Little Round Top Battle | Gettysburg | Mapping History | July 2, 1863 | Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
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- Опубликовано: 2 май 2021
- 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
That bayonet charge of Chamberlains, the swinging door, was one of the finest spontaneous acts of field strategy in all military history . Chamberlain a true and honorable hero .
Chamberlain was awarded the CMH for this action. However, he went on to more actions particularly at Petersburg a year later. He was gravely wounded for the 6th time and not expected to live. But, he did live. By this time Grant had promoted Chamberlain to Major General. Grant tapped Chamberlain to accept the official Confederate surrender of arms at Appomattox. Chamberlain called the Union troops to attention and had them salute the Confederate troops as they marched by. Confederate General John Gordon rode up, reared his horse, and returned the salute to Chamberlain. This one Union respectful act is said to have greatly mollified the whole confederate army and the healing began then and there.
Chamberlain was definitely a Renaissance man. Professor, soldier, statesman, gentleman.
@@JeffreytheLibrarian Colonel Chamberlain wrote an excellent book about his experience , all in the English vernacular of the day I found it quite enlightening.
@@Foontflaky i too have read "through blood and fire at Gettysburg" i have not read " the passing of armies" or any others he wrote... Chamberlain lived and worked 40 miles from my home..this video has inspired me to read more of his work...
Totally worth it Thank you for sharing that ... I am going to visit little round top in 3 days 😎
While the African American population continued to struggle under the harsh systematic racism from the reconstruction period threw Jim Crow and then mass incarceration with unfair and bias laws.That’s the elephant in the room.AMERICAS dirty uncomfortable subject to deal with,racism/slavery.
This is the best and clearest explanation of this action I've seen. Your details are amazing and go a long way toward clearing up my long standing confusion of this important phase of Gettysburg. Many thanks!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreytheLibrarian a7
Standing at the top of Little Round Top, it boggles my mind how the Rebs thought they could advance up a boulder strewn hill of an angle of about 50-55 degrees. In searing July heat. The courage and stubborness of the men of the AOP won out. I'm amazed the Rebs got as far up LRT as they did.
General Hood tried to tell General Lee to come look for himself. But General Lee insisted they attack. The Traveling Historian has a good video about this.
As I recall, throughout a good bit of the Battle of Gettysburg, General Lee was overconfident, believing his troops could handle anything, regardless of whether or not it's an uphill battle. This overconfidence of course blinded him. Had he gone with Longstreet's plan to go around and set up artillery, the battle likely would have gone differently and would have saved some Confederate lives in the battle.
@@DarkLord-7 An uphill battle, literally! 😄
Who knows what would have happened if Longstreet was allowed to go around the end of the Union line. Maybe the South wins the battle...?
I've read that many people consider the Battle of Gettysburg to be the turning point, when the Union started fighting 'for real'. We'll never know what could have been. 🤔 We'll never know why Lee was so confident.
@@endokrin7897 Victory disease.
We southerners are arrogant lol
The more I study this battle the more convinced I become that, while he was let down by some of his general officers, it was Lee himself who bolloxed it all up. He knew it, too.
(Paraphrase)
"A great many mistakes were made @ Gettysburg & I made most of them".
~ Gen. Richard S. Ewell, CSA
I was greatly impressed by this openly honest & self-deprecating admission rarely seen today, but can't remember the source. I believe it's from either "Lee's Lieutenants" (Freeman) or "Battles & Leaders of the Civil War", neither of which I have on hand.
Longstreet received a lot of grief from criticism (I believe unwarranted) for the loss @ Gettysburg. Personally IMO, Lee had not recovered emotionally from the trusted personal loss of Jackson @ Chancellorsville just a month earlier. This can be evidenced not only by Lee's trust of Jackson to perform independently, but also his willingness to receive Jackson's counsel for strategy, etc. We can see from Gettysburg that Lee was reluctant to extend the same confidence to his subordinates. Without question, had Jackson & Stuart both been present on the field, the history of Gettysburg would have been altered. Indeed, Jackson was dead but Lee forever kept Stuart closer.
Lee became fixated on running off the Union center and rolling up their whole line directly -- not via a time-consuming "detour" to the Round Tops. He gambled that his men could best the blue forces in a stand-up fight -- as they had just recently done at Chancellorsville -- and wanted to maintain momentum. Uncharacteristically, he failed to take a sufficiently expansive view of the battlefield, and discounted the effects of key terrain. This begs the question as to whether Gettysburg was even the proper place to risk everything. Lee didn't seek that battle; the opportunity to fight it was rather thrust upon him. Once the Union "fish hook" had been established he really should have screened the still-assembling Union Army, then side-slipped the rest of the AoNV toward Philadelphia by night, in turning movement. This would have forced Meade to follow him and fight to the finish on level and defensible ground of Lee's own choosing. The absence of Stuart's cavalry would have complicated such a maneuver, but a map reconnaissance plus the efforts of some energetic staff officers would probably have been sufficient to pick the spot.
@@gregdzialo9998 "Without question, had Jackson & Stuart both been present on the field, the history of Gettysburg would have been altered..."
or not...
@@emintey
Indeed, I suppose I should have used the verb "could" (have) instead of "would" (have).
Nevertheless, it was common knowledge Lee.was not adverse to receiving advice & counsel from Jackson ~ indeed, had Jackson been present, I seriously doubt Jackson would have allowed Lee to even strategically force himself into assaulting Cemetery Ridge with Pickett's "Charge".
First I've seen of your collection. Excellent use of aerial and Topo maps. As a retired military, Civil War 'buff' and surveyor, I find this approach to informative and educational mediums to be 'top notch'! Subscribed!
Thank you so much!
Yes, finally someone using map an aerial views properly I have seen so many presentations on the little round top battle, and I never understood it completely until today. Almost no one mentioned anything about big round top.
I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, almost everyone making documentaries is lazy and does not take the time and put in the effort to show map properly with the location of the formation and the actual topology.
This is an outstanding explanation of troop movements on that day. Thank you!
Much appreciated! thanks for watching!
Agreed!
If there is a grade higher then A+ this presentation deserves it.
@@JeffreytheLibrarian Can you possibly include a scale of distance in your maps please? Meters and yards would have helped alot. Altho you do a wonderful job of showing the troop movements, and using the satellite images was a brilliant idea!
We lived in 70s in Warrenton MO. A town named, as his statue says, after "the man who saved the Union." Took me years to find out who Warren was.
That's neat that Warren has a town in Missouri named after him. I didn't know that.
Clearest explanation of Little Round Top I've seen. Congratulations! Bring us more like this.
Thank you so much. I am always working on the next video. I hope to have the next one out by the end of the month.
Where as Buford's stand was pivotal to the outcome of the war, Chamberlain's sweeping right wheel maintained the momentum.
YUp.
Having walked this battlefield my biggest surprise was just how small it actually is. The valor of the men on both sides is remarkable. Lee broke his army.
Lee didn't get to see Episode III of Star Wars, where Obi Wan explains that the high ground is pretty important.
I havent climbed up Big Round Top but i’d like to. I think a observation platform done in good taste would be ok.
@@AndyHoke …wow…so funny!
@@AndyHoke …n he sent that poor bast#rd, Pickett, up that steep ravine not once, twice but FOUR times! There were multiple episodes of intractability by genls on both sides throughout that war that just slaughtered their men! On par w/the UK genl whom ordered the Aussies to attack at Gallipoli thereby slaughtering that division at the hands of German machine guns!
Fighting for the right to own slaves is not honorable.
Another reason the Rebs couldn't take the hill is that you can't climb hills easily with smooth soled Brogans. I was coming back to NY from a re-enactment in Cedar Creek and stopped at Little Round Top to wander around for a few minutes. As I was trying to make the climb from the parking lot to the 20th Maine's positions (before the Park Service put the walkway in 6 years ago) I was wearing my Brogans. I never made it to the crest, I was slipping so badly. I had to go back to the car and put my sneakers on. Even then I was sliding around a lot. Imagine doing that with full battle kit, exhausted, in 90+ degree weather, and under heavy fire....
I believe you. Footwear was a major issue, especially for the South. Many of the rebels moved shoeless--imagine walking twenty miles on a country road and then fighting in the woods without shoes.
I really like how you balance the high level stuff, like troop movements and encounters, and the gritty personal touch, like a unit losing half its men, and how that one officer lost a brother, which reminds us of the cost of war.
My biggest worry about presenting battles is I do not convey how terrible this was for the people there, and I try to include some reminders about the human cost.
One thing that impressed me when I visited the area is how modest the 20th Maine monument is, very simple without the heroic statuary of many of the other regimental monuments.
Their actions speak for themselves.
I am sure that if Joshua Chamberlain visited Gettysburg today, he would be banned everywhere.
@@ladymacbethofmtensk896 OK, that was a bit obscure. Why would Chamberlain be banned? Because he was a 19th century white guy?
@@georgem7965 Because he would make certain tourists and students slightly uncomfortable, and he would also likely be quite outspoken about the community's efforts to make itself a safe space for those little Buchanans.
It is the Maine way...
11:28 the sophisticated Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is my fav ACW hero.
greetings from germany.
@Don2615 a college professor is a "sophisticated" person ... isn't he ? :/
@Don2615 That's a very.....not so nice thing to say, sir😕
@@randyripley7356 I'd presume to think so, Mr. Ripley
@Don2615 Someone's mad about a war lost that he was never a part of
@Don2615 “Don517” Most rebel soldiers have made their peace, but the descendants hold an axe to grind. You never will admit that your cause was ill informed and hot headed.
Lee's failure to take the Little RT when undefended was a huge mistake. His decision to attack the union centre, Pickett's Charge, was one of the single greatest mistakes ever by any general on either side.
It’s one of the peculiar curiosities that defies explanation and I’m always left with impression that Lee’s decision has as much to do with his own egotism and rigidity in maintaining absolute control rather than acceding to the judgment of his junior commanders.
The 15th Alabama had no water , their water detail with most of the regiments canteens had been captured earlier that morning while searching for water . My gggrandfather and other kin served in the 15th Alabama ! I walked this ground and understand why it was so difficult to attack over !
My grandmothers grandfather and his brother served with Oats and later followed his lead and moved to Henderson Texas where the family is based today. Everyone deifies Chamberlain without thinking of the fortitude it always takes to charge an entrenched enemy uphill as the 15th Alabama did 3x after having already taken Big Round Top earlier in the day. I have a handwritten letter from Oats verifying my great great grandfather, who was shot by a shotgun for a veterans pension. Shame that history always seems to be written with basis.
@@catmandu1957 There you get it wrong.
I always wondered what kind of super sickness was in the souls of the enemy of the United States that they gave so heroically for such a miserable cause.
Still a toast to Oates's determination.
@@catmandu1957 Being a historian for 56 years as a factual learning interest, and a big admirer of Gen Longstreet, I've always thought IF he'd been n command at Gettysburg, either Gettysburg wouldn't have been fought r the Southern army would have prevailed here very similarily to Fredericksburg. Longstreet (and Hood) were correct---Gettysburg was Fredericksburg reversed.
FYI fellow Southerner----my paternal great great grandfather got killed n "Pickett's Charge" while having to stop and climb over the Emmitsburg Road high fence. He was 45 years old, s father of 4, n a homeguard VA regiment assigned to Armisted's brigade, and called up during time of Lee's northern campaign, and died while being held n his neighbor's hands (local communities back then would often enlist together).
