An Interview with Stephen Lang | Gettysburg, Preservation & More!
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- Опубликовано: 11 окт 2024
- During the 160th Anniversary of Gettysburg we had the privilege of sitting down with Stephen Lang, known history enthusiast who played Maj. Gen. George Pickett in the 1993 film Gettysburg. We discuss the movie, behind-the-scenes stories, his co-stars, favorite scenes, Civil War preservation and more!
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
"General Lee, I have no division." One of the most powerful and telling scenes in cinema. Has stuck with me all these years.
It really does stick with you, glad I am not the only one.
Yes, you beat me to the comment - the line was compellingly delivered by Mr. Lang
It is especially great when you juxtapose it with the earlier scene where Longstreet, convinced he will lose, asks Pickett - "George, can you take that ridge?" and Picket just gets this big grin on his face and charges off to the battle - excited to have the chance to finally lead the charge. He went in to it cocksure that his Virginians were going to win a glorious victory... and then reality hit hard.
@pdoylemi Shelby Foote's commentary summarizing Gettysburg..
Me too
There are great actors and there are great people. Rarely do we get both in the same person. Thank you, Mr. Lang.
Exactly 💯
Of a Truth.
I love that he had no issue saying the Longstreet line. Very cool, great interview
"Up men! Up, and to your posts! And let no man forget today, that you are from...old...Virginia!" - Stephen Lang at the top of his game, having brought George Pickett back to life on the big screen.
Stephen Lang is a legend! I loved him as George and especially as Stonewall!!!
Me too. I also really love him as COL Quaritch in Avatar.
How about Ike Clanton in Tombstone?
He was awful as Stonewall but the movie itself was awful so he didn’t have much to work with.
@@DouglasLyons-yg3lvwhat evidence has led you to this conclusion?
@@5xq38p4uHe was brilliant at being a HATED character like IKE. Coward. Alcoholic. Sneaky little snake. Lols. That's how great of an actor Mr. Lang is.
Brilliant actor. Never felt lied to by a performance from him.
What did you mean never felt lied to by a performance from him? I don't get that part. Also he's a good actor.
@meathead6155 can always tell when actors are just in it for the paycheck. You know? What they call, "phoning it in". Lang never does that, just pick any of his roles. He doesn't do it. Serious actor, a good actor.
Terrific actor. Dude is a Chameleon. Many people might not think Pickett, Ike Clanton and Quaritch are all the same guy. But they are.
I first saw him in "Band of the Hand", kind of 80s vibe Mann Film; Joe Tegra, a little dated but fun.
Wait? He's NOT IKE?
@@FrankinDallas i think you misread. Yes he played Ike in Tombstone. Read the casting for that movie. It's him.
Don't forget Agent Charles Winstead from Public Enemies
Thats right law dawg. Tombstone, another phenomenal cast
It is incredible to realize how different Ike Clanton, George Pickett, and Stonewall Jackson were as people upon knowing that Stephen Lang played each role to perfection.
I was a drummer boy at the filming of at the time "The Killer Angels ". Mr. Lang autographed the bottom head of my drum.
I loved Stephen Lang as Pickett or Jackson, as much as I despised him as Clanton. I think he's one of the very finest actors of our day.
"Beyond Glory" - I recommend all you Stephen Lang fans see this! Incredible!
George Pickett, what a cavalier! Mr Lang portrayed him so well. He is my favourite character in the film. Picketts wry smile after being asked if he could take the hill on the 3rd day is legendary.
terrific wisdom from Stephen lang about democracy and communication.
One thing that isn't given enough credit is the music in the film. When Longstreet (who looks distraught) asks Pickett, "George, can you take that ridge?" And Pickett says nothing and just grins - the way the music hits when he grins - that's brilliant filmaking right there - still gives me chills.
Great soundtrack. I have played it many times.
It makes God's and Generals even more infuriating. The music in Gettysburg is spectacular. Perfectly balanced emotional themes that balance the sides and are not *to* heroic for the south.
