Charlie’s Reviews > The Killer Angels > Status Update

Now it is from Longstreet's point of view and it appears to be a finger pointing festival. Longstreet's aides warn the general that he will most likely take the majority of the blame because None of the men can blame General Lee anymore. Hood's losses from the Battle of Little Round Top are estimated to be around 50% a horrendous amount for the day.

The Battle of Little Round Top has been ended in a Union victory. 500 prisoners from a 1500 men attack. 130 casualties for the Union. A strong victory considering only around 300 some men defended the hill. It is rather fascinating how a simple surprise counter charge could shift the result of the battle the complete opposite direction.

The battle is going in full swing right now. Chamberlain has held off the Confederates for a seemingly endless amount of time, but his line appears to be breaking. So what would the sane man do? With low ammunition and less men? Lead a counter charge down the hill of course! This charge actually puts the Rebels on their heels and they are in retreat.

Chamberlain is holding the left flank. He is my kind of guy. He is cool, calm, and most importantly, collected. He knows that if he loses his flank, chances are the whole battle will be over as a result. The hills are Little and Big Round Top, and if you know bits of your American history, that is pretty important in the outcome of the battle, some would even say the war.

Longstreet is in chaos. It seems that his mental state has been thrown out the window. He wants to fight a defensive war, but Lee firmly believes that attacking is the only available option because if they retreat, the morale will be destroyed. Longstreet is trying to command a battle he does not want to be in, and I think that may create a bad judgement that could lead to possible disaster.

"I found me a John Henry." This was the quote that made the chapter. In one of Chamberlain's aides eyes, a John Henry is an African American. The man is wounded, and they take him to a doctor and get him patched up. What was rather striking to me in this chapter is that Chamberlain discusses race and South vs. the North. It was a strange but very unique conversation about the topics.

Fremantle, an englishman, is fascinated with the space and way of the Southern life. His mind is very chaotic as he his taking everything in, the battle, the men, the officers, and everything else. I actually am rather fascinated in how he doesn't go crazy from all of this. It is strange viewing old American culture from the eyes of an Englishman from Britain in the 1800s.

Lee is featured, and he is in a state of mental turmoil. He has to decide on whether he wants to retreat or attack a strong enemy. So far he is favoring attack because that is what his generals want, but he is not certain of it himself. There are two hills that could have been taken on the first day by Ewell, but they weren't. I have a feeling that these hills will be part of the disaster that is Pickett's charge.

Longstreet is appears to be very lonely in this chapter, I think it is because Lee plans to attack the very next day. It might be another foreshadowing example. Longstreet is able to talk with Fremantle, an Englishman, and they talk about various topics including American culture, strategy, the war as a whole, where they are from, and gossip about the generals. It was a very interesting conversation.

Chamberlain is leading both infantry and calvary through the hills of Pennsylvania. It line of blue coats is described as a long snake as it weaves in and out of the towns and hills. Morale is all over the place in the men. I think that is strangely unique because even though the Union won the battle, their initial morale was significantly lower than that of the South's. I thought that was a bit strange.