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Michael Sharra, The Killer Angels, A Ballanine book published by the Random House publishing Group, 1974 The Battle of Gettysburg (1863) during the civil war, 1861-1865 has left tragic yet important historical aspects for new generation to come. The book, The Killer Angel, by Michael Sharra reveals the three brutal days the Battle of Gettysburg. As a future commissioned officer of the United States Army, this book has inspired me the importance of living the seven Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. The book displays importance of utilizing the principles of war and tactics to win the battle. It also illustrates planning, decision, execution, disagreement, heroism, courage, and leadership of our forefathers. The author focuses on three main characters, Confederate generals: General Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet, and Union Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain. Aside from the battle of Gettysburg, the author exhibits one of the major conflicts between General Robert E. Lee and James Longstreet. The author implies the battle may have won by the Confederates if General Robert E. Lee would have agreed and execute General Longstreets strategy in using new weaponry and defensive tactics rather than General Lees offensive tactic. General Longstreet realized the old strategies of war can no longer work as well and new technology will successfully win the battle. Modern technology such as using long-range artillery and repeating, breech-loading rifles makes longer and accurate effective target range than old technology. He also believed the defensive positions are the best method of winning the war in the battle of Gettysburg due terrain feature and position of the Union on the area of objective. General Longstreet makes strategy in moving Confederate army to position southeast of Gettysburg to come between the Union army and the Union capital, Washington, D.C. The main objective of his strategy was to force the Union army to come out and attack Confederates causing reduction force of the fortress in the capital. Therefore, position Confederate army in the defensive positioned, destroy Union force, long take the capital, and win the Civil War. The importance of the battle of Gettysburg was its first southern Confederate force to take on near capital, which would have resulted ending civil war in favor of Confederate. Despite General Longstreets persistent advice, General Robert E. Lee rejected General Longstreets plan, pursued using offensive method and the principles of war of maneuver of flanks (left, right, and center in the third day of the battle). At the end of three days of the battle, General Lees Confederate army suffered massive casualties and lost battle by several factors. Difficulty in constructing effective strategic planning with no information about the movements of the Union army or the geography of the

surrounding area due to the long absence of Scout Calvary General J. E. B. Stuart, heavy pour of the Union artillery power, and the Union Colonel Chamberlains in furious army at the AO (Area of Objective) Little Round Top. One of the General Lees biggest mistakes in losing the battle of Gettysburg were not having enough intel about the Union in the area and underestimating the Union army and its artillery power. As a leader of the army, I have learned the importance of incorporating modern technology to win the battle and utilizing effective principles of war. Although the technology is important in the battle, the technology do not solely win the war yet the outcome of the battle is decided by the proper execution of the mission, excellent strategy, timing, incorporating best principles of war, and patience. If General Lee and Longstreet were to incorporate their plans carefully in utilizing artillery power, rifle, subordinates executing their mission (failure of General Stuarts scout mission and failure of General Ewells mission in taking over area of objective on the first day) would have produced advantageous outcome of achieving successful mission and winning the battle of Gettysburg. This would have eventually favored Confederates to force Union army to move out of the capital to fight and later use power to overtake Union capital. General Lees lack of compromising General Longstreets strategy, inpatient, and also General Longstreet not being able to convince his superior may have caused Confederate losing the battle. No matter what the situation a person is in, as a leader, it is imperative for a leader to search and create winning strategy to accomplish the mission. As a leader, he/she shall be flexible and look at the situation from outside the box. Knowing and utilizing present modern technology, tactics, creating effective operation order and principles of war is essential to accomplish successful mission. Importantly, the leader must always take care of his/her soldiers, accountable of all personnel/weapon/equipments, motivating, war training, and lead by example. The second focus of the author discusses about the act of Colonel Chamberlains important leadership role, which became a legend and the heroic act of American civil war. Colonel Chamberlain was given an order of no retreat and defend the area of objective, the Round Hill Top, against hundreds of Confederate army as they left flank Union army. Knowing his regiments low supplies of ammo and possibility of losing the battle position, Colonel Chamberlain made quick decision in moving his entire line of soldiers in line and swing forward to link up with another Union regiment next to them. In order to accomplish it, he ordered his regiment to place bayonet and charged down the hill toward Confederate army. Out of surprise and act of determination of the Union army solders, many Confederate soldiers fell out of fear and died. The will, determination, and the leadership of Colonel Chamberlain reaped courage in each and every solder resulting accomplish his mission of defending AO, Round Hill Top.

Unlike seasoned General Lee and Longstreet, Colonel Chamberlain was a professor and a citizen whom turned into a solder. Hes loyalty to the Union, determination, genuine care of soldiers; being flexible to create an effective decision and his leadership was the important keys to winning the battle of Gettysburg. Although, many great leaders displayed different style of leadership in history, the fundamental of leadership remains the same. Completing the mission, creating successful operation order, utilizing principles of war, train and give care of soldiers, taking care of all equipments and supplies, strive to excellence, sacrifice, and living the seven core Army value, and lead by example is what a leader shall do. As a future commissioned officer of the United States Army, I shall carry the honorable tradition of the leadership as those have gone before me.