Gettysburg Essay example -- essays research papers

Gettysburg, the largest, bloodiest, and most celebrated encounter of the Civil war, is said by many to be the turning point of the war that killed 618,000 Americans. Gettysburg the movie was quartette hours long, which is somewhat 68 hours less than it actually took for the battle to come and go. The counterbalance shots were fired no long after daylight, so to be exact, it was 0430 hours, on the morning of July 1st, (49 Nofi). Bullets flew from the rifles of marrow martyrdom men on guide duty along the Chambersburg Pike. It was in response to the advancing of assistants, a friction line of 2,500 led by Henry Keith, a ecumenical that gradatory last in his class at West Point (104 Clark). The battle took place in the grassy country just south of Gettysburg. The Confederate headquarters was go underd East of the union at Seminary Ridge. Seminary Ridge was imperturbable largely of flat fields with patches of forests. Federal forces however, were set along Culpshill, necropol is Hill, and Cemetery Ridge, which do the Federals line form a hook. The Federal plant was all elevated considerably over the surrounding land. command Stuart and his Calvary had been sent by Lee on an observation mission to locate union forces. Fortunately for the Virginian army, General Longstreet had hired a spy know only as Harrison, to do the same(p) job. This Harrison was an actor and because General Stuart returned late, it was by his word that the entire Southern army made its move (181 Coddington). On July 1st, Confederate forces soon found themselves face to face with brigade General John Buford who was uphill and eventually gained the upper hand as he received reinforcements from Major General John Reynolds. Bufords own brigade prolong many casualties and after the 1st, was reassigned to guarding the supply train for the remainder of the battle, (movie). July 1st was the same day that the Potomac army found itself replacing General Hooker with General Mead. Meade help ed his army secure a well protected area on Cemetery Ridge, and Culps Hill, where it would stay, (aside from the left flank), until the end of the battle. Meades army line stretched three miles and had an median(a) of 17,000 men per mile, (105 Clark). Lees army line stretched approximately two miles longer, but averaged about 10,000 men per mile, (105 ... ...r with itself. The brother against brother and friend against friend mentally made fighting even harder. In one particular instance, General Amistead who was jumper cable his Confederate brigade up the slope during Picketts charge, was shot on the labor union line. Instantly he was noticed by Colonel Chamberlains brother Thomas, who instead of cleanup spot Amistead, helped him lay down to ease his pain. General Amistead was good friends with Hacock a Union General. Amistead requested to speak with Hancock, but Thomas Chamberlain informed him that Hancock had excessively been shot. Upon hearing this, Amistead was greatly sa ddened. Union soldiers then carried Amistead to field hospital where he died two days later. Hancock survived the wound at Gettysburg and went on to go for the Presidency on the Democratic ticket in 1880.All in all the war seemed to me senceless, the Confederate and Federal Generals knew this and wore it on their faces, constantly gift orders and pulling triggers in vain. A prime example would be Longstreets interest of orders in the midst of doubt. The movie was very well made it showed the acid realities of war and the great simplicity of life.