Moses Moon, II

The most notable battle of the 20th Volunteer Maines Regiment's decisive role in the war was on July 2, 1863, at the Battle of Gettysburg at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where they were stationed on Little Round Top Hill at the extreme left of the Union line. When the regiment came under heavy attack from the Confederate 15th and 47th Alabama regiments (part of the division led by Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood), the 20th Maine ran low on ammunition after one and a half hours of continuous fighting; it responded to the sight of rebel infantry forming again, for yet another push up the slope. The 20th regiment surprised the enemy by charging downhill with fixed bayonets, scattering the Confederates, thus ending the attack on the hill and the attempt to flank the hill position and move around the south end of the Federal "fishhook". The 20th Maine and the adjacent 83rd Pennsylvania together captured many men from both Alabama regiments (including Lt. Col. Michael Bulger, commander of the 47th),as well as men of the 4th Alabama, and 4th and 5th Texas regiments of the same division. Had the 20th Maine retreated from the hill, the entire Union line would have been flanked, endangering and causing damage to other Union regiments in the vicinity. Thus ensuring victory for the Union Army.