Definition
The 20th Maine refers to the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, an infantry unit that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865).
Overview
Organized in August 1862 in Portland, Maine, the regiment was mustered into federal service on August 30, 1862, under the command of Colonel Adelbert Ames. It fought in several major campaigns, including the Peninsula Campaign, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Gettysburg Campaign. The regiment is most renowned for its defense of Little Round Top on July 2, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg, where its commander, Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain, led a decisive bayonet charge that secured the Union left flank. After Gettysburg, the 20th Maine continued service in the Overland Campaign, the Siege of Petersburg, and the Appomattox Campaign, ultimately participating in the surrender of Confederate forces at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. The regiment was mustered out of service on July 16, 1865.
Etymology/Origin
The designation “20th Maine” follows the standard naming convention for Union regiments, combining a sequential number with the state of origin. The regiment was the twentieth infantry unit raised by the state of Maine for the Union war effort.
Characteristics
- Composition: Primarily comprised of volunteers from various towns across Maine; at muster, the regiment numbered approximately 1,000 men.
- Leadership: Notable commanders include Colonel Adelbert Ames, Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain (later a brigadier general and Governor of Maine), and several other officers who rose through the ranks during the war.
- Armament: Initially equipped with Springfield Model 1861 rifled muskets; later re‑equipped with various firearms as supply conditions changed.
- Casualties: The regiment suffered approximately 150 killed or mortally wounded, 400 wounded, and 150 died of disease or other causes over its three-year service.
- Honors: The 20th Maine received numerous citations, and several of its members were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Gettysburg and elsewhere.
Related Topics
- American Civil War
- Union Army
- Battle of Gettysburg
- Little Round Top
- Joshua L. Chamberlain
- Maine in the American Civil War
- Medal of Honor recipients of the Civil War