Joshua Chamberlain & Providence Question

Book: Through Blood and Fire ^ | Dec 27, 2006 | LibertyBelt

[LibertyBelt]

Can any good brothers from Maine or Alabama confirm to me the source of this quote, said to be found in a book written by Joshua Chamberlain.

An Amazon review says this is found on page 21 in the book, but a search of other internet links does not mention this letter as much as one would imagine. Here is the Amazon quote/review:

A letter written to Chamberlain...by a Confederate combatant of the 15th Alabama Regiment which assaulted Little Round Top on July 2...is astonishing(p.21).The former rebel soldier simply states that he COULD HAVE SHOT CHAMBERLAIN TWICE during the battle but spared him: "I rested my gun on the rock and took steady aim. I started to pull the trigger but some ...notion stopped me.Then I got ashamed of my weakness and went through the same motions again. I had you,perfectly certain. But that same ... something shut right down on me.I couldn't pull the trigger, and gave it up--that is,your life. I am glad of it now, and hope you are...Yours truly"

Was ever such a letter written? Can anyone check if you have the book? My son needs it for a college essay. He wants to argue what would have happened if the bullet had struck Chamberlain, and the 20th Maine would have lost the left flank at Little Round Top? Would there be two nations in the US today?

Thanks!

[MadeInOhio]

"He gets my vote as the most singularly underrated American citizen....ever."


That may have been true prior to publication of the "Killer Angels," but that book and the film "Gettysburg" clearly give Chamberlain his due.

[IronJack]

I've never had the pleasure of visiting that battlefield -- one thing I want to do before I die. But from the maps and schematics I've studied, I've often believed that even if the Round Tops had fallen, the Union could have held the ridge, even if only long enough to beat a retreat. They would have had to turn their guns, at least some of them, so that they faced the flank, which would have weakened their front, where Pickett's famous charge ultimately came. But I think that would have been enough to stall the Confederate advance long enough to retreat down the ridge.

Plus, it's questionable to say that Chamberlain's death alone would have meant the collapse of the Union effort on the Round Tops. He was a brave and inspiring man, no doubt. But I suspect the Union troops on those hills were all too keenly aware of the outcome if they broke.

[thiscouldbemoreconfusing]

What preciously is a "neo-con"?

[IronJack]

Had the 20th Maine run, the outcome of the war could have been considerably different.

I don't think so. They would have retreated back to the ridge, where the Union guns were firing effectively down the draw. They could have held up the advance there, with a combination of entrenched musket and cannon fire, if the Union guns were diverted to the flank. That would have bought enough time for the boys in blue to beat a hasty retreat and avoid being captured or decimated by the Confederates. They could have retreated across the river the same way Lee did, and lived to fight another day.

the peace would have been much more equitable.

At the risk of igniting the war all over again, what was so inequitable about the peace? The destruction of the South came as a byproduct of the war, not the armistice.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Google works. Just put a quote like that in Google and see what comes up.

"I rested my gun on the rock and took steady aim. I started to pull the trigger"

equals these results: ttp://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=%22I+rested+my+gun+on+the+rock+and+took+steady+aim.+I+started+to+pull+the+trigger%22&btnG=Google+Search




"http://www.gdg.org/Research/People/Cross/blodfire.html

[Stonewall Jackson]

As for myself, so far I had escaped. How close an escape I had I did not know till afterwards. I think I may mention here, as a psychological incident, that some years after the war, I received a letter written in a homely but manly style by one subscribing himself "a member of the Fifteenth Alabama," in these words: Dear Sir: I want to tell you of a little passage in the battle of Round Top, Gettysburg, concerning you and me, which I am now glad of. Twice in that fight I had your life in my hands. I got a safe place between two big rocks, and drew bead fair and square on you. You were standing in the open behind the center of your line, full exposed. I knew your rank by your uniform and your actions, and I thought it a mighty good thing to put you out of the way. I rested my gun on the rock and took steady aim. I started to pull the trigger, but some queer notion stopped me. Then I got ashamed of my weakness and went through the same motions again. I had you, perfectly certain. But that same queer something shut right down on me. I couldn't pull the trigger, and gave it up, that is, your life. I am glad of it now, and hope you are.

Yours truly.

I thought he was that, and answered him accordingly, asking him to come up North and see whether I was worth what he missed. But my answer never found him, nor could I afterwards.

While I do not have the book Through Blood and Fire, I do have copies of In the Hands of Providence and The Twentieth Maine (which is considered to be one of the finest regimental histories written about the Civil War), and both books mention this incident.

[wkcoop]

It is no coincidence that Chamberlain was given the honor of accepting Lee's surrender; for he was the real hero of the Civil War.

[thiscouldbemoreconfusing]

"As for myself, so far I had escaped. How close an escape I had I did not know till afterwards. I think I may mention here, as a psychological incident, that some years after the war, I received a letter written in a homely but manly style by one subscribing himself "a member of the Fifteenth Alabama," in these words:

Dear Sir: I want to tell you of a little passage in the battle of Round Top, Gettysburg, concerning you and me, which I am now glad of. Twice in that fight I had your life in my hands. I got a safe place between two big rocks, and drew bead fair and square on you. You were standing in the open behind the center of your line, full exposed. I knew your rank by your uniform and your actions, and I thought it a mighty good thing to put you out of the way. I rested my gun on the rock and took steady aim. I started to pull the trigger, but some queer notion stopped me. Then I got ashamed of my weakness and went through the same motions again. I had you, perfectly certain. But that same queer something shut right down on me. I couldn't pull the trigger, and gave it up, that is, your life. I am glad of it now, and hope you are.

