History Rediscovered
Most TAH readers have heard about Joshua Chamberlain, Commander of the 20th Maine and one of the many heroes at Gettysburg. Most probably also know he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism that day.
However, there’s a bit more to that story. And that little bit of extra was recently re-discovered.
Chamberlain’s first Medal of Honor was awarded to him late in life, in 1893. In 1904, Medal of Honor was redesigned. Previous recipients were issued a new medal, but were allowed to retain the previous one if they desired (they were not allowed to wear both simultaneously). Chamberlain was still living and was issued a new Medal of Honor.
Chamberlain’s new-issue Medal of Honor is on display at Bowdoin College (Chamberlain served as President of Bowdoin for years prior to his retirement from politics). However, for many years the whereabouts of his original were not known.
Chamberlain’s original Medal of Honor has been located. It was found in a book purchased at a church sale following the death of his granddaughter. His granddaughter donated her estate to her church on her death in 2000. The medal was in one of the books later sold at a church fundraising sale.
The medal was returned to the Pejepscot Historical Society in Brunswick, Maine by the purchaser of the books. It has been authenticated as genuine.
Plans for public display have not yet been announced.
Category: Historical
Chamberlain is a fascinating study in command and leadership. I’ve spent quite a bit of time at Bowdoin College going through his papers in their collection. Bowdoin also maintains a collection of the papers of Oliver Otis Howard, another Maine general who accomplished a great deal both before and after the war. My only complaints about Chamberlain’s story is that the continued study of him, and the attention focused upon him (deservedly, don’t get me wrong) overshadows the other fine officers, men and units from Maine. Chamberlain, more than anything else, was a top-shelf PR man. He was never afraid to offer his opinion, publish his version of events, or see that the spotlight was fixed clearly and brightly upon him. The other point is the hypocrisy of Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, and most of the rest of the state. It’s only been the past 30 years or so that Chamberlain was “discovered” and both Bowdoin College and Brunswick have made a lot of money riding his coattails to success. In the early 1980’s, Chamberlains home stood on property owned by Bowdoin College, Bowdoin was looking for a permit to bulldoze it so as to make more room for parking. His fine house, with paintings upon the cieling depicting scenes from his service, with the 5th Corps badge mounted upon each side of the Chimney, with all the history involved, was judged by the leftists there to be better used as a faculty parking lot. I bid upon the property, along with a handful of others when Bowdoin decided to sell it off rather than do any upkeep on it. Fortunately the Pejepscot was able to purchase it, and restore it to much of it’s post-war look. But, once the publicity about Chamberlain hit, which forced awareness of him and Bowdoin’s attempts to raze his home, he was “discovered” and suddenly everyone was climbing over themselves to make money off the good general’s name. That’s the way things go, I suspect. I just wanted to mention all of this since everyone is so enraptured with Chamberlain’s story. It wasn’t always… Read more »
This is a tres cool story. I only hope his was not one of the many given out like candy in that era. I’m guessing not or he would not have cherished it so. The story says he wore it regularly.
@2
Chamberlain earned his the hard way. In fact, he suffered 5 wounds, the latter considered mortal. It finally killed him, but not until many years later.
In fact, because of his gallantry, Grant himself ordered a battlefield promotion to the rank of General for Chamberlain upon hearing of his last wound, which the doctors had pronounced mortal. It was the only such promotion to General in the Federal army during the course of the war.
AW1 Tim – I am from Texas but the coast of Maine was my stomping grounds back in the late 80’s…. from Camden/Rockport down to Bailey Island. I am curious if you have ever hung out a dive shop run by a guy named Steve who is a man of the water? I have many fond memories of listening to stories while waiting for the tanks to fill oh so slowly. Those were good times and Maine at large was very nice to this Southerner.
2/17 Air Cav: having read accounts of his service – no, Chamberlain’s MoH wasn’t a “cheapie”.
If you haven’t ever read it, find a copy of “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara. It seems to be fairly accurate, even if a historical novel vice a bio.
Without Chamberlain and the 20th Maine, Gettysburg would very likely have turned out differently. And without Chamberlain’s leadership, I rather doubt the 20th Maine would have been able to stop the Confederate attack at Little Round Top.
@1 AW1 Tim – Just curious, was the publication of Michael Shaara’s “The Killer Angels” influential on the renewed interest in Joshua Chamberlain? Did that book prompt the publication of “In the Hands of Providence”? Thanks for your insightful comments above. You have obviously studied his life extensively.
Shaara’s book was out before Chamberlain became more well known up here, but another book that helped him along was John Pullen’s “The 20th Maine”. Both were before the 80’s, but were rediscovered and later got increased sales.
There are a couple of other excellent books about the 20th Maine too. “Stand Firm ye Boys of Maine”, and “Army Life”. The latter was written by a Corporal after the war and has some excellent insight into life within the regiment.
Chamberlain’s own book “The Passing of the Armies” is a must read about the last few weeks of the war. For those unfamiliar with it, Because of his recovery of his “mortal” wound, and the courage he had previously displayed in battle, Chamberlain, as a Brigadier and Brigade Commander, was picked by Grant to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Chamberlain’s own magnificent telling of that event should bring tears to anyone who has ever served, and makes you understand why he was so respected during the war and afterward.
