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The Killer Angels Fabulous insight into the military mind, the minds of men, the minds of people dedicated to a cause greater than themselves. Michael Shaara gives us a dozen characters worth caring about from both armies, and then plunges them into one of the most terrible things in Americas history the Battle of Gettysburg The book is a great depiction on the American Civil War. The book is repulsing, the massive slaughter of Americans by Americans over human slavery. There was also a highly accurate portrayal of the action, and the command challenges at Gettysburg. This is the story of the battle of Gettysburg, told from the viewpoints of Robert E.
Lee and James Longstreet and some of the other men who fought there. I have not consciously changed any fact. [pg. xiii] Historical and military authors often find it tempting to display their research and learning ability by filling each paragraph with mindless babble. Michael Shaara tells the story with vivid emotions. He makes the reader feel like they were there in the camps, under the artillery, behind the stone wall, marched, bled, and prayed that Lee would not order the charge. Michael Shaara takes you there, as soldiers saw the war and army life.
He showed the true sorrow and terror. Yet you learn to love it. Isnt that amazing? Long marches and no rest. , up very early in the morning, and asleep late in the rain, and theres a marvelous excitement to it, a joy to wake in the morning, and feel the army all around you and see the campfires in the morning and smell the coffee [pg. 125 ] Leadership in those days, was all about character, and conducting your self as a gentlemen. Shaara wrote of Gen. Armistead, He was one of the men who would hold ground if it could be held; he would die for a word.
He was a man to depend on, and there was this truth about war to taught you the men you could depend on. [pg. 67 ] Other aspects of war are not so clear, such as the reason for the conflict, and the motivation of the men who volunteered to fight. Shaara does a masterful job of bringing the complex and unresolvable issues to the reader through the thoughts, and arguments of the characters. The conversation on causes and conscience between a Union Colonel and his master Sargent is the best scene in the book, and helps explain the title. [pg. 188 - 9 ] Theres no better summary of their relationship than when the proud and practical Sergeant says, Colonel, youre a lovely man. He shook his head. I see at last a great difference between us, and yet I admire ye, lad.
Youre an idealist, praise be. [pg. 188 ] It takes both kinds of men to make a great army. The Killer Angels offers many insights into the minds of the men who were there. They had their agonized choices, and their choices to disobey their duties and suffer the circumstance. A perfect example is when Longstreet was ordered by Lee to command his men into a charge that was sure to end the battle and carnage, What was needed now was control, absolute control. Lee was right about that a man who could not control himself had no right to command an army. They must not know my doubts, they must not.
So I will send them all forward and say nothing, except what must be said. But he looked down at his hands. They were trembling. Control took a few moments.
He was not sure he could do it. [pg. 311 ] Shaara gives us not just heroes, but real men doing heroic things. The Killer Angels also makes reader realize that all of us seem to compete, of course for lower stakes nothing as big as a war. Death seldom visits us in our jobs or at school, yet dont doubt that you are training your life for it. The end is the same for us as it was for them. As Shaara has Lee say, And does it matter after all who wins? Was that ever really the question?
Will God ask that question, in the end? [p. 360 ] The reader begins to get a greater understanding of life, and that you follow what is in your heart. It also makes the reader try to make this world kinder and better for everyone. In this lies the true value of The Killer Angels.
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Research essay sample on Battle Of Gettysburg Makes The Reader
