[distant bell chimes]
I'm standing on the very spot, where the course of history changed in a dramatic way.
One of the most deadly battles of all time was fought right here on this hillside.
Soldiers here didn't fight with high-tech weaponry,
but primitive musket loading rifles and bayonets.
The fighting here was brutal hand-to-hand combat.
Imagine standing here and looking down into a group of soldiers charging at you
with swords and bayonets. Would you be gripped by fear or courage? Would you run
or would you stand your ground? Would you try to save your life or would you
willingly sacrifice it for what you believed in? What choice would you make?
choices were made here that not only influenced the outcome of this battle, but
also influenced the result of this war and ultimately impacted the course of
world history. Sometimes simple choices we make have a huge impact.
Life is made up of choices, individual decisions that can influence our future and even
determine our ultimate destiny. This life, here and now, is a matter of cause and
effect, like the butterfly effect. You've heard of that principle haven't you?
If not we're going to discover what it's all about, why it's important and how it
relates to this place Gettysburg and the American Civil War.
In 1861, on the eve of the Civil War, the United States consisted of only 34 states,
not the 50 states we know today. On this map you can see the mighty
Mississippi River, a landmark that divided this country in half from top to
bottom, east from west. 150 years ago, most of the land west of this river, was
defined as territories not individual states. On the west coast of America
there were only two recognized states, California and Oregon. In 1861 this
country had a total population of just over 30 million. That's about 1/10 of
America's population today. Another landmark was created during the Civil
War, it was known as the Mason-Dixon line, a division of philosophy, a division of
politics and a division in the way of life created this imaginary line.
On certain issues the southern states had very different views and values from the northern states
Freedom runs deep in the soul of America, a spirit of independence
is what led to the American Revolutionary War in 1776. The founders
of this nation signed a document declaring separation from Britain, it's
known as the Declaration of Independence, one of the world's most famous documents.
Representatives from 13 individual states signed at the bottom and so was
born the United States.
Less than a hundred years later freedom and independence would again become an
issue leading to war. The nation would be tested over the idea that all men are
created equal. The northern states believed that the slaves should be free,
the southern states believed that they should be free to rule over other people.
In the 19th century, most of the heavy industries existed in the northern states,
whereas the southern states were mostly agricultural, growing cotton and
other crops and for that, a large labour force was needed, slave labor, the economy
of the south centred on slavery. Slavery was the single most important thing
supporting the southern states. This key issue over slavery is what led to the
American Civil War.
Wars are waged over a difference in ideology or opinion,
a difference of opinion can lead to argument, arguments can lead to war.
The American Civil War even forced brothers with different opinions to take opposing sides.
As Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, took
office in March 1861, the controversy between the north and the south had
become very aggressive. The next month hostilities erupted into physical war
when southern rebels attacked Fort Sumter the battle that launched the Civil War.
Southern slave states from Texas to Virginia seceded from the Union and
created their own government called the Confederate States of America.
They chose Jefferson Davis as their president and established their own
constitution. Suddenly the United States was divided, torn into two separate countries.
the north was called the Union, the South was called the Confederacy.
The Union soldiers, or federal troops, were called Yankees.
The Confederacy soldiers, or southern troops, were referred to as Rebels.
During the next four years death would enter the experience of thousands of families
across this continent on a level unimaginable. It is said that more American
lives were lost during the Civil War than all other American wars combined.
This terrible war involved everyone in the nation, in one way or another.
By the end of June 1863, America had been fighting itself for two years.
Thousands of lives had been sacrificed, there was no end in sight and the next conflict
would happen right here at Gettysburg.
General Robert E Lee, the commander of the confederate army, decided to invade
northern territory. His goal was to bring the war to a close by walking into the
White House in Washington DC and taking President Lincoln captive.
Army generals on both sides believed that capturing the enemy's capital city would end the war.
At the end of June 1863, rebel troops from the south
crossed into the state of Pennsylvania north west of Washington DC.
On the first day of July one mile west of the small town of Gettysburg Lee's
Confederate Army collides with Union troops and the first skirmish soon escalates.
