Page 37 - All About History - Issue 16-14

Chamberlain

THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, 2 JULY 1863

Written by Tim Williamson

istant artillery fire breaks through the professor of rhetoric at Bowdoin College, teaching veterans had argued they should have been allowed
summer’s day from the south, alerting the Latin, Hebrew, Arabic and Syriac among other to leave when their original regiment, the 2nd
weary men of the Union Army’s Fifth Corps subjects. Deciding he could just as easily turn his Maine, had returned home. Instead, they were sent
to a fresh assault in some other corner of hand to soldiering, and wanting to contribute to straight to Chamberlain’s beleaguered 20th. Rather
D the field. They have marched relentlessly the war effort, he requested leave from the college than treating them in the harsh manner dictated by
throughout the night and most of the day to gather before signing up for active duty. The 20th Maine his superiors, Chamberlain had embraced his fellow
here, just south of the small town of Gettysburg, regiment had been formed in the very same year Mainers and smartly incorporated them into his
for what they know will be one of the largest Chamberlain left his quiet college job, in 1862, companies, looking to use their experience to help
engagements of the war so far. when President Abraham Lincoln had sent out a support his regiment.
The Fifth Corps were initially placed behind second call for volunteers to help him win the war. The position the Fifth Corps is now occupying,
the right flank of the Union line, but had been Though his new regiment numbered some 1,500 Little Round Top, is the northernmost of two large
repositioned all day as the two opposing armies men when it left Maine to campaign against the hills, with higher Big Round Top close by to the
organise for battle. A mixture of anticipation, rebels, its future seemed far from auspicious. Being southwest, from where the rebel Alabama and Texas
sheer fatigue and fear is etched on every face as one of the later regiments to be commissioned regiments are advancing. As Chamberlain’s regiment
the order to move off comes once again. Though from the state, its ranks were largely filled with climbs the slope of the west-facing side of Little
just as weary as the men under his command, extras from other outfits, castoffs, stragglers and Round Top, the sound of Confederate artillery begins
the 20th Maine regiment, Lieutenant Colonel youths. With Chamberlain at its head, himself no to intensify, forming a thunderous prelude to the
Joshua Chamberlain presents a determined front more than an enthusiastic theologian and scholar, imminent attack on the Union left. Without a thick
as he mounts and joins the march south across rather than a promising West Point Military cover of trees to hide behind on Little Round Top,
fields toward the extreme left of the Union line. Academy graduate, it was clear no grand deeds the position is open and exposed.
He knows the vital importance of defeating were expected of these men from Maine. As the Maine men move into position on the
this Confederate invasion of the North and will As they march across the fields at Gettysburg, extreme left of the line, Chamberlain’s youthful
do everything in his power to help defeat the their numbers are now dramatically smaller than commanding officer Colonel Strong Vincent leaves
Southern slave states. a year ago, at just under 370 – a year of hard- him a simple but firm order: “You will hold this
Just a year earlier, Chamberlain could not have fought campaigns have taken their toll. However, ground at all hazards!” The weight of these words
foreseen how he would suddenly be thrust in Chamberlain’s even-handed leadership has shone aren’t lost on either man – both recognise that the
the middle of the most crucial battle of the war through in that time. Not two months previous, end of this little hill marks the end of the army’s
so far. He had no military experience, but had 120 soldiers from another regiment accused of battle line, and it is the job of the 20th to defend it
always been a quick learner and could speak a mutiny were marched under guard and handed against far superior numbers, whatever the cost. The
dozen languages. By the age of 27, he became a over to join the 20th Maine, or be shot. The afternoon will be long and bloody.
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