Joshua Chamberlain was born in 1828 in Brewer, Maine. He is the oldest of his four siblings. Colonel Thomas D. Chamberlain (USA). Joshua Chamberlain was born on September 8, 1828, in Brewer, Maine. As a young man, Chamberlain worked in a brickyard and in the timber industry before taking a teaching job in 1846. In 1855, after attending Bangor Theological Seminary, Chamberlain and his new wife, Fannie, returned to Bowdoin to begin a career as a professor of languages and rhetoric. Prolific and prosaic throughout his life, Chamberlain spent his twilight years writing and speaking about the war. He also served as an ex-officio trustee of nearby Bates College from 1867 to 1871. Better known to lead by examples, writing about actors, actress, politician, reporters and many more is what he adores. But after completing his training there, he took a teaching job at Bowdoin rather than work as a minister. This is Kloss' second child; she and husband Joshua Kushner welcomed their first . Coming from a family of former military personnel including his family, Joshua Chamberlain would fight in the American civil war. Chamberlain found himself and the 20th Maine at the far left end of the entire Union line. After the war was over, Joshua received the Confederate surrender of arms at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, African Americans During the Revolutionary War, Help Save 820 Acres at Five Virginia Battlefields, Save 343 Acres at FIVE Battlefields in FOUR Western Theater States, Save 42 Historic Acres at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Phase Three of Gaines Mill-Cold Harbor Saved Forever Campaign, An Unparalleled Preservation Opportunity at Gettysburg Battlefield. His death was attributed. The two most likely met soon after Chamberlain arrived at Bowdoin in . He traveled to the West Coast to work on railroad building and public improvements. Best Known For: Joshua Chamberlain fought heroically at the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War, served four terms as governor of Maine and was appointed president of Bowdoin College. The only trouble with Chamberlain's stirring, heroic story, Desjardins said, is that much of it is just not true. He was riding with downcast eyes and more than pensive look; but at this clatter of arms he raises his eyes and instantly catching the significance, wheels his horse with that superb grace of which he is master, drops the point of his sword to his stirrup, gives a command, at which the great Confederate ensign following him is dipped and his decimated brigades, as they reach our right, respond to the 'carry.' Schmidt, Jim. [32], In the song "Ballad of the 20th Maine" by The Ghost of Paul Revere (Maine's official state ballad):[33], So we joined the lion of Bowdoin, Chamberlain his name In the fall of 1855, Chamberlain returned to Bowdoin, and began a career in education, first as an instructor in logic and natural theology, then as professor of rhetoric and oratory. After the war, he entered politics as a Republican and served four one-year terms of office as the 32nd Governor of Maine from 1867 to 1871. The original 1893 medal is on display at the Chamberlain Museum.[24][25]. In April 1865, he fought at the Battle of Five Forks and was given the honor of commanding the Union troops at the surrender ceremony for the infantry of Robert E. Lee's Army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Chamberlain was accepted to Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine) in 1848 and graduated in 1852. He served on the faculty of, and as president of, his alma mater, Bowdoin College. Compare DNA and explore genealogy for Joshua Chamberlain born 1770 Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire died 1857 Brewer, Penobscot Co., Maine including ancestors + descendants + DNA connections + more in the free family tree community. Name: Joshua Chamberlain, Birth Year: 1828, Birth date: September 8, 1828, Birth State: Maine, Birth City: Brewer, Birth Country: United States. Chamberlain was teaching at Bowdoin during the years leading up to the Civil War. Joshua Chamberlain was twenty-seven years old when he married Francis Caroline Adams. In early 1865, Chamberlain regained command of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of V Corps, and he continued to act with courage and resolve. Joshua Chamberlain married Anna Gould in Danvers, Massachusetts, on 11 Nov 1792. However, the kid suffered from scarlet fever and could not make it. Chamberlain's brigade, commanded by Col. Strong Vincent, was sent to defend Little Round Top by the army's Chief of Engineers, Brig. [1] Beside him as he died was Dr. Abner O. Shaw of Portland, one of the two surgeons who had operated on him in Petersburg 50 years previously. Chamberlain's fame grew out of the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The word was enough." [3] During the second day's fighting at Gettysburg on July 2, Chamberlain's regiment occupied the extreme left of the Union lines at Little Round Top. At present, this problem is easily solved by professionals. 25960, attributes the Grant story to Chamberlain's memory in the "dim, distant light of old age." Three years later, Chamberlain went back to the college to teach languages and rhetoric (persuasive speaking and writing). Chamberlain also accepted the Confederacy's surrender of arms at Appomattox at the war's end. B. On July 2, the second day of fighting there, he and his troops came face to face with Confederate soldiers at Little Round Top, and after harsh fighting, Chamberlain led a bayonet charge and successfully secured their part of the hill for the Union. Chamberlain died Feb. 24, 1914. General Joshua Chamberlain (USA), Maine (Cumberland County), Brunswick - Home of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain - 1828 - 1914, Major General of United States Volunteers, Recipient of Congressional Medal of Honor for gallant conduct at Battle of Gettysburg, President of Bowdoin College 1871 - 1888, Marked by State of Maine Society Daughters of the American Revolution 1934. Tom Eishen's historical novel Courage on Little Round Top is a detailed look at Chamberlain as well as Robert Wicker, the young Confederate officer who fired his pistol at Chamberlain's head during the 20th Maine's historic charge down Little Round Top. He bulleted, shattered several parts of his pelvis and ripped vessels, muscles, and went through his bladder and settled below the skin on his left hip. Researching Joshua L. Chamberlain. As the Confederate soldiers marched down the road to surrender their arms and colors, Chamberlain, on his own initiative, ordered his men to come to attention and "carry arms" as a show of respect. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, aka Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain, was born in Brewer, Maine. Although having no earlier education in military strategies, he became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general). [23], Chamberlain's home, located across Maine Street from the Bowdoin College campus, is now the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum and is owned by the Pejepscot Historical Society, which maintains an extensive research collection on Chamberlain. Everett Pope, who attended the school in the 1930s and earned the medal during World War II. We also offer tours on Thursdays at 10:00am and 11:30am. Time and time again the Confederates struck, until the 20th Maine was almost doubled back upon itself. These critics would also charge Chamberlain with implying that he had received arms and flags throughout morning and afternoon instead of during only a portion of the day as evidence suggested. People . Chamberlain also began writing about his Civil War experiences, including the posthumously published memoir of Appomattox The Passing of the Armies. The wound was considered mortal by the division's surgeon, who predicted he would perish; Chamberlain's incorrectly recorded death in battle was reported in the Maine newspapers, and Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant gave Chamberlain a battlefield promotion to brigadier general after receiving an urgent recommendation on June 19 from corps commander Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren: "He has been recommended for promotion for gallant and efficient conduct on previous occasion and yesterday led his brigade against the enemy under most destructive fire. During his early time, Joshua used to work in a brickyard and the timber industry. Life prior to the War: Chamberlain was born on September 8, 1828, in Brewer, Maine, the oldest of five children. He fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (his actions there won him a Medal of Honor), Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. ; Wellman, Arthur Holbrook, 1855-Publication date 1918 Topics Wellman family Publisher Boston, Mass., A. H. Wellman Collection americana Chamberlain's father Joshua served as a lieutenant-colonel in the Aroostook War. Chamberlain was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1862, and fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg. His parents were Joshua Chamberlain and Sarah Dupree. On the Showtime TV series Homeland, the character Nicholas Brody tells his family the story of Chamberlain, encouraging them to emulate him. [citation needed], The 20th Maine fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg, suffering relatively small numbers of casualties in the assaults on Marye's Heights, but were forced to spend a miserable night on the freezing battlefield among the many wounded from other regiments. Joshua was born in 1770 . He is best known for his gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Memorabilia on display include the mini ball that almost ended his life at Petersburg, his original Medal of Honor,[24] and Don Troiani's original painting of the charge at Little Round Top. Chamberlains family was involved in military work as his great grandfather Ebenezer was a New Hamshire soldier who fought in American Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War. Reservations are not required but tours are limited to 12 people per slot. [citation needed]. Hood's division first, then McLaws, brigades of Anderson's division of the Third Corps under Generals Wilcox, Perry, Wright and Posey. General Joshua Chamberlain (USA), Death of Brig. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Guard Bureau/H. Josh received his Bachelor's degree in 2018 in Biochemistry from Brigham Young University, after which, he attended the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. On July 2, 1863 the second day of the three-day campaign the colonel's regiment had been ordered to occupy critical land between two hills, Big and Little Round Top. Chamberlain kept a Bible and framed picture of his wife in his left front "chest" pocket. Chamberlain sustained two slight wounds in the battle, one when a shot hit his sword scabbard and bruised his thigh, and another when his foot was hit by a spent bullet or piece of shrapnel. He died in 1914 at age 85 due to complications from the wound that he received at Petersburg. Their mission was to hold the far left flank of the Union line at all costs. Their son Harold Wylls was born on 10 October 1858. Who Are the Rival Generals in the Sudan Conflict? In early 1865, Chamberlain was given command of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division of V Corps, and he continued to act with courage and resolve. Our FREE Virtual Teacher Institute is the can't miss online educator event of the summer. Joshua Chamberlain was married to Fanny Chamberlain. Reuben was born in 1780, in New Hampshire. 1777-1860 & Amelia Wyllys 1786-) with He spent his last decades writing and speaking about the Civil War. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (September 8, 1828 February 24, 1914, born Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain) was an American college professor from the State of Maine, who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army. One of Chamberlain's younger brothers, Thomas Chamberlain, was also an officer of the 20th Maine, and another, John Chamberlain, visited the regiment at Gettysburg as a member of the U.S. Christian Commission until appointed as a chaplain in another Maine Volunteer regiment. Joshua Chamberlain Facts Born September 8, 1828 Brewer, Maine Died February 24, 1914 Portland, Maine Years Of Service 1862-66 Rank Brevet Major General Brigadier General Commands 20th Maine Infantry 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps 1st Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps 1st Division, V Corps Battles Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Gettysburg The fighting was desperate. For Colonel Joshua Chamberlainwe're all goin' down to Dixieland, The book The Lost Regiment and the subsequent series by author William R. Forstchen chronicle the adventures of the "35th Maine", a Union regiment from Maine having been transported to an alien planet. Please try again. [sibling (s) unknown] Husband of Sarah Dupee Brastow married 4 Nov 1827 in Brewer,Penobscot,Maine. Army Brevet Maj. Gen. Joshua Chamberlain, Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, circa March 1865. [5], On 7 December 1855, Chamberlain married Fanny Adams, cousin and adopted daughter of a local clergyman. Sensing the momentary vulnerability of the Union forces, the Confederates began an attack against the Union left flank. Chamberlain then taught himself Greek so he could be admitted to Bowdoin College in 1848. Joshua Chamberlain Age, Death, War Hero, Wife, Descendant, Medals, Some Quick Facts About Joshua Chamberlain, When Was Joshua Chamberlain Born? Born Joshua Lawrence CHAMBERLAIN American college professor from the State of Maine, who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army Born on September 08, 1828 in Brewer, Maine, USA , United States Died on February 24, 1914 in Portland, Maine, USA Born on September 08 48 Deceased on February 24 42 Family tree Report an error [5], Chamberlain was the first of five children. Joshua Chamberlain was by that time a colonel and in command of the regiment. A special edition of his Paris report on "Education in Europe" was published by the United States government (Washington, 1879). Joshua was the last Civil War veteran to die because of the wounds from the war. He is best known for the courage he showed as colonel of the 20th Maine regiment that fought heroically in the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. The second Medal of Honor given to Chamberlain is on display at the college. His portrayal in these books and films significantly enhanced Chamberlain's reputation in the general public, making him into a more popular and well known figure.