JL Chamberlain hid his own Easter Eggs. Much of what people think about him comes from his own writings. I do a lot of reading of civil war memoirs, and for the most part, the writers do a huge amount of embellishing.
He was a competent commander and an eloquent writer ( some say he wrote as if he had the heart of a woman).
He was just a small part of the Union success at Gettysburg, There were other regiments beside the 20th Maine that fought just as well, and if it wasn’t for GK Warren, Little Round top would have unoccupied.
“Paps” Greene, on the Union Right Flank, was more instrumental in his defense of Culp’s Hill than JLC was at LRT.
“A Passing of the Armies” and “Killer Angels” both play fast and loose with the facts.
Just an Old Dog: Warren did indeed place the 20th Maine on Little Round Top. He deserves credit for recognizing the critical importance of that terrain.
That said: he wasn’t there during the fighting leading those troops. Chamberlain was.
Under lesser leadership, the Confederate attack on Little Round Top likely turns the Union left flank. (It very nearly succeeded anyway.) That would have in turn almost certainly caused the collapse of at least the leftmost portion of the Union lines. Given past history of the Army of the Potomac, a complete collapse of the lines and withdrawal, under fire and taking heavy losses, is IMO a likely outcome.
Yes, others fought well and deserve much of the credit for Gettysburg’s outcome. However, much like the 3rd Army’s relief of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, in this case one man’s key leadership indeed altered the outcome.
Replace Patton with an average commander, and IMO 3rd Army arrives too late to relieve the 101st and they’re annihilated or captured. Replace Chamberlain with an average commander, and IMO Gettysburg very likely ends on Day 2 as a Confederate victory.
A Professor of Rhetoric. You never know who’s got it in him. That is a good story about him and Gen. Gordon at Appomattox.
“Replace Patton with an average commander, and IMO 3rd Army arrives too late to relieve the 101st and they’re annihilated or captured.” Jeez. I cannot believe you weren’t tarred and feathered for that one, Hondo. The Battling Bastards of Bastogne said they didn’t need rescuing and I believe them. Now, don’t go all logistical on me or give me quotes. The men of the 101st said Patton’s boys were welcome but unnecessary and that’s good enough for me. Now I;m going to close my eyes, cover my ears, and hum.
Hondo,
Chamberlain was there on the extreme left. Two other regiments to his right mounted just as important of a defense. The 140th NY’s commander Col O’Rourke fell while leading his troops, likewise Strong Vincent, the brigade commander.
The men of the 2nd Maine, who were consolidated into the 20th steadied them with their combat experience. and Color Sgt Tozier(2nd Me) was the one who advanced the colors. Major Spear, Lt Melchor and Captain Morrill all had important parts in the defense and counterattack. Chamberlain pretty much went with the flow. He may not have started the counterattack, but he saw that it was working, encouraged it and “rode the wave” so to speak. Lt Melchor and Color Sgt Tozier were the ones leading it. Ellis Spears basically commanded half the regiment with little or no influence from Chamberlain. Captain Morrill’s Company B, with 14 sharpshooters from the 2nd USSS
Chamberlain was an active writer following the war
Sorry, pressed enter,,, was saying Chamberlain’s account though probably written with total honesty, did not reflect the events that he didn’t see, such as Spears and Morrils Actions.
As such Chamberlain became the officer most talked about from little round top.
Old Dog,
Everything you say is true, but as in all things, the officer in charge reaps the glory as well as the criticism.
We have Chamberlain’s account because he was a wonderful speaker and a prolific writer. It isn’t just his books. He wrote numerous articles for the various Maine Regimental associations over the years.
Spear & Morill both wrote accounts, though Morill’s is probably easier to find, most likely through inter-library loan.
The Theater at Bowdoin College is dedicated to Spear, and their is a life-sized relief of his head inside the foyer.
Good Story tellers get their story out. On the Southern side there was Sam Watkin’s book “Company Aytch,,, a side show of the big show”. It was put together like it was the tale of a simple humble country boy and sold very well.
A chapter of it dealt with the horror of the battle of Franklin, and how Watkins had seen General Pat Cleburne laying in state with 15 bullet holes in him.
That would have been a helluva a feat since Watkins was captured before the battle was ever fought.
So, maybe somebody can answer this one for me, because I saw it proposed once and I’ve never been able to find a flaw with it: why could Longstreet’s men have not taken Big Round Top, hauled their artillery up it-by hand if need be (Jackson’s men moved guns up steeper terrain and farther when they took Harper’s Ferry in 1862)-cleared a line of sight with axes and fired an artillery barrage from there? My understanding was that Big Round Top was not held, or at least not held with any sizable force. Any ideas?
Longstreet’s Men were pretty extended by the time they got to LRT, they had made a long march to try to flank Meade, In addition the Ala troops attacking LRT had went for hours without water.
They were attacking uphill, Even if The South had “Won” Gettysburg they still would not have a complete victory. They never would have taken DC which was probablt they best defended city on earth.