Stephen you hit the nail on the head; history is not being taught in schools like they used to be. We need to remember where we came from and remember our history good or bad. You are a brilliant actor and a wonderful human being. 💜💜💜
If only this was possible to do. Very little of what it takes to understand the USA is being taught these days. Civics hasn't been taught for over 50 years in this country and the vast majority of people that happen to be living this country now don't even understand anything about how our government is supposed to work anymore. Civil War history can't be imparted to our children by people that have no understanding of it themselves and very, very few teachers have any knowledge of history. Then there's type and volume of non-European immigration for whom Civil War history has no connection at all. We can see today that politicians are all too happy to distort history and use it to pander to people that just want to profit from that. There are changes that must be made if this country is ever to be a nation again that I'm afraid will never be made by the present regime.
@@karlheinzvonkroemann2217Why exactly is it “non-European immigrants” that have no connection to US Civil War history? Don’t ALL immigrants by nature have no connection to the history of the country they immigrate to? Tell us what you _really_ mean.
Unfortunately, many places in the old Confederacy, especially Florida, have renewed their old efforts to whitewash history and remove all the bad parts because it “offends” them (ironic since these are the same people who cried about over sensitivity and censorship).
@@karlheinzvonkroemann2217it appears today politicians learned from Lincoln well.
@@Zarastro54Don’t think it matter much where you come from but more if you have an inclination to history. Not a lot of people has that. % wise. Perhaps if one is born in the country (USA)parents supposedly can teach or try to teach their kids about the civil war although I feel there is such a misunderstanding on the whole event that many times cliche and propaganda end up to be taught and very little history.
I happen to be a European immigrant (god bless America and her funding principles ) have been to few battlefield so far, Gettysburg, manassas, Yorktown, Saratoga and look forward to visit Chikamauga soon! Studied the history of this great country and admire the funding fathers enlightened views particularly Thomas Jefferson. It is great to have the American battlefield trust here to promote the history and most importantly preserve it. Physically. I always try to donate what I can to support battlefield preservation as it is truly something that should not be lost.
"Up men! and to your posts! and let know man here forget today, your from Old Virginia!" Fires me up everytime Stephen says that before the march.
30 Jahre danach - schön das sich Lang immer noch zu seiner Rolle als Pickett bekennt ! Aller Ehren wert.
*I've had almost no chance to see live theater, but Stephen Lang's performances as "Happy" in "Death of a Salesman," as George Pickett in "Gettysburg" and as Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in "Gods and Generals" have made him my favorite actor.*
"General Longstreet, may I commence the attack?" Lt. Gen. James Longstreet (Tom Berenger) just nods his head up and down knowing what is going to happen to Maj. Gen. George Pickett (Stephen Lang) and his division on the Third Day @ Gettysburg! Terrific film and terrific actor. Lang just brings a sense of charm and wit to his characters.
I remember the scene when Longstreet asks Pickett if he can "take that ridge"..Pickett (Lang) didn't say anything, but instead gave a smirk of confidence.
Stephen, you were resplendent in your portrayal of Pickett. Timeless..
Such a fantastic actor and human being. Thanks for this wonderful interview.
Will always remember his beaming smile as Pickett. Mr. Lang is a national treasure.
Met Mr Lang while filming God's and Generals. I was a young reenactor and he made time to take pics and talk with us. Very nice guy. Love his movies and hearing him speak.
I LOVED Mr. Lang in this movie. He embodied the Southern charm in Pickett. A showman with his comrades and once he was on the battlefield, he brought fiesty, fiery, and fierce persona of General Pickett.
“Democracy is a discussion.” Best quote I’ve heard in a long time. I love him as an actor; after this interview, I really respect his love and knowledge of history and it’s importance to our future. It was also fun hearing all the behind-the-scenes stories. Shakespeare is always a good audition for anything.
This is true. It’s what worries me about a growing cancel culture.
