History Professor Breaks Down "Gettysburg" (Part 2) / Reel History

(Day 2, July 2) The epic 1993 film "Gettysburg" brings to life the events that changed American History during the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. Historian and former Gettysburg park ranger Jared Frederick walks us though the film and the history, separating fact from fiction.
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Reel History delves into historical films to separate fact from fiction. These engaging episodes explore, contextualize, and clarify stories related to the most famous historical movies. In contrast to the more prevalent "reaction" videos, these installments seek not only to entertain but to educate and inform. For host Jared Frederick and video editor Andrew Collins, these Reel History episodes are a labor of love and a means of expressing passion for the past as well as cinema. Courteous viewer feedback is always welcomed. Contact information for the hosts is available on the homepage.
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[@medmar76]

Freemantle was a tourist, for all intents and purposes. The confederates assumed he was an emissary, and he just simply didn't dispute it because he was getting access to things that he probably wouldn't have if they had known the truth about him.

[@fdzaviation]

"If you have confederate ancestors, their actions are not a reflection on YOU unless you want them to be." Good God what a GREAT line I'm so stealing it, and applying it to any divisive issue. Religion, Ancestry, Political afiliation, etc.

[@sabrinashelton1997]

LOTS of people have Confederate ancestors. Why should that be a problem for anyone? I couldn't care less what my ancestors did anymore than I would care what any other stranger did, but seriously, people act like every man or boy who fought for the CSA was Hitler himself. How very naive and blind.

[@fdzaviation]

@@sabrinashelton1997 Quoting Agent K in MIB1: “A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it”.

[@HandleMyBallsYouTube]

​@@sabrinashelton1997 Lets be real, considering the history of Humanity as a whole, we all inevitably have ancestors that did things we would find morally reprehensible today. It literally doesn't matter who you are or where you're from, go back far enough in history and you'll find violence, there have been so many wars and battles that we probably don't even remember half of them anymore, because they were never recorded, and no evidence was ever found, and let's not forget that really only a few thousand years ago slavery as a whole was pretty much the way the world worked. The Norse had slaves, the Romans had slaves, the Greeks, the Persians, the Egyptians, name a great civilization and they probably practiced slavery, and if they didn't they probably did something else that today we'd consider absolutely fucked up and wrong in so many ways. If by some logic which I cannot understand you are directly responsible for the actions of your ancestors, then let's be fair, we all deserve to get nuked straight into oblivion at that point, so we might as well not bother with such ridiculous thoughts.

[@cleverusername9369]

I literally blurted out "Well said, well said" aloud at that.

[@kenduffy5397]

F…ing a right! This historian knows this. I don’t agree with agree with his statement (we’re still dealing with it today) How? Racism or Prejudices? That’s been happening since the beginning of mankind. “It is never going away. Warfare has always been apart of our human existence”-Elizabeth Quintana.

[@jnbadger1]

I love your comment about the 20th Maine Monument. My daughter and I climbed the tower on Culp's hill, and when we got down, I saw what looked like small deer trails going into the woods. I had to follow them. There were small gravestones everywhere. The same was true for Reynolds woods. And, of course, when we got to the cemetery, I couldn't hold back the tears.

[@tehonlyFreeman]

Love these! When you watch the film you do get the feeling of "why isn't this film talked about more?" So im glad you talked about so much of it in such detail!

[@hackerx9477]

Great job. I like how you also mentioned the other heroes like Strong Vincent and their heroic job at Little Round Top. I think they should have shown Vincent's defending, wounding and quote at Gettysburg. Skipping from Chamberlain's fight to Vincent's fight would be a good solution in my opinion.

[@gib59er56]

Absolutely Hacker X. Vincent was so very key to the recon. of the area, and without his eyes the Union would have fought a very different battle. Win or lose does not apply, because who knows what actions each General would have otherwise have done.

[@DamnItDylan]

I ALWAYS love to see videos about this war that point out how the articles of secession pointed directly at slavery as the cause of war. Would have loved to take classes with you when I was still in school.

[@jamesrichardson1326]

Certainly happy the Mainers prevailed over those Alabama boys.

[@ianmshipp]

I must agree, good group as well as that Mr Chamberlain himself. A very good man indeed. How he tangled with our Alabama boys and what's more how he regarded us and proved it so with honor well after his own end was as impressive as that which he did on round top that day. My best to all Deo vindice

[@chickencharlie1992]

They really taught that southern man that he should mind his uncle sam and ride away

[@irockuroll60]

Y’all best be glad those Alabama boys had to March 25 miles to Gettysburg that morning before the attack. Just think if they were already on the field and hadn’t marched 25 miles…Chamberlain wouldn’t be able to toot his own horn in his memoirs.

[@Vandal1985]

@@irockuroll60 your revisionist history is highly amusing. Scoreboard!

[@tyrian_baal]

@@Vandal1985 I mean its a what if, and marching 25 miles and then directly being sent into an uphill battle probably did play a part in the fighting on the hill

[@jonrolfson1686]

John J. Pullen’s regimental history, The Twentieth Maine, (available in print at used book prices, and in a number of electronic formats) is highly readable and functions both as a specific recounting of the 20th Maine’s experiences and as a very good entry point into the Army of the Potomac’s part in the Civil War from mid-1862 to Appomattox. Pullen’s 1957 ‘The Twentieth Maine’, was a childhood companion of mine. It was the doorway, as it were, to a lifelong study of the Civil War. When, in 1969, my family moved to Maryland, Gettysburg was one of our first weekend history trips. Pullen’s description of Little Roundtop was accurate and detailed: Though it took a bit of moving through the well grown brush that then prevailed, I was able to find the area that Chamberlain’s Twentieth Maine had defended. On the most recent visit, with my 90 year old father in 2017, the well marked path to the Twentieth Maine Monument was an easy stroll for a couple of old men.

[@davidnewland2461]

This movie almost follows to the letter the depiction of Lee in long street's auto biography which is not a flattering picture.

[@SloopJohnB91]

fascinating to think at the time your father was born, the old men walking around those woods could have been veterans of the battle.

[@jonrolfson1686]

@@SloopJohnB91 My dad remembered that 4th of July parades in his youth (1930s) included a few aged Civil War veterans who were driven in open convertibles. Adelbert Ames, the Twentieth Maine’s first commander and Chamberlain’s military mentor and predecessor, went on to be the last surviving Union General of substantive rank, dying at 97 in 1933.

[@SloopJohnB91]

@@jonrolfson1686 great history. thanks for sharing. I'm lucky to still have two 94 year old grandparents with clear minds and i cherish hearing the their stories from the 30s.

[@tomalexander4835]

practicing Catholic here who has seen the movie about 100 times and never noticed Fr Corby doing it wrong! great catch!!!

[@ReelHistory]

A history buff priest actually pointed it out to me many years ago!

[@jackmessick2869]

For the film, it is interesting to note that Buford's soliloquy in the beginning of the film about following impossible orders to attack, even "helping it fail" as Buford says is actually lived by Longstreet on day three.

[@SpookyDeer]

In 5th grade we did a “history living wax museum” and I chose Chamberlain immediately since I’d just seen Gettysburg for the first time - was very fun to wear the mustache and portray the excellent history of the man

[@christopherstirrat1398]

I am so glad I found your channel the other day. Your videos are great, man!

[@rangerjim]

Again on part two. Well done, well researched and well presented Jared. Thanks for giving a clear interpretation of the movie. See you on part 3.

[@ReelHistory]

Part 3 due out tomorrow as long as the copyright gods grant me permission on try #12. Thanks again.

[@msspi764]

Nicely done. You were gentle with the film’s inaccuracies giving a lot of credit to choices for dramatic effect. Even today with the lights of Gettysburg it gets very dark on LRT and BRT.

[@donaldg.freeman2804]

Really enjoying your lessons. I'm a history nut from way back and have visited Gettysburg many times. There is always something new to learn. I've been working from home since Covid started (IT work) and had documentaries running the whole time. I've learned so much during this time. I've noticed that there is a huge market for history and I'm subscribing to a LOT of channels. But, you do this so well. Aside from you, there is one Dutch History teacher who teaches history on utube here as you do (Historyhustle). Brilliant stuff. What I'm experiencing at age 65 is exposure to things different than what I've been taught. I've been developing the ability to change my mind about things. Thanks for your work!

[@kidhammer2567]

I am so thrilled you offered or recommended Tom Dejardin's book. As it may not be the end all to be all, it is a fantastic minor tome for bridging and introducing elements of the Mainers and this battle that is not always commonly shared about the 20th Maine and other regiments on either side of this particular battle setting. Again, thank you, sir. Well done, again.

[@coopervlogs9305]

NICE! I live in Frederick MD. Was awesome to hear you bring up that museum! Love the video man! Keep them comin!

[@tracyfrazier7440]

I take every opportunity to acquaint KZbin hosts and watchers to your fine channel. Thank you for your hard work bringing this history to us on the battle’s anniversary.

[@ReelHistory]

You're the hero we need. Much appreciated. And thanks for watching.

[@garyb2392]

I saw this movie in when it first came out, I was stunned that there was an “intermission “ which I think was 10min… it wasn’t a full theater but from what I recall no one left during intermission. I would love to see this in a theater one more time. Your commentary has been top notch ! TY

[@tcofield1967]

I think the statement in the film by Longstreet probably was placed due to the postwar stance he took advocating for the South to go along with abolition. Now whether Longstreet believed that blacks should have been freed prior to 1865 is much up for debate. He did join the Republican Party and did command militia forces for Reconstruction government forces. I think the attacks by Early was as much because of Longstreet’s political positions as it was his wartime record. There are still southerners that view Longstreet as a traitor to the Confederacy.

[@nomdeguerre7265]

Yup. And Jubal Early, who hated him anyway, along with others, used him as a whipping boy to work to construct The Lost Cause to justify the Redeemer movement and its government enforced White Supremacy ideology. It was one tool they used to secure one-Party Democrat rule in the Redeemer south. It certainly was not the main part, but it certainly was part, of that whole political & ideological Democrat movement at that time. And Northern Democrats & academics were perfectly happy to go along for political advantage.

[@D-Wells0203]

Amazing content. So glad I found your channel. Keep it up!

[@ReelHistory]

Thank you! Currently editing our next video, although, to be honest, it probably won't be out for over another week or so.

[@jeffburnham6611]

I've always considered Warren to be the savior of Little Round Top. That's why he has a large statue there and Chamberlain does not. I think it's interesting to note that Meade but Hancock in charge until he arrived later that night, especially considering Hooker had more senority. Hancock had a reputation of getting things done regardless of the cost, which was evidenced by his ordering of the 1st MN to charge a Confederate Brigade. The 1st MN suffered 82% casualties within 5 minutes, stopped the Confederates and bought time for reinforcements to arrive.

[@donpietruk1517]

Hancock never dithered in battle. He had seen too many opportunities lost by Union Commanders waiting for orders or unable or afraid to make a necessary decision. His experience in Mexico seeing good commanders in action also undoubtedly influenced his command style.

[@shrapnel77]

Hooker? You mean Howard. Howard was not a good commander. Got flanked at Chancellorsville and this battle. He did however, leave General Steinwehr's division atop Cemetery Hill in reserve. He received an official thanks from congress for this tactical decision. Even if Ewell attacked, there was a fresh Union division atop the hill.

[@winoodlesnoodles1984]

16:42 - This is true to this day. While there are people who will shoot first, most have to be shot at before the shoot back and there are plenty who have to be trained to shoot at people. This one reason the military trains troops to shoot at silhouette targets that resemble people. It cuts down on the indecision if and when a soldier is confronted with that moment. It actually says a fair bit about humanity that for the majority of humans, we don't have the desire to take another humans life.

[@christopherquinn5899]

This is really good! I cannot understand why the Likes count is not higher. I already knew quite a lot about Gettysburg but this has been very informative and entertaining indeed.

[@ReelHistory]

We are still growing! Thanks for your kind words and visiting us.

[@paulmchugh9738]

I really enjoy your videos. Please keep it up Thank you

[@zoanth4]

I live a few miles away from longstreet farms in nj where his family originally came from before moving south, fun fact!

[@twinsboy_3410]

Keep up the great work Professor!

[@kellicoffman8440]

Thank you again for showing from their own words that it was slavery. I have truly been enjoying you Gettysburg commentary and civil war information

[@BuckeyeFan-ty4vr]

He did a good job on this. But he kinda leads people to belive that it was about slavery, for some it was. But for the most on both sides I don't belive that's why they fought, and for his comment on Longstreet, I don't think it's fair to acuse him of not saying. I'm sure he probably didn't like the movie showed, Longstreet was actually somewhat against slavery.

[@davidbaker9412]

I don't see how you can be against slavery while leading an army trying to keep it.

[@kellicoffman8440]

@@davidbaker9412 I so agree it is impossible to lead an army to preserve slavery and be against it

[@BuckeyeFan-ty4vr]

@@davidbaker9412 I'm sorry simple things in life are hard for you to understand. I know it's hard for people with a one track mind to believe that the civil war wasn't only about slavery..

[@whensomethingcriesagain]

​@@BuckeyeFan-ty4vrExcept it was, because all the other issues that nominally look like other causes (the ones that really exist anyway) invariably tie back into the institution of slavery. All of them.

[@howardjohnson2138]

I really appreciate your research and revelations

[@richardmardis2492]

Well, Chanberlain was very famous before the film and books, I was introduced by a Englishman that was in the American Army when I was a young Private, he even showed me the Army leadership manual where he and the actions on Little Round Top was the ideal example of small unit leadership.

[@jackmcgonegal8728]

Great episode, Jared, as always. I'm really enjoying your look at this film. I named my youngest son after JLC, and we stopped by the Joshua Chamberlain Museum in Brunswick, Maine in 1992 after moving back to the US from Germany. While in Brunswick, one of the curators told me that Jeff Daniels had spent a significant amount of time in the museum researching Chamberlain. It was the first I knew that the "Killer Angels" was being filmed. After taking my boys to see the film, which we really enjoyed, my oldest son turned to me and said, "I doubt think the Confederates were that well fed." I told him that reenactors were fanatic about historical accuracy except for subsisting on starvation rations. Even though I grew up in the South, three of my GGGFs fought in Gettysburg for the other team. My fourth GGGF got off a ship in New York from Liverpool in 1863 and was immediately drafted into the Union Army. And he immediately turned around and stowed away on the same ship back to England, which is how my mum could be an English war bride after WWII. Ain't history great?

[@davemac1197]

Thanks Jared and Andrew, for a terrific part 2. Really enjoyed this one for the rants and the information not in the movie, and that's a really important point that events not written about or key people not surviving the battle to write an account means that it doesn't end up in a Hollywood movie. On the issue of the Maine Regiment's charge being ordered or spontaneous, it's quite possible and even probable that it was both. I can imagine the order being given, the colours moving forward, and those not hearing the order spontaneously following the colours. I don't have a problem with any of that. It's just different points of view between two officers. Randy Edelman is indeed a synthesizer guy, so I'm not altogther surprised if he did the score entirely on a synth. He also did the score for the 1992 Michael Mann remake of Last Of The Mohicans (one of my favourite movies and directors), and computer says he also scored the 2003 Gods And Generals movie, but that is one I have yet to see. I think you're right about Fremantle not wearing a uniform in reality because he was a "war tourist" there on his own personal account, and I noticed in part 1 he was wearing a blue uniform of some sort, having buttons in groups of three, while here he was wearing the scarlet dress uniform with the buttons in groups of two, correctly indicating his Regiment of Coldstream Guards as the second in seniority of the five Foot Guards Regiments (Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish, Welsh). Ironically, their motto is "Nulli Secundus", which means "Second to None". Their greatest battle honour possibly being the seige of the Hougoumont farm compound at Waterloo in 1815, but they have a history going back to the English Civil War and Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army. They became known as the Coldstream after the Scottish border town from where the Regiment marched to London to form a foot guard after restoration of the monarchy in 1660. Very much looking forward to part 3.

[@brucenadeau2172]

at the time of the civil war there was no welsh guards they wore not formed till 1915

[@steveelsholz5297]

Just my opinion obviously but I wouldn't see Gods and Generals. It was a huge letdown, a snoozefest.

[@davemac1197]

@@steveelsholz5297 - reviews I read seem to agree with you!

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

"If you really want to understand a place, you have to go and walk the terrain yourself." Double that for the area of Pickett's Charge. Reading about it doesn't do it justice. I walked the length in June on a day of 85 degrees in jeans and a cotton t-shirt and I was dying by the time I got to The Angle. A nice lady gave me a bottle of cold water that I chugged before making my way back but it really helped to underline just how hopelessly pointless the "charge" was. There was no way any 15,000 men ever born could've gotten across that field, taken The Angle, and held it against any real counter attack.

[@TravisDGordon]

A couple other Civil War movies that personally I’d like to see a breakdown of include The Great Locomotive Chase and Glory. Both are fantastic movies that I’m sure you’ve seen. A good reading source for the Locomotive chase is “Daring & Suffering”, a firsthand account authored by William Pittenger, along with “Stealing the General”, an unbiased telling of the story by Russell Bonds.

[@wargame2play]

That is the book written by my Great Great Uncle William Pittenger. My Cousin Gregg Pittenger was a background artist in this movie!

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

It's on my bucket list to visit Gettysburg, hopefully during an anniversary.

[@neilholmes8200]

21:00 I find few things can really replace visiting a battlefield in person for getting a good perspective on the events. I remember visiting the Arnhem area a few years ago and being struck by how tiny an area the fighting took place in. You could pretty much walk from one side of the Oosterbeek perimeter to the other in 10 minutes. You really get a feel for why the British paras fought like hell for every building and street, because every one they lost shrunk the perimeter drastically

[@shrapnel77]

One of these is "The Crater" caused by the explosion set off in Petersburg in 1864. The size of the crater is pretty underwhelming. Fort Sumter is much tinier than I thought as well. Gettysburg is huge though and is impossible to see in detail in one day.

[@guywgane3]

Great episode!

[@FallGuyManiac]

Thanks for these dives into movies like this. I went and saw Gettysburg in the theater - had to drive 50 miles to find the only theater in our area that was showing it. I was 20 years old. I bought the cassette tape of the soundtrack and just about wore the tape out in my car playing it over and over again... One thought on Chamberlain and the 20th Maine. Is it possibly a contributing factor to the prominence that they have achieved, that they did the bayonet charge? You said the battle for Culp's Hill was largely forgotten in the shadow of Chamberlain, but I think the fascination people have with bayonet charges has also helped secure the importance of the 20th Maine in lots of people's minds.

[@marie-madelaineclobus8124]

I read that JL Chamberlain was badly injured in Petersburg and nearly died. It seems that he remained standing as much as possible to encourage his men during the battle...

[@DocZom]

Great series so far. As one of those baby-boomer, ACW buffs and mini-gamers, I am so pleased to still learn some new things. I don't think I will be making the climb to see that other 20th Maine monument the next time I visit the park. 😰

[@christophergruber7343]

After the battle at Gettysburg, the Union Ordnance Department would have gone on the field to carefully inspect each side firearm. If the firearm was damaged, it would be used for parts. If the firearms were fully not damaged, it would go back to a Union Arsenal. Civilians were also getting involved with this, too. They had their wagons getting full of side firearms because of money and souvenirs, but the Ordnance Department put a halt to that and confiscated all the civilians' wagons and all the firearms in the wagons 😊

[@caroltombari9112]

I was horrified to find my 18 year old A+ student granddaughter knew nothing about the Civil War. I said "doesn't everyone have American history their junior year?". She said yes, they studied about the cold war and the holicost (Florida schools). The schools now try to sweep American history under the rug, causing little patriotism. It is up to us, the older generation, to correct this. My 25 year old Math teacher grandson said that his love of history comes from his grandmother (I was around him more).

[@joinjen3854]

Go teach them!!!

[@docsmith9915]

Some very good points about Gettysburg

[@gdolson9419]

My big complaint about the movie is the lack of reference to the 1st Minnesota.

[@ReelHistory]

The "saviors of their country", their sacrifice was heroic. Unfortunately they fell prey to the old adage "you can't cover everything" in this film.

[@donpietruk1517]

It's an issue within the book this is based off as much as anything. Chamberlain is the main protagonist of both The Killer Angels and the Last Full Measure. The story focuses largely on the actions he was in from the northern perspective and mostly on Lee's perspective with a Longstreet undercurrent from the Southern perspective. It's not a complete or thorough analysis of the battle but meant to be illustrative for dramatic purposes. Bruce Catton's monumental historical Civil War Trilogy by contrast barely mentions Chamberlain when he covers Gettysburg. In reality the most significant action Chamberlain took during the war may have been his order to Present Arms as he was accepting the formal surrender of The Army of Virginia as a brevet Major General.

[@igorbarbosa4044]

Interesting fact (at 27:40) that Chamberlain dindn't had a hangun, which reminds me of the photos I saw of Brazilian officers in the Paraguayan War carrying only their swords, as their primary job is to command and not fight.

[@What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

I went to the Gettysburg battlefield park twice before this movie came out--once when on an educational trip with that as a specific part of the itinerary and once when I lived somewhat nearby--and never since. I'm quite certain that I heard about "the savior of Little Round Top". It's too long ago to remember whether Culp's Hill was given equal time in the "electric map" presentation. I also don't specifically remember whether I saw the 20th Maine monument.

[@henryrichards1542]

It seems worth noting as well, that in Oats' account of the Littel Round Top battle, he often disagreed with the general Federal assessment but was also very complimentary of Chamberlain and his men.

[@thefisherking78]

This is so good! I still need to see the movie lol 😂🎉

[@jimreilly917]

I NEED THAT SHIRT. Faugh a Ballagh. The 69th NY Fighting Irish. Who got the name from respect by General Lee CSA. Pictured is the Chaplain of the Fighting Irish raising his hand in blessing over the unit right before the battle at the Wheafield began.

[@expatexpat6531]

Excellent.

[@stevem7799]

Thank you so much for addressing the line given by Longstreet. It's always bothered me and it's great to hear a historian call it out. Also good to hear of the other heros of LRT that rarely if ever get mentioned. So much more happened on the 2nd day that was never covered in the film but is equally if not more important.

[@ReelHistory]

You're very welcome. We're glad you enjoyed it.

[@Sprayber]

During the last months of the war there were attempts by some Confederate leaders to free slaves in return for service. Arming black men would have been unthinkable a year earlier. Jefferson Davis was for it, Lee was desperate for it . Even some state governors were for it. The point being circumstances change people's motivations just like Lincoln's motivations changed throughout the war. Yes the war started over slavery but there were many people who came to actually believe in an independence movement that transcended the one issue of slavery. Their failure was not seeing that earlier when it might have made a difference but again that idea would have been impossible until things got desperate.

[@MrJoebrooklyn1969]

Longstreet became a Republican and fought for civil rights for blacks after the war, I think that's where that line came from. It's an indication that maybe he felt that way during the war even though he may not have expressed it or that it was documented. Also, I'm glad you sai that slavery is not a reflection on descendants of Confederates unless they want it to to be just like the disproportionate amount of crime is not a reflection of all blacks unless they want it to be so it's time blacks admit it.

[@davidwoolbright3675]

Good point about Longstreet that I was going to say. Longstreet was considered more modern thinker than some other confederates. At least after the war.

[@kenduffy5397]

General Longstreet was a total scapegoat for General Lee’s blunders! General Longstreet was a loyal hard charging warrior! However, he was also a realist (not a lost causer) who knew the South had lost fair & square! So instead of sulking over losing the war. He did what he always did his entire life & that was to take action! He became very well-liked by President Grant! He got a civil service job. (Many ex/Confederates got important Government jobs after the war. Some became Governors & Mayors etc.) He spoke out for equality & for African American rights! When you talk about General Longstreet? You’re just not talking about one of America's greatest Generals! You are also talking about one of Americas great Countryman, period! While the other clowns 🤡 were crying about losing the war! Longstreet immediately started to rebuild this country and the he whole hardly believed in reconstruction! General James Longstreet was 100% reconstructed. But, I would make the argument that General Longstreet didn’t need reconstruction because he was never deconstructed.Though he fought for his State & that State succeeded from the Union. Yes, he chose to fought for the Confederacy. General Longstreet fought for his State as the majority of men on both sides did! We can’t relate to mid-18th century America where men, women & children believed in their States more than then they believed in the Federal government! (Not all States in the Union were non-slave States. Maryland was a slave State) Also, not only did the Federalists have conscription. The Confederacy had conscription too! So if you were poor & lived in NY (especially poor & Irish) or you lived in Alabama? You were getting conscripted, period! You didn’t have a choice of what you believed was right or wrong! If you were drafted by the Union or Confederacy & if you dodged the draft? You were killed. (Especially if you were a poor illiterate Southerner who lived in the Deep South, didn’t own a slave & had to hunt so you wouldn’t go hungry) Yeah, that kinda dirt poo is what I’m talking about! I don’t understand why Confederate conscription isn’t brought up much more? Why is that?

[@jeffnewman9735]

When Chamberlain has his staff meeting before the charge, one of the officers is played by Major General Sajer, the then Pennsylvania Adjutant General. He was a good sport and they were helping support the filming.

[@Renfield37]

i volunteered there at the medical museum in frederick way back in the 90s a couple times

[@BigRed0059]

Subscribed and following

[@skipsmoyer4574]

Would add as book Edwin Coddington's Study in Command on Gettysburg

[@rhett1029]

23:04 yep 3rd Great granduncle got shot in the arm by a minnieball getting a wounded man off the battlefield at Spotslyvania and had to get it amputated, he served from 61-65 and despite being known as “one arm Frank” he became a sheriff after the war

[@JoshC1977]

I have to second the suggestion to visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Maryland. I just visited a few weeks ago and while it's not a massive museum, it's really fantastic.

[@andreraymond6860]

In terms of movie soundtrack history Randy Eidelman's score is very interesting. Synth patches became pretty good in the early 1990s. The awful sound of simulated orchestra music gave way to a pretty authentic sounding winds and strings. It was a period when studios were trying to find ways to cut down expenses on movie budgets. This was the same period where Waterworld came out with its bloated budget. Studios were giving composers less and less time to write scores and cutting their orchestra budgets. Synthesizers seemed like a perfect substitute for orchestra payrolls.

[@ReelHistory]

Good point , he did a fantastic job for what he had considering this is actually a TV show.

[@hoozurmama883]

Hiked all in Devil's den and up both Big and Little Round Tops. It's the best way to get a true sense of that part of the battle.

[@ReelHistory]

Agreed.