[26][27]. Located at PHC headquarters at 159 Park Row, Brunswick, Maine, PHC's Research Center manages archival, image, object, and reference materials relating to Joshua L. Chamberlain. Steve Earle's song "Dixieland" from his album The Mountain refers to Chamberlain and the Battle of Gettysburg: I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine and I fight for Chamberlain Chamberlain's father admired the military and named his son after Captain James Lawrence, who was a naval officer in the War of 1812. The men from Maine waited until troops from the 15th Alabama Infantry regiment, under Col. William C. Oates, charged up the hill, attempting to flank the Union position. He was originally offered the presidency of the new state university in Orono, but declined, hoping for the same position at his alma mater. His body remains at Pine Grove Cemetry in Brunswick Mane. Stop the Largest Rezoning in Orange County History. Brigadier General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Civil War hero, Governor of Maine, and President of Bowdoin college, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry at Gettysburg: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain actually saved the day if not the battle. While at Bowdoin he met many people who would influence his life, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, the wife of a Bowdoin professor. In November, she had labored with three months premature son. Military history was ingrained into his family, with his great grandfather serving in both the American Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War. Due to their charge at the right moment, the Unions line was saved, and they added a victory in the Unions favor. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. "[7] Many faculty at Bowdoin did not feel his enthusiasm for various reasons and Chamberlain was subsequently granted a leave of absence (supposedly to study languages for two years in Europe). Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, soldier, educator, and politician, was born on September 8, 1828, in Brewer, Maine, the first child of Sarah Dupee (Brastow) Chamberlain and Joshua Chamberlain, Jr. His brothers Horace, John and Thomas were born in 1834, 1838, and 1841, and his sister Sarah in 1836. They were very low on ammunition, and the regiment was unable to withstand the seventh barrage. In 1952 Joshua received his graduation and went to Bangor Theological Seminary. Joshua had four kids among them; only two of them survived. Later he was promoted to the brigadier general and worked as a Governor of Maine and President of Bowdoin College. [citation needed], The 20th missed the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863 due to an outbreak of smallpox in their ranks (which was caused by an errant smallpox vaccine), keeping them on guard duty in the rear. Surprisingly he was taken to the Naval Academy Hospital in Annapolis, where he spent decades fighting the death. This musical not only celebrates a great Civil War hero, but also examines a universal theme: How a person's sense of duty and destiny affect his personal life."[29]. Despite losses, another wound (in the left arm and chest that almost caused amputation), and nearly being captured, Chamberlain was successful and brevetted to the rank of major general by President Abraham Lincoln. Chamberlain's family had served in wars dating back to the American Revolution, so he had a great appreciation for the military. Later his father served in the Aroostook War as a lieutenant colonel. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain only had two surviving children out of five and of the two, only Grace married and had her own family. Dr. Chamberlain enjoys spending time outdoors playing a variety of sports and cycling. With bayonets drawn, the soldiers charged down Little Round Top, startling enemy forces so much that they were able to force the enemy back and capture hundreds. "Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain never rose above command of a division, so he. Emma Chamberlain chats with ET's Rachel Smith at the 2023 Met Gala, themed Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, benefiting the MET's Costume Institute. Students eventually rebelled, and the colleges Board of Governors abandoned the drills. Over the objections of the College, Chamberlain offered his services to the governor of Maine who appointed him Lieutenant Colonel of the newly raised 20th Maine regiment. Brig. Although he was born in America, Chamberlain's lineage dated back to twelfth-century England. College administrators didn't want to allow him to leave his studies, so he asked for and was granted a leave of absence to study abroad. [28] According to its bookwriter, the musical is "an exploration of the perennial conflict between public duty and private devotion. Address: Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum, 226 Maine St, Brunswick, ME 04011, USA Instead, he joined the Army. With many