Gettysburg the Movie: Fact or Fiction?
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- Опубліковано 2 лип 2024
- On this 30th Anniversary of the film "Gettysburg", the crew of Mark's game room (And a special guest from Little Wars TV!) celebrate by asking Historian and Battle of Gettysburg podcast host Eric Lindblade questions about the movie Gettysburg! Did Buford's cavalry hold up the Confederates by fighting tooth and nail against a fence? Did the charge down Little Round Top happen as depicted? Join us for the answers to all these and more!
00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Buford's Cavalry
04:00 - Lee's Command and Control
06:04 - Trimble's Visit
08:15 - Little Round Top
11:00 - The most and least accurate portrayal
12:38 - Arthur Freemantle
15:08 - General Pickett, where is you?
16:52 - Pickett's Charge
19:36 - Armistead and Hancock
21:01 - Longstreet and Lee
22:35 - Should Hood have moved around to the right?
23:00 - Final Thoughts
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podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
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I would only point out that the movie "Gettysburg" was never meant to be an historical documentary but a dramatic adaptation of the novel "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara. The screenplay follows the book, almost verbatim, as it traces the actions of Joshua Chamberlain, Robert Lee, James Longstreet, John Buford, Arthur Fremantle and Lewis Armistead . It is an engaging, highly readable account of the battle of Gettysburg, totally character-driven, looking at the events through their perspectives. I have a well-worn first edition, purchased at the battlefield, that I have read every year since 1975. I can highly recommend it. First published in 1974, it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1975. Michael Shaara died in 1988 at the age of 60, the author of over 100 books.
Having read a lot growing up about Civil War battles and of seeing Gettysburg you really do not grasp the magnitude of it until visiting. Gettysburg left me in awe of the determination from both sides those 3 days. Seeing firsthand the grounds was an experience that few of the other battle fields left on me. My compliments to the park service and all the others preserving history so others may like myself can learn from
My great great grandfather was professor of math and natural science at Pennsylvania (now Gettysburg) College during the battle, indeed as a former weather observer for a Smithsonian Institute program, he still adhered to a daily schedule of recording weather data. He was on the attic porch taking readings when Pickett came out of the woods, the temperature was 87 degrees and with a thunderstorm that night, probably quite humid as well. His son, my great grandfather, had just graduated from the college and also witnessed the spectacle. Both published their accounts.
Some observation. One, we are so accustomed to radio today, that we tend to forget that mounted courier was the fastest means of communication, and that by the time a rider arrived AND found his target, his message was already at least 20 minutes old, and it might take another 20-30 minutes to get back, by which time his message might no longer be relevant. Lee's practice of giving outline orders, but leaving the implementation to the generals was a realistic acknowledgement of this situation. Likewise, there were times when firing produced so much smoke that positions practically disappeared. This probably explains Pickett's inability to see his men.
Re: Buford, low casualties does not equal low level fighting. Even if he did not have the magazine fed Spencer, the breech loading Sharps offers both quicker loading and the ability to load without having to stand up as you would with a muzzle loader. The Confederates did not close with Buford's men but they may have taken heavy casualties from a high rate of fire. With cover the troopers could have withstood mulliple attacks without significant harm; they did hold until the I Corps arrived.
Regarding Culp's Hill, I believe there used to be swampy mill pond at the foot of the hill which dried up by the time many researchers examined the ground, This would allow the few Union troops on the hill to concentrate on a smaller line of defense, (BTW I served with a member of that family in the PA National Guard in the 1980s).
If Trimble said that, he was wrong. Sometimes subordinate commanders don't know what the senior commander knows. In the first place Ewell didn't have a healthy division to give him at that moment and in the second place had he attacked, a single division would have been annihilated by the Union artillery that was already on Cemetery Hill. The one thing that the film should have depicted and failed to do so was Wright's breakthrough of the Union center on the second day. Had he been supported, the story of this battle may well have been very different. In any case, it would have gone a long way toward explaining Lee's decision to assault the Union center on the third day. I always thought that Lee was attempting to do something with three reinforced divisions that a single brigade had accomplished the day before.
I think the best scene in the movie was Pickett's regiments forming up for the assault. The re-enactors knew the drill and the commands and how to do it.