"History does not repeat, but it does rhyme.." Mark Twain
Probably our favorite between my father and uncles. Stephen Lang was perfect in his role. First time I ever saw Stephen Lang in a movie. When we always saw the introduction credits and saw Pickett we would always say “There’s Pickett!!” Everyone was perfect in their roles but Lang was definitely my favorite among them for his change in the movie where he was so positive and then at the end his final line “General Lee, I have no division.” Perfect.
Thank you for Gettysburg, Would love to see Last Full Measure finally made to round out the trilogy
Both movies flopped, I doubt we will get TLF unfortunately.
Perhaps a streaming service will eventually make it. Media has changed so much since 1992.
@@odinsavenger4965 I can understand the box office issue, however, the longevity of especially Gettysburg can't be denied. It made a great historical contribution to the Civil War (ok not entirely accurate from many folks perspectives. But it did and still does raise interest in perhaps seminal event in the History of the United States.
The reason Last Full measure wasn't made because most of the financing was coming from people that wanted Maxwell replaced as Director. Many people thought he pushed the Confederate "lost cause" myth beyond the pale, in God's and Generals. To this date Glory is the best Civil War movie starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman.
Gettysburg was supposed to be a series on TV but never got released. I think it would worked well as a serial.
I personally think as a movie it is no great work but has its moments.
Dear David and Stephen, thank you for taking the time to film this wonderful and insightful interview. Moreover, thank you for the outstanding contributions that both of you have and continue to make toward preserving our history and historical battlefields/sites and telling the story of our history in the most effective way possible. Your work is most sincerely appreciated.
Steven Lang is an incredible character actor, and his rolls as General Pickett and General Jackson are his best in my opinion.
I love Stephen Lang like he is one of my favorite actors and he is my favorite actor because of his role in the movies Gettysburg, Gods and generals and the Avatar Franchise.
I met Mr. Lang at the 150th, and was so impressed with his warm and presence and his involvement!
Superb interview-thank you Mr. Lang!!
I love Stephan Lang’s roles through the years, he seems like a really great guy
Met this sweet and wonderful man as he came down the steps in the museum at VMI as we were looking at the taxidermied Little Sorrel... Stonewall Jackson's war horse...I had just finished doing 2 days of shooting Gods and Generals as an extra (I unfortunately wound on the cutting room floor). He and a couple of his children were very gracious...we spoke for several minutes and he signed an autograph and posed with us for pictures...an extremely talented and grounded individual. He is as he presents to the public. My dear friend Jim Choate who portrays General Bee in the movie whose memorable line names Jackson for posterity "there stands Jackson like a stone wall come rally round the Virginians boys" agreed that Stephen Lang was a fantastic actor to work with. I will fondly remember both of these actors forever. Fran Przybylowski
Steven is a very humble man. I met him on the set of the movie The VFW. A great conversation we had including the movie Gettysburg.
I loved his performance in Gods and Generals. Oscar worthy in my opinion.
I agree! Tremendous. However the movie itself was pure neo-confederate propaganda pushing the "lost cause" myth of the Confederacy.
Ike Clanton !! You villainous murdering fiend !!! What a brilliant actor and obviously one of the good guys. Thanks for posting.
Lang is an actor who can completely immerse himself in a role. That makes for great actors.
A Constitutional Republic stands alone beyond discussion, we understand our past and future.
Stephen Lang is one awesome guy. It's so wonderful to see his passion for the history that he portrayed. Now I'm off to watch my favorite civil war movie, Gettysburg!
I had the honor of chatting with Stephen a couple of times while on the set. He had apparently found some good fishing in the area.
Stephen’s portrayal of Pickett was fabulous. I didn’t know he worked so closely with the battlefield trust to save the character of Gettysburg. That’s great! We’re having the same fight to save the battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley. Stephen is quite versatile as an actor. I always enjoy his performances and would enjoy seeing him in a play.
In a film with a multitude of outstanding performances, Lang’s scenes were all powerful. He really gave life to Maj Gen Pickett.
Mr. Lang is a great character actor especially in "Early American" roles. I loved ALL the actor portrayals in Gettysburg. Well cast film. And the fact that he is helping ABT causes makes him "invaluable". I would love to se an interview with Sam Elliot (!) and some of the actors and re-enactors.
