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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Today in History: Little Round Top |
| 2007-07-02 |
| The left flank consisted of the 20th Maine regiment and the 83rd Pennsylvania. Seeing the Confederates shifting around his flank, Chamberlain first stretched his line to the point where his men were in a single-file line, then ordered the southernmost half of his line to swing back during a lull following another Confederate charge. It was there that they "refused the line"—formed an angle to the main line in an attempt to prevent the Confederate flanking maneuver. Despite heavy losses, the 20th Maine held through two subsequent charges by the 15th Alabama and other Confederate regiments for a total of ninety minutes. On the final charge, knowing that his men were out of ammunition, that his numbers were being depleted, and further knowing that another charge could not be repulsed, Chamberlain ordered a maneuver that was considered unusual for the day: He ordered his left flank, which had been pulled back, to advance with bayonets. As soon as they were in line with the rest of the regiment, the remainder of the regiment charged, akin to a door swinging shut. This simultaneous frontal assault and flanking maneuver halted and captured a good portion of the 15th Alabama. . . . Thirty years later, Chamberlain received a Medal of Honor for his conduct in the defense of Little Round Top. The citation read that it was awarded for "daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top." |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #11 Eric, according to my tour guide - a retired Marine LtCol by the name of Heinz, (this was back in spring 2005 & he'd been giving tours for about 20 yrs) he said that Chamberlain never ordered a charge. Also said that "the killer angels" (book Gettysburg is derived from) has about 200 historical errors. I guess a good portion of the 20th Maine men were trying to get better firing positions and others were collecting rifles off the dead Rebs and other Yanks that had died. Due to the soles of their leather shoes on the big flat rocks & the steep incline of the hill, some started slipping and ended up running down the hill. The rest of the company being confused followed - some thought a charge had been called - so down they went en masse. My guide claimed this because many were out of ammo and many memoir never mention a call to fix bayonets. I've never cross checked so don't know for sure. AFAIK - It's disputed if an actual reb counter charge was coming up Round Top at the same time. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-07-02 20:41 |
| #10 #9 Eric: "the best part of that movie for me was when Ted Turner's character gets killed" Well, yeah - but that gave me a good laugh, not chills. ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-07-02 19:59 |
| #9 AS, the best part of that movie for me was when Ted Turner's character gets killed, but that will do. Actually, there are a lot of disputes about whether the 'wheel' manuver actually happened, or whether it was simply a general charge. Chamberlain was somewhat self-aggrandizing at times. His bravery is without question, though, and he richly deserved the honor of accepting the surrender at Appamattox. We also didn't see the detached company of sharpshooters who enfiladed the Alabamans during the charge. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2007-07-02 19:51 |
| #8 Thanks, Procopius. I really have to buy that movie. I know that it's partly because of the music, but that scene give me chills every time I see it - and I'm a Southerner. What an admirable man Chamberlain was! |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2007-07-02 19:49 |
| #7 Brings a tear to the eye, everytime - Little Roundtop. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-07-02 18:13 |
| #6 Actually there was a Wisconsin Regt in a refused flank position about 500 meters down the back of the hill from Chamberlain that was the extreme left flank. That little paved road that goes up the back of Lil' Roundtop can you get there - good little walk. 20th Maine was actually on a hinge. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-07-02 16:19 |
| #5 Several years ago I took my family to Gettysburg battlefield; we were up on one of the observation platforms picturing the events when a War College class convened on the ground below for their lesson and discussion. I didn't want to leave - but the family grew antsy. Fortunately for me, during the 10-15 minutes we stood 'in the back of the class' the instructor's lecture was consistent with (and added to) what I had been 'teaching.' |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-07-02 11:51 |
| #4 ...If you EVER get the chance, go to the battlefield and stand in Chamberlain's footsteps - they're clearly marked. To his left is a 40-foot drop, to his right was the rest of the Union line - he was literally the end of the line, the Last Man. Had he failed, Gettysburg would have ended in a Confederate victory, Washington would have been wide open, and our history would have been very, very different. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2007-07-02 11:10 |
| #3 Here's an article written by a former Army officer and West Point instructor, about using the leadership skills of Chamberlain with today's officers. Gettysburg colonel serves as example today It's a good read. H/T to The Tank at National Review |
| Posted by: Sherry 2007-07-02 10:27 |
| #2 And he was a professor and university president, too. G*d, they just don't make academics like they used to! |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2007-07-02 10:03 |
| #1 Chamberlain was a first-class stud. From his Wikipedia entry: In all, Chamberlain served in twenty battles and numerous skirmishes, he was cited for bravery four times, had six horses shot under him, and was wounded six times. Chamberlain died of his lingering wartime wounds in 1914 at Portland, Maine, age 85. He was the last Civil War veteran to die as a result of wounds from the war. A full study of his medical history strongly suggests that it was complications from the wound suffered at Petersburg that resulted in his death. |
| Posted by: Spot 2007-07-02 09:01 |