The Killer Angels Principles Quotes

Longstreet thinks it doesn't pay to think in this way, because doing so could undermine the Confederate cause. The Confederates are fighting to secede from a democracy in order to retain slavery—under the guise of preserving states' rights. But will the Confederacy remain a democracy if it's founded on the wishes of aristocratic plantation owners who hold slaves? Since the answer is probably "no," Longstreet decides he just doesn't want to think about it.

Many Southerners joined the Confederate side because they didn't want to fight their friends and family. Unfortunately, General Lewis Armistead—who speaks this line—actually ends up fighting against his best friend, General Winfield Scott Hancock, who fought for the Union. In this quote, Armistead makes a vow to Win that he will never attack him—which he breaks by charging directly into Hancock's line during Pickett's Charge… and, well, we don't want to rub it in, but he is struck dead.

Armistead has broken his vow to Hancock and has violated some serious principles about not fighting your close friends. As he dies, Armistead sends his regrets to his friend for breaking his vow to him.