How tall is big round top

If we walk a bit farther ahead… This view was facing northeast at approximately PM on Thursday, January 6, It becomes apparent that there are two distinct trails that we could take — the paved trail on the left or the stone-dirt trail on the right. We recommend sticking to the paved trail. This view was facing east at approximately PM on Thursday, January 6, Seen here constructing the Big Round Top trail, this view was taken circa and is courtesy of the Center for Civil War Photography, which has more than 1, historic Gettysburg Park images like these on their Flickr.

Previously, in order to get to the foot steel observation tower which stood on the top of the hill, visitors would have to climb a fairly straight path at a relatively steep incline made out of concrete and over stone steps.

This view was taken facing east at approximately PM on Thursday, January 6, Big Round Top from the south, taken circa and courtesy of the Center for Civil War Photography, which has more than 1, historic Gettysburg Park images like these on their Flickr. Note the steel observation tower. After quite a bit of walking … This view was taken facing southwest at approximately PM on Thursday, January 6, If we were to take a left and follow this wall … This view was taken facing northeast at approximately PM on Thursday, January 6, This view was taken facing northwest at approximately PM on Thursday, January 6, American Wars Pequot War.

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Second Seminole War. Mexican War. Civil War. Back to top. Top Menu. Privacy Policy. Battle of Little Round Top, initial assault. When the first regiments reached the rocky outcrops in that area, Vincent put them into line. The 16th Michigan took up a position on the right flank, and the 44th New York and 83rd Pennsylvania held the center.

The last thing Vincent told Chamberlain was: This is the left of the Union line. You are to hold this ground at all costs! Chamberlain ordered the regiment to go on line by file. Company B, with its 44 men, was subsequently cut off by a flanking attack by the enemy, leaving the 20th with only armed men on the main regimental line. Sharpshooters, armed with. The men took up a position in a ravine east of Little Round Top.

Shortly after the Federals had taken up their positions, the men of the 4th and 5th Texas regiments of Maj. John B. During that assault, Captain James H. Chamberlain called his company commanders together and told them his battle plans.

With the new information from Nichols, Chamberlain ordered a right-angle formation, extending his line farther to the east. Meanwhile, Colonel Vincent tried to rally his 3rd Brigade as the 16th Michigan staggered under the heavy assault by the 4th and 5th Texas.

Hood ordered these regiments, led by Colonel William C. Oates, to find the Union left, turn it and capture Round Top. Twenty-five-year-old Color Sgt. Andrew J. Tozier of the 2nd Maine quickly emerged as an unlikely hero, and he was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery. Color sergeant was a dangerous but coveted position in Civil War regiments, generally manned by the bravest soldier in the unit.

When their ammunition had almost run out, Chamberlain decided to fix bayonets and charge down into the two Alabama regiments. Spear, however, claimed he received no such orders.

Holman S. Melcher, the acting commander of Company F, actually conceived the idea to advance the colors and that Colonel Chamberlain initially hesitated, fearing that it would be extremely hazardous. Coan said other officers joined Melcher in urging a forward movement.

Chamberlain — whose right foot had been pieced by a shell fragment or a stone chip — then limped along the regimental line giving instructions to align the left side of the regiment with the right. After Chamberlain returned to the regimental center, Melcher asked permission to retrieve his wounded from the front. Chamberlain replied, Yes, I am about to order a right wheel forward of the whole regiment.

Chamberlain himself claimed later to have said, yes, sir, in a moment! I am about to order a charge. Chamberlain ordered a right-wheel maneuver and took up a place behind Tozier. There is some disagreement about exactly what Chamberlain said to order the bayonet charge. One story is that he screamed: Bayonet! Forward to the right! Chamberlain claimed later that one word — Bayonet! Nor was there time. Right wheel or Bayonet! With all the confusion and noise on Little Round Top that day, if anything other than bayonet had been said it probably would not have mattered, anyway.

An infantryman who is out of ammunition, faced with being cut down on the next enemy charge, and hearing the metal-to-metal sound of bayonets being put on en masse knows the intent of the upcoming order without actually hearing it.

In all likelihood Lieutenant Melcher conceived the idea to advance the colors to retrieve the wounded, but Chamberlain expanded upon the idea, deciding to have the whole regiment conduct a bayonet attack. In doing so, Chamberlain exercised effective battle command. After Chamberlain ordered Bayonet, the Union line hesitated until Melcher sprang out in front of the line with his sword flashing.

Captain Spear said he never received a formal order to charge — he charged only after he saw the colors start forward. The Rev. Theodore Gerrish, then a private in Company H, stated that Melcher led the men down the slope when the enemy was only 30 yards away. Corporal Coan said the men hesitated when Melcher ordered them forward because they were not sure if the colonel had sanctioned the attack. Chamberlain claimed there was no hesitation and said that the line quivered for the start.

Captain Nichols wrote in that Company K never hesitated. Perhaps Company H did hesitate on the left because they were taking heavy fire when the charge started. Company K probably did not delay since the right side of the regiment was not experiencing heavy fire at the time.

Most evidence indicates that Chamberlain ordered the charge, and Melcher was the first officer down the slopes. Melcher was an inspiration to the tiring regiment as he sprang a full 10 paces to the front with his sword glittering in the sunlight.