Gettysburg Charge of 20th Maine at Little Round Top Scene

[@motherofcinema]

If you have the opportunity to visit the Gettysburg battlefield, walk all the way up Little Round Top - it will make you appreciate this scene even more. Chamberlain went on to a long distinguished career as Governor of Maine and head of Bowdoin College. Maine never forgot.

[@joehouston9039]

Unbelievable sight it is ! The whole area is amazing

[@NateGerardRealEstateTeam]

I was there in 1989 with my military history professor who was a retired Marine Gunnery Sgt and an excellent professor and man. It was a day filled with education and somber remembrance.

[@racketyjack]

I was there in 2004. A retired Army warrant officer was our park guide. He told us, "You see all these monuments around here? The soldiers that fought here wanted one thing, to always be remembered for what happened here." Brought tears to this old Marine's eyes I tell you.

[@jerlewis4291]

He was a professor at Bowden and a well known man in academia snuck away to join the Maine regiment and was offered the position of Colonel, but refused it, saying he wanted to have more exprricene.

[@seancrowley1065]

Was there with my wife. The aura was so intense.

[@terrypeterman6059]

No one could play the part of Chamberlain like Jeff Daniels. He captured the balance of leadership, duty, honor and compassion. One of his best movies.

[@Eggo5150]

Saw an interview with the director and he really wanted to use an unknown actor from Australia for Chamberlain. Had him do a read and two of the famous parts from the movie. The dialogue with Killrain about men being free and the speech to the 2nd Maine. He filmed it and had him in costume. The powers that be wanted a name. He didn't agree, so much that his persistent pushing for it almost ended the entire project, a decade plus in to its making. That unknown actor at the time was Russell Crowe.

[@TheLeprechaunjm]

When I'm in a team meeting at work, I sometimes think of just standing up and yelling "BAYONETS!!!" then sit back down again.

[@ssazerac]

I’m doing it!

[@mammasut8280]

Go play War Of Rights instead :)

[@GD-lu9zo]

That’s hilarious. I feel your pain.

[@Clydesirota]

I did it!

[@andrueurbane7361]

winner winner internet dinner

[@jamessinclair6113]

As a northern New Englander, I always appreciated the accents from the actors in the 20th Maine in this movie. They did a pretty good job hitting it. "You mean chahge?" "We swing like a dooah"

[@alboma60791]

New England accents like Boston Accent? I find it interesting though😅

[@jamessinclair6113]

@@alboma60791 kind of, but there is a difference between a Boston accent and a Maine accent! The Colonel and the Captain both do a great job of hitting the "Maine" cadence

[@alboma60791]

@@jamessinclair6113 I find interesting that United States have a lot of American English accents, but to me sounds the same to me, American English, though some accents are distinguishable for example the Southern States accents, because of the twang pronunciation of the words😅

[@CP3oh322]

@@alboma60791 There's a flat Western accent as well, like I have. Not like "Cowboy Western" but we tend to enage in a bit of morphological clipping (I think that's the right term). Fountain becomes "fount'n", mountain becomes "mount'n", etc. I never even realized I had it until I had a girlfriend in college who was from Jordan and she thought it was hilarious. Oh, and if you ever watch Fargo, they aren't exaggerating those Midwest accents at all.

[@davidmurray5399]

if you visit Little Round Top, you'll notice from the markers that the 20th Maine wasn't the only unit on the flank of Vincent's brigade. To their immediate right was the 83rd Pennsylvania[Vincent's old Regiment before he took over the brigade]and the 44th New York. All of the regiment's were short of ammunition and had suffered heavy losses. When the 20th Maine began it's downhill sweep[and it wasn't that steep of a hillside, but enough for tired, thirsty men], the 83rd and the 44th saw their advance and joined in, though neither of the two went as far as elements of the 20th Maine did.

[@jamesbutler8821]

Yeah I walked it too. The attack was over a good sized area, it wasnt just Chamberlain holding that line

[@The2ndFirst]

Fucking RAH

[@phillipchappell6013]

@@jamesbutler8821 I quote my 10th grade history teacher, He said, the men that lead that day. They kknew the stakes were higher then then just the battle. It the war and country on the line. July 2nd is the day he said that Union Army went from being on the ropes to a fighting army.

[@Austin1723]

I think the 16th Michigan was there as well

[@davidmurray5399]

@@Austin1723 Yes, the 16th Michigan was on the right flank of Vincent's brigade, on the more exposed western side of Little Round Top. The 16th had suffered losses during the Chancellorsville campaign and was under strength[like nearly ALL the units at Gettysburg, North and South], and under heavy fire from elements of three Confederate brigades. The 16th didn't join in the advance by the left of the brigade[it would have been suicidal to do so], they were trying just to hold on under very trying circumstances.