@@wisconsinfarmer4742 Good grief fellow. Go milk ur cows and avoid snacking on D-Con---save it for the rats eating ur cows corn. This video is for intelligent folks to study and learn about FACTUAL AMERICAN HISTORY. That's a subject present day radical leftists, fascists, socialist democrats try their damnedest to rewrite.
@@whicker59 what factual American history? The south had zero chance at winning the war. You guys call it northern aggression, yet you fired first. You state it was for states rights...but the articles of succession state slavery.
The reality is that the war lasted so long because the north had idiots for commanders until US Grant took over. Hell even Meade had enough in reserve to finish Lee off at Gettysburg...and let's not forget little Mac and Burnside.
Real historians would study both sides and look at the records without any agenda.
That being said, you guys fought a hell of a war, and won the peace by all reality...but we need to quit this petty "north/south, liberal/conservative, leftist /right" trash and unite as a nation.
The best most thorough and detailed description of this part of the battle in any video I’ve watched so far. I had never grasped the importance of these hills until this video using the visual of maps combined with commentary as the battle evolved. Great job. Thanks.
This is the best video combination of mapping, google earth and commentary of the many I have seen! Two Thumbs Up !!
Thank you!
Excellent detailed breakdown. It was my great good fortune to have found a day, in between two business trips far from my home in Utah, to have visited Gettysburg. I'd read so much about it that it was like visiting an old friend's house. But one thing I found visiting places like Normandy, Vickburg, Ypres, Little Bighorn, Bunker Hill, the Alamo, Mountain Meadows (extra credit if you know that one), etc., is that standing on the ground and seeing what the combatants saw makes everything much more real and personal.
Totally agree. It stops being an abstraction and becomes real.
While visiting battlefields it is necessary to be aware of changes in vegetation since the time of the battle. If it was a cultivated field in the past but has grown up to 2d growth brush and trees now or vice versa it can be difficult to visualize how it was back then. Gettysburg is good at keeping things as they were in 1863. Other battlefields, not so much.
And, yes, I know about Mountain Meadows but have not actually visited the site.
Found this calmly welcoming and extremely informing. The devil’s in the details not the den
That means alot to me! Thanks!
Historic footnote: Chamberlain was a Bowdoin College professor who later became an attorney and governor of Maine. His opponent on Little Round Top, William Calvin Oates, also became an attorney and governor of Alabama. Thus, two future governors fought against each other at Gettysburg. Both would also become generals in the United States Army, the latter during the Spanish-American War.
Exceptional job illustrating these battles at Gettysburg!
Very well described. I visited that spot two years ago, my guide showed me where Chamberlain executed the maneuver. Humbling.
It is humbling to stand there and to realize that this event actually happened here.
Thank you!
After all these years, I now understand the movements and participants in this battle.
Good to see you added Company B, 20th many don’t mention.
Every man was needed then.
Absolutely incredible and detailed description of this action. I’ve read many accounts of little round top and have been there on numerous occasions but never so clearly understood the troop movements and layout as you described in this video. Thank you for this
Thank you for watching!
You have an excellent channel. I really like your Civil War videos as that has always been my main interest. I have read many books on Gettysburg and have been there multiple times. It is probably the hardest battle to understand, let alone explain, of the entire war. You give a great overview of Little Round Top as well as going into specific details that helped define the outcome of this battle. Thank you.
Thank you so much! I have found that the best human stories are in the details, the individuals whose actions in a fifteen minute period had dramatic impact on the history of a whole nation. Thanks for watching!
Day 2 and Chamberlain's perilous turn from overwhelming odds to (somehow) magnificent route of the Longstreet offensive is NOW understandable to me as one of the greatest days in US (military; Civil War) history. It was the totally unexpected events of Day 2 that FIRST caught my attention as a lifelong devotee of American history to THIS MOAB at Gettysburg and singular focus ever since reading Mike Shaara's masterpiece, "The Killer Angels" 4 decades ago and becoming infatuated with Chamberlain's sabre charge - like everybody.
