Revealing mistake: DVD Side B. Just before the cannon burst near General Lee and his officers at Fredericksburg, you can see a Confederate soldier with the sponge rammer using it to the side of the cannon bore. This cannon must have been a actual field piece since the bore in the scene was most likely blocked. The sponge rammer consisted of a sponge-head of elm or poplar and covered with wool. The number one man of an artillery crew drove the sponge to the bottom of the bore and turned it numerous times to put out any embers from the previous firing of the piece. The rammer head was made of hard wood, generally elm or beech. The number two man would place the shell inside the bore, and number one would use the rammer to shove it down the bore with a single stroke. (00:02:25)
Continuity mistake: When Gen. Blair is telling Colonel Lee that he has been authorized by President Lincoln to give him the rank of general, Blair is seen sitting in his chair leaning forward to talk but when the camera angle changes he is now seen leaning back and to his right. (00:05:40)
Revealing mistake: When the Yankees are moving along the field taking artillery fire, a shot shows a shell landing in a group of men, in which a few go flying. When one lands in front of the camera, you can see the ground lift up and the sound of him hitting the mat instead of the ground. (On Disc 2). (00:08:10)
Continuity mistake: During the changing of flags at the school, Major Jackson is being told that his country and the country they live in are one. The gentleman telling him this clasps his hands together to show unity. When he clasps his hands together he holds them at about face level but when the camera angle changes his hands are now seen below his chest. (00:11:27)
Revealing mistake: When Lee, Longstreet and Jackson are riding through the streets of Fredricksburg, just after the old man has spoken to them, the damaged houses in the background are obviously from a painting. Easiest way to tell is that the street is full of people, up until a certain point. (00:28:25)
Deliberate mistake: When the two Confederate and Union soldiers meet across the river and trade coffee/tobacco, you can see the other side of the bank behind them. It looks at least 50 feet away, yet before they were able to talk to each other without shouting. Also, the Union soldier raises the pipe to his mouth in his right hand, which switches to his left in the next shot. There is also a mist present at the beginning and end of the meeting, but not in the middle. (00:37:55)
Continuity mistake: When Lee and Longstreet are surveying the map of the area, the position of the compass changes without anyone touching it. (01:02:00)
Continuity mistake: When the Confederate soldier is telling the other soldiers about what will happen when he dies, when he says 'give them to my captain to give to my daddy' a soldier with a light coloured uniform marches by. In the next wide shot, it's a soldier with a dark coloured uniform. (01:05:45)
Continuity mistake: When Jackson is in bed with his wife after the first battle, she leans up and starts to stroke his face with her fingers as she tells him that they serve a loving god. The camera angle changes and her hands are back on the sides of his face. (01:05:46)
Continuity mistake: When Jackson is in bed with Anna, she is telling him that their love is proof that god is a loving god. As she tells him this her right hand is on the left side of his face. The camera angle changes and her hand is now resting on his shoulder. (01:05:52)
Revealing mistake: In the Fredericksburg battle scene, just after the Union officer orders the men to fall back, there is a 1 or 2 second close-up shot of a Confederate soldier taking a hit and falling back. As he does, a modern wristwatch is visible on his left wrist under the sleeve of his coat. (01:49:49)
Revealing mistake: As Jackson and his men ride up to a big house which he is told is at Chancellor's Crossing, there is smoke coming from the chimneys, especially the one at the left. The scene goes on for over 15 seconds and the smoke never moves. Even on a bitter cold night the smoke would rise and move even if slowly. Obviously the big house is a background painting. (01:50:00)
Revealing mistake: When Jackson and his entourage ride in front of a big house at what he is told is Chancellor's Crossing, there is smoke coming out of the chimneys, especially the one on the left. Jackson and Jim stay there for almost 19 seconds and the smoke never moves, neither rising or blowing to the side as real smoke would. Obviously the house and background are a painting. (01:50:52)
Visible crew/equipment: When the 20th Maine Regiment is getting ready to charge down the hill, on the left you can see a man in a light blue shirt sitting with a camera pointed at the soldiers. (02:14:40)
Visible crew/equipment: In the scene near the beginning of the film, when the 2 brothers are fixing to leave to join the army. After the mother gives them the flag, the shot changes to the 2 brothers. You can see the boom mic and the camera in the reflection of their shiny brass buckles.
Other mistake: In the battle for Fredricksburg you can see streaks in the sky from jets.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where the three Confederate soldiers are about to be executed for desertion, a blindfold is placed around the deserter on the right. It is a narrow strip of cloth covering his eyes. The camera pans to the firing squad and then back to the three men. The blindfold on the deserter on the right, is now much wider.
Factual error: At the beginning of the movie, Robert E. Lee addresses Francis P. Blair as 'General' once. Blair however was never a general and in fact never held any military rank.
Other mistake: In the Battle of Bull Run, you can see that they use the same shot twice. It is a wide panoramic shot of the two armies. You see two explosions, one in the middle, and the second by the tree on the right.
Factual error: A.P. Hill was promoted to Major General in May 1862, but during the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863 he is introduced as 'Brigadier General A.P. Hill'.
Answer: Yes, she did exist. Through books.google.com, I found a book "Cemeteries of Caroline County, Virginia: Private Cemeteries" by Herbert Ridgeway Collins, that confirms Jane did live, that she and Jackson were close, and that he arranged for her burial after her death.