Though Buster Kilrain, played by the late Kevin Conway is fictional, he could be based on one or two men of the historical 20th Maine. One being Tommy Welch, also an Irish immigrant and being around 38 years old-one of the oldest men in the regiment. Welch enlisted into the 20th Maine perhaps partially out of patriotism but also to support his family as he such some of his bounty money back home to his parents. He was described as being a brave and diligent soldier whose uniform and musket were always ready for inspection. He survived its many battles, including Little Round Top and up to the Wilderness in 1864 where he was wounded and captured. He would die from starvation at Camp Sumter, better known as Andersonville. Another man is Sgt. George Buck. Before Gettysburg, Sgt. Buck fell ill and was excused from duty. When he refused to obey an order from a quartermaster to cut firewood on account of his illness, Buck was demoted to private for insubordination. On Little Round Top, he showed his bravery by refusing to leave his post until he was mortally wounded by a shot to the chest. As he lay dying, Col. Chamberlain rightly promoted him back to sergeant.