The Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg, the largest battle ever fought in the Western hemisphere, is often called the turning point of the Civil War. The battle was a narrow victory for the Union and could have been a Confederate victory if it were not for a series of critical events. One such episode involved the 20th Maine. The 20th Maine Infantry was the designated regiment to hold the extreme left flank of the Union battle line late in the afternoon of July 2, 1863. Colonel Joshua Chamberlain had been given the orders to hold this crucial position at all costs. To retreat would mean jeopardizing the entire safety of the rest of the Union Army of t