Nice to see & hear Mr Duncan in action....(member ABT).
I love how Stephen Lang said at the end "you don't know where you're going, if you don't know where you've been." We have to be careful how we interpret and destroy or gloss over our past. We must look at the good and the bad and not be afraid to face who we are and why we are. Thanks for this presentation.
" The Yankees got all the smart ones ,and look where it's got them. " 😁😅 There are so many great lines from General Picket in that film. I watch it often , and he brought Pickett to life like no other could . ❤
Stephen Lang is one of America's greatest character actors. Brilliant guy.
At 64, I have been a student of the American Civil War almost all of my life. When I was 5, we left Brooklyn NY, and moved to Manassas VA, where I grew up and attended Stonewall Jackson High School. I have been over every inch of that NBP on foot, and horseback. In the 70s, I could get to Gettysburg in 50 minutes between morning and afternoon rush hour. I went there a lot as well as Harper's Ferry, another favorite NBP. This film is one of the very best on the period and Stephen Lang is one of my most favorite actors.
I am so grateful for this interview with Stephen Lang. He is a very fine actor who has portrayed two iconic figures from our Civil War past very admirably. I also was impressed by his rendition of Ike Clanton in "Tombstone." I truly hope he might someday agree to portray General Tecumseh Sherman, as I think he would be a perfect choice. I shall always think of his portrayal of General Picket with fondness and respect. He brought a very human perspective to the role. This was a great interview.
Gettysburg was/is one of the best war movies ever made, alongside ZULU.
As an amateur history buff, and a former Royal Australian Artillery Sgt, I have always had an appreciation of the magnitude of the American Civil War, being the most devastating war in history fought by a common people of one nation, an estimated 600,000+ people died, compared to the population of Australia at the same time was just over a million people, a true tragedy.
Stephen Lang is a wonderful actor, and person.
I met and had a very delightful conversation in front of the Avenue Restaurant with Mr Lang at the Gettysburg 150th in June of 2013. I admire his work and he is very genuine.
Stephen Lang is such an underrated actor.
Stephen Lang, as Ike Clanton, was the best western antagonist I've seen since John Ford was making westerns.
I just returned from the 160th event at the Daniel Lady Farm. It was my fourth trip to Gettysburg and enjoyed each and every visit enormously, and will go again if the chance arises. My one disappointment was that the "General Pickett's Buffet" was closed this last trip. When I inquired as to why I was told, ""General Lee, I have no buffet."
Thank you Mr. Lang for your inspiration, your love of history, your respect for the reenactors, and for the memories and stories.
God bless you, Sir.
That buffet has been slated for destruction as that part of the battlefield is being reclaimed. The joke used to be that Pickets Charge would have succeeded if he hadn't stopped for lunch at the buffet.
My husband is the file closer over Lang's shoulder in the horse "slide into third base" scene. Lang was a favorite of all the reenactors on location. Totally in to the character of Pickett, and a great horseman. Husband later met him one on one on set of Gods and Generals. Super nice guy, and very appreciative of the reenactors. Excellent conversation here, thanks. Cheers
What a charming gentleman Stephen Lang is. What a wonderful film "Gettysburg" was. I am still moved whenever I watch it and all but cry when I listen to that powerful overture. Why we permit our history to be altered and destroyed I do not know. What a crime of pure ignorance! What an insult to all who died on those Pennsylvania farm fields 160 years ago so that those who came after would have a better life.
Hello from Mexborough, UK. I have just watched this interview and I must say that I really enjoyed it. Stephen Lang is a really fine actor, and it was fascinating to hear his stories whilst making the movie. I developed an interest
in the American Civil War
about five years ago, and
Gettysburg is one of my “go
to” movies. I didn’t realise how
brutal the fighting was and
was unaware of the tactics
used. The scenes of Picketts
Charge in the movie really
brought this home to me. I must agree that Stephen’s line “General Lee! I have no Division” brings tears to my eyes, it’s such a powerful
statement!
