle of the war that, should it produce another northern defeat and southern victory, the United States could not tolerate the war any longer. Draft riots were peaking that summer and anti-war sentiment was rising. Papers for an armistice had already been drawn up and were waiting to be placed on President’s Lincoln’s desk for his signature should news of another Federal debacle in Pennsylvania become known. Speaking to his men (and half aloud to himself), John Buford rhetorically scolded the leadership of the Army and the politicians urging them to strike - strike. He told his men to do whatever was necessary to prevent the South from seizing the high ground at Gettysburg. Conferring with his junior officers was also sound leadership. It ensured buy-in of his chain of command. Explaining that the high ground just might be saved ...if they can hold and ...if the 1st corps arrived in time, and ...if ammunition holds out - three 'IFS' they bet their sacred duty and lives upon. Buford's men adored him, tolerating his musings out loud. He had gotten them to throw away their sabers that he said were useless and their revolvers as well. Carry extra carbine ammunition for the same weight he preached, and his men enthusiastically agreed. There is some speculation that he may have issued his brigades with new repeating carbines though there is no evidence or mention of this anywhere to date. More likely standard issue Sharps carbines or similar breech loaders were in their hands with three times the firepower of the muzzle loading muskets of Lee's infantry. Besides greater firepower, breechloaders had the advantage of being able to be loaded in a prone or hidden position. Buford’s men were deployed behind low stone walls topped with whatever rails and logs they could find. Most of Buford’s casualties sustained head, neck and shoulder wounds that speaks of their hunkered-down positions. The southern infantry had none of these advantages and three distinct disadvantages: attacking upright in a tight line formation while firing, using slow loading muskets that could only be reloaded while standing up and they had little or no cover while advancing. The two lines were at times only one hundred to one hundred fifty yards apart. But more importantly Buford expedited correct intelligence to leading infantry corps (1st and 11th) with requests for all possible speed and reinforcement. He simultaneously did the same through the night to 4 other corps; to come to Gettysburg where he was "...in possession of good ground." He slept little, perhaps an hour and less than two, off-and-on before waking his men well before first light on July 1st. Despite the Federal 11th corps' rout on that 1st day, and with the stalwart toughness of the 1st corps, despite this fragmented situation, the coveted high ground was saved and decisively reinforced over the next two days to the detriment of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Although Lee could have, (should have?) abandoned his position at Gettysburg and forced the Federals to relinquish their advantage of the high ground and pursue Lee elsewhere, Lee did not; though he was advised by his respected 2nd in command, General James Longstreet to do that. Lee's hesitation at the end of the 1st day in failing to pursue the fleeing Federals to the high ground they had retreated to; on the 2nd day, he was slow to move and failed to coordinate his forces, plus he failed to outflank the Federal position (though advised by Longstreet to do so several times), as well as failing to take advantage of the cover of night to maneuver into position by daybreak of the third day, as he had done in the past - all these allowed the Federals to hold the high ground. Lee's errors in judgment on all three days were entirely uncharacteristic of his past military exploits. These missed opportunities, ensured the Federal victory on that fated third day, when Lee ordered Longstreet, over Longstreet’s objections, to assault an estimated 55,000 - 60,000 dug in Federal troops with superior artillery: on the high ground - with only with 17,000 infantry marching in plain view across a mile of open fields subject to raking artillery and grape shot before reaching musket range a quarter mile from the top..
On the morning of July 4th, in a drenching downpour, Lee's shattered army mournfully retreated out of Pennsylvania, heading for virginia, with an ambulance train of wounded that was said at the time to be unbroken for twelve miles and leaving a trail of blood in the mud. The casualty lists that were being calculated and drawn up - then published in the papers - stunned civilians and military alike in both halves of the country. The tide of the Great Rebellion's with her string of victories up to and including July 1, ebbed on July 2 and reversed on July 3rd. Lee never again held the initiative that he had throughout the Democrat slave holder's rebellion, up until that third day at Gettysburg. The turning of the terrible and merciless fortunes of war was decided man to man, company to company, brigade to brigade and division to division on the fields, woods and ridges of the fruitful Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. On the very next day, the fourth of July, Fortress Vicksburg on the Mississippi surrendered to General Ulyses S. Grant (US Grant) and the Confederate' nation was cut in half. The desperately needed horses, hogs, sulfur (for gunpowder production) and leather from west of the Mississippi, was now mostly beyond reach. The strategic soundness of the Great Rebellion was no more and it could only linger, floundering amid dwindling hope. The final collapse which would bring peace, was still twenty-two long and bitter months away.
Thank you. @@thebcr1012 Here's the preceding paragraph I left out for brevity - It is early summer in the year 1863. The United States, no longer one nation, is in the third year of a schism between its two major political parties. Division has coalesced into geographic regions. The largest is in the northern states: the United States led by Republican President Abraham Lincoln. Eleven southern states led by pro slavery Democrat senators and congressmen, have formed their own nation: the Confederate States of America. For two years armies from both sides have clashed in the largest battles ever fought on the continent. By early 1863, the Confederate army had repulsed all major Federal forces the United States sent against them. But the price for Confederate victories grows ever higher. The losses suffered cannot be sustained much longer. With time running out and on a gamble to end the war quickly, the Confederates reverse their strategy of defense-only. They decide to invade the north, sending their largest army into Pennsylvania. Hidden by the mountains, the invading army’s location is unknown to the Federal leaders. Panic, fanned by sensational newspaper headlines, sweeps through the northern states. Lincoln is furious. He fires his Army commander, the latest in a long line of dismissed generals.
OK, so it seems on first glance that Buford has gotten outshone or overlooked by all of the writers over the past 160 years or so. However, Sam Elliott brought him to life here, so much so, that he deserved award nominations for his excellent portrayal. So, in essence, because film is seen by 1000x more people than the written word, Buford gets his deserved recognition and will continue to get it as long as this film continues to be seen. Therefore, Buford will never be irrelevant again.
What John Buford was predicting what was going to happen he prevented. I have learned so much through this awesome surreal and well acted scene. So sad the loss of human lives and the desolation in that three day bloody battle. I read the aftermath of disease was terrible after this battle. Shalom to all who read this.
So, I'm a Civil War reenactor and I'll tell anybody that it was all caused by watching John Wayne cavalry movies as a child... And here I am, damned near 60 years old, and STILL want to grow up to be Sam Elliot. 😁
General Buford’s dismounted cavalry held back the Rebel forces long enough to make it possible for the United States troops to end the day in possession of Cemetery Hill. This made it all but impossible for the Confederates to prevail here.
When I was a kid I had a hard time understanding how the dismounted cavalry if they had breech loaders ultimately lost against infantry with muzzle loaders. Now, older and having an understanding of the scale of the troops engaged, I realized that there was no way they could hold out against that volume of men. The carbines were actually probably part of the reason why they didn’t get rolled from the get go.
One of the best scenes in the movie, when the union cavalry Riding through town and up to that field . intense scene well shot . made you feel like you where there in those times .
As brilliant as the portrayal is in the movie, it still gives short shrift to the brilliance of Bufords battle plan (movies have limitations). The deployment of troops well forward of the seminary, fighting delaying actions on two smaller ridges provided the critical time for Reynolds to come up. And Buford made certain he had the roads to the north and northwest thoroughly picketed to provide advance warning of the convergence of Lee’s forces. The North started the battle with almost perfect intelligence of Lee’s disposition. Lee meanwhile was blind since Stuart was busy on his own adventures and neglected his primary objective.
Stuart left two brigades of cavalry with Lee when he went off on his mission, they weren't great troops, but he could have done some scouting with them. Also, if you have ever read Lee's orders to Stuart, they left a lot up to Stuart's judgment. Lee was too slow to realize that while some of his Generals could be given general orders and be trusted to carry them out, others needed to be kept on a tighter leash.
@@frednone General Lee had only recently divided his army up from two corps to three corps. He only knew the quality of Longstreet as a corps commander since Stonewall Jackson had just died at Chancellorsville. The other two were unknown as corps commander and Lee was likely more worried about them than about Stuart, as Stuart hadn't failed him before ... not remotely as badly as this failure was.
@@frednoneLee was used to the stalwart Corp commanders Longstreet and Jackson who could make full use and understood his vague orders to use their own judgement and initiative wisely. AP Hill, Ewell and Stuart were much less brilliant generals, though good division commanders (which is why Lee chose them after Jackson's death). Stuart was off doing his own thing, but Lee was mistaken not to have used the cavalry Stuart left him to scout out the federals. Lee made some terrible command decisions at Gettysburg and it cost him everything.
Stuart deployed regular units to cover their supply lines and irregular units with Lee. This assured the commanders of the regulars would get no glory in the campaign (he had personal disputes) and, coupled with Lee's disdain for irregulars (not an *entirely* elitist motive when conducting an operation that has certain political sensitivities like moving through local pockets of support who should not be pillaged...errr..."requisitioned" and discipline is a valid concern) meant they would likewise receive little opportunity to shine in any way in comparison to Stuart. As with a lot of this campaign in general, the failures were all long before the battle or even leaving Confederate soil. The Army of Northern Virginia was an unruly beast more "nudged and guided" along than truly "lead" and thus could be so nudged and guided by the enemy just as much as its own commanders.
@@jasongentile6175 Not sure if Clausewitz was translated to English, but most likely they studied Napoleon's campaigns or the tactics from the Mexican War
@@aishabintabubakr4944 didn't need to be translated per se to English, Americans studied in Europe and observed more than one war fought there. Also both French and German were languages understood by many inc those in the Army.
@@aishabintabubakr4944 there was a required reading book on Napoleonic tactics at West Point at the time, although, that doesn't mean that he read it. As Grant, for example, hadn't. This is discussed in the book "Battle Cry of Freedom," by James McPherson. Buford, likely fought in the Mexican War in the late 1840's, as did a fair amount of officers & soldiers that saw action during the Civil War, and was familiar with Napoleonic tactics.
There were many battles in the American civil war that played out exactly as described by this scene, and just as described many a great officer had to watch knowing and waiting for it to fail, helpless to prevent the losses because their orders come from a higher power. That is just one piece of the futility of war, in every respect, and as they say War is hell, after all.
It's written directly from manuscripts written by those engaged in the battle. If, in some cases, the dialogue is a little strange, that's because it's from letters or orders or diaries.
I think now that the writers try to set up a comparison between Buford and Longstreet. Both are subordinate commanders who understand the nature of the battle to come. Buford manages to translate that insight into action that changes the outcome of the battle. Longstreet fails to do so, and has to watch the Confederate Army fail bloodily against the Union lines.
General Buford was a subordinate commander, in charge of 2,500 men, but he was also alone and made a decision at the outset that change the outcome of the battle. General Longstreet was a corps commander, in charge of a far larger, more powerful force, but he was also side-by-side with General Lee. He was not making decisions alone. He did try to change Lee's mind about the upcoming battle and at multiple times during the battle, but Lee made the decision to fight at Gettysburg. I'd say it was 20/20 hindsight to say he was wrong. Even Longstreet didn't see the battle as doomed to fail on day one. He simply saw what he thought was a better course.
@@Michael-dy2lb Thanks, and we agree that Buford and Longstreet were in very different circumstances. My point is one of narrative: I feel that the writers of the movie tried to create this juxtaposition. It does make for an interesting opposing set of choices. Come to think of it, it is also smart exposition, as it preps the audience for the core tragedy at the heart of the movie - Pickett's charge - in a sharp, realistic-sounding way. Exposition is often so plodding: imagine an omniscient narrator at the beginning taking us all over a map of the area and pointing out all the details and issues. By having Buford lay it out this way, it feels urgent, violent, like war.
The irony is that General Buford was absolutely right. There was a great, final charge at Gettysburg. Thousands of men marched through that gorgeous field of fire into the defenders’ guns behind stone walls. When all was said and done, those who were not there called it a brave charge. The one difference is that the men who were valiantly butchered wore gray, and those who did the butchering wore blue, an inversion of Fredericksburg.
Love this scene, really hits on the cold, unsympathetic action of war, sending in young men to die while knowing well ahead of time that they are marching to their deaths. The feeling of powerlessness in the face of overwhelming odds.
One can certainly see how Sam Elliott’s portrayal of Buford definitely was a piece of solid inspiration in Stephen Lang’s portrayal of Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals. Epic as hell.
Historically, N.B.Forrest and B.Grierson are credited with being the finest cavalry commanders in the U.S.. their strategies and tactics are still being discussed in military academies all over the world. (In Forrest's case, tempered by the fact that the guy founded the KKK), ... however General Buford had a history-changing day at Gettysburg, and I'm glad his actions were at the center of the 1st day (in the movie). He shaped the upcoming battle for the Union army, deprived the Confederate Army not only of the high ground, but with no knowledge of what they were facing on the first day. If he didn't hold (or if he retreated after the first skirmish), General Reynolds 1st Union Corp would have gone up against 2 Confederate Corps, and most likely would have been flanked by Ewell (Confederate 2nd Corps) coming in from the north. Another note about Ewell: he disregarded 2 orders from General Lee on the 1st day: First he ordered an attack on the north side of Gettysburg, while Lee told all commanders to avoid any engagements until the bulk of the Confederate Army was brought up. Then when Ewell forced the Union to retreat to Cemetery Hill later in the day, Lee told Ewell to press the Union troops and occupy the Hill. Ewell was indecisive and confused, did not press, and cost the Confederate army dearly in the next 2 days.
Actually, we pragmatic cavalrymen studied Buford much more than those others due to his history of employing cavalry in a manner far removed from the traditional (European) use of cavalry in that time, which was to fight mounted. Buford's history as an Indian fighter served him well in the war. He embraced the use of the repeating carbine, along with his habitual deployment of light artillery, creating a force ("covering force") too significant to ignore, forcing opponents vanguards to fully deploy to meet him, allowing his scouts to more fully assess who the opponent was behind the vanguard.
