Had the battle at Little Round Top or Pickett's charge had another outcome, the United States of today would perhaps be a little more than half its size. The historic result, as so many say, saved the country and from the turmoil of war Canada saw its birth two years later.
But before all that happened, those charges happened and we were there.
Several of the Canadian Medal of Honor recipients would fight at Gettysburg. Each of these earned their medals from actions either before or after that conflict. One recipient who fought at Gettysburg and captured several sets of enemy artillery guns and a handful of POW's would later move to Montreal as a US Consul, and remain there for about 30 yrs if memory serves right. His family would grow and a son would become a major newspaper editor. Many Confederate officers including Lee sought refuge after the war in Canada.
A few days ago I visited the very spot where George Pickett's Confederates, some15,000 strong waited for the Union cannons to stop their deadly fire. They were in a line almost a mile long. When the heaviest shelling let off a little Pickett gave the orders and his men rode into history. They advances almost 3/4's of a mile across very open fields into the slaughter. Over 6500 would soon be casualties of an attack many of the officers knew was lost before it started. The Union would have about 1,500 of its own casualties.
But before all that happened, those charges happened and we were there.
Several of the Canadian Medal of Honor recipients would fight at Gettysburg. Each of these earned their medals from actions either before or after that conflict. One recipient who fought at Gettysburg and captured several sets of enemy artillery guns and a handful of POW's would later move to Montreal as a US Consul, and remain there for about 30 yrs if memory serves right. His family would grow and a son would become a major newspaper editor. Many Confederate officers including Lee sought refuge after the war in Canada.
A few days ago I visited the very spot where George Pickett's Confederates, some15,000 strong waited for the Union cannons to stop their deadly fire. They were in a line almost a mile long. When the heaviest shelling let off a little Pickett gave the orders and his men rode into history. They advances almost 3/4's of a mile across very open fields into the slaughter. Over 6500 would soon be casualties of an attack many of the officers knew was lost before it started. The Union would have about 1,500 of its own casualties.
Standing in the foreground, you are looking at the ground a mile in front of you where Pickett had his regiments spread out about a mile wide and advancing against the union's powerful cannons and 6,000 men. Look at the interpretation sign on the left. Above this and off several hundred feet is a white marker. This monument marks the very spot that the Confederates almost broke the union lines. It is called the High Water Mark, a naval reference to the high tide, but in army terms... a reference to the highest position... or farthest in this case, that the troops occupied. Be it only minutes long. But the Southern soldiers were so few in number that success was denied them. Just off to the left and less than a few hundred feet is a large red home that has survived since CW days. It was here that many say Pickett actually stood during the later part of his charge.
As past blogs have noted, perhaps as many as 700 Canadians may have participated in the three days of battle at the small town of Gettysburg. Checking those blogs will show an indication of Canadians from many provinces being wounded or killed that early July of 1863.
As past blogs have noted, perhaps as many as 700 Canadians may have participated in the three days of battle at the small town of Gettysburg. Checking those blogs will show an indication of Canadians from many provinces being wounded or killed that early July of 1863.
In this photo you are looking into the union lines and a very small portion of the cannons placed here and throughout Gettysburg. Those above are at the very spot called Cemetery Ridge and marks the Union line that was the target the Confederates wanted to capture. You can get a bit of an idea of the size of these cannons, with me standing beside one on the right.
Had the battle at Little Round Top gone the other way the day before, there would have been no Pickett's Charge as the South would have taken the battle and moved forward. But history shows that they did not take Little Round Top, had to make the charge of the following day and then got routed and repelled from Northern soil.
Had the battle at Little Round Top gone the other way the day before, there would have been no Pickett's Charge as the South would have taken the battle and moved forward. But history shows that they did not take Little Round Top, had to make the charge of the following day and then got routed and repelled from Northern soil.
If you look into the back of each of these pictures you can see a portion of the hill in which the Confederates tried to climb but faced the Union lines that were ordered to hold it... at all costs. Past blogs explained the importance of holding this hill to prevent the Southern troops from attacking the Union line from the rear. It would be here that Colonel Chamberlain led his bayonet charge that saved the day. The right photo shows a marker that indicates the very spot that was the end of the line of Northern troops under Chamberlain and his famous regiment... the 20th Maine. The centre is a close-up and on the left some on the hill being held.
There are over 1,000 markers and monuments on the battlefield at Gettysburg. Veterans of most of the units that fought would later erect these in memory of their lost comrades and the heroism of 1863. The 20th Maine was no exception and here on the left and right is their marker that was put up on the battle field at Little Round Top. In the centre, an enlarged picture shows the Canadian flag, and just below this is engraved the name of NB born Alex Lexter. He fought here and died a few days later in a POW camp.
A past blog brought you the story of the actual Medal of Honor surfacing most recently that was awarded back in the 1890's to Colonel Chamberlain for his heroism in this battle. Google his name to day to find the story. Just yesterday he again made news when the new owners of that medal, a museum in Maine, had announced that they will indeed be putting it on public display in the months to come. The Colonel's name sake... who happens to have the same name...and lives in Gettysburg to boot, re-enacts the Chamberlain story and is pictured above giving his CW era salute. He told me a most interesting story that I will bring to you at a later date.
A past blog brought you the story of the actual Medal of Honor surfacing most recently that was awarded back in the 1890's to Colonel Chamberlain for his heroism in this battle. Google his name to day to find the story. Just yesterday he again made news when the new owners of that medal, a museum in Maine, had announced that they will indeed be putting it on public display in the months to come. The Colonel's name sake... who happens to have the same name...and lives in Gettysburg to boot, re-enacts the Chamberlain story and is pictured above giving his CW era salute. He told me a most interesting story that I will bring to you at a later date.
This series of photos was taken from on top of Little Round Top. It is obvious that the hill gave whoever occupied it an excellent view of what was going on with the enemy for miles.
The next blog will cover a couple of aspects of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's convention that took place in Gettysburg a few days back.
Please stay tuned, and a note of apology for the latest of this blog. Computer issues and being exhausted from a few days of various activities prevented its getting posted on time.
cheers from Bethesda Maryland.
Bart
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