Charge of the 20th Maine (Gettysburg) - Favorite Historic TV/Movie Scenes #2

Scene from the film GETTYSBURG by New Line Cinema/Warner Brothers. They own all rights to this scene.
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#History #Reaction #CivilWar

[@fenner1986]

I still get goose bumps when Jeff Daniels screams "Bayonets!". They really nailed the music and the ability to draw out an emotional response in this scene.

[@waterbeauty85]

I think they played that scene perfectly. You can feel the adrenaline rush and that mixture of determination and fear that defines courage as the ability to act in spite of fear.

[@cashcleaner]

Absolutely!

[@bipslone8880]

@@cashcleaner Gettysburg was a lost cause propaganda flick

[@sqike001ton]

I don't know why but it always brings a tear to my eye when I watch this scene

[@NRV0]

So weird that I was just watching Jeff in the Steve Jobs movie. Its a Jeff Daniels day for me lol.

[@orion6251979]

My son is in 8th grade, and his history class is doing reports and presentations over various topics on the civil war. He was dreading doing his report, until I showed him this clip. We watched the movie together, and he decided he wanted to do his report over the fight for little roundtop because of watching this scene, and finished his report enthusiastically.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Awesome!

[@lewisbreland]

Now...THAT is what we call parenting!

[@bka8851]

Good for you. Excellent job. Teach them history at a young age and they'll enjoy it their whole lives. It's important

[@stuartblanchard7527]

As a boy from Maine, the stand of Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine was the stuff of legends growing up. Love this movie and this scene.

[@MrAwsomeshot]

yessah bub. We like to name stuff after him for sure!

[@Onecooltop75]

I named my first son Joshua Lawrence after Chamberlain. My second son is Audie Leon. Right now my younger boy hates his first name so he goes by Lee

[@donmcneil8285]

Old Orchard Beach Here

[@benodell7906]

I’m a ten minute walk from where Chamberlain lived. My third grade class took a tour of his house on a field trip. They teach every school kid in Maine all about him.

[@EXRazeBurn]

Makes sense. One of the most incredible Americans that ever lived. Both in the breadth of his accomplishments and the strength of his character.

[@tensortab8896]

Yes, "BAYONETS!" is one of the best given lines in all the movies. But I think the dialog leading up to it is equally as good. Danials begins explaining his plan and the captain says "You mean charge?" Any combat leader who has been in a similar situation, where the plan has gone to shit, and you have pull something out of your ass, and make everybody believe you still know what you're doing. You have to both explain it, and convince yourself as you're explaining it, that it will actually work. And when you're done, you must fully commit by giving the forceful command (BAYONETS!). Some of the best acting ever.

[@ordinarypeople20]

You and others who have served our country militarily have pretty much agreed on how accurate the leadup to "Bayonets!" is in terms of what leadership truly means. I'm glad it's that accurate, and I thank you, sir.

[@BULL.173]

Jeff Daniels really did knock it out of the park in Gettysburg. He was perfectly dialed in to the role of Chamberlain. I especially like how he plays this scene. You can see the gears turning in his head when he initially gives the order to fix bayonets. It's a stunned realization more than anything.

[@ritaDas-xl4kz]

I loved the scene when the soldier comes up and says that he has been escorting the enemy prisoners with an empty pistol and Chamberlain asks him to say it a bit low voiced

[@jw1731]

I remember at that point some subtitle version has chamberlain say “not so loud” while others transcribe it as “that’s allowed”. And either makes sense.

[@ritaDas-xl4kz]

@@jw1731 Ya

[@Farbar1955]

That great scene reminds me of the scene in Band of Brothers where Liebgot has to escort 11 German prisoners with only one bullet in his rifle. Kept him from shooting any prisoners while they didn't know he was so limited in ammunition. There are probably many instances in war where prisoners weren't aware of how lightly armed their captors were.

