What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lion of Round Top: The Life and Military Service of Brigadier General Strong Vincent in the American Civil War
“This military biography clearly and informatively rescues from an undeserved obscurity one of the Union’s key commanders at the battle of Gettysburg.” —Midwest Book Review
Citizen-soldier Strong Vincent was many Harvard graduate, lawyer, political speaker, descendent of pilgrims and religious refugees, husband, father, brother. But his greatest contribution to history is as the savior of the Federal left flank on the second day at Gettysburg, when he and his men held Little Round Top against overwhelming Confederate numbers. Forgotten by history in favor of his subordinate, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Vincent has faded into relative obscurity in the decades since his death. This book restores Vincent to his rightful place among the heroes of the battle of presenting his life story using new, never-before-published sources and archival material to bring the story of one of the most forgotten officers of the American Civil War back to the attention of readers and historians.
“This is a well-researched and well-written book, and the author makes a strong case for Colonel Vincent’s essential role in the union victory at Gettysburg.” —The Journal of America’s Military Past
“Erie, Pennsylvania historian Hans G. Myers brings to life an overlooked Gettysburg hero . . . a good, well-researched biography certainly worth the read.” —Maine at War
“Readers of battle history, in particular the voluminous literature on Gettysburg, will find interest in both the short life of Strong Vincent and the hereto unheralded role his decisions played in saving the Federal left flank at Little Round Top.” —Journal of Military History
Citizen-soldier Strong Vincent was many Harvard graduate, lawyer, political speaker, descendent of pilgrims and religious refugees, husband, father, brother. But his greatest contribution to history is as the savior of the Federal left flank on the second day at Gettysburg, when he and his men held Little Round Top against overwhelming Confederate numbers. Forgotten by history in favor of his subordinate, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Vincent has faded into relative obscurity in the decades since his death. This book restores Vincent to his rightful place among the heroes of the battle of presenting his life story using new, never-before-published sources and archival material to bring the story of one of the most forgotten officers of the American Civil War back to the attention of readers and historians.
“This is a well-researched and well-written book, and the author makes a strong case for Colonel Vincent’s essential role in the union victory at Gettysburg.” —The Journal of America’s Military Past
“Erie, Pennsylvania historian Hans G. Myers brings to life an overlooked Gettysburg hero . . . a good, well-researched biography certainly worth the read.” —Maine at War
“Readers of battle history, in particular the voluminous literature on Gettysburg, will find interest in both the short life of Strong Vincent and the hereto unheralded role his decisions played in saving the Federal left flank at Little Round Top.” —Journal of Military History
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2022
4 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 6, 2025
The Lion of Round Top: The Life and Military Service of Brigadier General Strong Vincent by H. G. Myers is a focused, engaging, and well-researched biography of Brigadier General Strong Vincent. It is not an overly technical or deeply analytical military study; instead, it emphasizes Vincent’s personal life, character, and the path that led him into the Civil War. Myers does a strong job of illustrating Vincent’s development as a leader and showing why his actions at Gettysburg were so significant.
This biography of Brigadier General Strong Vincent tells the story of a young Union officer who played a decisive role in defending Little Round Top on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. H. G. Myers aims to bring renewed attention to the nearly forgotten Strong Vincent. The author effectively describes Vincent’s military leadership, portraying him as calm, disciplined, principled, and quietly inspiring. Vincent led by example, treating his men with respect and maintaining his composure under pressure, qualities that earned him genuine loyalty and trust.
Near the end of the book there is a noticeable amount of comparison between Strong Vincent and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, with the author leaning toward portraying Vincent as the superior figure. I do not think that the author is trying to diminish or discredit Joshua Chamberlain or the 20th Maine. The author is just pointing out the story may be embellished or exaggerated slightly. Although, I do understand the authors sentiments. I believe both men's actions were important. Thankfully Vincent's story and legacy is now being remembered and talked about. Many men played influential and heroic roles in the successful defense of Little Round Top including General Gouverneur Kemble Warren, General Stephen Weed, Colonel Patrick O'Rorke, Captain John Sell, General Joshua Chamberlain, General Strong Vincent. History has room to recognize the importance of each.
I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in the Civil War, Gettysburg, or Little Round Top.
This biography of Brigadier General Strong Vincent tells the story of a young Union officer who played a decisive role in defending Little Round Top on the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. H. G. Myers aims to bring renewed attention to the nearly forgotten Strong Vincent. The author effectively describes Vincent’s military leadership, portraying him as calm, disciplined, principled, and quietly inspiring. Vincent led by example, treating his men with respect and maintaining his composure under pressure, qualities that earned him genuine loyalty and trust.
Near the end of the book there is a noticeable amount of comparison between Strong Vincent and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, with the author leaning toward portraying Vincent as the superior figure. I do not think that the author is trying to diminish or discredit Joshua Chamberlain or the 20th Maine. The author is just pointing out the story may be embellished or exaggerated slightly. Although, I do understand the authors sentiments. I believe both men's actions were important. Thankfully Vincent's story and legacy is now being remembered and talked about. Many men played influential and heroic roles in the successful defense of Little Round Top including General Gouverneur Kemble Warren, General Stephen Weed, Colonel Patrick O'Rorke, Captain John Sell, General Joshua Chamberlain, General Strong Vincent. History has room to recognize the importance of each.
I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in the Civil War, Gettysburg, or Little Round Top.
March 4, 2025
The actions of Col. Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine on Little Round Top during second day of the Battle of Gettysburg are stuff of legend. But the 20th Maine was one regiment in the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Commanding the 3rd Brigade was Colonel Strong Vincent.