If I ever get the opportunity to visit Gettysburg, I like to visit the towns where Union and Confederate armies marched thru on the way to Gettysburg. The way to see the battlefield is go to the first day of battle where General John Buford's union calvary division deployed on good ground west of town on the Chambersburg Pike. I just want to see and imagine what Buford had in mind the day before the battle. He had reconisance patrols scouring the area for any signs of Confederate movements. Soon, he got the information he needed. A.P. Hill's Corps was at Cashtown, Pa, 8 miles to the west. Richard Ewell's corps was marching from the north at Carlise,Pa. Buford's men had to fight stubborn and hold their position untill General John Reynold's Union first corps arrive. If it wasnt for Buford's calvary, the war would had been lost. Im just in disbelief that historians overlooked Buford and what his calvary did at Gettysburg. 🇺🇲
I’m still in awe regularly of what Buford and Reynolds did on this first day. Reynolds and Iron brigade became legendary for their sacrifice. Buford legendary for his foresight and executing his plan perfectly, deceiving Heth and fighting a delaying action that won the battle and arguably saved the Union from a crushing defeat.
John Buford and his men were pretty much solely responsible for holding the high ground. Just as Buford and his troops were at the breaking point, up rode John Reynolds in his infamously clean, white gloves and his exhausted 1st Corps, right in the nick of time. Reynolds was astonished at the beautiful ground Buford had chosen and thus far defended at the cost of dreadful casualties in the face of two entire infantry brigades of Heth's division, and quickly deployed his men in these perfect positions and then very shortly after was shot out of his saddle, dead almost the moment he hit the ground. The men fought where Reynolds had placed them, and secured the high ground. The battle's fate had been sealed. I have been on the very spot (as best as historians have been able to tell) where Reynolds and Buford met as Buford's troopers fought valiantly on the gentle rocky slopes below, and it's a commanding view over the Confederate advance where Heth's division was fighting with Buford's troopers, advancing over open ground with little to no cover whilst Buford's troopers took cover behind rocks and trees. It was the last time Buford would see Reynolds alive. Buford himself would not survive the year, dying in December 1863. In a bit of irony and a reminder of the Civil War's "brother vs brother" tragedy, Buford and Heth had fought together in 1855 during the battle of Ash Hollow during the First Sioux War. Unless they have removed them, the immaculately clean and oiled white leather gloves John Reynolds was wearing that morning are at one of the various museum displays there at the battlefield, as are John Buford's saddle, stirrups, and halter as his horse was killed during the battle's first day.
Also, a little-known fact is that Custer fought at Gettysburg. He was a newly, and some say a mistakenly promoted Brevet Briadier General of Cavalry and fought JEB Stuart to a draw on the third day.
This movie didnt show the high ground enough to showcase its importance. Only at little round top was clear elevation, everything else seems flat. And thats odd because Gettysburg is where it was actually filmed, no? Also I dont recall so much talk being made of the ground where a civil war battle took place, except ofc bloody assaults of previously entrenched positions (F'burg, Cold Harbor, etc etc). So despite it being a great scene & movie, i think they, as well as later authors, overrate the supposed value of high ground here, etc. Lee should've just denied battle.... or whatever... if he did what should've been done, there wouldnt be a catastrophic defeat. Also he shouldnt have pounded for 3 days. Etc, etc. Plus the Union had the numbers, so whatever Buford is saying here.... they were favoured to win anyways, high ground or not
"High" ground was more like a rolling hill or two, except for the Round Tops. But still, defending the top ground is better than fighting uphill from the bottom.
“The two Brigades of Buford's Cavalry” Colonel Thomas Casimer Devin (“Buford's Hard Hitter”). Colonel William Gamble . Gamble joined Buford’s Division after the Battle of Chancellorsville, in time for the Battle of Brandy Station. It was with Buford’s troops that Gamble found himself at Gettysburg. He commanded one of Buford’s brigades, along with fellow Irishman Thomas Devin, and both were devoted military leaders and good friends.
MJR Gen John Buford Jr. ''Chief of Cavalry, Army of the Potomac'' engagements.. Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of South Mountain Battle of Antietam Battle of Brandy Station Battle of Upperville Battle of Gettysburg Battle of Boonsboro Battle of Funkstown Battle of Williamsport Bristoe Campaign Died in 1863 in DC of typhoid at 36.. pretty impressive fellow still!
I always thought this scene was overly dramatized for what the moment mightve been like. Rushed hectic not much timecto think so much about it...but then i realized this is EXACTLY how longstreet felt over the next few days. Beufort saw what gettysburg was going to be one way or the other and prevented it.
For a film that made such a great job casting an actor who could have been Colonel Cchamberlain’s twin, (Jeff Daniels) they couldn’t have picked anyone more different than General Buford.
Production Companies: Warner Bros. (current owner) Twentieth Century Fox (Distributor) Turner Pictures (Presentation) Interscope Communications (in association with) McKay Association Limited (copyright holder) Esparza/Katz Productions (production) Turner Program Service I (financement) Turner Program Service II (financement)
Dismounted cavalry in defensive cover shooting breech loading carbines is a formidable defensive obstacle even for a very large army, but only so long as their numbers allow them to hold out. For Buford he was able to hold just long enough until the 1st and 11th Corps could take over. This delaying action allowed the Federals to arrive in force on the high ground of Cemetary Ridge, which ultimately won the battle from that advantageous position.
160th anniversary of the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. 3 days of hell. This battle decided the outcome of the war. A big and crucial union victory at the cost of 23,000 union casualties. Confederate casualties to near 28,000. The Army of Northern Virginia never recovered from their losses at Gettysburg. The next day, July 4th, Vicksburg surrendered to Grant, yielding the Mississippi River to Union control for the duration of the war and splitting the Confederacy in two: the western Confederate states unable to move supplies or troops east. 🇺🇲
Don't forget that Vicksburg fell the Fourth, that was the major victory in July, 1863. Lee didn't have the artillery to take Washington, especially after a major battle. Win or lose, Lee was heading back to Virgina after the battle. At the end of the day the AoP had one job to bleed the AoV.
Can someone clear this up for me? Even if Lee had the high ground; what would he do with it? He’d be surrounded; 50 miles inside enemy territory; unable to resupply; no water source and having thousands of men with, maybe, 5 days of rations. To me; Meade didn’t have to go up. Lee would have had to come down. Corrections are appreciated.
You are mostly correct, except that Lee would entrench atop the high ground and Meade would surely attack him there. The reason is that Lincoln DEMANDED that the AotP attack and repel Lee immediately. He had replaced many commanders before because they would not fight. Lee knows this and knows Meade absolutely will attack him as soon as they are in contact. He has no choice.
Hill's corps tried to attack the hill, the north face of the ridge and the ridge itself. The lack of information meant that the Confederation had no surety the Union didn't have more men coming from the north, moving cautiously and trying to capture the town instead. Hill himself was injured in the battle and couldn't issue new orders (as Lee had ordered, the man sent didn't find him). They ended up losing General Archer and his brigades, the general humorously captured by his West Point classmate Abner Doubleday. Heth was both embarrassed and confused by Buford's resistance and with Reynold's corps arrival. General Trimble ended up furious at General Euell for not taking the hill, throwing his sword down in anger. The Union resistance sowed seeds of confusion and dissent in the Confederation ranks, which became worse when Stuart returned on the second day with old information and useless raid supplies.
General Buford fought a delaying action against over whelming force to give the Union Army the time to organize the battlefield and bring in their forces. Without General Buford's actions the Union loses Gettysburg on day one. General Buford, General Warren, and Colonel Chamberlain defined courage.
It seems that Brig. General John Buford has a lot in common with another fellow Southern Unionist..... Maj. Gen. George H. ("Rock of Chickamauga, The Sledge of Nashville) Thomas AGREED?