[@sqike001ton]

@@Farbar1955 no Winter's emptied his M1 in view of the Germans he wanted them to know it was empty that Winters wanted them alive but the first man who did was a dead man and then what 10 guys behind enemy lines with 1 empty rifle while the rest of there forces are across the creek for them also Winters left him his baynoet as if I remember it was still fixed as Easy had just done there baynoet charge

[@Farbar1955]

@@sqike001ton In the series when Winters empties the rifle Leibgott's body position is such that the prisoners can't see what Winters is doing. But that's the camera shot in a TV series. In real life one of the German prisoners could understand English and actually relaxed when he heard Winters' orders. The prisoner probably relayed what he heard to the others but they weren't going to do anything anyway since they were surrounded by US troops. Anyway the comparison between the two scenarios is still an interesting one to make. I enjoyed both.

[@charlessapp1835]

OK don't lie. When Chamberlain yells, "Bayonets!" You get goosebumps all over. And then the music just makes you want to grab a musket and charge. Even if you have Southern sympathies.

[@WaywardVet]

It's good, but I think the best acting is right before, where he looks like he's not sure what to do, looks around, and everyone is looking at him for answers. Its that military moment every soldier has seen at least once. He might be in command, but now he's really got to TAKE command. Exude confidence even if you're crapping your own pants. It makes a great leadup to strong confident order for bayonets.

[@jw1731]

@@WaywardVet and that proud look Kilrain gave him when he made the command decision in the heat of the moment 10:33. He looked like almost a proud father or uncle who is elated to see his son or nephew really going from a boy to a man in a time of emergency, and that’s true of his character setting in this film: despite his position as a subordinate, he played the role of advisor and teacher to Chamberlain throughout the first part of the film.

[@charlessapp1835]

@@jw1731 One of my favorite parts of the movie is when Kilrain says how you cannot judge a race. Anyone who judges by the group is a pewit. I think that is so relevant for today. People, (especially politicians both Democrat and Republican, and the media), often group people together and make general assumptions. Whether it be between black/white, male/female, political affiliation, or anything else. We need to take people one at a time. We need to judge based on their individual actions. Not the actions that their "group/race" is supposed to do. And in any case we should always give the benefit of the doubt.

[@jw1731]

@@charlessapp1835 Yes! I agree completely. Oftentimes much emphasis is placed on checking one's bigotry against race (and rightly so) that we disregard or condone prejudice against other groups or categories humans may be part of. Humans are complex creatures, and while we may be or become part of groups - political or religious or otherwise - we're ultimately own persons and we say or do things for a variety of motivations or intents. And as you said perfectly, we should give the benefit of the doubt, instead of resorting to the mindset of, "he looks and sounds like he's a conservative/liberal/Christian/Muslim/Buddhist, then he must think ___ and I bet he'd say ____ if he saw ____ ", which is unfortunately how most people tend to do if the discourse takes place long enough.

[@greyman6353]

I hear Chamberlain shout “Bayonets!” I want to grab my Exacto knife and duct tape it to my walking stick and charge down a hill

[@dustbunny1977]

Gettysburg and Glory are my all time favorite civil war movies! Great job on this one!👍👍

[@wargame2play]

My Cousin Gregg was one of the Reenactors in the movie. He was part of that charge!

[@FreedomTrooper89]

Probably my favorite scene from one of my all-time favorite war movies. Glad you like it as much as I do! It was actually watching Gettysburg for the first time as a kid that became one of the reasons I became so interested in history, especially Civil War history.

[@tommcdonald1873]

ROTC uses this scene as an example of an Infantry counterattack. If you get the chance go to Brunswick, ME, and visit all the JLC related exhibits and his gravesite.

[@barbaraleroy2842]

Chamberlain won the Congressional Medal of Honor for this charge. It also highlights the Yankee Shout, which was just as powerful as the rebel yell.

[@Bastit3hman]

The Gettysburg soundtrack is so good!

[@mazuzuri]

First watched this movie when i was a kid around 25 years ago. Got absolutely enamored with it, especially the battle for little round Top part. I have probably watched this movie on average once a year since.

