The Twentieth Maine Infantry is honored by two monuments (one on Little Round Top and one on Big Round Top) and a position stone at Gettysburg.
About the Main Monument
When was it dedicated? June 1886.
What is it made out of? Monument: Hallowell granite; Base: granite.
What size is it? Monument: approx. 4 ft. 4 in. x 3 ft. 3 in. x 3 ft. 3 in.; Base: approx. 1 ft. 2 in. x 4 ft. x 4 ft.
Who made it? Unknown, fabricator.
What does it depict? Polished granite rectangular block monument with apex top and cross emblem on front, set atop boulder. Monument is a polished granite shaft three foot square with apex top on a four foot polished base. Overall height is 5.4 foot. The whole rests on a boulder. Inscriptions are cut into all four sides. Located on rocks in the Vincent Spur or saddle area between Big Round Top and Little Round Top.
What does it honor? The monument is installed on the rocks where the infantry’s colors where planted and where Col. Joshua Chamberlain stood when he refused his line into a V to meet the oncoming Alabamains on the late evening of July 2, 1863.
How is it inscribed? HERE THE 20TH MAINE REGIMENT/COL. J. L. CHAMBERLAIN COMMANDING. FORMING THE/EXTREME LEFT OF THE NATIONAL LINE OF BATTLE./ON THE 2ND DAY OF JULY, 1863. REPULSED THE/ATTACK OF THE EXTREME RIGHT OF LONGSTREET’S/CORPS. AND CHARGED IN TURN, CAPTURING 308/PRISONERS. THE REGIMENT LOST 38 KILLED OR/MORTALLY WOUNDED, AND 93 WOUNDED OUT OF/358 ENGAGED./THIS MONUMENT ERECTED BY SURVIVORS OF/ THE REGIMENT. A.D. 1888./MARKS VERY NEARLY/THE SPOT WHERE COLORS STOOD
When was this photograph taken? December 10, 2011.
Where is it located? Located Gettysburg National Military Park, South slope of Little Round Top, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325. Located off of Wright Avenue.
Is this monument located along the NPS Auto Tour route? No.
Has this monument been moved or changed? This monument has not been moved or materially altered.
Monument Details, Alternative Views, and Contextual Views
Secondary Monuments and Markers
Monument Title: July 3, 1863 Position Monument.
Photographed: October 2, 2011.
Location: Big Round Top. This monument is denoted on the map above by a RED pushpin.
Description: Second monument denotes July 3 position, dedicated October 3, 1889. Monument indicates the position held by the 20th Maine Infantry on the night of July 2, 1863 until relieved as part of the VI Corps on July 3. It also marks the advance position of the regiment during their counter charge against Law’s Alabamans on the evening of July 2. Monument is an apex topped granite shaft that rests on a five foot square, three-course rough hewn base. The shaft has an inscription cut into a smooth panel on the west face. Overall height is 8.1 feet. Flanking markers are 1×1.6 foot with a slant face and polished inscriptions.
Inscription: The 20th Maine Reg’t, 3d Brig, 1st Div, 5th Corps Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain captured and held this position on the evening of July 2d, 1863, pursuing the enemy from its front on the line marked by its monument below. The reg’t lost in the battle 130 killed and wounded out of 358 engaged this monument marks the extreme left of the Union line during the battle of the 3d day.
Monument Title: Marker to Company B during July 2 fight.
Photographed: March 22, 2008.
Location: Little Round Top off Sykes and Wright Avenues near main regimental monument on Little Round Top. This monument is denoted on the map above by a BLUE pushpin.
Description: Company B position marker during July 2 battle. Position marker, 2′x2′x2’2″.
Inscription: Position of Company B, 20th Me. Vols. Capt. Walter G. Morrill, detached as skirmishers attacking the enemy’s right flank, afternoon of July 2, 1863.
At Gettysburg
The 20th Maine Infantry served as a member of Vincent’s Brigade in Barnes’ Division of the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac. A Fighting 300 Regiment.
Commander: Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain (1828-1914). Professor at Bowdoin College. Wounded six times; awarded Medal of Honor for actions at Gettysburg. Post-war governor of Maine and President of Bowdoin College.
Number Engaged: 386
Casualties: 29 killed, 91 wounded, and 5 missing.
