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Killer Angels is a historical fiction book, written by Michael Shaara. The book takes place during the Battle of Gettysburg, during the Civil War. The story is written as a character study, following officers on both sides of the war. One of these officers is John Buford, commander of the cavalry in the Army of the Potomac. Buford is a brave soldier; one who dies shortly after Gettysburg; and the command of his men and the way he could fight just about anyone, with smaller numbers, is overlooked. Buford, had one of the single most important tasks at Gettysburg, he held the good ground. John Buford, Major General in the union army, was a tall, blond man who held the complete respect of the cavalry division he commanded. When Buford first reaches Gettysburg he first scouts the ground and takes a look from on top of a tall hill, with a cemetery on top.“The Union commander, a tall blond, sunburned man, named John Buford, rode up the long slope to the top of the hill, into the cemetery.” (Shaara 33.) He had issued his men repeating carbines, guns, which were perhaps, the most advanced at the time of the battle of Gettysburg. With these guns he held confidence in his men to hold any army, no matter what the size. He proves his theory at places such as Thorofare Gap, where he held James Longstreet’s, southern troops for six hours, 2500 against 20000.
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