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Narrator: July 1863.
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After crushing union
forces in Virginia,
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rebel general Robert e. Lee
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has led 72,000 troops
north into Pennsylvania.
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By striking at the
heart of the union,
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he hopes to force the Yankees
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in to finally recognizing
southern sovereignty.
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They're coming up to win,
and not just to win a battle,
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but to win their independence.
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Narrator: As almost 100,000
Yankees are thrown into the fight
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to stop the invasion... Charge!
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A rebel colonel will
descend on a critical mission
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that could win the battle
and maybe the war.
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Adelman: He's a great soldier.
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And he will plow forward
with his men and unleash
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one of the most
ferocious attacks.
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Narrator: In his way, 50 of the
union's best-trained sharpshooters.
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Motts: They were elite.
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And these sharpshooters,
being as accurate as they were,
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could do a tremendous
amount of damage.
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If the confederates
win this victory,
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that's checkmate.
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Narrator: The fate of the
nation is about to be decided
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on a hilltop near a
town called gettysburg.
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Captions by vitac...
www.Vitac.Com
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captions paid for by
discovery communications
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[ mortar whistles ]
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[ People coughing ]
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[ Gunshots in distance ]
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[ Groaning ]
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John.
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I gotcha. [ Groaning ]
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[ Coughing ]
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John!
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Narrator: 29-year-old
William oates
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serves as a colonel with
the confederate army.
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After enlisting as
a captain in 1861,
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he quickly Rose
through the ranks
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and now leads the
15th Alabama infantry.
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Motts: William Calvin oates is
really a very interesting character.
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We know that his early life,
uh, in southeast Alabama,
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where he was from,
was pretty rough,
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pretty hard scrabble.
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Atkinson: He was just a man
that... that resolves issues.
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If it can't be resolved, then
he's gonna resolve it with,
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you know, thunder
and lightning over here.
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Narrator: Oates and his
men are part of the daring plan
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confederate
general Robert e. Lee
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has created to finally
win the civil war.
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The southern people
are outnumbered.
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They don't have
as many resources.
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They don't have as many men.
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They don't have as many cannons.
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They don't have as many guns.
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The longer the war continues,
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the bigger the
advantage to the north.
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Robert e. Lee doesn't feel that
the south can win the civil war
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by simply defending a
massive amount of territory.
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Bold strokes are necessary.
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Narrator: Following the stunning
rebel victories in fredericksburg
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and then chancellorsville,
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Lee strikes and
invades the north.
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Alongside a 72,000-man army,
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he pushes deep into Maryland,
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then Pennsylvania.
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Adelman: He wants to win a
major battle up here in the north
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and possibly end the civil war
right in the summer of 1863.
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Atkinson: From a
political standpoint,
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he wants to win a
victory on northern soil
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that will put pressure on
the Lincoln administration
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to sue for peace.
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Narrator: But it's
a dangerous move.
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Outnumbered and outgunned
by larger union forces,
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Lee hopes something else
will level the playing field.
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The ferocious fighting
spirit of men like oates
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and his 15th Alabama infantry.
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Atkinson: Now, oates felt
that he had the best regiment
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in the entire army.
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The Alabama boys felt that
they could win any match.
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Adelman: This is a tough
lot. They're gamblers.
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They're drinkers
when they could.
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And, man, on the battlefield,
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they were shockingly
good troops.
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Narrator: The regiment
is made up of almost
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500 battle-tested veterans,
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including William
oates' little brother, John.
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[ Coughing ]
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John, what are
you doin' out here?
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I couldn't sleep.
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You don't look so good, man.
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It's them damn yankee cherries.
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I'm fine.
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It ain't the cherries.
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You've been runnin'
a fever for 2 days.
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Tomorrow's gonna
be another hot one.
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I think you should ride.
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Had that damn dream
again, didn't you?
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It don't mean a damn thing.
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And I ain't ridin' tomorrow.
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I'll walk like every other man.
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Remind me how you got
to be so damned stubborn.
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I guess it runs in
the family, colonel.
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Atkinson: John oates
was in fragile health.
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It had been a hard march on him.
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And William was constantly
looking out for John.
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[ Coughing ]
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Narrator: 85 miles away,
in Washington, D.C.,
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president Abraham Lincoln faces
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one of the most difficult
moments of his presidency.
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Adelman: Abraham
Lincoln is basically
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trying to keep the country
together at this point.
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If things don't start
going better for the union,
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it's going to be pretty
clear that Abraham Lincoln
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is going to lose
that next election.
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It will turn out
that next election
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will be against a platform
that wants to sue for peace.
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This country will
absolutely split in two
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if Abraham Lincoln
loses the election of 1864.
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He's got a lot at stake.
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I mean, how would you like
to be known as the president
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who lost the country?
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Narrator: Lincoln still
believes the north can win.
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But to do that, they
must first find Lee's army.
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Having learned that the
rebels have gone north,
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100,000 union troops
have left Virginia
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and now scour Maryland
and Pennsylvania,
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desperate to catch
Lee's hard-marching men.
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Among them is union
soldier Wyman white.
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Born in New Hampshire,
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he serves with the
berdan sharpshooters.
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Formed by hiram berdan,
a champion marksman,
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the unit was composed
of the best sharpshooters
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in the country.
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They are trained over
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and above the
average union soldier.
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In other words, they are elite.
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Narrator: Placed far in
front of the union line,
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they were used to
stall rebel attacks
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and to gather intelligence.
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The men of perdan sharpshooters
wore all-green uniforms.
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They also had special
goodyear rubber buttons.
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These were buttons that
did not glisten in the sunlight.
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Berdan sharpshooters' men
are clothed to conceal them.
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And never before, really,
in American military history
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had that been done.
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Narrator: To
join this elite unit,
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men like Wyman white must pass
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an incredibly difficult test.
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Motts: The rifle test
is pretty significant.
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You had to be able to
fire 10 consecutive shots
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into a target at 200 yards.
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And the distance between
the center of the bull's-eye
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to the center of the
bullet that you fired
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could not average
more than 5 inches.
