Harvard memorial biographies ...

Strong Vincent.

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brigades were sent out by the right of Little Round Top, directly to the support of Sickles, while Vincent was sent with his
brigade to grasp Little Round Top, and to hold the gorge between that hill and Big Round Top, it being feared that the
enemy, turning Sickles's left, would pass through, and then
sweep down in rear of our line along the crest. Vincent saw
at a glance the fearful and responsible duty intrusted to him.
His brigade must hold out to the last man; and he so made
his dispositions that till the last man was gone the enemy could
not sweep through.
Upon a bold spur which ran out to the front and left of the
hill, - and which will hereafter be known as Vincent's Spur, -
he posted two of his own regiments, and a third, which was for
the time added to his command, his right connecting with a
battery of artillery near the top of the hill. The wall of loose
stones these men began hastily to build still stands as evidence
that the position was well chosen. The enemy must cross a
wide valley full fifty feet below, and excepting toward the right
of the line, the ascent was fearfully steep. On the left of these
troops thus posted, and deep down in the gap between the two
Round Tops, there is a growth of heavy standing timber, open
and full of the boulders that abound in that region. Vincent
had not men enough to stretch across and occupy the side of
the opposite hill. He therefore threw back a fourth regiment
at nearly right angles to the other three, the fire of which would
take the enemy in the flank, should they attempt to pass around
him; while the fifth regiment he placed in reserve, ready to
charge down into the gorge should the enemy be struggling
through the trees and boulders there, or to rush, should that
part of the line which seemed the weakest be hard pressed.
While these troops are thus preparing, a fierce battle rages
a quarter of a mile to the right and front. Two brigades of
their own division and another division of the Fifth Corps are
struggling to hold a little mound at the left of Sickles's advanced
position. But the enemy have determined to throw their whole
force upon the right of our army this day; and just as Vincent's
brigade is formed, troops hitherto unengaged sweep round the
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