Army Life: A Privateís Reminiscences of the Civil War [20th ME Inf.] by Theodore Gerrish. 372 pp. hc, dj, Index.

Army Life

by Theodore Gerrish

One of the most famous regiments of the Civil War was the Twentieth Regiment of Maine Volunteers. Formed in 1862, the regiment saw action in some of the fiercest campaigns and battles of the war; Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Petersburg, Peebles Farm and Five Forks. It also was present at Antietam, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Gravelly Run and Appomattox, where it had the distinct honor of being one of the regiments to formally receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Originally commanded by Colonel Adelbert Ames, leadership of the regiment soon fell upon the shoulders of the most famous civilian soldier of the war-Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin. At Gettysburg, Chamberlain and the 20th Maine anchored the Union line on Little Round Top and helped to save the day, and the battle, for the Federal cause. The regiment fought with excellence in several later campaigns but will always be known for its brilliant and gallant performance at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.

After the war only one veteran of the unit attempted to chronicle the exploits of the 20th Maine Infantry. In 1882, Reverend Theodore Gerrish published "Army Life". Although there are brief, scattered accounts written by other veterans of the unitís wartime exploits, this remains the only full-length book, purposely published by a 20th Maine veteran.