A key battle of the Civil War was obviously the battle of Gettysburg , the high water mark of the Confederate Army. A key part of the victory for the Union forces was maintaining the left flank at Little Round Top hill. This effort was lead by a professor from Bowdoin College in Maine Joshua Chamberlain . Joshua enlisted against the College’s desires as they already saw what a key individual he was for their school. He was offered the head of the Maine regiment but declined and asked for a lesser position to learn the ropes.
We can learn much from this decisive stand on a seemingly insignificant hill by a professor from Maine with no military experience prior to the war.
The pivotal day of the battle of Gettysburg was July 2, 1863. The day before the Confederate Army had pushed the Union Army back through the town to outlying ridges. On July 2 the Confederate Army wished to continue this push and key would be able to flank the Union Army. On the left flank was the 20th Maine regiment led by professor Chamberlain. The Confederate Army was relentless on attack . Chamberlains 20th Maine was short on ammo to the point they barley had a round left per member.
It was at this point in which Chamberlain executed what was a masterful counter attack. In the midst of the noise and exhaustion he was able to communicate to his troops to make a coordinated sweeping bayonet charge starting with the end of his line forming a hinged hook that essentially created a flanking and frontal assault on the Confederate advance. This move caught the Confederate army off guard who were also low on ammo and severally exhausted and beat up. Chamberlain knew if he waited he would not survive another assault so he took the initiative. This saved the left flank and strengthened the Union line which eventually repelled the Confederate charge the following day and won this pivotal battle.
While much has been written on this aspect of the battle I think it important we do gain leadership insights that over 50,000 men paid with their lives in this battle.
Leadership is leadership … a book worm professor who has learned good leadership principals then checked his ego when given opportunity to lead asks to come up through ranks instead to gain lower level experience. Take a challenge to lead something out of your realm of understanding and see that leadership principals are transferable.
Don’t wait till it is too late. With most time critical endeavors there is usually a window of opportunity that will close. Knowing what that is and then decisively jumping through the window when it opens is key.
Know the importance of your position understood the strategic significance of the small hill. The Art of War by Sun Tzu stressed the key to gaining and keeping the high ground. This takes many forms and mostly figurativley on struggles within a non-war enganement.
Communicate it well and to help this keep it simple. I can think of no more difficult circumstance in which to communicate than in all the noise and mayhem of this battle. Chamberlain did it though and was able to communicate a coordinated movement of his troops starting with outer troops and rolling into a strangling hook against the Confederates. In midst of the action we need to communicate simply and clearly to each member so they know their role.
”When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford. Chamberlain who was probably one more charge away from defeat turned into the wind and that made all the difference.