(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL-5uyp44WA)
"Mounting a large rock, I was able to see a considerable body of the enemy moving by the flank in rear of their line engaged, and passing from the direction of the foot of Great Round Top through the valley toward the front of my left."
-Col. Joshua Chamberlain, 20th Maine Regiment of Volunteers
On the seconds day of the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee of the Army of Northern Virginia ordered his most trusted and capable commander, General James Longstreet, to bring his corps to the south and strike the Union left flank. By now, Union forces have concentrated the majority of their forces on the right flank, near the town, forming the distinguishable hook formation. In hopes of outflanking his enemy, General Lee sent his forces to the enemy's seemingly exposed left flank, where rocky grounds and two large hills lay.
As the Confederates moved towards the south and prepared for an attack, the accidentally slammed against General Daniel Sickles' III Corps. Sickles had moved his corps from its original position on the high ground and into the open fields below, believing that it was the better position, with its clear fields of view. But he soon learned that this was not the case, as his troops soon engaged Longstreet's soldiers, clashing with them in fierce fights. Sickles would later be injured in the battle when a cannon ripped through his foot, amputating him.
The second day of the battle would be known for many engagements, like the ones in the Wheat Field, Devil's Den, the charge of the 1st Minnesota and many more. But the one that is mostly known in popular culture is the engagement that took place at Little Round Top.
Strategically important because of the vantage point it gave, the hill of Little Round Top was a crucial area to control. The first to arrive at this hill was General Gouverneur Warren, who was surveying the area and noticed Confederate forces advancing towards the hill. Calling in for reinforcements, Warren asked for help from the nearest brigades he could find, one of them being the brigade of Col. Strong Vincent, which Col. Joshua Chamberlain's 20th Maine was apart off.
Rushed in and positioned on the far left, Col. Chamberlain and the 20th Maine ended up becoming the left flank of the entire Army of the Potomac, with orders to stand their ground, or else risk the defeat of the army through outflanking. Fighting of waves of enemy assaults, from the men of the 15th Alabama, the 20th Maine managed to hold the line, even fending off a far off flanking maneuver. But as the battle raged on, they soon ran low on ammunition, as the Alabamians prepared for another attack. Seeing that they could no longer stay in their position nor retreat, Chamberlain ordered his men to fix bayonets and charge the enemy head on. Surprised by this sudden attack, the men of the 15th Alabama were stunned and found it hard to react. Charging down the hill, the 20th Maine managed to stop any further attack against the flank, winning the struggle for Little Round Top.
Sporadic fighting continued till the end of the day, but as night fell the fighting stopped. Although battered and tired from their engagements, the Union line held while the Confederates, equally tired as well as devastated from their losses, looked on and waited for their commanding General's next move.