The battle fought on this land in and around Gettysburg was the deadliest
battle ever fought on US soil. Over three days of intense fighting
fifty thousand men would die. Three days that changed American history forever.
Many heroic actions took place here, but according to some it was the decision of
one individual that turned the tide of the battle and changed the course of history.
His name? Joshua Chamberlain.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born on the 8th of September 1828, in Brewer,
Maine, the northernmost state. He was the oldest of five children.
As regular church attendees Joshua grew up reading the Bible and
singing in the church choir. He was torn between the aspirations of his mother to
be a preacher, while his father, a former military servicemen, wanted him to join the army.
Joshua attended Bowdoin College in 1848
where he studied liberal arts. Here at Bowdoin, he met many people who would
influence his life, one of the most notable was Harriet Beecher Stowe, the
wife of professor Kelvin Stowe. She was the author of the famous book, Uncle Tom's Cabin.
This well-known novel written before the Civil War, describes
the harsh reality of slavery and was instrumental in the anti-slavery
movement spreading across the northern states in the 1850s.
After graduation, Joshua Chamberlain continued studying for three more years at Bangor
Theological Seminary. Upon his return to Bowdoin he began his career in education
as a professor of rhetoric. He was fluent in 10 languages and just prior to the
outbreak of the Civil War, was appointed as professor of Modern Languages in 1861.
When President Abraham Lincoln asked for men to defend the Union, Chamberlain not
only joined, but also encouraged his students to do the same, he was appointed
lieutenant colonel of the 20th Maine regiment in August of 1862. His younger
brother, Thomas, also joined the same regiment, another brother, John served as
an army chaplain. Just before marching to Gettysburg, Chamberlain was promoted to
full colonel.
Upon arrival at Gettysburg, the first day of the battle didn't go well for the
northern soldiers. The Union Army was forced to retreat as the persistent
Confederates overran and captured the town of Gettysburg. Having been pushed
south of the town, Union Army leaders surveyed the land and worked throughout
the night to position them on high ground. By the next morning they'd
created the defensive line that ran from their right flank on Culp's Hill across
Cemetery Ridge and ending at Little Round Top. It was this left flank at
Little Round Top, that became a key point of decision in the Civil War.
Colonel Strong Vincent, Chamberlain's commanding officer, assigned the 20th
Maine regiment to guard the outer edge of the left flank. He told them to hold
the line at all cost. This monument sits on Little Round Top
overlooking the battlefield below, it's in honour of Colonel Vincent, who was
mortally wounded the second day here at Gettysburg. During the heat of battle
Vincent stood on this large boulder so his men could see him and shouted, "Don't
give an inch", but this prominent position also made him a prime target, a
fatal bullet struck him in the thigh as he was standing fully exposed on this
rock. He died five days later at the age of 26.
[John] We're here on the battlefield of
Gettysburg, it's what's known as Little Round Top. In fact we are at the end of the
Union line on July 2nd 1863. Now this position was something that was
determined by a commandeering decision of Governor K Warren, so this position is
not just one place on the battlefield this is disconnected from the other part
of the army and the actual chain of command going back to Fort Meade. Most
people in the Army on the other part of the line did not even know that the 20th
Maine was located here. So their position is an isolated spot
on the battlefield the very end of the Union line, they could not give up, quit
or let the enemy go through them or around them because it would have
jeopardized the rest of the Union line down below from this high position on
the battlefield.
[Gary] I'm standing at this spot on Little Round Top where the 20th Maine soldiers
were positioned on July 2. On the left flank, Joshua Chamberlain and his men are
holding the vulnerable edge of the Union Army. Down below, charging up the hill are
the Confederate rebels, the 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Their first attempt
fails and they fall back, but the rebels regroup and charge again with the same results.
[John] Those men knew that this was their chance to take this hill and
perhaps defeat the Union Army on their own soil. The 14th and 15th Alabama
Regiment would make charge after charge after charge and as they did so the 20th
Maine would begin to run out of ammunition, it was an unsupported
position, they did not have reinforcements or people reinforcing
even their ammunition and as they stood on this hill in an act of bravery and
courage, Joshua Chamberlain chose something that was very unorthodox.
