Coy F, 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment Historical Re-enactment Group

"Chamberlain's Charge"

Little Round Top

July 2, 1863

Mort Kinstler

Coy F, 20th Maine Re-enactment Group.

We are a historical re-enactment group, part of the Southern Skirmish Association.(UK) and are looking for new recruits!

Our members, both male and female, come from all over the UK to recreate a Living history of the American Civil War and to portray the soldiers of F Company, 20th Maine as they were, both during battle and camp life.

Several of our members portray civilian or non-combatant roles and there is a place in our regiment for anyone wishing to re-create

Living History.

Our Uniforms, equipment and arms are all based on the authentic items used in the 19th Century.

The 20th Maine: A Brief History

The 20th Maine was formed on the 29th August 1862 by Colonel Adelbert Ames, at Camp Mason, near Portland, Maine.

Its men came from all over the state in response to President Lincoln's call for Three Hundred Thousand volunteers in July 1862.

Primarily from the farms in the central part of the state near Bangor, F company was under the command of Capt Samuel Keene.

The regiment originally consisted of 993 men in ten companies and was originally attached to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac.

At the time regiment was formed, Joshua L Chamberlain was a Lieutenant Colonel,he took command of the regiment on 20th May 1863.

The 13th December 1862 saw their first major battle. During an engagement against Marye's Heights, at Fredericksburg, the regiment was under continual fire for a total of thirty six hours.

The regiment is best known for the defence of Little Round Top on July 2nd 1863 at Gettysburg, PA.Placed at the extreme end of the Federal Line, the 20th Maine, part of the 3rd brigade of the 5th Corps under Col Strong Vincent, were repeatedly attacked in force.

At the height of the Confederate attack, when ammunition was exhausted, the Color Guard (Coy F, led by Lt Holman Melcher), were the first to go forward after Chamberlain ordered a bayonet charge.

The heroic actions of Chamberlain and his men saved the Union Army from defeat

For their actions that day, Col Chamberlain, Capt Morrill and Color Sgt Andrew Tozier, were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

During The Wilderness campaign, F Company was cut off by the Confederates on May 5th 1864. Lt Melcher and the remaining 18 men of Coy F formed a line of battle and charged yelling "Surrender!"

The Maine men astonished and terrified the Confederates in front of them, and taking 32 prisoners with them, the Company rejoined the rest of the regiment.

The 20th Maine continued to see active service throughout the war years and were at Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbour, Bethseda Church, the siege of Petersburg, Hatchers Run, the Appomattox campaign and Appomattox courthouse for the surrender of General R.E Lee. Finally, the 20th participated in the Grand review in Washington in May 1865 and was mustered out in Portland, Maine in June and July 1865.