Colonel Chamberlain-The Bayonet Charge
The Civil War is remembered as the bloodiest war America has seen, and many remember how the confederates won every battle. But one big battle changed the course of the war. And some say it was due to one man, and his famous order. Colonel Joshua Chamberlain was an unlikely hero.
He was a professor of modern languages, but Chamberlain had an uncommon interested in war. In answering why he joined the army, Chamberlain replied; “I have always been interested in military matters, and what I do not know in that line, I know how to learn.” Due to incoming Confederates, Chamberlin and the 20th regiment were stationed by Colonel Vincent, at the far left of the Union line. “Vincent’s last words to me were; This is the left of the Union line. You are to hold this ground at all costs!, and I certainly did just that.”
In response the question of what Chamberlain’s plan was, he said; “I ordered my companies to form a line, and Company B was commanded to take the forward position for skirmishes.” Soon, a heavy onslaught by the 15th and 46th Alabama Confederates smashed into Chamberlain’s troops. “I am very glad I decided to promote Andrew J. Tozier to Color Sergeant, because despite our being heavily bombarded, he stood firm, and became a rallying point. If it weren't for my decision, we might have been defeated.” But this did not last, there came worse news to Chamberlain; they were running out of ammunition. “Faced with this fact, I decided the only way to protect this hill was to charge, and I began ordering troops to rally.”
But this task wan’t easy, because the tiring 20th regiment was becoming disorganized, and losing moral. In answering how he managed to order this charge, Chamberlain replied; “I ran along the regimental line, giving instructions to align themselves, then wait for my signal to charge” Then Chamberlain quickly modified his response when it was read that it was actually the color guard Melcher, Captain Spear, and Captain Morrill who responded and ordered their own men to charge.
When asked how much of an aid the captains were, Chamberlain replied; “They did aid me in the attack, but it was I who made the formation and organized the charge.” Private Theodore Garrish had given a statement that it was the color guard Melcher who sprang ahead of everyone, and everyone followed him rather than wait for Chamberlain. Also, Captain Howard Prince said the Captain Morrill led his own Company independently without an order, yet he did so successfully, and the enemy Colonel Oates states that he believed it was Morrill’s Company that caused his men, the Confederates, to flee.
When faced with these statements, Chamberlain said that he had not heard of these things, but it was quite possibly false information. Since then, some of Chamberlains Captains are growing unhappy, starting that they feel Chamberlain is taking all the glory. Chamberlain replied to this, saying; “I do acknowledge my Captains and their effort during the charge, but they must remember that I was the one leading them.”
But the question still remains, if Chamberlin is the one true hero, or if his Captains deserve a little more attention, because it possible that they made a crucial difference in the outcome. But whether or not this problem is settled, the bayonet charge of the 20th regiment will go down in history as one of the greatest acts of bravery.
He was a professor of modern languages, but Chamberlain had an uncommon interested in war. In answering why he joined the army, Chamberlain replied; “I have always been interested in military matters, and what I do not know in that line, I know how to learn.” Due to incoming Confederates, Chamberlin and the 20th regiment were stationed by Colonel Vincent, at the far left of the Union line. “Vincent’s last words to me were; This is the left of the Union line. You are to hold this ground at all costs!, and I certainly did just that.”
In response the question of what Chamberlain’s plan was, he said; “I ordered my companies to form a line, and Company B was commanded to take the forward position for skirmishes.” Soon, a heavy onslaught by the 15th and 46th Alabama Confederates smashed into Chamberlain’s troops. “I am very glad I decided to promote Andrew J. Tozier to Color Sergeant, because despite our being heavily bombarded, he stood firm, and became a rallying point. If it weren't for my decision, we might have been defeated.” But this did not last, there came worse news to Chamberlain; they were running out of ammunition. “Faced with this fact, I decided the only way to protect this hill was to charge, and I began ordering troops to rally.”
But this task wan’t easy, because the tiring 20th regiment was becoming disorganized, and losing moral. In answering how he managed to order this charge, Chamberlain replied; “I ran along the regimental line, giving instructions to align themselves, then wait for my signal to charge” Then Chamberlain quickly modified his response when it was read that it was actually the color guard Melcher, Captain Spear, and Captain Morrill who responded and ordered their own men to charge.
When asked how much of an aid the captains were, Chamberlain replied; “They did aid me in the attack, but it was I who made the formation and organized the charge.” Private Theodore Garrish had given a statement that it was the color guard Melcher who sprang ahead of everyone, and everyone followed him rather than wait for Chamberlain. Also, Captain Howard Prince said the Captain Morrill led his own Company independently without an order, yet he did so successfully, and the enemy Colonel Oates states that he believed it was Morrill’s Company that caused his men, the Confederates, to flee.
When faced with these statements, Chamberlain said that he had not heard of these things, but it was quite possibly false information. Since then, some of Chamberlains Captains are growing unhappy, starting that they feel Chamberlain is taking all the glory. Chamberlain replied to this, saying; “I do acknowledge my Captains and their effort during the charge, but they must remember that I was the one leading them.”
But the question still remains, if Chamberlin is the one true hero, or if his Captains deserve a little more attention, because it possible that they made a crucial difference in the outcome. But whether or not this problem is settled, the bayonet charge of the 20th regiment will go down in history as one of the greatest acts of bravery.