Slowly over the years now, one-by-one the characters and details of Day 2 kept further unfolding with new knowledge, e.g., (1) Lee's characteristic surprise flanking strategy that was the whole reason for the CSA offensive in Pennsylvania, of all places, but an easy 1 week march through bountiful, plump and plunderable PA to the outskirts of Washington D.C. IF they were decisively victorious, (in the same manner as Chamberlain had beaten overwhelming numbers) and then lay siege, cannonade or threaten to burn down Washington with his Army; (2) Chamberlain's outstanding post-war political achievements as a top American statesman; (3) Longstreet, and, of course Lee, for the same post-war performances as Chamberlain; (4) Lee's meeting with Longstreet the night of Day 2, after the day's disastrous catastrophes, desperately settling upon Pickett's Charge, a frontal assault, straight at 'em over a mile of open, flat ground, the next day - was a/the historically BIG mistake prompted by fatigue and shock of Day 2's bizarre events.
Thank You, that was awesome I went there this wk and you put it all in perspective how where and when 🙏 excellent job
Really enjoy your series! Thank you! 😊👍👏👏
This is the clearest explanation of this battle I have ever seen. Now I have a much more accurate picture of the actual location of each unit and the overall battle.
These are some of the best explanations I have found anywhere. I have a good understand now of why Buford's high ground strategy was so important.
Thanks for watching. I really appreciate the nice comments.
very well done
this explains why oats didnt just hold big round top and stay there which have certainly puzzled me. And the fact that his men had been up since early in the morning and have done a longer march the same day explains why his men might not have been in the best state to engage in the battle that day.
They were exhausted, and Lee had given explicit orders to attack, not hold.
Love the constantly updated maps. Made for a very understandable explanation. Thank you.
Thanks!
Phenomenal and outstanding job depicting this part of the battle, sir! Your work is first rate!
Thank you!
I must have heard/seen half a dozen descriptions of the combat at little round top. It wasn’t until your video that I finally understood what happened. You have a gift Jeffrey. Amazing documentary
Thank you for watching!
super job with illustrations of movements.
The best presentation I have seen, the use of aerial and topographic maps makes the course of the battle easy to understand.
Thank you!
Terrific video. Thanks for posting!
I'll be checking your other stuff.
Very interresting part of this battle, I don't know why Gen. Lee did not want to attack Little Round Top when they had the chance. I think this was the critical point to win/lose the battle.. also the Cementery Hill taken by the Union at the beggining of the battle.. suscribed from Lima-Peru.
I completely agree. Longstreet had the correct idea, and he could have won the day and battle if he would have dis-obeyed Lee and advanced on LRT. I think Stonewall would have done that.
Your presentation was off the charts! Thank you so much. I’m going to subscribe.
Well done. As a Southerner with ancestors who fought at Gettysburg it is good to see an explanation that is even. You give credit where credit it due and you talk about the physical condition of the solider as it relates to their effectiveness. I appreciate that. You do a great job with these.
Thank you! The rebels had a long march that day before hitting Little Round Top. They must have been exhausted even before the attack began.
Thank you for your work on these videos, they are very informative. Keep up the great work.
Thanks so much for this video. We're taking our kids to Gettysburg tomorrow, and this was super helpful for giving them some context ahead of time, so they won't be wandering around endlessly with eyes glazed over : )
Thank you for this excellent explanation of the events of the 2nd day. The defense of the Round Tops was very important to the Union’s success that day, but it is only a part of the day’s entire action and many units showed outstanding bravery that day. Culp’s Hill was defended by a similar bayonet charge and the 1st Minnesota’s sacrificial charge helped save the center of the Union line.
I have to tell you the this explanation of the battle was the most concise and knowledgeable that I have ever seen. Thank you for bringing it to me. Also your voice tells the story without the extreme emotion that is heard elsewhere. That was a complement Sir.
I really appreciate it. Thanks!
Great googily moogily! This is the absolute best overview of the battle I've ever seen. Fantastic!
