American Civil War Joshua Chamberlain

1 american civil war

1.1 career

1.1.1 battle of gettysburg

1.1.1.1 medal of honor citation


1.1.2 siege of petersburg
1.1.3 appomattox

american civil war
early career

chamberlain s younger brother, thomas, lieutenant colonel of 20th maine

at beginning of american civil war, chamberlain believed union needed supported willing against confederacy. on several occasions, chamberlain spoke freely of beliefs during class, urging students follow hearts in regards war while issuing own proclamation cause just. of desire serve in war, wrote maine s governor israel washburn, jr., fear, war, costly of blood , treasure, not cease until men of north willing leave positions, , sacrifice dearest personal interests, rescue our country desolation, , defend national existence against treachery. many faculty @ bowdoin did not feel enthusiasm various reasons , chamberlain subsequently granted leave of absence (supposedly study languages 2 years in europe). promptly enlisted unbeknownst @ bowdoin , family. offered colonelcy of 20th maine regiment, declined, according biographer, john j. pullen, preferring start little lower , learn business first. appointed lieutenant colonel of regiment on august 8, 1862, under command of col. adelbert ames. 20th assigned 3rd brigade, 1st division, v corps in union army of potomac. 1 of chamberlain s younger brothers, thomas chamberlain, officer of 20th maine, , another, john chamberlain, visited regiment @ gettysburg member of u.s. christian commission until appointed chaplain in maine volunteer regiment. 20th maine fought @ battle of fredericksburg, suffering relatively small numbers of casualties in assaults on marye s heights, forced spend miserable night on freezing battlefield among many wounded other regiments. chamberlain chronicled night in diary , went great length discussing having use bodies of fallen shelter , pillow while listening bullets zip corpses. 20th missed battle of chancellorsville in may 1863 due outbreak of smallpox in ranks (which caused errant smallpox vaccine), keeping them on guard duty in rear. chamberlain promoted colonel of regiment in june 1863 upon promotion of ames.

battle of gettysburg

capt. ellis spear, chamberlain s right-hand man on little round top



chamberlain s position on little round top



little round top, western slope, photographed timothy h. o sullivan, 1863

chamberlain became famous achievements during battle of gettysburg. on july 2, second day of battle, union forces recovering initial setbacks , hastily regrouping defensive positions on line of hills south of town. sensing momentary vulnerability of union forces, confederates began attack against union left flank. chamberlain s brigade, commanded col. strong vincent, sent defend little round top army s chief of engineers, brig. gen. gouverneur k. warren. chamberlain found himself , 20th maine @ far left end of entire union line. understood strategic significance of small hill, , need 20th maine hold union left @ costs. men maine waited until troops 15th regiment alabama infantry, commanded col. william c. oates, charged hill, attempting flank union position. time , time again confederates struck, until 20th maine doubled upon itself. many casualties , ammunition running low, col. chamberlain recognized dire circumstances , ordered left wing (which looking southeast, compared rest of regiment, facing west) initiate bayonet charge. report of day: @ crisis, ordered bayonet. word enough. while battlefield conditions make unlikely many men heard chamberlain s order, historians believe initiated charge.

the 20th maine charged down hill, left wing wheeling continually make charging line swing hinge, creating simultaneous frontal assault , flanking maneuver, capturing 101 of confederate soldiers , saving flank. version of battle popularized book killer angels , movie gettysburg, there debate on historical validity of account. chamberlain sustained 2 slight wounds in battle, 1 when shot hit sword scabbard , bruised thigh, , when right foot hit spent bullet or piece of shrapnel. chamberlain took confederate prisoner saber during charge. after initiating maneuver, came upon confederate officer wielding revolver fired, narrowly missing face. chamberlain remained steadfast, , sword @ officer s throat accepted man s arms , surrender. pistol chamberlain captured @ gettysburg can still seen on display in civil war exhibit of maine state museum. tenacity @ defending little round top, known sobriquet lion of round top. prior battle, chamberlain quite ill, developing malaria , dysentery. later, due illness, taken off active duty until recovered.

