Bowdoin College - Bugle Yearbook (Brunswick, ME)

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I0 The Bowdoin Bugle 1909 history will give credit to the bravery and unflinching fortitude of the Twentieth Maine Volunteers under his command, more than to any equal number of men upon the held. This conduct has rendered the honor of his State in arms imperishable,-conduct, I do not hesitate to say, as an eye witness and as Commanding Officer of that Brigade, had its inspiration and great success from the moral power and personal heroism of Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain. ' fSignedl JAMES C. RICE, Brig.-Gen. Collzvzznfzding. For Hconspicuous personal gallantry and distinguished service, he now re- ceived the Congressional Medal of Honor, a medal which ranks with the Victoria Cross of England. He was also recommended by all his superiors for promotion to Brigadier-General, but lacking political backing at Washington, he got no farther that way. In the field it was otherwise, he was immediately put in command of a fine brigade, and early in I864 was specially assigned to command a veteran bri- gade of six regiments-being still colonel of the zoth Maine. With this brigade he led the desperate charge on Rives's Salient before Petersburg. For his conduct here, General Grant promoted him on the field to a brigadier-general,-the only instance of such promotion in the history of the country. In this battle he was fearfully wounded, and later sunfered months of agony before being assured even of his life. High civil appointments were offered him, but he preferred to return to the front. In March '65, under Sheridan in the last campaign, he led the advance of the Fifth Corps, and made the brilliant opening attack on the enemyls right flank. For this he received the brevet rank of major-general, for conspicuous gallantry in battle. He was twice wounded,.but not seriously enough to force him from the field. In the final action at Appomattox Court House, his Corps Commander reported to the War Department, General Chamberlain had the advance and was driving the enemy rapidly before him, when the flag of truce came in. And finally he had the honor to be designated to command the parade at the surrender of the arms and colors of Lee's army. The war being over, he was placed in charge of ten miles of territory along the South Side railroad, where his judicious and kindly administration was deeply appreciated by the people. He next had the honor of leading the column of the Army of the Potomac in the final Grand Review at Washington, and in the order disbanding the army, was among the few officers retained in the service. Having

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General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain 9 in 1861 was elected to the chair of Modern Languages. In 1862 he was given two years leave of absence to visit Europe, but the civil war having become serious, Professor Chamberlain with the consent of the Boards, tendered his services to the Government. In ten days he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the zoth Maine Volunteers. In three weeks he had completed the organiza- tion of this regiment of a thousand men, and turning over the command to Colonel Ames, of the Regular Army, left with it for the front. The regiment was assigned to the famous Fifth Corps of the Army of the Poto- mac, and in two weeks it was in the midst of the great battle of Antietam. Using every available means and moment for the study of field operations, and with vivid exam- ples of their exercise, the young officer soon gained a recognized mastery in their conduct. y In December he made his reputation in l the terrible battle of Fredericksburg. In I May he was Colonel of his regiment. In June he was in the sharp cavalry fights in the gaps of the Blue Ridge. In july at the battle of Gettysburg, he was posted on the extreme left of the Union lines, and there made his famous defense of Little Round Top. Of GENERAL CHAMBERLAIN in 1862, as Lieutenant Colonel this it is but fitting to quote an official letter from his commanding officer: ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, HEADQUARTERS FIRST D1v1sIoN, FIRST CORPS, September 8, 1863. Colonel Chamberlain joined the Brigade of which he is now the Commanding Officer, about a year ago. In all the severe con- flicts of this army since, he has been greatly distinguished for the skilful handling of troops, and for his personal gallantry. Not a battle has been fought in which his command has not added lustre to our arms and a brighter page to our history. At Gettysburg he held the extreme left of the entire Union line, and for the bril- liant success of the conflict upon the second day of the battle,

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General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain 11 leave of absence for the t'reatment of his wounds, and visiting Philadelphia for that purpose, most generous offers were made him for a high career in public life, if he would make his home in Pennsylvania,-thirteen of whose regiments had been of his command. But his loyalty to Maine brought him back to his home. General Chamberlain was oilered a colonelcy in the regular army with the privilege of retiring, on account of wounds received in battle, with the rank of brigadier, and brevet major- general. Declining this, and returning to the college, which had yearly renewed his leave of absence, he quietly resumed the chair of Rhetoric and Oratory. But he was allowed only one term. The people of Maine took him up, and elected him Governor of the State, by the largest majority ever given for that ofhce. Many difficult problems and de- cisions, and hence some bit- ter enemies, fell to the lot I of the Governor, but he rested his convictions on strong grounds, and stood upon them fearlessly. The people appreciated his ser- n , vice, and three times re- GENERAL CHAMBERLAIN as Brevet Major-General , , elected him during that trying period which follows a long war. Various new measures of public utility made Governor Chamberlain's administration an epoch in the history of the State. Among these were the Hydrographic Survey of the State, the planting of the Swedish settlement in Aroostook, the opening of the European and North Amer- ican Railway, the institution of Commissioners of Banking and Insurance, the