[@danielciurro4742]

I know, this scene has been giving me goosebumps for almost 30 years.

[@PrincessofLight28]

I saw this movie in my 8th grade history class and it has become my favorite historical movie. This is one reason I love history. Also anyone else notice the guys on the ground moving out of the way before the charge so they don't get stepped on

[@billholder1330]

Thanks for remembering the 1st Minnesota - I always thought Lincoln's line "the last full measure of Devotion" was a reference to them.

[@AnvilMAn603]

and to add to the fact that its mostly reenactors: they pretty much all showed up with their own kits including cannon

[@frigginjerk]

I like Chamberlain's speech to the mutineers earlier in the movie, too. Definitely makes me believe he taught rhetoric.

[@eq1373]

And it was the mutineers that later saved his brother's life.

[@abdullahahmad2012]

Eid Mubarak to everyone seeing this comment!

[@patrickschoenpflug]

Yes this scene is by far my favorite it bought tears to my eyes the courage of Chamberlain and his men showed no bounds. And in my opinion this is the best movie I have ever watched.

[@ruthiemay423]

When Ted Turner planned his civil war trilogy, this pompous billionaire said it was a labor of love. After GETTYSBURG and GODS AND GENERALS, he said he did not make enough money to film the third movie of the trilogy. He could have never done any of it without the wonderful re-enactors. 😢😢😢 I have watched this countless times, always crying buckets of tears. The most heartbreaking scene was when Stephen Lang's Pickett said, "General Lee, I have no division." 😢😢😢

[@aaronfoss8956]

Private Foss, who passes during the battle, is my relative. It's amazing that he is in the film.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Have you seen this? www.mainelegacy.com/24.html

[@danielott135]

Great breakdown love it!!

[@missmissy2490]

Wonderful! My favourite scene.

[@methrowrecords]

i like the little twirl with sword in hand Ellis does as he's leading the charge. chokes me up.

[@hiramnoone]

I was in the army and trained with the bayonet, and an important part of the technique of instructors on that field is to inspire a sort of blood lust in recruits as they have you lunge, parry and thrust with that thing. With me always knowing in my heart that if, with no bullets left and it really coming down to sticking that thing into someone's guts, that I'd likely have no stomach for it. We used to many of us joke about what we'd do when we heard that order to "FIX BAYONETS!", that before we heard the next one we'd all be double timing for wherever the company clerks, cooks, nurses, truck mechanics and typists were, long before that order to "CHARGE!" was ever given. Cuz you'd know if things really got *that* danged desperate, you'd already lost the battle anyway.

[@kevindecoteau3186]

Daniels accent is right on. Also the expression on his face, he nails it.

[@-row-gunny8618]

Love this movie...went through most of the Audiobooks of Michael and Jeff Shaara regarding the Civil War. Awesome stuff!

[@robertandersen4873]

Your stuff is always great. Love both "The Killer Angels" and "Gettysburg". Saw the movie in the theater several times, most notably in downtown Gettysburg when visiting the battlefield (early-mid 90's)?

[@TheMaineSurveyor]

It’s a great scene! Thank you for pronouncing Bowdoin correctly!

[@anthonysalvatore468]

The balls of steel in that scene weren't in the rifles. If you don't tear up when Jeff Daniels screams "Bayonets!" you aren't human.

[@S3aCa1mRa1n]

Turn: Washington’s Spies was amazing ! You need to do a review :)

[@jackmessick2869]

My favorite thing about this film is the character arcs of Pickett and Buford and how they are played out in opposite directions. Sad that Buford didn't live to see the outcome, succumbing to disease later in 1863.

[@charlessapp1835]

You forgot another very important charge that happened at about the same time on the other side of Little Round Top by the 140th New York. Col. Patrick O'Rorke personally led his regiment and pushed the Confederates off the hill. Sadly, at the cost of his life.

[@vorschlaghammer9888]

My old Civil War re-enactor Captain, now Major of the Battalion, had lost his ancestor in this charge. It is unknown whether it was his ball that killed O'Rorke or someone else's.

