Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Research Paper
United States History
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: A Knightly Colonel
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a man of immense fortitude and honor due to his morally-driven hunger for success and his regard for respect even in the most turbulent of times.
Shea McEnerney
15 March 2013
McEnerney 1
Shea McEnerney
Dr. Jerry Goben
U.S. History
15 March 2013
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: A Knightly Colonel
Born September 8th, 1828, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was raised in a traditional family from Maine, rooted in Puritan beliefs. Chamberlain was taught at a very young age to offer others nothing but the utmost of respect. Sarah Chamberlain, Joshua’s mother, lead a strict household of mannerly children …show more content…
It was easy to tell early on that Chamberlain was different; different in the sense that he strived for something more than himself. He was a driven young man with a keen interest in adventure. When it came time for Joshua to leave home, he was faced with the decision of entering the church or going to WestPoint then on to the military. Joshua was intrigued by the idea of entering the service; however, the idea of being in the military during peacetime did not particularly appeal to him. So Chamberlain decided to enter the missionary, under the condition that he could travel to foreign lands. After being set on entering the church for several years, in 1848, Joshua decided to attend college at Bowdoin College at Brunswick. While in school, Joshua grew to be an introvert. He was, at first, a quieter young man, but grew to be a …show more content…
The start to Joshua’s military career served to be a bitter one. The devastating loss at Fredrickburg along with the winter’s biting cold provided a miserable welcoming into the American Civil War for Chamberlain and the 20th. In an article published by Cosmopolitan Magazine in 1912, Chamberlain recalled his miserable, “bivouac with the dead,” one night in the hills of Mary’s Heights at Fredricksburg. After driving full-force through the bone-chilling winter months of 1862-1863, Chamberlain’s undying leadership became immensely prevalent leading to his promotion to Colonel in June of 1863. On July 2nd, 1863, Chamberlain and the 20th regiment were called into action at the Battle of Gettysburg. Joining Joshua was Colonel Strong Vincent and his 3rd Regiment. The two groups of Union soldiers were to hold the Union line at Little Round Top and not to retreat for any reason. In a desperate effort to take the Union position, Confederate General John Bell Hood ordered his brigade to advance up the rocky hill. In the advancement, many Union troops were killed, including Colonel Strong Vincent. Following Vincent’s direct orders to hold the Union line, Chamberlain had no choice but to maintain a strong defense at the peak of Little Round Top. Moreover, Union ammunition and sheer energy was almost nonexistent. Joshua made a quick and confident decision to
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: A Knightly Colonel
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a man of immense fortitude and honor due to his morally-driven hunger for success and his regard for respect even in the most turbulent of times.
Shea McEnerney
15 March 2013
McEnerney 1
Shea McEnerney
Dr. Jerry Goben
U.S. History
15 March 2013
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain: A Knightly Colonel
Born September 8th, 1828, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was raised in a traditional family from Maine, rooted in Puritan beliefs. Chamberlain was taught at a very young age to offer others nothing but the utmost of respect. Sarah Chamberlain, Joshua’s mother, lead a strict household of mannerly children …show more content…
It was easy to tell early on that Chamberlain was different; different in the sense that he strived for something more than himself. He was a driven young man with a keen interest in adventure. When it came time for Joshua to leave home, he was faced with the decision of entering the church or going to WestPoint then on to the military. Joshua was intrigued by the idea of entering the service; however, the idea of being in the military during peacetime did not particularly appeal to him. So Chamberlain decided to enter the missionary, under the condition that he could travel to foreign lands. After being set on entering the church for several years, in 1848, Joshua decided to attend college at Bowdoin College at Brunswick. While in school, Joshua grew to be an introvert. He was, at first, a quieter young man, but grew to be a …show more content…
The start to Joshua’s military career served to be a bitter one. The devastating loss at Fredrickburg along with the winter’s biting cold provided a miserable welcoming into the American Civil War for Chamberlain and the 20th. In an article published by Cosmopolitan Magazine in 1912, Chamberlain recalled his miserable, “bivouac with the dead,” one night in the hills of Mary’s Heights at Fredricksburg. After driving full-force through the bone-chilling winter months of 1862-1863, Chamberlain’s undying leadership became immensely prevalent leading to his promotion to Colonel in June of 1863. On July 2nd, 1863, Chamberlain and the 20th regiment were called into action at the Battle of Gettysburg. Joining Joshua was Colonel Strong Vincent and his 3rd Regiment. The two groups of Union soldiers were to hold the Union line at Little Round Top and not to retreat for any reason. In a desperate effort to take the Union position, Confederate General John Bell Hood ordered his brigade to advance up the rocky hill. In the advancement, many Union troops were killed, including Colonel Strong Vincent. Following Vincent’s direct orders to hold the Union line, Chamberlain had no choice but to maintain a strong defense at the peak of Little Round Top. Moreover, Union ammunition and sheer energy was almost nonexistent. Joshua made a quick and confident decision to