JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN
Union Soldier, College President, and Governor of Maine
There was a time when Joshua Chamberlain could never have imagined uttering the words, “Bayonets, forward!,” as a Union soldier in the Civil War. But, in 1861, instead of going on a long-planned missionary trip to Europe, he accepted a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the Union Army. The fact was he believed deeply in the Union cause, his duty to his country, and the abolition of slavery.
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born on his family’s farm in Brewer, Maine, on September 8, 1828. Originally called Lawrence Joshua, he was named after the heroic Commodore James Lawrence, who immortalized the words, “Don’t give up the ship!” As a child, Chamberlain excelled at both outdoor activities and at his studies.
In 1848, he was accepted into Maine’s Bowdoin College. Self-conscious about his speaking stammer, Chamberlain kept to himself the first couple years, until he overcame the stammer and began winning awards for both oratory and composition. He graduated from Bowdoin with honors in 1852 and went on to received a masters degree from Bangor Theological Seminary. Shortly thereafter he married Frances Caroline Adams.
Chamberlain accepted a teaching position at Bowdoin in 1856 and later became chairman of the modern languages department. In fact, he was fluent in nine languages, partly as preparation for missionary work in Europe, which he and his family were planning to begin in 1862. By now, there were two children, a girl, Grace, and a boy, Harold.
When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Chamberlain gave up the missionary trip to accept a commission in the Union Army. In December the following year, he participated in the Battle of Fredericksburg as commander of the 20th Regiment of Maine. After several bloody attempts to take Marye’s Heights above the city, Chamberlain and the 20th Maine spent the night camped out with the dead and dying on the fields below the heights. Fredericksburg represented a terrible defeat for the Union Army.
On July 2, 1863, Chamberlain and the 20th Maine found themselves holding the left flank of the line for the Union Army at the Battle of Gettysburg. The Confederate Army hoped to crush the left flank and force the Union Army to retreat to higher ground. Colonel Chamberlain, under attack from a Confederate brigade, out of ammunition, and under orders to “Hold at all cost,” gave the order, “bayonets forward!” and counterattacked. This extremely brave and daring maneuver caught the Confederate forces off guard and lead to their withdrawal from the field. Chamberlain had saved the Union line, which resulted in a Union victory at Gettysburg, a crucial battle of the Civil War and a critical blow to the Confederate Army. Chamberlain received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery.
As commander of the 20th Maine, Chamberlain was loved and respected by his troops. He led by example, fighting alongside his men and enduring the same hardships. On June 18, 1864, Chamberlain was wounded while carrying the regiment’s flag, which had been dropped when the flag bearer was shot. He carried on throughout the engagement, never letting on that he was wounded. When Chamberlain arrived at the field hospital, it was clear his wounds were serious and he wasn’t expected to live much longer.
Upon receiving the news, General Ulysses Grant promoted Chamberlain to brigadier general on the spot. But Chamberlain recovered and, without his doctor’s permission, returned to duty in November.
The following year, on March 19, 1865, Chamberlain was wounded again during a bayonet charge. He fought on through the battle, continuing to lead his men and capturing a lodgment that was critical to the Union forces. This time he was promoted to major general — by Abraham Lincoln.
At the battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865, Chamberlain and his men captured over 1,000 Confederate prisoners and five battle flags. From there, they moved to Appomattox where Confederate General Robert E. Lee called for a truce on April 9th. Three days later, the Confederate Army surrendered, and General Chamberlain was selected to receive the surrender flag.
Chamberlain went on to serve four terms as the Governor of Maine, followed by 12 years as the president of Bowdoin College. He died on February 24, 1914, at the age of 86.
Sources:
Michael Shaara, Killer Angels, Ballantine Books, August 1987.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/6732/files/jlc1.html
http://www.civilwarhome.com/jlchamberlainbio.htm
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