North Lake County Florida Civil War Roundtable Online

Civil War

Roundtable

Captain

Melton Haynes

Florida's

Forgotten

Pioneer Series

Florida

in the Civil War

Joshua Lawrence

Chamberlain

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

My admiration for Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain began almost immediately after knowing of his existence. That was back in September of 1999, and yes, it was at Little Round Top.

I was a 41 year old who was doing something I haven’t done since I was a youngster...I was taking a vacation with ma and pa.

On a wonderfully guided bus tour, we had the opportunity to walk Little Round Top. This was my first time as I can recall that I actually walked where history was made and could clearly feel the spirits of those who were here... you all have felt it too by now! I now know why my dad is so fascinated with the Civil War and the people of this time period in American history. The feeling there was so real in my body.

I mentioned to my dad how courageous this man and this group of soldiers who defended this rocky hill were. But it didn’t take much longer to learn that this man was much more than a man in a blue uniform with eagles on his shoulders and a sword at his side.

In the time since visiting Round Top, I feel as if I have gotten to know the Colonel personally and that we are the best of friends. I believe all of us who admire Chamberlain feel the same way. He has been gone from us physically long before we were all born, but he continues to live in our hearts and minds. I actually miss him, if that makes sense.

What I believe made Chamberlain special is how he lived successfully by positive emotion. His strength and courage came from his sensitivity and his strong faith in God. He had a conscience... and compassion for those who didn’t. He showed up each day for work...for life, ready to give humanity the benefit of the doubt that what God has created still had a chance to live together in peace, not fearing that another would interfere with our personal dreams. That there was enough space to fulfill our dreams and yet still be close enough to help each other.

I am a person who lives from the heart also and I feel a natural closeness with the Colonel.

I would have loved to sit down with him and just listened to him speak.

Bob Grenier

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Timeline

1828 - Born September 8 in Brewer, Maine

1852 - Graduates from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine

1855 - Graduates from Bangor Theological Seminary in Bangor, Maine

1855 - Begins teaching at Bowdoin College

1855 - Marries Frances “Fannie” Adams

1856 - Birth of daughter Grace

1858 - Birth of son Harold Wyllys

1859 - Purchases home in Brunswick, Maine (Now the JLC museum)

The Civil War

1862 - Appointed Lt. Colonel of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry

1862 - Fought in battles at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville

1863 - Promoted to Colonel of the 20th Maine

1863 - Participated in battles at Gettysburg, where he successfully defended the Union’s left flank at Little Round Top, Manassas Gap, Brandy Station, and Rappahannock Station.

1864 - participated in battles at Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburg, where he was seriously wounded

1864 - Promoted to Brigadier General by Ulysses S. Grant

1865 - Participated in battles at Quaker Road, White Oak Road, and Five Forks

1865 - Hand picked by General Grant to accept the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia

1866 - Mustered out of the Union Army

* * * * *

1867 -1871 - Served as Governor of Maine

1871- 1883 - President of Bowdoin College

1876 - Delivers Maine State oration at Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia

1878 - Commissioner for the Paris Exposition

1884-1914 - Business ventures, Lecturing, and Writing

1893 - Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery at Gettysburg