Filming the "Gettysburg" Little Round Top Scenes: 30th Anniversary 

Virgil Hughes, the man who taught the reenactors to load and fire the artillery, was my grandfather. He passed away in 2020. It’s great to hear that he is remembered all these years later. I was on set for a week. I had just turned 14 and he told me to tell everyone that I was 18.

Union artillery reenactor here. Can't tell you how many times I've seen the movie. Every time Jeff Daniels yells, "Bayonets!" the hair on my arms stands up.

The scene with the 20th Maine gives me chills every time. Bayonets!!!

It must've been so much fun for the reenactors! The movie couldn't have been made without them, and I thank them all so much for their passion and their dedication to accuracy!

The passion by everyone involved is palpable.

Gentlemen. I am a British reenactor. Ex 69th New York ACWS uk. I was playing a US soldier in England 1997-2000. A great honour for me and the best time of my life. All the very best from your comrades and cousins in arms in the UK.🫡

Some incredible memories flooding back for me, as I went with my now-deceased father to film these scenes…❤

Loved the tree story! To me, Jeff Daniels is Joshua Chamberlain.

Great memories from my time on the movie set. I was in a color guard in Kemper's brigade during Pickett's charge and a union soldier behind the stone wall by the Bryan farm during the charge. I recall we were fed really well by the production company.

Thanks for this record of the making of the movie Gettysburg. Thank you all! 💯👍

Hard to believe that movie is 30 years old already. Timeless! Would Civil War vets agree that scene got it pretty close? We would not know but I think they would. Great Video!

This is one of my favorite pieces of the movie Gettysburg! I place you here col Chamberlain you're the end of the line.....

Most amazing movie! I watch it every year in July and still get teared up at the shout "Bayonet!"

As a Civil War re-enactor back in the '90s, I can tell you it can be hazardous doing battle scenes, even though we were only using black powder charges without bullets. I recall one account of a soldier accidently firing his ramrod down range in one battle. That is why we always left our ramrods in our tents. Cannons, of course, carried their own risks. When loading and firing our muskets multiple times, one had to remember to keep your fingers as clear of the muzzle as you could in event of the powder cooking off before you were ready to fire. Bayonets, of course, were particularly hazardous, particularly the genuine steel antique bayonets of the period. The cheap replicas from India were much less hazardous. But you could easily be injured just by turning into one. For that reason we seldom fixed bayonets during manoever.

1st post. . .WOW! We just saw the 30th Anniversary performance at the Majestic Theatre in Gburg. . .just last weekend! Can't wait to LRT after the NPS finished their work!

Such a cool location! I remember during the 150th Gettysburg event, we were on that ground during the Culp's Hill scenario and had spent the afternoon building up earthworks. After the evening battle, I sat looking down through the fog of gunsmoke at the reb casualties and found myself in the mindset of those men of '63 as I asked "My God, what have we done?" Truly an amazing site and event.

I enjoyed this so much! If it weren’t for the making if this movie 30 years ago, I probably would never have visited and made the memories I have made at at Gettysburg! It pulled me in and I am thankful for that! Thank you!

I am not prone to being an emo but when Jeff Daniels screamed bayonets that really charged me up and still does whenever I watch this movie.

So glad I found this. You fellas have answered many of my questions about how that bayonet charge was filmed. I was lucky enough to see "Gettysburg" on the big screen, which clarified what little I knew about the actual battle. Always been a bit of a Civil War buff, but two people -- Ken Burns and Ron Maxwell -- kicked my interest into overdrive. Keep up the good work.

One of the best movies I have ever experienced. Thank you all for your talent and dedication for posterity ❤

Loved this movie...have watched it at least a dozen times...😊

Great stories! Thanks!

To all involved in "Filming ... 'Gettysburg'": FASCINATING & FANTASTIC work, thank you!!! 🫡🤜🤛 🖖🏻

This is my favorite part of the whole movie! Thanks for making this great behind the scenes video so cool!!

Seen this movie a hundred times. Until a couple days ago I had no idea that Donal Logue was Capt Ellis.

Great job thanks

Still wish I’d become a re-enactor when I lived in PA! And wish I’d gone to Gettysburg again, went as a kid and found it interesting but would have been more so after I knew more about the battle.

What I LOVED, about the scene of the 20th Maine taking its position was that, even though the re-enactors did not actually execute it, the authentic order: By the right, by file, into line! Was given .

I wish I was there!!!

A great presentation and a treat to hear and see, making one of the greatest films in movie history. Thank you Ted Turner, thank you American Battlefield Trust.

Very cool! Thanks!

I've been up there, it's a beautiful and very moving area.

This movie is one of the best war movies ever made, its a shame its so underappreciated and unknown. I would've loved it if it had been a huge hit in theaters. At least the war fanatics and history buffs enjoy it. It truly is amazing

What an experience!

I was in a scene with Tom Berenger and Martin Sheen as a young Lieutenant Colonel on Longstreets Staff. I was 17 at the time. They asked for volunteers that could ride horses so I spoke up. We were on horseback and rode up that rode about 40 times that day. It took 12 hours to get that scene shot, and you dont actually ever see me close up. Just a split second in the distance!😂

As a Brit I was struck by Tim Smith talking (at abour 10.00) about how the regiments were recruited locally. This was very much the same experience as the recruitment of the 'Pals' Battalions at the beginning of WW1. The idea was that men would be motivated by serving next to friends, workmates and family. This is what happened; they joined together as friends, brothers, fathers and sons; and on July 1st 1916 they advanced side by side against artillery and machine guns leaving 22,000 of them dead and missing by days end. Whole towns were destroyed and a generation of widows whose men never came home.

The great Gettysburg, we live close but go back like the first time, my granddaughter now wants to go back to Gettysburg, how can we thank these conservators.

Marvelous, thanks! "Refusing the flank" might be a better descriptive term than, "refusing the line". The 20th Maine was the left most regiment of the entire Union army.

This was great...thank you so much.

I was a reenactor who was there. Oates' Alabamians. It was fun.

What a great commentary!

God bless The American Battlefield Trust!! We MUST protect our "blood-stained" fields! The Bible is clear: "cannot desecrate blood-stained land"! In the book of Numbers!! God bless all of your efforts!! 🇺🇸✝️🇺🇸. -Proverbs 14:34

I absolutely love this video! As a history enthusiast, I appreciate the professionalism and attention to detail that the American Battlefield Trust consistently brings to their content. The way they bring these historical events to life is truly remarkable. Keep up the great work! #historybuff

Great sequence of scenes here, i love the little round top battle scenes! Great music, very suspenseful, you can feel the desperation no matter how much you watch it. We know there were many other units involved but staying true to the book focusing in on the 20th Maine really helps personalize the experience. Gives the viewer a good understanding and of course the events have been debated since Chamberlain wrote of it, I like to believe there was a lot of truth to it, reading several books on the matter the stories mostly align. I think the movie does the battle justice and has kept people interested in Gettysburg and the overall civil war history. So that’s a success! Great movie, great to hear some behind the scenes stuff. I hope they make the last full measure someday

Loved this movie!

Very interesting ! I saw this movie in the 90s in german television, and now i can see for the first time this forrest in real ! Greetings from Germany

This was incredible! Ty!!

Fascinating insights into how this iconic part of the movie was p[anned and shot.

SO wonderful! Thank you so much!

Great stuff as usual, thank you all!

Excellent video, very informative. Issues they had to deal with that I hadn’t considered! Thanks

The scene where Johnny runs into the tree wouldn't have worked for THE MOVIE GETTYSBURG but it sure would have worked in a remake of the TV sit com F TROOP!

That was a fantastic video of one of my favorite films ever

You guys are simply the BEST!!

Awesome video, so honored to be a Color Bearer for this Organization for over 20 years!😊

Nice job - wish I had travelled to GBURG at the time to be an extra...

Great video !! Thank You

that was wicked cool

Respect from Ireland 🇮🇪 👏

To preserve To educate To inspire Because of these guys I was able to experience the history of the civil war at Gettysburg On an episode of Columbo" There was a shoe factory in Gettysburg. If Gen Lee hadnt needed shoes for his men, there would never have been a civil war" I think Garry dispelled that!

Awesome!

So stunt actors did the hand to hand fighting 🤕 and a few reenactors as well 😅

One of my history teachers in high school was in this movie

Having been to Gettysburg only 15 times, a piece of my heart lives on a rock at the Angle, where I like to ponder. There's nowhere else on earth that lives in my thoughts and heart daily. Each time I've left, I've wept because I never want to leave. The first re-enactment I was blessed to witness was in 1988. 100,000+ people were in that small town. 700 re-enactors were from Australia and a few hundred were from Germany, and a couple of hundred from Great Britain, along with smaller numbers from a variety of other nations. There were, indeed, soldiers from other places there in 1863, but I had not realized they re-enacted the Battle in other countries. In researching to present lectures on the battle and Lincoln, I learned that revered leaders worldwide, especially in years gone by, quoted from the Address, on occasion, twisting it for their own purposes, but using some of its principles in their governance for good, like Gandhi, but in some cases evil, as done by Mao Tse Tung. Those who have seen the musical,"The King and I" know that Siam's King Mongkut offered to send elephants to the Union to help during the war. His letter was directed to "the President." By the time his letter reached the U. S., Lincoln was in office. His diplomatic response to the king is found in Basler's Collected Works. This Battle ranks high on some lists of greatest battles in world history; as does the Address on lists of the world's greatest speeches. Over 1 million visitors are attracted each year to this location; 60% are repeat visitors. Once isn't enough. Gettysburg is a siren song. Renowned historian and professor emeritus at Princeton University, author of numerous books, James McPherson, has written that when asked which historical site his international students would like to see first they respond, "Gettysburg." Professors of other historical fields at that institution have received the same response. While conducting research for my MA degree I spent 2-3 days in archives there almost 20 years ago. Scott Hartwig was a large contributor to my efforts. Seeing him in this important video was extra special to me. The movie, while containing some bits of Hollywood, was true to Shaara's fictional work. It has drawn tens of, if not hundreds, of thousands to Gettysburg, demonstrating the humanity and courage of these men to a public who may not have previously understood this. Human interest elements abound, including the naivete and hubris of some highly esteemed officers on both sides of the conflict. Ultimately, it is a tool to bring people to , not only, an interest in the Civil War, but beyond to a love of history. Your video plays the same role. I can see a place for its use in undergrad Civil War classes. People are fascinated by inside scoops. Whenever I watch the movie, I get goosebumps, and after 30 years and dozens of viewings, it still brings me to tears. It's trite to say it because so many people do, but this truly is "Hallowed Ground." It exudes a feeling that can't be described any other way. I've visited other Civil War sites and Battlegrounds, but none have affected me like this one. Thank you so much for this video. I'm so glad that it popped for me today.

Great stuff! Interesting take on the things taking place during the filming. Last comment….somebody tell Garry (if he’s trying to grow another beard), to NOT shave under his chin. When the whole beard ( including under the chin) needs trimming, use scissors, not a razor.

Chamberlain and at least two other Governors of Maine are distant cousins of mine. Two other distant cousins led the artillery and the cavalry of the ANV to the surrender at Appomattox, Lt. Col. John Cheves Haskell and Col. Alexander Cheves Haskell, respectively. John was sharing command of a battery under Colonel Alexander and was ordered forward to support the infantry advance. He wrote in his memoirs that he found Pickett hiding with the wounded in a barn (Codori?). He didn't seem to have a very high opinion of him (he also was present when Custer tried to make Longstreet surrender after Lee had decided to talk to Grant, and he thought Custer was completely ridiculous). General Grant tried to buy John's horse as they were leaving; he said it was the handsomest horse he had ever seen. Both brothers actively supported Wade Hampton for governor in 1876 and John married his daughter Sarah Buchanan Hampton. Alexander married the sister of Edward Porter Alexander, Alice Alexander, and was an associate justice on the Couth Carolina Supreme Court after the war. In 1890 he ran for governor of South Carolina against Benjamin Tilman (he didn't win, though). Their brother Captain Charles Thomson Haskell and their uncle Captain Langdon Cheves were both killed in the fighting for Battery Wagner on July 10, 1863 and had batteries named for them in the defensive lines for the islands. The South Carolina Haskells are descended from Colonel Elanthan Haskell from Rochester, Massachusetts, who is pictured in John Trumbull's painting "The Surrender of General Burgoyne" which is hanging in the US Capitol Rotunda (he's 7th from the right, with the red lapels) visible in that famous photo of Buddy the Lectern Elf. Elanthan moved to South Carolina after the Revolution. He was the descendant of "Witchcraft" Mark Haskell (1st cousin 9x removed), who lived in Salem (the part called Beverly today) and had been called for jury duty in the witch trials. Mark was a free-thinker who didn't believe in any of that nonsense (which was basically an admission of being a witch - see what they did to my 8th great-grandfather John Proctor) skipped town and moved to Rochester in 1692. Another distant cousin Lt. Franklin Aretas Haskell (originally from Vermont and moved to Wisconsin) was on the other side and was General John Gibbon's aide-de-camp. Gibbon wrote about him: "I have always thought that to him, more than to any one man, are we indebted for the repulse of Lee's assault." Frank wrote a letter about the the battle of Gettysburg to his brother after the battle and it was eventually posthumously (he was killed at Cold Harbor) published as "The Battle of Gettysburg". You can hear Garrison Keillor reading parts of it in Ken Burns' documentary. The phrase "The Universe of Battle" is from the letter/book. My great-great-grandfather George Whitefield Haskell (he was from Newburyport, Massachusetts and named after the Anglican evangelist who is buried there in the basement of the Old South Presbyterian Church) did his duty for the Federal government for 90 days on Winter Island in Salem Harbor in the 3rd Unattached Company of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in 1864. Not one damned Rebel ever made it ashore!

