Bowdoin College - Bugle Yearbook (Brunswick, ME)

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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

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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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12 The Bowdoin Bugle 1909 establishment of Normal Schools, and of the Maine College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1866 he received the honorary degree of LED. from Pennsylvania College, and in 1869 the same from Bowdoin. He had been elected a Trustee of the col- lege in 1867, and it is interesting to note that even up to to-day his name has never been off the college books since he came here as an instructor in 1885. In 1871, having just left the Governor's chair, he was elected President of Bowdoin, and for twelve years he devoted his energies to increasing the fund and to enlarging the scope of the college. Among the material improvements he brought about were the completion of Memorial Hall, the reconstruction of Massachusetts Hall 5 the renovation of the Dormitoriesg the founding of the Gymnasium, the addition of a number of new courses, and the founding of four professorships. Often, to open the new fields desired, he himself at first gave instruction, as was the case, in the departments of Medieval and Modern History, Political Economy, Mental and Moral Philosophy, Constitutional and International Law. In 1878 he was appointed United States Commissioner to the Exposition Universellen in Paris, where for his services the French Government gave him a Medal of Honor, and later his report on Education in Europe, published as a public document, was pronounced 'fthe best original production on public schools abroad, ever printed in America . Having been elected by the Legislature, Major-General of Maine, he was sud- denly called to Augusta in January 1880, to preserve the peace and institutions of the State during a lapse of civil government and a period of violent demonstrations over a contested State election. His course in this difficult position is an inter- esting, and as yet unwritten chapter of history. Although preserving the honor of the State, his very success re-awakened the hostility of influential politicians. Appre- hensive that this might work injury to the college, he finally resigned the Presidency in 1883, but at the request of the Boards, continued for two years his lectures on Political Science and Public Law. Meantime, he had urgent invitations to the presidency of three colleges of high rank in other states, but the wear and tear of wounds and of long and arduous labors demanded a complete change of conditions. He repaired to Florida for rest and recuperation, but ever active, he soon appeared there as president of a railroad construction company, and also as pilot and master of a steamer running on the Gulf coast. After several years he again returned to Maine, and in 1900 was