Edited by William B. Styple. Hardback, 331 pp. No Federal regiment in the tragic and ennobling saga of the American Civil War was more renowned than the Twentieth Maine Volunteer Infantry. Under the inspirational leadership of Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the 20th won imperishable fame on the rocky slopes of Little Round Top. But while Chamberlain has received justifiable praise for his wartime achievements, until now the intrepid gallantry of a young officer named Holman S. Melcher has been largel obscured by Chamberlain's legendary status. In compiling Holman Melcher's wartime letters, William Styple traces the career of this unsung hero whose merit resulted in promotion through the ranks from corporal to major.