Little Round Top Essay

Brigadier General Gouverneur K. Warren

Many attribute the Union’s defense of Little Round Top during The Battle of Gettysburg to Chamberlain, a colonel in the 20th Maine Infantry and defended Little Round Top. It may be true that Chamberlain played an important role in defending Little Round Top, nevertheless all the credit should not go to him. Gouverneur K. Warren was a bona fide key player to the success at Little Round Top, because of his ability to realize the Union’s weak point and form a strong defense in time to fight off the Confederates. If it were not for Warren the Confederates, from the words of Robert McNamara “could have overrun the left flank of the entire Union Army, and possibly won the battle and conceivably the entire Civil

The two named Gouverneur Kemble after a prominent local congressman and industrialist. Warren would grow up and join the military after graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1850. Warren would then go on to pop up in numerous battles from the beginning of the war to nearly the very end. Warren started off by getting commissioned into the Corps of Topographical Engineers, and worked along the Mississippi River, as well as taking part in creating one of the first comprehensive maps of the United States west of the Mississippi River. He commanded his regiment during the Siege of Yorktown, and commanded a brigade of Sykes’ Division during the Seven Days Battles. Warren took part at the battle of Gaines’ Mill, and at the Battle of Malvern Hill. He commanded a brigade under Fitz John Porter at the Battle of Second Manassas, as well as during the Battle of Antietam. For his accomplishments during these battles, Warren had received a promotion to brigadier general of volunteers on September 26, 1862. Warren led his brigade through the Battle of Fredericksburg, and then served as an engineer for General Joseph Hooker during the Battle of Chancellorsville. (Hull 1) After this battle Gouverneur Warren next took part in the Battle of Gettysburg, where he would prevent the Union from getting utterly taken

The position and view of the hill allowed for anyone to oversee the entire Union Army, therefore this would be a huge advantage to the Union. As Warren observed atop the hill, he watched as the Union made an inordinate left flank by the foot of the hill. The Union were not the only ones making a move, however, the Confederates were advancing towards the hill and shrouded from the Union’s sight by a line of trees. The Confederates managing to capture the practically barren hill meant the likely end to the Union at Gettysburg. The position would allow the Confederates to attack the Union in the side and rear with their artillery, which significantly weakening the Union to the point of no hope. If this were to happen then the Union would have to evacuate Cemetery Ridge, and the field would be left to Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederates. (Savior