The Importance of the 20th Maine
at the Battle of Gettysburg
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the 20th Maine played a crucial role in the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. The 20th Maine’s actions on the second day of the battle saved the Union line from being flanked by the Confederates, thus securing a victory for the North at Gettysburg; a victory considered by many to be the turning point of the American Civil War.
The first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863, resulted in a defeat for the Union forces. The Confederate army had pushed the small Union cavalry forces out of Gettysburg, driving them into the hilly country south of the town which was comprised of many steep hills and ridges. The surviving portion of the North took up defensive positions and waited for reinforcements from General George Meade and the Army of the Potomac.
After the Confederate victory on the first day of fighting in Gettysburg, the Union army had been heavily......
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Approximate Word Count: 1428
Approximate Pages: 6 (260 words per double-spaced page) |