March 2, 2008
Though I did enjoy the movie I would of loved more emphasise on the 1st Louisiana Special Battalion at the First Battle of Manassas. Wheat's little band of Louisiana Tigers had been instrumental in bringing about the Southern success. Its actions on Matthews Hill gave Beauregard time to shuffle enough forces to make a stand on Henry Hill. And on Henry Hill, the place where the Federals were ultimately driven back, the Tigers again distinguished themselves, charging and then holding a section of guns. Beauregard noted that the Tigers and the balance of Evans' brigade "maintained their stand with almost matchless tenacity...dauntless courage and imperturbable coolness," and cited Wheat for his "brilliant courage." Beauregard went on to say, "[I]n the desperate, unequal contest, to which these brave gentlemen were for a time necessarily exposed the behavior of officers and men was worthy of the highest admiration, and assuredly hereafter to all those present may proudly say: 'We were of that band who fought the first hour of the battle of Manassas.'"