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So basically what that means
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is you had to fire in a target
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about the size
of a dinner plate,
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two football fields of distance.
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Narrator: White's grandfather
fought in the American revolution.
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And now he's determined
to defend the nation
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his grandfather helped create.
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Since joining the sharpshooters,
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white's been in several battles.
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And now he's in
southern Pennsylvania,
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hunting the rebel army.
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But finding them isn't easy.
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Since entering the north,
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the rebels have been almost
constantly on the move.
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Elements of both armies
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are now just dozens
of miles apart.
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As night falls, oates'
men are encamped
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just 25 miles west
of Wyman white.
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Left to guard the
rear of the rebel force,
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they have orders to
catch up with the rest
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of the army in the morning,
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now just a day's
march to the east.
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There it is, boys.
There. That's right.
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But despite the
miles of marching,
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morale among the
vets remains high.
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Next, I want that hat.
It'll look good on me.
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Atkinson: The confederate
soldiers came into Pennsylvania,
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wholeheartedly
with the expectation
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that this would be
the end of the war.
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Ha-ha, yeah.
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They were lighthearted.
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They were glad
to be in the north.
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They were eating well.
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They had a quarterback
in Robert e. Lee
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that they felt, uh,
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could guide them to any victory.
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And all they needed
was a chance to do that.
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Narrator: While much seems to
be going well for Robert e. Lee,
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his invasion is facing
one major problem.
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He hasn't heard from his
cavalry in several days.
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Cavalry are the eyes
and ears of the army.
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They are the whiskers
on a cat, if you will.
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It leaves Lee blindfolded.
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He is groping in the darkness.
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And he does not know
where the union army is.
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Narrator: Lee doesn't want
to engage enemy troops
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until his cavalry returns.
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But it's not to be.
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On July 1st, elements
of his army bump
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00:11:12,449 --> 00:11:15,383
into a group of union
cavalry on the outskirts
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of a small Pennsylvania
town called gettysburg.
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00:11:18,654 --> 00:11:20,755
[ Battlefield noises ]
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What begins as a minor
scrap quickly spirals
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into a massive battle.
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As word of the clash spreads,
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union scouts watch for
rebel troop movements.
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Where you headed?
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You see any Johnny
rebels out there?
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They as ugly as I remember:
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00:12:36,131 --> 00:12:39,200
Red eyes, fangs?
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How many? A lot?
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00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,948
Run along now, son.
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Narrator: Just miles
away, a fight is brewing that
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will determine the
fate of the nation.
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Hey, kid.
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00:13:00,423 --> 00:13:02,690
What's the name of
that town up there?
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Gettysburg.
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00:13:07,764 --> 00:13:09,630
Never heard of it.
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00:13:09,632 --> 00:13:11,498
And Wyman white is about
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00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:14,001
to play a key role
in its outcome.
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Narrator: Confederate
colonel William oates
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00:13:27,483 --> 00:13:29,750
and the men of his 15th Alabama
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00:13:29,752 --> 00:13:32,687
have been on the
move for almost 9 hours.
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During the night,
they learned that
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00:13:36,025 --> 00:13:38,292
a fight had broken
out near gettysburg.
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And at 4 A.M.,
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00:13:42,264 --> 00:13:45,633
they began the 25-miles
march to the battlefield.
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00:13:45,635 --> 00:13:46,900
Adelman: And it's a hot day.
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00:13:46,902 --> 00:13:48,836
It's the second-hottest
day of the whole summer.
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00:13:48,838 --> 00:13:50,238
These guys wear wool uniforms.
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They had stayed up all night.
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00:13:51,641 --> 00:13:52,973
And very few of them
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00:13:52,975 --> 00:13:55,243
had any water left
in their canteens.
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00:13:57,447 --> 00:13:59,446
Narrator: Despite
the conditions,
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00:13:59,448 --> 00:14:02,450
the men are in high spirits.
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00:14:02,452 --> 00:14:05,452
I'll Grant it that the
union has a lot of troops.
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00:14:05,454 --> 00:14:08,856
But there's one key thing
that they seem to be missin'.
242
00:14:08,858 --> 00:14:11,058
And what's that?
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00:14:11,060 --> 00:14:13,194
Men.
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00:14:13,196 --> 00:14:15,529
And besides, it's
clear the good lord
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00:14:15,531 --> 00:14:17,864
is marchin' with us.
246
00:14:17,866 --> 00:14:20,601
Fourth of July is two days away.
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00:14:20,603 --> 00:14:22,336
You think that's a coincidence?
248
00:14:24,274 --> 00:14:27,408
Adelman: They're coming
up into Pennsylvania to win,
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00:14:27,410 --> 00:14:30,143
and not just to win a battle
but to win their independence.
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00:14:30,145 --> 00:14:32,613
And many of them
think this is possible.
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00:14:32,615 --> 00:14:33,814
They're in enemy territory.
252
00:14:33,816 --> 00:14:37,018
They had beat a larger
army time and time again.
253
00:14:37,020 --> 00:14:38,552
And at the end of this
march, some of them,
254
00:14:38,554 --> 00:14:41,489
many of them can see
the end of the civil war.
255
00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:46,159
They have no idea that
general Robert e. Lee
256
00:14:46,161 --> 00:14:50,631
has picked them to play
a key role in the battle.
257
00:14:50,633 --> 00:14:52,833
As day two of the
fighting begins,
258
00:14:52,835 --> 00:14:56,103
union forces have been
driven from gettysburg and now
259
00:14:56,105 --> 00:14:58,839
cling to a Ridge south of town.
260
00:14:58,841 --> 00:15:00,441
They have the union
army on the run.
261
00:15:00,443 --> 00:15:04,178
And Robert e. Lee is ready
to end this thing right now.
262
00:15:04,180 --> 00:15:09,316
Narrator: He's come up with a bold
plan to deliver the knockout blow.
263
00:15:09,318 --> 00:15:12,720
Lee's plan is to
flank the union army.
264
00:15:12,722 --> 00:15:14,522
For some reason, the union army
265
00:15:14,524 --> 00:15:17,458
can never guard their flanks.
266
00:15:17,460 --> 00:15:19,393
Adelman: The end of
your line is called your flank.
267
00:15:19,395 --> 00:15:21,195
And if an enemy
arrives on your flank,
268
00:15:21,197 --> 00:15:22,529
it's called being flanked.
269
00:15:22,531 --> 00:15:24,932
Your enemy can shoot
all the way down your line.
270
00:15:24,934 --> 00:15:26,667
They can't miss. If
they don't hit this person,
271
00:15:26,669 --> 00:15:28,135
they'll hit him or him or him.
272
00:15:28,137 --> 00:15:30,738
And if you are being flanked
like these guys are right here,
273
00:15:30,740 --> 00:15:32,273
um, you have two simple choices:
274
00:15:32,275 --> 00:15:33,941
Run away or get shot.
275
00:15:41,683 --> 00:15:43,350
Narrator: With their
backs to the wall,
276
00:15:43,352 --> 00:15:45,753
the union has sent out
some of their best troops
277
00:15:45,755 --> 00:15:47,388
to protect their lines.
278
00:15:58,901 --> 00:16:01,235
Wyman white and the
second us sharpshooters
279
00:16:01,237 --> 00:16:02,636
now control the ground
280
00:16:02,638 --> 00:16:05,206
in front of the
union's left flank.
281
00:16:15,251 --> 00:16:16,650
Motts: The
sharpshooters get orders
282
00:16:16,652 --> 00:16:19,186
to move to the extreme
left of the union army line.
283
00:16:19,188 --> 00:16:20,721
And what's the purpose of that?
284
00:16:20,723 --> 00:16:22,589
To cover the left of that line.
285
00:16:22,591 --> 00:16:23,924
If the enemy appears,
286
00:16:23,926 --> 00:16:25,325
they're gonna be really what you
287
00:16:25,327 --> 00:16:27,728
and I would call the
first line of defense.
288
00:16:35,070 --> 00:16:36,604
You think they'll
come up the road?
289
00:16:38,540 --> 00:16:41,875
No. I wouldn't.
290
00:16:41,877 --> 00:16:44,278
Narrator: Armed with
a revolutionary weapon,
291
00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,080
even small numbers
of sharpshooters
292
00:16:46,082 --> 00:16:48,415
can inflict massive damage.
293
00:16:48,417 --> 00:16:51,218
Motts: These weapons that
berdan sharpshooters carried,
294
00:16:51,220 --> 00:16:53,353
the sharps rifle, was a
breech-shielding weapon.
295
00:16:53,355 --> 00:16:54,721
It loads from the rear.
296
00:16:54,723 --> 00:16:57,091
And one of the advantages
of this is you could
297
00:16:57,093 --> 00:17:00,161
fire many rounds a minute
compared to a regular
298
00:17:00,163 --> 00:17:03,531
Springfield rifle musket
or Enfield rifle musket.
299
00:17:12,708 --> 00:17:14,975
Narrator: By mid-afternoon,
rebel colonel William oates
300
00:17:14,977 --> 00:17:19,513
and his men reach the
edge of the battlefield.
301
00:17:19,515 --> 00:17:21,849
Oates soon learns of
the key role his troops
302
00:17:21,851 --> 00:17:25,119
are to play in Lee's
plan to win the battle.
303
00:17:25,121 --> 00:17:28,922
His orders are to find
the end of the union line
304
00:17:28,924 --> 00:17:31,058
and to turn the union left flank
305
00:17:31,060 --> 00:17:33,260
and to do as much
damage as he can.
306
00:17:33,262 --> 00:17:35,429
[ Indistinct chatter ]
307
00:17:39,134 --> 00:17:41,268
Narrator: As the exhausted
men try to catch their breath
308
00:17:41,270 --> 00:17:42,602
before the fight,
309
00:17:42,604 --> 00:17:45,139
a detail is sent
out to find water.
310
00:17:47,476 --> 00:17:50,144
[ Mortar whistles ]
311
00:17:50,146 --> 00:17:53,614
-Rally, rally, rally! Rally!
312
00:17:53,616 --> 00:17:55,950
- Rally, rally!
- Rally, rally, rally!
313
00:18:00,556 --> 00:18:01,889
Narrator: Before it returns,
314
00:18:01,891 --> 00:18:04,525
the position is pounded
by union artillery.
315
00:18:09,231 --> 00:18:12,166
Oates and his men must
flee and begin their mission
316
00:18:12,168 --> 00:18:15,136
to find and destroy the
union army's left flank.
317
00:18:36,458 --> 00:18:38,459
Wyman white and the
second us sharpshooters
318
00:18:38,461 --> 00:18:40,594
have now arrived at slyder farm.
319
00:18:43,933 --> 00:18:46,667
It's a large property
that lies to the southwest
320
00:18:46,669 --> 00:18:48,668
of the union's left flank.
321
00:18:48,670 --> 00:18:52,272
It's also now just 1 mile
to the east of colonel oates
322
00:18:52,274 --> 00:18:54,375
and the men of the 15th Alabama.
323
00:18:58,080 --> 00:18:59,680
It's awful quiet.
324
00:19:02,618 --> 00:19:03,717
Let's go over there.
325
00:19:14,696 --> 00:19:16,563
They have no idea
that colonel oates
326
00:19:16,565 --> 00:19:19,300
and hundreds of the
south's toughest soldiers
327
00:19:19,302 --> 00:19:21,168
are now heading right for them.
328
00:19:29,312 --> 00:19:32,312
Atkinson: The sharpshooters'
presence around the slyder farm
329
00:19:32,314 --> 00:19:34,381
speaks to the fact
that the union army
330
00:19:34,383 --> 00:19:36,784
is not expectin' an
attack in that area.
331
00:19:36,786 --> 00:19:40,921
Otherwise, they would have
had a larger body of men.
332
00:19:40,923 --> 00:19:43,524
But their sharpshooters
are kind of like a thin screen,
333
00:19:43,526 --> 00:19:45,226
if you will.