The friendship of Armistead and Hancock. It actually has to be, and here's why: While I was a platoon sergeant with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, Berlin Brigade, for three years, in the Brigade Museum files, because my company commander wanted to know if it was true, I had read an account that the comradeship of Armistead and Hancock was forged in battle during the Mexican War, as Armistead and Hancock (and Heth and Buckner), were all in the 6th Regiment, U.S. Infantry. And of all things, there was a note to the effect, it's Company B, 2nd Battalion for both Company Commander Armistead and 2nd Lieutenant Hancock! (but that was a separate note, and thus I wasn't perfectly positive, because the battalions were never mentioned, and thus my company commander and that of Co. B, 1st Battalion kept contesting just exactly whose Company B it was).
Accounts about Armistead at the assaults of Churubusco and Chapultepec Castle indicate the manner in which he led his company, and maybe as the point of the entire battalion at Churubusco, was not unlike Pickett's Charge. At Churubusco he was leading out in front and they were receiving heavy fire, but he and the troops pushed steadily and gallantly on, and similar at Chapultepec. Hancock thus was right there with him. Apparently Armistead and Hancock remained in the U.S. 6th Infantry right up to 1859 or 1860.
I was in Gettysburg during the filming of this movie on a family vacation....13 years old....some of the actors even stayed in the same hotel as us...never saw any of them, or if I did I never realized I did....personally at that time I was way more interested in the history of the battle than I was in celebrities...still am
Another great video Mark. Really enjoyed it. Regarding the fight for Little Round Top, As a CW reenactor in the early 1980’s, my unit portrayed the 15th Alabama and I had occasion to read the biography / reminisce of the 15th’s commander, William Oates. In that book, Oates claims that (1) he was down two companies of troops, one being detailed to find and bring back water for the regiment and having taken all the canteens in the regiment for that purpose (implying that the regiment made those attacks with NO water on them) and the other sent to reconnoiter Big Round Top, and (2), and more to the point of the 20th Maine’s bayonet charge, that he - Col. Oates - had already given the order to cease assaults on the crest (as the men were played out) and withdraw to the foot of the hill and into cover and, in fact, were not chased off by the 20th Maine but withdrew in good order. What’s true? Who can say? Well, perhaps some one who has researched the number of prisoners reportedly taken by the 20th Maine after that charge down the hill. In the movie a number of my reenacting friends were extras as confederates in the Little Round Top scenes.
The canteen detail was captured by soldiers of the US sharpshooters. It was the USSS that drew Oates’ command up and over Big Round Top and into the rifles of the 20th ME.
The 15th AL had set out around 2am on July 2nd and marched 25 miles before being sent into the attack on the Union left. Their condition was poor before even starting the assault.
The dire situation portrayed by the movie was played up for the dramatics, but in reality the Union flank was never in danger. Even if by some miracle the Alabamians were able to drive off Vincent’s brigade, they would not have been able to hold the position for more than a few minutes before getting smashed by newly arrived and fresh troops.
interesting insight! Always keep in mind that Hollywood movies, first and foremost, are attempting to entertain you. If they are able to inform you a little, it's icing on the cake. They are not to be confused with documentaries. In the final analysis, "Gettysburg" succeeds in entertaining (although it may be a little long for the short-attention span crowd these days) and does a pretty decent job on accuracy.
A movie loosely based on a book loosely based on Gettysburg. Surprisingly it's as good as it is. Hopefully, the gateway it's become for new students of the war leads them to deeper studies.
Nice to see Eric on these videos. I have been using him for tours for years. If it’s your first trip or you want a detail focused tour Eric is your guy.
I work right down the road from Joshua Chamberlain's house, and of course Bowdoin college, glad to see him getting some love here.
I actually agree about Eric Linblade's comments about Sam Elliott playing Buford. Just like John Wayne only ever playing John Wayne, Sam Elliot is always playing Sam Elliott. I haven't read a biography of Buford yet, but I got the feeling the first time I saw Gettysburg that I was just watching Sam Elliott play his only character, himself.
And you decided that Sam Elliot playing Sam Elliot wasn’t actually a correct representation of Buford? Based on?
John Buford was shorter, slightly rounder, and a Kentuckian. And by all accounts --as the man says --less dramatic in his manner.
Incidentally. I thought about naming my son John Buford. My wife looked at me puzzled? No one in my family by that name! So the middle name ended up Fred after my Father in Law. :) And this was in 1969 long before the movie. I just felt so grateful to the general. Outstanding. BY the way. Lincoln obviously did not know how worn down the Union Army was or else he would not have been so angry at Mead. Stuart HAD done a lot of damage to Union supply.
