The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara is a must rea Essays

The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara is a must read novel. The story is amazing because as you read this novel it makes you feel as if you are involved in the story. It makes one have an incredible feel- ing in its "you are there" quality, it made me feel as if I was on the battlefield, feeling what those men felt, seeing what they saw. This book is one that is near perfection as one reads about the execution of history fictionalized. This historical novel tells the story through the eyes, thoughts, and conversations of the participants about the Battle of Gettysburg. One of the largest battles in the history of North America, was the Battle of Gettysburg, therefore the author uses this story to relate the causes of the Civil War and the things that motivated these men and led them as old friends to face each other on the battlefield. The layout of this book is very interesting being that at the beginning of the book it talks about Longstreet's spy, Harrison. I'll go into more detail about Longstreet as one reads on a little further in this essay, but first of all, about the layout. It begins with the famous section about Longstreet's spy Harrison each day gathers information about the movements of the Federals. He is told each day primarily from the perspectives of commanders of the two armies which include, Robert E. Lee, and James Longstreet for the Confederacy, and John Buford and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain for the Union. As they go into battle, most chapters describe the emotion-laden decisions of these officers, there are also maps determining the position of the troops as they went into battle. As they went into battle a sense of authenticity was added as decisions were made to advance and retreat with the armies. I have chosen to write about the south and the characters there in the south. One will see that as I use specific examples from the novel I shall define the southern perspective. I will also point out specific examples of the generals' and soldiers' personality traits, motivations, characteristics and concept of war. As one reads on one will see that I will go back into our text book, the American History and find information about Cortez and the different concept of war held by the Spanish and the American invaders due to their being good clear understandable discussions of the different concept of war. The following characters were a part of the southern war: First we have Mr. Robert E. Lee, Commanding General, of the Northern Virginia army Mr. Lee is a gentleman, and an honest man. He does not believe in slavery therefore he does not own slaves. General Lee is fifty seven years of age, he is five feet ten inches tall, and when he rides a horse he seems much taller because he has short legs. He is dressed in a grey felt hat, and a gray coat with a white-beard and a red face and has no "vices." (xvi) He is a major with dignity but is sometimes mistaken for one that is elderly. He is a God fearing man and do not chase women, he does not smoke nor does he drink, or gamble. He loves the mystic dirt of home above all and he loves Virginia, and of the two armies he is the most loved. The only thing I didn't like about him as due to me being African American is the fact that he didn't believe that the Negro could be was equal to the white man. Although I do understand the present stage of his development, but I still don't think that it was cool. But he was a good man because he didn't believe in slavery and he believes in God. Lieutenant General James Longstreet is forty-two years of age and second in command. He is a large man with blue eyes and a full beard, he is crude, ominous and slow-talking. He is a cold-eyed man who have sensed the birth of the new war of machines, he is one of the first of the new soldiers. Longstreet is not from Virginia and he is one of the few high officers in