The Killer Angels Movie Analysis

MOVIE-GETTYSBURG
SOURCE: BOOK-THE AMERICANS

Summary Of the Movie
Gettysburg was made in 1993 based on an award winning novel “ The Killer angels” by Micheal Shaara. It is one of the longest films in Hollywood and is based on an actual 3 days battle between the Confedrate Army (Southern states) and the Union Army (Northern states) at Gettysburg. This was the turning point in the US history where-in the winning streak of the Confederate Army was stopped by the Union Army during the American civil war. This battle resulted in about 53000 causalities on both the sides. Movie begins with Harrison, a civilian informer, informing Gen Longstreet of the Confederate Army about the presence of Cavalry of the Union Army near Gettysburg. Confederate Army, with astrength of
about 70000 men under Gen Lee was moving Northwards to destroy Union Army on ground of own choosing and further moving towards Washington DC. Not known to him, Union Army, under Gen Maude, with the strength of about 80000 men was in their pursuit to halt their progress.
Both the Armies accidentally meet near Gettysburg. March of the Confederate Army was stopped by Gen Buford leading the Cavalry of the Union Army on July 1; the first day of battle. On July 2; the Confederates take control of Gettysburg but the Northerners hold on to Cemetery ridge, the high ground South of Gettysburg. Col Chamberlin’s regiment; holding the Southern flank is able to beat the attack of a division of the enemy. His regiment is down to half the strength and includes 116 mutineers who take up arms after his passionate speech. Moreover, after their ammunition is exhausted and they are low in strength; they charge the attacking enemy with bayonets on their muskets showing exemplary courage and hold on to their position. On July 3, Gen Lee concentrated entire Artillery on the slope between Cemetery ridge and the Little Round Top to silence Union army’s guns and soldiers and then take over the area with infantry; thus driving a wedge in Union Army’s deployment. All his Generals were against exposing troops in the open area to enemy fire but he insisted. In spite of courage shown by Gen Trimble and Gen Pickett by personally leading the troops;
their attack (Pickett’s charge) was repulsed and The Confederate Army lost the battle. Compared to the chapter, this battle has been accurately depicted in the movie on actual site in great detail including the feelings of the people involved. Fan following of Gen Lee is unbelievable and his soldiers volunteer to attack again after the Pickett’s charge was repulsed.
Historical Inaccuracies. Number of people who died as shown in the movies was 53000 but actual was about 51000. Strength of the Confederate Army as projected in the movie was 70000 but was actually 75,000. Union army was projected 75,000 but was about 90,000. The confrontation between Gen Longstreet and Gen Lee regarding using a frontal approach before any brigade engages the enemy has been shown in the movie. However History tells us that Gen Lee ordered full assault after 2 brigades had been crushed by the enemy. Gen Stuart is reprimanded by Gen Lee and movie brings out that he was deliberately avoiding battle. But actually he was engaged by the Union forces in Eastern Virginia and had to wait to rejoin Gen Lee. Gen Pickett refutes teaching of Darwin in a camp fire. But Darwin’s teaching became public in 1871 and the time in movie was 1863.In one of the scenes, Col Chamberlin was seen instructing Sergeant Andrew J. Tozier to set up the mutineers near the trees. But he wouldn’t have known him as he was one of the mutineers whom Col Chamberlin had not met earlier.