334
00:19:52,935 --> 00:19:54,702
How many do you
think we could hold off?
335
00:19:58,073 --> 00:20:03,744
Well, we got 60
guys, 50 shots each.
336
00:20:03,746 --> 00:20:06,747
That's about 3,000 rounds.
337
00:20:06,749 --> 00:20:08,214
That's a lot of dead crackas.
338
00:20:08,216 --> 00:20:10,951
If we don't miss.
339
00:20:10,953 --> 00:20:12,485
Now, don't you read the papers?
340
00:20:12,487 --> 00:20:15,222
We're berdan
sharpshooters. We never miss.
341
00:20:18,427 --> 00:20:21,428
Well, what if it's
more, like the kid said?
342
00:20:24,300 --> 00:20:25,365
Then we pull back
to those woods,
343
00:20:25,367 --> 00:20:28,969
and we make 'em pay
for every damn yard.
344
00:20:28,971 --> 00:20:30,537
I hope you're right.
345
00:20:42,117 --> 00:20:44,652
Narrator: William oates
and his brother, John,
346
00:20:44,654 --> 00:20:47,821
are now just 1/2 mile
west of slyder farm.
347
00:20:59,868 --> 00:21:03,537
What do ya think?
348
00:21:03,539 --> 00:21:05,939
They're definitely out there.
349
00:21:05,941 --> 00:21:07,541
There's more than
a few skirmishers.
350
00:21:07,543 --> 00:21:10,277
[ Coughs, clears throat ]
351
00:21:10,279 --> 00:21:13,147
You sure you're up to it?
352
00:21:13,149 --> 00:21:15,816
I ever say different?
353
00:21:15,818 --> 00:21:17,217
All right.
354
00:21:17,219 --> 00:21:19,887
Tell your captain to take
your company and two others.
355
00:21:19,889 --> 00:21:22,756
Hem around from the south
Ridge. Just keep your head down.
356
00:21:22,758 --> 00:21:24,124
All right? Go on.
357
00:21:41,009 --> 00:21:43,911
Alabama, on your feet!
358
00:21:45,514 --> 00:21:48,015
Forward!
359
00:22:09,405 --> 00:22:11,872
[ Gun cocks ]
360
00:22:11,874 --> 00:22:13,874
Narrator: The fight that will
forever change the course
361
00:22:13,876 --> 00:22:17,678
of the civil war
is about to begin.
362
00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,247
And Wyman white
will be at the heart of it.
363
00:22:24,753 --> 00:22:26,053
Here they come.
364
00:22:27,890 --> 00:22:29,690
It's the whole damn rebel army.
365
00:22:37,733 --> 00:22:39,600
Narrator: Near the
town of gettysburg,
366
00:22:39,602 --> 00:22:42,269
the battle that will determine
the fate of the nation
367
00:22:42,271 --> 00:22:44,571
has entered its
second day of carnage.
368
00:22:46,942 --> 00:22:51,144
And as 165,000 men
clash just miles to the north,
369
00:22:51,146 --> 00:22:53,547
rebel colonel William
oates leads a mission
370
00:22:53,549 --> 00:22:56,216
to find and flank
the union army.
371
00:23:01,557 --> 00:23:04,757
They're comin'.
372
00:23:04,759 --> 00:23:06,693
Hold on, Edwin.
373
00:23:06,695 --> 00:23:09,562
All that now stands
before the large rebel force
374
00:23:09,564 --> 00:23:13,567
is Wyman white and several
dozen union sharpshooters.
375
00:23:17,573 --> 00:23:19,172
If the rebel attack succeeds,
376
00:23:19,174 --> 00:23:23,377
they may win the battle of
gettysburg and the civil war.
377
00:23:23,379 --> 00:23:25,813
They're comin' fast.
378
00:23:26,916 --> 00:23:28,782
[ Gun cocks ]
379
00:23:28,784 --> 00:23:31,384
I just can't imagine what's goin'
through Wyman white's mind
380
00:23:31,386 --> 00:23:32,920
when he looks
up in front of him,
381
00:23:32,922 --> 00:23:35,855
and thousands of
people are heading to you.
382
00:23:35,857 --> 00:23:38,659
And the only protection you've
got are your friends armed
383
00:23:38,661 --> 00:23:41,028
right there next
to ya. And that's it.
384
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,034
Almost there.
385
00:24:15,430 --> 00:24:16,763
Charge!
386
00:24:16,765 --> 00:24:18,499
[ Men screaming ]
387
00:24:37,186 --> 00:24:38,919
Motts: The confederates
feel that they're facing
388
00:24:38,921 --> 00:24:41,221
the main line of
union resistance here.
389
00:24:42,725 --> 00:24:45,459
Why? Because they're
putting up a lot of firepower.
390
00:24:45,461 --> 00:24:47,126
Not only are they putting
up a lot of firepower,
391
00:24:47,128 --> 00:24:48,996
but once again, it's accurate.
392
00:25:10,219 --> 00:25:14,755
They hung out there,
uh, 'til the last minute.
393
00:25:14,757 --> 00:25:17,290
Fall back.
394
00:25:17,292 --> 00:25:19,626
They were almost
crowded in by bayonets
395
00:25:19,628 --> 00:25:20,961
before they left and decided
396
00:25:20,963 --> 00:25:22,429
to withdraw off
of that position.
397
00:25:22,431 --> 00:25:24,965
So the confederates
were right on top of them.
398
00:25:39,314 --> 00:25:41,515
Narrator: As the rebels
storm the farm, white
399
00:25:41,517 --> 00:25:44,651
and his fellow sharpshooters
have only one chance:
400
00:25:44,653 --> 00:25:47,453
Sprint for the cover
of big round top,
401
00:25:47,455 --> 00:25:49,256
a thickly forested
hill that stands
402
00:25:49,258 --> 00:25:51,224
just behind their position.
403
00:25:53,262 --> 00:25:55,162
[ Gunshots ]
404
00:26:00,068 --> 00:26:02,169
[ Men screaming ]
405
00:26:12,948 --> 00:26:14,614
Ah!
