"Gettysburg: Darkest Days & Finest Hours" Complete Civil War Docu-Drama

[@valeriewilliams7104]

That took an extreme amt of filming. Thank you so much. It is so real.

[@danajoelbogdanski2042]

President John Adams was the first resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; thus, Lincoln may have been the 15th resident, but not the 16th.

[@fxitfastah]

Real my green ass.The horrors of war are far more vivid, while the dust obscures the real carnage. No endless screams, no mud or dirt. And do you realize it's 75 cal. A musket ball does not only penetrate, it shatters bone, spraying te shards to the men around them. It literary knocks someone down by the sheer impact. Volleys are easy to film, one side fires(all centered left), next shot a line of men are dropping(all centered left), you tried it several times , but the shots could also be into the air for the viewers sake. Movies also have a "read direction" you totally failed to grasp. Shacking the god damned camera like an amateur, cause it gives such a Blair witch I am there feeling, does not work in a documentary, it annoying to watch. Your task is to keep it steady, such trivial things are done in a studio and then with measurement. This time I won't complain about the children, no we have plenty of over acting in this field by grown-ups. Yes I know they are volunteers, does not mean they can act. Using the smoke and dust is a perfect use to obscure this errors, besides the obvious lady on the horse. What is your purpose, view it as a witness/documentary or a filming volunteers. This movie misses a lot of after production, the computer animations about troop movement could have better be used for this...

[@fxitfastah]

And stop putting the camera in peoples faces!

[@ShotgunNShacK]

Yeah we know this but we understand its free so we dont complain about it. Anyone who is watching this is at Least somewhat learned on the civil war and most likely knows that this does not encapsulate wars entire horrors. Its better then most I've seen and I give the creator credit. This wasn't easy to put together.

[@ShotgunNShacK]

Okay I'll wait until you come out with something better. And no don't complain about the children, you've already done enough of that for every man in this film.

[@tawannayelton1840]

I've been a student of the War for 52 years. This is without a doubt one of the best docu-dramas I've ever seen. No "talking heads". You let the soldiers who took part in the battle speak for themselves! Few maps interrupting the narrative and few gaffs. Thank you for a quality production worth watching!

[@tedunseth3966]

Tawanna, I agree with you. I have almost 40 years studying the Civil War. I know at the end the total casualties were different. I always heard some say 28 thousand Confederate soldiers. I had read that was not the truth years back and the number was really 20 thousand. The truth is the Union lost more men at Gettysburg. I noticed this documentary showed the numbers I have debated on forums for a decade. Did you catch that in the end?

[@erichonecker1010]

No the union did not lose more at Gettysburg than the south, dipshit..

[@hvymettle]

@@tedunseth3966 The AoNV lost 28,000 men at Gettysburg, the AoP 23,000. Those are the generally accepted numbers.

[@hvymettle]

@@erichonecker1010 If you are a serious student then you can help others to learn better without the silly insults.

[@skullthumper8646]

@@tedunseth3966 You have way more knowledge on this subject than I have, My thinking on battle is. Lee made a fatal mistake on day one when he refused to listen to the pleas of longstreet and picket to take the high ground that was undefended at the time and ultimately cost him the battle. What are your thoughts on this?

[@morenofranco9235]

What an incredible production. This Is ART! Thank you, LionHeart

[@KeithRCmafia1967]

Excellent Work! I really have no words to describe what I saw here. You did the battle real justice! Thank You!

[@peterneijs387]

ha ha

[@stevenbeatty37]

I'm not a scholar or even much of a student. But at times I got to almost imagine what it looked like, what it sounded like, and what it was like. Closest I'll ever come. Thank you LionHeart.

[@stevenbeatty37]

@Walter Dumbrowski It's possible that the odor of spent gunpowder and blood took precedence. I don't know. I wasn't there.

[@badguy5554]

Wow! What a DETAILED examination of this battle! Many thanks to the THOUSANDS of re-enactors! I enjoyed the Hollywood production of "Gettysburg"....BUT for historical accuracy and realistic detail...this surpassed it!

