Synopsis Of Gods And Generals By Jeff Shaara

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Holly Corbin Mr. Gorman Civil War 10 October 2014 Synopsis of Gods and Generals Jeff Shaara’s Gods and Generals follows four of the most influential officers of the Civil War: General Robert E. Lee, Lt. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, and Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. Shaara introduces these men in the years before the Civil war and ends the novel upon the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg. Shaara depicts the emotional drama of soldiers fighting old friends while accurately relaying historical details including troop movements, strategies, and tactical combat situations. The story starts off in the years of peace before the Civil War kicks off; the calm before the storm. We are introduced to the officers and shown their discomfort in life during peace time. Shaara reveals Chamberlain’s inability to be happy with the successful job he now holds, Jackson’s religious tendencies, Lee’s boredom …show more content…

Jackson and Hancock are both given brigade commands (Jackson Confederate and Hancock Union). Chamberlain becomes a Lieutenant colonel in the 20th Main regiment (Union). At the Battle of Manassas junction, the first battle of the war, the Confederacy drove the Union Army away in a panic. Soon after, the weight of the battle came crashing down on both sides and they came to the realization that this was going to be bloodier than they thought. Soon after, the security of the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia is threatened by McClellan’s forces. Lee is then called in as Commanding General of the confederate forces after the original commander dies in battle. With Jackson, Lee took on the Union forces and continually won while being both outnumbered and undersupplied. They took the wins at the Seven Day's Battle, the Second Battle of Bull Run, and