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The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Colonel Joshua Chamberlain - May 17th, 2004
1st Dragoon's Civil War Site ^

Posted on 05/17/2004 12:00:06 AM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
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FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


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U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

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Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
(1828 - 1914)

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Joshua L. Chamberlain is perhaps most widely known for his role in holding the Federal position on Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. But before the war would end, the unassuming college professor from Maine would contribute much more than that.



Entering the Union army as a lieutenant colonel, Chamberlain would serve in more than 20 engagements, be wounded six times, and finish his service breveted Major General. His final honor would come when General Ulysses S. Grant designated him to receive the first flag of surrender at Appomattox Court House. The defeated Confederate troops, under the command of General John B. Gordon, anticipated the ultimate humiliation. Instead, they were met with honor and respect. For this, Gordon remembered Chamberlain in his memoirs as "one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal Army."

The Simple Years of Youth


He was born Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain on September 8, 1828 in a cottage near the family homestead in Brewer, Maine, a farming and shipbuilding community. His parents, Joshua and Sarah Dupee (Brastow) Chamberlain, named him after the heroic Commodore James Lawrence who had immortalized the words "Don't give up the ship!" The eldest of five children, young Lawrence was raised as a Puritan and Huguenot (French Protestant) in a household which prized good manners, cheerfulness, morality, education, and industry.


The Professor from Maine


As a boy, Lawrence was fond of outdoor activities such as horseback riding at breakneck speed across the fields, swimming, sailing, and bird and flower watching. During adolescence, scholastic studies and farm work became of greater significance for the shy, serious, and dutiful youth. While plowing the rough fields, he learned from his strict and taciturn father that sheer willpower followed by positive action could accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. Lessons as these would later be applied to challenges in his adulthood, resulting in great success.

Upon contemplating a career for their eldest born, his father, a county commissioner and former lieutenant colonel in the military, wished for his son to enter the army. Lawrence had already attended Major Whiting's military academy where he fitted for West Point. But his mother, a religious woman, wanted him to study for the ministry. Lawrence was interested in a West Point education, but the idea of being in the military during peacetime held no attraction for him. After much consideration on the matter, Lawrence agreed to enter the ministry if he could become a missionary in a foreign land, a popular career choice of the time.

A New Direction



Fannie Chamberlain - wife of Joshua Chamberlain


In 1848, Lawrence entered Bowdoin College at Brunswick, where he began using Joshua as his first name. During his initial years away from home, the introverted 19-year-old felt lonely and spoke little because he was embarrassed by his propensity for stammering. Joshua learned to overcome this impediment by "singing out" phrases on a "wave of breath." By his third year at Bowdoin, he had won awards in both composition and oratory.

As a student, Joshua had earned a reputation for standing behind his principles even when challenged by authorities. Throughout his life, this sense of honor would never desert him, even under fire. When not pursuing his studies, Joshua enjoyed singing and playing the bass viol on which he was self-taught. As the college chapel organist, he learned to play the organ quite skillfully on his own.


John Chamberlain brother of Joshua and Thomas who also served briefly with the 20th Maine and was at Little Round Top in Gettysburg with Joshua and Thomas.


While attending the local church in Brunswick, Joshua became attracted to the enchanting, dark-haired Frances (Fanny) Caroline Adams who often played the organ for the church choir. She was the reverend's adopted daughter and three years his senior, but this unconventional difference in their ages (for those times) did not matter to them. It was not long before a romance blossomed between them. The two became engaged the next year in 1852, after he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin. They would not be married until 1855, following Joshua's graduation from both a three-year seminary course at Bangor Theological Seminary and Bowdoin College with his master's degree.

In spring of 1856, Joshua was elected professor of rhetoric and oratory at Bowdoin. By 1861, he was elected to the chair of modern languages. Chamberlain was well-qualified for this position, having mastered multiple languages in preparation for a career in the ministry overseas. In all, he was fluent in nine: Greek, Latin, French, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and Syriac. Meanwhile, during his early years as a professor, the Chamberlain home had been blessed with the birth of their daughter Grace (Daisy), and son Harold (Wyllys).


Thomas Chamberlain younger brother of Joshua and John. All three brothers served with the 20th Maine and were at Little Round Top during the battle of Gettysburg


With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Joshua felt a strong desire to serve his country. Many Bowdoin alumni had immediately enlisted, and as time passed many men from Maine were wearing the blue uniform. Having already been granted a leave of absence for study in Europe, Joshua decided to offer his services in the military to Governor Washburn. Despite the displeasure of the Bowdoin staff, by August 1862, Chamberlain entered the war as Lieutenant Colonel of the 20th Regiment of Maine Volunteers.

Lessons for a Lieutenant Colonel


Under Commander Adelbert Ames, a recent West Point graduate, Chamberlain learned by observation about soldiering and being in charge of a regiment. He witnessed the transformation of more than 900 unskilled men into trained and disciplined soldiers. Among the officers of the regiment was Joshua's brother Thomas. Tom, the youngest of the Chamberlain's, was appointed a non-commissioned sergeant. Before the end of the war, he would serve as a lieutenant colonel.


Joshua Chamberlain and his wife, Caroline.


The 20th Maine's first order found them marching to the site of the battle at Antietam. But they would not engage in action until late September, in a reconnaissance at Shepherdstown Ford. In mid-October, they participated in another reconnaissance, this one led by Chamberlain at the South Mountain pass. Upon seeing the figure of a slain Confederate youth, Joshua was horrified and saddened to realize that some of the soldiers they fought against were as young as this 16-year-old. Sights as these would never be forgotten.

By December 1862, the Battle of Fredericksburg proved to be a devastating blow to the Union. In an article he wrote, published by Cosmopolitan Magazine in 1912, Chamberlain recalls his bone-chilling "bivouac with the dead" that night on the slopes of Marye's Heights in Fredericksburg. After this engagement, as the defeated Union troops were given orders to evacuate the town, Chamberlain was placed in command of his regiment to lead the retreat from the heights.



The remaining months of winter and early spring passed uneventfully for the 20th. The prevalence of small pox in the ranks kept them out of the Battle of Chancellorsville in the beginning of May 1863. During this time, Chamberlain requested duties to occupy his able-bodied men. Having learned a great deal since his enlistment, and demonstrating strong leadership skills, by the end of the month Chamberlain was appointed Colonel of his regiment.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: 20thmaine; biography; bowdoincollege; brunswick; civilwar; fredricksburg; freeperfoxhole; gettysburg; joshuachamberlain; joshualchamberlain; lawrencechamberlain; littleroundtop; maine; veterans; warbetweenstates
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To: stand watie; bentfeather; Valin; SAMWolf; snippy_about_it
Good morning Foxhole crew.

I would like to thank all of the veterans and troops who have preserved freedom for my family. May God bless you all, and may we make you proud of your efforts in giving us liberty.

61 posted on 05/17/2004 8:34:57 AM PDT by Diva Betsy Ross (Every heart beats true for the red,white and blue)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross

Good Morning Diva Betsy Ross.

It's amazing how many people don't even realize they should stand when our Flag goes by. I noticed the people in small towns are a lot better at showing proper respect than large cities.


62 posted on 05/17/2004 8:37:23 AM PDT by SAMWolf (The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.)
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To: Diva Betsy Ross
this pix makes me ILL!

free dixie,sw

63 posted on 05/17/2004 8:41:10 AM PDT by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. -T. Jefferson)
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To: Neil E. Wright

Shameless VetsCoR bump! :-)


64 posted on 05/17/2004 9:05:51 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Aeronaut

Good morning Aeronaut.


65 posted on 05/17/2004 9:06:17 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: E.G.C.

Good morning EGC. Is your rain all gone?


66 posted on 05/17/2004 9:06:45 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: larryjohnson

Hiya larry. Sounds like a great trip!


67 posted on 05/17/2004 9:07:42 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: The Mayor

Good morning Mayor. The rains over and the sun is out, yippee!


68 posted on 05/17/2004 9:08:18 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: carton253
Don't call me Lawrence...

LOL. I love how they worked that throughout the movie. "Darnit Lawrence, I'm your brother."

69 posted on 05/17/2004 9:17:17 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; All

Good morning, Foxhole crew!

A great thread today! My dad would love this - he is a huge Civil War buff, a Chamberlain admirer and a fellow who loves looking at good Civil War art.


70 posted on 05/17/2004 9:17:21 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("Out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge." - Sir Winston Churchill)
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To: hardhead

Good morning hardhead, thanks for the link.


71 posted on 05/17/2004 9:17:53 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: GailA

Good morning Gail.


72 posted on 05/17/2004 9:18:14 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: Valin

Good morning Valin.


73 posted on 05/17/2004 9:24:09 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: bentfeather

Good morning feather.


74 posted on 05/17/2004 9:24:36 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: stainlessbanner

Hiya stainlessbanner.


75 posted on 05/17/2004 9:24:55 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: snippy_about_it
I loved that part...

Both actors did a great job. (Though I think Stephen Lang as Pickett was the best).

I've named my two betta fish Lawrence and Tom in honor of the Chamberlain brothers... true heros!

76 posted on 05/17/2004 9:28:05 AM PDT by carton253 (Re: The War on Terror. It's time to draw our swords and throw away the scabbards.)
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To: Valin
..you're a ultra-extremist-fanatic-rabid-rightwing-radical...

LOL. So you really do know Sam!

77 posted on 05/17/2004 9:31:15 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: stand watie

!!!!!


78 posted on 05/17/2004 9:32:17 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: stand watie

GM sw!!!

free dixie, bf


79 posted on 05/17/2004 9:32:30 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (~The Dragon Flies' Lair~ Poetry and Prose~)
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To: snippy_about_it
The rain's gone for now. the weather's nice and sunny with terpertures in the 80's.

We installed a new printer yesterday. It's an HP. The one we had before that which we had since September 2002 when we bought our current computer went haywire.

It wasn't as simple as I thought. We had to call in my cousin to help us. He installs things like printers in computer for a living.

The installation ate up quite a bit of free space. It went down to 64% when I turned off the computer yesterday.

We'll see how the computer handles things over the next couple of days.

80 posted on 05/17/2004 9:34:05 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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