The SoldiersÂ’ Experiences Theme

Family

After reflecting on the wonders and horrors of war and before delving into what "The Killer Angels" means, Chamberlain reflects on his home state of Maine and his hard and silent father. (p.118) Chamberlain also dwells on his wife, who is lonely back at home.

"When the fire was gone and the dark had truly come there was no way he [Longstreet] could avoid the dead faces of his children." (p.135)

West Point

"Reynolds, like Lee before him, had one commanded at the point. There was a professional air to him, the teacher approaching the class..." (p.85) Metaphor.

Mexican War

"Longstreet had known them all for twenty years and more. They had served together in the Mexican War and in the old 6 ^th Infantry out in California. They had been under fire together...It was more a family than an army." (p.54)

Frontier Fighting

"He [Buford] was old army cavalry, Kentucky-born, raised in the Indian wars; he was slow, he was careful, but he sensed something happening." Note that Buford "sensed something happening"--the intuition theme is interwoven in the soldiersÂ’ experiences theme. (p.36)

Chamberlain as a former-teacher

Also evident of ChamberlainÂ’s idealism is the civility with which he treats the mutineers. ChamberlainÂ’s belief that "The soft answer turneth away wrath. Some wrath" makes it evident that he is an idealist, but not entirely so. Chamberlain has a professorÂ’s mind and knows how to deal with unruly individuals; he is not "regular army" and therefore wonÂ’t instantly accept army dogma (like the starvation tactics used on the mutineers). The foil created in the Pennsylvania captain, who seems to get a power trip from mistreating the mutineers, highlights ChamberlainÂ’s kindness and idealism.

Previous Battles

"But he [Lee] did not know how many Federals were ahead. Rodes might be attacking half the Union army. Another Sharpsburg." Lee is cautious because at Sharpsburg--despite faring very well against larger Union forces--he lost about 1/3 of his forces and had to call off his invasion of the North. Lee must take risks because he is the underdog, but he is cautious of losing too many men before he can really get this second invasion of the North off the ground. Note: the bloodbath at Sharpsburg (the worst in the U.S. military history) is today known as The Battle of Antietam.

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