This book was an attempt to place Vincent among the pantheon of Gettysburg heroes where he does rightly belong. He’s been mostly forgotten; he was mortally wounded during the battle and died shortly after and his story was overshadowed by that of Chamberlain (who survived the war) and the 20th Maine. The author contends that Strong Vincent deserves more credit for the defense of the Union left on July 2nd, 1863 and he’s right. It was more than a one man/one regiment effort and Vincent deserves to be remembered as a heroic figure. The book is not long, but Vincent did not survive the war, died young, and there was not a lot of source material. What the author was able to give us in this book was really good and interesting, especially regarding his early Civil War service.
What I don’t like about this book (and the wider discourse surrounding the Little Round Top fight) is that it devolves into a one or the other argument. Chamberlain and the 20th Maine’s actions are downplayed, the author arguing the famous bayonet charge was ultimately unnecessary ignores the realities of the situation at the time, in favour of propping up Vincent’s contributions to the battle. Why can’t both be equally important contributions to the ultimate Union victory? Certain sects of Gettysburg scholars seem hellbent on downplaying Chamberlain’s role in the battle for whatever reason. Chamberlain lived and was able to tell his story and Vincent did not and his story fell by the wayside. This is extremely unfortunate and I am glad this book now exists to help bring Vincent’s contributions to light. But it does not have to be a one or the other thing. Both men acted heroically on July 2nd, 1863. Vincent was given a battlefield promotion to Brigadier General on his deathbed, in recognition of his actions and ultimately gave his life for the cause of liberty.
The introduction of this book states it will be controversial and maybe it will be in Civil War circles. I think this book was a necessary addition to the pantheon of Civil War scholarship, but I wish the execution was done better.
This book was an attempt to place Vincent among the pantheon of Gettysburg heroes where he does rightly belong. He’s been mostly forgotten; he was mortally wounded during the battle and died shortly after and his story was overshadowed by that of Chamberlain (who survived the war) and the 20th Maine. The author contends that Strong Vincent deserves more credit for the defense of the Union left on July 2nd, 1863 and he’s right. It was more than a one man/one regiment effort and Vincent deserves to be remembered as a heroic figure. The book is not long, but Vincent did not survive the war, died young, and there was not a lot of source material. What the author was able to give us in this book was really good and interesting, especially regarding his early Civil War service.
What I don’t like about this book (and the wider discourse surrounding the Little Round Top fight) is that it devolves into a one or the other argument. Chamberlain and the 20th Maine’s actions are downplayed, the author arguing the famous bayonet charge was ultimately unnecessary ignores the realities of the situation at the time, in favour of propping up Vincent’s contributions to the battle. Why can’t both be equally important contributions to the ultimate Union victory? Certain sects of Gettysburg scholars seem hellbent on downplaying Chamberlain’s role in the battle for whatever reason. Chamberlain lived and was able to tell his story and Vincent did not and his story fell by the wayside. This is extremely unfortunate and I am glad this book now exists to help bring Vincent’s contributions to light. But it does not have to be a one or the other thing. Both men acted heroically on July 2nd, 1863. Vincent was given a battlefield promotion to Brigadier General on his deathbed, in recognition of his actions and ultimately gave his life for the cause of liberty.
The introduction of this book states it will be controversial and maybe it will be in Civil War circles. I think this book was a necessary addition to the pantheon of Civil War scholarship, but I wish the execution was done better.
January 6, 2023
This is a great book with information that I have not seen before regarding Brigadier General Strong Vincent and LtCol Joshua Chamberlain, and what happened after the battle. Myers cites primary source material showing the actions taken by Vincent on July 2, 1863, and how his decisions were the ones that saved the day for the Army of the Potomac.
I also liked how Myers traces the myth of Little Round Top and Chamberlain, and how that has been carried on through the years and reinforced in books, Ken Burns Civil War documentary, and the movie Gettysburg. Myers does not detract from the heroic actions of the 20th Maine and Chamberlain's decision to launch a bayonet charge, but Myers certainly dispels the myths that took place after the war.
I also liked how Myers traces the myth of Little Round Top and Chamberlain, and how that has been carried on through the years and reinforced in books, Ken Burns Civil War documentary, and the movie Gettysburg. Myers does not detract from the heroic actions of the 20th Maine and Chamberlain's decision to launch a bayonet charge, but Myers certainly dispels the myths that took place after the war.
November 29, 2023
Credit where credit is due.
Anyone who is interested in the Civil war should read this book. While Ken Burns, Michael Shaara and Chamberlain himself, all promote him as the man who saved Little Round Top, Mr. Myers has set the record straight. Chamberlain and the 20th Maine did make a great charge, but Round top was saved earlier by the decision of Vincent to take the responsibility and deploy his Brigade to defend it. He is as much or more deserving of a CMH than Chamberlain.
Anyone who is interested in the Civil war should read this book. While Ken Burns, Michael Shaara and Chamberlain himself, all promote him as the man who saved Little Round Top, Mr. Myers has set the record straight. Chamberlain and the 20th Maine did make a great charge, but Round top was saved earlier by the decision of Vincent to take the responsibility and deploy his Brigade to defend it. He is as much or more deserving of a CMH than Chamberlain.
July 31, 2022
A brief but good history of Strong Vincent and his role at Gettysburg.
It is a look at his whole life and details about his leadership during the Civil War. The argument is made that he was the leader that made the decisions that led to the defending of little round top and he is unrecognized for his excellent leadership skills and the decisions he made that day without orders that led to the hill remaining in the Union's hands.
It is a look at his whole life and details about his leadership during the Civil War. The argument is made that he was the leader that made the decisions that led to the defending of little round top and he is unrecognized for his excellent leadership skills and the decisions he made that day without orders that led to the hill remaining in the Union's hands.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews