The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-07-06
GEN. ]. {. CHAMBERLAIN

At the close Of this course, though intending
to enter the ministry, he was induced to ac-
cept the Profcssorship Of rhetoric in Bowdoin
College; und afterwards that of modern Ian
guages. A military biography, prepared for
the Adjutant Generals Report, has been CIV
en- to the public, and from that we gather the
following interesting facts:
Alter several attempts to procure his re-
lease from duty as Professor of Modern Lam
euages, he availed himself of leave of
absence granted him OH the first Of August,
1862, "for the purpose Of visiting Europe"
to offer his services to Gov. Washbun for
any military duty to which His Exccllency
might assign him, and received from him the
appointment of Lieutenant Colonel OF the
2Oth regiment of volunteers, under the CON-
mand of Colonel Ames, then about to be Or
ganizcd. This position he accepted against
the most strenuous remonstrances and oppos.
ition Of his college colleagues, and leaving for
the seat Of war he entered upon the severe
duties of the Maryland campaign, his regi.
ment composing part of the 5th corps, Army
of the Potomac. Al the battle OF t'redcricks-
burg, Dec. Is. he was under fire for the first
time, participating in the whole action, dur
ing which he received slight wound in the
right cheek.
At Gettysburg, Col. A,nes was detached for
Staff duty, tho regiment being laid up In con
sequence Of exposure to the small pox. Col.
Chamberlain asked leave to use his men, say
ing he could give the enemy the small pox if
no more. This appeal seemed to have the
desired effect, and he was placed in charge
of the telegraph lines.
At Gettysburg he was assigned to a post Of
great importance and peril-the extreme left
of our general line-and withstood an attack
i'm front, flank and rear for moro than two
hours from Laws brigade Of Hoods division
his ammun,ionat at length entirely exhausted,
and for the last half hour using that of the
rebel dead and wounded whom he had re-
pulsed in the third assault Holding the pos
ition with the loss of nearly half his men, n
fresh line of the enemy coming upon us with
heavy force, Col. Chamberlain was obliged to
rush forward and meet them half way with
bayonet charge which completely routed
them, driving them ncross the slope at Roun,l
Top, killing and wounding $50, and capturing
in prisoners twice the number of men he had.
At dark he was ordered to advance and carry
the heights OF Round Top, where the fing-
ments OF Hoods division had gathered after
his repulse of them which he did with the
buyonet alone. This assault Col. Chamber.
lain led OH foot, and by the heroic remnant Of
his gallant regiment that decisive point OF the
field was carried with The capture Of many
more prisoners. Soon after this Inc was as
signed to the command of the Sd Brigade lst
Division 5th Army Corps, which had an i'm
portant part in the Cupepper and CentreVille
campaign, and in which he had horse shot
under him by rifle ball. In November, 1868,
sickness compelled him to leave the field, and
he was assigned to important court martial
duty ut Washington. When the army crossed
the Rapidan, after much difficulty he got re-
lieved and joined his regiment at Spottsylvan.
10 Court House. He was in all the fights OF
the campaign from that time forth, besides
several independent affairs, in which he
fought the enemy's rear guard of cavalry or
horse artillery and drove them from their
positions. In June, 1864, Col. Chamberlain
was assigned to the command of brigade.
with which he continued the campaign until
the army crossed the Jarnes and moved OH
Petersburg, he then having the advance.
During tho attack, while IN the act of lead.
ing second column against weak point in
the rebel line, and at the moment OF giving
command, Col. Chamberlain was shot through
the body from hip to hip, the ball passing
through, scvering arteries and fracturing bones.
Balancing himself with the point of his sabre,
he did not fall until his men had passed him
in their charge when the great loss OF blood
brought him to the ground. Supposing the
wound to bc MORTAL he did not think 1t worth
while to take anybody from his duties to bear
him from the field, until the day was fairly
lost, and lc could only fall into the cnelny's
hands by remaining. For the services OF the
day, Gen. Grant, without waiting longer for
the authorities to act upon previous recon-
mendatious, promoted Col. Chamberlain, by
an order OF the field, to the rank of Brigadier
General, the solitary instance IN the history OF
our army.
For two months Gen. Chamberlain lay ut
the point Of death, and ut the end of five
months, and before he could mount horse or
walk hundred yar,ls, he resumed command
of his brigade. Their position ut that time
was on the extreme left of our front line be-
lore Petersburg, and the duties were unre-
mitting and responsible.
lie then took an active part in the opera
tons against the Weldon railroad, when in
consequence Of extreme exposure his wounds
became SO bad thar he was sent North for
surgical treatment. Contrary to his physi-
clans advice, he returned to his command af-
ter the absence of month-his post being
the extreme advance on Hatcher's Run, and
in immediate contact with the enemy. With
his single brigade and battery of regular
artillery, he encountered the enemy on the
Quaker Road, their force consisting of cav
airy and infantry of Johnson and Anderson s
commands and in number, as was afterward
ascertained, five times his own. After long
and severe battle, in which at different times
no had both his flanks turned, and his centre
broken, aud lost 400 men and 10 officers
every one of his mounted officers, including
his personal staff, being either killed or
wounded, his own horse shot under him ana
himself twice painfully wounded in the breast
and arin-the enemy was driven from ms
position, aud enabled the army to occupy the
coveted Boydton Road. For this action Of
this day Gen. Chamberlain received from
President Lincoln the brevet Of Major Gen.
While lying on heap Of straw, suffering
much from accumulation Of wounds, he was
suddenly summoned on the second day after
to take command Of our extreme left OH the
Boydton Road, with one brigade and two bat
terics Of artillery, in resistance to al attack
which wus then commencing. Two divisions
Of his corps on his right were soon. thrown
hack in great confusion from an advanced
position they were endeavoring to maintain
against vigorous assault Of the enemy, and
while Gen. Chamberlain was rallying these
troops and reforming them in rear Of his own,
he was nsked by the commanding Geneml to
throw forward his command in this extremity
and attempt to stem tho torrent then sweeping
us away, and, if possible, regain the field lost
by the other two divisions. Gen. Chamber.
lain assenled, and while the engineers were
trying to bridge the stream in our front, his
men dashed through il in the very face Of the
r.. a. si,o