Transcript Joshua Chamberlain

Family
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Born September 8, 1828
in Brewer, Maine
Oldest of five children
Parents – Joshua and
Sarah Dupee Chamberlain
Was raised a Puritan
(urged good manners,
cheerfulness, mortality,
and education)
Family Cont.
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Father (Joshua) - Was the
county commissioner
and a former Lieutenant
in the military
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Mother (Sarah Dupee) A very religious woman;
her religion always came
first
Early Life
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Fond of outdoor
activities
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Horseback riding,
swimming, sailing, and
animal and flower
watching
Always working on the
farms
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Learned much through
his father
Education
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Attended Bowdoin
College in Brunswick
• Met his future bride
here
Attended Bangor
Theological Seminary for
about three years
Returned to Bowdoin to
become a professor of
rhetoric
• Soon taught every
subject except
mathematics and
science
Before the War
 He wanted to enlist, but Bowdoin thought he was too
valuable to the teaching program
 He was granted a leave of absence, supposedly to
study for 2 years in Europe, but instead he enlisted into
the army
 Liar!
“We have to go in places no body would ever
think of going into were it not for the
necessities of war.”
-Joshua Chamberlain
The Civil War
• Joshua was fighting
for the Union
– Also known as the
Army of the Potomac
• Colonel of the 20th
Maine
– His brother, Thomas,
was under his
command
Battle of Gettysburg
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Most famous at the
Battle on Little Round
Top
Fought with the
infantries
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83rd Pennsylvania
44th New York
16th Michigan
Battle of Gettysburg (cont.)
• William C. Oates was
trying to flank the
Union
– General of the 15th
Alabama Regiment
• The Confederates
more than doubled
Chamberlain’s troops
in this battle
Battle of Gettysburg (cont.)
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The 15th Alabama was
killing many of Joshua’s
troops, but he made one
of the boldest army tactic
moves
– Chamberlain ordered all of
his troops to charge,
making the enemy believe
they were outnumbered
and were forced to
surrender
“We pass now quickly from each other's sight;
but I know full well that where beyond these
passing scenes you shall be, there will be
Heaven.”
-Joshua Chamberlain
Siege of Petersburg
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Promoted to a
Brigade Commander
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In charge of the 1st
Brigade of the 1st
Division of V Corps
Was shot and ruined
in this fight, but
returned to fight
again
After the War
 Joshua became one of the most popular people
who fought in the war
 The 20th Maine became famous, and years later,
Joshua received the Medal of Honor
• Joshua Chamberlain died February 24, 1914 of old age
at 86
• 3,000 people attended Chamberlain’s funeral at the
City Hall in Portland.
"The death of General Joshua L. Chamberlain will be
felt as a personal loss to every citizen of Maine.”
- Ex-Governor Frederick W. Plaisted