The same could be said of Clint Eastwood.
Sam Elliott can play Sam Elliott all day long, and I’ll buy a ticket. He’s wonderful.
I played Sid Meier’s Gettysburg & Antietam to death 😂 in New Zealand 🇳🇿 as a kid 😂
Great video! I had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg in 1993. It helped that I had fully digested ‘Killer Angels’ before going so I was well versed with the battlefield. Would love to go back someday!
I never got into miniatures but enjoy playing strategy games on the PC. The best I’ve had is the Ultimate Civil War General. Had it for a number of years. It’s not perfect but it’s fun to play.
I have long had the opinion that, yes, both Longstreet and some of his subordinates wanted to move around to the right. I can’t specifically state why, but it is in keeping with what seems to be a favorite strategy of the Confederate commanders: surprise attacks on union flanks. Sometimes this happens by design, but sometimes by good fortune. And Jackson was now being celebrated widely in the south for his attack to the rear Union Army. Was Longstreet wanting to have his own glorious attack? Maybe. But the commanders certainly didn’t have great information about the ground in any direction. And moving further to the right would have probably brought Hood in contact with other Union forces still arriving at the battle. So it is also possible that he would have been cut off and destroyed as well. It’s a fun strategy to discuss, but I agree - not an obvious victory attack. And I do feel they got Lee’s point about disengagement and maneuvering in front of a concentrated Union Army. They still had reinforcements coming they would have needed to avoid, and the moving army would have been inviting attack from Mead. And the Union had the Calvary for intel. So I really think Lee did what he had to do. I think that Dan Sickles III corps inadvertently created a defense in depth that did so much damage to Longstreet’s troops that it may have saved the Union line.
Meade was receiving reinforcements throughout the day. At the time of Longstreet's attack, which, based on poor and incomplete recon thanks to Stuart's absence, was supposed to be attacking what Lee THOUGHT was the left flank of the Army of the Potomac, not knowing that III and V Corps were on the field and that the Union line extended to Big and Little Round Top and could have swung south into Longstreet's left flank and rear if he tried to go around those hills.
Second, swinging south and seeking battle somewhere between Gettysburg and DC wouldn't work. Meade had been given full authority to maneuver the Army of the Potomac as long as he could reach DC just before or with any attempt by Lee to attack the capital. Also, Meade's LoC didn't run south to DC. It ran from his rear east to Westminster. So, trying to get him to attack Lee on his chosen ground to the south wouldn't work. And remember Lee had to concentrate his army for battle at Cashtown, which meant a cessation to foraging. Lee's army was living on their haversack rations and the regimental trains. All the other wagons were dragging the supplies collected (some 28,000 head of sheep and 26,000 of cattle would eventually reach Port Royal. He had around seven days from 31 May-1 June to force an engagement on Meade before he had to withdraw back over the mountains to resupply his army.
As far as Sickles' III Corps? Had he stayed put with some minor adjustments on his line, he would have been on Longstreet's left and rear when Longstreet sent Hill and McLaw up the road to Gettysburg along Cemetary Ridge and ran into II Corps and Hancock. Then V Corps would hit him from the right. As it was, he tried to occupy a line to long, and got defeated in detail from his left flank and destroyed his corps as an effective fighting force. Longstreet exchanged the equivalent of two brigades for a Union Corps even if that Union corps was half the size of a Confederate corps. Hill and McLaw could have joined Pickett the next day if Lee actually knew, thanks to his small staff, the condition and locations of his units.
Lee had cavalry with him
Which were not used properly for scouting , a failure on Lee's part...Stewart's absence was an excuse for Lee's failure to make proper use of the cavalry he still had with him.
Say what you want about Sam Elliott, he was the only guy in the movie who had a great, not-fake mustache.
This movie is a favorite of mine, and I've been to the Gettysburg park. It's hard to imagine the courage ( and folly) it took for Pickett's division to march across that wide, shallow valley into the concentrated fire of Union cannons and rifles. General Lee was hoping for a decisive battle that would put him at the undefended north gates of Washington DC. But it was too big a gamble.