[@charlessapp1835]

@@vorschlaghammer9888 Cool! Anther interesting fact is that the actor who plays General Barksdale in both Gettysburg and Gods and Generals is a direct descendent of the general.

[@markeddy9169]

Can you imagine being the leftmost guy of the Pennsylvania 83rd? "Here they come again. Get ready. Wait, what the hell do those Maniacs think they're doing?!?" Nothing to do but go along with the plan.

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Random fact about the 83rd (from my neck of the woods in NW Pennsylvania) - they suffered the 2nd most number of battle deaths throughout the entire war for any of the 2000 Union regiments in the Civil War, 2nd only to the 5th New Hampshire. Also, Strong Vincent was the CO of the 83rd before taking command of the brigade.

[@mikesuggs1642]

Lee made no plans to assault the Round Tops, He did not consider them important in his limited reconnaissance the day before. Therefore, his instructions were to simply go up the Emmittsburg road directly into Cemetery ridge and hit the Union in Force with two divisions preferrable in the Morning of July 2nd. But Longstreet was impossibly late, sulking at his orders and did not have his men in place until 4 pm. By this time, General Sickles had moved his entire 3rd Core out into Peach Orchard in front of the main Union Line further complicating Longstreet's advance. Lee still did not change Longstreet's orders even though the entire Battlefield had quickly and dramatically changed. When Longstreet finally went in, he hit Sickles first in the Peach Orchard in ground that was until just 2 hours before clear of any troops. It set off Hell on Earth. Longstreet was slow when on offense but when he did move, he did so with the Force of an Avalanche. Sickles 3rd corps was all but destroyed and Sickles himself was carried from the field with a bad leg wound. But he stood long enough to weaken Longstreet's thrust against Meade's main line on cemetery hill. General Hood meanwhile leading Longstreet's powerful 1st division upon seeing the field for himself requested that he be allowed to move around those two hills yonder. (The round tops). But was wounded just as the main fight was getting under way. So only one Regiment of Hood's division ended up moving up Little Round Top. The whole Battle would have played out much differently had Hood's entire Division moved in that direction. For Instance, Big Round Top had no Union Troops on it whatsoever and it dominated Little Round Top. Had it been held with a sizeable Confederate force. The whole nature of the Battle would have changed.

[@robertthecag1230]

I saw it in the theatre. Incredible. And I still watch it at least once a year. Plus Sam Elliott as Brig. Gen. John Buford, awesome. One of the best war movies all time. Top 10.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

The first time I watched movie was in a theater. Amazing!

[@brianb8060]

Greatest movie soundtrack.

[@stephenelberfeld8175]

They got the uniforms right in this movie. Unlike a lot of war movies, they really worked on the details so not to have anachronistic things that would spoil the drama.

[@jeandoten1510]

Most of the troop uniforms and weapons belonged to the re-enactors who are very particular about their kit!

[@bucksdiaryfan]

What is so compelling about the Civil War? I remember going to a Memorial Day book reading at my library about the Civil War, and I was so fascinated and have been ever since. I think its partly because, unlike most Civil Wars, the American Civil War was so geographically structured it was almost like a proper war between two countries, both of whom claimed to be versions of America... in some ways we are still fighting for those "versions of America" and the Confederates have gained a lot of ground

[@LJsReactions]

During Pickets charge the 26th North Carolina was nearly wiped out in fact only 90 men survived most retreated for the Confederate as cannon fire and smoke engulfed the regiment...Only color-bearer and one sergeant were left advancing to the Union lines. By this time the Union soldiers behind the wall, admiring the man’s courage, refused to shoot him. He marched right up to the stone wall with his regimental standard, then stopped as if waiting for the bluecoats to make the next move. For a few moments-it must have seemed like an eternity-the Union soldiers simply stared at the man. Then one Federal reached out a hand, saying, “Come over to this side of the Lord,” and pulled the color-bearer across

[@thomasrudd1418]

@14:26 The two soldiers you said were part of the mutineers were actually the brothers from the 20th Chamberlain talks to who tells him they can't shoot a lick lying down and prefer to fight standing. In the book, Chamberlain observes that they have been killed prior to the charge.

[@SventheCrusader]

Not in any way a fan of the sequel, but *god* was this a movie from top to bottom. The score especially might be one of my top five ever.

[@yesidolikemen]

1:46 idk if it was on purpose but ey it was a good one "the 20th maine was the main focus"

[@Rockonymous]

Imagine everybody just going full on melee and winning. In modern day this wouldnt work against our current weaponry, but in this particular scenario its actually very advantageous against muskets

[@MotorPotor56]

This scene and Gen. Buford's "We will charge valiantly... and be butchered valiantly! And afterwards, men in tall hats and gold watch fobs will thump their chests and say what a brave charge it was..." scene was the best part of the movie, and the soundtrack was fire.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

Buford's statement, if he really said it, is a good example of what politicians would have said later. They're good at sending others to war, including other people's sons/daughters while remaining far from the action.

[@MotorPotor56]

@@stephenkammerling9479 Not sure why you basically needed to restate it. The Quote rests on its own merits

[@Jonascord]

One thing. Little Round Top, at that time, had been logged off, and was known as the bare rocky hill. No trees. At the time the movie was made, it was heavily overgrown with second growth forest. I'd heard that the NPS had planned to log it off to restore it to its original condition on that day, 2 July, 1863, but I don't know if they did.

[@lukesmith1003]

Great Movie man, well done.

[@stanleyrogouski]

The most interesting character in this film is actually the Confederate spy/actor Harrison.I think he lived right into the 1920s.

[@charlessapp1835]

One of your next reactions should be to History buffs' review of the Movie Gettysburg. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIuUl2ysoc6qn6M

[@Cyberlucy]

Love this movie. I've seen it dozens of times. Now I want to see a movie about Vicksburg where my ancestor was.

[@dennis2376]

I have to agree, I also loved this scene.

[@kylewilson2819]

Gettysburg is probably my favorite war film of all time, right up there with "Waterloo", "Tora Tora Tora" and "The Last Samurai".

[@coryponter8565]

It would be awesome to see your thoughts on Al Murrays; Britain has defeated every country in the world at war. Its a completely different style to most of the stuff you react to. He's an incredibly well qualified historian who plays the cliché, arrogant, British pub landlord for his stand up.

[@rustyshackleford7282]

fun fact Chamberlain was only a small factor of little round top. there was over 1300 troops east of his position that actually fought just as well

[@toddreynolds3878]

And there were over 20,000 men that fought on Culp's Hill for 2 days................ sooooo......... which one was the key to the Union postion....... yeah....

[@1320crusier]

Remember kids, Chamberlain never ordered the charge ;). He did order bayonets but the charge was 100% spontaneous.

[@drrakw2432]

Interesting series! I recomand Extra History's "Siege of Vienna" as the next one. Thanks for posting!

[@ZackyDaley]

Oh yeah imagine me watching dumb and dumber in the 90s, then watching this movie when it came out and seeing Jeff Daniels play a completely different part. One of my favorite movies of all time is Gettysburg .

[@ralphdougherty1844]

When I went to Gettysburg I looked out over the "The Valley Of Death" and Devils Den...I just thought to myself "What the hell was Lee thinking trying to assault this position?"...As Hood said to Longstreet at the hospital "Worst ground I ever saw"...It was foolish to try.