Gettysburg w exceptions that I’ll briefly describe lol is still about as close to perfect when it comes to a historically accurate war movie; most of it prob has to do w the fact that the Killer Angels is an amazing book but also bc of the way the characters/actors capture the essence of the men who they’re portraying so damn well. Ofc Chamberlains speech & meeting w his officers never happened before he ordered the 20th to charge down Little Round Top. Nor did his conversation with Hancock afterwards (the 20th was ordered to the top of Big RT after their engagement on Little RT) plus a half dozen or more scenes/dialogue (that help explain the story to ppl who aren’t CW buffs) Now, w that said, the way Buford, Longstreet, Chamberlain, and Lee behaved are captured so well by the actors who play them that it almost feels like they are the real deal. Sheen is magnificent as Lee & Berengers portrayal of Longstreet is pretty darn good in showing his reluctance for fighting at Gettysburg in the first place & certainly his behavior on July 3 in not wanting Pickett to attack the Union center. It’s always rubbed me the wrong way that this movie IS NEVER SHOWN on network television around July 4th, what better time to do it? Ik the reasons why but god damn it lol this country needs to see this film now more than ever Long live the Union F*ck Trump
They take Shaara's text verbatim, but this is one of those times where an internal monologue doesn't work as an external one. Too dramatic by half. And Sam needed a haircut.
I love that when Sam Elliott was issued a brand new uniform for the film, he called costume expert Luster Bayless and asked how to properly age his uniform and did so in his motel bathroom.
I’ve heard somewhere that this movie, and in particular this scene, is the closest thing we Americans have to a Shakespearean play and Shakespearean soliloquy. I tend to agree with that statement. 🇺🇸
I love this actor but his reading is terrible. I can only imagine John Wayne playing it and John Ford directing- it would have been a masterpiece. It’s an adequate movie.
@@patrickmullane30 wow that's an opinion on this scene I've never heard before. I can't say I agree.
@@patrickmullane30John Wayne would have single handily made this movie suck ass
My grandfathers took Omaha Beach. They do not need someone else's validation.
Great scene, powerful scene, Shakespearean, but if you think this is the first instance of a (maybe) Shakespearean soliloquy (soliloquies are usually spoken by the speaker to themselves and to the reader) in the nearly 400 years of American Literature then the American education system has utterly failed. There's probably dozens in Moby Dick and maybe a few in Red Badge of Courage...a story about the Civil War written in the 19th Century and not 1974.
He is describing exactly what Longstreet faced on day three with Pickett's Charge. "The way you often feel before an ill considered attack, knowing it will fail. But you can not stop it. Must even take part. Help it fail!"
Thanks for pointing that out!
Yeah I know Longstreet didn't wanna do it.
Was he describing what happened to the Union or to the Confederacy.
He was describing what he feared would happen to the Union on day one, but which actually happened to the Confederacy on day three. @@kenlandon6130
@@kenlandon6130 In my understanding he was referring to the Union's failures especially at Fredericksburg and was lamenting the fact that it was probably going to happen again. Thankfully, it was the other way round
For all of the praise Col. Chamberlain and the 20th Maine received for their gallantry at Little Round Top (and rightly so), Buford’s cavalry division deserves as much, if not more. It’s arguable that if it weren’t for his actions on day 1 of the battle, the Union may have lost. Preventing the Confederates from entrenching themselves in the hills and on the high ground allowed the Union to do just that themselves, and forced Lee to assault their positions with lesser numbers from a weaker tactical position. It was incredibly crucial, and Buford is severely underrated in this moment. He saw what was going to happen before even Longstreet, Lee, Meade, Hancock, and all the commanders before they even knew there was going to be a battle.
sure. Lots! The 1st Minnesotans suicide mission, and the New York State Regiments who held Culps Hil....etc.
The efforts of the 1st Minnesota Regiment were overlooked in the film.
Agreed. There was significant daring in the front and the back of the positions.
Buford dying in hospital later that year of pneumonia regrettably made him fade from memory for later generations
Chamberlain gets way too much credit. The real savior of Little Round Top was a brigadier general from the Army Corps of Engineers. Gouverneur K. Warren, who recognized the position's vulnerability and sent messengers to find troops to hold it. And then there was Col. Strong Vincent, who was the first to respond to Warren's request and managed to get his brigade up there just in time.
Colonel Gamble, Buford's pessimistic subordinate, is such an interesting chharacter. He's a man who carefully considers all the ways a thing can go wrong so he is mentally prepared,, but then makes it clear that his pessimism does not flow from a lack of courage. He took a near miss from a cannonball and was back on his feet commanding his men in seconds. The man wasn't a cheerleader, but he was made of solid steel.
Buford's brigade commanders Col Devin and Col Gamble were fine officers who are as much responsible for the victory at Gettysburg as any other for how the held against not one but TWO confederate corp converging on them from different directions simultaneously.
Good kind of man to have as a soldier, for sure.
Very perspective distinction.
When he thumped his chest, it made dust fly. Great detail. They just finished a long ride.
I was reading about General John Buford and how he and his calvary fought for time at Gettysburg for Union reinforcements to arrive. He and his men deserve full credit for holding off Confederate advances from A.P. Hill and General Ewell's corps. I really admire Buford. His studies of calvary tactics at West point paid off.
Even though AP Hills my favourite general of the war I highly relate with you
It was not just him. He has the ENTIRE first Core with him. Meaning about 20,000 men. Including Iron Brigade.
@@sirus976 Yes. I agree. Union 1st corps came in time to help Buford's calvary, who held off the Confederate advance for over 2 hours. They paid a price , though. Suffered heavy casualties, including the Iron Brigade.
@@haynes1776 Oh yeah the bad asses of the iron Brigade were utterly destroyed, out of the 1800 men only 700 made it out alive.
Wow. The Iron Brigade was a hard fighting unit and respected.
It occurs to me that Sam Elliott's role in this movie is *exactly* like John Buford's role at the Battle of Gettysburg. Elliott has only one major scene in the movie. (He appears in a few others.) But in this one scene, Elliott commands your attention, as Buford makes the decision that will change the outcome of the battle. Elliott (as Buford) is "reading" the battlefield, thinking like a chess master (which is a contrast to Elliott's rough-hewn demeanor). Buford knows what is coming, and knows that if he takes action now, he can prevent a massacre of Union troops. His decision was the linchpin of the battle's outcome, just as Elliott's one scene is the linchpin of this movie's story.
Great scene selection. I cannot think of John Buford without picturing him as Sam Elliott.
Me too
Me too.
He did an Awesome job in the role. Great scene when General Reynolds finally arrives at Gettysburg...So many actors did a good job with their historical characters...General Lee- Martin Sheen, General Longstreet- Tom Berenger and Jeff Daniels as Chamberlain.
Actually I think Charles Bronson looked a lot closer to Buford. And he was still acting in 1993, though his career was about to be over.
I think he could have done a great job if he was in Eliott’s place, and it would have been a nice way to wrap up his career.
Too bad he was 30 years younger than Sam Elliot
Sam Elliot is a national treasure.
Man is the GOAT when it comes to Hollywood mustaches… no one and I mean no one can touch his.
