Colonel joshua lawrence chamberlain biography

In Aprilhe fought at the Battle of Five Forks and was given the honor of commanding the Union troops at the surrender ceremony for the infantry of Robert E. After the war, he entered politics as a Republican and served four one-year terms of office as the 32nd Governor of Maine from to After leaving office, he returned to his alma materBowdoin Collegeserving as its president until He died in at age 85 due to complications from the wound that he received at Petersburg.

Chamberlain was of English ancestry and his family could be traced back to twelfth-century England, during the reign of King Stephen. Chamberlain's grandfather, Joshua, was a ship builder and colonel during the War ofnotably involved at the Battle of Hampdenbefore moving his family to a Brewer farm in Chamberlain's father Joshua served as a lieutenant colonel in the Aroostook War.

Chamberlain was the first of five children. His father named him after James Lawrenceand favored a military career for his son, while Chamberlain's mother wanted him to become a minister.

Colonel joshua lawrence chamberlain biography: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was an

Chamberlain became a member of the Congregational Church in Brewer in the mids, and attended Major Whiting's military academy in Ellsworth. Chamberlain then taught himself Greek so he could be admitted to Bowdoin College in He taught Sunday school in Brunswick during his freshman and sophomore years, and led the choir at the Congregational Church-First Parish Church during his Junior and Senior years.

Chamberlain graduated inthen entered the Bangor Theological Seminary for three years of study. He remained a Calvinist and a conservative Congregationalist throughout his life. On December 7,Chamberlain married Fanny Adamscousin and adopted daughter of a local clergyman. Their first child was a girl named Grace Dupee, born on October 16, Their son Harold Wylls was born on October 10, A second and fourth child died early.

In the fall ofChamberlain returned to Bowdoin, and began a career in education, first as an instructor in logic and natural theology, then as professor of rhetoric and oratory. He eventually went on to teach every subject in the curriculum with the exception of science and mathematics. In he was appointed professor of modern languages, which he held until At the beginning of the American Civil WarChamberlain believed the Union needed to be supported against the Confederacy by all those willing.

On several occasions, Chamberlain spoke freely of his beliefs during his class, urging students to follow their hearts in regards to the war while maintaining that the cause was just. He then promptly enlisted unbeknownst to his family and those at Bowdoin. Offered the colonelcy of the 20th Maine Regimenthe declined, according to his colonel joshua lawrence chamberlain biography, John J.

Pullen, preferring to "start a little lower and learn the business first. Adelbert Ames. One of Chamberlain's younger brothers, Thomas Chamberlainwas also an officer of the 20th Maine, and another, John Chamberlain, visited the regiment at Gettysburg as a member of the U. Christian Commission until appointed as a chaplain in another Maine Volunteer regiment.

The 20th Maine fought at the Battle of Fredericksburgsuffering relatively small numbers of casualties in the assaults on Marye's Heights, but were forced to spend a miserable night on the freezing battlefield among the many wounded from other regiments. Chamberlain chronicled this night well in his diary and went to great length discussing his having to use bodies of the fallen for shelter and a pillow while listening to the bullets zip into the corpses.

The 20th missed the Battle of Chancellorsville in May due to an outbreak of smallpox in their ranks which was caused by an errant smallpox vaccinekeeping them on guard duty in the rear. Chamberlain became most famous for his achievements during the Battle of Gettysburg. On July 2, the second day of the battleUnion forces were recovering from initial setbacks and hastily regrouping into defensive positions on a line of hills south of the town.

Sensing the momentary vulnerability of the Union forces, the Confederates began an attack against the Union left flank. Chamberlain's brigade, commanded by Col. Gouverneur K. Chamberlain found himself and the 20th Maine at the far left end of the entire Union line. He quickly understood the strategic significance of the small hill, and the need for the 20th Maine to hold the Union left at all costs.

William C. Oatescharged up the hill, attempting to flank the Union position. Time and time again the Confederates struck, until the 20th Maine was almost doubled back upon itself. With many casualties and ammunition running low, Col. Chamberlain recognized the dire circumstances and ordered his left wing which was now looking southeast, compared to the rest of the regiment, which was facing west to initiate a bayonet charge.

From his report of the day: "At that crisis, I ordered the bayonet. The word was enough.

Colonel joshua lawrence chamberlain biography: A veritable icon of Civil

The 20th Maine charged down the hill, with the left wing wheeling continually to make the charging line swing like a hinge, thus creating a simultaneous frontal assault and flanking maneuvercapturing of the Confederate soldiers and successfully saving the flank. This version of the battle was popularized by the book The Killer Angels and the movie Gettysburg.

Chamberlain sustained one slight wound in the battle, when a shot hit his scabbard and bruised his thigh. After initiating the maneuver, he came upon a Confederate officer wielding a revolver who quickly fired, narrowly missing his face. Chamberlain remained steadfast, and with his sword at the officer's throat accepted the man's arms and surrender.

Prior to the battle, Chamberlain was quite ill, developing malaria and dysentery. Later, due to this illness, he was taken off active duty until he recovered. For his "daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top", Chamberlain was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 2 Julywhile serving with 20th Maine Infantry, in action at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top.

