Napoleon leaped to almost instant fame in December 1805, at the battle of Austerlitz. With his brilliant tactical mind, he ceded the heights to face his enemy, the combined allied armies of England, Austria and Russia. The day before having set the scene, hje predicted the outcome.
He went on to storm the Pratnitz heights, to defeat the allies..
A similar scene happened decades later, in 1863, at the battle for Gettysburg. The turning point for the Battle for Gettysburg, was the holdouts at Little Round Top. Pratnitz had two hills, with a saddle between..just as Big and Little Round tops had a saddle between.
While Napoleon built his fame while taking those heights, Lee perhaps lost the whole conflict, by not being able to take Little Round
Top.
Big Round Top was settled some time before the fight at Little round Top. Here, from the "significance of Little Round Top";
"The 4th and 5th Texas regiments, also from Hood’s division, drove up the slope hitting the 16th Michigan head-on. Just as the Union center was faltering, the 140th New York Zouaves led by Colonel Patrick O’Rorke reinforced and saved the Union brigade from total collapse. Both Colonel Vincent and Colonel O’Rorke were mortally wounded while leading their troops. Vincent died 5 days later on July 7, and while on his deathbed was promoted to brigadier general."
Had they gained the heights, they Confederates may well have been able to "roll up" the Union forces on both heights.
Little Round Top was defended by Col Joshua Chamberlain, he was challenged by Lt Col. Wm Oates, leading the 15th and 47th
Alabama. After several unsuccessful charges by the Alabamans, it came to bayonets..but the 20th Maine held fast.
Many historians consider Gettysburg to be the turning point of that conflict. If that is so, then the turning point of that war can be
laid to the glory of Col Josh Chamberlain.
After the war, Lt Col Oates served several terms in congress, as well as one term as Gov of Alabama.
Col Chamberlain, having been a professor at Bowdoin college in Maine, before the war.. went home to be a 4 term governor of
Maine..later to serve on the Bowdoin College staff.
Below; contemporary views of Little Round Top, and Pratznitz heights...