Thank you for watching!
what a fantastic way to depict the events, great job!
Thank you!
Best description I've seen of the battle. The wheeling maneuver of the 20th Maine was important enough to make it the topic of the US Army's Leadership Field Manual in the 1980's. One day I'd like to get back for a fourth visit.
Thank you for watching! Every trip to Gettysburg is enlightening.
I just found this and am sorry I did not get here sooner. An excellent explanation of this part of the battle. Thank you.
Much appreciated!
OUTSTANDING Presentation and Narration . A Precise and Very Accurate Description of the Actions on July 2nd Little Round top at the Battle of Gettysburg THANK YOU !!
Thank you for watching! Much appreciated.
Excellent maps and detailed presentations. Love your work!
Thank you!
Outstanding job! Bringing clarity out of mass confusion! Thank You!
Much appreciated, Mr. Meyer. Thank you!
I appreciate your detailed description it is the clearest that I have seen on RUclips. Thank you.😀
Thank you!
This is very well done. Thanks for posting.
Thank you!
This is an excellent series. Please do more.
Thanks for the great video which provides valuable context to this portion of the battle.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent Analysis. Thank you!
Another fantastic piece. Thank you.
I go there often. Years back they had an observation tower. It was removed but it gave a much better view and explanation of the battlefield. The battlefield is huge. Not only in Gettysburg but the surrounding area where Calvary was involved. But at the Roundtops I used to run from the top and do Chamberlain’s charge down and around.
CAVALRY! NOT CALVARY!
Your graphics give us uncluttered clarity.
As always, thank you for your scholarship!
Thank you! That means a lot to me.
Very well done. Excellent format.
Thank you!
Great video! Thanks for the upload.
Thank you!
Very clear video. Great to have the maneuvers so defined.
Thanks for watching!
I'm always amazed that "10 paces distance" from the line of the 20th is 30 to 40 feet BELOW their line.
Yes, considering how close they were to each other it is amazing that there wasn't a higher casualty rate than what actually there was. I would have thought that there would be at least 70% casualties on both sides, not the 33% mentioned by the narrator. The Men from Alabama also had the distinct disadvantage of firing uphill, whereas, the Maine Men had the downhill advantage, yet you got to give it to the Alabamans, they charged four times up that hill, as well as moving 25 miles the previous day, not to take it away from the Maine Men who also had to move approximately the same distance, but they saved their energy until it was really needed.
It's really something to be there in person. When you stand on those heights and look down the hills you wonder why if in your right mind you would even try it. The awesomeness and full scope of the battle leaves you in total reverence there.
Yes, imagine trying to get up those heights without shoes or in the thick woods where you couldn't see the defenders.
Just another military history buff hugely delighted with the high quality of this informative video.
thank you so much!
Awesome Video! I've been to Gettysburg many times and I've seen Little Round Top from Chamberlin's vantage point. You described everything as exactly it happened.
Thank you so much!
Glad I found this channel great
Thank you for the presentation. I've been fascinated by the action on LRC for many years having read a number of accounts, watched previous videos and movies (I've known Jeff Daniels for a number of years). I was at Gettysburg a few years ago with limited time so I drove up to the parking lot near LRT, and walked a lot of it, reading the markers, listening to some of the presentations. Looking at the whole picture, for both sides, it's always seemed to me that totally random, unexpected actions here and there caused great influences on what happened next, little of which could have been predicted or even planned by the either side - events developed beyond expectations. I can imagine, tho probably not nearly enough, what the actual battles looked like, smoke everywhere, men shooting, screaming, dying, confusion all around, 20 year olds praying to be able to live another day. We talk about the senior officers of both sides. To me, the real heroes on both sides were those who followed orders as best they could, did what they could, and tried their best to be the soldier they were trained to be. If we want to glorify the senior officers, let them go mano y mano with each other and let the ones who died following their orders, actually live out decent lives.
