Transcript The Killer Angels: A Reference Guide

THE KILLER ANGELS: AN
INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT AND PROLOGUE FOR MICHAEL SHAARA’S
RETELLING OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
THE UNITED STATES: UNION
SITUATION AND KEY FIGURES
• While the Union was tremendously successful in the
Western Theater, with soldiers like U. S. Grant and W. T.
Sherman in command, the Army of the Potomac—the
army in charge of defending the Eastern Front—
suffered a series of embarrassing defeats at the Seven
Days, Second Manassas, Fredericksburg, and
Chancellorsville. The East being perceived by Europe
as more important, France and England became
convinced by the Spring of 1863 that the
Confederacy was winning the war. An exasperated
Lincoln changed commanders in the East six times in
two years. Now, in the Summer of 1863, he names
Meade his commander in hopes of finally suppressing
the rebels.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, COMMANDER
MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE GORDON
MEADE
MAJOR GENERAL
JOHN F. REYNOLDS
MAJOR GENERAL
WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK
MAJOR GENERAL
JOHN BUFORD
COLONEL
JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN
THE CONFEDERATE STATES: REBEL
SITUATION AND KEY FIGURES
• In early 1862, things looked bleak for the
Confederacy, but fortunes turned quickly when the
man most responsible for keeping the Confederacy
afloat, Robert E. Lee, took over the Army of Northern
Virginia in June 1862. He repulsed George B.
McClellan at the Seven Days Battles, embarrassed
John Pope at Second Manassas, buried Ambrose
Burnside at Fredericksburg, and dominated Joseph
Hooker at Chancellorsville. With the Summer of 1863
approaching, Lee decides now to go North once
more—his first attempt failed at Antietam in
September 1862—and invade the Union to further
demoralize the United States, but does so without
“Stonewall” Jackson, Lee’s most aggressive
lieutenant, who was died following Chancellorsville.
PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES,
JEFFERSON DAVIS
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, COMMANDER
GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
JAMES LONGSTREET
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
RICHARD EWELL
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
AMBROSE POWELL HILL
MAJOR GENERAL
J. E. B. STUART
MAJOR GENERAL
GEORGE PICKETT
MAJOR GENERAL
JUBAL EARLY
BRIGADIER GENERAL
LEWIS ARMISTEAD
BRIGADIER GENERAL
J. JOHNSTON PETTIGREW
BRIGADIER GENERAL
RICHARD GARNETT
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
THOMAS “STONEWALL” JACKSON
CONFEDERATE SPY
HENRY HARRISON
HELPFUL RESOURCES
• Click here for examples of weaponry used by Union
and Confederate forces.
• Click here for detailed maps of the Battle of
Gettysburg.
• Click here for an explanation of military groupings
and organization.
• Click here for information regarding the diet of
Union and Confederate soldiers.
• Click here for examples of the notorious “Rebel
Yell.”