The Killer Angels

Michael Shaara

58 pages 1-hour read

Michael Shaara

The Killer Angels

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1974

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

A 57-year-old commanding general of the Army of Northern Virginia. Known for his gentle nature and gentlemanly demeanor, he commands immense respect from his troops. He suffers from failing health, including heart issues, which he attempts to hide from his subordinates as he seeks to bring the war to a decisive end.

Key Relationships

Commanding Officer of James Longstreet

Commanding Officer of Walter Taylor

Former Commanding Officer of Stonewall Jackson

Commanding Officer of J. E. B. Stuart

Commanding Officer of Richard Ewell

Commanding Officer of Ambrose Powell Hill

Military Opponent of George Gordon Meade

Rider and Owner of Traveler

A 34-year-old former professor of rhetoric from Maine, now serving as the colonel of the 20th Regiment of Infantry. He is an eloquent, moral man who speaks seven languages and treats his soldiers with the same respect he offered his students. He fights to preserve the Union and the American ideal of freedom for all people.

Key Relationships

Older Brother of Thomas Chamberlain

Commanding Officer of Buster Kilrain

Commanding Officer of Joseph Bucklin

Military Opponent of Robert Edward Lee

A 42-year-old lieutenant general and Lee's second in command. Large, stubborn, and mourning the recent loss of his three children to fever, he favors defensive warfare over offensive charges. He is practical and blunt, often finding himself internally conflicted when his tactical opinions differ from his commanding general's.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Robert Edward Lee

Commanding Officer of George Pickett

Employer of Harrison

Rival Commander to Ambrose Powell Hill

Antagonist of Jubal Early

A 37-year-old major general in the Union cavalry who previously served on the Great Plains. He is a careful, patient commander with an eye for advantageous terrain. Having learned not to rely entirely on infantry support, he trains his cavalrymen to fight dismounted to hold crucial defensive lines.

Key Relationships

Tactical Ally of John Reynolds

Subordinate to George Gordon Meade

Military Opponent of Ambrose Powell Hill

A 42-year-old major general with a gaudy style, long perfumed hair, and immense self-confidence. Despite finishing last in his class at West Point, he possesses a fiercely loyal spirit and is eager for glory on the battlefield, though he worries his division is being intentionally held back.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to James Longstreet

Commanding Officer of Lewis Armistead

Commanding Officer of Richard Brooke Garnett

A 46-year-old shy, quiet brigadier general serving under Pickett. He carries a heavy emotional burden due to his close pre-war friendship with a Union general now positioned on the opposite side of the battlefield, feeling the deep tragedy of a war that pits brothers against brothers.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to George Pickett

Close Friend of Winfield Scott Hancock

A 42-year-old major general and one of the most respected commanders in the Union army. A courteous gentleman and brilliant tactician, he previously declined command of the entire army to avoid political interference, preferring to serve directly on the field.

Key Relationships

Tactical Ally of John Buford

Predecessor of George Gordon Meade

Supporting Characters

A brilliant Confederate commander who died of pneumonia two months prior to the battle after accidentally being shot by his own men. Though absent, his legacy hangs heavily over the Army of Northern Virginia. His former peers constantly compare themselves and others to his exceptional military standard.

Key Relationships

Former Subordinate to Robert Edward Lee

Predecessor of Richard Ewell

A cheerful, eccentric lieutenant colonel from the English Coldstream Guards who travels with the Confederate army as an observer. He views the Southern cause through a European aristocratic lens and deeply admires the Confederate leadership.

Key Relationships

A 46-year-old recently promoted lieutenant general who took over the 2nd Corps after Jackson's death. Having lost a leg in a previous battle, he moves cautiously and defers heavily to his subordinates. His recent hesitancy creates friction in the Confederate command structure.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Robert Edward Lee

Commanding Officer of Jubal Early

Successor to Stonewall Jackson

A 37-year-old wealthy, moody lieutenant general commanding the 3rd Corps. Often wearing a red shirt into battle, he struggles with poor health during the Gettysburg campaign, making it difficult for him to effectively manage his division commanders on the field.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Robert Edward Lee

Rival Commander to James Longstreet

A 46-year-old major general and former prosecuting attorney serving under Ewell. Dark, cold, and arrogant, he is widely disliked by many of his peers but wields significant influence over Ewell's cautious leadership.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Richard Ewell

Antagonist of James Longstreet

A 44-year-old brigadier general who marches into battle while suffering from a fever and a leg injury. He is desperate to clear his name after a controversial court-martial initiated by Stonewall Jackson called his courage into question.

Key Relationships

Friend of Lewis Armistead

Subordinate to George Pickett

A 39-year-old major general in the Union army known for riding into battle in spotless clothing. He is a talented painter and a highly capable commander responsible for a significant portion of the Union defense on Cemetery Hill.

Key Relationships

Close Friend of Lewis Armistead

Subordinate to George Gordon Meade

A vain, 30-year-old lieutenant general commanding the Confederate cavalry. He loves the glory of warfare and reading his name in the papers, but his failure to report back to Lee leaves the Confederate army effectively blind to Union movements in the days leading up to the battle.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Robert Edward Lee

The 47-year-old commanding major general of the Union army. Having assumed command just days before the battle, he is bad-tempered, vain, and often hesitant, trying to manage a massive military force while adjusting to his sudden promotion.

Key Relationships

Successor to John Reynolds

Commanding Officer of Winfield Scott Hancock

Military Opponent of Robert Edward Lee

A young, slim, and confident lieutenant colonel who serves as Lee's chief aide. He works tirelessly to manage the headquarters, filter civilian requests, and facilitate communication between Lee and his various corps commanders.

Key Relationships

A large gray American Saddlebred horse belonging to General Lee. Known for his steady temperament under fire, he serves as Lee's primary mount, offering the ailing general a sense of comfort and stability amid the chaos of the campaign.

Key Relationships

A civilian actor working as a paid spy for General Longstreet. Using his theatrical skills to blend in with locals, he gathers crucial intelligence about the Union army's movements, providing the Confederate leadership with their only reliable information in the absence of cavalry reports.

Key Relationships

An aging, seasoned soldier serving as a trusted aide to Chamberlain. He brings a cynical but practical view to the war, fighting not for lofty ideals of equality but to prove his own worth and tear down the aristocracy he despises.

Key Relationships

The younger brother of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, serving as an officer in the same regiment. Eager and less burdened by command responsibilities, he provides his brother with companionship, though his presence causes constant anxiety for Lawrence.

Key Relationships

Younger Brother of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain