Taking picket and artillery fire the entire way, the V Corps charged up the hill in ragged formation, each regiment moving into line as it came up the Brock Road. Anderson’s men paused a few moments before unleashing solid infantry volleys, stunning the Federals. The attack quickly broke down.

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The Butterfield Twins — the 44th New York and the 83rd Pennsylvania — made two of the more successful Union assaults. The New Yorkers halted 20 yards from the Confederate line, firing a series of volleys. Troops from the adjoining 83rd Pennsylvania penetrated the Confederate position and began fighting hand to hand. In the midst of swinging muskets and screaming men, the 83rd’s color-bearer, Corporal M.L. Vogus, planted the regimental flag on the enemy breastworks. But the collapse of the Union left-flank regiments doomed the Twins by opening their own flank to a devastating counterattack.

Hit by enemy fire from two directions, the twin regiments realized that they had to retreat. As he turned to move to the rear, Vogus was hit in the chest. Still, he managed to keep his hold on the 83rd’s colors. As he staggered and fell, he flung the banner to a comrade to prevent its capture. The last unwounded member of the color party ran a few yards with the flag before he, too, was wounded. Desperate to get the flag to safety, Vogus hailed a nearby 44th New York soldier to rescue the colors. Dodging bullets, the New Yorker scooped up the flag and carried it back to the regiment. The heroic Vogus would survive his wounds and receive a well-deserved promotion to sergeant.

Over the next several days, the V Corps made a series of attacks against Laurel Hill that accomplished nothing except to lengthen the Union casualty lists. One such casualty was James Rice, former commander of the 44th New York. Promoted to brigadier general and given command of a New York brigade in recognition of his services at Gettysburg, he was shot down on May 10. When told that his wound was mortal, he replied: Tell the 44th I am done fighting. Turn me over and let me die with my face to the enemy.

Locked in place across from Laurel Hill, the V Corps missed the horrific carnage resulting from the Union’s partial penetration of the Confederate Mule Shoe salient on May 12. Lee was pushed to the brink by Grant’s attack, but he held on and the stalemate at Spotsylvania continued.

Grant continued sidling left, trying to gain Lee’s flank. The Little Round Top Regiments helped lead this effort, crossing the North Anna River at Jericho Mill Ford on May 23. A spirited Rebel attack routed several Union brigades, getting within 1,000 yards of the Federal pontoon bridges. Preparing to charge some Union artillery batteries — the only organized Federal defense remaining in front of the bridges — the Confederate right suddenly collapsed when Bartlett mounted a three-regiment flank attack. The 83rd Pennsylvania led the assault, driving off the 1st South Carolina (Orr’s Rifles). During the charge, Pennsylvania Corporal Lewis Corbin collared the South Carolina brigade commander, Colonel Joseph Brown, yanking him back to Union lines as a prisoner.

With the North Anna fighting proving inconclusive, Grant once again slid left, reaching the vicinity of Cold Harbor on June 1. Stationed to the right at Bethesda Church, the V Corps was fortunate enough to miss Grant’s doomed Cold Harbor onslaught two days later.

The Little Round Top Regiments crossed the James River with the rest of the army in mid-June, participating in the subsequent assaults on Petersburg. The Federal soldiers were exhausted and worn from the month of maneuvering and battle, and only minimal gains resulted from these assaults as Warren, like other Union corps commanders, failed to drive his attacks home.

Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, former commander of the 20th Maine and now in charge of a V Corps infantry brigade, fell in action at Petersburg. Chamberlain had received orders to make an unsupported attack on a heavily defended part of the Confederate lines guarding the Jerusalem Plank Road. After lodging a fruitless protest with Meade’s headquarters, Chamberlain led his men forward. As the brigade emerged into open ground, it received a sharp volley that struck dozens of troops, including a color-bearer. Chamberlain grasped the flag and carried it toward the enemy lines. Forty yards into the maelstrom, Chamberlain took a bullet through his hips. The doctors pronounced the wound mortal, and it would, in fact, kill him — but not for another 50 years. In the meantime, Chamberlain was promoted to brigadier general, and upon his recovery the following spring, he returned to lead his brigade for the final, decisive stage of the campaign.

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