Myth of Little Round Top: Who was the hero, Col. Chamberlin? Gen. Robert E. Lee? James Longstreet?
Since its release in 1993, the film Gettysburg, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Killer Angels, a fiction novel, by Michael Shaara, has been a major force in shaping common cultural myths about the Civil War. While the film depicts several storylines, its major narrative centers on the heroism of Gen. Joshua Chamberlain, who, along with a team of ragtag soldiers from Maine, repulsed Gen. Robert E. Lee’s July 2 advance on Little Round Top, thereby protecting the vulnerable Union left flank and swinging the fate of the battle and the war. The folklore generated around the events on this little rocky hill in South Central Pennsylvania and augmented by other popular works such as The Civil War by Ken Burns, contains several compelling narrative elements: a gentle-minded professor of rhetoric fighting and defeating the mighty marauding Army of Northern Virginia; (a powerful patriotic speech Chamberlain employs to inspire his deserters to return to ranks; the almost mystical providence of his regiment being placed on the far left wing minutes before the Confederate attack; and the dauntlessness of a wounded Chamberlain and his men, who cough, cough, run out of ammunition yet make a bayonet charge down Little Round Top to save the day, win the battle, and thus preserve the republic. Hollywood is built on the backs of epic storylines just like this!
While the gallantry of Chamberlain’s men in the Twentieth Maine and the lesser heralded heroism of Col. Patrick O’Rourke, are unimpeachable, recent scholarship has critiqued the inflation of the importance of the Union’s victory on Little Round Top in the overall context of the Battle of Gettysburg. Indeed, the penetrance of this mythic narrative in the popular understanding of the Civil War serves to muddy the less romanticized figures whose actions arguably swung the outcome on the second day and ultimately the fate of the battle. Today, I hope to dispel some of the mythical prominence of the 20th Maine while still preserving the true heroism of their accomplishment. I explore the real question, often overlooked or ignored when examining this event. The question of what role the battle for Little Round Top played in Lee’s overall plan and what actual impact its defense had in saving the Federal left wing on July 2, and beyond. Additionally, we investigate how one single decision by a rarely mentioned figure in this discussion, Col. William Oates of the Fifteenth Alabama, altered both the tactical and perhaps strategic design of his commander, General Lee; and we unpack the role this decision had in the provenance, both real and perceived, of the popular narrative of the battle.
Consequently, my goal will be to cement the heroic actions of Chamberlain and his men in a more historically robust context and thereby invite deeper reflection on the appropriateness of the, air quotes, myth.
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Cool pictures!
Loved the map of the movements of the two armies, because I was born in Hagerstown, Md. and my father's parents lived right on Carlisle St. in Greencastle, Pa.. Gen. Robert E Lee and his troops marched right past their house. Carlisle St. is the Main St of Greencastle. Of course, they were not there when it happened, but the house they lived in was standing at the time, and still is. The rest of the video was very interesting and informative.
@maddhattalscivilwarhistory2728
3 ай бұрын
Thanks!
It’s obvious to to me now after watching your vid that Little Round top WAS extremely valuable to the Union, in that holding it thwarted the plans of General Lee and distracted his his Regiments from their primary goals, thus enabling the Union forces to wear down the Confederates to such an extent that they could not gain Victory in this battle. By this measure you have also proven that had the Confederates taken both Tround tops early in the Battle they would have denied the Union forces of the advantages they received from holding them and the Battle could have indeed been Won by the Confederate forces. Thus this was the turning point in the Battle and also the War.
@maddhattalscivilwarhistory2728
3 ай бұрын
Sorry, the entire 6th corp was just east of the round tops and could have easily pushed the confederates off like they were flies on a fresh turd. I do agree the union need the round tops more then the confederates, simply becuase they had already cleared the fronts from trees and could fire their cannons across the peach orchard. Lee wanted the attack to go to the west of the tops to push the union back to the ridge and take control of them so they could be the ones firing their connons doen onto the federals. I encourage you to read Lee's and Longstreet's AAR, it is spellied out in both. You seem to ignor the fact that Oats DISOBEYED a direct order to skirt the tops to the west. I really don't think this issue is up for debate. It's crystal clear.
I have to disagree with the myth claims and the argument that little round top was not of any importance to the battleplan. Left out several key people who influenced the battleplan and the importance of the Round Tops GK Warner. Check with my friends from American BattleField Trust, Have history will travel about the battlefields and how the second day happened. I still argue whether or not Longstreet or AP Hill's decision influenced the 2nd day. Some people claim that Lee was not mad at Longstreet for moving slowly that day. I've seen the 1993 Gettysburg movie, still nothing beats reading accounts who were there. Some confederates did encourage Longstreet to attack the RoundTops Hood was one of them, but because of Lees orders and Longstreet played a huge role.
@maddhattalscivilwarhistory2728
3 ай бұрын
It's in writing, I don't see how one can argue that Lee intended the attack to stay left of the tops. HE WROTE IT IN AN ORDER!!!! TWICE!!!! As far as Longstreet being late, I think he went as quickly as he could after all McLaws had just arrived, he didn't even have enough time to get his troops water before they commenced the attack!
I have a book on the battle of Gettysburg by Stephen W. Sears and when he talks about the little round tops, there's more to the battle than the 1993 movie claims. Trust the words of the soldiers who were there. It was no myth.
@maddhattalscivilwarhistory2728
3 ай бұрын
I tend to look at common sense. Their was an entire corp stationed behind the tops that could have easily retaken the round tops. McLaws troops were unsupported, and even if they could have taken the round tops, they could not hold them. Therefore the statement that the 20th maine had the fate of the entire Union Army in their hands is a gross overstatement. Just my opinion.
Couldhave,shouldhave,wouldhave.you could say the same thing about lee.He was the greatest general ever.on the losing side but the myth has far exceeded the man
@maddhattalscivilwarhistory2728
3 ай бұрын
Greatest General ever? Maybe most overrated General ever. The man fought a war like he had the Union war machine behind him. He had the finest gorilla war fighters in the world, yet he consitently wanted to duke it out with the federals.