@@LicardoDeBousee imo this is probably the only Sam Elliot film where his mustache isn't number one. It's gotta be Jeff Daniels' walrus stache and BAYONETS!!!!!!
@@LicardoDeBousee His mustache grows deeper than the roots of a sequoia.
The man was a legend. May he rest in peace.
He’s so American
General Buford "It's over Lee. I have the high ground.
General Lee "You underestimate my power!"
General Buford "Don't try it."
I actually read that on Sheen and Elliots voices 😂😂😂
@@edyoung44you can almost see him squint on that "don't try it" line
This is probably my favorite scene in the movie. Burford, perfectly performed by Sam Elliot, tells us how tomorrow will probably go. It shows us how much thought he puts in planning attacks and predicting how different outcomes are.
On June 30, 1863, John Buford (Brigadier General US Cavalry) was in command of two brigades (approx. 2,700 troopers) that were the eyes and ears of the Federal army shadowing General Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, as they journeyed northeast shielded between the Pennsylvania mountains.
John Buford took unequivocal and brilliant leadership and forged a sound battle plan that worked better than expected and worked against overwhelming odds of 7:1. He explained to his officers what was at stake: the culminating battle of the war that, should it produce another northern defeat and southern victory, the United States could not tolerate the war any longer. Draft riots were peaking that summer and anti-war sentiment was rising. Papers for an armistice had already been drawn up and were waiting to be placed on President’s Lincoln’s desk for his signature should news of another Federal debacle in Pennsylvania become known.
Speaking to his men (and half aloud to himself), John Buford rhetorically scolded the leadership of the Army and the politicians urging them to strike - strike. He told his men to do whatever was necessary to prevent the South from seizing the high ground at Gettysburg. Conferring with his junior officers was also sound leadership. It ensured buy-in of his chain of command. Explaining that the high ground just might be saved ...if they can hold and ...if the 1st corps arrived in time, and ...if ammunition holds out - three 'IFS' they bet their sacred duty and lives upon.
Buford's men adored him, tolerating his musings out loud. He had gotten them to throw away their sabers that he said were useless and their revolvers as well. Carry extra carbine ammunition for the same weight he preached, and his men enthusiastically agreed. There is some speculation that he may have issued his brigades with new repeating carbines though there is no evidence or mention of this anywhere to date. More likely standard issue Sharps carbines or similar breech loaders were in their hands with three times the firepower of the muzzle loading muskets of Lee's infantry. Besides greater firepower, breechloaders had the advantage of being able to be loaded in a prone or hidden position. Buford’s men were deployed behind low stone walls topped with whatever rails and logs they could find. Most of Buford’s casualties sustained head, neck and shoulder wounds that speaks of their hunkered-down positions. The southern infantry had none of these advantages and three distinct disadvantages: attacking upright in a tight line formation while firing, using slow loading muskets that could only be reloaded while standing up and they had little or no cover while advancing. The two lines were at times only one hundred to one hundred fifty yards apart.
But more importantly Buford expedited correct intelligence to leading infantry corps (1st and 11th) with requests for all possible speed and reinforcement. He simultaneously did the same through the night to 4 other corps; to come to Gettysburg where he was "...in possession of good ground." He slept little, perhaps an hour and less than two, off-and-on before waking his men well before first light on July 1st.
Despite the Federal 11th corps' rout on that 1st day, and with the stalwart toughness of the 1st corps, despite this fragmented situation, the coveted high ground was saved and decisively reinforced over the next two days to the detriment of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Although Lee could have, (should have?) abandoned his position at Gettysburg and forced the Federals to relinquish their advantage of the high ground and pursue Lee elsewhere, Lee did not; though he was advised by his respected 2nd in command, General James Longstreet to do that.
Lee's hesitation at the end of the 1st day in failing to pursue the fleeing Federals to the high ground they had retreated to; on the 2nd day, he was slow to move and failed to coordinate his forces, plus he failed to outflank the Federal position (though advised by Longstreet to do so several times), as well as failing to take advantage of the cover of night to maneuver into position by daybreak of the third day, as he had done in the past - all these allowed the Federals to hold the high ground. Lee's errors in judgment on all three days were entirely uncharacteristic of his past military exploits. These missed opportunities, ensured the Federal victory on that fated third day, when Lee ordered Longstreet, over Longstreet’s objections, to assault an estimated 55,000 - 60,000 dug in Federal troops with superior artillery: on the high ground - with only with 17,000 infantry marching in plain view across a mile of open fields subject to raking artillery and grape shot before reaching musket range a quarter mile from the top..
On the morning of July 4th, in a drenching downpour, Lee's shattered army mournfully retreated out of Pennsylvania, heading for virginia, with an ambulance train of wounded that was said at the time to be unbroken for twelve miles and leaving a trail of blood in the mud. The casualty lists that were being calculated and drawn up - then published in the papers - stunned civilians and military alike in both halves of the country. The tide of the Great Rebellion's with her string of victories up to and including July 1, ebbed on July 2 and reversed on July 3rd. Lee never again held the initiative that he had throughout the Democrat slave holder's rebellion, up until that third day at Gettysburg.
The turning of the terrible and merciless fortunes of war was decided man to man, company to company, brigade to brigade and division to division on the fields, woods and ridges of the fruitful Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
On the very next day, the fourth of July, Fortress Vicksburg on the Mississippi surrendered to General Ulyses S. Grant (US Grant) and the Confederate' nation was cut in half. The desperately needed horses, hogs, sulfur (for gunpowder production) and leather from west of the Mississippi, was now mostly beyond reach. The strategic soundness of the Great Rebellion was no more and it could only linger, floundering amid dwindling hope. The final collapse which would bring peace, was still twenty-two long and bitter months away.
What a description! Reads like a textbook.
Thank you. @@thebcr1012 Here's the preceding paragraph I left out for brevity -
It is early summer in the year 1863. The United States, no longer one nation, is in the third year of a schism between its two major political parties. Division has coalesced into geographic regions. The largest is in the northern states: the United States led by Republican President Abraham Lincoln. Eleven southern states led by pro slavery Democrat senators and congressmen, have formed their own nation: the Confederate States of America. For two years armies from both sides have clashed in the largest battles ever fought on the continent.
By early 1863, the Confederate army had repulsed all major Federal forces the United States sent against them. But the price for Confederate victories grows ever higher. The losses suffered cannot be sustained much longer. With time running out and on a gamble to end the war quickly, the Confederates reverse their strategy of defense-only. They decide to invade the north, sending their largest army into Pennsylvania. Hidden by the mountains, the invading army’s location is unknown to the Federal leaders. Panic, fanned by sensational newspaper headlines, sweeps through the northern states. Lincoln is furious. He fires his Army commander, the latest in a long line of dismissed generals.
Gorgeously written. Thank you.
@@thebcr1012❤
@davidpeteriarussi7956 Supreme summarization sir. Thank you for your eloquence.
OK, so it seems on first glance that Buford has gotten outshone or overlooked by all of the writers over the past 160 years or so. However, Sam Elliott brought him to life here, so much so, that he deserved award nominations for his excellent portrayal. So, in essence, because film is seen by 1000x more people than the written word, Buford gets his deserved recognition and will continue to get it as long as this film continues to be seen. Therefore, Buford will never be irrelevant again.
He should have been acknowledged for an Oscar for this.
Thanks to this movie General John Buford will always be remembered in history for his heroic stand on the 1st day at Gettysburg.
"We can deprive the enemy of the high ground!" That's the MAN moment right there.
What John Buford was predicting what was going to happen he prevented. I have learned so much through this awesome surreal and well acted scene. So sad the loss of human lives and the desolation in that three day bloody battle. I read the aftermath of disease was terrible after this battle. Shalom to all who read this.
He didnt prevent it. He just forced the Confederate Army into to doing it.
So, I'm a Civil War reenactor and I'll tell anybody that it was all caused by watching John Wayne cavalry movies as a child...
And here I am, damned near 60 years old, and STILL want to grow up to be Sam Elliot. 😁
I always liked how intensely he says, "We can deprive the enemy of the high ground!!"
One of the greatest examples of a clear eye seeing the potential battlefield and resulting battle as you will ever see or read about.
General Buford’s dismounted cavalry held back the Rebel forces long enough to make it possible for the United States troops to end the day in possession of Cemetery Hill. This made it all but impossible for the Confederates to prevail here.
This whole sequence with the cavalry is just gold
When I was a kid I had a hard time understanding how the dismounted cavalry if they had breech loaders ultimately lost against infantry with muzzle loaders. Now, older and having an understanding of the scale of the troops engaged, I realized that there was no way they could hold out against that volume of men. The carbines were actually probably part of the reason why they didn’t get rolled from the get go.
One of the best scenes in the movie, when the union cavalry Riding through town and up to that field . intense scene well shot . made you feel like you where there in those times .
As brilliant as the portrayal is in the movie, it still gives short shrift to the brilliance of Bufords battle plan (movies have limitations). The deployment of troops well forward of the seminary, fighting delaying actions on two smaller ridges provided the critical time for Reynolds to come up. And Buford made certain he had the roads to the north and northwest thoroughly picketed to provide advance warning of the convergence of Lee’s forces. The North started the battle with almost perfect intelligence of Lee’s disposition. Lee meanwhile was blind since Stuart was busy on his own adventures and neglected his primary objective.
Stuart left two brigades of cavalry with Lee when he went off on his mission, they weren't great troops, but he could have done some scouting with them. Also, if you have ever read Lee's orders to Stuart, they left a lot up to Stuart's judgment. Lee was too slow to realize that while some of his Generals could be given general orders and be trusted to carry them out, others needed to be kept on a tighter leash.
@@frednone General Lee had only recently divided his army up from two corps to three corps. He only knew the quality of Longstreet as a corps commander since Stonewall Jackson had just died at Chancellorsville. The other two were unknown as corps commander and Lee was likely more worried about them than about Stuart, as Stuart hadn't failed him before ... not remotely as badly as this failure was.
@@frednoneLee was used to the stalwart Corp commanders Longstreet and Jackson who could make full use and understood his vague orders to use their own judgement and initiative wisely. AP Hill, Ewell and Stuart were much less brilliant generals, though good division commanders (which is why Lee chose them after Jackson's death). Stuart was off doing his own thing, but Lee was mistaken not to have used the cavalry Stuart left him to scout out the federals. Lee made some terrible command decisions at Gettysburg and it cost him everything.
Stuart deployed regular units to cover their supply lines and irregular units with Lee. This assured the commanders of the regulars would get no glory in the campaign (he had personal disputes) and, coupled with Lee's disdain for irregulars (not an *entirely* elitist motive when conducting an operation that has certain political sensitivities like moving through local pockets of support who should not be pillaged...errr..."requisitioned" and discipline is a valid concern) meant they would likewise receive little opportunity to shine in any way in comparison to Stuart.
As with a lot of this campaign in general, the failures were all long before the battle or even leaving Confederate soil. The Army of Northern Virginia was an unruly beast more "nudged and guided" along than truly "lead" and thus could be so nudged and guided by the enemy just as much as its own commanders.
He had a good vision of the battleground, he must have read, “The Art of War.”
@@jasongentile6175
Not sure if Clausewitz was translated to English, but most likely they studied Napoleon's campaigns or the tactics from the Mexican War
@@aishabintabubakr4944 didn't need to be translated per se to English, Americans studied in Europe and observed more than one war fought there. Also both French and German were languages understood by many inc those in the Army.
No, he just read Shelby Foote's Civil War. It's all there so that's why he already knew.
@@aishabintabubakr4944 there was a required reading book on Napoleonic tactics at West Point at the time, although, that doesn't mean that he read it. As Grant, for example, hadn't.
This is discussed in the book "Battle Cry of Freedom," by James McPherson.
Buford, likely fought in the Mexican War in the late 1840's, as did a fair amount of officers & soldiers that saw action during the Civil War, and was familiar with Napoleonic tactics.
@@Themaxwithnoname
It's just so interesting that these men fought their friends (and enemies) making victory (or defeat) that much more powerful
There were many battles in the American civil war that played out exactly as described by this scene, and just as described many a great officer had to watch knowing and waiting for it to fail, helpless to prevent the losses because their orders come from a higher power. That is just one piece of the futility of war, in every respect, and as they say War is hell, after all.
Best war movie imo, does an excellent job showing every facet of the battle
It's written directly from manuscripts written by those engaged in the battle. If, in some cases, the dialogue is a little strange, that's because it's from letters or orders or diaries.
I think now that the writers try to set up a comparison between Buford and Longstreet. Both are subordinate commanders who understand the nature of the battle to come. Buford manages to translate that insight into action that changes the outcome of the battle. Longstreet fails to do so, and has to watch the Confederate Army fail bloodily against the Union lines.
General Buford was a subordinate commander, in charge of 2,500 men, but he was also alone and made a decision at the outset that change the outcome of the battle. General Longstreet was a corps commander, in charge of a far larger, more powerful force, but he was also side-by-side with General Lee. He was not making decisions alone. He did try to change Lee's mind about the upcoming battle and at multiple times during the battle, but Lee made the decision to fight at Gettysburg. I'd say it was 20/20 hindsight to say he was wrong. Even Longstreet didn't see the battle as doomed to fail on day one. He simply saw what he thought was a better course.
@@Michael-dy2lb Thanks, and we agree that Buford and Longstreet were in very different circumstances.
My point is one of narrative: I feel that the writers of the movie tried to create this juxtaposition. It does make for an interesting opposing set of choices.
Come to think of it, it is also smart exposition, as it preps the audience for the core tragedy at the heart of the movie - Pickett's charge - in a sharp, realistic-sounding way.
Exposition is often so plodding: imagine an omniscient narrator at the beginning taking us all over a map of the area and pointing out all the details and issues. By having Buford lay it out this way, it feels urgent, violent, like war.
@@terraincognita3749 That's a very good point and a perceptive view of the movie and how it was crafted.
@@Michael-dy2lb Thanks!
Sam Elliott was born for these types of movies…
All americans should know his name, HE HELPED SAVED THIS NATION,
The irony is that General Buford was absolutely right. There was a great, final charge at Gettysburg. Thousands of men marched through that gorgeous field of fire into the defenders’ guns behind stone walls. When all was said and done, those who were not there called it a brave charge. The one difference is that the men who were valiantly butchered wore gray, and those who did the butchering wore blue, an inversion of Fredericksburg.
Love this scene, really hits on the cold, unsympathetic action of war, sending in young men to die while knowing well ahead of time that they are marching to their deaths. The feeling of powerlessness in the face of overwhelming odds.
I keep watching this over and over again.
One can certainly see how Sam Elliott’s portrayal of Buford definitely was a piece of solid inspiration in Stephen Lang’s portrayal of Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals. Epic as hell.
Four hours of greatness. Watched over and over.
Amazing times before modern communication these generals had to make decisions on their own
This is the "moment of decision." He has the fate of the army in his hands.
I searched "Sam Elliot High ground" and this video shows up R.I.P!
Historically, N.B.Forrest and B.Grierson are credited with being the finest cavalry commanders in the U.S.. their strategies and tactics are still being discussed in military academies all over the world. (In Forrest's case, tempered by the fact that the guy founded the KKK), ... however General Buford had a history-changing day at Gettysburg, and I'm glad his actions were at the center of the 1st day (in the movie). He shaped the upcoming battle for the Union army, deprived the Confederate Army not only of the high ground, but with no knowledge of what they were facing on the first day. If he didn't hold (or if he retreated after the first skirmish), General Reynolds 1st Union Corp would have gone up against 2 Confederate Corps, and most likely would have been flanked by Ewell (Confederate 2nd Corps) coming in from the north. Another note about Ewell: he disregarded 2 orders from General Lee on the 1st day: First he ordered an attack on the north side of Gettysburg, while Lee told all commanders to avoid any engagements until the bulk of the Confederate Army was brought up. Then when Ewell forced the Union to retreat to Cemetery Hill later in the day, Lee told Ewell to press the Union troops and occupy the Hill. Ewell was indecisive and confused, did not press, and cost the Confederate army dearly in the next 2 days.
Actually, we pragmatic cavalrymen studied Buford much more than those others due to his history of employing cavalry in a manner far removed from the traditional (European) use of cavalry in that time, which was to fight mounted. Buford's history as an Indian fighter served him well in the war. He embraced the use of the repeating carbine, along with his habitual deployment of light artillery, creating a force ("covering force") too significant to ignore, forcing opponents vanguards to fully deploy to meet him, allowing his scouts to more fully assess who the opponent was behind the vanguard.
Post script: General Buford’s orders and deployments may have set the strategic objectives on that first to determine the fate of the third day
It was at this moment General Buford realised the importance of repeating rifles
If I ever get the opportunity to visit Gettysburg, I like to visit the towns where Union and Confederate armies marched thru on the way to Gettysburg. The way to see the battlefield is go to the first day of battle where General John Buford's union calvary division deployed on good ground west of town on the Chambersburg Pike. I just want to see and imagine what Buford had in mind the day before the battle. He had reconisance patrols scouring the area for any signs of Confederate movements. Soon, he got the information he needed. A.P. Hill's Corps was at Cashtown, Pa, 8 miles to the west. Richard Ewell's corps was marching from the north at Carlise,Pa. Buford's men had to fight stubborn and hold their position untill General John Reynold's Union first corps arrive. If it wasnt for Buford's calvary, the war would had been lost. Im just in disbelief that historians overlooked Buford and what his calvary did at Gettysburg. 🇺🇲
God Bless you General Buford and your actions that day.
I’m still in awe regularly of what Buford and Reynolds did on this first day. Reynolds and Iron brigade became legendary for their sacrifice. Buford legendary for his foresight and executing his plan perfectly, deceiving Heth and fighting a delaying action that won the battle and arguably saved the Union from a crushing defeat.
When Buford said "Keep a clear eye ! " he was telling his officers to stay sober.
My favorite scene
John Buford and his men were pretty much solely responsible for holding the high ground. Just as Buford and his troops were at the breaking point, up rode John Reynolds in his infamously clean, white gloves and his exhausted 1st Corps, right in the nick of time. Reynolds was astonished at the beautiful ground Buford had chosen and thus far defended at the cost of dreadful casualties in the face of two entire infantry brigades of Heth's division, and quickly deployed his men in these perfect positions and then very shortly after was shot out of his saddle, dead almost the moment he hit the ground. The men fought where Reynolds had placed them, and secured the high ground. The battle's fate had been sealed. I have been on the very spot (as best as historians have been able to tell) where Reynolds and Buford met as Buford's troopers fought valiantly on the gentle rocky slopes below, and it's a commanding view over the Confederate advance where Heth's division was fighting with Buford's troopers, advancing over open ground with little to no cover whilst Buford's troopers took cover behind rocks and trees. It was the last time Buford would see Reynolds alive. Buford himself would not survive the year, dying in December 1863. In a bit of irony and a reminder of the Civil War's "brother vs brother" tragedy, Buford and Heth had fought together in 1855 during the battle of Ash Hollow during the First Sioux War. Unless they have removed them, the immaculately clean and oiled white leather gloves John Reynolds was wearing that morning are at one of the various museum displays there at the battlefield, as are John Buford's saddle, stirrups, and halter as his horse was killed during the battle's first day.
Also, a little-known fact is that Custer fought at Gettysburg. He was a newly, and some say a mistakenly promoted Brevet Briadier General of Cavalry and fought JEB Stuart to a draw on the third day.
This movie didnt show the high ground enough to showcase its importance. Only at little round top was clear elevation, everything else seems flat. And thats odd because Gettysburg is where it was actually filmed, no?
Also I dont recall so much talk being made of the ground where a civil war battle took place, except ofc bloody assaults of previously entrenched positions (F'burg, Cold Harbor, etc etc).
So despite it being a great scene & movie, i think they, as well as later authors, overrate the supposed value of high ground here, etc.
Lee should've just denied battle.... or whatever... if he did what should've been done, there wouldnt be a catastrophic defeat.
Also he shouldnt have pounded for 3 days.
Etc, etc.
Plus the Union had the numbers, so whatever Buford is saying here.... they were favoured to win anyways, high ground or not
"High" ground was more like a rolling hill or two, except for the Round Tops. But still, defending the top ground is better than fighting uphill from the bottom.
One of favorite movie scenes. Buford probably saved the country that day irl
“The two Brigades of Buford's Cavalry”
Colonel Thomas Casimer Devin (“Buford's Hard Hitter”).
Colonel William Gamble .
Gamble joined Buford’s Division after the Battle of Chancellorsville, in time for the Battle of Brandy Station. It was with Buford’s troops that Gamble found himself at Gettysburg. He commanded one of Buford’s brigades, along with fellow Irishman Thomas Devin, and both were devoted military leaders and good friends.
MJR Gen John Buford Jr. ''Chief of Cavalry, Army of the Potomac''
engagements..
Second Battle of Bull Run
Battle of South Mountain
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Brandy Station
Battle of Upperville
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Boonsboro
Battle of Funkstown
Battle of Williamsport
Bristoe Campaign
Died in 1863 in DC of typhoid at 36.. pretty impressive fellow still!
Great scene great movie!!! Everyone was brilliant
Dusty uniform's a nice touch.
That look Buford gave Devon at 3:33 basically said "I told ya..."
I always thought this scene was overly dramatized for what the moment mightve been like. Rushed hectic not much timecto think so much about it...but then i realized this is EXACTLY how longstreet felt over the next few days. Beufort saw what gettysburg was going to be one way or the other and prevented it.
