Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born Sept. 8,
1828 in Brewer, Maine. Chamberlain worked on
his father's farm until
1848, when he entered
Bowdoin College, where he showed particular
skill in
languages. He met Fannie Adams, who he would marry in
1855 after a long courtship.
Chamberlain graduated Bowdoin in
1852, and continued his studies at
Bangor Theological
Seminary. After 3 years of study at the
seminary, he turned down the opportinity to become a
minister, instead opting to teach languages at Bowdoin. In 1862, Chamberlain turned down a
years
sabbatical in
Europe and offered his
military service to the
Governor of Maine.
Chamberlain was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry. The first
action the regiment saw was at
Fredricksburg, where they attacked well defended Southern
positions. Several months later, at
Gettysburg, the 20th Maine was assigned to the far left of
the Union position, on a small hill called Little Round Top. Little Round Top was a crucial
position, occupying high ground on the Union
flank. Chamberlain led the 308 men of the 20th
against almost 1000
Confederate soldiers who repeatedly charged the Union positions. When
the Maine soldiers ran out of
ammunition, Chamberlain led the regiment on a bayonet charge
down the hill and to the right, driving the Confederate troops toward stronger Union positions. Despite casualty rates of 30%, Chamberlain's troops captured some 400 troops, including 2 officers,
and held Little Round Top. This action is regarded as having saved the battle for the Union, since losing Little Round Top would have forced the Army off of Cemetary Ridge where they were entrenched. Chamberlain's actions were the turning point in a battle that was a turning point in the war. If Chamberlain had not held Little Round Top, there is a very good chance the Union would have lost the battle and possibly the war. Chamberlain was awarded the
Medal of Honor for distinguished
gallantry at Gettysburg in
1893. Chamberlain continued his distinguished military career,
leading a
brigade of Pennsylvanians against heavily fortified Southern positions at
Petersburg in
1864. One charge forced a Rebel
battery and supporting infantry to retreat. Chamberlain then
led a charge against River's Salient, where he was shot through both hips.
General Grant immediately
promoted him to
Brigadier General, the only battlefield promotion to General of the
Civil War. Chamberlain was hospitalized for weeks, but returned to duty in August 1864.
In 1865 while leading the attack on Confederate forces near Petersburg, Chamberlain was again
wounded, but still led his men over Confederate
breastworks. In another action 2 days later,
Chamberlain again led his men over Confederate
fortifications. For his leadership in these 2
actions, he was promoted to Brevet Major General. On April 9, he was designated by General
Grant to receive the formal
capitulation of the Confederate forces. On April 12, he ordered
the Union troops to salute the defeated
Southerners, a chivalrous gesture of respect for the
valor of the defeated Confederate Army.
In all, Chamberlain had been in 24 battles, been wounded 6 times, and had 5 horses shot from under
him. Troops under his command had captured 2700 Confederate soldiers.
After the war, Chamberlain briefly returned to teaching at Bowdoin, but was soon elected Governor
of Maine for four terms. After that, Chamberlain became
President of Bowdoin College in 1871,
a position he held until
1883 when poor
health from his war wounds forced him to retire. He died
in
1914 from reinfection of his old hip wound.