by Christopher Rudolph © 2015
As we saw in Chapter 14, Little Round Top was being attacked on July 2nd, 1863. Colonel Chamberlain leading his 20th Maine, stopped the Alabamians from taking the left side with their famous bayonet charge. But the right side of Little Round Top was still being attacked by two Texas regiments (4th and 5th) and one Alabama regiment (48th). Fierce fighting occurred there under constant sniper fire from Devil’s Den. At the end of the day, the Union still held Little Round Top right, but the Union had lost 4 very brave officers.
Dedicated to Colonel Vincent, Colonel O’Rourke, General Weed, and Lieutenant Hazlett
Chapter 15 – Saviors of Little Round Top Right
On the western side of the hill
The Boys of Blue were in for a fight
For Texans and Alabamians were assaulting
Little Round Top right
Colonel Strong Vincent
Rallying his crumbling regiment
The 16th MICH in desperate need
Of reinforcements to be sent
Wave after wave charged
Fueled by Texas and Alabama adrenaline
Blown back bloody repulsed
Only to charge again
Mounting a large boulder
A riding crop his hand clinched
Waving it high
Vincent shouted, “Don’t give an inch!”
A bullet then struck him
Bursting explosion of shells
Struck again in the groin
Mortally wounded Vincent fell
An intrepid leader
He paid the ultimate price
Now taking over command for him
Colonel James C. Rice
Then into the fray charged
Men from 140th New York
Sent by General Warren
Led by Colonel Patrick O’Rourke
Paddy himself led the charge
Down the western face of the hill
Driving the rebels back down
Many were captured or killed
He sprang upon a rock
Urging his men to forge ahead
He was then shot in the neck
To the ground he fell dead
Another brave leader lost
To save Little Round Top
But it wasn’t over yet
The Rebels not yet stopped
More reinforcements now coming
In their desperate time of need
Sent from General Sykes V Corp
3rd Brigade of General Stephen H. Weed
Weed’s men helped Lieutenant Hazlett
Move six Parrott rifles up top
Battery D 5th US Artillery
Now had a better firing spot
But Confederate fire
Kept coming from damn Devil’s Den
Continuous barrage steady
Killing many Union men
Then one ball screaming
From a sharp shooter’s nest
Struck General Weed
A mortal wound in the chest
Lieutenant Hazlett went
To hear his last words
From his dear old friend
That day at Gettysburg
Weed said, “I’d rather die here
On this Little Top Round
Then let the Rebels gain
Even an inch of this ground”
Hazlett knelt over him listening
Then shot in the head
A sniper’s bullet felling him
Now he too was dead
Throughout the day
They defended the hill
But them Rebels were brave
They kept charging still
Until finally it stopped
And the day passed to night
So many had died
In the fight of all fights
We’ll never forgot that day
And all they went through
They saved Little Round Top Right
Those Union Boys of Blue