Joshua L. Chamberlain

When Joshua Chamberlain (Born 8 September 1828; died 24 February 1914) entered military service in The Army of the Potomac in 1862, he had already been a minister (graduate of Bangor Theological Seminary) and professor of rhetoric and modern languages at Bowdoin College for over ten years. He had also married Frances Caroline Adams and fathered four children, only two of whom lived. He entered service as Lt. Colonel of the 20th Maine Volunteers and over the next three years was in twenty-four battles of the Eastern Theater from Antietam to Appomattox Court House. Best known for the bayonet charge of his regiment at Little Round Top in Gettysburg, his most gallant act was in saluting the defeated Confederate troops at the surrender on 12 April 1865. He mustered out as a brevet Major General and commander of the First Division of the Fifth Corps in The Army of the Potomac. He had been wounded six times and suffered the rest of his life from the shot he had taken on 18 June 1864 at Petersburg. After the war, he was offered a colonelcy in the regular army, but instead ran for governor of Maine, where he was elected by the largest margin in the history of that state. After serving for four consecutive terms, he became the president of his alma mater, Bowdoin College, laboring in that capacity for over twelve years and beginning the liberalization of the college curriculum to include the sciences and military training, and even arguing (not successfully) for the admission of women. A true renaissance man, he taught every subject except chemistry. In 1883, he resigned from the college presidency to begin a life of business. Although he succeeded in most endeavors he tried, business was not one of them. By 1899, almost penniless, he accepted a position as Surveyor of the Port of Portland (Maine), where he remained until his death, from complications of his Petersburg wound, in 1914. He is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, Maine. He directed that his tombstone say simply: “Joshua L. Chamberlain, 1828-1914”.

 

 

Introduction:

 

Faye and Ted Chamberlain are natives of opposite coasts of the United States, Faye from Eastern Pennsylvania and Ted from Western Oregon.  However, only one year into their marriage, in 1967, they fell in love with the Midwest and have made Michigan their home for most of their 47 years of life together.  They received their bachelors degrees in Maryland (while Ted was serving in the military at Walter Reed Army Medical Center), their masters degrees in Michigan and California, and Ted completed his doctoral studies at the Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California.  Both have been university professors and, more recently, business people.  Faye is a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, while Ted is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. He is a founder of the World Chamberlain Genealogical Society.  For over 20 years, Ted has indulged his lifetime love of American history by portraying his cousin, Civil War hero General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (His career has closely followed that of his illustrious cousin: soldier, clergyman, professor, and businessman.).  Faye has recently joined him with her portrayal of the general's wife, Francis (Fannie) Caroline Adams.  When not traveling to Civil War venues they spend their time in Berrien County, Michigan, where Faye serves on the board of the Twin Cities Organ Concert Series and Ted has, for many years, been a member and officer of the board of the Berrien County Historical Association.  They also are officers of the Southwest Michigan Civil War Roundtable which they helped found.  They live in Saint Joseph, Michigan.