[@garrybrooks4451]

Simply breathtaking! Thank you

[@michaelvaughn8864]

Simply put....INCREDIBLE!!👍 Outstanding film docudrama. Hats off to all involved with its production and other aspects

[@alwilson3204]

Brilliant piece of work

[@michaelvaughn8864]

@@alwilson3204 Indeed, it was, Mr. Wilson👍

[@carolutley6523]

Loving these historical films! The History Channel has mostly 'reality' shows

[@jefjef947comarmstrong5]

Well Eye wish eye was in the land. Of. C. O. T. T. O. N carol

[@carywest9256]

You call "Ancient Aliens" reality?

[@michaelvaughn8864]

They're always riveting to watch, Ms. Utley

[@texasjoe557]

Thank you. I completely appreciate what was accomplished with this film

[@mattsy8847]

This is awesome history being played out like it was in real time.. I love anything on the Civil War. OUTSTANDING 🇨🇦

[@davehardwick4481]

This has been one of the best most intense I have seen for years. Thank you aaALL

[@GloriaSchneider-rw4ef]

It was a great movie in the way that it truly made you feel like you were there. Not like current shows that couldn't really happen but you felt like they were. My heart goes out to all the families really touched by this battle. Also though for all of the people involved in trying to make something so terrible look accurate. Thank you for all your work.

[@allandavis8201]

The English civil war was brutal, bloody, and cost tens of thousands of lives, but the American civil war took those horrendous acts to a hole new level, but both wars were decidedly UNCIVIL. This offering from the re-enactors is a fantastic production and must have taken as much planning, if not more, than the original battles and skirmishes, thanks very much, it was a very interesting and informative production. 😀👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 P.S The sunset on the segment heralding the 2nd of July was beautiful, one of the nicest I have seen in my 50+ years, if it was that nice on tv then in person it must have been as sight to behold, lucky lucky people.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

720,000 lives were lost during the America Civil War 1861 - 1865

[@davidpitchford6510]

Excellent. Thank you for making and posting.

[@stevesteadman666]

An astonishing piece of work

[@genesis2936]

This is like saving private Ryan of the civil war ! MUST WATCH !

[@Northtide]

Great production. Thank you.

[@rockinbillyboy]

Truly brilliant!...bravo to all concerned.

[@wctrain]

Thank you so much!

[@rayoeler3055]

Being today is July 3rd ,2020 ! I watched this with a clear mind of the importance the day was in 1863 ! ! But you must think of all that who died on both sides shall never be forgotten !

[@shirleyhannel5795]

The thing is that the Civil War was about State's rights vs Federal Government power over the States slavery was a little part of the hole thing history of the south is very important Rebel history is our history and it should not be forgotten or banded for history books. We ended slavery but States lost their power to govern them self

[@redpilledsupak9979]

And the importance of 1683

[@travisjthompson2]

@@shirleyhannel5795 you are being a lost cause revisionist. Slavery was the major cause of the war.

[@Northtide]

@@travisjthompson2 No it wasn't. The North invaded the South. The Federal government was trying to force more control over the states. Slavery was the straw that broke the camels back. It was not the primary cause of the secession.

[@erichonecker1010]

The north invaded the south after the south started the war. Yes it was slavery that was main cause of the war. I would say read all the articles of succession by the succeeding states as proof but I doubt you lost cause neo confederate racists can read..

[@jamesmurray3082]

This is very realistic.good job !!

[@pauls.3400]

Lionheart movies are the BEST. Quality, content, stories. Thanks for this 🇺🇸💖

[@jim7627]

God bless the victims, families and friends of this and all wars ...

[@michaelvaughn8864]

Their sufferings are immeasurable😕

[@jodycarrithers6160]

@Jim 762 And to think, our current generations seem more than willing to throw all the sacrifices these men and the men of many other wars made into the garbage can of "equity", feigned "virtue signaling", one sided censorship and, apparently, the right to have drag queens read a story to or perform a show for our elementary school aged children. The word ungrateful doesn't even BEGIN to describe the insanity. Very sad state this country is in.

[@alexdejesus62]

I watched this over and over. Well done

[@snake316171]

Another great production

[@RiskyRanger75]

I was in this film, 4:35 I’m the kid tossing the button to the women that we were just taking food from. I was around 14 years old around the filming for this. Was doing civil war reenacting for few years before this

[@StephenMorreale]

thats pretty cool man...

[@michaelvaughn8864]

Damn. That is awesome, sir😊👍

[@jamesrichardson3322]

This awesome!! Damn i wish my unit would done this film!!

[@OneLastHitB4IGo]

Can you imagine what that battlefield must have smelled like on July 3rd after 80-90 deg temperatures for 3 days? Re-enactments can only go so far, the reality of any battle like that is incomprehensible to us.

[@georgelevy1189]

How true. What you see are a bunch of actors with a bad script.

[@willoutlaw4971]

The Confederste dead and most of their wounded were left on the battlefield. They were eaten by feral hogs and wild dogs. Their remains were excreted on the battlefield.

[@ronnyrono782]

It probably smelled better than 3 days after the battle

[@rebelscumspeedshop]

That's Why the cemetery was dedicated in November. It was much cooler, but there was still an obvious odor.

[@OneLastHitB4IGo]

@@rebelscumspeedshop I would have waited until late January when everything was well frozen. I was part of a search team looking for 2 girls who'd been murdered and left in their car out in the country in late June for over a week. A farmer reported a "strong odor" from his field. Temps had been in the high 80's to low 90's for that week. We found the girls almost 1/2 mile from his house in that field, in their car, windows rolled up. I'll skip the condition the bodies were in only to say the recovery team had to wear haz mat suits with gas masks to recover them and they still said they could smell it and had been puking their guts up. I'm 70 y/o now. This was over 50 yrs ago and I have yet to smell anything worse than what that smelled like...from 1/2 mile away!

[@landolfladig9080]

Thank you!

[@karifredrikson8492]

How did they get all those Civil War Reenacters together? That’s a Story in itself. Looks like 1000’s!

[@3rdgr2t11]

It’s Filmed at the yearly Gettysburg reenactment re-enactors from all over the us go

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

I participated as a member of the 26th N.C, Infantry and we had reenactors there from around the world. The annual Gettysburg reenactment is the main event for Civil War reenactors and a lot of reenactors plan their year around it. I think we had around 12,000 plus that year.

[@earlwright9715]

The info about this says 15000

[@2serveand2protect]

VERY wel done - very well narrated. Extremely interesting. Big thanks for uploading this.

[@scottexpatinthephilippines7449]

Thank you so very much lion heart for giving us the chance to see the American Civil War reenactments and movies of Andersonville prison and all the battles of the American Civil war thank you so very much Scott expat in the philippines 👍🇵🇭😎🇵🇭👍

[@bf9414]

amazing ! best film work I've ever seen

[@arsenal-slr9552]

Good shit! Thanks for uploading!

[@OdeeOz]

Lionheart does History a great service. Worked for/with Kevin Herschberger too on a couple films, and he is TOPS in the field. 👍👍& 10⭐

[@clarezigner6028]

LionHeart: You ought to make a film about Tillie Pierce based on her book What A Girl Saw. This is one aspect of Gettysburg which does not get covered. Imagine a 15 year old girl witnessing this battle, a simple farm girl.

[@mrfugazi6713]

Clare you have a very valid point in what you have said, to be totally honest with you, it was only yesterday that I learnt about Tillie Pierce. She was in a relationship with a soldier and she was watching the battle and she was hit in the head with by a stray bullet apparently the poor girl, but you are right Clare I’ve watched quite a few documentaries about Gettysburg and the civil war because I’m a very spiritual person and I like watching documentaries about the paranormal and like I said yesterday was time that she had been mentioned so you are right more about her should be documented, I certainly think so anyway. Take care of yourself Clare from Stevie boy in Britain

[@joegagnon2268]

Good lord that’s bravery valorous timeless remarkable point of history I feel it beaming inside

[@dicklong6117]

Well done.

[@bobbym.1367]

this depiction is far better than most at showing what happened.

[@1339LARS]

Great reenactments!!!! //Lars

[@brucesegerdahl7892]

Well done shows the total insanity of the whole thing

[@davewholly3196]

Well done and worth watching.

[@NewarkBay357]

I appreciate the effort put into this production. The cavalry battle lacked in realism but a good effort overall.

[@billb0313]

Agreed. This really gives you an idea on how sustained this slugfest was. THIS is what the History channel should be showing instead of Pawn Stars and Ancient Aliens. ✌️

[@charlescalvert8647]

Considering a cavalry reenactment needs to have contact with individuals on horseback extreme safety precautions must be taken. Cavalry reenacting is extremely dangerous and must be practiced and in most cases scripted. Its not a movie. Its men working with each other to show as best as possible a cavalry engagement. Ultimately we want no injuries, everyone ride away unhurt, man and horse.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

@@charlescalvert8647 safety precautions must be made at reenactments. Cavalry you have be extra careful because you don't want yourself and fellow reenactors get hurt or the 🐎 horses. Things can go badly quickly, i have seen it myself at a reenactment. During the Cavalry skirmish a Union Cavalry man fell off the horse and was dragged and was hurt. He was ok, return the next days battle, he horse got spooked i think? I was in Infantry unit in front of the Cavalry skirmish, when it happened.

[@dianawingate8887]

Fabulous movie !! Thank you

[@BambooBob]

The noise of battle must have been deafening! Would have been amazing to watch this production being filmed and a glimpse at the terror from the real thing.

[@fearlessfosdick160]

True. Unless you have fired a rifled musket yourself, you really can't imagine it. Then you have to imagine hundreds of them being fired all around you, not to mention the cannon, which are quite literally deafening. Even a small skirmish could be heard for many miles around. I would imagine that a battle like Gettysburg could be heard at a great distance. In fact, there are no fewer than half a dozen contemporary reports that the cannonade on the third day was heard in Lancaster, which is 52 miles from Gettysburg.

[@johnclarke9498]

Reenactment at its amazing best, From London uk

[@tauceti8341]

I love how we got to follow the diary of someone who was there.

[@jefjef947comarmstrong5]

That's. Right

[@tearletillman2616]

"Simply Outstanding."

[@michaelvaughn8864]

It's a complete masterpiece of semi-documentary and reenactment filming, Mr. Tillman. Very well done, and my compliments and gratitude to all involved with its filming👌😇

[@DonBlodgett]

The Gettysburg Battle Fields has been on my bucket list for a long time now - One of these days im going to take a week off and drive up there from Attalla Alabama and get a room for a whole week and just visit all the Battle Fields and historic sites because i think to take it all in and not miss out on anything i think it will take at least 5 days 😊

[@aso6437]

Good work!

[@jamescrabtree8453]

When you really think of it this war is not taught anymore in our schools , but the brave men who fought the civil war really are hero's , just as much as WW1 , WW2, Korea , Vietnam and all other wars . Just think about it , imagine standing face to face with the enemy and shooting each other not more than 30 yards apart . Brave and fearless were both sides among the slaughter .

[@mikeamico6763]

It's as if their trying to erase it from history which can't be done .very important part of history our history must be taught

[@robertwalsh3283]

Nice job !

[@fonziefrank6325]

🇺🇸 Sacred Grounds!! 🇺🇸 God Bless Thank You!

