Without one man’s initiative to take Little Round Top, the Union might have lost the Battle of Gettysburg.

190 years ago Strong Vincent was born. On June 17, 1837, Strong Vincent would come into this world in Waterford, PA but he would not become famous until the battle of Gettysburg. The Civil War though wouldn’t start for another 24 years. Without the war, Vincent had no aspirations to enlist in the army. Instead, he wanted to study law. Vincent attended Trinity College in Hartford but he would eventually graduate from Harvard College in 1859. That’s when he settled down to practice law in Erie. However, two years later the Civil War started.

Vincent enlisted in 1861 and rose quickly through the ranks. By 1862, he was commander of the 83rd Pennsylvania. He served in many battles including Yorktown, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. After Yorktown, he was promoted to colonel and given command of the Third Brigade, First Division, of the Fifth Corps.

However, Vincent’s fame came to him in Gettysburg.

On July 2nd, General Gouverneur K. Warren stood atop Little Round Top. The Union troops, he observed, had made a fishhook around Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge. Without Union troops on Little Round Top the Confederates would be able to climb Round Top and easily move to Cemetery Ridge, where they could flank the Union army.

That’s when Vincent was intercepted by a staff officer sent by Warren. According to history.com, the Union army was now desperately looking for Union troops to coverage this strategic hill on the battlefield. On his own command, Vincent left his original position to guide his men to Little Round Top.   

Vicent as well as Rebel troops raced toward the hill. The Union troops barely beat the Rebels to Little Round Top and had even more trouble holding the position once they were there.

According to Gettysburg Website, as the Union Army began to fall back and off the hill, Vincent mounted a boulder and yelled, “Don’t give an inch!” He brandished a riding crop that his wife had given to him as a gift. Sadly, Vincent would be badly wounded during this battle.  

While Vincent would live for another five days, he was later moved to a nearby farm and would eventually die there. Though he probably never knew, General Meade recommended him for promotion to Brigadier General on July 3rd.

While there isn’t officially a monument for Vincent at Gettysburg, there is one statue that looks quite like him. Pennsylvania governing board rules prohibited commanders on regimental monuments because they wanted to represent the men who fought at Gettysburg as well.

However, according to the Gettysburg Website, the soldiers wanted to honor Vincent for his bravery, so the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry monument on Little Round Top looks very similar to Vincent.

While Vincent is not as well known as commanders like Stonewall Jackson and William Tecumseh Sherman, there is no doubt he won a major victory for the Union Army on July 2nd. Without the strategic position of Little Round Top, the Union troops could’ve been easily flanked and would’ve suffered a great loss that day. Vincent’s initiative to take the hill ensured the Union Victory.

According to Brothers War, 5th Corps Commander Major General George Skyes said in his official report of the Battle of Little Round Top, “Night closed the fight. The key of the battle-field was in our possession intact. Vincent, Weed, and Hazlett, chiefs lamented throughout the corps and army, sealed with their lives the spot entrusted to their keeping, and on which so much depended.”