Existing comment:
"Hold The Ground At All Hazards"
Colonel Strong Vincent & Colonel Joshua Chamberlain at Little Round Top on July 2nd, 1863.
-- July 2, 1863 - The Second Day --
On the afternoon of July 2, 1863 Union General Gouverneur K. Warren found Little Round Top undefended. He quickly sent his staff to find troops to defend this vital position. General George Sykes, commanding the 5th Corps, agreed to send a brigade to occupy the hill. Sykes' orders were intercepted by Colonel Strong Vincent, commanding the Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Corps. Without waiting for approval from his commanding officer, Vincent, "took the responsibility of taking my brigade there," to Little Round Top.
Riding ahead of his troops, Vincent ascended this hill and selected the ground where his brigade would make its defense. Vincent personally placed each of his four regiments. He entrusted his left flank to Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain's 20th Maine. Vincent's orders to Chamberlain were to "hold the ground at all hazards." Within minutes of forming his line, Vincent's brigade was assaulted by Confederate regiments of Law's and Robertson's brigades. A desperate battle ensued across the entire brigade line. The line held, but the cost was high, including Vincent, who was mortally wounded. |