Through the long chain of command the orders to hold Little Round Top fell to Colonel Strong Vincent's Third Brigade of Union Major General George Sykes Fifth Corps. Vincent's Brigade consisted of the following regiments; Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain's 20th Maine, Lt. Colonel James C. Hull's 83rd Pennsylvania, Colonel William G. Rice's 44th New York, and Lt. Colonel Noval E. Welch's 16th Michigan.

The 20th Maine was in the lead as Vincent directed his brigade into postion. Vincent's orders to Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine were very clear, "I place you here! This is the left of the Union line. You are to hold this ground at all costs!" Chamberlain understood. If his regiment should retreat or get flanked the Confederates could get into the rear of the Federal army and roll up the entire line. The fate of the battle, the war and possibly the Union depended on what he and his regiment did on this spot.

The 20th Maine's line ended on the rock where their monument stands today. In beside them came the 83rd Pennsylvania, 44th New York, and the 16th Michigan.

In the time that the 15th and 47th Alabama Regiments rested at the peak of Big Round Top, Little Round Top went from being virtually defenseless to a fortress. Vincent deployed his forces on Little Round Top on the waist of the hill, so that if his men had to fall back they could concentrate on the summit of the hill behind them. This would also allow reinforcements to fall in above their position.

Little Round Top was one of those places that I had hoped I would be able to time travel in my mind back to the battle. There were three tour buses and the parking lot was over flowing. There were people everywhere. It was impossible to have the kind of personal experience that I had hoped to have here with all the screaming kids and parents. This is when I began to realize that most of the people there didn't have the deep feeling of respect for this place that I have. For the most part they treated Gettysburg National Military Park as they would any other park. To me its a 5700 acre memorial and should be treated as such.