Hi everyone,
here is a little bit as to why I joined your excellent forum. I was never interested in the Civil War until a few years ago. I was always interested in Vietnam War, World War 1 and 2. One day, as I waited to watch the super bowl, I saw the movie Gettysburg come on TV. Gettysburg started about an hour before the game. Lets just say, I never saw the game. I was fixated to the movie. The most memorable experience for me in this movie had to be when JL Chamberlain yelled for bayonets. That, and a few other moments in the movie were so moving, I burst out in tears. You can probably imagine my family as I that occured, my girlfriend, now my wife, thought I was screwy. Anyway, since then I have visited Gettysburg twice(2 years in a row) and I just got back from Vicksburg Mississippi. BTW, is there any good books that can somewhat give the me lowdown on everything that occured during those years of fighting? At this point I don't want to focus on one battle, but a broad spectrum of the fighting. I noticed alot of dates coincide with others. I have not read much on it yet. Well, that's about all I have to say for now. Thanks for such a great site, well done.
Hey 20th. Welcome to the board. If you're looking for good books that cover the war years, 1861-1865, there are quite a few out there. You might check one of the forums on this board, "The Book and Movie Review Tent", for books that members on this board have read or know about. For an overview of the entire war, battles etc. you might read "Battle Cry of Freedom", by James McPherson, a one volume history. Shelby Foote's 3 volume history, "The Civil War", is good. I think every member here has a favorite book or books that cover the entire war. Most of us here are pretty avid readers, and if you've been following along on some of these threads you're probably aware that there are many very learned, scholar/expert-level people here, whose knowledge far surpasses mine. You're likely to get some good reading suggestions.
Hope you enjoy your time on the board. Feel free to post up any questions or information that you want to share.
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
Welcome, 20th Maine Man. I was lucky enough to see "Gettysburg" in the theatre, so I didn't have to choose between that and the Super Bowl.
The movie was based on a book entitled "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara. After Michael's death, his son Jeff Shaara wrote a prequel, "Gods and Generals," which has also been made into a movie, and a sequel, "The Last Full Measure." There has been talk about also making the latter into a movie, but that may or may not come to pass.
If you liked the movie "Gettysburg," you would probably like those three books.
Hey Guys,
thanks for the warm greetings. I am reading the Killer Angels now. I must say its better than the movie, but you can't fit that whole book in a 4 hour movie. I have the Gods and Generals movie, not too great IMHO. I am sure the book is better. I believe they focused too much on Jackson's life. I mean, let's go home to Chamberlain, Lee, and everyones elses life for the movie at that point. For the movie they should just touch on that stuff and more about the battles. Anyway, I caught a movie or series on TV the other night called the blue and the grey. Anybody ever see that? If so, what was up with the confederate officier killing all the wounded? I feel there was alot of fiction on that movie. Well, I better go. Talk to guys later.
I remember seeing this movie as a kid. The movie did have it's share of stars: Lloyd Bridges, Collen Dewhurst, Stacey Keach and Rip Torn but I thought the movie was strange. Cooper Huckabee, who played Harrison on Gettysburg, was also in the movie.
Yeah, the movie seemed hokey to me. I did have to look up what the screamers were. Screamers is a slang word for diarrhea. LOL It was funny to see the ironclad bvoat mock ups in the scenery though.
and welcome to the board. I have visited Brunswick and all the haunts ** Joshua Chamberlain (and left pennies on his grave as others have done). Chamberlain interests me greatly as an example ** ordinary folks doing extraordinary things in times ** crisis. And, I must add, rather sheepishly, that Chamberlain was rather a "looker". (We must get a blushing emoticon here!). I belong to the Friends ** the National Parks at Gettysburg, and they report that whenever one ** their seminars deals with Chamberlain, the numbers ** women signing up increases greatly...
Anyway, I hope you like it here. I also think Gettysburg, strictly from the sense ** it being a well put together movie, comes across better. I do like Gods and Generals also, own them both, but like G-burg the best.
__________________ "Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn them to your advantage." - R. E. Lee
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Hello everyone 
Anyway, since then I have visited Gettysburg twice(2 years in a row) and I just got back from Vicksburg Mississippi. BTW, is there any good books that can somewhat give the me lowdown on everything that occured during those years of fighting? At this point I don't want to focus on one battle, but a broad spectrum of the fighting. I noticed alot of dates coincide with others. I have not read much on it yet. Well, that's about all I have to say for now. Thanks for such a great site, well done.
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