[@genesmolko8113]

From Colonel Chamberlain of the 20nd Maine to Harry of Dumb and Dumber, Jeff Daniels pulls it off brilliantly

[@heyfitzpablum]

Great actor indeed.

[@StevenSmith-br5tb]

Easily one of the most epic clashes of humanity of the Civil War. It would quite something to have met Chamberlain and the men under his command. Truly men among men.

[@llshallfall]

Daniels moustache puts tombstone to shame

[@maryestergall928]

That textbook maneuver by Chamberlain saved the day for the Union. They kept control of the high ground.

[@DinoPimp]

The Confederacy underestimated their power.

[@eq1373]

That was far from a textbook maneuver. It was a football play down the side of a mountain.

[@odd-ysseusdoesstuff6347]

​@@DinoPimpRebs tried to do an Anakin 😂😂

[@jazzhound]

Definitely a textbook maneuver that Chamberlain probably first learned about on Reddit.

[@PatrickTyrrell-jd5zy]

@eq1373 American football did not exist at that time. What happened on July 2, 1863 was not a game.

[@nathanfallin2750]

You gotta love a leader who leads from the front especially in a bayonet charge. He’s knows he’s asking his men to do something very dangerous and brave so he shows them he’ll do it first!

[@kimhongsuk8347]

This is my favorite movie scene of all time. Such an amazingly well made movie altogether.

[@TheLeprechaunjm]

Probably mine too!

[@markingelin9773]

The music adds a key element to this scene.

[@seanwalsh5717]

The Union was saved that day.

[@alabamaal225]

Not really. Even if the 15th Alabama Regiment succeeded in taking the hill, it was doubtful they could have held against the inevitable Federal counterattack, as the commanding officer of the 15th Alabama, Col. William Oates, admitted in his post-war memoir. At the point of the 20th Maine's charge the 15th Alabama had already staged three attacks, suffering about 40% casualties. As the 20th Maine was running down the hill, the 15th Alabama started to receive fire on both flanks, a company of U.S Army sharpshooters on its right and long range fire from the 83rd Pennsylvania on its left. The 15th Alabama was in an untenable position with no Confederate reinforcement forthcoming. Oates ordered a withdraw; a command his men at this point were very quick to obey.

[@johnshanahan6439]

This charge basically saved the Batlle of Gettysburg & the war. If Chamberlain had been overrun, the flank & the Union line would've collapsed. Pickett's charge wouldn't have been needed. The Confederate army was never the same after this.

[@stuartellner3172]

Exactly. Lee’s grand plan all along was to push the Union army back to Washington, encircle the city, and force Lincoln to sue for peace. Had the Confederate army taken Gettysburg, they would been on their way. To say the fate of our country hung in the balance during these few minutes is not hyperbole.

[@mjvajda]

I of course love this scene and do like this movie. I would also argue that the 1st Minnesota as well as Greene’s New York Brigade in the 12th Corps on Culp’s Hill also did a bang up job of protecting the Union line or held off the Confederates long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

[@heyfitzpablum]

Can you imagine how Lee felt, going from the MASSIVE victory at Chancellorsville 3 months earlier to the complete decimation of his army at Gettysburg? Wow.

[@stolennimbus]

Little Round Top and Big Round Top, names that will be remembered.

[@MrIdasam]

I grew up in Georgia, so learning about the Civil War was to be expected and a big part of my childhood. When this movie came out, I naturally leaned in favor of the Confederacy. But watching this scene now decades later as a grown man, I have an equal respect and admiration for all of them, Union and Confederate. They were all Americans. I understand both sides and what they were fighting for.

[@gavocrazy]

See, Hollywood's got you feeling sympathy for a bunch of damn yankees. The brainwash is complete

[@dougamundson6836]

Not me. The South was fighting to keep black people in slavery.

[@larrycoonrod5563]

Only the Union soldiers were Americans

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@larrycoonrod5563 Abraham Lincoln said You Are WRONG.

[@thewingedhussar4188]

Thing is, the CSA wanted to tear the US apart to keep people in bondage. Despite the fact the world was moving away from slavery.

[@Kevin-qn2kw]

Chamberlain's great great grandson would go on to cross the country with his friend to return a briefcase to a remarkable woman named Mary.

