20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
| 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment | |
|---|---|
Flag of the 20th Maine
|
|
| Active | August 20, 1862 – July 16, 1865 |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Type | Regiment |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Col. Adelbert Ames Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Maj. Ellis Spear |
The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a regiment of the United States Army during the American Civil War, most famous for its defense of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1863. The 133rd Engineer Battalion carries on the lineage and traditions of the 20th Maine.
The 20th Maine was organized in the state of Maine and mustered into Federal service on August 29, 1862, with Col. Adelbert Ames as its commander. It was assigned to the Army of the Potomac in the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps, where it would remain until mustered out on July 16, 1865. At that time, the brigade also consisted of the 16th Michigan, the 12th, 17th, and 44th New York, 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry regiments, and a Michigan company of sharpshooters.
Prior to their notable actions at Gettysburg, the regiment was held in reserve at Antietam, was among those forced to remain overnight within sight of the Confederate lines at Fredericksburg, forcing the regiment's Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain to shield himself with a dead man. The unit was unable to participate in the Battle of Chancellorsville due to a quarantine prompted by a tainted smallpox vaccine that had been issued to the unit's soldiers. On May 20, 1863, Colonel Ames was promoted and was succeeded as colonel of the regiment by Joshua Chamberlain, who had been offered and declined leadership of the unit at the time it was formed.
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Wikipedia