Armistead and Hancock: Behind the Gettysburg Legend of Two Friends at the Turning Point of the Civil War

by Tom McMillan

In a war of brother versus brother, theirs has become the most famous broken Union general Winfield Scott Hancock and Confederate general Lewis Armistead. Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels (1974) and the movie Gettysburg (1993), based on the novel, presented a close friendship sundered by war, but history reveals something different from the legend that holds up Hancock and Armistead as sentimental symbols of a nation torn apart. In this deeply researched book, Tom McMillan sets the record straight. Even if their relationship wasn’t as close as the legend has it, Hancock and Armistead knew each other well before the Civil War. Armistead was seven years older, but in a small prewar army where everyone seemed to know everyone else, Hancock and Armistead crossed paths at a fort in Indian Territory before the Mexican War and then served together in California, becoming friends—and they emotionally parted ways when the Civil War broke out. Their lives wouldn’t intersect again until Gettysburg, when they faced each other during Pickett’s Charge. Armistead died of his wounds at Gettysburg on July 5, 1863; Hancock went on to be the Democratic nominee for president in 1880, losing to James Garfield. Part dual biography and part Civil War history, Armistead and Behind the Gettysburg Legend clarifies the historic record with new information and fresh perspective, reversing decades of misconceptions about an amazing story of two friends that has defined the Civil War.

Genres: Civil War, History, Nonfiction

328 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2021

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well Researched

Being a history buff, I was immediately attracted to this book. However, I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t sweep me away. The research was good but the storyline plodded along.

[Schoppie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book about the history of the friendship between Confederate General Lewis Armistead and Union General Winfield S. Hancock. It is essentially a dual biography, but it focuses on clarifying and correcting myths about the two leaders perpetuated by Michael Shaara's novel "The Killer Angels" and Ronald Maxwell's film "Gettysburg," based on the same book. These popular retellings of the Gettysburg story embellish and further several myths about these two generals in the interest of providing a human interest story to connect people to the Civil War. McMillan's correction of these myths in no way detracts from either Armistead or Hancock and, while he demonstrates that their friendship was not as close as Shaara or Maxwell illustrate, the two men did indeed share years of service together in the U.S. Army before the Civil War and had built a friendship that was torn by war and which eventually led them to face each other on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. While Hancock is relatively well-known, there was some new information about him in this book which I had not previously known. Books about Armistead are rare, and the most interesting parts of McMillan's book are those which throw light on the Confederate general's life and pre-Civil War army career.

[J.K. Brandau · Rating 5 out of 5]

McMillan presents a well-researched twin biography of two renowned Civil War personages, friends who found themselves on opposite sides of the first modern total war. The book includes some Armistead minutiae which would have been coveted references in my own work on Armistead’s Brigade published just the year before. Impressively objective, McMillan excels in contrasting documented evidence against dearly held popular notions: thus, proving American Civil War history remains fluid as new discoveries comes to light. As McMillan writes, “Readers will have to draw their own conclusions.”

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to visit Gettysburg.

[Mark Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the friendship between Winfield Hancock and Lewis Armistead has become part of the Gettysburg story. In this book, the author seeks to untangle some of the romanticized aspects of the story from that which actually happened.

Though not intended as an exhaustive biographical study of either general, this book walks through the lives of these two famous friends, establishing the foundation for what made this such a tragic story and romanticized story.

Without much by way of primary sources, the author does well in giving dimension to Armistead, the tragic figure in this story. Hancock’s tale has a more source material and therefore a bit more depth.

The primary question referenced in the title is analyzed and answered well both in the text as well as in a summarizing chapter. As a result of popular media, the friendship has been conflated a bit. The author does not take a pin to the balloon (he doesn’t need to) but does bring some needed reality.

In the end, this book proves to be a good read about one of the best known friendships of the war.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, quick read about two men made famous by the movie "Gettysburg." The author dispels several of the scenes in the movie by providing evidence for or against various things (i.e. the conversation between Armistead and Gen. Longstreet, when Gen Armistead says he'd like to see Hancock again). It's a wonderful,short biography of both men - how they met, their interactions (or lack thereof) at various times prior to April 1861, and the actions in which they were engaged during the Civil War. If you're looking for specifics about battles (i.e. XX regiment moved 15 yards to the right, etc.) this is not that kind of book. It was well-written and thoroughly engaging.

[Eva Lehmann-Bauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I only read this book because a friend recommended it to me. However, I should have taken their advice and read only the chapters I needed to, because I found some earlier chapters more heavily focussed toward Armistead rather than Hancock. Was slightly disappointed with how aggressive the author was in expressing his opinions and thoughts on how close Armistead and Hancock were in some parts of the book. Not sure if that was the aim or not, but nonetheless, it is still a good book worth reading for anyone interested in this dynamic friendship which stemmed from long before the Civil War.

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Especially useful for additional information on General Armistead, who doesn't have much literature covering him. Hancock, who rose to corps command and became "The Superb," has more.

Since there are seven reviews revealing how The Killer Angels and Gettysburg have overplayed the supposed "bromance" between the two, more need not be added here. Maps, especially of Pickett's charge at its apex, would've been nice, but reckon unessential to anyone steeped in CW history. The book's a quick read.

[Chaz West · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick, well researched read on the defining friendship of the Civil War. This book walks through the beginning of Armistead and Hancock's military careers in the Mexican American and Seminole Wars, has them square off on July 3, 1863, and finishes the remainder of Hancock's life. A short read that should be in the collection of any Civil War buff.

[Luke Mohamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic work by Tom McMillian. His ability to navigate weakly documented history but still allow readers to draw their own conclusions is masterful.

[Phillip Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fine look at these two 19th century generals and how their paths crossed at Gettysburg after years of pre Civil War friendship. Excellent read!