text: Factual errors: \nAt the end of the movie when the 54th is marching onto the beach to prepare to assault Fort Wagner there are about a dozen cannon present with caissons directly behind them. In reality, caissons, containing large amounts of ammunition, would never be that close together or to the actual artillery piece. By rule of thumb caissons were usually kept approximately 50 yards behind the gun, sometimes more, sometimes less. This was done as a precaution so that if a caisson was struck by an enemy shell it wouldn't explode killing and destroying nearby artillerymen, cannons, and other caissons. Never, ever would caissons be less then 10 feet (as they appear in the movie) in distance to an artillery piece(s).\n\nErrors in geography: \nDuring the assault on Fort Wagner, the regiment is charging the wrong way (the Atlantic Ocean should be on their right since they are moving north).\n\nFactual errors: \nIn the scene the night before the big attack on Fort Wagner you are able to see the men's breath. Highly unlikely weather for the summer (July 1863) in South Carolina.\n\nProbably strayed a little of your question, Just did not want to dissapoint with a short answer.