Beyond the Battle of Little Round Top by Col. Chamberlain

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members;

Most are familiar with Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's famous stand at Gettysburg, holding the "Little Round Top," but--there is more!

[Except from Official Records of the Rebellion;]
but the gallant commander of the regiment ordered the bayonets to be fixed, and, at the command "Forward, " that wearied and worn body of men rushed onward with a shout. The enemy fell back. Pressing on, and wheeling to the right in open intervals, the left wing came again in line with the right wing, and then the whole regiment, deployed at intervals of 5 paces, followed up the advantage they had gained. The enemy threw down their arms and surrendered in large numbers; the others fled rapidly from the contest; 368 prisoners, including 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant-colonel, and a dozen other officers of lesser rank were sent to the rear; 50 of their dead lay upon the field, and large numbers of their wounded; 30 of this gallant regiment were killed, over 100 were wounded, but not one was taken a prisoner, and none were missing.
It was now nearly dark. A portion of the enemy appeared to have occupied the summit of the rocky hill to the left. The men of this brave regiment, exhausted by their labors, had thrown themselves upon the ground, and many of them sunk at once in sleep. Colonel Rice, now in command of the brigade, directed Colonel Chamberlain to drive the enemy from this height. The order was at one given. Roused again to action, and advancing with fixed bayonets and without firing, lest the smallness of their numbers might be suspected, they rushed up the hill. Twenty-five more prisoners, including some staff officers, were added to the number previously taken, with a loss to the regiment of 1 officer mortally wounded and 1 man taken prisoner by the enemy. It was ascertained that these troops occupying the hill had been sent from Hoods division, which was then massed a few hundred yards distant, and that their object was to reconnoiter the position as a preliminary to taking possession of the height. In addition to the prisoners above mentioned as taken by this regiment, 300 stand of arms were also captured by them. It is due to this regiment and to its commander that their service should be thus recorded in some detail. Upon receiving a re-enforcement of five regiments of the Third Division, under command of Colonel Fisher, Colonel Rice detached two of them to the aid of Colonel Chamberlain, in order to maintain the position he had gained, and he was thus enabled to hold it, and the enemy, having been repelled upon every point of his attack, and night coming on, withdrew from the conflict. [end of excerpt] Report filed by:

JAMES BARNES,
Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.
Lieutenant Colonel FRED. T. LOCKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Corps.

Observations and Comments: From what the official reports from various officers independent of Colonel Chamberlain; after the battle of holding Little Round Top, his remaining command was sent to Big Round Top by Colonel Rice, who took over after Colonel Vincent was mortally wounded; to capture Big Round Top, held by the enemy; and apparently--did not have much ammunition and many soldiers left and charged up hill to capture the enemy and in doing so--held the important high ground and gave the Union the advantage. So--two things happened, as to draw attention and well deserved recognition --Little Round Top and Big Round Top. Truely, they were exhausted from LRT and no rest--attacked BRT.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[J_Man0507]

Chamberlain did play a very important role in the battle of LRT, there is no doubt about that. I would not degrade the man for his stand there. However, I do think that at times, not enough attention is given to the other men of the brigade and also to the men who fought on that same ground. We forget about the 44th New York, the 16th Michigan, the 83rd Pennsylvania and the 140th New York that also held the hill. Due to the movie Gettysburg, all that anybody thinks about is Chamberlain and the 20th Maine.

A couple of years ago, I made a trip up to Gettysburg, and did a more extensive walking tour of this part of the field. I went back to the location of Company B; I went to the positions of the other regiments of Vincent's Brigade. And I was the only one. Yet everybody was over at the 20th Maine's position. I even had the "honor" of hearing a tourist ask if the tour guide knew where Kilrain had died. Gotta laugh out of that. Obviously they didn't read the book or pay attention to the movie very well.

My point is though that we can't forget all that happened on LRT. The actions of the whole brigade saved the day, as did those of the 140th New York, Weed's Brigade, and Hazletts battery. Lets us not forget their sacrafice.

[larry_cockerham]

There was another side to this fracas that many of you northern boys probably missed ie, the 15th Alabama Infantry. Those were the equally exhaused and sparsely supplied young men coming up the hill under the gallant (gambler, roughian, attorney and eventually two-term governor of Alabama) William C. Oates. My wifes's gg grandpa private Hershel V. Glenn was in the mix as well. Oates, quite different from the articulate Chamberlain, took his yankee butt to court for years afterward arguing about placement of monuments upon the field of battle. To the victors go the spoils and the tv coverage. Oates left quite a bit of writing concerning his exploits. Good reading from a different perspective.

