Coan said other officers joined Melcher in urging a forward movement. Meanwhile, Meade also sensed something significant about the two adjacent hills to his left. Thomas A. Desjardin, Stand Firm Ye Boys From Maine: The 20th Maine and the Gettysburg Campaign, Gettysburg, Pa.: Thomas Publications, 1995. The status was found in a ; Andrew C. Munsey, Bowdoin, and Moses G. Joshua Chamberlain deserves much acclaim, but not to the exclusion of many others whom history has so far and so unfairly underrated. "It was without pride. In late 1865 Joshua Chamberlain wrote of the 20th Maine, "It was made of the surplus recruits drifted together, the last of a call for 300,000 more. First Sergeant Isaac W. Estes, mortally wounded; died July 14, 1863. William S. Jordan, Corp. Melville C. Law, Priv. On June 3, 1863, Confederate General Robert E. Lee began the Army of Northern Virginias second invasion of the North. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. The 20th Maine had been organized under President Abraham Lincolns second call for troops on July 2, 1862. 19th Regiment Infantry: 20th Regiment Infantry: 21st Regiment Infantry: 22nd Regiment Infantry: 23rd Regiment Infantry: 24th Regiment Infantry: 25th Regiment Infantry . John M. Safford, Corinna, Luther M. Rideout, Garland. James Pete Longstreet and Ambrose P. Hill, were marching on the Chambersburg Road in southern Pennsylvania, while Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell was leading his corps westward from York. United States. [citation needed], The 20th Maine and its color-bearer Andrew Tozier are the subjects of "Ballad of the 20th Maine", a song by the Maine band The Ghost of Paul Revere; it is the official state ballad of Maine. Isaac B Dickinson, John P West, Melville C Day; Privates Ames John T, Chamberlain declined, saying that he would like to learn the position first and took the rank of lieutenant colonel instead. The 20th Maine regiment was mustered out of service on June 16, 1865. This article is about the Civil War regiment. Captain, Atherton W. Clark, Waldoboro, acting Field Officer. First Sergeant, Charles R. Shorey, Waterville. Company B, with its 44 men, was subsequently cut off by a flanking attack by the enemy, leaving the 20th with only 314 armed men on the main regimental line. But Colonel Strong Vincent, who commanded the 3rd Brigade of Brig. The 2nd Maine Infantry Regiment (also known as the Second Maine Regiment, Second Maine Infantry, or The Bangor Regiment) was a Union Army unit during the American Civil War.It was mustered in Bangor, Maine, for two years' service on May 28, 1861, and mustered out in the same place on June 9, 1863.. Five of the ten companies of the regiment were raised in Bangor, including a Gymnasium Company . cook. He was given command of the newly formed 20th Maine, a unit comprised of extra men left over from other new regiments. 2. battery C, ist N. Y.; Joseph Linscott, Newcastle, regimental armorer; James Help Purchase & Restore Sought-after Property at Gettysburg. Captain Nichols wrote in 1882 that Company K never hesitated. The lack of credit perhaps helped create the rift that later developed between him and Chamberlain. Hutchins, Alvah L., Freedom, Longley, Samuel, Sidney. Muster Roll of 20th Maine . Lieutenant Colonel Chamberlain pleadedwith Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield to put the men into the fight and wasrefused. Moses Davis, Priv. . Spear, however, claimed he received no such orders. Colonel Chamberlain took command of the brigade. Corporal Waterhouse became the regiments first casualty when he was wounded in the foot. 1863. First Sergeant, Joseph Walker, Jr., Atkinson. Tarbell, Erastus, Clinton, Sylvester, Ira R., Freedom. The regiment saw limited action at the battles of Antietam in Maryland, and Fredericksburg . Meanwhile, Colonel Vincent tried to rally his 3rd Brigade as the 16th Michigan staggered under the heavy assault by the 4th and 5th Texas. The 20th Maine were also featured in the film Gettysburg and in the novel The Killer Angels. It was not until Gettysburg that the armies met in a full-scale fight. On Special Duty or Detached Service; George W. Carlton, Lew- Alabama. But, using the classic element of surprise, Captain Morrills Company B rose up from behind a stone wall and fired a volley into the Confederates rear, breaking the will of the enemy troops. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. [1] The Civil War Archive section, 20th Regiment Infantry, (accessed 30 May 2012). The 1st Maine Cavalry has the unfortunate distinction of having the most men killed in action of any cavalry unit during the war. Here during December, 1863, 173 of the original members of the regiment re-enlisted. They were farmers, shop clerks, woodsman, and seaman. ; John Stockman, Oldtown, wagon master; Confederate General Ewells failure to carry out his orders and attack Cemetery Hill on the afternoon of July 1 wasted a golden opportunity for a quick, decisive victory. Theodore Gerrish, then a private in Company H, stated that Melcher led the men down the slope when the enemy was only 30 yards away. They were all very helpful and informative in their role as "honor guard" for the exhibit. The regiment's downhill charge during the Battle of Gettysburg is depicted in the 1974 historical novels The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (winner of the 1975 Pulitzer Prize in fiction) and Courage on Little Round Top, and was subsequently an important scene in the feature movie made 18 years later, Gettysburg in 1993. [citation needed]. No county claimed them. Chamberlain seemed to have been blessed with both good timing and luck. Roster of the 20th Maine Regiment Association[. Morrill led his unit at the decisive point of the bayonet charge without orders. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Second Lieutenant, Thomas R. Hogue, Waldoboro. The stars have aligned as we have a remarkable opportunity at Gettysburg to save a piece of land that witnessed monumental points in history. Or, to put it another way, did he deserve all the credit? from December 1st, 1863, date of the return published in Adjutant Moved to Manchester, thence marched to Washington, D.C., May 1-12. First Sergeant Charles W. Steele, killed. On May 23, 1863, 120 three-year enlistees from the 2nd Maine Infantry were marched under guard into the regimental area of the 20th Maine. Commanding officer Col. Ames was trained as a military officer. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. Also helping to defend Little Round Top were Major Homer R. Stoughtons 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters, armed with .52-caliber breechloading rifles. 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment Battles Casualties Battle of Antietam Blackford's Ford Virgina Cold Harbor Five Forks Fredericksburg Gettysburg Petersburg Spotsylvania Court House Wilderness. Charles E. Avery, Sidney, Joseph D. Simpson, Waterville. The 16th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 9 officers and 172 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 257 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. The 20th Maine Infantry Regiment was a volunteer regiment of the United States Army during the American Civil War (1861-1865), most famous for its defense of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1-3, 1863.The 133rd Engineer Battalion of the Maine Army National Guard and the United States Army today carries on the lineage and traditions of the 20th . gor, Edwin H. Dunn, Bangor, and Lewis F. Morse, Veazie, battery D, 5th Had the 20th Maine retreated from the hill, the entire Union line would have been flanked, endangering and hurting other Union regiments in the vicinity. Duty at Ball's Cross Roads until June 5. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. Army. living history of these brave men that we may never forget their contributions. To mark the return to Maine of the 20th Maine's restored Gettysburg battle flag the Maine State Museum opened an exhibit September 5th, 1998. To Heths surprise, waiting for him was Union Brig. [1] The Civil War Archive section, 21st Regiment Infantry, (accessed 30 May 2012) The Wikipedia article, 21st Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, (accessed 6 July 2012) 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. One story is that he screamed: Bayonet! Personal Correspondence and Diaries. Most evidence indicates that Chamberlain ordered the charge, and Melcher was the first officer down the slopes. . The regiment wasmoved to Quarantine Hill, while Colonel Ames wastransferred to General Meades staff at Corps Headquarters. The 20th Regiment, Maine Infantry was organized at Portland, and mustered in August 29, 1862. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. Soon, the 20th traveled by rail and steamer to Washington, D.C., to join the Army of the Potomac as part of Butterfield's "Light Brigade" of the Fifth Corps. It is believed the wound was eventually responsible for Chamberlains death, 50 years later in 1914. Rice, Bangor, quarterm'r depl. Being primarily farmers and lumbermen before they enlisted, most of the men had no military background, but many were used to hard work and surviving in an often unforgiving environment, were familiar with firearms and had the benefit of having volunteered for service. The men took up a position in a ravine east of Little Round Top. to Research and Current Projects, Source: From there, they marched to Antietam (Sharpsburg), Maryland, and were held in reserve with the rest of the 5th Corps during the battle of September 16-17, 1862. Without Tozier, there would not have been an opportunity for Chamberlain to attack. Second Lieutenant, Joseph Fuller, 2d, Brunswick. This Civil War regiment fought in dozens of engagements from 1862 to 1865, including the Battles of Shepherdstown, the Wilderness, and Appomattox Court House, and are known for the bayonet charge by which they defended Little Round Top at Gettysburg. This monument marks the extreme left of the Union line during the battle of the 3d day. The 133rd Engineer Battalion of the Maine Army National Guard and the United States Army today carries on the lineage and traditions of the 20th Maine. correspondence and papers of veterans. Advance to: 20th Maine . Commissary-Sergeant, Elmas M. Kalloch, Warren. George S. Noyes, Priv. Military Units Participating in 1865 Mobile Campaign. Corporal Elisha Coan, a member of the 20th Maines color guard, claimed that 1st Lt. Holman S. Melcher, the acting commander of Company F, actually conceived the idea to advance the colors and that Colonel Chamberlain initially hesitated, fearing that it would be extremely hazardous. It would never again have as many men in its ranks as it did at Little Round Top. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the American Civil War. The 20th Maine regiment was mustered out of service on June 16, 1865. Forward to the right was perhaps someones post-war idea of what Chamberlain would have said if time permitted. Dexter True, 2nd Maine Cavalry. Later in life, Chamberlain wrote that his regiment was the first in line, but it actually took up its position last, curving its line back around to the east and forming the Union Armys extreme left flank. and that Chamberlain himself was abreast of the colors. Union, comm*y dept; Cyrus G. Stewart, Union, quarterm*r dept; Reuben Source: Willey, William E., Belgrade, Young, Ervin S.. Solon. Answering that question adequately requires taking another look at the Battle of Gettysburg and the hell-raising fighting that occurred among the scattered stones of Little Round Top. Ref. Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History, Forging a Path to Preservation at Lees Headquarters, Gettysburg - Devils Den and Little Round Top, July 3, 1863. William F. Merrill, Priv. George H. Wood, Hartford, Andrew J. Roberts, Sunmer. Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified. After Chamberlain ordered Bayonet,the Union line hesitated until Melcher sprang out in front of the line with his sword flashing. George W. Card, Dexter, Joseph A. dept; Thomas Arnold, Warren; Oeorge H. Dow, Warren. Acting Sergeant-Major, Samuel L. Miller, Waldoboro, company E. Color Sergeant, Andrew J. Tozier, Plymouth, company L. Colonels orderly, Reuel Thomas, Thomaston, Sergeant company I. Quartermaster-Sergeant, Howard L. Prince, Cumberland. 2nd Brigade, Smith's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March 1862. List of participants by company as well as casualties suffered. Captain, Walter G. Morrill, Williamsburg. Later actions in which the regiment participated included Second Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, the Siege of Petersburg, Peebles's Farm, Lewis's Farm/Quaker Road, White Oak Road, Five Forks, and Appomattox Court House. The 21st Regiment, Maine Infantry was organized at Augusta, and was mustered in October 13, 1862. Out of a total enlistment of 1,621 men, nine officers and 138 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded and one officer and 145 enlisted men died of disease, for a total of 293 lost. Walton, Waldoboro. Throughout the winter and spring of 1863 the Union and Confederate Armies were making their way north with only a few minor engagements. Corporal Vincent W. Pinhom, wounded, hip. The mutineers were not just soldiers but also Chamberlains childhood neighbors. Organized at Readville under Colonel William R. Lee, mexican War veteran and distant relative of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Infantry, Maine Volunteers, showing the changes which have taken place Throughout the morning, Confederate pressure continued to build against the Union line. The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment lost 9 officers and 138 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 145 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. There is some disagreement about exactly what Chamberlain said to order the bayonet charge. 2d Numerous books and even the popular movie Gettysburg have helped fuel adulation for the Union officer. 16th Tennessee Regiment CSA. First Lieutenant, William W. Morrell, Brunswick. Hand-written roster and service record of the 41st Regiment, Co. E, New York State Volunteers. The regiment lost four men killed and 32 wounded, charging deadly Maryes Heights late in the day on the 13th and spending the next day and two nights lying in the open in front of Confederate positions. Edwards, Abial H. iston, and Samuel A. Littlefield, Winterport, medical dept. Spear literally controlled half the regiment during the climactic counterattack. Record of Capt. The general did not want to fight at Gettysburg, but alert Union horsemen had reached the area a fact that would put a wrinkle in Lees plans. On Special Duty or Detached Service: Crosby N. Crocker, team- Fiscel farm). He not only had made the right command decisions but also had managed to survive when by all rights he should have been dead. Lees main objective was to move across the Potomac River and try to separate the Union forces from Washington. As the fighting intensified, both sides added more infantry divisions to the battle. Total 440. Colonel Adelbert Ames of Rockland, commander of the regiment, knew the soldiers were an independent lot and would not always obey orders with questioning or commenting on them. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Bartiett, Charles H., Sidney, Benson, Thomas S., Sidney. I swear the men will shoot him the first battle we are in.". 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. Arad H. Linscott;Co. G, 2nd Lieut. Elements of Hoods division, the 15th and 47th Alabama, then began to smash into the Maine troops. Hospital Steward, Granville M. Baker, Standish. When Chamberlain went to the Governor of Maine to acquire a commission in the Army, the Governor offered him the rank of Colonel. Includes battles in which the regiment participated, the names of those killed in action and the deaths of other . By law, however, the men still owed the Army another year of service. Recruits transferred to 20th Maine Infantry. For more information on the history of this unit, see: 20th Regiment, Maine Infantry timeline from organization to discharge. Harmony, battery I, 5th U. S.; John Harmon, Buxton, Samuel F. Mallett,