by Suzanne Marsh

Created on: July 07, 2011

     Major General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a Professor of Rhetoric and Revealed Religions when he joined the 20th Maine and became its Colonel when Aldabert Ames was promoted to General.  July 2nd, 1863 the second day of the battle of Gettysburg found Colonel Chamberlain and the 20th Maine at the end of the"fish hook" where he was placed by Colonel Strong Vincent.  He was told that no matter what he must hold that ground if the 20th gave way the entire line of battle would fall.  Confederates literally had an uphill battle and they came in waves of gray and butternut charging again and again from different angles.  Chamberlain and the 20th held onto their position as ammunition began to dwindle and the heat of the day began to take its toll on both sides.  

    Colonel Chamberlain reasoned that if his ammunition was low and his men fatigued the Confederates would have the same problems he called upon his second in command Colonel Ellis, who also was a student of his at Bowdoin College, to form a reverse right wheel, they would swing downthe hill with bayonets.  Colonel Chamberlain signaled Colonel Ellis to begin the charge.  The bayonet charge effectively swept the Confederates off of Little Round Top giving the Union the high ground and turning the battle of Gettysburg in favor of the Army of the Potomac.  For his day at Little Round Top Joshua Chamberlain received The Congressional Medal of Honor.

   Throughout his military career he served with courage he was wound seven times once through both hips.  He was breveted twice the second time to Major General which was his rank when he was discharged after the Civil War ended however he earned his greatest moment in history when General U.S. Grant asked him to accept the surrender of the Southern Forces at Appomatox.

    The morning of the surrender Major General Joshua Chamberlain presented arms to the Confederate General John B. Brown who gallantly spured his horse to a bow making tipping his sword, he then saluted Major General Chamberlain signifying the surrender.  That small incident began the healing process between the Union and the Confederacy.  Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain went on to serve four terms as Govenor of Maine and President of Bowdoin College.

    He was not just the hero of Little Round Top but also  one of the finest Generals the Union had.

  

Learn more about this author, Suzanne Marsh.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.