Armistead and Hancock: Behind the Gettysburg Legend of Two Friends

In a war of brother versus brother, theirs has become the most famous broken friendship: Union general Winfield Scott Hancock and Confederate general Lewis Armistead. Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels (1974) and the movie Gettysburg (1993), based on the novel, presented a close friendship sundered by war, but history reveals something different from the legend that holds up Hancock and Armistead as sentimental symbols of a nation torn apart.
In this deeply researched book, Tom McMillan sets the record straight. Even if their relationship wasn’t as close as the legend has it, Hancock and Armistead knew each other well before the Civil War. Armistead was seven years older, but in a small prewar army where everyone seemed to know everyone else, Hancock and Armistead crossed paths at a fort in Indian Territory before the Mexican War and then served together in California, becoming friends-and they emotionally parted ways when the Civil War broke out. Their lives wouldn’t intersect again until Gettysburg, when they faced each other during Pickett’s Charge. Armistead died of his wounds at Gettysburg on July 5, 1863; Hancock went on to be the Democratic nominee for President in 1880, losing to James Garfield.
Part dual biography and part Civil War history, Armistead and Hancock: Behind the Gettysburg Legend clarifies the historic record with new information and fresh perspective, reversing decades of misconceptions about an amazing story of two friends that has defined the Civil War.
This book is available online at Amazon, along with Tom McMillan’s other recent books, Gettysburg Rebels: Five Native Sons Who Came Home to Fight as Confederate Soldiers (2017) and Flight 93:The Story, the Aftermath, and the Legacy of American Courage on 9/11 (2014).

[@MaylaJ.]

So interesting. Thank you!!!

[@jessicaleighdargaclark4536]

Wonderful information!! Thank you!

[@noelp4916]

Loved it. Thank you. 🇦🇺

[@cyndiebill6631]

Thank you for this. These two are my favorite generals. To really hear what really happened with them is amazing. Now I know what I’m going to read next. 👍😊🇺🇸

[@aprilm3848]

Excellent! Thank you so much for this very informative presentation! I learned a few things about both of these great heroes by watching this twice. Ms. Ladd, your organization never fails to bring the very best speakers to us. I so appreciate your effort in keeping history alive and accurately presented.

[@benlesher9794]

Yes, The Killer Angels is a work of fiction inspired by historical events, and the friendship between Armistead and Hancock is embellished for dramatic effect. But this is the thing- there were numerous examples of deep friendships among soldiers and officers on both sides of the conflict. How could there not be? War between fellow soldiers forges deep bonds; and while the specific events described in the book might not have happened between the two men, it should be understood that the deep bond between two soldiers is something that happened numerous, unrecorded, times but was even more moving than we could ever know- and that dear friends is the tradagy!

[@cyndiebill6631]

Thank you for this. These two are my favorite generals. To really hear what really happened with them is amazing. Now I know what I’m going to read next. 👍😊🇺🇸

[@davidbowman4259]

Hancock is one of my favorite Union generals.

[@Sheilamarie2]

I've had "the illness" since childhood... it just keeps getting better! Great book, topic, and interview!

[@colerainfan1143]

The Killer Angels is my favorite book of all time. Powerful, moving, thought provoking. Thanks for this post.

[@Bumper776]

I seem to recall a newspaper account of Hancock visiting Gettysburg after the war and he made a point to locate the spots where two generals fell, one of which was Armistead. The other may have been Reynolds, I am not sure.

[@ArthurWright-uv4ww]

Thanks for all you do

[@karenwood4101]

Thank you very much! I really enjoyed this! 😊

[@cyndiebill6631]

Thank you for this. These two are my favorite generals. To really hear what really happened with them is amazing. Now I know what I’m going to read next. 👍😊🇺🇸

[@joycefranklin8981]

Thank you very much for a very interesting and educational program! I am enjoying all of the presentations of your organization and hope to continue to learn from them. These are two of the many famous generals of that era and it is very interesting to have them brought to life in this way.

[@jbl7092]

Anyone with half a brain should have realized a frontal attack for a mile over open ground was suicidal. Longstreet knew the days of grand Nepolianic charges into cannon fire was over. He urged Lee to fight defensively. If Longstreet had been the commander, the CSA probably would have carried the day at Gettysburg.

[@timothyhartzell7095]

Didn't Almira Hancock destroy most of her husbands papers at some point? I've always found it curious that upon her death in NYC that her body bypassed Norristown by 1,000 miles to be buried in St. Louis.

[@Amby99]

Very cool. Thank you! I was always fascinated by their relationship because of the movie. I definitely learned a lot about these two men.

[@KingAlobar21]

Fantastic research. Thank you!

[@missmissy2490]

Wonderful. Thank you so much!

[@AdamsCountyHistoricalSociety]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jennar3319]

Armistead is pronounced armstead in va

[@EddieLeal]

"Lo" for Lothario. 😆 This is a name that came to suggest an unscrupulous seducer of women. His influential father managed to obtain a second lieutenant's commission in the 6th U.S. Infantry on July 10, 1839. Good to have that kind of support from your father having been such a trouble maker.

[@EddieLeal]

The bonds that are forged between soldiers in warfare can be just as strong, if not stronger, than the bonds between blood brothers. (Veteran- Operation Iraqi Freedom)

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

At my cardiologists office I commented that he had an unusual name. He asked if I was aware of a Confederate General by the name of Armistead. I replied yes, that he was killed atGettysburg.He explained that he is the grandson, removed @ least twice of the man himself. There is more to the story than I feel even he is aware and day after tomorrow, I’ll tell him of this.

[@johnjacobs1625]

Awesome Video! JJ

[@quasar8898]

Armistead- Famous Confederate Turd Burglar.