We still repeat all commands audibly for this specific reason. if one guy hears the command, he repeats it and so forth so we all hear the command

Thanks for this great video. Was it filmed at the actual battle location? I thought they didn't allow reenacting at Gettysburg. If not, where was it filmed?

Please, please, please release all of the “Behind the Movie” episodes as one extended play RU-vid video! 😀

there's a ghost behind Kris at 3:09 lol

That’s commitment running into the same tree twice 😂.

I wanted to go but didn't have the money at the time wish I had. 24th ny cav at the time. But I do know lots the guys who were there and can pick them out in the movie.

The scavenging of rifle muskets and ammunition was a real fact from the wounded....

I waited 35 years to stand where Col. Chamberlain stood on Little Round Top, but it was closed for ADA work. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 Even in WW2 on D-Day, flags could be seen to help with rallying points.

"Bayonets!!!"

In this battle scene one 'effect' that wasn't used, and (IMO) could easily have been, would have been the snapping off of branches and small trees by the numerous minie balls (bullets) fired between the two sides during the attacks. Assuming the land owner would allow it (for a fee), small charges could have been set to cause tree limbs to fall and trees to be splintered during the re-enactment. This would have given the scene a realism matching the actual event.

"Reset back to one"

A real 20thMe reenactor? Cool who was in the film 📽️??!👏🐈‍⬛👏🐈‍⬛🇺🇸🇨🇦

Can anyone please provide the actual location of the filming set of Little Round Top used in the movie? I know it’s just outside Gettysburg, hoping to take the trip out to visit it, thanks in advance!

Where exactly was it filmed? I think near the New Jersey Monument area?

Gettysburg movie every July3, Longest day every June 6 Gods and Generals after Legion Hall Memorial Day

Where on the battlefield is this location?

So are those considered Witness Trees?

were any of the movie scenes filmed on the actual battlefield ?

Curious who decides who gets killed or wounded in the 20th Maine scene.

Confederate units carried one battle flag. Union units carried two, a national and a state flag

Trumpet?

People should pay special attention to the discussion about why flags were used. If more people understood about the use of flags in battle perhaps this asinine controversy over the Confederate battle flag would end.

Chamberlain's biography indicated that unlike prior Maine Regiments, his was sort of made up of "leftovers..." That is to say, from all over Maine...not just one city or county. After the war, that worked for him in all four elections to the office of Governor...

9:53 very much like the “Pals Battalions” in the British army in WWI. Most British army regiments are “local” regiments (not so much now of course), but the pal’s battalions could be made up of men from a specific factory. Good idea for camaraderie and esprit de corps, not so good after a huge battle such as the Somme, when the men folk of an entire town, village or factory was more or less wiped out.

Would the infantry have used bugle calls during battle or just drummers

Where is this filming location?

You mean....charge?

Johnny should've gotten some period appropriate glasses.

During the charge after Chamberlain put the sword to the confederates throat and says, "the pistol ". What is his response? I can never make it out.

I’d be interested to hear a lot of these guys opinions on gods and generals. Like what happened that it went so wrong?

Ron Maxwell should have a GoFundMe for the final book to be made into a movie, and use CGI to de-age Jeff Daniels and Thomas C. Howell to how old their characters are as old as they would be in 1865!! Just kidding. Gettysburg is a PERFECT movie to me, there's not a wasted scene, and the acting is so effective: Jeff Daniels, Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, and Stephen Lang, and ESPECIALLY Richard Jordan as Gen Pickett... any one of these fellows had acting worthy of a Golden Globe nomination, and the soundtrack is just marvelous. AN underated classic!

Killrain was shooting uphill...

No Kilrain. So, whose picture is in the credits?? Lol

Compare the safety culture here where they had hundreds, even thousands of firearms being discharged with the movie “Rust”.