The picture above is a depiction of LTC Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine at the Battle of Little Round Top. In late June of 1863, the Confederate Army under General Robert E. Lee was massing near Gettysburg, PA. Gettysburg would arguably become the key battle of the Civil War. It was the pivotal moment where momentum in the war would change. It was the bloodiest battle of the entire war. It took place on July 1-3 1863 and more Americans would die in this battle than the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Spanish American War combined. More than 55,000 lives were lost in those three days. The 20th Maine commanded by LTC Joshua Chamberlain, was ordered to get to Gettysburg as quickly as they could. They marched 100 miles in four days to get there. They were carrying heavy loads in the summer heat as they marched towards what they knew would be a large battle. Prior to the war, …show more content…
They stopped the men and Chamberlain’s brother interviewed them to find out why they were moving away from the battle. They explained that they had been separated from their unit. This was obviously not the case so Chamberlain’s brother reminded him that the penalty for desertion is to face the firing squad. Chamberlain decided to talk to the men himself. He found out that all 13 of them were sharpshooters and hailed from Maine as well. He told the men that the 20th Maine was heading to Cemetery Ridge and intended to fight. They were going to do their duty that they had sworn an oath to do. Chamberlain told them that they were welcome to join the 20th Maine but if they came along they had to fight. If they chose not to come along, they could head straight back to Maine because he wouldn’t shoot good Maine men. After some deliberation, all 13 men decided to join Chamberlain and the 20th Maine as they headed towards