In History: The Battle of Little Round Top
In 1863, with the American Civil War into it's third year, General Robert E Lee, the Commanding General of the Army of North Virginia set upon the invasion of the North, with the hope of capturing Washington D.C and ending the war. The Union forces decided to put up a stand against Lee's juggernaut at a little town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg. At the end of the Union left flank stood a hill called Little Round Top, which was defended by the U.S 1st Brigade, 1st Division. The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment commanded by Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, with just 385 men were positioned to the left of the Union lines.
On 2nd June 1963, the Alabama Brigade of Confederate General John Bell Hood's Texas Division were ordered to take Little Round Top. The 15th Alabama Regiment then maneuvered to the East in search for the Union flank Col William C Oates, commander of the 15th ordered an attack on the Union's Western flank held by the 20th Maine and 44th Pennsylvania. The attack was marked by steadfast confederate persistence and tenacious Union defenses. Col Oates in order to overcome the stubborn resistance of the union forces ordered his forces to maneuver to the left in an attempt to outflank his enemy. Colonel Chamberlain in response extended his line to prevent the flanking maneuver to the extend that his line to the extend that his line was one man thin. Having repelled tides upon tides of Confederate attacks, Chamberlain realized that the casualties were rising and they were running out of ammunition. Knowing that he has little chance of resisting another onslaught, Chamberlain ordered his troops to fix bayonets to the passionate yet defiant cry - 'Bayonets!' with the intention of ordering his troops to charge down the hill beginning from the left flank, in a swinging door maneuver to the right
The charge took place with the Union forces charging down the hill and their momentum held the confederate forces bespectacled as such a maneuver was deemed unorthodox in warfare of that day. The maneuver crippled the 15th Alabama and lead to the eventual Union defeat of the Alabama Brigade, a force which outnumbered their Union counterparts several times over.
In 1863, with the American Civil War into it's third year, General Robert E Lee, the Commanding General of the Army of North Virginia set upon the invasion of the North, with the hope of capturing Washington D.C and ending the war. The Union forces decided to put up a stand against Lee's juggernaut at a little town in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg. At the end of the Union left flank stood a hill called Little Round Top, which was defended by the U.S 1st Brigade, 1st Division. The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment commanded by Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, with just 385 men were positioned to the left of the Union lines.
On 2nd June 1963, the Alabama Brigade of Confederate General John Bell Hood's Texas Division were ordered to take Little Round Top. The 15th Alabama Regiment then maneuvered to the East in search for the Union flank Col William C Oates, commander of the 15th ordered an attack on the Union's Western flank held by the 20th Maine and 44th Pennsylvania. The attack was marked by steadfast confederate persistence and tenacious Union defenses. Col Oates in order to overcome the stubborn resistance of the union forces ordered his forces to maneuver to the left in an attempt to outflank his enemy. Colonel Chamberlain in response extended his line to prevent the flanking maneuver to the extend that his line to the extend that his line was one man thin. Having repelled tides upon tides of Confederate attacks, Chamberlain realized that the casualties were rising and they were running out of ammunition. Knowing that he has little chance of resisting another onslaught, Chamberlain ordered his troops to fix bayonets to the passionate yet defiant cry - 'Bayonets!' with the intention of ordering his troops to charge down the hill beginning from the left flank, in a swinging door maneuver to the right
The charge took place with the Union forces charging down the hill and their momentum held the confederate forces bespectacled as such a maneuver was deemed unorthodox in warfare of that day. The maneuver crippled the 15th Alabama and lead to the eventual Union defeat of the Alabama Brigade, a force which outnumbered their Union counterparts several times over.
posted by Gerald at 3:44 AM
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