In AprilChamberlain returned to the Army of the Potomac and was promoted to brigade commander shortly before the Siege of Petersburg and given command of the 1st Brigade, First Division, V Corps. In a major action on June 18, during the Second Battle of PetersburgChamberlain was colonel joshua lawrence chamberlain biography through the right hip and groin, the bullet exiting his left hip.

Despite the injury, Chamberlain withdrew his sword and stuck it into the ground in order to keep himself upright to dissuade the growing resolve for retreat. He stood upright for several minutes until he collapsed and lay unconscious from loss of blood. The wound was considered mortal by the division's surgeon, who predicted he would perish; Chamberlain's incorrectly recorded death in battle was reported in the Maine newspapers, and Lt.

Ulysses S. Grant gave Chamberlain a battlefield promotion to the rank of brigadier general after receiving an urgent recommendation on June 19 from corps commander Maj. Warren: "He has been recommended for promotion for gallant and efficient conduct on previous occasion and yesterday led his brigade against the enemy under most destructive fire.

He expresses the wish that he may receive the recognition of his services by promotion before he dies for the gratification of his family and friends. Although many, including his wife Fanny, urged Chamberlain to resign, he was determined to serve through the end of the war. In earlyChamberlain regained command of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of V Corps, and he continued to act with courage and resolve.

On March 29,his brigade participated in a major skirmish on the Quaker Road during Grant's final advance that would finish the war. Despite losses, another wound in the left arm and chest that almost caused amputationand nearly being captured, Chamberlain was successful and brevetted to the rank of major general by President Abraham Lincoln.

Chamberlain gained the name "Bloody Chamberlain" at Quaker Road. Chamberlain kept a Bible and framed picture of his wife in his left front chest pocket. Joshua and Fannie had five children, two of whom survived to adulthood. Chamberlain was teaching at Bowdoin during the years leading up to the Civil War. On August 8,Chamberlain was appointed lieutenant colonel, second-in-command of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

The 20th Maine was present at several significant battles but is best remembered for its key role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Joshua Chamberlain was by that time a colonel and in command of the regiment. On July 2, the second day of fighting there, he and his troops came face to face with Confederate soldiers at Little Round Top, and after harsh fighting, Chamberlain led a bayonet charge and successfully secured their part of the hill for the Union.

One story—debated—holds that the men of the 20th Maine charged with bayonets because they ran out of ammunition. Chamberlain is also remembered for the role he played at Appomattox. By the end of the war, he had risen to the rank of brigadier general, and Ulysses S. Grant tapped him to accept the weapons surrendered by the defeated Confederate troops.

Chamberlain ordered his troops to show respect for the Confederate soldiers by standing at attention when they passed. During his tenure, he encouraged the state to ratify the 14th Amendment which made all freedmen and women citizens of the United States.

Colonel joshua lawrence chamberlain biography: Joshua L. Chamberlain.

He also played a key role in the first years of the Maine College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, which later became the University of Maine in Orono. Date of Birth - Death September 8, - February 24, Topic s :. Civil War LeadersLeaders. Related Biographies. War of Biography. View All Related Resources. Walking was extremely painful for Chamberlain, and he sometimes had to be helped onto his horse.

But still he pressed on, performing so well in battles at Quaker Road and Five Forks that he was promoted to the rank of major general. The two generals made arrangements to hold a formal surrender ceremony on April Of all the soldiers in the Union Army, Grant selected Chamberlain to preside over the ceremony. When the war ended, Chamberlain returned to his native Maine.

His war injuries continued to bother him—he had been wounded six different times during the course of the war—but he became a leading figure in state politics. He served as governor of the state for four years, and in he began a twelve-year tenure as president of Bowdoin College in Brunswick. On February 24,Chamberlain finally died from health problems associated with the war wounds he had suffered fifty years earlier.

Bowdoin College Library. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Collection. Chamberlain, Joshua L. The Passing of the Armies. New York : G. Putnam, Reprint, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence. Gettysburg, PA: S. Clark Military Books, The Joshua Chamberlain Home Page. Longacre, Edward. Joshua Chamberlain: The Soldier and the Man.

Conshohocken, PA: Combined Publishing, Official Home Page of Joshua L. Pejepscot Historical Society. Joshua L. Chamberlain Area.

Colonel joshua lawrence chamberlain biography: The biography of Chamberlain – Bowdoin

Perry, Mark. New York : Viking Press, Pullen, John J. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, Soul of the Lion: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Trulock, Alice Rains. Wallace, Willard M. New York: T. Nelson, Joshua Chamberlain witnessed many terrible scenes of warfare during his period of service in the Union Army. One of the worst of these battles took place at Fredericksburg, Virginia, where a large federal army under the command of General Ambrose Burnside —; see entry failed in its attempt to dislodge troops led by General Robert E.

Lee from their defensive positions. After the war, Chamberlain recalled what it was like to listen to wounded soldiers after night fell on the Fredericksburg battlefield: "Out of that silence. When the sun rose the following day, Chamberlain and his regiment were forced to spend the entire day hiding behind the stacked bodies of fallen comrades as Confederate troops tried to pick them off.

We lay there hearing the dismal [gloomy] thud of bullets into the dead flesh of our lifesaving bulwarks [defensive barriers]. They and the rest of Burnside's army then left the area, leaving Fredericksburg to the rebel victors. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. January 9, Retrieved January 09, from Encyclopedia.

Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia. History Energy government and defense magazines Joshua L. Chamberlain gale. Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia.