Posted on 07/02/2022 4:57:48 PM PDT by Kartographer
When their ammunition had almost run out, Chamberlain decided to fix bayonets and charge down into the two Alabama regiments..... .
Chamberlain — whose right foot had been pieced by a shell fragment or a stone chip — then limped along the regimental line giving instructions to align the left side of the regiment with the right. After Chamberlain returned to the regimental center, Melcher asked permission to retrieve his wounded from the front. Chamberlain replied, Yes, I am about to order a right wheel forward of the whole regiment. (Chamberlain himself claimed later to have said, yes, sir, in a moment! I am about to order a charge.)
Chamberlain ordered a right-wheel maneuver and took up a place behind Tozier. There is some disagreement about exactly what Chamberlain said to order the bayonet charge. One story is that he screamed: Bayonet! Forward to the right! Chamberlain claimed later that one word — Bayonet! — was enough and that it was vain to order Forward because The state-appointed Maine commission that later gathered facts regarding Maine’s contribution to the Battle of Gettysburg maintained that Melcher sprang forward as Chamberlain yelled, Bayonet! and that Chamberlain himself was abreast of the colors. With all the confusion and noise on Little Round Top that day, if anything other than bayonet had been said it probably would not have mattered...
hearing the metal-to-metal sound of bayonets being put on en masse knows the intent of the upcoming order without actually hearing it. In all likelihood Lieutenant Melcher conceived the idea to advance the colors to retrieve the wounded, but Chamberlain expanded upon the idea, deciding to have the whole regiment conduct a bayonet attack. In doing so, Chamberlain exercised effective battle command.
(Excerpt) Read more at battlefields.org ...
I have been an American Battlefield Trust donor since they were the Civil War Preservation Trust.
Chamberlain was one of the Civil War best generals.
I will never be able to think of Little Round Top again without seeing the Union bayonet charge scene from the movie “Gettysburg”. That said, there is nothing like visiting. My only thought was, what idiot would try to attack something that steep? Having never experienced military combat, I have no clue how it compares to other hills. I doubt it is big considering all the hills in the Pacific islands or Korea, but I sure would not want to charge up that hill with a small arms and cannon fire raining down on me.
If the Confederates secured Little Round Top first, the annuls of History might look much different.
Other than that, war sucks.
Other, other than that, it would have been interesting today if the Confederacy had won, sued for peace, and established its own nation and flourished. With a separate Confederate States of America today, it would give us at least an optional nation to immigrate to as the USA continues to decline and collapse into totalitarian Socialism.
It’s amazing how the actions of a select few affected the battle so dramatically:
Chamberlin: see above.
John Buford’s retreat to the high ground west of Gettysburg, thus securing the tactical advantage for the Union.
Richard Ewell’s reluctance to continue the battle on the evening of July 1st, possibly costing the Confederates a chance to route the Union on day 1.
Dan “dumbass” Sickles’ moving his corps ahead of Union lines, creating a salient and almost causing disaster for the Union on day 2.
James Longstreet telling Lee not to perform Pickett’s charge, Lee going ahead anyway.
and hence my freeper name
i read about Chamberlain in Shelby Foote’s trilogy
When the order is “hold at all hazards” and you are holding the extreme flank with only a cartridge or 2 in each soldiers ammunition pouch, you choice basically is how do you want to die? Chamberlain performed magnificently.
.......my Great, or GREAT, GREAT...........grandfather was a member of the 5th Texas Regiment under General Hood. This article places the 4th and 5th Texas at Little Round Top. If my grandpa was there, thank God the Yankees were lousy shots or about 20 of us alive today wouldn’t be.
A few years ago I visited Gettysburg and stood on Little Round Top in the early evening. There is a definite vibe to that place and you dense the great struggle that went on where I stood.
Custer not stopping Stuart in the East. Had Lee gotten the coordinated attack he expected, the Union lines would have panicked and fled.
I’m also a proud member… 11 years. They do excellent work. I’m taking my third trip to Gettysburg in October. Unfortunately Little around Top is closed for restoration
Getting tired of reading about Bolsheviks.
Custer not stopping Steward?
Elements of Custer’s brigade created a skirmish line in front of the ridge and armed with new repeating Spencer rifles were able hold back a Confederate advance. Frustrated with the lack of progress, Stuart ordered Fitzhugh Lee to charge the skirmishers and run them from the field, which they accomplished handily.
However, sensing a break of the Union soldiers, Custer rallied his men for a counter charge by screaming, “Come on, you Wolverines!” and leading his directly into the fray clashing with the Confederate cavalrymen. By all accounts, the impact of the two groups of horsemen was thunderous with many horses tumbling in the fray and crushing their riders.
At the sight of Custer’s charge, General Hampton then led his men charging directly into the maelstrom in hopes of dispersing the Union cavalry and routing their remaining men. For 40 minutes the two sides clashed with sabres, pistols, and carbines. Although it was short, it was extremely intense.
Custer lost 2 horses during the engagement but fought tenaciously inspiring his men. General Hampton himself was wounded when he became surrounded by three Union soldiers and one shot him in the back. He raised his sword and cut his way back to his own lines on Cress Ridge and his men followed suit ending the engagement.
Brigadier General Wade Hampton
Brigadier General Wade Hampton
Consequences of the East Cavalry Field Battle
Unable to break through the Union blocking force, Stuart was forced to pull his forces back. His orders to generate havoc in support of Pickett’s charge were unfulfilled and his men had suffered a significant defeat to Union Cavalry, which up to then had been a rarity.
The Union Cavalry had protected the soft underbelly of the main lines on Cemetery Ridge with a smaller force by utilizing the superior weaponry at their disposal and the raw and inspiring courage of Custer that matched the legendary gallantry of Stuart and his men.
The Killer Angels A Novel of the Civil War
by Michael Shaara
Brian Kilmeade has a number of American History books out that are very good
Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers
Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers
Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates
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