[@christiarmstrong8930]

Omg this was a very good movie. So interesting to get a view of what the soldiers saw be they REBS OR YANKS

[@mikemurphy5477]

Attended this event, some very hot fights

[@tonybarbre2743]

to make it look more real , it would be nice to see someone use a ramrod every now and then. To make it look like you actually put a bullet in the muzzle

[@brianbanks703]

yes so an incredible number of big children dressed up to play with their toys, some smiling or laughing even, expected to hear a mobile go off at any minute. And then they are sentimental about it!! Felt sorry for the poor horses and other wildlife that had no choice.

[@alanaadams7440]

There were 1-2 million mules and horses that died in the civil war

[@timkrouse345]

10:10 "Gentlemen, if you're running out of ammunition, find some from a wounded comrade....be sure to say 'please' and 'thank-you.'" 😆

[@JoseGuerra-yu1fk]

Exelent productions

[@10jimmyt]

Lion Heart makes the absolute best Civil War documentaries. The Ultimate Civil War Series is the best. And the music gives me a feeling I can't describe.

[@timswope8423]

During the battle the lines moved back and forth. The wounded and dead could not be removed during the battle. This was farm country. Farm animals, pigs, roamed freely after fences were knocked down. The wounded and death were eaten by pigs at night. Image the horror.

[@jamesthompson4148]

It’s a find docudrama , but I was disappointed no mention of Joseph Chamberlain and the20th Maine on little Round . A col.Ellis was mentioned on the 2nd leading a bayonet charge in movie Gettysburg Col Chamberlain had a officer named Ellis who was in the Bayonet charge Chamberlain ordered could this have been an error in this re-enactment?

[@KenWheelerWhistler]

That's the thing about movies and documents you can only fit so much in, Gettysburg was a HUGE battle there for a lot of things don't get mentioned sometimes.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

The afternoon battle lasted some 3 hours ("the best 3 hours of fighting anywhere."-Longstreet.) the Gettysburg Nat'l Park Service" has literally dozens of videos- talks, lectures, battlefield walks- about the 3 days of battle which includes Little Round Top and also dozens of sites some people haven't even heard of. To be repetitive, there are dozens (lol) of stories-and heroes- here you might've never heard of.

[@steama1141]

AMAZING

[@GrammerAngel]

We visited Gettysburg at sunset on a July evening. As it grew dark, thousands of fireflies lifted up out of the battlefield. It was amazing. It was almost like the souls of the many men who died in the fields were ascending the night to greet the darkness. Spiritual.

[@EphesiansSix10]

Amazing

[@davidhoughton2170]

Overall I think it a good retelling of the battle and it does a good job of showing the variety of places fought. My only question however is while I would agree the fighting at the Round Tops are overdone in some Productions, How can you leave them out completely?

[@ShawnBrady-fd8mk]

Totally agree! Chamberlains brilliant defense of little round top was pivotal in anchoring the union line

[@patriciaheil6811]

I grew up in Franklin county, west of Adams county where Gettysburg is. Every time they wanted to take us on an educational field trip, they would drag us to Gettysburg.

[@garrybrooks4451]

Lee, being the master of movement, splitting his army and forced marches must have at least considered a night movement flanking the Union left in a wide loop the night of the Second. I have heard that it was proposed to him. To me, it will always be a mystery why he didn't try, preferring the ill fated frontal assualt instead.

[@willoutlaw4971]

Lee was not a good general. Mediocre at best. Meade was a great general. He whipped Lee as Grant would do in 1865.

[@phuoc-huutran6303]

I am sure, there should be a lot of .... haunted ... houses in and around Gettysburg ! 😱😱😱

[@kerrykestrowl6785]

Good production but what happened to little round top it would of been great

[@travisdavis6778]

How do you not mention little round top most important moment of day 2

[@localchair1870]

@@travisdavis6778 I think Longstreets countermarch that lasted all morning while trying to figure out where to start the attack from was vastly more important then the skirmish that took place on Little Round top- Basically the attack on the second day didn't start until somewhere between 3pm and 5pm and the rebels had gone on a long wild march during the day. Then there's the fact the union lines had shifted since the confederates had inspected the line at five that morning. the actual end of the union line for most of the day was devils den as sickles had led the third corps up to the peach orchard presumably to avoid another Hazel Grove situation. It wasn't until guvenor warren realized that the third corps had left the hill undefended that it became a big deal.

[@billb0313]

Oliver Howard's XI Corp gets a bad rap. Yes, they broke at Chancellorsville. They were almost completely enveloped but, they were stubborn, very stubborn, on Mcpherson's ridge and fighting through the town as they fell back. If not for the XI Corp Ewell would have walked through the town and occupied Culp's and Cemetery Hill by noon and well before the XII, V, III, and II Corp arrived. Union Corps would have been decimated piecemeal trying to take those hills back after a forced march. One could argue that Howard is the true hero at Gettysburg.

[@georgelevy1189]

The XI Corps debacle had no effect on the outcome at Chancellorsville. 3rd Corps took up blocking positions at Chancellor"s and fought Lee's army to a standstill, inflicting enormous casualties to the tune of 10,000 Confederate dead, wounded, and missing. The brilliant Lee was in a trap, with the fighting 3rd Corps in front and 45,000 fresh Union Troops on his right flank. Lee had also lost Fredericksburg, with his entire force there wiped out to the tune of 3,000 more. Then the neurotic Gen. Hooker had a nervous breakdown and called for a retreat

[@jamesrichardson3322]

Oliver Howard lead the 17th Corp this best corp in the Western Theater and the whole Union Army. He lead them well at the Atlanta Campaign and the March in the Carolinas campaigns. General Hooker should have lead a Corp not the Army of Potomac, was a idiot. Sherman hated Hooker with fiery passion, I don't what lead to their feud?

[@alanaadams7440]

Lee's retreat of wagons and wounded and dying was 17 miles long

[@auditoneusa747]

24th Michigan with 500 strong lost 400 soldiers July 1st in Gettysburg. No mention?

[@fransiscosanchez7794]

With all do respect Maria Cornwallis your goergeous

[@Jane-li8zr]

we were there! 8th Louisiana and did all three battles.

[@aman4peace]

No wonder paranormal plays the re en actment

[@42Akai]

Why was the bayonet charge of the 20th Maine from Little Round Top, not mentioned or filmed? Is it a lie?

[@ed9492]

It never happened. It's just a dramatic moment made up in that other movie.

[@TeamKuukiFoodGames]

@@ed9492 It did happen. lol other documentaries mention the legendary charge. Also, the film "Gettysburg" is actually quite detailed and accurate :)

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I suppose it's so overdone that LHFW decided to tell other parts of the story. And no, it didn't happen quite like "Killer Angels", "Gettysburg" or Burns' "Civil War" tells the story.

[@localchair1870]

because while it did happen- the leader of the 13th Alabama col oaks stated that by the time the "bayonet charge" happened his troops were exhausted and pretty much had given up at that point. Chamberlain after the war had become mayor of Maine and ironically Oaks became mayor of alabama and they did each talk at length about what happening. Most people seem to think Chamberlain was an opportunist who talked about how heroic he was there and many reports have stated that it was actually a lieutenant who suggested it and started to have his troops attach bayonets and by the time the charge was actually ordered it was a fait accompli. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. If you ever get a chance to go to gettysburg you can go to the 20th Maine monument its actually behind what would have been the front of little round top and its more on a spur then a actual high point. You can imagine when seeing it that its no where near as grand as the movie makes it out to be and understand why Lionworks would probably not show it that much.

[@emperorconstantine1.361]

If I had the choice, I would take the P53 Enfield, because at Half-cock, it was easier and faster to get the spent percussion cap on and off, plus it just has a nicer look than the Springfield. The Springfield is still a terrific platform, don’t get me wrong, but I want the finer details in reloading easier and quicker.

[@johnstewart6243]

the norths generals left a lot to be desired ,till mead and grant came on the secene

[@baselbob8012]

We are such a killing species, especially of each other.

[@itsmedanah]

Where can I find Part 1?

[@leonedethebes]

Better than the martin sheen and co film 1993

[@merlelove1795]

2023 will be 160 years since Gettysburg. Wow

[@highdesert-boy]

And since Vicksburg.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

@@highdesert-boy I hope go to the 2023 Vicksburg event, my Federal Unit 45th Illinios fought there!!

[@chrisnewport7826]

A fiting monument to those boys.

[@wvmontani]

No mention of Chamberlain's defense of Little Round Top? For shame!

[@nancyvalle2807]

Can anyone tell me who in heck is in charge of the subtitles?

[@zach7193]

First. I have watched this, I also own it.

[@AbrahamLincoln4]

Really?

[@dianasgemsboutique8325]

Awesome movie, been to battlefield twice, but first time seeing reenactment

[@LionHeartFilmWorks]

Thanks got the comment and glad you were able to find our channel - pass this onto any friends who might also enjoy it

[@rayward3630]

This is one battle when the Union beat the Confederacy troops to the high ground. It seems General Lee was the master of that. I think that ended up being the difference for the Union. After the 2nd day though, the Rebels were still in a position to win. They had advanced and even broken the Yankees lines in some areas, but we're ultimately repulsed. So on the 3rd day, they were ordered to do the cannon barrage and Pickets charge. Of course, it was a disaster for the Rebels, as they were the ones marching thousands of men into an entrenched position instead of the Yankees. The reinactors need allot of praise. I like watching them replay battles. It gives a better sense of what both sides were up against and how they responded.

[@fearlessfosdick160]

Yeah, Lee's problem was that when the armies blundered into each other on the roads north and west of Gettysburg, he was in a terrible strategic situation and did not initially know what he was up against. His fear was that he would be engaged by the bulk of the Union Army while his army was still strung out on those roads. That's why he kept ordering his subordinate commanders to avoid doing anything that would start a general engagement. Heth gets a bad rap for "disobeying" those orders, but that is not exactly what happened. Heth was taking his division in the direction of Gettysburg along the Chambersburg Pike when one of his brigades bumped into Buford's cavalry brigade. Heth was suddenly being shot at by these cavalrymen, but it looked like it was no big deal. So he got a brigade in line an told them to drive the federal troops off. Instead of leaving the area as would be expected, Buford started to put up a real scrap, so Heth started putting more troops into the field to deal with them. Suddenly, federal infantry support shows up and before he knew it, he was engaged with elements of I Corps. What he didn't know yet was that II and XI Corps were coming up behind I Corps and would arrive shortly. The battle had developed while Lee was militarily blind, owing to Stuart's absence (He was up in Carlisle looking for the army, after doing what he had been ordered to do.) Lee managed a victory on the first day anyway, but it left the Union on the heights, digging in and getting ready for another fight. The reason that I say that Lee had put himself in a bad strategic position is that he ended up facing almost the entire Union army, which was deployed in a manner that threatened both his lines of communication and lines of retreat. He was therefore in a strategic position that virtually required him to attempt to fight it out, and frankly from the moment he entered Pennsylvania he was in a position that required him to engage the Union Army wherever he found it. It was just that by the circumstance of the armies blundering into each other piecemeal, Lee was deprived of the opportunity to choose his ground. On the second day, Lee was let down by some of his subordinate commanders, most notably Gen Mahone, who declined Gen Anderson's order to support Gen. Wright's breakthrough in the Union center on Cemetery Hill. The attacks on the flanks failed largely because they were not coordinated with one another. Had any of these assaults been conducted in the manner Lee had planned, the story of Gettysburg may well have been very different. That takes us to the third day, and while I have little patience with anyone who suggests that he understands what Lee was thinking, I am reasonably convinced that Lee was attempting to do with three divisions and artillery support what Wright's single brigade had done the day before. So was Lee being stupid? I don't think so. He definitely cocked it up, mostly by expecting too much initiative from his subordinate commanders, but the entire campaign was a desperate gamble on the part of the Confederacy in the first place, born of the fact that the Confederate leadership understood completely that they were not going to win a war of attrition against the United States.

[@carolbell8008]

The guys in the beginning should have been wearing blue to be truthful. The saddest time of American History. Very thankful that they handled this in their generation. So much loss of blood, very sad. All of those slain sons, husbands, daddys, if I were of African decent, I would be worshipping these men. God bless them all.

[@willoutlaw4971]

200,000 African American fought in the United States Army during the Civil War. You should be worshiping them. They saved the Union that Lee, Davis and the Confederacy tried to destroy. God bless the United States Colored Troops. USCT.

[@DFWTF]

@@willoutlaw4971 Yet 200 yrs later they don't care who died for who.

[@rayward3630]

I think the most important battle of the Civil War. Things could have gone differently with a Union loss in the north and fairly close to Washington DC. I don't know if the Union could have regrouped and saved us from the Confederacy. Their morale may have been destroyed and the country may very well have given up and demanded a negotiated peace.

[@stacewest1442]

I liked the US cavalryman with black sunglasses on at 6.00 mins. lol. Great documentary though.

[@davidweum]

I read somewhere that Meade had established a solid perimeter 12 miles behind the fighting. Can anyone confirm this?

[@localchair1870]

I think your talking about the “pipe creek plan”- this was an alternative plan that Meade made in late June- but no by all accounts he rushed his troops towards Gettysburg once he heard the first corps and cavalry under Buford had established heavy contacts with the anv. The pipe creek plan was used against Meade during a political show trail after the battle.

[@davidweum]

@@localchair1870 Thanks for the clarifacation. As much as I read about this war over the years, I find the more there is to learn.

[@localchair1870]

@@davidweum yw- Its a really really interesting topic- there was something of a nasty Rivalry between Meade and Sickles and I think a lot of sickles attacks on Meade stuck unfairly.

[@chasemurraychristopherdola7108]

One thing for sure in this movie they should have shown the First Pennsylvania reserves and the reason I am saying that is because out of all the companies of infantry Calvary and artillery only one fought in the battle of Gettysburg and that company was Company K of the First Pennsylvania reserves infantry regiment and within its ranks was my 4x great uncle named George E Kitzmiller who served valiantly in his company and during the battle of Gettysburg the 1st Pennsylvania reserves infantry regiment played an important role in the battle and what happened was after the confederates captured the wheat field they were going to attack little round top and between the wheat field and little round top there were no union troops but then from over the eastern slope of little round top came the Pennsylvania reserves and the men of the union 6th corps and they defeated 4 confederate brigades in an area that will forever be known as the Valley Of Death aka The Plum Run Valley

[@petermeyer2153]

How do you tell the story of July 2nd without ever mentioning the Round Tops?

[@shellysmith1037]

Not hard, for many people they know the history before the movie came out. LBG's (especially from the North Guide station) rarely even went to the Round tops. The trails today to the saddle were almost non existent then. I don't like to mention the one Regiment that has a 20 in it. Shudder, there is more going on than the movie version.

[@localchair1870]

For most of the second the the end of the union line was devils den

[@angelaw7193]

I love these great recreations and it seems one is right there. The only thing that bothers me is how these soldiers walked in lines towards their opponents, on both sides of the war. What a great waste of human lives.

[@eurostarnamastar3128]

Terrible strategy of standing or walking while shooting.....no horsemen and others encircling ....men just getting killed.... terrible!

[@alanaadams7440]

Seems like suicide to us now

[@miguelhuertaaracena1537]

IMPRESIONANTE DRAMA BÉLICO.

How could the miss the battle of Little Round Top with Col. Chamberlain and his 20th Main? That was no minor detail of this battle. The Rebels could have rolled up the the union line if it weren't for the 20th Main's charge that day.

[@dianawingate8887]

I understand that tactics had not caught up with weapons & this was what's West Point taught......but it boggles my mind that men could not figure out that marchingong lines of men at one another was pure, unadulterated idiocy.