Thank you for the (literally) countless hours of (even more) debates at our periodic gaming events. :)
The only thing about Gettysburg I didn’t like was the Calvary charge of Custer was not shown . Arguably it was a very important charge saving the union rear from being attacked by Stuart!
Wasn't there a detachemnt of US Sharpshooters with or slightly beyong the 20th Maine's left at the battle that hit the Confederates in the flank or rear at a critical moment of the battle? I seem to remember seeing them go by in the background in the movie for an instant as the 20th is deploying.
If you want a more historically accurate account of Chamberlain and the 20th Maine at Little Round Top, read "Stand Frim ye Boys from Maine" by Thomas Desjardin.
Frim? Is that an accent of Maine?
23:18 Sums it up.....Really enjoying this fresh, interesting channel....Keep it up fellas!
Greg’s question about which individuals were portrayed most and least accurately was an interesting one. Without knowing much about the character and leadership style of Buford I have wasn’t aware that Sam Elliott’s portrayal of him was misleading but the answer I was half-expecting, particularly given Greg’s question about an unfair depiction, was Meade. While it is probably true that the Union victory was not primarily attributable to the commander of the Army of the Potomac, it has always seemed extraordinary to me that he does not even appear in the film. Anyone without prior knowledge of the battle would come away from the film with no idea who had commanded the victorious army, which meets my understanding of ‘unfair’.
Love the comment about Picketts charge being a sanitized version of what actually happened. The account that always stuck with me is one man describing a half dozen men to his front & left being eviscerated by a solid shot leaving ‘a mass of flesh & blood with each corpse indistinguishable from the next’
Yep 3 regiments of Vermont Volunteers flanked them on both sides in a triple pincer and shot them to pieces. "Glory to God! Glory to God! See the Vermonters go at it!" - General Abner Doubleday.
Dam !!!
One thing that may have helped Buford, his troopers had short barrel breech loading carbines, the Confederates had muskets. Carbines were more accurate than Muskets and in a short range skirmish, more deadly. Also, because they were short barreled and breech loading, Buford's men did not have to stand up to reload and a good Calvary man could get off 3 shots with a carbine for every one shoot with a confederate musket. The Carbines turned 2000 men into the equivalent of 6000.
The film was an awesome movie IMO, based on a novel about the battle. It was never meant to be an historically accurate documentary, rather a film for entertainment...
The single most important commander on the Union side at Little Round Top was the Chief Engineer Gouverneur Warren. He was sent by General Meade up on that hill, observing Confederate troop movement (allegedly from the glint of bayonet within the tree line) and hustled the nearest guns and infantry into place. He had been originally in command of a V Corps brigade, and knew all the officers (like Strong Vincent and Steven Weed ) , so they respected his orders which were made official by the Corps commander Gen. Sykes. The V Corps was a veteran unit which had its share of US Regulars (and also the 20th Maine). There might never have been a significant prepared defense without Warren's actions.
I just found your channel through this video. Love what I saw here and can’t wait to watch more. Awesome episode! New sub from me!
Fantastic Q & A session. Great questions, wonderful movie, informed answers. 10/10.
Bedford on the first day would be hard to depict in the movie. It was accurate that Buford was just a delaying action to get more union troops in town. Also Bedford didn't have just one spot they held but more a series of short fallbacks from ridge to ride to delay Heath and a majority of Heaths troops were on the flanks of the Chambersburg pike walking through field and woods to leave the road open for the artillery to move easier . So the first several hrs of Day 1 were very slow. That's hard to put on film.
True. I had a beer at an old tavern on Herr Ridge once.
Killer Angel's was a historical novel. Never meant to be a substitute for history.
On the subject of foreigners …….there is an old soldier buried in a local cemetery here…I live in Dunedin, New Zealand. The soldier was an Englishmen who resigned from the British Army while serving in Canada, then made his way to join the South. He survived Picketts charge and served through to Lees surrender. I can’t remember his name, but it all comes up on Google👍😎
Gettysburg has a lot of composition, exposition and decision - but that’s necessary. The level of fidelity to history in that movie is amazing given it is a movie made for TV.
It is years since I watched Gettysburg and as I recall the British Col.Freemantle was inserted in the manner that he was as some form of comedy relief. The part that I recall, not all that clearly now, was that he was talking to a Confederate officer immediately prior to Pickett's charge when artillery fire starts to land nearby. In the portrayal he visibly cowers while the Confederate officers nearby virtually laugh the close call off as little to concern themselves with.