[@sqike001ton]

Something about the 20 Maine battle they always forgot the sharpshooters a fair amount of them who had been skirmishing all the way up the to the Maine men stood and fought with them and Jeff Daniels was the perfect choice to play Chamberlain it helps they look similar

[@dastemplar9681]

Gettysburg as a whole is a great movie, but only to those who know the history enough. Don’t get me wrong, it does it’s best to explain the history and as much of the battle it possibly could, and it’s cinematic accomplishment of Pickett’s Charge remains to be one of the most spectacular moments filmed in American cinema. But as a story-telling experience, it kinda falls apart. General audiences who don’t know the history well are often too focused on trying to keep track of who’s who and what’s going on that they don’t get the chance to actually have some emotional investment with the film. The only parts that were beautifully made was whenever we’re just simply focused on Chamberlain and the 20th Maine. Hell, you could’ve made the whole film entirely focused on that and the regiment alone, and you would’ve gotten a simple yet dramatic and engaging Civil War cinematic experience. Gettysburg is still a great film for history buffs, but the 20th Maine was what really stole the spotlight in that film.

[@vorschlaghammer9888]

From a tactician and historical viewpoint this charge still baffles me. Sun Tzu's Art of War on the principle of Earth. Never attack an enemy on high ground, never attack an enemy on low ground, always attack an enemy on even ground. By this Sun Tzu determined that if you attack from the low ground you will not be able to break the enemy's line as their defenses would be more sound against the attack. If you attack on lower ground your charge would not be able to stop before reaching the enemy spears, in 1863 uses of spears were uncommon at best but bayonets could have been fixed and the Confederate force could have braced against Cavalry in which the rifle is positioned lower toward the hip to take the impact of a horse, in this case the man coming down from higher ground. This being said the 20th Maine should have been completely wiped out, I believe the only reason this charge worked was the shear idiocy of the charge took the Confederate commander by such surprise he was unable to think of ordering to fix bayonets and prepare for cavalry charge.

[@mallc8874]

i haven't seen gettysburg but it looks really good from the clips and reviews i have seen

[@Cody435]

It's a long movie but it's well worth the watch I haven't watched it in a while but I might have too watch again soon

[@brooklynbummer]

Much of the dialogue was really quoted from the original sources.

[@TribeTaz]

Also my favorite part of the movie

[@davidfinch7407]

Can you believe that the same actor who did Chamberlain also starred in...."Dumb and Dumber"?

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

Will you ever review The good the bad and the ugly? I live within driving distance of where the battles mentioned in the movie take place.

[@salanzaldi4551]

Hold your ground men of Main!

[@arnie24070127]

As a former soldier hearing BAYONETS! Puts the fire in me and every infantryman, past present and future. "Through the foe. To the objective. To triumph over all. If necessary I will fight to my death!"

[@TankUni]

I notice just after the instructions have been given (10:18), Chamberlain says 'ok'. Would this be an anachronism?

[@garybacon659]

It was first used during Martin van Buren's campaign in 1840, increased in popularity thereafter. Not necessarily an anachronism. As an educated man with an eye for politics, Chamberlain would've certainly been familiar with it, even in a historical sense.

[@10Tabris01]

Question, will you do the Picketts Charge scene as well?

[@danieltoft2116]

why does a certain group of people hate Chamberlain? Obviously he wasnt the only leader or soldier doing work, but thats how it goes in war, me and none of the guys i know will be remembered in the annals of history for our actions, maybe our unit, but not us. I went to Gettysburg in hs and would later serve in a unit that was at Gettysburg, almost felt like destiny

[@Liam_Mellon]

The whole Little Round Top sequence was epic!

[@ccramit]

@6:00 I'm being an idiot, but isn't a reverse "V" just a "V"? Lol

[@AnvilMAn603]

how about picketts charge next?

[@michaelcuesta884]

Bayonets!

[@SuperAragoon]

“Most of these guys were reenactors for the film” you don’t say? As starving reb troops wearing 44 waist britches walk up the hill lol

[@JumpySonicBear]

Have you ever been to the civil war reenactment in Zoar, Ohio?

[@theREDdevilz22]

I'm not even American and i'm ready to charge!

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

'The Killer Angels' is a wonderful read, 'Gettysburg' does it justice.

[@jx6135]

I believe the movie could have had a lot more carnage

[@kmrose]

I started the book today. It better than the movie.