It shows how necessary West Point was to the United States and the leadership its graduates imparted to both armies.
Foreshadowing of the other side’s catastrophic Pickett’s charge.
This is some great foreshadowing for what Longstreet was feeling two days later
To think, Buford survived Gettysburg but wouldn't live to see the end of the year.
Ironically, in the midst of war, he died of pneumonia. So did Stonewall Jackson.
It was a battle injury but there weren`t antibiotics; so pneumonia is often a result
"America FIGHTS The Worlds Wars AND makes New Wars for Them To WIN as Well!"! !
- St. HMAJW."
For a film that made such a great job casting an actor who could have been Colonel Cchamberlain’s twin, (Jeff Daniels) they couldn’t have picked anyone more different than General Buford.
Excellent example of leadership and mission command by Gen Buford.
Production Companies:
Warner Bros. (current owner)
Twentieth Century Fox (Distributor)
Turner Pictures (Presentation)
Interscope Communications (in association with)
McKay Association Limited (copyright holder)
Esparza/Katz Productions (production)
Turner Program Service I (financement)
Turner Program Service II (financement)
I'm pretty sure the original distributors were New Line Cinema and Warners.
00:00 - 00:12 Absolutely love this score
No one could’ve played a better John Buford than Sam Elliott. Argue a brick wall.
I think one of the officers behind Buford and Devin got killed at Little Big Horn.
Yes Miles keough
@@beverlylewis9654 that guy is fascinating.
As they should have
Reminds me of Sam Elliots portrayal of The Stranger in Big Lebowski 😅
Brilliant
Infantry VS cavalry is not good when cavalry is in defense. That's why there were Dragoons, Panzergrenadiers, ... and now Mechanized infantry.
Dismounted cavalry in defensive cover shooting breech loading carbines is a formidable defensive obstacle even for a very large army, but only so long as their numbers allow them to hold out. For Buford he was able to hold just long enough until the 1st and 11th Corps could take over. This delaying action allowed the Federals to arrive in force on the high ground of Cemetary Ridge, which ultimately won the battle from that advantageous position.
160th anniversary of the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. 3 days of hell. This battle decided the outcome of the war. A big and crucial union victory at the cost of 23,000 union casualties. Confederate casualties to near 28,000. The Army of Northern Virginia never recovered from their losses at Gettysburg. The next day, July 4th, Vicksburg surrendered to Grant, yielding the Mississippi River to Union control for the duration of the war and splitting the Confederacy in two: the western Confederate states unable to move supplies or troops east. 🇺🇲
Buford's action that first day saved the United States
Don't forget that Vicksburg fell the Fourth, that was the major victory in July, 1863. Lee didn't have the artillery to take Washington, especially after a major battle. Win or lose, Lee was heading back to Virgina after the battle.
At the end of the day the AoP had one job to bleed the AoV.
Buffiord’s speech, look forward to what Longstreet told Lee on day 3 when discussing Pickett’s charge
Gettysburg Day 1 featured some of the only Illinois soldiers fighting in the AOP
great stuff why cant we watch full film for free
Can someone clear this up for me? Even if Lee had the high ground; what would he do with it?
He’d be surrounded; 50 miles inside enemy territory; unable to resupply; no water source and having thousands of men with, maybe, 5 days of rations.
To me; Meade didn’t have to go up. Lee would have had to come down.
Corrections are appreciated.
You are mostly correct, except that Lee would entrench atop the high ground and Meade would surely attack him there. The reason is that Lincoln DEMANDED that the AotP attack and repel Lee immediately. He had replaced many commanders before because they would not fight. Lee knows this and knows Meade absolutely will attack him as soon as they are in contact. He has no choice.
Much later Hancock acknowledged Bufords major contribution justly deserved
Funny how sam Elliot is talking about what general pickett will do. But he thinks Meade will do it
Biden and Buford held the line on July 1.
Best acting he ever did
I love how they look tired and dirty but in such a high spirit.
❤ LOVE SAM ELLIOT ♥️ 👍👍
I think Buford is thè underrated hero of Gettysburg...
It is as it is happening now. We are on a road that we soon will not be able turn around.
This is why I think the rebels were lured to fight the yanks where they battled
Hill's corps tried to attack the hill, the north face of the ridge and the ridge itself. The lack of information meant that the Confederation had no surety the Union didn't have more men coming from the north, moving cautiously and trying to capture the town instead. Hill himself was injured in the battle and couldn't issue new orders (as Lee had ordered, the man sent didn't find him).
They ended up losing General Archer and his brigades, the general humorously captured by his West Point classmate Abner Doubleday. Heth was both embarrassed and confused by Buford's resistance and with Reynold's corps arrival. General Trimble ended up furious at General Euell for not taking the hill, throwing his sword down in anger.
The Union resistance sowed seeds of confusion and dissent in the Confederation ranks, which became worse when Stuart returned on the second day with old information and useless raid supplies.
Good guys love the high ground
“Though we’re glad to know the infantry is behind us, they’ll have to eat cavalry dust just to find us!”
General Buford fought a delaying action against over whelming force to give the Union Army the time to organize the battlefield and bring in their forces. Without General Buford's actions the Union loses Gettysburg on day one. General Buford, General Warren, and Colonel Chamberlain defined courage.
Thats Creek Johnson from Tombstone!!!
It seems that Brig. General John Buford has a lot in common with another fellow Southern Unionist.....
Maj. Gen. George H. ("Rock of Chickamauga, The Sledge of Nashville) Thomas
AGREED?
Gettysburg w exceptions that I’ll briefly describe lol is still about as close to perfect when it comes to a historically accurate war movie; most of it prob has to do w the fact that the Killer Angels is an amazing book but also bc of the way the characters/actors capture the essence of the men who they’re portraying so damn well.
Ofc Chamberlains speech & meeting w his officers never happened before he ordered the 20th to charge down Little Round Top. Nor did his conversation with Hancock afterwards (the 20th was ordered to the top of Big RT after their engagement on Little RT) plus a half dozen or more scenes/dialogue (that help explain the story to ppl who aren’t CW buffs)
Now, w that said, the way Buford, Longstreet, Chamberlain, and Lee behaved are captured so well by the actors who play them that it almost feels like they are the real deal.
Sheen is magnificent as Lee & Berengers portrayal of Longstreet is pretty darn good in showing his reluctance for fighting at Gettysburg in the first place & certainly his behavior on July 3 in not wanting Pickett to attack the Union center.
It’s always rubbed me the wrong way that this movie IS NEVER SHOWN on network television around July 4th, what better time to do it? Ik the reasons why but god damn it lol this country needs to see this film now more than ever
Long live the Union
F*ck Trump
Thank God for those Calvary soldiers carried sharps carbines and spencer rifles
Yeah, it certainly helped.
Chills
"Is Calebs battery up yet"?!
"The HIGH ground!!!"
They take Shaara's text verbatim, but this is one of those times where an internal monologue doesn't work as an external one. Too dramatic by half.
And Sam needed a haircut.
Sam Elliot is the boss.
The fuck you talking about? Sam Elliot wont be born for like 1 or 2 hundred years. This is Longstreet, Stuart and Buford.
General Buford has seen Revenge of the Sith.
hes calling picketts charge
Buford actions of his 1,000 man division gave the north the high ground