What was Little Round Top?
Why is Little Round Top so important?
July, 1863.
Robert E. Lee is on the offensive, moving the front of the Eastern Theatre of the Civil War from Confederate Virginia into Union Pennsylvania. We will zoom in to south central Pennsylvania.
The battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863. Forward Union forces take positions northwest and north of town. They are hit by Confederate forces, and the rebels push the Union lines through town. The Yankees take positions on high ground southeast of town. As night falls, the armies grow in size.
On the afternoon of July 2, General Sickles moves his corps off cemetery ridge to high ground at a peach orchard. He did this without orders, and other generals were unsure his motives.
Meanwhile, Captain Hall of the US Army signal corps is stationed on little round top. beyond the way, he catches a glimpse of large numbers of confederate troops moving behind the cover of ridges and trees past seminary ridge. He sends word to Meade that the rebels are on the move. Hall's signal station is the only union presence on Little Round Top, a hill on the extreme left flank of the union army.
And then at 4pm, General Longstreet appears from behind Seminary ridge, directly facing Sickles' exposed position.
Hood's division begins the attack, moving toward Sickles lines at the peach orchard, wheat field, and devil's den. As the engagement begins between Longstreet and Sickles, one of Hood's brigade commanders, Law, also sees the undefended heights.
It is 4 o'clock. The engineer Gouverneur Warren gets on to little round top. He sees, to his horror, rebel units approaching the undefended heights. He has Hall's station signal for help. Warren hustles to find any outfits that can cover the heights.
At this time, two Alabama regiments from Law's Brigade are actually on Big Round Top, 15th Alabama under Oates and the 47th Alabama under Bulger. thee regiments have just driven the 2nd US from the area of Big Round Top. the Alabamians take a look from their high vantage point. They can see the signal men below on little round top flapping a signal flap for help.
In the valley between the two heights, three more rebel regiments join them. These outfits are the 4th Alabama under Scruggs and from Robertson's brigade the 4th Texas under Key and the 5th Texas under Powell.
But warren has helped drag two pieces of Hazlett's battery to the crest of the hill. Warren also caught a brigade on its way to reinforce Sickles. this brigade agrees to alter course and move to little round top. The brigade commander who has taken the responsibility is Colonel Strong Vincent, commander of the 3rd Brigade of the First Division of Syke's Corps. His four regiments assemble along the south facing slope of little round top.
From west to east, these regiments are the 16th michigan with 356 men under Welch, the 44th New York with 313 men under Rice, the 83rd Pennsylvania with 308 men under Woodward, and the 20th Maine with 358 men under Chamberlain.
The 44th NY and 83rd PA throw led down the hill at the attackers. Texas and Alabama return fire. The rebels charge. They are thrown back. They charge again. They are thrown back.
The 4th Texas moves against the 16th Michigan, in attempt to break the Union flank. Texas hits hard. Michigan is not afforded the cover of trees, as this slope is clear. Michigan begins to waver. Vincent himself goes to the flank, rallying the line. He tells the men not to give an inch. Then Vincent falls.
Rice of the 44 NY takes Vincent's place as brigade commander. Conner assumes command of the 44 NY.
The 140th NY arrives. Behind them, still a distance away, is Weed's brigade. The Union finally have reinforcements arriving. The 526 men of the 140th NY under O'Rorke will stabilize the wavering Michigan line, driving back the Texans. The Union right is secure.
Now Alabama begins to move against the opposite flank. The 47th Alabama hits 20th Maine. Oates maneuvers his 15th Alabama even further down the line, threatening the extreme left of the blue line.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain takes a chance. Low on supply and unsure if he can hold another attack, he orders a charge. The Maine men tumble down the hill at the attackers. The 15 Alabama is caught off guard. The 20th Maine chases the 15th Alabama all the way up Big round top. Scores of prisoners are taken.
Reinforcements from Colonel Fisher's 3rd Brigade arrive to assist the 20th Maine. The 5th PA and 12th PA reserves flush out defenders from Big Round Top.
Rice has the 83rd PA and the 44th NY move down the slope of little round top where they gather the hurt and supplies. As night falls, the union holds both heights.
A critical moment of the American Civil War had concluded.
Film by Jeffrey Meyer, librarian, Iowa.
Images from the Library of Congress
Satellite images from Google Maps