Chamberlain is an unusual man, a college professor turned regiment commander, and he views the war and the people around him more as a philosopher than a military man. He senses that they are making history and understands the importance of what they are doing. He is at home wherever […]

Read more Character Analysis Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Though he is not a Virginian, Longstreet is held in high regard by Lee. A moody man with strong opinions and deep emotions, Longstreet’s three children died the previous winter, all in one week, and he is tormented by enormous grief. He is pained for his wife, who also suffers […]

Read more Character Analysis James Longstreet

Lee is a gentleman, a man of honor, and a religious man with no vices and considerable patience. Optimistic and idealistic, he believes his men can do anything. He is soft-spoken and cares about his men, but is willing to use them boldly and lose them for the Cause. He […]

Read more Character Analysis Robert E. Lee

This chapter summarizes what happens to a number of the participants after the battle. Lee, for example, asks to be relieved of command, but Davis won’t accept it. Longstreet’s resignation to Lee is also denied. Essentially, no one is left unaffected by this battle, and some will never be the […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Afterword

Summary In the evening after the battle, Chamberlain sits alone looking out at the battlefield. He remembers the morning with green grass and beautiful wheat fields, all of those gone now. His brother joins him and chats, trying to make sense of the whole thing. Tom keeps asking why those […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Friday, July 3, 1863 – 6. Chamberlain

Summary Longstreet sits watching the battle unable to think, his mind “like a room in which there has been a butchering.” He tries to pray, but can’t. He sits silent and immobile as men stream by him in retreat. Pickett’s aide screams for help that isn’t there. Garnett’s horse returns, […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Friday, July 3, 1863 – 5. Longstreet

Summary Armistead takes in the view while the Confederate artillery is firing. As the Union shells start to land in the Confederate lines, men hide in the grass waiting to attack. Armistead checks on his men. All around him shells are landing, men are dying. In between the explosions, one […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Friday, July 3, 1863 – 4. Armistead

Summary Coming down off Little Round Top escorted by a young lieutenant named Pitzer, Chamberlain and his men can see the whole army spread out along the ridge and up to the hills at the north end. He hears about yesterday’s charge by the 1st Minnesota. It attacked the Rebel […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Friday, July 3, 1863 – 3. Chamberlain

Summary Goree returns from scouting the area. The road to Washington is still open, but the Union cavalry is closing in on Longstreet’s right side. Longstreet extends Hood’s division to cover that area. At least the rainy morning will help screen the movements to get Pickett’s men in line for […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Friday, July 3, 1863 – 2. Longstreet

Summary Chamberlain and his men have spent the night on Big Round Top. He has kept moving to keep the pain in his leg down. At dawn, Chamberlain climbs a tree on the crest where he can see the movements and campfires of both armies as they awaken. He smells […]

Read more Summary and Analysis Friday, July 3, 1863 – 1. Chamberlain