Southern Slope of Little Round Top

Gettysburg
The Second Day

Southern Slope
of Little Round Top

The position of the 20th Maine can be seen at the top of the slope.

CW1515

 

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Colonel William C. Oates, commanding the 15th Alabama: “[T]he fire was so destructive that my line wavered like a man trying to walk against a strong wind, and then slowly, doggedly, gave back a little...I again ordered the advance, and knowing the officers and men of that gallant old regiment, I felt sure that they would follow their commander anywhere in the line of duty. I passed through the line waving my sword, shouting, ‘Forward, men, to the ledge!’ and was promptly followed by the command in splendid style. We drove the Federals from their strong defensive position; five times they rallied and charged us, twice coming so near that some of my men had to use the bayonet...I led this charge and sprang upon the ledge of rock, using my pistol within musket length, when the rush of my men drove the Maine men from the ledge...but not farther than to the next ledge on the mountain-side...There never were harder fighters than the Twentieth Maine men and their gallant Colonel.” -- Oates’ memoirs The War between the Union and the Confederacy, pages 218-219

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Fine Art Photography of Civil War Battlefields by Dan Jenkins