That is a great insight. The rank and file men who came from farms and small towns who suddenly had to endure this experience, they really were amazing. The confusion, fear, panic that they must have felt, is hard to grasp.
Enjoyed this very much!
Thank you JTL
Thanks for watching!
Jeffrey the Librarian showcases the generals' eye for terrain...and the associated importance of key terrain. Very enjoyable!
Thanks for watching. Terrain is everything in these battles.
Our family visited Gettysburg a few years ago. What an amazing experience. So much took place in those relatively few square miles. I urge anyone thinking of going to not think, just go and be sure to spend several days. Great explanation of the battle that day, Jeffrey. Subscribed.
Every American should have the opportunity to visit Gettysburg. We all need to know what happened there.
Walking there was amazing
Excellent presentation. I like how you post the number of troops.
Had to study this battle in officer advance training (Army). This mapping history is excellent.
This is what I needed. I go to the berg a lot - I mean a lot a lot. I needed something just like this to see it clearly. Thanks
Thank you! The ironic thing about Gettysburg is how strangely peaceful the place is. It's a nice place to visit.
I was at Gettysburg about three weeks ago and I've always wondered why the Confederates didn't just occupy Big Round Top to provide a base of fire to support an infantry assault up Little Round Top. My observation was that (and this isn't often explained) is that Big Round Top is very heavily wooded, and I'd assume it was covered with big old trees back in 1863. A bunch of troops with axes and saws could probably knock down a few trees in a day or so, but you'd be drawing a lot of attention and fire, and you'd go from having big standing trees in the way to having big fallen trees in the way.
Little round top, on the other hand, had clear fields of fire to the west and somewhat to the north. The tree cover was a bit thinner and could probably be more easily cleared without too much trouble.
Anyway, I answered my own question as to why the Confederates didn't just take the higher ground of Big Round Top - the tree covered was very thick and couldn't be easily cleared on short notice.
great work Jeff. I had visited Gettysburg while working nearby about 25 years ago. the museum was very interesting. would love to go back and see the reenactment of the battle. I hear it's quite the show. they camp out and reenact the battle with black powder guns.
Every visit I learn something new.
Very nice! Fills in a lot of detail that I had not heard. I've always thought this was an enormously pivotal day and battle. Loved Michal Shaara's account and the depiction in film, and this account helps to show who else had a hand in making Chamberlain's charge possible. Next time in Gettysburg I will seek out Strong's monument and statue.
Thanks! So much happens in these battles, and there are always so many moving pieces to keep straight.
Fantastic. I love maps. The use of geo maps and simple graphics is spot on. The tension, significance and horror of that day can be realized with this explanation. Although we read many historic accounts of this battle, these topo maps and graphics allow easy understanding. Thanks.
Thank you so much. I agree that maps are the best way to understand what actually happened. Otherwise, it's just a series of place names without any context.
A similar pause when victory was in sight occurred at the Battle of Brandywine (1777). Washington's right flank was lightly held and disorganized to boot, yet the British troops who had enfiladed it -- amounting to about 1/2 the British army in the field -- broke for lunch atop Osborne's Hill, overlooking the Americans scrambling to face them below. The Brits had just performed a flank march of about 8 mi., IIRC, then forded the Brandywine Creek, and were winded. But a prompt advance would have shattered the entire Rebel right and perhaps captured the whole army.
Greatly enjoyed the video. Recommend in future presentations sizing the unit icons in rough proportion to their numeric strengths. Again, well done.
That's a great recommendation. Thank you!
Well done narrative with excellent graphics. Great explanation and no second questioning with no opinionated historical hindsight. Battle is fluid and chaotic with an ever changing strategy of movement. Loved the use of google earth and topographic maps. Major Chamberlain of Maine is the man of the day.
Yes, the confusion of the battle would be oppressive. It would be very hard to know how many men are hitting you, if they have others on the way, if you are receiving reinforcements, if the rider gave you the correct information, etc.
