Description
July 2, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania – Col. Joshua Chamberlain narrowly escapes death when Lt. Robert Wicker of the 15th Alabama misses when firing at Chamberlain at close range.
On July 2, 1863, during the charge of the 20th Maine at the Battle of Gettysburg, Col. Joshua Chamberlain narrowly escaped death when Lt. Robert Wicker, a Confederate officer from the 15th Alabama, fired at him at close range and missed.
This is a question that has always fascinated me—Did Lt. Robert Wicker’s gun misfire or did he miss? Chamberlain, in his memoirs written years later, said he missed. My painting “Near Miss” shows this. For me, Chamberlain’s account is a compelling source.