[J_Man0507]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

There was another side to this fracas that many of you northern boys probably missed ie, the 15th Alabama Infantry. Those were the equally exhaused and sparsely supplied young men coming up the hill under the gallant (gambler, roughian, attorney and eventually two-term governor of Alabama) William C. Oates. My wifes's gg grandpa private Hershel V. Glenn was in the mix as well. Oates, quite different from the articulate Chamberlain, took his yankee butt to court for years afterward arguing about placement of monuments upon the field of battle. To the victors go the spoils and the tv coverage. Oates left quite a bit of writing concerning his exploits. Good reading from a different perspective.

I agree with you whole heartedly Larry, but I take it a step further; we have to remember all the men that charged up that hill too; the 4th and 5th Texas, and the 4th, 47th and 48th Alabama as well. We hear alot about the 15th vs. the 20th, but not enough about the others, IMO.

Also, Chamberlain did alot of embellishing apparently. Even some of his old soldiers of the 20th got a little bit perturbed with him. Seems he may have had a bit of glory hound in him after all?

[M E Wolf]

Dear J_Man0507,

On reading the "Official Reports of the Rebellion," it really is interesting to note that others did write an awful lot on what they saw of Colonel J L Chamberlain. General Barnes, Ames, Griffin, Colonel Rice who immediately took command over Col. Strong Vincent's command as well. They observed him and wrote what they saw. It was independent reporting from what I saw.

Reading Chamberlain's official report about Gettysburg, he did give praise and notice to every unit under his command--not just the 20th Maine.

And, I do agree there is not much accounting of the stories of those Confederates who tried getting up those rocky heights (LRT/BRT). I think the movie Gettysburg made absolutely sure that those charges by the Confederates up on Little Round Top was filled with courage and determination. And, the admiration is there.

For me, I have a lot of admiration for all the soldiers who went against the odds. Being that I have no relatives that fought the Great Civil War; I am not one sided with my admiration -- both sides have countless heros.

I think I'm blessed to have never been placed in a situation where I would have to fight against family, neighbors, friends and those who I am acquainted with.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[J_Man0507]

M.E.

From what I have seen, his official reports were fine and gave credit where most credit was due. It was after the war that things started to get a little bit hairy, and he started taking credit where it wasn't his. IIRC, he had a little tiff with Ellis Spear of the issue.

And I do think that the movie did a fair job of showing the gallantry of Law's Brigade charging the heights. It being Chamberlain's part of the story, it was, of course, shown from the Union perspective. And it has only been recently that books about the 15th Alabama and the 20th Maine and their fight on LRT have come out. I think the movie really brought it into light, that it wasn't just Chamberlain up there, but two brigades, on opposing sides, fighting for their respective causes.

You have brought some good points to light M.E. Much obliged!

J_Man

[larry_cockerham]

One simple aspect of the Gettysburg (the movie) depiction of Col. Chamberlain was the picture that here was a gentleman who was comfortable in his life without the silly war. He was a cultured man, doing his best to survive. Many were drawn into this conflict with no particular bias towards anyone. The Georgia and Alabama boys who made the assault were just as ready to be elsewhere. Col. William Oates would have been far happier back in Alabama with his roudy friends.

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members,

I do believe that most who were in battle, wished to be anywhere but in battle and rather be home and 'be themselves.'

I realize there were a few who just needed so much 'splash' or 'attention' they needed to create something as to get that attention.

But, what the movie 'Gettysburg' did for me, is giving me balance--both sides had wonderful men and courage wasn't lacking on either side. It is that balance--a fairness if you will; which made for me--there was no looser or winner here--regardless of the battle count (win or loose); the people focused on--were winners. Brig. L. Armistead, Brig. R. Garnett, Maj. General G. Pickett, Maj. General James Longstreet, those soldiers who were connected to the Revolutionary Past through blood relatives; the winners, General John Buford, a Southern man by birth--US Soldier by choice, Colonel J. L. Chamberlain, another soldier by choice, his brother Tom, and John Chamberlain to medically unsound to serve as a soldier but, served as a Christian Commission representative/hospital care; Colonel Vincent, Colonel Rice, the 2nd Maine boys who were under charges for court martial, Captain Clark, Captain Spear, Sgt. Togier (who Colonel Chamberlain nominated for Medal of Honor), General Winfield Scott Hancock, General John Buford, Colonel Gamble and Colonel Devin of the cavalry, to which nobody ever cited them officially for their good deeds of Gettysburg; General John Reynolds and in total -- the courage of all sides.

General Buford would get his well deserved promotion to Major General on his deathbed. Dying at age 37; Colonel Gamble would remain a Colonel until months prior to the closing of the Civil War until he finally was promoted to Brigadier General; Colonel Devin rose to Brig. General--assigned to General Sherman; Colonel Merritt, would be promoted and take over the command vaccated by the death of General Buford --

Colonel Chamberlain, raising to the rank of Major General; having a field promotion, first ever for General Grant, upon hearing pleas from General Meade, Griffin, Ames, Warren on behalf of Colonel Chamberlain--who had two hip wounds and fearing it might be mortal; then selected by Grant to conduct the surrendering of arms at Appomatox. Non-West Pointer who became a most efficient officer.

General Winfield S. Hancock, who would be wounded at Gettysburg, remain in pain throughout the war, at one point so bad--he had to travel in an ambulance; only several surgeries when reassigned by Grant to Washington, did he finally get the final internal injuries addressed.

General Pickett, to whom would brood over the destruction of his command, who would never permit ill words to be said about President Lincoln to whom secured his appointment to West Point.

General James Longstreet, to whom suffered from personal losses in his life and wasn't able to bury his dead littleones; to whom General Pickett would do for Longstreet, as he was 'required' at the command of the Confederate Army. The bond between Pickett and Longstreet had to be strong. Many attacking Longstreet's reputation and not given credit to which was due--only time and official reports, testimony and such would in time would give more truthful light on things. The relationship with Grant, as his best man, the behavior of Southerners perhaps forced him to take a more Northern vein--in the post Civil War era; and without Lee's support and credibility--and the verification of Lee's responsibilities in the loss at Gettysburg, he moved on. Yet, his corps knew and loved Longstreet despite attacks of his credibility.

General L. Armistead--what a man. Having sworn an oath to his beloved friend General Hancock; to be struck down if he would ever raise his hand against him (Hancock) he was struck down but, breached the stone wall and hand on a canon..would face Hancock's Corps briefly. And, now--his oath true. Died of his wounds. Only Hancock of the trio (Hancock, Reynolds and Armistead), would be the only survivor.

General Richard Garnett's personal tragidy--where General T.Jackson (Stonewall) preferred charges against Garnett but was killed before Garnett, his second in command could clear his name for pulling his corps out of a no win situation and attempting to save lives of his soldiers; felt that the only way to clear any doubts; was to commit a 'military' style suicide--dying in a charge forward. His horse survived but, there was no evidence of his body--perhaps blown into bits from the cannon shot he was in front of.

The captured Confederate soldier, to whom was enveloped well by the actor "Tennessee" where the politics were not involved--just wanted to 'live and let live' and for others to do the same.

The soldiers of the 2nd Maine--under court martial charges; picking up the rifle when they were needed the most--and justly.

The troops who charged uphill--from Georgia, Alabama also--all the brave ones...

It is impossible to tell everybody's story in all honesty. But, the 'humanity' in just the few examples--gives me even deeper appreciation of those who just were doing the best they could under orders and for their beliefs. No different than the failed charges of the Union troops up at Marye's Heights of Fredericksburg-a slaughter; no different from Pickett's Charge; those failed charges at Shiloh, Pea Ridge, Missionary Ridge, Battles of Bull Run/Manassas, Petersburg, Vicksburg and so many others--they all had a life--they all had courage. And, I am finding both sides admired the other side for all they were and their courage.

I hope 'nobody forgets.'

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[larry_cockerham]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

Dear List Members,

I hope 'nobody forgets.'

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

As you tend to do, this was very well crafted. Over 40,000 SCV and SUV members agree with you.

[Blue.Raider88]

Old honest Abe said,"the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here."

On my only visit to Gettysburg I looked down upon the tossed stones of LRT and saw the carnage in my mind's eye. In that moment, among my fellow Lieutenants, I tasted the bitter flavor of shame and regret. Shame in that my country had not honored her most noble enemies and regret that I was helpless to do anything about it.

On Little Round Top, which is the most visited spot on any battlefield anywhere, there is no monument to the 15th Alabama.