[@Defender78]

The movie Gettysburg is so finally tuned, in terms of pacing, despite it being three hours long, the cinematography, and the miraculous score. And how in the heck were there not acting nominations for Martin Sheen, Jeff Daniels, and Tom Berenger? I’ve never seen a movie as tight as this magnum opus. Now Ron Maxwell has made only 2 or 3 movies since GB, and Gods and Generals and Copperheads weren’t as great. But G’Burg hits the mark on so many levels. Great review video!

[@EscanV]

A very rare occasion a film does a book justice

[@aussiejed1]

"We swing like a daw..." I love the "Bayonets!" part too. Daniels really puts his heart into it, in that you can see in his eyes the fear of the order he is giving. It is this movie that inspired me to make my 28mm American Civil War Union miniatures the 20th Maine. (To be joined soon by the 54th Massachusetts).

[@Moxie_278]

Can confirm, coming from maine, that accent is perfect

[@OGAndizzo]

I have been watching this movie ever since I was a kid, and it was only today I realized he said "we swing like a door" I always thought he said dog. Thanks Maine accent.

[@cleverusername9369]

I love how his eyes bulge and his mustache quivers. Really shows how much he was putting into his performance. Jeff Daniels is a man who knows his American history, I think he really knew how important this film would be and how vital it was for him to nail his role, which he did. I'm from NC but my family is from New England, I can't speak to an old timey Mainer accent but from what I've heard from my family up that way, I have to say he had me fully convinced. Plus he looks exactly like Chamberlain. I would say this is his performance of a lifetime. When he screams BAYONETS you can almost see him burst a blood vessel in his eyeballs. Simply outstanding work from Mr Daniels.

[@BULL.173]

Daniels plays it perfectly. It’s subtle, but he’s equally shocked by that realization and its implications. He just can’t show it in front of his officers. And when he starts saying they’ll have the advantage of moving down the hill and that the rebs have to be just as beat up as their regiment. He’s also trying to convince himself that this could work.

[@jamesdunn9609]

Joshua Chamberlain was the epitome of what being an American is all about. He was an intellectual first and foremost, but when he saw the struggle taking place, he could not sit idly by. He was an abolitionist and could not abide what was happening to his fellow man. So he took up arms and entered the fray, intent on seeing things put right. He suffered terribly for it, but never once regretted his decision. He was a true American hero in every sense.

[@dastemplar9681]

He was a man who was truly driven by principle and virtue. His American-Christian values was what really motivated him to become a sincere abolitionist and saw the conflict as a means to correct a horrible sin. Agreed with what you said, that he never fully recovered from his wounds. But his character was truly something at the day. A true American at the heart.

[@cleverusername9369]

​@@dastemplar9681 he likely also believed in the separation of church and state, as set forth in the Constitution he defended, so although he may have been a Christian, he was an American first, and his religious beliefs are irrelevant. America is not a Christian country. That was the whole point. Whatever his religious beliefs may have been don't matter. His courage, his wisdom, his intelligence, and his sense of duty to his country are why he deserves to be remembered as an American hero.

[@zuverzagmail]

@@cleverusername9369here, here!

[@maximilyen]

Yes but which Americans? Americans killed eachother.

[@Onecooltop75]

I named my oldest son Josh after Joshua Chamberlain. My second boy I named Audie after Audie Murphy

[@eXcommunicate1979]

This charge and the Fort Wagner charge from Glory are just incredible.

[@Jimboliyah]

Ever since i graduated high school I've missed learning in history class. I'm so glad I found this channel, everything good about the class without the assignments :)

[@jxslayz6663]

FOREAL!

[@KazyReed]

As a lifelong Mainer, I'll say that Jeff's accent is spot on in every single one of his scenes. It never slips.

[@ritaDas-xl4kz]

Gettysburg and Waterloo are my favorite war films and i always liked almost every scene from both of them

[@WarriorsTale88]

Fun fact: Waterloo was filmed in the Ukrainian Soviet Union and the extras were Soviet Soldiers.

