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Battle Of Gettysburg Summary

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The movie starts out with the narrator talks about how the Union and Confederate armies meet at Gettysburg. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia led by Gen. Robert E. Lee is pushing north and taking an offensive position throughout Pennsylvania. They are hoping to entice the Union Army of the Potomac back to the north for a war to end all the war. The Confederate President Jefferson Davis wrote a letter of peace that was going to be sent to President Abraham Lincoln once the Army of the Potomac has been destroyed in the north. The film then moves into a spy spotting Union cavalry, then a division of Union infantry. Immediately he rides off, crosses a Confederate picket line and demands to be brought to Lt. Gen. James Longstreet to warn of the close proximity of Union troops. Meanwhile, Union Brig. Gen. John Buford and his cavalry unit arrive in Gettysburg to do reconnaissance. Buford realizes if Lee’s army makes it to Gettysburg, they could easily take a defensive position given the high ground and put an end to the Army of the Potomac. Buford decides to stay, and places his unit along Seminary Ridge to stop any Confederate troops getting in from the west. Miles from Gettysburg, Union Col. Joshua Chamberlain of the 20th Maine Regiment is informed that his unit will be taking on 120 wayward members from another Maine regiment, with the orders to shoot anyone who causes problems. After Chamberlain displays heartfelt hospitality and delivers a moving speech, he wins over 114 of the bedraggled men. …show more content…

Buford’s cavalry is involved in a skirmish with two Confederate units heading into Gettysburg looking to get shoes for their barefoot troops. The Union forces in Gettysburg at the time are out manned and forced to pull back as more Confederate forces arrive. Confederate victory is threatened when Lt. Gen. Ewell fails to occupy Cemetery

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