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The Role Of Joshua Chamberlain In The Battle Of Gettysburg

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What comes to mind when you hear the Battle of Gettysburg? Some might say Pickett’s Charge, Buford’s defense, or Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. However, one of the more important events was Joshua Chamberlain’s defense and bayonet charge on Little Round Top. On July 2nd, 1863, on the far left Union flank, stood Joshua Chamberlain and his 20th Maine. Had the Confederate broke through, they would have outflanked the Union, ultimately winning Gettysburg. Chamberlain defended Little Round Top by pushing back the 15th Alabama with a bayonet charge and successfully break up their flanking attempt. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is an important figure in the Civil War because of his heroic defense at Little Round Top which saved the Union from major defeat at Gettysburg.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born on September 8, 1828 in Brewer, Maine. Chamberlain was accepted to Bowdoin College in 1848 and graduated in 1852. He took a teaching job at Bowdoin College in 1846 (“Joshua Chamberlain Biography” 1). Chamberlain joined the Union army because he was “distressed about the secession of Southern states and the outbreak of war in 1861” (“Joshua Chamberlain Biography” 1). He had a desire to serve his country, even though he had no military training (“Joshua Chamberlain” …show more content…
Adelbert Ames, a commander from West Point. Chamberlain would study every military work he could find. Chamberlain was not involved in too many battles before Gettysburg. Chamberlain and his regiment saw their first engagement at the Battle of Fredericksburg, where the Union lost. They missed their chance to go to Chancellorsville due to a smallpox outbreak. The devastating loss at Chancellorsville made the Union realize that they needed stronger leaders. This led to Adelbert Ames being promoted to brigade command, leaving Chamberlain in command of the regiment in the next conflict, which will eventually be the Battle of Gettysburg. (“Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain”

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