[@jessel8833]

As a young boy I used to watch this movie over & over throughout the years. Haven't seen it in a good while, but so many actors, scenes, historical depicted moments imprinted in my mind. This is one of many things that inspired me to pursue History as an educational background. The Civil War was such an intense moment in our history. Complex. Brother against brother, Americans angry, confused, joining in for sense of honor & duty (on both sides). May we all remember, it is worth having words, and talking things out many, many times; trying to come to agreement, compromise, before deciding to shoot at & kill one another. We have so much to live for. Let us strive for peace, lifting each other up. Violence, hate, anger, vengeance, are easy to fall victim to. It takes patience, clear mind, maturity, motivation to ignore those impulses & approach common ground without bloodshed. It can feel impossible. Insurmountable. But, it can, and should be done. Let the memory of the loss of so many great men & women live as a reminder that the path of war & violence leads to despair & death.... We can do better. It is a fact. We only have to try.

[@dancampbell9151]

Well said. Unfortunately way too many people are drunk on the kool-aide, identity woke PC politics of the day that thrive on irresponsible knee-jerk reaction based on selfish emotion; instead of common sense, and rational logic of cause and effect. Enough of the victim mentality. It is time - and we might just have a chance now - to come together as "Americans" - to get this country back to somewhere close to what the Founding Fathers envisioned. E-PLURIBUS-UNUM - "Out of many, one"

[@TomWilliams-z4e]

My father's relatives from Connecticut and mother's relatives from North Carolina fought at Gettysburg.

[@jamesdeich6102]

So they fought each other

[@maamold]

The Scene, The Score. Perfection.

[@fasiapulekaufusi6632]

They were outnumbered and still won. But the Confederates thought they were more. Which is why they routed at the sight of the union charge.

[@rossstewart9994]

Great movie and great cast Gettysburg is a fantastic place to visit to.

[@llshallfall]

Never sat down and watched this. Always watched glory instead. Looks like a good film here

[@dant2792]

Take the time and watch this! It's worth every minute! If you don't get chills during the cannon barrage, I don't know what will move you.

[@leighbarder2091]

It is fabulous!

[@joshuabrooks4907]

Buster kilrain was such a great character. Kevin Conway was a great choice to portray him.

[@richardtams564]

Certainly makes the hair on the back of the neck stand up. Two rules of war. 1. Take the initiative. 2. Always take the initiative. From sun Tzu, Alexander, Caesar, napoleon, Wellington, Guderian, Rommel to stormin Norman Schwarzkopf.

[@Mr..Malice]

Pershing

[@JosephKalson]

Patton

[@bobl6139]

Great Maine accents on the word charge ,Joshua chamberlain was a legend . Lifetime colostomy bay from a subsequent war wound ,future governor of Maine and president of a major college

[@notwrongbyalot]

1860s facial hair was fantastic

[@Bradly197]

My great great grandfather on my dads side was in the 15th Alabama...

[@mafirearmsafety]

And his captain said they had never been beaten in battle until they met the 20th Maine. Southern and northern rednecks colliding…..

[@mstudios5637]

This dude was in Dumb and Dumber..what a great acting change!

[@paulcolburn3855]

He also played a college professor and adulterer in the multiple academy award winning movie, Terms of Endearment. We are talking about an excellent actor who can do very serious roles AND comedy.

[@The2ndFirst]

Somtimes you are in the fight, you are in the fight and you make the move. In this case, a "Swinging door" on the point of a bayonette if that's what you have at hand.

[@ericminchey4193]

@5:06 "On the way to Richmond" he says. The Battle of Litte Round Top was fought on July 2 1863. Richmond was captured on April 5, 1865, nearly 2 years later. According to Google it's only a 3 day hike to Richmond from Gettysburg. What took them so long?

[@charleskimball7058]

General Meade didn’t try to engage in a major battle with Lee and, considering the casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg, it’s hard to blame him. His caution turned out to be fortuitous to the Union because the newspapers would learn about a general in the western theater who had been winning all that time. His name was Ulysses S. Grant. Lincoln would give him command of the entire Union army in all theaters of the war. Unlike his predecessors, Grant’s strategy was to fight Lee’s army wherever they met, depleting the Confederate forces until Lee finally surrendered.

[@paulchoudhury2573]

Great scene from one of my favorite films. Jeff Daniels finest performance!

[@timmcat]

This music was.... my god, it was amazing. Such a rousing and glorious sound to hear as men die painfully and families lose sons, brothers, fathers.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

In a day when all American soldiers where true men to the core.

[@charleskimball7058]

Not all of them. Some were cowards, some were bullies. But there were honorable men in the army too

[@barbaraodonnell1909]

I'm Polski -American and I married into North Ireland military Family. We love watching this movie a Blended Military Polski and DONEGAL Family

[@philip8551]

Remember the brave volunteers of the 20th Maine!