As a British regular officer, not to mention a guards officer he would have been raised from early childhood for a life in the army and showing fear in any circumstances was something an officer never did. The statement that "a British officer never ducks" was something he had known all his life, personal courage was the first requirement of anyone holding the king's commission and to show fear before his men was more than his career, not to mention his place in society was worth. To do so in front of foreigners would be even more shameful.
I suspect it was just an opportunity to show how the natural bravery of an American under fire showed him to be, in comparison to a soft European that was begging to be stuck in somewhere, after all, the target audience was in America.
In fact, as an experienced senior officer with a good knowledge of modern warfare that it is more likely that he was wondering what the hell the confederates thought they were doing, attacking across open ground against prepared gun lines.
I agree that Ewell made the right decision. Culp's Hill was well defended (Greene's brigade) with more folks on the way. Chamberlain wrote about this day several times. I have heard that each retelling had slight changes in what happened. He seems to have gotten better with age.
Stonewall would have taken Culp's Hill.
@@marknewton6984 With what? 3 divisions in the corps. Johnson not yet up. Rodes heavily engaged in front of the town(And, not too effectively, if I read it right). Early's division was the only one available. He was concerned about his left. So, maybe half of his division. Against a brigade(Greene) in prepared positions with more help nearby. I don't think that it was possible.
👍 Very interesting “reels vs. reals” analysis.
I have not been to the Gettysburg Battlefield, but have been to the Little Big Horn Battlefield, Fort Necessity Battlefield, the Bunker/Breeds Hill Battlefield, and the Battle of New Orleans Battlefield and agree 💯 % that these places must be seen to get a true “3-dimensional” view not available in books or movies.
As pointed out by the Historian the victory of the movie “Gettysburg” is that it inspires the viewer to learn more about one of the important battles (if not the most important) of the U.S. Civil War.
Having been to Gettysburg and walked the battlefield several times , it seemed a a large battlefield, especially when on foot or horseback. You come aware with respect, sorrow, defeat, victory, and honor about the men who fought there those days. Do not forget their sacrifice in the history of this great nation.
The actor that played John Bell Hood was in his 50's playing a 32 year old general
The Alabama regiments had marched all day in the heat without water. Their canteens had been sent off for water just before they were ordered to march and they never got them back. And just before the Chamberlain charge, rumors were circulating that the attack they had been undertaking was to be called off because of it's impossibility. Then Chamberlain came charging down the hill and yes, they ski-daddled. The charge was unnecessary to save the union flank, LOL.
IF the Alabamians did push the 20th Maine back, there were reinforcements that would have swept them away. The movie makes it seem like that Chamberlain saved the free world.
And even if the ANV somehow prevailed over the AoP and pushed them away from Gettysburg, it would have been a repeat of Antietam. Lee would immediately be forced to retreat back to Virginia, for lack of supplies and reinforcements. Lincoln would declare victory, having reversed a Confederate "invasion" that was plunging northwards.
Lee in retreat and then news arrives that Vicksburg is under Union control. Grant comes east, overland campaign goes the same.
Been to Gettysburg five times! Love it❤
The sad thing was that Buford did not live to see the end of the war. He died in December of 1863 of what they thing is Typhoid. Lincoln Promoted him to General before he died.
Lincoln liked him. But Not Meade.
The best book I've read on Gettysburg from the personal level is Joseph E. Persico's "My Enemy - My Brother". --Bob Bailey in Maine
Really enjoyed the very informative insight….great job
Great to see Greg from LittleWarsTV!
Better yet ,The question should be" how do you put June 30-July 3 1863 in four hrs of film and make it as historically accurate as possible?"
Thoughtful, thank you.
We cannot capture or understand the devastation of that war. Historians can reinterpret it and wash it with superimposed morality of today but the truth is far more damning than our tender sensibilities grasp. That war split families, cities, and States. It touched every aspect of America. It was fought in our homes and in our streets. It was fought in our churches. May God in His mercy save us all from repeating that war’s lessons.
The problem with "Gettysburg" is that it is based on the book "Killer Angels" and some of the portrayals and history in the book are no longer considered accurate. It's really a form of historical fiction, like Thucydides putting words into people's mouths in his history of the Peloponnesian Wars.