406
00:26:14,616 --> 00:26:17,017
Get up. Get up. What? What?
407
00:26:17,019 --> 00:26:18,952
Get up! They're comin'.
408
00:26:18,954 --> 00:26:21,088
[ Men screaming ]
409
00:26:24,026 --> 00:26:26,026
The fighting that breaks out
in the woods of big round top,
410
00:26:26,028 --> 00:26:28,028
I don't think a lot of
people know about.
411
00:26:28,430 --> 00:26:30,130
[ Gunshots ]
412
00:26:33,702 --> 00:26:36,169
Narrator: Pursued by
hundreds of enraged rebels,
413
00:26:36,171 --> 00:26:38,238
white and the other
sharpshooters scramble up
414
00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,440
the steep slopes of the hill.
415
00:26:40,442 --> 00:26:42,576
[ Grunting ]
416
00:26:44,847 --> 00:26:46,513
But despite being outnumbered
417
00:26:46,515 --> 00:26:48,515
almost 10 to 1,
418
00:26:48,517 --> 00:26:50,851
white has no
intention of running.
419
00:26:55,324 --> 00:26:57,123
Motts: When the
sharpshooters decide to retire,
420
00:26:57,125 --> 00:27:00,861
let's remember they're retiring
to the next place of defense.
421
00:27:00,863 --> 00:27:03,664
Then they're firing until the
confederate line advances
422
00:27:03,666 --> 00:27:04,931
to the point where they're at.
423
00:27:04,933 --> 00:27:06,399
Then they go back
to their next point
424
00:27:06,401 --> 00:27:08,735
that they think is
defendable that they can find
425
00:27:08,737 --> 00:27:10,771
and then fire again.
426
00:27:18,347 --> 00:27:20,613
They're putting up a
volume of fire that oates
427
00:27:20,615 --> 00:27:22,949
and the 15th Alabama
can not ignore.
428
00:27:31,493 --> 00:27:34,961
Narrator: As an endless wave
of rebels close in on their position,
429
00:27:34,963 --> 00:27:37,296
white can't hold
them any longer.
430
00:27:37,298 --> 00:27:38,364
Let's go.
431
00:27:38,366 --> 00:27:40,433
As the union's
first line of defense,
432
00:27:40,435 --> 00:27:42,101
white and his
fellow sharpshooters
433
00:27:42,103 --> 00:27:44,104
must now try to
find the federal army
434
00:27:44,106 --> 00:27:46,239
and warn them of
the coming attack.
435
00:27:48,710 --> 00:27:51,778
If oates gets behind
them, the entire yankee line
436
00:27:51,780 --> 00:27:53,180
will be in hell.
437
00:28:02,858 --> 00:28:05,725
Narrator: 72,000 of the
south's toughest troops
438
00:28:05,727 --> 00:28:08,061
have invaded the
north in a bold attempt
439
00:28:08,063 --> 00:28:10,163
to finally end the civil war.
440
00:28:12,601 --> 00:28:14,534
A desperate fight
to drive them back
441
00:28:14,536 --> 00:28:17,471
has now broken out near
the town of gettysburg.
442
00:28:20,409 --> 00:28:22,142
In hopes of winning the battle,
443
00:28:22,144 --> 00:28:23,810
rebel colonel William oates
444
00:28:23,812 --> 00:28:26,479
has been ordered to find
and destroy the left flank
445
00:28:26,481 --> 00:28:28,948
of the union army.
446
00:28:28,950 --> 00:28:31,818
After a bloody clash with
yankee sharpshooters,
447
00:28:31,820 --> 00:28:34,487
he's taken the summit
of big round top,
448
00:28:34,489 --> 00:28:39,492
a large hill that lies to the
south of the union mine.
449
00:28:39,494 --> 00:28:43,696
Once there, he's reunited
with his little brother, John.
450
00:28:43,698 --> 00:28:46,133
William.
451
00:28:48,303 --> 00:28:49,836
Told you I wouldn't
miss the fight.
452
00:28:49,838 --> 00:28:52,038
Glad to see ya.
453
00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:53,640
All right. Come here.
454
00:28:53,642 --> 00:28:55,775
I'll show you what
I'm thinkin', okay?
455
00:28:55,777 --> 00:28:57,110
We got this whole Ridge line
456
00:28:57,112 --> 00:28:58,645
that runs right
across here, okay?
457
00:28:58,647 --> 00:29:01,648
Adelman: William c. Oates, in
command of his own regiment,
458
00:29:01,650 --> 00:29:02,916
gets on top of big round top.
459
00:29:02,918 --> 00:29:05,252
And he can see the...
All the hills below him
460
00:29:05,254 --> 00:29:06,586
and see that he's
on the high point.
461
00:29:06,588 --> 00:29:09,122
He wanted to fortify big
round top and stay there.
462
00:29:09,124 --> 00:29:10,590
And I don't blame him.
463
00:29:10,592 --> 00:29:13,393
He said that he could convert
big round top into a Gibraltar
464
00:29:13,395 --> 00:29:14,927
that he could hold
against 10 times
465
00:29:14,929 --> 00:29:16,662
the number of men he had.
466
00:29:16,664 --> 00:29:19,266
- Colonel oates.
- Made it over on this side.
467
00:29:19,268 --> 00:29:21,301
-Colonel oats, sir.
[ Panting ]
468
00:29:23,405 --> 00:29:24,937
Orders from general law:
469
00:29:24,939 --> 00:29:27,073
You're to abandon
this position immediately
470
00:29:27,075 --> 00:29:28,775
and find the enemy flank.
471
00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:33,313
Sir.
472
00:29:35,284 --> 00:29:38,885
Atkinson: He was
probably very angry.
473
00:29:38,887 --> 00:29:41,488
But once oates sets
his mind to something,
474
00:29:41,490 --> 00:29:43,022
he's going to do it.
475
00:29:43,024 --> 00:29:45,625
That's what he's
done his entire life.
