Cool Hand Luke

I recently finished one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s called The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara.  I know it sounds strange if you don’t know what it is, so I’ll tell you. It’s a historical novel about the Battle of Gettysburg. Now it just sounds boring or a bit dorky, right? What if I told you that it won the Pulitzer Prize? Shaara spent seven years writing the book and studying not just the facts of the battle, but also the lives of the men themselves.

Whether you’re interested in history and war or not, The Killer Angels is a compelling read because it is so human. Shaara highlights the internal struggles of a man at war—especially a war that is in essence being fought over foreign slaves.  He also draws emphasis to the small, seemingly arbitrary details that lead to winning or losing a battle. I am a slow reader in general, but I think I read this book faster than any other book I’ve ever read. Not so much because it was easy to read but because I read it non-stop.

My good friend John Schofield turned me onto the book. You may know John because of his formidable bass prowess with the band The Myriad. He came all the way from Seattle to Tennessee to visit me last summer and his only request was that we visit some Civil War battlefields.

I have to admit that I have completely taken for granted the history that is all around me. I think I went to a couple Civil War battlefields with the family when I was smaller, but I didn’t care about it (except when they were firing cannons.) We played in Gettysburg a couple of times and it didn’t even occur to me to go check out the battlefield. It wouldn’t have meant much then.

Now that I’m older, I wish I had paid more attention in history class and taken advantage of all the amazing things that are within driving distance from my home. [I’ll be moving away soon—but I’ll leave that tale for another Tumbl.] Now I am interested in learning about these things, but I find I have so little time to learn it on my own. Again—slow reader.

John’s zeal for history is contagious. I joined him in the quest for experiential knowledge. We literally drove the width of TN in search of waterfalls, battlefields, and a Mastodon show. (That was historical in itself. Baroness + Mastodon + two wussy dudes who get stoked on well-executed metal = geekfest) We managed to make it to Stones River Battlefield and to Shiloh Battlefield. Both were amazing experiences.

Brandy joined us at Stones River because it’s only about 45 minutes away and she didn’t have to take off work. Together the three of us read the graves at Hell’s Half Acre, had a picnic, and frolicked in the treeline, where men fought and died, running from mosquitoes and shouting what we imagined the Rebel Yell probably sounded like. 

Shiloh was a long drive almost to Mississippi. John and I listened to sermons and had deep conversations. I’m glad we went to Stones River first because while it was pretty interesting, Shiloh was massive—and impressive. There were monuments and cannons everywhere.

John and I walked in the hot sun, seeing sight after sight of what is left of one of the bloodiest battles the world, and certainly America, has ever seen. John could see it all in his head. He would take me up on a hill and show me where the Union would have been and where they were coming from. I learned so much that day. It was really moving and inspiring. John’s knowledge and passion for the subject sparked something in me.

I was hooked. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to know what all these men fought for and why they died. I wanted to know more than the basics that I knew in fourth grade. John bought me a copy of The Killer Angels in the battlefield souvenir shop. I’m so glad he did.

TO BE CONTINUED