Another problem is that the book the movie is based on is not a military history. Meade was given full latitude to maneuver the Army of the Potomac as long as he could reach DC before or at the same time as Lee, if Lee made a stab at DC. Lincoln did not become disillusioned (somewhat) with Meade until Lee got back over the Potomac and Rappahannock without another engagement. But still neither Lincoln nor Stanton tried to force Meade to attack at Falling Waters or later at Mine Run. Also, Meade's line of communication no longer ran to DC. His LoC was back to Westminster to the rear of his army. Moving the ANV to the south seeking to force Meade to attack to reopen his supply lines would fail, because his supply lines were no longer to the south of Gettysburg.
The movie is based on the book “The Killer Angels,” a novel, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. “Gettysburg” is true to the novel, probably more so than any movie I’ve seen. The novel is a story based in history, but it’s not history. It plays fast and loose with some aspects (the 2nd Maine was incorporated into the 20th a couple months before the battle, for instance), but it tells a great, inspiring story. If not for the book/movie tandem, would we be talking about the battle much in 2024?
A fantastic book concerning the battle of little round top is Conceived in Liberty by mark Perry. It talks about Chamberlin and Oates' roles in the battle and their very different upbringings and personal lives.
I see Greg and Ed are already up there at your place, Mark. Can't wait to see what you guys are cooking up in the next couple of days
Good video. Disagree with very little and agree with so very much. Have been a CW buff for 68 years (since I was 8 and now 76). Good job.
My understanding is the bayonet charge didn't accomplish what the movie depicted. The Rebs did retreat but they regrouped at the base of LRT and advanced back up the hill with their bayonets fixed. As they continued up the hill either some of the 2nd USSS or a detachment from the 20th Maine which had been deployed some distance south of LRT opened fire on the Rebs, causing them to withdraw...Oates' men had no ammo either by this time.
I've seen that building on the History Channel. You can also do 360 degree vr of the dieing UA-cam. if there are such things as ghosts, they're piled high as a skyscraper on that barn.
You missed it with Armistead and Hancock.....they were very close Masonic Brothers as were many of the officers and soldiers in the civil war. Masonic Brotherhood was a very strong bond.
I agree
And is to this day
The Iron Brigade from the Midwest did fight like that on the first day, It was in the woods. They drove the confederates back into retreat.
My favorite was lo armistead
Great stuff, I'm also a fan of the actions on July 1st, Eric Wittenberg’s "The Devil's To Pay" is one of my favourite reads on all of the ACW. His books on the other cavalry actions in the battle are forming the basis for scenarios for my skirmish-y wargames on the battle.
I'm surprised you didn't comment on one of the more glaring mistakes, which depicts the Confederates deploying into line of battle within easy rifle range of Buford's cavalry.
Cool video idea 👍👍
The only thing I had against Gettysburg was the orchestral score. Chamberlain charging down Little Round Top to the music of a soaring string section just didn't do it for me. Something that gave a hint of exhaustion and terror (see Mike Oldfield's "The Killing Fields") would have been better. It was good music, but it didn't belong on a yarbles-out close range infantry brawl.
At 1:05- the drums: One of the drums has a drumhead that says Remo (a company that didn't exist until the 1960's.)
I saw that one day watching the film and my world was shattered XD
Thanks Guys
Question for you Gettysburg experts. My great-grandfather, Willis Jackson Bone was reassigned from Cobb's Legion to another Georgia regiment - which was at Devil's Den and assaulted Little Round Top. All we know is that one of his legs was so severely injured by artillery shrapnel that it was amputated. I cannot find any references of direct Union fire again assaulting Confederate troops in either of those actions. Do any of you know where those CSA units would have faced artillery. Grandpa Jack lived until 102. When 78, he married a 28 year old widow. This is a Creek Indian tradition in order for elderly widowers to have a woman to take care of him. However, in this case, it was a forced marriage, since she was carrying my grandmother inside her. LOL
The kid has a good point. Why didn't the Rebs dismantle the fence before the Charge?
Dude, "Cavalry"
Calvary was where Christ was crucified.
Other than that, excellent video.
The biggest gap is a group of Berdan Sharpshooters armed with Sharps breechloaders was omitted. These troops, not so much the Maine contingent that turned the tide.
According to what I've read, Arthur Fremantle was not assigned as an "official" observer by the British Government, but traveled to the Confederacy on his own volition. This would explain why he was wearing civilian clothes in the period picture in lieu of a uniform.
The details of the 20ME on Little Round Top are fairly accurate - at least close enough.
The primary inaccuracy is the implication that the 20ME practically won the whole Gettysburg battle by holding LRT.
That's wildly inaccurate. The Confederates never planned to take LRT, if they did take they couldn't have held it and, had they done so, it's not clear what they would have done with it.
The comments about the movie not being based upon the battle itself, but rather Michael Sharra’s great novel, are spot on. Had to be entertaining too. If only Ted Turner could have thrown in a few more bucks to get a make up artist who could do beards. The one on Joseph Fuqua as J.E.B. Stuart is the worst. It looks like it came from a kid’s Halloween costume purchased at Walmart.
I think the most inaccurate anything in the movie was the conversation between Fremantle and Armistead on day 3. It's documented that at that time he was up in a tree trying to get a better view of the battlefield
1 hell of a video 2👍👍 for this great gem of a video
In General, after seeing the movie and studying the history carefully, the two don't connect hardly at all. The Confeds generally controlled the middle ground small elevations of Wheatfield and Peach Orchard at end of 2nd day while the Union held the highest of the high grounds. It could have been considered a draw up until Lee sacrificed his men the next day.
I don't think they made Buford's action on 1 July as a "hold at all costs"-type action. It was depicted as a delaying action.
No colonel would just yell “bayonets!”
The command was, “fix - bayonet.”
We studied JLC’s leadership style while I was a Cadet. That was in the 1970s, lord knows what they study now.
I dont consider Lee's orders to Ewell to be vague. Lee wanted the hill occupied if it was empty or lightly defended hy Federals. It's very likely a push by the Confederates would havr tsken the hill.
Good video, thanks. I've visited the Battlefield several times, and played the battle using at least 4 different computer games. I've also read extensively. It's my understanding that the film production was not allowed on the actual battlefield, but had to film close by. I'm willing to be corrected. Also, I'm not sure a move around to the right on the 2nd/3rd day would have succeeded. The Union still outnumbered the ANV, and more were coming up. Also, the Union cavalry (Custer) beat the Confederate cavalry (Stuart) on day 3.
And Longstreet was SLOW day 2 !
That is Arther Wellsley, Duke of Wellington
All my life, most blame has been placed at Jeb Stuart's feet. Wonder just how accurate that is.
It is just scapegoating, blaming Stuart for Lee's blunder.
Jeb Stuart had twice before circumnavigated the AoP, and had completed those trips in roughly 3-4 days. Stuart asked permission to attempt to do so, again. Lee gave him orders allowing for Stuart's discretion to do so, including the suggestion to capture supplies as possible. Stuart took roughly half the Confederate cavalry, leaving 5000 horsemen behind -- more than sufficient for Lee to perform vigorous scouting.
Unlike in the past, this AoP was not so passive. It was larger, more sprawling, and on the move. With a combination of distance and captured wagon train slowing down progress, it ended up taking Stuart 8 days to circumnavigate the AoP.
The bottom line is Stuart was 100% compliant with Lee's orders, while Lee was passive about using the plentiful cavalry he had at his disposal. Ultimately it was Lee who decided to aggressively press the attack on the 2nd and 3rd day at Gettyburg, in spite of the fact the ground was unfavorable and he well knew the AoP might have plentiful reinforcements. Meade had 3 divisions in his pocket as reserves on the third day. If by some miracle Pickett succeeded with his charge, the ultimate outcome would have been no different, just even bloodier than what is recorded by our history.
Criticism seems fair. He left Lee's army blind at a critical time.
@@revs81 except no he didn't as stated above he left half the southern Calvary forces with the Army of virginia, roughly 5000 horsemen, plenty enough to scout seeing as not even a quarter of the armys calvary would be used for forward scouting with most being used for exactly what jeb stuart was doing.. the question you need to ask yourself is, why is it so that every other time stuart did one of his circumnavigations it was part of his orders and a brilliance of Lees strategical thinking.. but when the south gets caught off guard all of a sudden its stuart being a whimsical commander and not being where he needed to be?
@@jessedriscoll4447 fair point but for me it's the amount of time that transpired. Lee had no idea the Army of the Potomac's position as they pushed into PA. Stuart should have been closer to the infantry or at least communicated to Lee what his scouts could see.
