On July 3, Generals Lee and Longstreet continue to face-off, creating strife within their own troops. The political problems that Lee and Longstreet embody are mirrors for the brother-fighting-brother theme that is central to any civil war. Thus, Shaara presents another paradox of war: when is it reasonable to fight and kill one's bretheren? Also, Lee is in charge of the Confederate Army but General Longstreet still has a considerable amount of clout among the troops. Both Longstreet and Lee are presented as relatively poor leaders given how far they had come by the Battle of Gettysburg, practically pushing the Union to surrender until Gettysburg changed everything. Union troops suffered considerable losses but thanks to Colonel Chamberlain, the troops succeeded and helped preserve the union. Shaara does not so much glorify the Civil War as the author does elucidate the underlying issues that pit North against South.

"General James Longstreet,...
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