Officers Killed at Gettysburg:
- Capt. Charles W. Billings, Company C, mortally wounded on July 2
- 2nd Lieutenant Warren L. Kendall, Company G, mortally wounded on July 2, buried in National Cemetery at C-16
- 1st Lieutenant Arad H. Linscott, Company I, mortally wounded on July 2
Soldiers Buried in the Maine Plot of the Gettysburg National Cemetery:
- Pvt. Frank B. Curtis, Company F, C-14
- Pvt. Moses Davis, Company C, F-3
- Cpl. Melville C. Day, Company G, E-9
- Pvt. Elfin J. Foss, Company F, C-15
- Pvt. Benjamin W. Grant, Company F, D-3
- Cpl. William S. Hodgdon, Company F, E-8
- Pvt. Goodwin S. Ireland, Company H, E-2
- Sgt. William S. Jordan, Company G, C-13
- Sgt. Isaac N. Lathrop, Company H, D-2
- Sgt. George S. Noyes, Company K, F-6
- Cpl. Willard Pinkham, Company D, F-5
- Pvt. Joseph D. Simpson, Company A, F-2
- Sgt. Charles W. Steele, Company H, E-10
- Pvt. Orrin Walker, Company K, E-4
Medal of Honor Winners: CHAMBERLAIN, JOSHUA L. Rank and organization: Colonel, 20th Maine Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Brunswick, Maine. Born: 8 September 1828, Brewer Maine. Date of issue: 11 August 1893. Citation: Daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top.
TOZIER, ANDREW J. Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company I, 20th Maine Infantry. Place and date: At Gettysburg, Pa., 2 July 1863. Entered service at: Plymouth, Maine. Birth: Monmouth, Maine. Date of issue: 13 August 1898. Citation: At the crisis of the engagement this soldier, a color bearer, stood alone in an advanced position, the regiment having been borne back, and defended his colors with musket and ammunition picked up at his feet.
After Action Report: After Action Report of Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain (will open a pop up window).
General Information
Raised: At large.
Notable Facts: The regiment featured in the novel The Killer Angels and the movie Gettysburg.
Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Portland and mustered in August 29, 1862. Left State for Alexandria, Va., September 3. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to October, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.–Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17, 1862. Shephardstown September 19. Advance to Falmouth, Va., October-November. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Expedition to Richards and Ellis Fords December 20-30. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 12-July 24. Aldie June 17. Upperville and Upperville June 21. Middleburg June 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Laurel Hill May 8. Spotsylvania May 8-12. Spotsylvania C. H. May 12-21. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Mills May 23. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-3. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Weldon Railroad June 21-23, 1864. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve). Six Mile House, Weldon Railroad, August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm, September 29-October 2. Hatcher’s Run October 27-28. Warren’s Hicksford Raid December 7-11. Dabney’s Mills, Hatchef’s Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. White Oak Road March 29. Quaker Road March 30. Boydton Road March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Amelia C. H. April 5. High Bridge April 6. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. March to Washington, D.C., May 2-12. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out–Old members, June 4; Regiment, July 16, 1865. Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 138 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 145 Enlisted men by disease. Total 293.
Maine at Gettysburg
3rd Infantry :: 4th Infantry :: 5th Infantry :: 6th Infantry :: 7th Infantry :: 10th Infantry :: 16th Infantry :: 17th Infantry :: 19th Infantry :: 20th Infantry :: 1st Cavalry :: 2nd Artillery B :: 5th Artillery E :: 6th Artillery F
4 Comments
Jenny, my husband was one of those who knew about that monument decades before the movie. On one of our first Gettysburg visits together in the late 1970s, we took a brown bag lunch (against the rules) and sat near there while he told me the history. I’d been to G’burg often, living nearby, but I learned more from him that day than I’d known in all the years before. Thanks once again for helping me relive that day!
My favorite “monument” is the giant book at the High Water Mark. I saw it for the first time when I was about 9 and a voracious reader even then. Got a story for that? Or have you done it and I missed it?
Just haven’t gotten to the “High Water Mark” yet Joanne. I do have some information on it, (as well as the required images) and I will put it on the list to do. Jenny
Knew about Little Round Top from Ken Burns video and book. Book had pictures of the hill shortly after the battle. Movie attention didn’t hurt, though.
My cousins name is engraved on the monument. Elliot L Fogg, killed on July 2nd, 1863.