for daring heroism , great tenacity in holding position on little round top against repeated assaults, , carrying advance position on great round top , chamberlain awarded medal of honor.

medal of honor citation

the president of united states of america, in name of congress, takes pleasure in presenting medal of honor colonel joshua lawrence chamberlain, united states army, extraordinary heroism on 2 july 1863, while serving 20th maine infantry, in action @ gettysburg, pennsylvania, daring heroism , great tenacity in holding position on little round top against repeated assaults, , carrying advance position on great round top.

siege of petersburg

in april 1864, chamberlain returned army of potomac , promoted brigade commander shortly before siege of petersburg , given command of 1st brigade, first division, v corps. in major action on june 18, during second battle of petersburg, chamberlain shot through right hip , groin, bullet exiting left hip. despite injury, chamberlain withdrew sword , stuck ground in order keep himself upright dissuade growing resolve retreat. stood upright several minutes until collapsed , lay unconscious loss of blood. wound considered mortal division s surgeon, predicted perish; chamberlain s incorrectly recorded death in battle reported in maine newspapers, , lt. gen. ulysses s. grant gave chamberlain battlefield promotion rank of brigadier general after receiving urgent recommendation on june 19 corps commander maj. gen. gouverneur k. warren: has been recommended promotion gallant , efficient conduct on previous occasion , yesterday led brigade against enemy under destructive fire. expresses wish may receive recognition of services promotion before dies gratification of family , friends. [8] not expected live, chamberlain displayed surprising , courage, , support of brother tom, in command november. although many, including wife fanny, urged chamberlain resign, determined serve through end of war.

in 1865, chamberlain regained command of 1st brigade of 1st division of v corps, , continued act courage , resolve. on march 29, 1865, brigade participated in major skirmish on quaker road during grant s final advance finish war. despite losses, wound (in left arm , chest caused amputation), , being captured, chamberlain successful , brevetted rank of major general president abraham lincoln. chamberlain gained name bloody chamberlain @ quaker road. chamberlain kept bible , framed picture of wife in left front chest pocket. confederate shot @ chamberlain. bullet went through horse s neck, hit picture frame, entered under chamberlain s skin in front of chest, traveled around body under skin along rib, , exited back. observers union , confederate, appeared shot through chest. continued encourage men attack. sides cheered valiant courage, , union assault successful.

appomattox

confederate general john b. gordon assigned task surrender arms gen. chamberlain.

on morning of april 9, 1865, chamberlain learned of desire general robert e. lee surrender army of northern virginia when confederate staff officer approached him under flag of truce. sir, reported chamberlain, general gordon. general lee desires cessation of hostilities until can hear general grant proposed surrender. next day, chamberlain summoned union headquarters maj. gen. charles griffin informed him had been selected preside on parade of confederate infantry part of formal surrender @ appomattox court house on april 12.

thus chamberlain responsible 1 of poignant scenes of american civil war. confederate soldiers marched down road surrender arms , colors, chamberlain, on own initiative, ordered men come attention , carry arms show of respect. chamberlain described happened next:

gordon, @ head of marching column, outdoes in courtesy. riding downcast eyes , more pensive look; @ clatter of arms raises eyes , instantly catching significance, wheels horse superb grace of master, drops point of sword stirrup, gives command, @ great confederate ensign following him dipped , decimated brigades, reach our right, respond carry. while on our part not sound of trumpet or drum, not cheer, nor word nor motion of man, awful stillness if passing of dead.

chamberlain s salute confederate soldiers unpopular many unionists, defended action in memoirs, passing of armies. many years later, gordon, in own memoirs, called chamberlain 1 of knightliest soldiers of federal army. gordon never mentioned anecdote until after read chamberlain s account, more 40 years later.

in all, chamberlain served in 20 battles , numerous skirmishes, cited bravery 4 times, had 6 horses shot under him, , wounded 6 times.