Who was Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain?

A veritable icon of Civil War legend, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is best known for his heroic participation in the Battle of Gettysburg. Chamberlain and his regiment, the 20th Maine Infantry, gained notoriety for their desperate bayonet charge down Little Round Top on the Second Day of the Battle, a feat that figures prominently in Michael Shaara’s novel The Killer Angels and its movie adaptation, Gettysburg. This video is part of the Battlefield U series in which we provide answers to your questions about the Civil War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812. We aim to increase your baseline knowledge of American history, whether it be for school, battlefield visits, or trivia night! The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memori