Originally Posted by
DerBiermeister
I'm a huge fan of Jeff Shaara. I thought the movie was good. And don't forget, he consulted in the making of the movie. The basis of the book was the importance of Fredericksburg in the war. Of secondary note, was the importance of Jackson. For all practical purposes, had Burnside not run into the flooded Rappahannock, and had he listened to Hancock to cross the river 15 miles upstream at Ellys Ford, instead of delaying for weeks (allowing Lee to capture the high ground at Marye's Heights), the war would have ended right then and there. As it was, Lee and Jackson destroyed the Union army, further aided a few months later by the Condederate victory at Chancellorsville with Jackson's Flank March where he wiped up Hooker's army. There is a solid argument to be made that had Jackson not been killed at Chancellorsville, Lee would not have lost at Gettysburg. Which of course would have only delayed the war longer.
I cannot explain how thrilling it was to see the whole event unfold on the screen after I have spent many days in touring the various battle sites. I also thought that the casting of Steven Lang as Stonewall was brilliant. You were truly seeing Jackson on the screen. Here is his famous speech to the First Brigade.
One of the sad things is that Ted Turner backed out of finishing the movie trilogy, with the decision to not make the movie The Last Full Measure -- they were all ready to start shooting when he cancelled the project. He did it based on the lackluster performance of God's & Generals in the theatres.
I am pretty close to all those events having lived right next to Chancellorsville (in Lake Of The Woods which was developed right in the middle of what was the famous Wilderness battle). The Parks people have done a great job of preserving much of the battle areas in and around Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Jackson's Flank March.
Geezums -- I think I'm going to go watch the movie again!