The Killer Angels

"If it weren't for the slaves, there'd never have been no war, now could there?

"No," Chamberlain said.

"Well then, I don't care how much political fast-talking you hear, that's what it's all about and that's what them fellas died for, and I tell you, Lawrence, I don't understand it at all."

"No," Chamberlain said. No divine spark. Animal meat: the Killer Angels.

Finished re-reading The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara over the weekend about the Battle of Gettysburg. It's become a yearly tradition. If you've never read the book you should give it a try.

Battle of Gettysburg

Today was the anniversary of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

• Gettysburg day one. The bloodiest battle ever fought on US soil.
• General John Buford is an unsung hero of Gettysburg.
• Above photo via

Remembering Gettysburg

 Have a post up on Substack regarding the importance of Gettysburg.

Also currently re-reading Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels which I try to do every yea around this time to remind myself the importance of the battle. Highly recommend the book.

The Killer Angels

"The point is that we have a country here where the past cannot keep a good man in chains, and that's the nature of the war."

Re-reading the book The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara about the Battle of Gettysburg. My copy is old and battered after being read so many times over so many years and it may be time to finally get a new one. Still every year around this time I feel a need to re-read the book to remind myself about Gettysburg and how important that battle was to the North winning the Civil War. 

I must admit that the book details what was happening on a daily basis and while I'm just finishing July 2, 1863 and there's still two more days to go - I find myself sympathizing with many of the South's officers because I see the mistakes being made and the advice not being listened to. That said the clear hero of the battle is Joshua Chamberlain of Maine and he remains a personal hero of mine. 

The US military has been trained to fight for freedom but the beliefs being impressed upon them today are anything but thoughts of freedom. I can't get that thought out of my head either.