Chamberlain’s group is moving west through the heat. Chamberlain is still sick from heat stroke, and though he wants to march with his men, Color Sergeant Tozier tells Chamberlain to get back on his horse and act like an officer. They don’t want another new commander. Chamberlain is surprised by his men’s looks of concern for him.
Bands play as they march. Tom Chamberlain and a man from the 2nd Maine discuss many things, including the unit’s special bugle call, and how the smallpox inoculations kept the 20th Maine from fighting at Chancellorsville.
Chamberlain reflects on a number of things: the nature of marching itself, army life, the battle at Fredericksburg, winter in Maine, and home. He thinks of his mother who wanted him to be a preacher, and his stern father who showed so much pride when Chamberlain had given an oration at school on Man, the Killer Angel.
Colonel Strong Vincent, Chamberlain’s brigade commander, comes by. Vincent tells Chamberlain about the new brigade colors, orders them to march through the night to Gettysburg, and relates rumors about the fighting that day. There is also a rumor that General McClellan is in charge again, something the men want desperately to believe. They finally reach Gettysburg about midnight.
