page_title: Holman Melcher
hierarchical_section_title: Holman Melcher
caption_attribution_description: English: Holman Staples Melcher
context_page_description: Holman Staples Melcher was an American military officer, businessman, and politician active during the Reconstruction Era. A faction of historians and soldiers, controversially contend that he led the downhill bayonet charge of Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. Aside from his feats during the American Civil War, he served two one-year terms as the Mayor of Portland, Maine from 1889 to 1890.
  He first began his formal military career in the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was mustered in and equipped in August 1862. The regiment was assigned to the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and first engaged in combat at the Battle of Shepherdstown. During the Battle of Antietam, the 20th Maine was held in reserve on a hill near the Pry Farm.
  During the Battle of the Wilderness, Melcher lead a small company of seventeen men through a forest along the Orange Turnpike needed for alignment with the adjoining company. After being surrounded he ordered his men to lay on the ground and start shooting; they captured thirty Confederates and sustained only minor injuries.
context_section_description: Holman Staples Melcher (/ˈmɛltʃər/; born June 30, 1841 – June 25, 1905) was an American military officer, businessman, and politician active during the Reconstruction Era. A faction of historians and soldiers, controversially contend that he led the downhill bayonet charge of Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. Aside from his feats during the American Civil War, he served two one-year terms as the Mayor of Portland, Maine from 1889 to 1890. 
  He first began his formal military career in the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was mustered in and equipped in August 1862. The regiment was assigned to the V Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and first engaged in combat at the Battle of Shepherdstown. During the Battle of Antietam, the 20th Maine was held in reserve on a hill near the Pry Farm.
  During the Battle of the Wilderness, Melcher lead a small company of seventeen men through a forest along the Orange Turnpike needed for alignment with the adjoining company. After being surrounded he ordered his men to lay on the ground and start shooting; they captured thirty Confederates and sustained only minor injuries.
  His involvement in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia, resulted in him being promoted and seriously injured. While engaging in the war, he was promoted three different times; starting with First Lieutenant in 1863, Captain in 1864 and Brevet Major at Spotsylvania. He was in three different companies during the war, later served on the division staff and was mustered out on July 16, 1865.
caption: Holman Melcher in August 1864
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