[@oledahammer8393]

So many pivotal moments in history hinge on a single man or small group of men doing something selfless and incredibly brave, or history would be so much different and not for the better. Amazing how much of history rode on the edge of razor....or was it not chance but the grace of God and faith of those men. There were a number of moments at Gettysburg like that...

[@davidmurray5399]

If you view a plat map of Adams County for that decade, there was a township road and several farm lanes that did go around Big Round Top and come out on the Taneytown Road. The Confederates didn't have any cavalry vedettes patrolling to the south of Hood's division[not Stuart's fault, Lee and his staff had cavalry that they didn't use effectively], just infantry who were as tired and worn out as the rest of Hood's division[Hood's division had marched the best part of twenty miles in 90 degree heat just to get there], so looking for flanking routes around the Union lines didn't occur to anyone on the Confederate side. Coupled with Lee's determination to attack, this lack of information is what brought about the desperate struggle for Little Round Top, or as the Confederates called it, "The rocky hill".

[@blowfish3]

Would love to see this film with all the over-the-top music stripped out.

[@mikeking7470]

Same year he did Dumb and Dumber. Best actor, he should have got the Oscar.

[@BoatyPirate69]

We must remember not to let this history be forgotten. While many refuse to acknowledge the Civil War and its pre and post era, it was how we got to the civil rights and ongoing discussions today. We must be talk and see this history no matter uncomfortable and offended we get. Because in feeling that, we learn our past and mistakes to ensure betterment today. For even Robert E. Lee said “History teaches us hope”. And that hope is the hope for better society and freedom for all. For if we forget and persecute the books of history, it dies with that generation and we risk repeating our mistakes. Sounds silly but many times have we done so, be it the same or similar.

[@thomasciul8932]

Heroic is not a strong enough word for that scne/ event

[@truthray2885]

I'd forgotten how corny that scene was. And as a fat guy myself, I respect all the fat extras working for a boxed lunch who had the good sense to fall down in the first few steps of the charge, or surrender quickly as with the big fella about 9:25. Doing so made complete ergonomic sense.

[@jessealvarez6324]

This moment in life was hard core!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mikecarroll3538]

So I know I’m being a little hyperbolic, but you can make a case that Chamberlain saved the entire the Union army with this charge, and if the Union loses Gettysburg who knows what happens

[@soldat2501]

The pivotal moment, in the pivotal battle, during the pivotal campaign of the whole war. IMHO, Col Chamberlain won the war right here, at this moment.

[@ericswain70]

I could not even imagine....

[@earheadsix4119]

Hey, it’s Horn from TOD. Still on the hill I see.

[@rigger314]

The only thing I object to is that the commanding officer here, got the Cogressional Medal of Honour. There were a hell of alot more people involved and in my opinion they were also equalily deserving the honour. This happens to much in the military where the men do the work and the bloody officer get the recognition/ medals. It needs to be changed!

[@giovanniguzman1654]

This kind of Valor! BRAVES in both sides is what built this grate! Powerful Nation! We can't let turn down, We stay UP like our Fathers

[@santijauregui459]

“Great.” Not “grate.”

[@michaelclennan8425]

Heros all.

[@masonreeves4775]

He looks just like the Joshua Chamberlain statue in Bangor

[@gwer369]

Damnedest thing I ever saw, on TV, unforgettable.

[@LittleEuropeanTEXAS]

The music fades as the Union general and Confederate colonel engage in a civil conversation following the orchestral music that accompanied the charge. This moment underscores the heavy toll the Civil War took on the weary Confederate soldiers. The Confederate colonel’s simple question, “May I have some water?” emphasizes the struggle both sides faced with limited supplies during the battle. It's also important to note that Union soldiers were running low on ammunition as well. 🤔

[@nickcarranza4687]

For a more perfect union,, we have problems, but to strive for all equal justice, respect, freedom

[@Ulandus]

That charge saved the union.

[@teresacirulli6890]

Great Historic Scene 💯💯💯

[@glennbrymer4065]

Fix! BAYONETS!!! I learned this in BCT, 1969. It was electrifying to hear hundreds of bayonets being sloted onto M-14 rifles.

[@jamesc2212]

taught in basic military leadership great great leadership

[@rjwintl]

this is why serving in the cavalry would have been a helluva lot more fun !!!

[@Ross90AU]

This scene is such a mask off for America. They claim to care about war and soldiers but then you see insults like this

[@donaldtaeger918]

Mrs. Perdicaris, you are a great deal of trouble.