Yours truly.

I thought he was that, and answered him accordingly, asking him to come up North and see whether I was worth what he missed. But my answer never found him, nor could I afterwards.

http://www.gdg.org/Research/People/Cross/blodfire.html

[muleskinner]

I believe there were three other brigades on the right of the 20th Maine. They were all heavily engaged by attacks coming uphill. Had the 20th been outflanked and rolled up, the 15th Al. would have rolled up the rest of the position, as the left flank of the other brigades became untenable. The 15th could pour fire into the side of the remaining brigades, and with them engaged to their front, would not be able to return effective counter-fire. They would have been forced to abandon their position.

The tree line was much different in 1863. Not positive, but due to farming, I believe there were not nearly as many trees in and around the battlefield as there are today. The Cornfeds may have been able to fire cannon directly down the rest of the Union line, while they were similarly engaged to the front, and attacking down the flank once again. Lee's ultimate goal was to take Washington and sue for peace. Had he won at Gettysburg, and routed the Union army once again, as he did at Chancellorsville a month earlier, well, who knows. A Twilight Zone episode?

Speculation on my part or course.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Have read that book by Newt Gingrich? I herd it was good book

[Van Jenerette]

From one of many definitions on the internet:

Neo-confederate: The term "neo-confederate" is to many people a pejorative political epithet and its application to specific groups and individuals has caused controversy.

The term neo-confederate describes a political and cultural movement based in the U.S. Southern states that is characterized by celebration of the history of the Confederate States of America (CSA) and support for the CSA's aims. It is alleged that Neo-confederate issues include states rights, such as nullification (in which state laws override federal laws, up to and including the United States Constitution), a pro-confederate view of history, particularly regarding the American Civil War. Some groups in the movement support outright future secession, while others focus on preserving their image of southern heritage.

Controversy arises when targets do not call for future secession but are otherwise pro-confederate. For example, the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), both long-standing Civil War genealogical/historic preservation associations, have both been called "neo-confederate" by some critics although neither group advocates another secession.[citation needed] However both groups have energetically praised the secession of 1861...[end of quote]etc. et al....

Best regards

Van

Katherine & Van Jenerette

[StoneWall Brigade]

Mcpherson was the one who called the UDC Neo-Confederates

[EyeGuy]

"...Chamberlain's salute to the Confederate soldiers..."


I am SO looking forward to the cinematic depiction, in the upcoming Last Full Measure, of that legendary moment in American history.

[StoneWall Brigade]

I don't think there making it

[LibertyBelt]

Thanks very much. It seems like the documentation supports that Chamberlain SAID he got a letter. The research does not need to be airtight, otherwise we'd go over to Bowdoin College of the JC Museum in Brusnswick,Maine, and ask some archivist if they have the original letter in his files.

I told my son that even though remembering things poorly is a human trait, and many "stories" are indeed myths, especially when remembered years later of events that happened in the hell and blood of battle, that Chamberlain was known as a man of great Christian integrity. Therefore, it would seem out of character for him to have lied about the whole letter, even if he cited it wrong.

Chamberlain's grave was recently done over by a National Guard contingent: you can search the Times Record in Brunswick for the online story.

For me, (getting back to Gettysburg) as one who believes in the Sovereign Providence of God, this story is very poignant. Here was a soldier from Alabama who more than likely prayed to the same Lord as Chamberlain, and he has the General in his sites TWICE-- but some strange force will not allow him to pull the trigger!!!! The Holy Spirit moves upon whom He will and we/they are not even aware of it.

Of course, the secularist argues that this is poppycock, and that people only talk about Providence when things go well for them. Like, what about the bullets that hit their mark, and blew fresh brains into the cold air? To be consisitent, the Christian has to say that was also somehow part of God's purpose, which we may or may not find out about in Glory...



Thanks again.

[LibertyBelt]

As for Google, it is great, if you know how to judge sources. I am a librarian, and will admit I did not find that article. I had plugged into Google a shorter portion of that quote and came up with other articles that were NOT reliable. The one sent to me seemed to be legit, and it claimed that Chamberlain spoke those words in 1913, so that fit in with a 1914 death.

Google will not replace professional librarians, and those who say it will are probably folks who never have to rely on the research assistance of academic librarians. That said, Google is GREAT. Wish I had bought some stock at the bottom!

[StoneWall Brigade]

Me Too

[PistolPaknMama]

Oh good grief, get a grip. Lawrence, as he was called by his family, was probably one of your more decent yankees. His great great grandson is a dear friend of this Southern Belle. My grandson, Joshua, was also born on the same day as Joshua Chamberlain's birthday. All mere coincidence I'm sure. Nonetheless, some of Chamberlain's descendants are living in the South and being raised as Southerners.

[thiscouldbemoreconfusing]

Thank you, now that we have a clear and concise definition, I can proudly proclaim that I am a Neo-Con.

"I have very mixed feelings about the war - elation and excitement and sadness and anger, all at the same time." I would think many of us feel that way.

[dinoparty]

Wrong. If Atlanta hadn't fallen prior to the 1864 election, McClellan would have become President and sued for peace, meaning the South would have won.

I also believe that the North would have lost without Grant.