[@paulbaker5256]

It’s an interesting point you raise about the depiction of the violence in this film. Personally I think the filmmakers got the balance just right. Whilst what we see is not a “Saving Private Ryan”/“Braveheart” gore fest, it conveys enough of a sense of the struggle so as not to present the battle as a jolly jape either. I find your videos very engaging. This from an Englishman who was never taught the American Civil War. I am a history enthusiast, but mostly focus on 14th and 15th century Western Europe.

[@gib59er56]

That is funny ,because I am an American who loves the history of the Viking and Middle ages. Very much a sword and knife collector, and I cannot begin to understand how one could fight hand to hand for over 3 minutes with an axe, warhammer, or sword without dropping from exhaustion. Never mind a battle raging for a day!!! The amount of bone, teeth, urine, vomit, meat, blood etc. on everyone to go along with it..... OMG. I think it all started with King Arthur, then to J.R.R. Tolkien. I am a Tolkien fanatic. I read the Hobbit in 5th grade, 1977. Then LotR`s and the Silmarillion in H.S. And all of the unfinished works published by Christopher Tolkien. Cheers Paul!

[@timothywalker4563]

Sir I wished I could have taken your course, I had been in re-enacting close to the 1990’s time frame but alas I wouldn’t have had the personal budget to join the film. I have had the chance to be around the passion and some of those eccentrics it was an interesting time. I envy your experience with the Park service and then on to teaching, you sir are in the “catbird seat” i hope your enjoying it. Have a good evening.

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@paul-we2gf]

I've seen woods that look like Little Round Top in Southern Quebec. I wouldn't have wanted to charge over the landscape too rough. Accidental falling down must have been a frequent event.

[@NoelG702]

Fremantle wore a gray shooting jacket. It shows him in a gray coat when he first appears in the film.

[@ChuckJansenII]

Great video analysis and insights. The point about doctors sets straight the record of surgeons during the Civil War. Medical advancements made during the Civil War were the greatest in history up to that point. Two people who helped in the advancement of Union hospitals where Clara Barton and Mother Mary Bickerdyke. General Sherman said of Mother Mary Bickerdyke, "She ranks me." High praise indeed. I thought that reading about the bayonet charge, Ellis and his men were separated from Chamberlain and thought lost, thus their swinging down as a planned closing gate could not have happened the way depicted. It had to be spontaneous. Buster was the best fictional character in a historical drama. He is a fictional character done right. Charlton Heston's Matt Garth in Midway is a fictional character done very wrong. The action at Little Round Top was actually more of a fist fight than depicted. My recollection of reading about the battle is the 20th Maine was pushed back and able to push forward multiple times during the battle, maybe even up to a dozen times. It does help to walk a battle field. I walked Lookout Mountain where the Battle Above the Clouds was fought. There is a path circling Lookout Mountain from the bottom to the top. I could see what the Union soldiers were up against in climbing up to the top while being showered with enemy fire. It really puts it in perspective.

[@giantskunk]

While the main focus of July 2nd was the two flanks and the movie only shows the action at Little Round Top, they almost broke through more near the center that day. Look at the 82% casualties of the 1st Minnesota on Cemetery Ridge that day.

[@ReelHistory]

Absolutely. Major respect to the Minnesota boys.

[@shrapnel77]

I have read Chamberlain's memoirs, but I tend to agree with Spears that the charge was more spontaneous. Given the noise, smoke, foliage and terrain, an audible charge yelled by Chamberlain would be very difficult to hear and properly coordinate. There is also the spontaneous charge of the Union Army at Chattanooga on Missionary Ridge. They went against orders, but the overwhelming feeling of pushing up to the top caused trickles of men, then whole groups, then everyone was caught up in the en masse charge to the top.

[@BritIronRebel]

Thank you for mentioning that the defense on Culp's Hill was equally important and I would mention Greene who did fortify with breastworks. But yes, the refusal line was the same. PS: It seems to me I've read that Longstreet was not in favor of secession when it happened - although he did his duty for the South anyhow. Not saying he wasn't pro-slavery, just not pro-secession.

[@BritIronRebel]

Correction... I'm mixing up Longstreet for Richard Ewell.

[@peterrobertson2580]

In terms of fame, Chamberlain did undoubtedly benefit from the the death of so many other heroic officers that day. However, it should be also noted that Chamberlain was an effective self promoter. He did a good job of pumping his own tires.

[@WalterWild-uu1td]

Several scenes in the movie have an officer, particularly Chamberlain and later Longstreet having verbal conversations with another party whereas in the novel the "dialog" is actually the thoughts Shaara surmised the character was having. In some cases later writings by the primary character elaborate on what they were thinking at the moment. But you can't have a single man standing there and vocalizing his thoughts in a movie. I'm specifically thinking about the "conversation" between Longstreet and Harrison on the third day of the film. In the book it was all Longstreet contemplating what he was sending his corps out to do and the probable results. Sometimes you have to give film actors a bit of "talking time" the real characters never had.

[@evancrum6811]

I didn't really know about Col Ireland and the defense. That is great. Also as a Jew I'm very proud of Union soldiers that were Jewish that fought.

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

Have you looked into the 'en echelon attack on the second day? It seems that one of Lee's regimental commanders (I forget who,) committed a dereliction of duty, that quite possibly cost the confederates the battle. It wouldn't have done much, except to prolong the war, but I think it's worth noting.

[@danmc7815]

First, there is no question that the core issue of the U.S. Civil War was slavery. The states that attempted to secede feared that the northern states would impose laws that would abolish slavery. No question about it. From what I recall, if one wanted to get elected to any office in South Carolina in the years prior to this war, the strategy was to campaign by saying you would more strongly support slavery than your opponents. The majority of the men in the Confederacy supported slavery. But that is not necessarily why each man fought. Men fight for their own reasons. Some certainly would have supported slavery and been willing to fight to preserve it, perhaps even most. Others probably fought without caring one iota about whether slavery continued or not. Some fought out of loyalty to their homes, feeling more loyalty to the states in which they were born and lived than to the "Union" as a whole. Many I would believe fought because not fighting would put them in a difficult position socially. In other words, they signed up because to not would have been seen as shameful and cowardly. I would imagine a few who fought for the Confederacy did so and personally opposed slavery, but still choose to fight for the side seeking to preserve it. Unless we have the words or thoughts of these men recorded, we cannot understand their motivations. However, we also need to accept that their is little chance that they did not know the central issue was slavery. So, at the least, the men who fought for the Confederacy knew that slavery was more likely to continue if they won. Could Longstreet still have expressed such an opinion, unlikely, but if he did, there is probably no way he did when speaking to another officer in a Confederate army. There are things we can know, and things we cannot. We certainly know this war about slavery. But, we cannot know why many did what they did on either side. And, FWIW, I am not a southerner. Also, anyone to whom I am related and fought in this war, they fought for the Union.

[@donnasmith8139]

Because of “Killer Angels” I, like many others, got more involved in reading and study of the battle and the entire war. I was surprised by some of the vitriol leveled against Chamberlain because he was singled out for attention. (Guelzo, for example) Thanks for reminding us in this video that this narrative is indeed stirring and deeply meaningful. We should not be bogged down by pettiness.

[@morganoconnell9824]

Funny I read the killer Angels because the TV show firefly was written with it in mind.

[@JohnSmith-nz9dn]

A couple of points if I may. At 30:05 you say Spear didn't hear the order to charge. I'd bet no one would have heard it, since they'd been firing their weapons since the beginning of the fight while not wearing hearing protection. The National Park Service has a webpage "Causes of Deafness During the Civil War" that is a good read. At 34:53 you say it wasn't known as Little Round Top until after the war. The day after President Lincoln's address newspapers quoted Edward Everett: "...the Seminary Ridge, the peach orchard, Cemetery, Culp, and Wolf Hill, Round-Top, Little Round-Top, humble names, henceforward dear and famous,..." [Baltimore Sun, 20 Nov 1863, page 1]. So it was already being called Little Round Top by that time.

[@rhysdbooth]

Hell on wheels would be a great series for you to take a look at!

[@Dav1Gv]

On intervention by the UK there's a cartoon from Punch, satirical magazine, in (I think) the Penguin History of the war well after Gettysburg in with the conversation Lord Punch 'That's Jeff Davis, don't you recognise him?' to which Lord Pam (Palmerston) says, 'Not at the moment, may have to sometime.' The British ruling class did have sympathy with the Southern 'gentlemen'. Personally I agree with Prof Frederick that the British public would not have stood for support for slave owners. These analsyses are brilliant

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks!

[@guywgane3]

The Father Corby actor was the late Ben Maryniak, who was a Buffalo native. I believe he typically portrayed Protestant clergy and was the commentator for the Genesee Country Village Civil War event. Thus why he probably didn't know how to make the Sign of the Cross. Lol

[@guywgane3]

He was also the chaplain in The North and The South Civil War battle scene.

[@ronbednarczyk2497]

I've been to Gettysburg many times and have gone each time to Little Round Top. As you say the 20th Maine was at a saddle between the two Round Tops. The movie makes the slope that the 20th Maine is defending to be huge and steep. When you go there today the terrain is such that someone at the bottom of the saddle could throw rocks at the 20th Maine position. Has the terrain changed that much over the years?

[@davidwoolbright3675]

From what I understand they filmed the action of the 20th Maine on the slopes of Big Round Top for various reasons. Little round top was not so steep.

[@hivicar]

Very well done, with one exception: host watching and commenting on scenes that have been obscured for the viewers on too many occasions, while assuming that we are able to watch them as he does so. Rather annoying that circular view of Jared becomes larger in these moments

[@ReelHistory]

Thanks. But if you know a better way to defeat the youtube Copyright algorithm, let me know!

[@WalterWild-uu1td]

I really need to find a definitive history of the battle. A lot of what I know about Gettysburg revolves around Buford and Heth on the first day, Chamberlain on the second and Pickett's Charge on the third. I know that just to the right of Little Round Top fight there was a horrific fight in the Peach Orchard brought about by Sickles "breaking the line" of the Union Army and a very near breakthrough by the Confederates by troops under Barksdale and McLaws. The Confederates totally overran Sickles 3rd Corps and reached Cemetery Ridge and were only stopped by huge casualties. In the end they were stopped by the charge of the 1st Minnesota down over the wreckage of the Third Corps, but which turned back the exhausted Confederates at the cost of 82% casualties. If you can recommend a really good history of the battle, I would like to see it. As wonderful as Shaara's "Killer Angels" is, it views the battle through very narrow lenses, concentrating on limited actions. As you pointed out Ewell's men were faced with pretty much the same problems Hood at the other end of the field, only they were going up against much more prepared defenses.

[@mecallahan1]

When did you work at Gettysburg? Did you get the chance to work with the living historians who did presentations at the park?

[@bearpitt]

Did Ellis Spear offer cigarettes to any prisoners?

[@ReelHistory]

I see what you did there

[@jw1731]

Haha😂

[@777Outrigger]

James McPherson’s book For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War. After reading over 25,000 letters and 250 diaries from soldiers on both sides, McPherson found that only 20% of the Confederate soldiers mentioned slavery at all as a reason for fighting the war.

[@TimMcCurry-ue9kr]

Just remember: “History is written by the victors,” not the ones who lose the War.” Confederate General Patrick Cleburne feared this fact the most.

[@buckyc.9069]

Well, in Freemantle's case, the Coldsteam Guards were, and maybe still are, the British equivalent of our Green Beret's so I suppose they wanted to give him an opportunity to strut a little.

[@ishyab011]

Is there any monument tto the Berdan's Sharpshooters that fought from the bottom to the top of Big Round Top, and then across tp :little rounde round top. If I read it correctly in other studies, and even a History Channel expo, they showed how the Sharpshooters fought a delaying action. So, is there anything more for them around these two hills?

[@ReelHistory]

gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/new-hampshire/new-hampshire-sharpshooters/

[@Zarastro54]

The little story at the end about the Mainers impersonating the Alabamians is so funny! I thought it was just going to be a joke between the Mainers in reference to how they whopped the Rebs so bad that there wasn’t any 15th Alabama to be found. But they actually captured people. Ah the things you can pull off when both sides have a common language.

[@gijoe508]

I’ve heard a Longstreet post war quote where he states he was never aware of any issue other than slavery that started the war but I forget the exact wording.

[@jimreilly917]

The CSA said they were fighting for states rights. But the one enshrined in the CSA Constitution that is different than the USA Constitution is indeed slavery.

[@johnkeith2450]

@@jimreilly917 Which they were willing to give up.

[@jimreilly917]

@@johnkeith2450 no…that’s why the CSA went to war. The southern states economy was driven by cotton, grown and harvested on plantations that used slaves.

[@johnkeith2450]

@@jimreilly917 Jefferson Davis as the President was willing to give it up for recognition as an independent country by France and England....Duncan Kenner was sent to do the negotiations but the war ended before agreements were reached...best do some more study.

[@jimreilly917]

@@johnkeith2450 the war ended before agreement was reached. Open to interpretation, one being that the CSA was willing to give up slavery AS A LAST RESORT to garner alliance with or recognition of nationhood by France or England. The CSA didn’t contemplate sacrificing slavery for statehood until things went bad…almost coinciding with Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation. Which held no force of law in the CSA but was of significant symbolic…and diplomatic…influence.

[@KaedFuyou]

i was at Gettysburg when i was 8 or 9

[@nikmidclayton5933]

I went to Gettysburg when i was younger. We visited a hotel in downtown Gettysburg that was supposedly haunted but i cant remember what it was/is called

[@jamesorth6460]

You should look at he history of the Korean war battle of Chipyong-ni

[@unknownrider3071]

I'm a little disappointed you didn't mention that based on his statue Father Corby is sometimes called "Fair Catch Corby."

[@achernarpolis8842]

Would have been nice to mention the role of Hancock saving the middle of the union line on 2 July w the charge of the 1st Minnesota, yet another heroic action that never got the respect or attention. Excellent book “No More Gallant A Deed”.

[@Desert-Father]

Despite wearing an Irish Brigade shirt, the video and the movie ignored the fighting on Day 2, which occurred in the Peach Orchard and the Wheatfield. The Irish Brigade and many other units fought to keep the "front door" of the Union left flank closed for most of the afternoon which necessitated the late afternoon movement around Little Round top to the 20th Maine's position.

[@ReelHistory]

Well, we suspect they couldn't make the movie any longer!

[@pvtjohntowle4081]

What is all the static noise in the background? There is some interference going on , noticed it in Part 1 as well.

[@ReelHistory]

We had some tech problems with these videos. It has long since been resolved with subsequent episodes.

[@bsb1975]

Great videos. Weird that there wasn't a good Catholic somewhere on set to coach the priest on the Sign of the Cross. Weren't there some southerners that found the "immigrant" armies of the North with their Catholic faith to be offensive?

[@carnthecorby]

"So are we. Come on up." In a not-so-Alabama accent 😂

[@c.j.swonger1650]

I knew a Lady that was related to Col. Chamberlain!

[@janneman7710]

whether someone has the heard the command charge, or not. does not really matter bringing a flag into battle was not for show in the past, this is the very reason, why armys carried flags into battle in the past (or standards or banners) because there is a good chance that one cannot hear spoken commands, because of all the sounds in the heat of battle, it is visual communication. the essence of that idea is rally round the flag, follow the flag.

[@gravitypronepart2201]

Thank you Jered, for your Longstreet rant. It was accurate, and needs to be heard. This, coming from a descendent of slave owners. Ive had to argue this point with freinds, and I wish i had known about the Articles of succession. It would have made my argument much easier. Question. Are you aware of instances where prisoners on either side escaped during battles like this? It seems like holding prisoners would be very difficult while troops are so heavily engaged, and considering the weapons at hand with which to guard them.

[@johnkeith2450]

And for recognition from England and France, the Confederate States would abolish slavery in the South

[@swirvinbirds1971]

@@johnkeith2450 only as a last ditch effort to save their asses near the end of the war.

[@neilholmes8200]

@@swirvinbirds1971 by which time the British and French would have told the South to get lost... diplomatically of course. The British and French governments were basically only likely to actively intervene if and when the South no longer needed them to. There was no great benefit to openly backing the South over the North. Cotton simply wasn't enough to cut it

[@Blueboy0316]

I've made that climb in my brogans.