One Decision & The World Changes

​Oftentimes I find myself thinking about how people get on the path they are on. Is there some sort of innate pull that leads them to make certain decisions, are the decisions predetermined based on your previous life experiences, or is it all chance? I am going to share an incredible story about Joshua Chamberlain, a college professor who left it all behind to volunteer for the Union Army and change the course of the war. 

Let me set the stage here for a moment. Imagine it is July of 1863, the Civil War has been going on for roughly two years and Robert E. Lee has decided to move the conflict out of the South and take the fight to the fields of the North. As they made their move and marched through the farmlands of Pennsylvania, they received word that the Union Army was moving fast in their direction. This was an unexpected turn of events as both sides practically stumbled upon each other in a remote area. It was as if Gettysburg chose to play host for a battle rather than the other way around. The stage was set for a conflict. 

Commands were given and the troops got their assignments, Joshua Chamberlain and his group of volunteers were placed on top of a hill that would be known as Little Round Top. As he got his men up on the hill he looked to the left and suddenly realized something: There was nobody else out there. They were at the end of the line. If the Rebels decided to attack his position in an effort to flank and overrun, it would be his men there to defend it. And attack they did…

The day was July 2nd and shortly after 4 pm, the charge began. The Rebels poured man after man at this location in an effort to overtake this position. Time after time, the North fended them off but Chamberlain realized that if this continued, supplies would run short and they would eventually run out of ammunition. His orders were to hold the line at all costs and it was time to make a decision: pull his men back and retreat like many other Union leaders or defend the hill with all they have. Chamberlain chose the latter and ordered a counterattack. He told his men to fix bayonets and charge. Picture a few hundred Union men running downhill with spears, yelling, screaming, and eventually, overtaking the opposition. The stunned Rebels had no idea what to do and most of them ended up dropping their weapons and surrendering. 

Strategically, Little Round Top held the key to the developing battle occurring in the North. If the Southern troops could take and hold the hill, they could theoretically roll up the entire Union line causing massive casualties and retreat. The Rebels would have then continued their plunge into the North with the end goal being to reach Washington. This was stopped in Gettysburg and Chamberlain’s decision began to shift the war in favor of the Union. One man making one decision changed the course of the war, which changed the course of our country, which inevitably changed the world!

Now to think, at the start of this war, this was a man lecturing students on language and rhetoric. Without giving prior notice to anyone (his wife was not happy), he volunteered and this decision would eventually play a major role in how our country was shaped. If he would have listened to everyone close to him, he would have kept his safe, cushy job at Bowdoin but he wanted more out of life. He followed his heart, joined the cause, and made an impact on the world. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Chris