From Gettysburg; The Turning Point of the Civil War

What does General Longstreet say about the enemy when he speaks with General Lee?

Why doesn’t General Sam Hood want to take the hill?

Colonel Chamberlain’s men are the end of the line of the Union army. What would happen if Colonel Chamberlain’s men retreated?

What did Colonel Chamberlain do when his men ran out of ammunition?

1. What does General Longstreet say about the enemy when he speaks with General Lee?

That the enemy was anxious.  

At that time, Longstreet managed to surround the enemy's capital. The enemy was aware of this and heightened their defense because they're expecting an attack. Longstreet believed that at that time it's better to not lose cool and wait. Anxiety tend to resulted in mistakes and that's when they should strike the enemy.

2. Why doesn’t General Sam Hood want to take the hill?

Basically because the enemy had an advantageous position in the high ground. During gun fights, having high ground were extremely beneficial since it made your troops became harder to be hit.

Sam hood believed that the troops did not have enough numbers to override this disadvantages, so he didn't really want to risk it.

3. Colonel Chamberlain’s men are the end of the line of the Union army. What would happen if Colonel Chamberlain’s men retreated?

At that time, Colonel Chamberlain and his men had the role to hold the enemy's line and distract them. While the distraction occured, other unites of the army will flank the enemy from the side and took over the high ground.

If Chamberlain retreated, the enemy wouldn't be distracted and they could see the flank far before it came. This would made it impossible for the union to took the high ground.

4. What did Colonel Chamberlain do when his men ran out of ammunition?

After they ran out of ammunition, Colonel Chamberlain used bayonets and charge down into the two Alabama regiments. Bayonet is a knife that attached to the edge of your gun. So it kind of acting like a spear.

At that time, Chamberlain believed that his unit should hold the line at all cost in order for the union to achieve victory. Even though melee attacks was risky, he believed that it's worth the sacrifice.