Very well done!!! Just found your channel yesterday 8/4/21 love what I am seeing!
Thank you! Thanks for watching!
Really awesome video. I’ve been to Gettysburg and was a history major, but my focus has always been on Germany on the Eastern Front from 1941-1945. I watched the Little Round Top scene in Gettysburg the other day and it sparked my interest. Pretty amazing how different warfare was during this time. I’m sure the rebels must have been horrified at the sight of a downhill fixed bayonet charge while they tried to slowly shoot their way up the hill slope.
Great Job! Very good explanation and going down to the regimental level. Subbed and will be watching more.
Thank you so much!
What a awesome video this was . It even showed how many men were in each company during battle . Very well explained
Thanks for watching!
Oates: How do we get to the Union rear?
Chamberlain: You can’t get thayuh from heyuh.
Ayuh!
Actually- as they tell you on the tour of GB- Oates acted against orders and the entire attack on what became LRT was a waste of the regiments that should have been flanking devil's den.
LRT is the biggest myth of the Civil War in regards to it's importance
@@NYCYankInTexas Thank you for the insight, I did not know that.
It's pretty incredible how much of the Civil War was decided by misunderstandings, miscalculations, and sheer bad luck.
@@fencius Look at GB- perfect example- all the TONS of books and endless debates, but everybody ignores the fact that it never should have happened.
Reynolds and Meade wanted to lock Lee into a life or death battle of attrition and they won the COW vote- Meade even presented two captured Confederate officers and they stated how 'I've never seen so many men as casualties. Our wounded are so many that they lay in fields by the many thousands.'
- Meade didn't name the Rebel Col in his notes, but he added that Hooker couldn't believe it and acted like a broken man.
Lee should have been broken at Chancellorsville
I love this aerial views!
WOW I watched many videos on many battles but your are as fast as precise! TY - GG - City of Tours - France
Thank you so much!
Outstanding video and presentation!! We visited Gettysburg about a week before this was released. I was so humbled walking around Devil's Den and Little Round Top. Having read "The Twentieth Maine", a Readers Digest condensed book, as a teenager I'd always wanted to visit. As a side note one of our dogs became very nervous, tucked her tail, and cowered between our legs as we walked around Devil's Den. We took a day trip to Antietam, now I'm going to go look to see if you've done a video on Bloody Lane. Thanks so much!!
I appreciate your kind words! Gettysburg is a beautiful place to visit, and your dog isn't the only visitor to feel the heavy atmosphere at Devil's Den.
Your dog was seeing/hearing things that you could not. Perhaps some of the residual actions/soldiers that fought there!
Great video, thanks Jeffrey!
Much appreciated!
So well done, thank you!!
Thank you!
Some historians think that Sickles moved forward to the "high ground" because he had been reprimanded for failing to do so at Chancellorsville. Most agree that he did the wrong thing both times. It would have been a good move at Chancellorsville, but almost created a tragedy at Gettysburg.
I do like the idea that Sickles confused everybody on both sides, and inadvertently might have stalled Longstreet's attack.
Gettysburg was a tragedy.
Thank you sir!! This was amazing.
Thank you!
Excellent explanation of the fight for little round top...
Thank you!
Well done. Please know your efforts are appreciated.
I appreciate that! Thank you so much!
Great job on this !
Thank you!
Thank you very much for this and all your other videos using maps. It makes a WORLD of difference to understanding what happened. However, I have a hard time finding the right sequence to watch your Civil War videos. For example, here you say in the beginning that the rebel forces pushed the union back through town. This of course sets up the "Round Top" battles and ultimately Pickett's charge. Which of your videos describes this "push through town" part. I can find videos that cover before and after that. I'm looking for a video(s) that covers the end of the first day to the end of the second I guess. Again - Thank You SO Much !
I am actually working on the "push through town" now. I hope to have it out in May. Thanks for watching!
@@JeffreytheLibrarian Amazing timing ! Can't wait - thanks again !