Bowdoin College - Bugle Yearbook (Brunswick, ME)

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GENERAL JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN, '52 N the historic brown house, across Maine Street from Memorial Hall, the house which Longfellow and his young wife chose as their first home, the house which the Bowdoin students between 1870 and 1885 remember for the genial hospi- tality of the President's accomplished wife, the house in which have been entertained as honored guests Generalffrrant and many another of the nationts most distinguished men, lives the loyal Bowdoin man to whom we have respectfully dedicated this BUGLE. Ioshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born in Brewer, Maine, September eighth, 1828, on his father's side of Norman-English stock, and on his mother's of the Huguenots of La Rochelle. As the oldest son in a family of five children, and brought up on a hundred acre farm, he was early taught to bear responsibility, and to be ever busy. He was first fitted for West Point at a military academy in Ellsworth, but a sudden turn of home sentiment led him to change front for college halls. For six months he shut himself up in the home attic to make good the Greek requirement, and in February, 1848, was admitted to Bowdoin. At the end of his Sophomore year, a long intermittent fever compelled him to fall back so that he completed his course with the class of '52, In college he joined the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, and though one of the athletes of his day, he was also a diligent student. He took honors and prizes in French, German, English Composition, Oratory, Mathematics, and Chemistry, made Phi Beta Kappa, and at graduation received the assignment of a Commencement Part. On leaving Bowdoin he took the three years course at the Bangor Theological Seminary, where during his last year he received calls to the 'pulpits of three important churches. But it happened that he was due to give the Master's Oration at Bowdoin-then the first honor of his class-and his treatment of his subject, Law and Libertyu, brought him to the college as instructor in Natural and Revealed Religion. Soon he was elected Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, which place he held for live years. Meantime, a vacancy occurring, he was appointed to give instruction first in French, then in German, and

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To GENERAL jOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS SOLDIER, STATIISMAN, AND EDUCATOR, WE RI-ISPDCTFULLY DEDICATE THIS BUGLD

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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,