Joshua Chamberlain, A True Hero

Joshua Chamberlain, a man of surprises—
and a giveaway

Hello from Susan Page Davis!

Most Americans have heard of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. He was a Civil War general on the Union side, best known for his gallantry at Gettysburg. But Chamberlain had many other skills and virtues.

Did you know that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:

• Was a college professor? He took a sabbatical from his teaching post at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, to serve in the war with no prior military experience.

• Started his teaching career as a professor of rhetoric and was later named a professor of modern languages? He was fluent in nine languages other than English: Greek, Latin, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, and Syriac. He at some point taught every course in the curriculum at the college except science and mathematics.

• Was known as The Lion of the Round Top for his valiant defense

 
during the Battle of Gettysburg? He later received the Medal of Honor for his actions there. Having volunteered in 1862 and begun as a lieutenant, Chamberlain had been promoted to colonel of the 20th Maine regiment by this time.

• Was wounded six times during the war, including a critical wound at Petersburg?

• Was erroneously declared dead in Maine newspapers after the Battle of Petersburg? He was promoted to brigadier general by Ulysses S. Grant, who thought Chamberlain was dying, but he convalesced and went on to lead his men in to the end of the war.

• Served in 20 battles and numerous skirmishes and had six horses shot from under him?

• Was perhaps saved by his wife’s picture, when a bullet hit the frame in his breast pocket? The bullet fired in the skirmish at Quaker Road in 1865 traveled under his skin and along his ribs. His men thought he had been shot in the chest and were amazed when he kept encouraging them to attack. They won the skirmish.

Chamberlain in 1876, when he
 was president of Bowdoin College

• Had the honor of commanding the Union troops at the surrender ceremony for the Confederate army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia? His order to his men to “carry arms” as a show of respect for the surrendering southerners drew criticism from some Union sympathizers.

• Served four terms as governor of Maine after the war? He twice broke the record for highest percentage of votes for governor at that time.



Photo Credit: Brian Hendrix

• Faced down a crowd of men threatening to kill him? In 1880, the former governor was called in to help settle a post-election dispute. A band of armed men had taken over and occupied the Maine State House. Chamberlain was able to talk them into laying down their guns and going home.



• Is thought to be the last Civil War soldier to die of his wounds from that war. In 1914, at the age of 85, Chamberlain finally succumbed to the lingering effects of his wounds. 
 




I could tell you lots more about Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the quiet professor who became one of America’s greatest heroes. We’ll leave it there today. Which of these points surprised you most?
Leave a comment and enter the drawing for one of my Maine books: Maine Brides, Hearts in the Crosshairs, or Mainely Mysteries.


Susan Page Davis is the author of more than fifty published novels. A history major, she’s always interested in the unusual happenings of the past. She’s a two-time winner of the Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award, and also a winner of the Carol Award and the Will Rogers Medallion, and a finalist in the WILLA Awards and the More Than Magic Contest. Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com .

IN MY BACKYARD? A CIVIL WAR POW CAMP?

You have to be kidding! A prisoner of war camp? In Tyler, Texas? In my backyard? Well ... almost.

My husband and I ran a Christian Camp and Conference Center north of Tyler, Texas, for about ten years. Tyler was the town where we went to buy groceries, to shop, to go out to eat, for dance classes. It was the hub of our socializing and shopping. Imagine my shock when in my research for my Civil War novel set in Texas, His Steadfast Love, I discovered that a Civil War POW camp for Union soldiers was on the loop around the city, and I passed it every time I traveled to town for whatever reason. Who knew? I had to go see it for myself.

About 5000 prisoners passed through the prison from 1862-1865. It was the largest POW camp for either side west of the Mississippi. The prisoners themselves had to construct their shelters. Some simply dug holes out of the side of the hill and built a shelter there. With the abundance of natural supplies, many of the men built small little cabins which they called "shebangs." Folk lore claims this is the origin of the word.

Because of the relatively mild winters in the East Texas piney woods, these shelters were sufficient for housing of the men.

A stream ran through the middle of the camp providing fresh water most of the time. The prisoners were fed basically what the guards ate: corn meal, beans, bacon and occasionally beef.

Frequent attempts at escape were made, but because of the long distance to the Union front, few were successful. Dogs were used to track down the escapees which seemed abominable to the soldiers that dogs would be used against white men. Dogs were used regularly to track down slaves.

A garbage cart rumbled through the camp on a regular basis, which proved to be the most successful means of escape. Prisoners would hide under the trash and ride out. Of course, soon that trash run was eventually suspended. Those escapees returned were severely disciplined. In His Steadfast Love the hero, Captain Kent Littlefield, is taken prisoner in the Red River Campaign, and executes his escape by riding out in the garbage cart.

There was no hospital, but a doctor had been taken prisoner and so the Yankees set up their own clinic. Camp Ford had the fewest deaths of any POW camp in the Civil War at 280 out of nearly 5000 men. They boiled their clothing daily to try to keep the lice infestation at bay.

A granite marker was erected after the end of the war to mark the spot.

It might pay you to look around your area. Who knows what historical treasure you might find in your own "back yard!"

Golden Keyes Parsons writes historical fiction, and is also a popular retreat/conference speaker. Her highly acclaimed Darkness to Light Series (Thomas Nelson Publishing) chronicled the journey of her French Huguenot ancestors in 17^th century France. Her fourth novel, His Steadfast Love, is a Civil War novel set in Texas. Her latest release is a compilation of four novellas (WhiteFire Publishing) – a biblical fiction series entitled Hidden Faces, Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels. Golden lives in Waco, TX, with her husband, Blaine, where they enjoy their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and are avid sports fan of their alma mater, Baylor University. You can contact her at www.goldenkeyesparsons.com.