casualties and ammunition running low, Col. Chamberlain recognized the dire circumstances and ordered his left wing (which was now looking southeast, compared to the rest of the regiment, which was facing west) to initiate a bayonet charge. Due to several trials and errors run by Civil War surgeons like Dr. Bernard Vanderkeift to Joshua Chamberlain, catheter treatment was advanced in the medical history. Surgeons were convinced that he would not make it. On August 8, 1862, Chamberlain was appointed lieutenant colonel, second-in-command of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Not expected to live, Chamberlain displayed surprising will and courage, and with the support of his brother Tom, was back in command by November. The 20th was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Corps in the Union Army of the Potomac. For his gallantry at Gettysburg, he received the Medal of Honor. His family was of English ancestry and was active in the twelfth century of England during the rule of King Stephen. This 32nd Governor of Maine was born on September 8, 1828. The internet personality opens up about . As in many other Civil War actions, controversy arose when one of his subordinate officers stated that Chamberlain never actually ordered a charge at Gettysburg. In 1893, Chamberlain received the Medal of Honor which had been created during the Civil Warfor his tenacity and heroism at Gettysburg. Previously a rebel shot bounced back and slammed his right hip. General Joshua Chamberlain. Marvel, pp. In April 1864, Chamberlain returned to the Army of the Potomac and was promoted to brigade commander shortly before the Siege of Petersburg and given command of the 1st Brigade, First Division, V Corps. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the famous Union General in the Civil War, is my 4th cousin 4 times removed. The star already shares son Levi with her husband Joshua Kushner, who she . On March 29, 1865, his brigade participated in a major skirmish on the Quaker Road during Grant's final advance that would finish the war. I've recently discovered that my 8th great-grandmother was Rebecca Towne Nurse, famous for the Salem . Longacre, pp. The book Percy Jackson and the Sea Of Monsters by author Rick Riordan hints at Chamberlain being a demigod, stating that he single-handedly changed the course of the Civil War. His actions July 2, 1863, were pivotal to the Union winning that crucial battle, and, years later, they earned him the Medal of Honor. There, in a major action on June 18, at Rives' Salient, Chamberlain was shot through the right hip and groin. Luckily in October 1856, they were blessed with their first daughter named Grace Dupee or Daisy. He earned a battlefield promotion and was gravely wounded six times during the Civil War. Chamberlain was born on Sept. 8, 1828, near Bangor, Maine. All the while on our part not a sound of trumpet or drum, not a cheer, nor a word nor motion of man, but awful stillness as if it were the passing of the dead.[13]. During his tenure, he encouraged the state to ratify the 14th Amendment (which made all freedmen and women citizens of the United States). Having gratified neither side in the dispute, he did not become a senator, and his career in state politics ended. [6][5], At the beginning of the American Civil War, Chamberlain believed the Union needed to be supported against the Confederacy by all those willing. She was married on April 24, 1881, to Horace Allen, the son of her parents' friends. This version of the battle was popularized by the book The Killer Angels and the movie Gettysburg. Shortly after Gettysburg, Chamberlain was given command of a brigade in the Fifth Corps and would retain it until the end of the war. The elder Chamberlain, an admirer of all things military, named his son after sea Captain James Lawrence, famous for his quote "don't give up the ship." His namesake, however, had more peaceful ambitions. He is best known for the courage he showed as colonel of the 20th Maine regiment that fought heroically in the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.. Chamberlain emerged as a key character in Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prizewinning historical novel about Gettysburg, The Killer Angels (1974), and in a prequel novel by his son, Jeff Shaara, Gods and Generals (1996). Three years his senior, 'Fanny' was the foster daughter of the pastor of First Parish Church in Brunswick, Maine, where all students of Bowdoin College were required to attend service. Chamberlain was a Republican, but was not a party insider. By autumn 1862, Chamberlain was appointed lieutenant colonel of the newly created 20th MaineInfantry. [citation needed]. That came in 1871, he was appointed president of Bowdoin and remained in that position until 1883, when he was forced to resign because of ill health from his war wounds. in Portland, Maine, USA, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Joshua