The Battle of Gettysburg is one of the most well-known battles of the American Civil War and in American military history. It was widely believed that this battle ultimately set the course of the war’s outcome, turning the tide in favor for the Union Army. The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, a unit largely comprised of Maine’s undesirable, leftover volunteers, was resupplied by the soon-to-be-court-martialed mutineers of the 2nd Maine Volunteer Infantry. It was posted at the far left of the Union army’s defensive line, atop Little Round Top on the 2nd of July, 1863, the second day of the battle.
Aside from shedding light on the strategic importance of the 20th Maine’s defensive position, at Little Round Top, for the Battle, and more importantly—the war in whole, this thesis will also take a deeper look into the enlisted men of 20th Maine, their commanding officers, and the mutineers of the 2nd Maine who were sent to reinforce them before the battle. It will examine the claim that Colonel Joshua Chamberlain was not the one who ordered the 20th Maine to make their famous bayonet charge into enemy line, but rather his subordinate officer.
Table of Contents
Thesis Proposal
Contextual Essay
Literary Review
Annotated bibliography
Thesis
Secondary Sources
Primary Sources
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the human composition of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, exploring their diverse backgrounds and the role of their commanding officer, Joshua Chamberlain, in their pivotal defense of Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg.
- The historical and strategic significance of the 20th Maine at the Battle of Gettysburg.
- The diverse composition of the regiment, including volunteers, mutineers, and foreign recruits.
- Joshua Chamberlain's leadership style and his role in the regiment's legendary bayonet charge.
- The broader context of Maine's military involvement and concerns regarding coastal vulnerability during the American Civil War.
Auszug aus dem Buch
Thesis
These are some of the 232 words spoken by Abraham Lincoln, just over 150 years ago, to immortalize the Battle of Gettysburg and give the Union a purpose for winning the American Civil War. It is one of the most famous battles in the bloodiest war in United States history. Its name can be recognized by nearly all American citizens. Many believe that the outcome of this battle shifted the outcome of the war and the destinies of two nations of brothers.
The grandeur and effect of the battle spurred then-American president, Abraham Lincoln, to travel to the devastated fields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, just a few months after the war had reached the town, to deliver his famous address. The legacy of this battle offered many Americans the impression that Lincoln was one of America’s greatest presidents. This Confederate defeat would cement Robert E. Lee’s place in history as a less powerful general than Ulysses S. Grant.
Mainers* fought at the battle field from the first day, on 1 July to the last day on 3 July, 1863. They experienced combat at Devil’s Den, the Peach Orchard, the Wheatfield, Corps of Trees, and Little Round Top, to Bloody Angle and Cemetery Hill. There were 16 regiments mustered from Maine at Gettysburg, including the 1st Cavalry, the 2nd, 5th, and 6th Light Batteries, and the 1st-7th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 19th, and 20th Infantries. Of these locations that Mainer’s held, one stands out as a more crucial point in the battle than the others, Little Round Top. Little Round Top is where some 358 Mainiacs of the 20th Infantry held the far-left of the Union’s defensive line. These three days in early July stand above all others in Maine’s history. While defending the Union flank and the hill from the advancing Confederate Alabama Brigade, the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment ran short of Ammunition. They were catapulted into history by an order that is widely believed to have come from their commanding officer, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The order to fix bayonets and charge the enemy.
Summary of Chapters
Thesis Proposal: This chapter introduces the research focus on the 20th Maine Infantry's role at Gettysburg and outlines the sources used to investigate their composition and tactical impact.
Contextual Essay: This section provides a historical overview of the Battle of Gettysburg, framing it as an accidental engagement that fundamentally shifted the course of the American Civil War.
Literary Review: This chapter surveys the secondary sources, including monographs and journal articles, that inform the research on the 20th Maine and the leadership of Joshua Chamberlain.
Annotated bibliography: This chapter provides a critical evaluation of the primary and secondary sources, assessing their reliability and relevance to the research on the 20th Maine.
Thesis: This main body chapter analyzes the recruitment and composition of the 20th Maine, their strategic importance at Little Round Top, and their legacy within the American Civil War.
Secondary Sources: This section lists the scholarly works and monographs used to support the historical analysis presented in the thesis.
Primary Sources: This section details the contemporary letters, reports, and telegrams utilized to construct the empirical foundation of the study.
Keywords
Gettysburg, 20th Maine, American Civil War, Joshua Chamberlain, Little Round Top, Union Army, Maine volunteers, Alabama Brigade, military history, bayonet charge, coastal defense, regimental history, conflict, strategy, Union preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, examining their composition and their critical role in the Battle of Gettysburg, particularly their defense of Little Round Top.
What are the central themes of the work?
Key themes include the diverse makeup of the regiment, the leadership of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, the strategic importance of Little Round Top, and Maine's unique anxieties regarding coastal invasion during the Civil War.
What is the core research question?
The research investigates how a diverse, depleted unit of "rag-tag" volunteers came together to successfully hold the Union flank and influence the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Which research methods are employed?
The author utilizes a historical analysis of secondary sources, such as monographs and journal articles, alongside a primary source investigation of soldiers' letters, government correspondence, and official reports.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the formation and composition of the 20th Maine, the broader context of Maine's coastal defense fears, the specific tactical actions taken at Little Round Top, and the long-term historical legacy of the regiment.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Essential keywords include Gettysburg, 20th Maine, Joshua Chamberlain, Little Round Top, Union Army, Maine volunteers, and military strategy.
How did Maine's geographical location influence the regiment's motivation?
The author argues that Maine's proximity to British North America and fears of coastal invasion created a sense of state and regional security that motivated the volunteers more than traditional local pride.
What is the author's argument regarding the bayonet charge?
The author highlights the necessity and courage of the bayonet charge as a pivotal action that halted the Confederate attempt to flank the Union line, regardless of the exhausted state of the opposing forces.
- Quote paper
- Michael Gorman (Author), 2014, Mainiacs, shoes, and the accident that was Gettysburg. The historical role of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/333966
