| May 31 |  |
Editor says, what if a key figure had been absent from the Battle of Gettysburg? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the June 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1863, on this day Lt Col. Joshua Chamberlain transferred out of 20th Maine Infantry in order to seek a colonelcy in a drafted regiment of conscripts.
Killer AngelHe had been offered the rank a year before, but declined in order to "start a little lower and learn the business first". In a letter to his wife Fanny, he indicated that he was now ready:
"What would you think, Fanny, of my obtaining the colonelcy of one of the new Regiments to be raised in Maine under the recent Law - the conscript or drafted Regts. Would you leave the old 20th? I declare it makes my heart heavy to think of it. But the Col. says if he does not get his appointment, I ought to go in for another Regt. The colonels are to be apptd. by the President Col. Ames thinks we've been Lieut. Col. long enough. We have been through two memorable campaigns and very likely shall be into another one before any change can be made. I can imagine there would be the least difficulty in obtaining the place if desired".
His wife was fully supportative1, and he left V Corps less than a month before the Battle of Gettysburg where his old regiment was decimated on the left flank of the Union Army. Tragically, General Gouverneur K. Warren was thrown from his horse and killed before he could properly organize the defense of "Little Round Top" hill 2.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Generals Source: Wikipedia Labels: Fanny Adams, Joshua Chamberlain, Gettysburg, Union, Civil War. Editor says, in this article we repurpose significant amounts of content from Wikipedia and refer to May 2012 Edition of Civil War Times which includes a review of the forthcoming book "Joshua Chamberlain: A Life in Letters" by Thomas Desjardin. 1) In our timeline he changed his mind 2) Warren played a key (if not fully recognized) role in the Union victory.
~ Chamberlain's absence could potentially have led to the destruction of the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg, and the advent of a protracted conflict in Pennsylvania and perhaps New York. I don't think Lee would have taken D.C. and occasioned an end to the War, but he would have returned to Virginia have successfully campaigned in the North and leaving behind a much-weakened enemy.
~ All I can say is, thank goodness the OTL Chamberlain decided to stick around.
~ With a different CO, the Maine men on Little Round Top could have done just as well, or could have broken and routed. Impossible to know.
~ At the same time, we've got the fall of Vicksburg, which could negate any Southern forward movement.
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