The second best line is from the late Richard Jordan as General Armistead lying wounded at the wall and when hearing of his friend General Hancock’s wounding, “No! Not the both of us!!”.
It just goes to show the futility of war, no side really wins!
The movie Glory is the best Civil War movie starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman. Gettysburg is pretty good. God's and Generals is neo-confederate propaganda. Maxwell pushes and propagates the "Lost cause" myth of the Confederacy.
Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.
I'm part of a volunteer group that goes up twice a year to do battlefield maintenance such as rebuilding fences, clearing brush, etc. They do this to get a "day of battle" appearance. The battlefield has no power lines or phone lines and as you approach the town, you feel you are in 1863. Hope you come to see it. I want to go to Stirling Bridge in the UK!
@@donchoq Actually every wealthy gated community neighborhood in the south has no power lines or cable lines, phone lines showing especially in Florida. However, every other neighborhood has them all over the place. There should be a federal law passed that forces these private power companies to put there lines in the ground. It's saver. Especially in states that have hurricanes. The US is really a third world country with amusement parks, sports coliseum palaces, and Hollywood. Actually 71% of the wealth is inherited from the original white, revolutionary, slave owning oligarchs, to this day. Most new wealth comes from Wallstreet(casino) Sports athletes, Hollywood actors, government officials.
I loved lang in both movies (Gettysburg and gods and generals) and he did a great job playing as both and convincing you he wasn’t Pickett. I recently got the docuseries on the civil war and Stephen lang is the narrator. Love his voice, I could listen to him narrate a battle for hours.
A wonderful visit with Mr. Lang, who displayed not only his talents as an actor but his love and appreciation for history in general and Gettysburg in particular. Thank you, sir!
I was very fortunate to have parents who loved history - especially my father, a Naval officer. Our family outings and vacations tended to feature historical sites. I was too young to remember much from when we lived in Charleston, but then we moved to Virginia, and went several times to Williamsburg and Jamestown, and Yorktown, as well as Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. I was raised to love history, and this film was a great illustration of it.
Excellent interview. It’s great to know that we still have great actors such as Stephen Lang that have a love for American history. Well done and “thank you” General Pickett!
A wonderful and thoughtful actor and a memorable presentation from David and the American Battlefield Trust. Thank you.
Hoorah! Thank you George Pickett for this interview.
What a fascinating talk. Remarkable.
Huge fan of Stephen Lang. I was 18 in '93, he played Gen.Pickett, & Ike Clanton, burned into my memory.👍 glad they posted this interview so a person can get to listen him just talk 🙂
I could listen to Stephen Lang all day, wonderful interview & insight into the movie.
PS, that’s Moxley Sorrell top left in the photo, not Taylor
Thank you Mr. Lang - thank you for your great acting and your stories from the film and history. Thank You
The most awesome thing about the photo of Lang and all the other actors in uniform is that it GENUINELY looks of that time. Great actors!
Wonderful discussion, wonderful actor and personality. One of my favorite actors.
Great conversation about a great film. Thank you gentlemen.
Thank you, I very much enjoyed this interview with Mr. Stephen Lang. I am not American but I have thirty books which I treasure on the American Civil War.
An excellent interview filled with lots of interesting things and lessons that are always pertinent to any time. Kind Thanks, Many Blessings and Where We Go One We Go All! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
A truly epic film and good to see you doing well sir. Wishing you a happy birthday Stephen!
Stephen Lang played Pickett and Stonewall Jackson brilliantly! When I look back at my youth I will remember his part in Gettysburg and God's and generals. Now my young son is watching both these films! Thanks for making history come alive!
My favorite actor. loved him as Jackson.
Good to see Mr. Stephen Lang is still VERY passionate about "Gettysburg" and film making in general.
One of the most underrated underappreciated actor that has ever graced the stage and the silver screen watch all of his movies and this guy is pivotal in every performance
I've enjoyed Stephan Lang in any role he's played but there is no one else that could have played George Pickett and especially the role of Thomas Jackson than Mr. lang.
