July 1 - 3, 1863
At dawn on July 1, 1863, Chamberlain and the 20th Maine were over 20 miles away from Gettysburg, a small, crossroads town in the rolling hills of south-central Pennsylvania. Gettysburg was an important rail center that Lee wanted taken before he could proceed to Harrisburg. The men of the Army of Northern Virginia were also eager to get their hands on the shoes that were rumoured to be stored in town.