476
00:29:45,627 --> 00:29:48,829
And so he is gonna push
that attack very aggressively.
477
00:29:48,831 --> 00:29:51,497
He will get his men moving.
He will find the enemy.
478
00:29:51,499 --> 00:29:53,867
And he will try to destroy them.
479
00:29:55,504 --> 00:29:58,704
Narrator: Oates will now lead
his men towards little round top,
480
00:29:58,706 --> 00:30:01,975
a smaller hill located
1/2 mile to the north.
481
00:30:01,977 --> 00:30:04,044
There, rebel
generals believe oates
482
00:30:04,046 --> 00:30:07,180
can get behind the left
flank of the union army
483
00:30:07,182 --> 00:30:09,115
and win the battle
of gettysburg.
484
00:30:13,288 --> 00:30:17,257
But oates isn't the only one
looking for the union flank.
485
00:30:17,259 --> 00:30:18,858
A half mile away,
486
00:30:18,860 --> 00:30:20,927
union sharpshooter Wyman white
487
00:30:20,929 --> 00:30:23,863
is struggling up the
face of little round top.
488
00:30:23,865 --> 00:30:24,998
Go.
489
00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:26,466
The sharpshooters
that were at the base
490
00:30:26,468 --> 00:30:29,202
of big round top,
including Wyman white,
491
00:30:29,204 --> 00:30:31,204
when they leave their positions,
492
00:30:31,206 --> 00:30:32,672
they're going to
go back to try to find
493
00:30:32,674 --> 00:30:34,140
where the union line is located.
494
00:30:34,142 --> 00:30:36,910
And they don't know where
the union line is located.
495
00:30:39,414 --> 00:30:41,948
Narrator: White's desperate
to find the union troops.
496
00:30:41,950 --> 00:30:43,750
Come on. Keep
it goin', chaldwig.
497
00:30:43,752 --> 00:30:46,353
Come on. Okay.
498
00:30:46,355 --> 00:30:49,022
He has no idea if
his superiors realize
499
00:30:49,024 --> 00:30:52,225
that 2,000 of the south's
toughest men are racing
500
00:30:52,227 --> 00:30:55,561
toward the union flank.
501
00:30:55,563 --> 00:30:58,031
Around this rock. Go.
502
00:31:05,507 --> 00:31:07,974
White.
503
00:31:07,976 --> 00:31:10,310
Where are they? I
don't see anything.
504
00:31:10,312 --> 00:31:15,581
White! Below them.
505
00:31:15,717 --> 00:31:17,583
[ Gunshots ]
506
00:31:17,585 --> 00:31:20,520
White, where are they?
507
00:31:20,522 --> 00:31:23,056
There.
508
00:31:26,461 --> 00:31:27,460
Hold your fire!
509
00:31:27,462 --> 00:31:29,662
[ Gunshots continue ]
510
00:31:29,664 --> 00:31:31,731
Hold your damn fire!
511
00:31:31,733 --> 00:31:35,135
We're union men.
512
00:31:35,137 --> 00:31:36,569
We're comin' up.
513
00:31:38,273 --> 00:31:40,540
[ Men screaming, gunshots ]
514
00:31:46,614 --> 00:31:49,749
White's found elements
of several union regiments.
515
00:31:51,686 --> 00:31:55,355
After union commanders
finally learned of the rebel clan,
516
00:31:55,357 --> 00:31:58,058
they were rushed to
position just minutes ago.
517
00:32:14,109 --> 00:32:15,641
William oates has finally found
518
00:32:15,643 --> 00:32:17,643
the left flank of
the union army.
519
00:32:17,645 --> 00:32:19,846
If he can beat it and
take the high ground,
520
00:32:19,848 --> 00:32:22,782
the rebels have a good
chance of winning the battle.
521
00:32:22,784 --> 00:32:24,117
Adelman: He is a great soldier.
522
00:32:24,119 --> 00:32:25,919
And he will plow
forward with his men
523
00:32:25,921 --> 00:32:29,322
and unleash one of the most
ferocious attacks at gettysburg.
524
00:32:31,192 --> 00:32:33,259
Narrator: The fight that will
forever change the course
525
00:32:33,261 --> 00:32:36,229
of the civil war
is about to begin.
526
00:32:41,002 --> 00:32:43,203
If the confederates
get possession
527
00:32:43,205 --> 00:32:45,338
of little round top, in my mind,
528
00:32:45,340 --> 00:32:46,606
that's pretty much
a deal breaker.
529
00:32:46,608 --> 00:32:47,941
You're gonna get
control of the road
530
00:32:47,943 --> 00:32:50,343
that's behind,
uh, little round top.
531
00:32:50,345 --> 00:32:51,744
You're gonna be
able to put artillery
532
00:32:51,746 --> 00:32:54,247
and fire up the union line.
533
00:32:56,752 --> 00:32:58,284
Adelman: The
confederates are worn out.
534
00:32:58,286 --> 00:33:00,352
They are hungry, tired, thirsty.
535
00:33:00,354 --> 00:33:02,689
But what confederates
have going for them
536
00:33:02,691 --> 00:33:05,625
is that the 15th Alabama
is a particularly dogged unit.
537
00:33:05,627 --> 00:33:07,159
These guys are experienced.
538
00:33:07,161 --> 00:33:09,295
They've been in more
than 15 battles already.
539
00:33:09,297 --> 00:33:11,831
And they had made the
union flee at most of them.
540
00:33:11,833 --> 00:33:14,034
[ Men screaming ]
541
00:33:17,906 --> 00:33:19,706
Here they come.
542
00:33:32,787 --> 00:33:36,156
The fight for little round top
is a particularly savage fight.
543
00:33:39,394 --> 00:33:40,659
You have the
confederates launching,
544
00:33:40,661 --> 00:33:43,262
depending on who you
listen to, two, three, four,
545
00:33:43,264 --> 00:33:46,532
five charges against the union.
546
00:33:46,534 --> 00:33:48,667
Narrator: But each
time, they are driven back
547
00:33:48,669 --> 00:33:51,271
by Wyman white
and the union troops.
548
00:33:57,079 --> 00:33:59,412
Motts: Wyman white and the
second United States sharpshooters
549
00:33:59,414 --> 00:34:04,818
really have a front-row seat
to that major engagement.
550
00:34:04,820 --> 00:34:06,486
And because they're
specially armed,
551
00:34:06,488 --> 00:34:08,021
because they can
put up a lot of rifle fire
552
00:34:08,023 --> 00:34:10,757
and put it up accurately,
they're gonna make a dent
553
00:34:10,759 --> 00:34:12,492
in this confederate advance.
554
00:34:20,034 --> 00:34:23,870
I want you to take your men
over that Ridge and up there.
555
00:34:26,908 --> 00:34:28,441
Adelman: William c.
Oates, during this fight,
556
00:34:28,443 --> 00:34:29,576
was right where he should be.
557
00:34:29,578 --> 00:34:31,444
He is up with his regimen.
558
00:34:31,446 --> 00:34:34,314
Atkinson: Oates
always led from the front.
559
00:34:34,316 --> 00:34:36,583
In other words, he
would never send his men
560
00:34:36,585 --> 00:34:38,585
where he was unwilling to go.
561
00:34:46,460 --> 00:34:48,928
It becomes like a horror movie.
562
00:34:51,265 --> 00:34:52,532
You can hear the cries
563
00:34:52,534 --> 00:34:54,734
and the screams
of the wounded men.
564
00:34:58,607 --> 00:35:00,607
Narrator: As the ground
is soaked with rebel blood,
565
00:35:00,609 --> 00:35:03,276
the 15th claws
its way up the hill.
566
00:35:09,217 --> 00:35:11,016
The line holds for now.
567
00:35:11,018 --> 00:35:13,219
But it could fall at any moment.
568
00:35:16,291 --> 00:35:20,026
If it does, and oates gets
behind the yankee army,
569
00:35:20,028 --> 00:35:23,062
the battle of gettysburg
is all but over.
570
00:35:27,869 --> 00:35:29,869
[ Battlefield noises ]
571
00:35:31,339 --> 00:35:34,807
Narrator: Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania.
572
00:35:34,809 --> 00:35:36,476
The largest battle
of the civil war
573
00:35:36,478 --> 00:35:38,645
has entered its 35th hour.
574
00:35:42,083 --> 00:35:45,919
The fighting has already
claimed almost 25,000 casualties.
575
00:35:49,290 --> 00:35:50,890
To win the battle,
576
00:35:50,892 --> 00:35:52,158
rebel colonel William oates
577
00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:55,128
has been sent on mission
to flank the union line.
578
00:35:58,033 --> 00:36:00,432
To succeed, he must now
push union sharpshooter
579
00:36:00,434 --> 00:36:03,836
Wyman white and
hundreds of yankee soldiers
580
00:36:03,838 --> 00:36:05,805
off the summit
of little round top.
581
00:36:08,109 --> 00:36:09,976
Atkinson: It really
gets to the point,
582
00:36:09,978 --> 00:36:12,245
after several charges
had taken place,
583
00:36:12,247 --> 00:36:14,914
as to who is going to
have the last man standing.
584
00:36:14,916 --> 00:36:17,450
Both sides are running
out of ammunition.
585
00:36:17,452 --> 00:36:19,986
Both sides are
running out of men.
586
00:36:19,988 --> 00:36:21,654
Uh, and both sides are...
587
00:36:21,656 --> 00:36:23,856
Are at the end of their rope.
588
00:36:27,529 --> 00:36:28,928
Narrator: Further
down the slope,
589
00:36:28,930 --> 00:36:32,064
William oates steels his
men for one last charge.
590
00:36:32,066 --> 00:36:34,333
Forward! [ Men cheer ]
591
00:36:34,335 --> 00:36:36,970
Narrator: He's convinced
the union line is about to crack.
592
00:36:43,878 --> 00:36:44,911
I'm out. You?
593
00:36:46,815 --> 00:36:49,082
As ammunition begins to run low,
594
00:36:49,084 --> 00:36:52,552
Wyman white wonders if the
line can hold back one more attack.
595
00:36:54,623 --> 00:36:56,856
[ Men screaming ]
596
00:37:00,762 --> 00:37:03,296
Here they come.
597
00:37:06,501 --> 00:37:08,768
Look there.
598
00:37:10,305 --> 00:37:12,504
Incredibly, a union regimen
599
00:37:12,506 --> 00:37:14,107
fighting to the left
of Wyman white
600
00:37:14,109 --> 00:37:16,376
has stormed down
little round top
601
00:37:16,378 --> 00:37:18,111
and charged the rebels.
602
00:37:18,113 --> 00:37:20,146
[ Men screaming ]
603
00:37:33,395 --> 00:37:36,195
Adelman: With confederate
soldiers just strewn about everywhere
604
00:37:36,197 --> 00:37:38,197
and seeing the futility
of further attacks,
605
00:37:38,199 --> 00:37:39,799
he was ultimately convinced
606
00:37:39,801 --> 00:37:41,467
that he had to
order that retreat.
607
00:37:41,469 --> 00:37:44,536
And he ordered it with the
greatest amount of reluctance.
608
00:37:44,538 --> 00:37:46,739
- Retreat!
- Let's get out of here.
609
00:37:46,741 --> 00:37:48,875
[ Men screaming ]
610
00:37:51,612 --> 00:37:53,612
Hands up!
611
00:37:53,614 --> 00:37:55,315
[ Indistinct chatter ]
612
00:37:58,619 --> 00:38:01,087
They're runnin'. My
god, they're runnin'.
613
00:38:01,089 --> 00:38:03,356
[ Cheering ]
614
00:38:25,713 --> 00:38:27,513
Narrator: Oates flees
with the shattered remains
615
00:38:27,515 --> 00:38:29,349
of the 15th Alabama.
616
00:38:32,453 --> 00:38:35,588
Almost 40% of his regiment
have been killed or wounded
617
00:38:35,590 --> 00:38:37,790
on the bloody slopes
of little round top.