Thanks great historian and actor God bless you been civil war historian since 1989
I've seen several interviews with Mr. Lang. I believe this was his best. He came across very intelligent, thoughtful and warm.
I'm an even bigger fan as a result!
Absolutely love Stephen Lang!!! Thanks for sharing this interview!!
Excellent interview! I was able to visit Gettysburg for the first time in my life this summer. It was a very humbling experience, and I applaud your efforts to preserve as much of it as possible.
What an amazing job he did in not only Gettysburg but God and Generals as well. I'm still blown away by how well he played these parts.
What a great man and great actor.
Great interview! Thanks.
I always loved Stephen Lang. His journey to loving history is nearly exactly like mine.
Much Respect. What a great interview about a Seminal event in American History. Gettysburg, the movie, had some critical elements but the acting and characters were often inspiring. Thankyou Mr Lang for, what I consider to be, the a most commendable performance and representation of General George Pickett, and an outstanding contribution to the movie.
It’s cool to hear about the guy who complimented the way Lang played Jackson in Gods and Generals. Before I saw the movie, I was surprised he was cast in that role as Pickett and Jackson seem so different to me, reading about them. But as I watched, Lang brought Jackson to life on the big screen in a way that made me forget he had even played Pickett at all! I was impressed more than I can say.
In both roles, Stephen Lang delivered the charisma which one would find in such personas as Pickett and Jackson as well as a reflection of the motive of the times: defense of one's home state, among others.
I was one of the Extras in Gods and Generals, part of the core group. He was special, when he practice his speech "you are the Forst Brigade" it gave me goose bumps
The more and more I see him the more and more I absolutely respect and love.
What a smart witty guy. I enjoyed his interview enormously
Wow,Read the book and played the character George Pickett.! Gettysburg is awesome. And a great place in History. This is a great narrative and testament to it. Thank you for sharing.
❤️💯👊👍
Aweseome actor, awesome person. Stephen Lang is a true pleasure to watch
Stephen Lang seems to be such a genuine and good guy. Great interview!
My son and I just watched Gods and Generals for the first time today! We both loved the film Gettysburg and have a great interest in the Civil War. Strange as we’re both English.
God bless,
Regards from the UK
Glory is the best Civil War movie starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman. Gettysburg was pretty good, it missed the mark of the brutality of that blood bath. God's and Generals was pure neo-confederate propaganda, pushing the "lost cause" myth of the Confederacy.
Every Civil War battlefield should be preserved whether it's North or the South. They are a part of our history no less important than the first revolution. And the men that fought in the war should be respected on both sides because they were all Americans. Disenthrall ourselves from the emotions of it and look at it for what it is. The Civil War was a huge tragedy that should have been avoided. And it should make us look at ourselves today and see things that divide people now are very petty compared to what divided these men and woman so long ago. And if they can go through the huge tragedy and all that death and become one nation after it. I think that's pretty remarkable. And yes we did have slavery as a law. But we also did fight a war to end it. At no time in human history as Chamberlain would say has an army went to liberate a people. Beyond all the flag-waving and hyperbole. Both sides should be respected because they are Americans and they died here in America in huge numbers. And some lost The very record of their death and will forever be as unknown. We must never allow to forget that out of many We Are One. That no one is above the law. And we got rid of a king and tyrant a long time ago. And this country will always be a shining light of democracy and liberty to the world. "We say we are for union the world will not forget that we say this"
Actually 80% of the population in the British colonies were against servile insurrection and revolution, based on the scriptures in Romans chapter 13. King George was a Godly man. He bailed out the slave owning oligarchs in the French/Indian War. The slave owning oligarchs reneged on War expense of the French/Indian War. The illegal revolution aganst Great Britain had nothing to do with Freedom and Liberty. The tax evading, slave owning oligarchs took up the gun against Britain for one reason, maintaining the institution of slavery and human trafficking. Actually it was worst for the average citizen after the revolution. Most of the Christian denominations wanted slavery 100% abolished. The oligarchs bribed them with tax exemption if they won the war. Romans chapter 13 is clear, church denominations should be paying their taxes to the state, no matter how much they disagree with the government. If you were a loyalist in 1776. You were jailed or murderd or your house and farm was burnt down. The Confederacy in the Civil War should not be respected or admired in any way. They committed treason just like the founding revolutionary, slave owning oligarchs did in 1776 against Britain. The goal of the Confederacy was to maintain the institution of slavery and human trafficking, and expand it through America. General Sherman wanted to kill everyone in the Confederacy. Or deport them. It was called the "Joshua plan" Lincoln never aproved it. At the end of the war, every Confederate government officials should of been executed, including all officers in the Confederate army
You are a good man sir but may I suggest you to read The real Lincoln by Thomas DiLorenzo in your spare time. it may perhaps give you a different perspective on the more likely reasons of such an unnecessary war and how much of all this was about slavery or the right of secession, federal centralization, cronyism and Hamiltonian imperialism. Yes all battlefield should be preserved north and south. However facts prove themselves in the words of Lincoln “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the union” letter to New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley in 1862. And as the emancipation proclamation Lincoln's own secretary of state, William Seward, mocked the Emancipation Proclamation by saying, “We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage where we can set them free.”
