Just watched the movie again, and it makes it look like the 20th Maine single handledly held off the Rebel Army. Love watching, it but I had to call BS on that one.
Of course Col. Chamberlain did exactly that, taking a minié ball in the unmentionables while he was at it. Or so we were taught when Maine still had functioning public schools.
When I visited Gettysburg, I was informed that troops from other states were present. A damned lie and obvious propaganda, Sir! They would have only gotten in the way of the valiant troops from Maine.
Why, without the interference of troops from away, the men of Maine would have had this insurrection quelled in 1862!
I suspect to the 20th that's exactly what it felt like! :)
I wish what the 1st Minnesota did was a little more widely known. The heroism of the 20th Maine is inspiring, but I expect they'd give the palm to the 1st MN.