In The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara recreates the Battle of Gettysburg through vivid pictures of events during and leading up to the battle and to reconstruct the actions of several generals who participated. In The Killer Angels the lives of some of the survivors of Gettysburg are relived. Within the four main sections, the narrative alternates between the vantage points of Union and Rebel soldiers.
             Monday, June 29, 1863
             Harrison, a spy for the Army of Northern Virginia, reports to its commander, General Robert E. Lee and his right-hand man, Lt. General James Longstreet, that 80,000 to 100,000 Union soldiers have marched within 200 miles of Lee's position near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. This information surprises both generals, whose troops had invaded the North, and who would now be outnumbered by these Union forces. Harrison also bears news of a change in Union leadership: Major General George Meade had replaced "Fighting Joe" Hooker as commander of the Union Army. Lee sees this change as an opportunity to strike while the new commander gets his bearings. Maine Volunteers, informs Colonel Chamberlain who is in command of part of the union army that 120 mutineers are being sent to his command. These men, are said to, have refused to fight for any regiment other than the Second Maine, their original outfit, which has been disbanded. The Union's new commander, General Meade, had authorized!
             Chamberlain to shoot any man who won't fight. Chamberlain, a college professor in his civilian life, uses compassion and persuasion instead of threats to convince all but six of the men to join in the fight:
            
             Wednesday, July 1, 1863--The First Day
             The first shots were fired at dawn as Rebels attacked Buford's (union leader) dismounted cavalry. Lee (commander of the confederates/rebels)encounters one weak link after another in his struggle to win the battle. First, there is Powell Hill's bout where illness took the day, then Harry Heth's c...