Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

The Killer Angels is an awesome and vivid story about the battle of Gettysburg.

Gettysburg was one of the most bloody and horrific battle of the American Civil

War. Author Michael Shaara does an excellent job of showing the bravery and valor of

the men fighting on both sides.

The story begins in a town near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in the town of

Taneytown on June 29, 1863. Harrison, a spy for the confederacy, returns to General

Longstreet late in the night and tells him about the Union troops he spotted moving closer

to their camp and could ambush them at any time. Longstreet doesn't believe Harrison at

first but Harrison is able to convince him eventually. Longstreet wastes no time and alerts

the commander of the Rebel army, General Robert E Lee. General Lee is skeptical too of

the union movement, but eventually decides to move his troops north towards Gettysburg.

Shaara then switches over to the union perspective, giving you a look at their point of

view. He introduces the reader to Colonel Chamberlain and Buster. Buster wakes

Chamberlain up and lets him know that their troop has picked up 120 men from the

Second Maine that disbanded. The new troops are deserters and Chamberlain is ordered

to shoot anyone that will not march. Chamberlain gets the newcomers some food and

meets with their leaders. The leaders tell him that they are sick of fighting and just want

to return home to their families. Chamberlain can't let them go so he asks them to please

stay and join the 20th Maine, all of the men except 6 agree to this.

It's now July 1, 1863 and General Lee is waking up. He is having heart trouble

and tries to take it ...

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...eral Pickett then ride to meet Longstreet who is crying and gives the order to

charge. Armistead forms a force and begins to march strong but it is soon falling apart

from union fire. Most start to flee but he continues to march, and is shot and killed.

Longstreet watches the massacre and knows they have lost. Men run at him screaming

and asking for help, but he has sent all the help he can. All he can do is sit and watch. He

starts to ride into battle until a man next to him is shot, then he retreats and meets up with

Lee, where they ride off planning the retreat. Longstreet believes the war can not be won

now. Chamberlain ride out and observes the victory and is amazed at all the confederates

would give for slavery. A storm breaks out and washes the blood and the bodies on the

land, and then Tom and Chamberlain return to fighting.