From a fixed defensive position at top of a hill, he commanded a charge with bayonets
and as those men heard that command, it crystallised in that moment of decision
rung true within them and gave them the courage as Joshua Chamberlain led that
charge down the hill, to win the fight and they did so sweeping down in a
hinge fashion and took literally the 14th and 15th Alabama soldiers by
surprise and the men would surrender. That moment in this battle, seemingly
insignificant at that time, would impact this battle for the 3 days of fighting
and impact the rest of the Civil War by what took place of the men that stood
their ground at Little Round Top under the command of Joshua Chamberlain.
[Gary] Many historians believe this to be the pivotal moment in the Civil War, had
Chamberlain yielded to the enemy, the Battle of Gettysburg might have resulted
in a Confederate victory. A victory for the southern rebels.
So on the third day, General Robert E Lee changes his strategy and decides to
attack the middle of the union line at Cemetery Ridge. This is known as the
famous Pickett's Charge, however as his brave soldiers are forced to march
across a mile of open field, federal canon and muskets take their toll.
Historians have remarked that the sounds of the massive cannons may well have
been the loudest man-made sound on the North American continent up until that point.
By the end of the day, this strategy also fails and Lee is forced to
retreat from Gettysburg, his invasion of the North had failed.
Joshua Chamberlain continued to serve until the end of the Civil War.
Chamberlain regularly carried two things in his chest pocket, a small Bible and a
framed picture of his wife Fanny. During a battle in March of 1865 a Confederate
bullet went through the neck of his horse and hit the picture frame before
circling around one of his ribs just under the skin inside his chest and
exiting out his back. Again he survived. A month later, General Chamberlain received
a special message, a Confederate staff officer came to him
under a white flag and stated, "Sir, General Lee desires a cessation of
hostilities until he can hear from General Grant as to the proposed surrender,"
and so concluded the bitter struggle between the states.
At the Appomattox courthouse on the 12th of April 1865, General Lee surrendered his southern army.
[John] The end of the war, when the Confederate Army was
surrendering, the Union Army chose a man that had the respect of both sides, and
that man was Joshua Chamberlain, he received the surrender flag from the
Confederate Army given to him by General John Gordon, in giving testimony really
to the courage that was exhibited on this battlefield, in the minds eye, would
see him receiving that surrender flag because of the impact that not just
we recognise here, but what the armies and the general commanders recognised
and I believe even the Confederate Rebel Army recognised that as well because
that would be an honour to turn it over to him, Joshua Chamberlain, such a great
commander and person that fought here at Little Round Top at Gettysburg.
[Gary] He was gracious in victory and showed the highest respect to the Confederate
leaders. He was seen as a unifying figure and played a major role in bringing
reconciliation between the northern and southern states.
For his bravery here at the Battle of Little Round Top, Joshua Chamberlain
received the nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor, his citation reads, "The
President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes
pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel Joshua Lawrence
Chamberlain, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2nd of July
1863, while serving with the 20th Maine Infantry, in action at Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, for daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position
on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults and carrying the advanced
position on the Big Round Top."
Joshua Chamberlain died in 1914 from complications of his lingering battle injuries.
At the age of 85 he was the last Civil War veteran to die
as a result of war wounds and so considered to be the last casualty of
the Civil War. He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, where his
grave is marked with a reddish granite stone.
So let's come back to the butterfly effect.
What is it and how does it work? Well the concept is actually
quite simple, it asks if a butterfly flaps its wings does that movement have
any effect, other than propelling the butterfly? In 1963 a scientist, Edward
Lawrence, proposed that a butterfly flapping its wings could set molecules
of air in motion that could have far-reaching effects. Who hasn't tossed a
pebble into a pond and watch the ever-widening ripples in the water? The
pebble sinks, but it has a physical effect on the movement of the water.
