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Joshua Chamberlain: A Civil War Hero and Symbol of American Courage

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Published in In The Hands Of Providence: Joshua L Chamberlain And The American Civil War (Civil War America)

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In the Hands of Providence: Joshua L. Chamberlain and the American Civil War (Civil War America)

by Alice Rains Trulock

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6188 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	591 pages

Joshua Chamberlain was born in Brewer, Maine, on September 8, 1828. He was the son of a shipbuilder and a devout Christian. Chamberlain was a bright and ambitious child, and he graduated from Bown College in 1852. After graduation, he taught rhetoric at Bown and served as a tutor at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Chamberlain volunteered to serve in the Union Army. He was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment. Chamberlain's regiment was sent to Virginia, where it fought in several battles, including the Battle of Antietam. At Antietam, Chamberlain was wounded in the shoulder, but he refused to leave the field of battle.

In the spring of 1863, Chamberlain's regiment was transferred to the Army of the Potomac. The Army of the Potomac was commanded by General George Meade, and it was tasked with defending Washington, D.C. from Confederate invasion.

In July 1863, the Army of the Potomac met the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most important battles of the Civil War, and it was fought over three days, from July 1-3, 1863.

On the second day of the battle, Chamberlain's regiment was ordered to defend Little Round Top, a hill that was key to the Union defense. Chamberlain's regiment was outnumbered by the Confederates, but they held their ground. At one point, Chamberlain was shot in the hip, but he refused to leave the field of battle.

Chamberlain's regiment eventually repelled the Confederate attack, and the Union Army won the Battle of Gettysburg. Chamberlain's heroism at Gettysburg made him a national hero, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

After the war, Chamberlain returned to Maine, where he served as governor from 1867 to 1871. He also wrote several books about the Civil War, including "The Passing of the Armies" and "Birches and Granite."

Joshua Chamberlain died in Portland, Maine, on February 24, 1914. He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Brunswick, Maine.

Joshua Chamberlain was a true American hero. He was a brave and dedicated soldier who fought for what he believed in. Chamberlain's story is an inspiration to us all, and it reminds us of the importance of courage, perseverance, and American values.

In the Hands of Providence: Joshua L. Chamberlain and the American Civil War (Civil War America)

by Alice Rains Trulock

4.7 out of 5