[@ritaDas-xl4kz]

@@WarriorsTale88 Yup i knew that its just such an astonishing feat achieved by them

[@Lorscia]

I can't believe he played in Dumb and Dumber and most people will remember him for that movie.

[@panzerwolf494]

He also played in the Newsroom and delivered an incredible speech about America and the current issues we've had

[@Lorscia]

@@panzerwolf494 I saw the series. Too bad they canceled it.

[@kmrose]

He also played Washington in The Crossing.

[@stephenrohaim382]

@@panzerwolf494 A speech full of bullshit, like the crap about free speech elsewhere. There is no free speech in Canada or most of Europe. The US is the freest country on earth still even despite big tech and the dems trying to remove that.

[@Ayeshteni]

@@stephenrohaim382 "There is no free speech in Canada or most of Europe" You realise that the pain in my side from laughing should be illegal right?

[@bjorns131stpa2]

To this day it's strange watching this movie. I was a reenactor for a number of years and many of my friends are in these scenes. I was too young to carry a weapon at the time of filming but I did manage to get down for the filming of the step off of pickett's charge. To this day that cannonade was awe inspiring. The former mayor of my town was the artillery advisor on set. He was the one who came up with the talcum powder mix for the close in cannon shots. My one friend Andrew is in every scene that Jeff Daniels is in because it was his hair used for the mustache lol.

[@davidcollier6156]

It wasn't the Ken Burns documentary that got me into Civil War history. It was the film Gettysburg.

[@Nebulasecura]

For me it was both

[@henrychin4290]

Gettysburg is easily on my top 3 war movies of all time! Right along with Midway and Tora, Tora, Tora! I absolutely love the scene you just showed! I've been to the battlefield and through the movie and books I've read, felt like I had already been there and was reliving history!

[@johnottr]

I guess you have never seen "Paths of Glory" or Come and See". Now those are war movies.

[@davidfinch7407]

Top three for me is "Saving Private Ryan", "Memphis Belle", and "Gettysburg".

[@ltaldoraine4495]

for me the top 3 in order are Gettysburg, 1917, and Saving Private Ryan

[@Tom-ri8ws]

What about Zulu?

[@sarge627]

You should cover Armistead's rally during Pickett's charge in this movie as well. That scene never fails to give me goosebumps.

[@ntfoperative9432]

Armisteads charge, picket wasn’t the one that made it to the wall

[@magnalucian8]

Whoever played Ellis absolutely nailed it

[@friedrichmnning5471]

Thank you so much for paying homage to the men of the 1st Minnesota.

[@DavidBroadley-tw7ks]

Nearly the whole minniesota regiment got killed 😔🇺🇲

[@forexed8948]

the famous Iron Brigade was badly bloodied at Gettysburg, it's just too bad they don't get more screen time for their courageous actions at that battle.

[@slymanpoor7913]

I have seen this movie at least a 100 times and this scene always leaves me with goosebumps... such an awesome and powerful depiction of history

[@Yora21]

The natural lighting in the scene gives it very unique look. It's not a location film crews would chose to film in, but the story demands it and you get something that looks different.

[@xJamesLaughx]

Yeah they did a great job finding a location that matched the actual location well. The defense of Little Round Top scenes were filmed on Camp Gettysburg Rd. and Pumping Station Rd area just a few miles west of the actual Little Round Top location.

[@garyboulware4672]

While I definitely agree that Chamberlain was a driving force for this attack, Capt Spears' efforts should NOT be overlooked, despite the post Civil War memoirs. It's often difficult to start something if someone isn't already doing it, and to motivivate your troops to do that, I think Spears' bears a LOT of the credit.

[@evolvedgamer1205]

The Maine State song is about this battle. It’s called “The Ballad of The 20th Maine” by The Ghost of Paul Revere. After reading books about this, hearing the song makes me feel like I’m there with them!

[@None-lx8kj]

Not only did papers report his premature death, I believe that the Union Army itself administered last rites and actually declared Chamberlain dead at one point following his injuries at Petersburg. They were only off by about 50 years...