Longstreet was SLOW on Day 2. Delayed Countermarch.
Hi, very interesting. I'm from the UK. Do you think they should remake the film in the style of saving private Ryan?
Fremantle walking around with a cup of tea in hand looked ridiculous. Typical Hollywood would not have worn uniform. Still great movie.
Absolutely well done!!
I love Chamberlains story, but it portrays him coming up with something out of the box, but didnt the same exact thing happen on the opposite flank at the same time?
Chamberlin saved the union in this great battle. The confederate force was adept at flanking as part of it was Jackson's brigade/corp.
One of the worst inaccuracies, in my opinion, is when the 20th Maine is defending Little Round Top, there's a scene where Chamberlain is talking to Kilrain and Kilrain makes the statement, "it looks like another regiment is moving against the left." Implying the 20th Maine is fending off two Confederate regiments, but in fact the 15th Alabama split their regiment into two separate columns trying to turn the Union left flank. The movie never corrects this statement. If there was a legitimate second regiment to attack the 20th Maine's left flank, there's no way the 20th Maine could have held their position.
I always just took this as fog of war, with Kilrain making the statement regarding to the detachment you mention, not that there actually was another full regiment. =)
The Fact that this Horrible Civil War was fought is beyond tragic and a complete waste. To think that One Side fought this War in order to protect the Southern Slave Economy is just EVIL. We had to fight it out, but we should not have to.
Because if you noticed in that movie when General Reynolds got shot you had the 14th Brooklyn that had the red pants and the blue coats that was the 14th Brooklyn that's my unit
Not one word on Herr's Ridge and the 8th IL Cav. ? (First shot?) or didn't that happen. Personal opinion here of course .. General Dan Sickles was the Hero of the 2nd Day. His moment to the Orchard stopped the SURPRISE Were here! of Hoods forces. Yes he created a hole in our lines and that was one of those moments too, where ALMOST happened.
9:52 on screen you see many dead yet the when viewing the 20th Maine memorial there are only 20 some names as killed.
Have you noticed that modern generals don't have beards, or even a meaty set of mutton chops.
Modern generals get to face the reality of chemical and biological weapons being deployed against them and their troops. I suspect that on deployment almost all the hair would go. One of the more amusing things I saw was a sailor being cut out of an OBA (Oxygen Breathing Apparatus) after he pulled a lot of hairs through the buckles when he was tightening it down. It took several months before his hair looked reasonable (in his eyes) again.
But beards were a thing back then !
I was a re-enactor in this movie...all in the Pickett's charge scenes...If you were there sweating your arse off in wool uniforms in the July heat as I, was you would say it was accurate!!!!...We were all volunteers in historically accurate uniforms and were not paid a dime.....second it was based on a book THE KILLER ANGELS!
Gettysburg is based on the events that took place trust me I know cuz I'm a civil war re-enactor and they were making that movie they used a couple of our guys in that movie when General Reynolds got shot
I have watched this movie several times, and it always amazes me that in the beginning Jeff Daniels is a lieutenant colonel with oak leaves but on little round top he has the eagles of a full colonel amazing that he found the bars to put on his uniform on the trip to little round top Bad editing
The worst portrayed was Gen R.E. Lee. Absolutely no understanding of his personality at all.
Stuart’s beard was made for another actor who was recast last minute
Joshua Chamberlain, The Lion of Gettysburg. Soft spoken yet a powerful Leader.
Chamberlain was wounded again later in the war. I think he was a child of God, or he could not have survived those wounds in pre-antibiotic days. He had urological issues the rest of his, ĺìfe, but was apparently not impotent, as he sired
several more children. I am amazed at him. The professor definitely carried a "ƁIG Stick."
Ironic description -- soft spoken, yet a professor of rhetoric.
Lee was very ill in July 63
If Lee had not engaged at Gettysburg! Lincoln would have had to Negotiate with Jefferson or lose the Election! We would be living in a much different America! There was no smokeless Powder? After one volley the smoke would cover the view of everyone on the Battle field!
The Civil war was never going to end until Lincoln allowed Grant, Sheridan and Sherman to wage total war and destroy the south. Lincoln wanted a contained war where the engines of the Southern economy were left in tact. Keep in mind the Union was building the Transcontinental Railroad at the same time as Gettysburg. Lincoln and the North really underestimated how determined the South was, until he put Grant in command.