Could the same ripple type effect happen in the air? In his theory 'The law of
sensitive dependence upon initial conditions,' Lawrence went so far as to
say that the small movement of air caused by a butterfly's wings, could
generate and multiply enough air movement to start a hurricane on the
other side of our planet. Now if the movement of a small butterfly can have
such a dramatic effect, what about us? Does what we do and the decisions we
make have any effect beyond the immediate? Could it be that everything we
do results in an influence that affects others?
Is it possible that the Battle of Gettysburg fought here 150 years ago, has
affected how you and I live today? Some historians claim that a single decision,
made by one man, on July 2 1863, determined the course of history.
The butterfly effect happened at Gettysburg. In the face of defeat,
the decision made by Joshua Chamberlain created a pivotal point that would have
far-reaching effects. Had it not been for his order to fix bayonets and charge, the
Union Army might have lost this battle of Gettysburg and the Confederate Army
could have marched right into Washington DC and won its independence. Then the
result of the Civil War would have been a divided nation, north
and south. The United States would have been the Dis-united States. America would
have been carved into two perhaps three or even four different nations.
But all because one man of courage, chose to advance against the enemy on this
battlefield, 150 years ago, the nation was kept intact. Had it not been for Joshua
Chamberlain, there might not have been a United States. Had they not been a United
States, the political world might be totally different today, for example
without the United States involvement in World War Two the outcome of the war
would have been different. Hitler and the Nazis would have
triumphed in Europe and their allies would have been victorious in the
Pacific. How different our world would be today if it were not for the decision of
Joshua Chamberlain.
There's a Bible story about another man called Joshua, he was the leader of
Israel after Moses, he led his soldiers into battle to claim the Promised Land.
He realised that life is made up of choices and that our decisions play a
key role in our destiny. His advice is summed up in a simple text, "Choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve, as for me in my house, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua knew that life is a matter of
choosing whom you will serve and that isn't a multiple-choice question, it's a
decision limited to two options. Joshua realised that the greatest battle
is not fought on the physical battlefield with a visible enemy, the
real battle is with an invisible enemy, it's a battle for your mind and your will.
The Apostle Paul describes a battle strategy in this way, "For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
It's a spiritual battle that you and I face every day, a battle for our loyalty.
The Bible says that we belong to whomever we choose to follow and obey.
The Bible says we belong to whomever we give our allegiance to.
Now here's the amazing thing, the outcome is already determined, you see the butterfly effect
works on a spiritual level as well, our choices have a far-reaching effect, you
may not realize it but you hold the key to your personal destiny and no one can
take that away from you. So let me remind you of the words of Joshua.
"Choose this day whom you will serve," why not, like Joshua, decide today to serve
the Lord? You can make that decision right now as we pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we've been reminded of the importance of the decisions we make and
the far-reaching implications of those decisions. Lord, please guide us in the
decisions that we make, may we make wise decisions and may our decisions be in
accordance with your will and above all may we, like Joshua of old, choose to
follow you and to commit our lives to you. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
The story of Joshua Chamberlain and his brave decision at the Battle of Little
Round Top at Gettysburg, is certainly inspiring and has captured the hearts
and admiration of people all over the world. There are many lessons that can be
learned from the Battle of Gettysburg. Lessons that can even make a difference
to our lives today. If you'd like to find out more, then I'd like to recommend the
free offer we have for all our viewers today, it's the booklet, Determining God's Will.
It's our gift to you today and is absolutely free, there are no costs or
obligations whatsoever, this booklet will draw you closer to God and help you
identify God's plan for your life here's the information you need:
Phone us now on 0481 315 101
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or visit our website: theincrediblejourney.tv to request today's free offer, so don't delay
contact us right now
If you've enjoyed today's journey, be sure to join us again
next week, when we will share another of life's journeys together and experience
another new and thought-provoking perspective on the peace, insight,
understanding and hope, that only the Bible can give us. The Incredible Journey
truly is television that changes lives. Until next week remember the ultimate
destination of life's journey, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth and God
will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor
sorrow nor crying, there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
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