The horrors of the battlefield only put to shame by the war crimes committed by the union armies during their marches in the south which included more than a decade of military dictatorship presence from an omniscient Republican Party. It’s healthy to try to understand the deeper causes of such horrifying war from all angles and how we got here. But again facts, actions and words paint a different picture of the currently accepted and perhaps a little naive and superficial by design view of the war. May we learn from it.
@@lxtx99v12 You neo-confederate, conservatives love to quote Lincoln early in his political career. Lincoln was a politician trying to win the presidency. After the satanic Confederacy fired on Ft. Sumter. Lincoln started to grow spiritually. He realized he had to eradicate the evil Antebellum, feudalism south. After Lincoln became a believer in Jesus Christ. He made no secret about his hatred for slavery and human trafficking. After the battle of Gettysburg. The Union decided to pull out that arm, they had been holding behind their back since the war started. General Sherman was another man who repented(change of mind) of his racism. When the war started he liked the south, he lived in Louisiana for a time. He hated the Confederacy. Sam Houston was put under house arrest, because he knew the Confederacy had absolutely no chance of winning that war. General Sherman agreed with the radical Republicans the population of the Confederacy had to be killed or deported. The "Joshua plan" was on the table. Men, Women children of the Confederacy had to eradicated. Like Joshua going into Caanan. Lincoln never approved it. By the way you can read the correspondence between the Lincoln administration and Karl Marx, in the library hall of Congress. Karl Marx hated the Confederacy. The only government on earth to recognize the Confederacy's right to exist was the evil Vatican(who protected John Surrat) One can only speculate what Lincoln would of done, if hadn't been murderd. General Sherman wanted every officer in the Confederacy executed, as well as, all the government leaders, starting with Jefferson Davis and RE Lee. Proverbs 17:11 sums up the Confederacy perfectly, An evil man seeketh only rebellion, therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.(kjv)
Fort Donelson Tennessee
@@lxtx99v12 l happened to have a copy of The Real Lincoln. I found out about Thomas J. DiLorenzo through RUclips.
And 99% our my ancestors were from the South and fought against Lincoln's oppression. The 1% turned 18 in 1864 and stayed in Indiana for the rest of the war to the best of my knowledge.
I do believe that the South had the right to secede, as Mr.Lang stated portraying Brig. Gen. Pickett put it in Gettysburg.
The States all joined a club of sorts, and when things didn't suit certain members they just bowed out of the club.
It all really boiled down to economics as DiLorenzo discusses in his two books.
One thing for sure if I could meet any actors I would want to meet him, Jeff Daniels, Tom Berenger, C Thomas Howell, Patrick Gorman, Donald louge, James Patrick Stewart and Matt Letscher.
Stunning Interview
I loved stephen in both gettysburg and gods and generals.
It was kind of strange playing different characters, but both were great.
Wow! I got chills listening to him giving his line!