Little Round Top Battle | Gettysburg | Mapping History | July 2, 1863 | Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

What was Little Round Top?
Why is Little Round Top so important?

July, 1863.

Robert E. Lee is on the offensive, moving the front of the Eastern Theatre of the Civil War from Confederate Virginia into Union Pennsylvania. We will zoom in to south central Pennsylvania.

The battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863. Forward Union forces take positions northwest and north of town. They are hit by Confederate forces, and the rebels push the Union lines through town. The Yankees take positions on high ground southeast of town. As night falls, the armies grow in size.

On the afternoon of July 2, General Sickles moves his corps off cemetery ridge to high ground at a peach orchard. He did this without orders, and other generals were unsure his motives.

Meanwhile, Captain Hall of the US Army signal corps is stationed on little round top. beyond the way, he catches a glimpse of large numbers of confederate troops moving behind the cover of ridges and trees past seminary ridge. He sends word to Meade that the rebels are on the move. Hall's signal station is the only union presence on Little Round Top, a hill on the extreme left flank of the union army.

And then at 4pm, General Longstreet appears from behind Seminary ridge, directly facing Sickles' exposed position.

Hood's division begins the attack, moving toward Sickles lines at the peach orchard, wheat field, and devil's den. As the engagement begins between Longstreet and Sickles, one of Hood's brigade commanders, Law, also sees the undefended heights.

It is 4 o'clock. The engineer Gouverneur Warren gets on to little round top. He sees, to his horror, rebel units approaching the undefended heights. He has Hall's station signal for help. Warren hustles to find any outfits that can cover the heights.

At this time, two Alabama regiments from Law's Brigade are actually on Big Round Top, 15th Alabama under Oates and the 47th Alabama under Bulger. thee regiments have just driven the 2nd US from the area of Big Round Top. the Alabamians take a look from their high vantage point. They can see the signal men below on little round top flapping a signal flap for help.

In the valley between the two heights, three more rebel regiments join them. These outfits are the 4th Alabama under Scruggs and from Robertson's brigade the 4th Texas under Key and the 5th Texas under Powell.

But warren has helped drag two pieces of Hazlett's battery to the crest of the hill. Warren also caught a brigade on its way to reinforce Sickles. this brigade agrees to alter course and move to little round top. The brigade commander who has taken the responsibility is Colonel Strong Vincent, commander of the 3rd Brigade of the First Division of Syke's Corps. His four regiments assemble along the south facing slope of little round top.

From west to east, these regiments are the 16th michigan with 356 men under Welch, the 44th New York with 313 men under Rice, the 83rd Pennsylvania with 308 men under Woodward, and the 20th Maine with 358 men under Chamberlain.

The 44th NY and 83rd PA throw led down the hill at the attackers. Texas and Alabama return fire. The rebels charge. They are thrown back. They charge again. They are thrown back.

The 4th Texas moves against the 16th Michigan, in attempt to break the Union flank. Texas hits hard. Michigan is not afforded the cover of trees, as this slope is clear. Michigan begins to waver. Vincent himself goes to the flank, rallying the line. He tells the men not to give an inch. Then Vincent falls.

Rice of the 44 NY takes Vincent's place as brigade commander. Conner assumes command of the 44 NY.

The 140th NY arrives. Behind them, still a distance away, is Weed's brigade. The Union finally have reinforcements arriving. The 526 men of the 140th NY under O'Rorke will stabilize the wavering Michigan line, driving back the Texans. The Union right is secure.

Now Alabama begins to move against the opposite flank. The 47th Alabama hits 20th Maine. Oates maneuvers his 15th Alabama even further down the line, threatening the extreme left of the blue line.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain takes a chance. Low on supply and unsure if he can hold another attack, he orders a charge. The Maine men tumble down the hill at the attackers. The 15 Alabama is caught off guard. The 20th Maine chases the 15th Alabama all the way up Big round top. Scores of prisoners are taken.

Reinforcements from Colonel Fisher's 3rd Brigade arrive to assist the 20th Maine. The 5th PA and 12th PA reserves flush out defenders from Big Round Top.

Rice has the 83rd PA and the 44th NY move down the slope of little round top where they gather the hurt and supplies. As night falls, the union holds both heights.

A critical moment of the American Civil War had concluded.

Film by Jeffrey Meyer, librarian, Iowa.
Images from the Library of Congress
Satellite images from Google Maps

[GillieWilson-zedf]

That bayonet charge of Chamberlains, the swinging door, was one of the finest spontaneous acts of field strategy in all military history . Chamberlain a true and honorable hero .

[lurkingdeath]

Chamberlain was awarded the CMH for this action. However, he went on to more actions particularly at Petersburg a year later. He was gravely wounded for the 6th time and not expected to live. But, he did live. By this time Grant had promoted Chamberlain to Major General. Grant tapped Chamberlain to accept the official Confederate surrender of arms at Appomattox. Chamberlain called the Union troops to attention and had them salute the Confederate troops as they marched by. Confederate General John Gordon rode up, reared his horse, and returned the salute to Chamberlain. This one Union respectful act is said to have greatly mollified the whole confederate army and the healing began then and there.

[billgardner]

This is the best and clearest explanation of this action I've seen. Your details are amazing and go a long way toward clearing up my long standing confusion of this important phase of Gettysburg. Many thanks!

[fearlessfosdick]

The more I study this battle the more convinced I become that, while he was let down by some of his general officers, it was Lee himself who bolloxed it all up. He knew it, too.

[dougalmacrobbie]

Standing at the top of Little Round Top, it boggles my mind how the Rebs thought they could advance up a boulder strewn hill of an angle of about 50-55 degrees. In searing July heat. The courage and stubborness of the men of the AOP won out. I'm amazed the Rebs got as far up LRT as they did.

[surveyore]

First I've seen of your collection. Excellent use of aerial and Topo maps. As a retired military, Civil War 'buff' and surveyor, I find this approach to informative and educational mediums to be 'top notch'! Subscribed!

[DJ-bhju]

Another reason the Rebs couldn't take the hill is that you can't climb hills easily with smooth soled Brogans. I was coming back to NY from a re-enactment in Cedar Creek and stopped at Little Round Top to wander around for a few minutes. As I was trying to make the climb from the parking lot to the 20th Maine's positions (before the Park Service put the walkway in 6 years ago) I was wearing my Brogans. I never made it to the crest, I was slipping so badly. I had to go back to the car and put my sneakers on. Even then I was sliding around a lot. Imagine doing that with full battle kit, exhausted, in 90+ degree weather, and under heavy fire....

[luizfortes]

Clearest explanation of Little Round Top I've seen. Congratulations! Bring us more like this.

[kubanpanzer]

I must have heard/seen half a dozen descriptions of the combat at little round top. It wasn’t until your video that I finally understood what happened. You have a gift Jeffrey. Amazing documentary

[shorewall]

I really like how you balance the high level stuff, like troop movements and encounters, and the gritty personal touch, like a unit losing half its men, and how that one officer lost a brother, which reminds us of the cost of war.

[temijinkahn]

Having walked this battlefield my biggest surprise was just how small it actually is. The valor of the men on both sides is remarkable. Lee broke his army.

[davidllewis]

We lived in 70s in Warrenton MO. A town named, as his statue says, after "the man who saved the Union." Took me years to find out who Warren was.

[senorboardhead]

I have been to the 20th Maine’s B Company position behind a the small stone wall very much detached from the main line. It was farther down the hill that the starting position indicated and the wall was sort of perpendicular to the Union line. Those fellows must have been worried as the Alabamans continued to flank right, but as Chamberlain charged the Co. B fire gave the Rebs the idea that there was another force to their right, and supposedly helped the success of the wheeling charge down the hill.

[mchrome]

The best most thorough and detailed description of this part of the battle in any video I’ve watched so far. I had never grasped the importance of these hills until this video using the visual of maps combined with commentary as the battle evolved. Great job. Thanks.

[henryhaven]

The 15th Alabama had no water, their water detail with most of the regiments canteens had been captured earlier that morning while searching for water . My gggrandfather and other kin served in the 15th Alabama ! I walked this ground and understand why it was so difficult to attack over !

[rickschuman]

Where as Buford's stand was pivotal to the outcome of the war, Chamberlain's sweeping right wheel maintained the momentum.

[randyripley]

11:28 the sophisticated Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is my fav ACW hero.
greetings from germany.

[claytonbenignus]

I think you pointed out two decisive mistakes of the Confederacy, Lee ignored the Round Tops. Big Round Top was abandoned to attack Little Round Top. Artillery was desperately needed there. Longstreet should have relieved Lee of Command.

[michaelbourke]

This is an outstanding explanation of troop movements on that day. Thank you!

[sgtcrab]

Lee's failure to take the Little RT when undefended was a huge mistake. His decision to attack the union centre, Pickett's Charge, was one of the single greatest mistakes ever by any general on either side.