When I taught the Advanced Course in the History of the Military Art at West
Point, I made Killer Angels an assigned reading and had the cadets read it in
conjunction with a staff ride to Gettysburg. What I had hoped to do with it
was two things: stir an interest in history that would last beyond the course
and make cadets realize that studying history was FUN, and show the interplay
of personalities that is the essence of the leadership challenge. I think the
book does that in a very impressive fashion. Using that as a starting point,
you can then bring out Coddington and say, here are areas where the author made
errors.... I think that if Gettysburg, the movie, stirs any interest at ALL in
the Civil War that will make people look at it in more detail, it will be
worth every penny. As far as re-enactors go, I was last stationed in Atlanta,
where they have a thriving historical society (BTW, how 'BOUT them Braves...)
and at least once a year they had "encampments" at the center. Re-enactors
would come and show what life was like during the ACW. BOTH of my children
have now taken an avid interest in the Civil War, and although they will grow
up on the legends of the war, they now have enough interest in it that I am
certain they will pursue it to the point where they can distinguish between
fact and interpretation.
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* LTC Michael W. Cannon km5380@usma7.usma.edu *
* Phone DSN 688-5936 *
* Room 163A Comm 914-938-5936 *
* D/Hist,USMA West Point, NY 10996 *
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