Cumberland Township near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Twentieth Maine

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2008

1. Twentieth Maine Monument

Inscription. (Front):Twentieth Maine
Third Brig. - First Div.
Fifth Corps

(Left):Here the 20th Maine Regiment. Col. J. L. Chamberlain Commanding, forming the extreme left of the national line of battle on the 2nd day of July 1863. Repulsed the attack of the extreme right of Longstreet's Corps and charged in turn, capturing 302 prisoners. The regiment lost 38 killed or mortally wounded, and 93 wounded, out of 358 engaged.

This monument, erected by survivors of the regiment, A.D. 1886, marks very nearly the spot where the colors stood.

(Back): Names of the officers and men of the 20th Maine Volunteers who were killed or died of wounds received in this action.
Capt. Charles W. Billings - Co. C
1st Lieut. Arad H. Linscott - Co. I
2nd Lieut. Warrent L. Kendall - Co. G
Corp. Joseph D. Simpson - Co. A
Priv. John Reed Jr. - Co. A
1st Serg. Isaac W. Estes - Co. C
Priv. Moses Davis - Co. C
Priv Oliver L. Stevens - Co. C
Priv. Charles M. Beadle - Co. C
Corp. Willard Pinkham - Co. D
Priv. Stephen A. Prescott - Co. D
Corp. Paschal M. Tripp - Co. F
Corp. John Foss - Co. F
Corp. William S. Hodgdon - Co. F
Priv. Seth W. Clark - Co. F
Priv. John Wentworth

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- Co. F.

(Right):Priv. Oscar Wyer - Co. F
Priv. Charles F. Hall - Co. F
Priv. Benjamin W. Grant - Co. F
Priv. Elfin J. Foss - Co. F
Serg. William B. Jordan - Co. G
Corp. Melville C. Law - Co. G
Priv. James A. Knight - Co. G
1st Serg. Charles W. Steele - Co. H
Serg. George W. Buck - Co. H
Serg. Isaac M. Lathrop - Co. H
Priv. Aaron Adams - Co. H
Priv. Goodwin S. Ireland - Co. H
Priv. Iredell Lamson - Co. H
Priv. Alexander E. Lester - Co. I
1st Serg. George S. Noyes - Co. K
Priv. James R. Merril - Co. K
Priv. William F. Merrill - Co. K
Priv. Stephen C. Chase - Co. K
Priv. Willard W. Buxton - Co. K

Erected 1886 by State of Maine.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1863.

Location. 39° 47.366′ N, 77° 14.167′ W. Marker is near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. It is in Cumberland Township. Memorial is at the intersection of Wright Avenue and Sykes Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Wright Avenue. Located on a short walking trail extending from the Little Round Top pull off. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Front Inscription image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2008

2. Front Inscription

Note the Maltese cross of the Fifth Corps in the center.

of this marker. …built for defense (within shouting distance of this marker); 9th Pennsylvania Reserves (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Law's Brigade (about 300 feet away); 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry (about 400 feet away); The Tenacious 20th Maine (about 400 feet away); Company B, 20th Maine (about 400 feet away); "Hold The Ground At All Hazards" (about 500 feet away); 10th Pennsylvania Reserves (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gettysburg.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. 20th Maine at Gettysburg.

Also see . . .
1. The 20th Maine and 15th Alabama. These two regiments clashed on the afternoon of July 2, 1863, each representing the flank units of their respective armies. (Submitted on July 26, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Little Round Top. National Park Service virtual tour stop. (Submitted on January 2, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

3. Report of Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain. As his Regiment ran low on ammunition and the battle was reaching a critical phase, Chamberlain ordered a bayonet charge:
It was imperative to strike before we
Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2008

3. Left Face of Monument
were struck by this overwhelming force in a hand-to-hand fight, which we could not probably have withstood or survived. At that crisis, I ordered the bayonet. The word was enough. It ran like fire along the line, from man to man, and rose into a shout, with which they sprang forward upon the enemy, now not 30 yards away. The effect was surprising; many of the enemy's first line threw down their arms and surrendered. An officer fired his pistol at my head with one hand, while he handed me his sword with the other. Holding fast by our right, and swinging forward our left, we made an extended "right wheel," before which the enemy's second line broke and fell back, fighting from tree to tree, many being captured, until we had swept the valley and cleared the front of nearly our entire brigade. (Submitted on January 2, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

4. 20th Maine Monument. SIRIS entry for the monument. (Submitted on April 11, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Back of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2008

4. Back of Monument

Right Face of Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2008

5. Right Face of Monument

Twentieth Maine Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, July 7, 2001

6. Twentieth Maine Marker

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2008

7. Twentieth Maine Monument

The monument stands on a trail extending from the Little Round Top pull off over to Wright Avenue.

Twentieth Maine Left Flank image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2008

8. Twentieth Maine Left Flank

The left flank marker for the 20th Maine essentially marks the far left flank of the Union Army in afternoon of the second day of the battle of Gettysburg. The stone "wall" is partly original breastwork built by the soldiers during the battle, with some restoration. In the background are several visitors gathered around the 20th Maine monument, which sits near the center of the regiment's line. The right flank indicator stands to the west, closer to Sykes Avenue. Thus the regiment formed an "L" shaped defense.

Right Flank Indicator for the 20th Maine image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 24, 2008

9. Right Flank Indicator for the 20th Maine

The right flank indicator overlooks the intersection of Wright and Sykes Avenues.

Old Chamerlain Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, November 11, 2008

10. Old Chamerlain Avenue

One of the "lost roads" in Gettysburg. Built in 1902, Chamberlain Avenue passed just east of the 20th Maine monument and linked back into Sykes Avenue further up the hill. The road was removed in the 1930s, but the grade remains visible and gives a false "flat" often confused for a ledge where the two sides fought during the battle.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,418 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 26, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on November 22, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 26, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 10. submitted on January 2, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.