[@FrankJCarver]

Brother against brother. civil wars are the worst wars.

[@GravesRWFiA]

He treated it as a locig b]problem, can't run, can't defend so? attack. 50 years later marshal Foche would have the same answer, what do you do when you left is turned, your right broken and your center crushed ten times over? Attack!

[@andrewgates8158]

Remember the Maine

[@acpacp7480]

Best movie of American civil war.

[@dudenessbrews]

Accurate. Johnny Reb on the run.

[@philipdennis-rh7uj]

Mick never got his drink eh?

[@Metal.Machine95]

The guy at 2:55 just randomly collapsed.

[@jameslongstreet9259]

Well, the rebs are seen shooting back…

[@billyponsonby]

Small regiments of 50 in them days

[@1339LARS]

TOP NOTCH!!!!!!! //Lars

[@jacobgarland3257]

Warwick Davis commanded an authentic portrayal of Stonewall Jackson and really sold this scene.

[@andyorwig]

"Move\..." Simple effective order."

[@jaywinters2483]

Oats who led the Alabama attack wrote that he did not believe in citizens’ right to carry. Thank God those who do not love freedom lost.

[@BrianLaverenz]

Above And Beyond The Call Of Duty

[@spritbong5285]

At least the yanks learned something from the British.

[@trainknut]

If you think about it this could be considered the first Banzai charge in history

[@bingisbahn3374]

Yeah, you could if you wanted to be wrong.

[@greenleaf9274]

lol if only war were this glam

[@allanh7137]

Round two will go the same way 😂

[@santijauregui459]

God forbid that there should ever be one.

[@MrEric2cu]

It's a good movie, but I can't get past how awful the different beards are. It reminds me of Halloween when the little kids glue on beards. They just look so fake.

[@sharkusvelarde]

Good movie with terrible music score

[@yeshua-Political-Party]

🙏🏿🕊️🕊️

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

"BAYONETS!!!"

[@T2celotv]

Barilan lang Kasi walang suguran😂

[@josephmoore3701]

They should not have accepted rebel prisoners maybe now our country would be better.

[@AlexanderEBott]

I think a more thorough March to the Sea campaign attacking the heart of the south, the plantation owners, followed by a more thorough forced integration post war should have been called for. Certainly many of those soldiers were indeed racist, whether maliciously or just out of prejudice you can't exactly tell, but they ultimately fought for a system they were not deeply invested in, plantation slavery, and which they were duped into believing it was their job to defend. Perhaps also a Nuremberg sort of trial could also have been called for in hindsight, to prosecute the leaders of the Confederacy, the plantation owners serving in the capitol machine.

[@64MDW]

They were better men than you could ever be.

[@Shatamx]

Rebels or not. They were American before and AFTER. Thankfully our Leaders knew in order to retain peace was to give amnesty. Not vengeance. Despite the fact the Union basically already tore down Southern infrastructure from the Atlantic to the Mississippi.

[@Easy-Eight]

Sill mad over last Tuesday?

[@joonalavonen5929]

As much as one can hate a another human. Prisoners of war are to be treated as humans. Water, food and shelter. No more no less

[@FrédéricInizan]

Ridiculous... and the pepertual music is totally unnecessary!

[@YoloSwagNinja]

If they remade this, the entire cast would be race and gender swapped.

[@MrIdasam]

All except Lee. They would keep him as the white devil.

[@JDonzsabres10]

and all identify as queer

[@HPmob420]

Your stupidity is freighting

[@keith6706]

Given that the Confederates were fighting in defense of a system of enslavement, rape, and murder, I have no problem with portraying them in such a way.

[@dougamundson6836]

Har, har, har. Well said. Har, har, har.

[@eddiecolemanjr9631]

This collosal delusion must be challenged at every opportunity.

[@TannuWannu]

villains.

[@johnculley5852]

Tribute to Donald Trump's 2024 election victory!

[@jamesbutler8821]

Smh...as if Trump would be on the Union side. Not even sure the CSA would be extreme enough for him

[@HurricaneDPG]

Obsessed with a weak, draft dodging geriatric.

[@minrityreprt6302]

A couple of big brass ones, that man had.

[@ancientheart2532]

I fear this will happen again...Americans fighting Americans. I'm 70 and have never been so sad...so heart broken for our lot as a functioning Republic. Long live the Republic and the Constitution!🇺🇲

[@brucebostick2521]

another big factor that this piece didnt cover was a group, i think from indiana, that was hidden, part way up the hill on the union left. they stayed hidden on the first attack or so, but then rose up, surprised everyone & blasted hell out of the alabama troops going up the hill.