20th Maine Infantry Regiment

20th Maine Infantry Regiment
John McKean · Public domain · source
Unit name	20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Dates	August 20, 1862 – July 16, 1865
Country	United States
Allegiance	Union
Branch	United States Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Regiment
Battles	American Civil War
Notable commanders	Adelbert Ames, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

20th Maine Infantry Regiment. The 20th Maine Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry unit of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It is most famous for its heroic defense of Little Round Top on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg under the command of Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The regiment served with distinction throughout the war, participating in major campaigns in the Eastern Theater before mustering out in 1865.

Formation and early service

The regiment was formed in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 volunteers in the summer of 1862. Mustered into federal service at Augusta on August 20, 1862, its initial commander was Colonel Adelbert Ames, a professional officer and graduate of the United States Military Academy. The unit was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, joining the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps. After training at Camp Mason near Portland, the 20th Maine saw its first combat during the Maryland Campaign at the Battle of Antietam, though it was held in reserve. It experienced heavier fighting at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, suffering significant casualties while assaulting Marye's Heights. The regiment also fought at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, where it performed well in the defensive fighting around the Chancellor House.

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment's defining moment came on July 2, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg. Commanded by Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the 20th Maine was ordered to hold the extreme left flank of the Union line on Little Round Top at all costs. In late afternoon, the regiment endured a series of determined assaults by the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment under Colonel William C. Oates. With ammunition nearly exhausted and facing another Confederate attack, Chamberlain ordered a daring bayonet charge that routed the Alabamians and secured the vital position. This action, for which Chamberlain later received the Medal of Honor, was crucial in preserving the Union line and is among the most celebrated episodes of the entire war.

Later campaigns and service

Following Gettysburg, the 20th Maine continued to serve with the V Corps through the grueling campaigns of 1864. It fought in the Overland Campaign, seeing action at the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, and the Battle of Cold Harbor. During the Siege of Petersburg, the regiment was engaged in the fighting at the Battle of Peebles's Farm and endured the hardships of trench warfare. In 1865, it participated in the final Appomattox campaign, including the pivotal Battle of Five Forks. The 20th Maine was present for the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, before marching in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington, D.C.. The regiment was mustered out of service on July 16, 1865.

Commanders and notable members

The regiment's first commander was Colonel Adelbert Ames, who was promoted to brigadier general after Antietam. He was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, whose leadership at Gettysburg made him one of the war's most celebrated figures; he later became a major general, Governor of Maine, and President of Bowdoin College. Other key officers included Major Ellis Spear and Captain Walter G. Morrill. Among its notable enlisted men was Private Charles W. House, who captured a Confederate battle flag at Five Forks, and the unit's original surgeon, Dr. Abner O. Shaw.

Legacy and memorials

The 20th Maine's legacy is deeply embedded in American history, largely due to its portrayal in literature such as Michael Shaara's novel The Killer Angels and the subsequent film Gettysburg. A monument to the regiment stands on Little Round Top within Gettysburg National Military Park, dedicated in 1886. The unit's flag is preserved at the Maine State Museum in Augusta. The story of its stand and charge remains a central feature of historical interpretations at Gettysburg and a symbol of courage and tenacity in the American Civil War.

Category:Maine Civil War regiments Category:Infantry regiments of the United States Army