CHAMBERLAIN (1828), Copyright Wikipdia authors - This article is under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. On March 29, 1865, his brigade participated in a major skirmish on the Quaker Road during Grant's final advance that would finish the war. Unlike in real life, Chamberlain is overwhelmed, wounded, and forced to surrender, but he survives and returns in the third book of the series, Never Call Retreat (2005). Colonel Thomas D. Chamberlai. Once, he was elected four times to become the states governor. ", Chamberlain's salute to the Confederate soldiers was unpopular with many in the North, but he defended his action in his memoirs, The Passing of the Armies. [30][31] That work is based on the premise of: "what if Chamberlain was on the Confederate side at Gettysburg?" His family was of English ancestry and was active in the twelfth century of England during the rule of King Stephen. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! From his report of the day: "At that crisis, I ordered the bayonet. From his report of the day: "At that crisis, I ordered the bayonet. Chamberlain's heroic defense of the hill earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor and the regiment everlasting fame. He married his wife, Fannie, around the same time. Arguing that Gordon never mentioned the anecdote until after he read Chamberlain's account more than 40 years later,[14] at least one writer has questioned the historicity of Chamberlain and Gordon's account (e.g., S.C. Gwynne, Hymns of the Republic: The Story of the Final Year of the American Civil War (p.298)), but eminent historians such as James McPherson believe that the events in question occurred as Chamberlain described (e.g., ' 'James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom' ' (p.850)). [4] Chamberlain's great-grandfather Ebenezer, was a New Hampshire soldier in the French and Indian War, and the American Revolutionary War. Less well known is the fact that, after the war, he served four terms as governor of his home state and also as president of his alma mater, Bowdoin College. Surprisingly he managed to stay on his feet but later bled tremendously and fell on the ground. As the eldest of five children, he grew up helping his father work on their family farm. In January 1880, there was a dispute about who was the newly elected governor of Maine, and the Maine State House was occupied by a band of armed men. Wrong username or password. Born in 1828 to a pious and conservative family, Joshua Chamberlain grew up as a timid and quiet boy. He quickly understood the strategic significance of the small hill, and the need for the 20th Maine to hold the Union left at all costs. He was awarded two medals one in 1893 and a second in 1904after Congress authorized a new design that all recipients were to receive. Chamberlain was born Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain in Brewer, Maine, the son of Sarah Dupree (ne Brastow) and Joshua Chamberlain. Although Fanny was having another child, she nursed Joshua for three months in Annapolis, Maryland. Choose which Defense.gov products you want delivered to your inbox. Charles McBarron, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. He was distressed about the secession of Southern states and the outbreak of war in 1861, and over the objections of his wife and his colleagues at Bowdoin, he eventually contacted Maines governor, Israel Washburn Jr. I have always been interested in military matters, he wrote, and what I do not know in that line I am willing to learn.. He became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general). In 1861 he was appointed professor of modern languages, which he held until 1865. Joshua D Chamberlain was born on August 13, 1982, and died at age 20 years old on September 26, 2002. Chamberlain sent home the armed men, and arranged for the Augusta police to keep control. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. All the while on our part not a sound of trumpet or drum, not a cheer, nor a word nor motion of man, but awful stillness as if it were the passing of the dead. For his "daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top", Chamberlain was awarded the Medal of Honor. A second and fourth child died early. In this article, we will talk briefly about this man. Gen. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a Bowdoin College professor who became one of the great heroes of the Civil War, died on this day in history, Feb. 24, 1914. On July 2, 1863, Chamberlain was posted on the extreme left of the Federal line at Little Round Topjust in time to face Confederate General John B. Hoods attack on the Union flank. He became commander of the regiment in June 1863 when losses at the Battle of Chancellorsville elevated the original commander, Colonel Adelbert Ames, to brigade command. Other than this, they had two daughters; Emily Stelle was born in 1860, while Gertrude Lorraine was born in 1865.