618
00:38:53,007 --> 00:38:56,476
Among the fallen is his
younger brother, John.
619
00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:14,727
[ Men screaming, gunshots ]
620
00:39:16,164 --> 00:39:19,699
Atkinson: William had
always looked after John.
621
00:39:19,701 --> 00:39:21,901
I think it was one of
the worst experiences
622
00:39:21,903 --> 00:39:24,837
in William oates' life,
623
00:39:24,839 --> 00:39:26,572
the day he had to
leave his brother
624
00:39:26,574 --> 00:39:28,640
behind on that battlefield.
625
00:39:28,642 --> 00:39:32,345
I can't imagine the pain
which that caused him.
626
00:39:38,652 --> 00:39:40,652
Narrator: The next day,
after one more attempt
627
00:39:40,654 --> 00:39:42,789
to break the union line fails,
628
00:39:42,791 --> 00:39:47,593
general Lee calls off
the invasion of the north.
629
00:39:47,595 --> 00:39:49,261
In 3 days of fighting,
630
00:39:49,263 --> 00:39:53,166
almost 25,000 of his men
have been killed or wounded.
631
00:39:59,541 --> 00:40:00,807
Oates and the rest of the army
632
00:40:00,809 --> 00:40:03,276
must limp back to Virginia,
633
00:40:03,278 --> 00:40:05,511
dreaming of what
could have been.
634
00:40:08,415 --> 00:40:10,883
Atkinson: The confederate
army enters Pennsylvania
635
00:40:10,885 --> 00:40:12,485
with the highest morale
636
00:40:12,487 --> 00:40:15,087
probably of any army in history,
637
00:40:15,089 --> 00:40:19,091
expecting victory.
638
00:40:19,093 --> 00:40:23,296
They march out of
Pennsylvania very despondent,
639
00:40:23,298 --> 00:40:28,034
saddened by all the
losses that they've incurred
640
00:40:28,036 --> 00:40:29,902
and the battle
which they had just...
641
00:40:29,904 --> 00:40:32,371
That they have just...
642
00:40:32,373 --> 00:40:35,441
Was that close to
winning that day.
643
00:40:35,443 --> 00:40:36,976
Um...
644
00:40:40,314 --> 00:40:41,781
What if?
645
00:40:48,923 --> 00:40:51,224
[ Telegram whirring ]
646
00:41:09,276 --> 00:41:12,278
Narrator: In Washington, D.C.,
an anxious Abraham Lincoln
647
00:41:12,280 --> 00:41:17,416
finally receives a telegram
from the gettysburg battlefield.
648
00:41:17,418 --> 00:41:20,085
He learns that union forces
have tangled with the best
649
00:41:20,087 --> 00:41:23,556
the rebels could muster and won.
650
00:41:23,558 --> 00:41:25,691
It's proof that
Lee can be beaten
651
00:41:25,693 --> 00:41:28,294
and that maybe
one day, the civil war
652
00:41:28,296 --> 00:41:30,730
can be brought to an end.
653
00:41:37,238 --> 00:41:41,240
Lee's army incurs so many
losses here at gettysburg
654
00:41:41,242 --> 00:41:44,310
that he will never be able
to renew the offensive.
655
00:41:44,312 --> 00:41:46,178
The south's greatest chance
656
00:41:46,180 --> 00:41:48,847
of winning independence is gone.
657
00:41:48,849 --> 00:41:50,983
[ Thunder rumbles ]
658
00:41:50,985 --> 00:41:52,818
[ Lightning crashes ]
659
00:41:56,324 --> 00:41:59,058
Sure beats the fireworks
show I saw in Concord last year.
660
00:42:00,928 --> 00:42:02,728
Happy fourth of July, white.
661
00:42:03,664 --> 00:42:05,197
[ Canteens clank ]
662
00:42:05,199 --> 00:42:07,667
Happy fourth of July.
663
00:42:08,736 --> 00:42:10,603
[ Lightning crashes ]
664
00:42:11,472 --> 00:42:13,873
Adelman: It is unquestionable
that the second United States
665
00:42:13,875 --> 00:42:16,808
sharpshooters forever
changed the battle of gettysburg.
666
00:42:16,810 --> 00:42:18,210
They forced the
confederate attack
667
00:42:18,212 --> 00:42:19,478
to go to a different place.
668
00:42:19,480 --> 00:42:21,480
They slowed the
confederate line down.
669
00:42:21,482 --> 00:42:25,885
I don't know of another unit
on the gettysburg battlefield
670
00:42:25,887 --> 00:42:28,955
that had a bigger impact
for their smaller numbers.
671
00:42:33,027 --> 00:42:35,695
Narrator: In the summer of 1864,
672
00:42:35,697 --> 00:42:37,363
during his 27th battle,
673
00:42:37,365 --> 00:42:39,332
William oates is shot.
674
00:42:41,836 --> 00:42:45,271
He survives and goes on to
become the governor of Alabama.
675
00:42:50,712 --> 00:42:54,180
Wyman white continues to
serve with the us sharpshooters.
676
00:42:57,918 --> 00:43:00,386
At the end of the war, he
returns to New Hampshire
677
00:43:00,388 --> 00:43:02,922
and marries in 1867.
678
00:43:05,392 --> 00:43:08,994
In 1888, oates writes a letter
to one of the commanders
679
00:43:08,996 --> 00:43:11,931
of the union
sharpshooters at gettysburg.
680
00:43:11,933 --> 00:43:13,332
It says,
681
00:43:13,334 --> 00:43:15,067
"you and your command
deserve a monument
682
00:43:15,069 --> 00:43:18,471
for turning the tide in
favor of the union cause.
683
00:43:18,473 --> 00:43:20,539
But for the service
on your part,
684
00:43:20,541 --> 00:43:23,609
I am confident we would
have swept away the union line
685
00:43:23,611 --> 00:43:25,745
and have captured
little round top,
686
00:43:25,747 --> 00:43:28,581
which would have
won the battle for us."
49186
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