The Attack and Defense of Little Round Top, Gettysburg, July 2, 1863

This powerful firsthand account by Oliver Willcox Norton delivers a dramatic and rigorously detailed retelling of the desperate struggle for Little Round Top during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Serving as aide-de-camp to Colonel Strong Vincent, Norton was directly involved in the battle and bore witness to the high-stakes defense of the Union left flank. Drawing from his own observations, letters, and battle reports, Norton reconstructs the ferocious engagement with vivid immediacy, analyzing troop movements, terrain challenges, and the decisions that ultimately prevented the Confederate Army from turning the Union position. He pays tribute to the bravery of Vincent's brigade and clarifies the roles of key figures such as Joshua Chamberlain, Gouverneur Warren, and others often overshadowed in popular accounts. The narrative not only presents a soldier's view of combat but also confronts the evolving myths and historical inaccuracies that have surrounded the event. Norton's account is both a defense of the historical record and a homage to the men who fought and fell in one of the most crucial clashes of the Civil War. His meticulous attention to chronology and geography offers readers a granular understanding of how a rocky hillside became a symbol of Northern resilience. More than a battlefield report, this book is a thoughtful reflection on courage, sacrifice, and memory. For students of Civil War history, military tactics, and battlefield leadership, Norton's work remains indispensable. Read more