The Killer Angels

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Michael Sharra, “The Killer Angels”,

A Ballanine book published by the Random House publishing Group, 1974
The Battle of Gettysburg (1863) during the civil war, 1861-1865 has left tragic yet
important historical aspects for new generation to come. The book, “The Killer Angel”,
by Michael Sharra reveals the three brutal days the Battle of Gettysburg. As a future
commissioned officer of the United States Army, this book has inspired me the
importance of living the seven Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service,
Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. The book displays importance of utilizing the
principles of war and tactics to win the battle. It also illustrates planning, decision,
execution, disagreement, heroism, courage, and leadership of our forefathers. The
author focuses on three main characters, Confederate generals: General Robert E. Lee
and James Longstreet, and Union Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain.
Aside from the battle of Gettysburg, the author exhibits one of the major conflicts
between General Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet. The author implies the battle
may have won by the Confederates if General Robert E. Lee would have agreed and
execute General Longstreet’s strategy in using new weaponry and defensive tactics
rather than General Lee’s offensive tactic.
General Longstreet realized the old strategies of war can no longer work as well and
new technology will successfully win the battle. Modern technology such as using
long-range artillery and repeating, breech-loading rifles makes longer and accurate
effective target range than old technology. He also believed the defensive positions are
the best method of winning the war in the battle of Gettysburg due terrain feature and
position of the Union on the area of objective. General Longstreet makes strategy in
moving Confederate army to position southeast of Gettysburg to come between the
Union army and the Union capital, Washington, D.C. The main objective of his
strategy was to force the Union army to come out and attack Confederates causing
reduction force of the fortress in the capital. Therefore, position Confederate army in
the defensive positioned, destroy Union force, long take the capital, and win the Civil
War. The importance of the battle of Gettysburg was it’s first southern Confederate
force to take on near capital, which would have resulted ending civil war in favor of
Confederate.
Despite General Longstreet’s persistent advice, General Robert E. Lee rejected

General Longstreet’s plan, pursued using offensive method and the principles of war of
maneuver of flanks (left, right, and center in the third day of the battle). At the end of
three days of the battle, General Lee’s Confederate army suffered massive casualties
and lost battle by several factors. Difficulty in constructing effective strategic planning
with no information about the movements of the Union army or the geography of the
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surrounding area due to the long absence of Scout Calvary General J. E. B. Stuart,
heavy pour of the Union artillery power, and the Union Colonel Chamberlain’s in
furious army at the AO (Area of Objective) Little Round Top. One of the General
Lee’s biggest mistakes in losing the battle of Gettysburg were not having enough intel
about the Union in the area and underestimating the Union army and it’s artillery
power.
As a leader of the army, I have learned the importance of incorporating modern

technology to win the battle and utilizing effective principles of war. Although the
technology is important in the battle, the technology do not solely win the war yet the
outcome of the battle is decided by the proper execution of the mission, excellent
strategy, timing, incorporating best principles of war, and patience. If General Lee and
Longstreet were to incorporate their plans carefully in utilizing artillery power, rifle,
subordinates executing their mission (failure of General Stuart’s scout mission and
failure of General Ewell’s mission in taking over area of objective on the first day)
would have produced advantageous outcome of achieving successful mission and
winning the battle of Gettysburg. This would have eventually favored Confederates to
force Union army to move out of the capital to fight and later use power to overtake
Union capital. General Lee’s lack of compromising General Longstreet’s strategy,
inpatient, and also General Longstreet not being able to convince his superior may have
caused Confederate losing the battle.
No matter what the situation a person is in, as a leader, it is imperative for a leader
to search and create winning strategy to accomplish the mission. As a leader, he/she
shall be flexible and look at the situation from outside the box. Knowing and utilizing
present modern technology, tactics, creating effective operation order and principles of
war is essential to accomplish successful mission. Importantly, the leader must always
take care of his/her soldiers, accountable of all personnel/weapon/equipments,
motivating, war training, and lead by example.
The second focus of the author discusses about the act of Colonel Chamberlain’s
important leadership role, which became a legend and the heroic act of American civil
war. Colonel Chamberlain was given an order of no retreat and defend the area of
objective, the Round Hill Top, against hundreds of Confederate army as they left flank
Union army. Knowing his regiment’s low supplies of ammo and possibility of losing
the battle position, Colonel Chamberlain made quick decision in moving his entire line
of soldiers in line and swing forward to link up with another Union regiment next to
them. In order to accomplish it, he ordered his regiment to place bayonet and charged
down the hill toward Confederate army. Out of surprise and act of determination of the
Union army solders, many Confederate soldiers fell out of fear and died. The will,
determination, and the leadership of Colonel Chamberlain reaped courage in each and
every solder resulting accomplish his mission of defending AO, Round Hill Top.
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Unlike seasoned General Lee and Longstreet, Colonel Chamberlain was a professor
and a citizen whom turned into a solder. He’s loyalty to the Union, determination,
genuine care of soldiers; being flexible to create an effective decision and his leadership
was the important keys to winning the battle of Gettysburg.
Although, many great leaders displayed different style of leadership in history, the
fundamental of leadership remains the same. Completing the mission, creating
successful operation order, utilizing principles of war, train and give care of soldiers,
taking care of all equipments and supplies, strive to excellence, sacrifice, and living the
seven core Army value, and lead by example is what a leader shall do. As a future
commissioned officer of the United States Army, I shall carry the honorable tradition of
the leadership as those have gone before me.

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1

Michael Sharra, “The Killer Angels”,

Despite General Longstreet’s persistent advice, General Robert E. Lee rejected

As a leader of the army, I have learned the importance of incorporating modern

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