Gettysburg Essay example -- essays research papers

Gettysburg, the largest, bloodiest, and most celebrated battle of the civilian war, is said by many to be the turning point of the war that killed 618,000 Americans. Gettysburg the movie was four hours long, which is about 68 hours less than it actually took for the battle to come and go. The first gunslingers 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 Union Calvary manpower on picket duty along the Chambersburg Pike. It was in response to the forward of Confederates, a skirmish downslope of 2,500 led by Henry Keith, a general that graduated last in his class at air jacket Point (104 Clark). The battle took place in the grassy country easy(p) south of Gettysburg. The Confederate headquarters was located East of the union at Seminary Ridge. Seminary Ridge was composed largely of flat theatre of operationss with patches of forests. Federal forces however, were stripe along Culp shill, Cemetery Hill, and Cemetery Ridge, which make the Federals line form a hook. The Federal ground was all elevated considerably over the adjoin land. General Stuart and his Calvary had been sent by Lee on an placard mission to locate union forces. Fortunately for the Virginian army, General Longstreet had hired a spy kn induce only as Harrison, to do the same job. This Harrison was an instrumentalist 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 baptismal font to face with brigade General John Buford who was uphill and eventually gained the upper go past as he received reinforcements from Major General John Reynolds. Bufords own brigade sustained many casualties and after the 1st, was reassigned to guarding the supply train for the correspondence of the battle, (movie). July 1st was the same day that the Potomac army found itself replacing Gen eral Hooker with General Mead. Meade helped his army secure a well saved 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 average of 17,000 men per mile, (105 Clark). Lees army line stretched approximately devil miles longer, but averaged about 10,000 men per mile, (105 ... ...r with itself. The crony against brother and jock against friend mentally made fighting even harder. In one special(a) instance, General Amistead who was leading his Confederate brigade up the slope during Picketts charge, was shot on the Union line. Instantly he was noticed by Colonel Chamberlains brother Thomas, who instead of killing Amistead, helped him lay down to ease his pain. General Amistead was solid friends with Hacock a Union General. Amistead requested to speak with Hancock, but Thomas Chamberlain cognizant him that Hancock had also been shot. Upon hearing this, Amistead w as greatly saddened. Union soldiers then carried Amistead to field hospital where he died two days later. Hancock survived the wound at Gettysburg and went on to run 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 giving orders and pulling triggers in vain. A prime causa would be Longstreets following of orders in the midst of doubt. The movie was very well made it showed the harsh realities of war and the great simplicity of life.