Joshua Chamberlain
Joshua Chamberlain
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was an American college professor and politician from Maine who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army. He became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general. He is best known for his gallantry at the Battle of Gettysburg, leading a bayonet charge, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
"I havent known that many freedmen. But those I knew in Bangor, Portland, — you look in the eye — there was a man. There was a "divine spark", as my mother used to call it. That is all there is to it. Races are men. "What a piece of work is man. How infinite in faculties and form, and movement. How express and admirable. In action how like an angel"."
"You in my soul I see, faithful watcher by my cot-side long days and nights together through the delirium of mortal anguish, steadfast, calm, and sweet as eternal love. We pass now quickly from each others sight; but I know full well that where beyond these passing scenes you shall be, there will be heaven!"
"This is a different kind of army. If you look at history youll see men fight for pay, or women, or some other kind of loot. They fight for land, or because a king makes them, or just because they like killing. But were here for something new. This has not happened much, in the history of the world: We are an army out to set other men free. America should be free ground. All of it. Not divided by a line between slave state and free, all the way from here to the Pacific Ocean. No man has to bow. No man born to royalty. Here, we judge you by what you do, not by who your father was. Here, you can be something. Here, is the place to build a home. But its not the land. Theres always more land. Its the idea that we all have value — you and me. What were fighting for, in the end, were fighting for each other."
"My darling wife I am lying mortally wounded the doctors think, but my mind & heart are at peace Christ is my all-sufficient savior. I go to him. God bless & keep & comfort you, precious one. You have been a precious wife to me. To know & love you makes life & death beautiful. Cherish the darlings & give my love to all the dear ones. Do not grieve too much for me. We shall all soon meet Live for the children Give my dearest love to Father, Mother & Sallie & John Oh how happy to feel yourself forgiven God bless you evermore precious precious one Ever yours, Lawrence."
"In the summer of 1994, when I was the deputy commanding general of Second Army at Fort Gillem in Atlanta, Georgia, I had the opportunity to visit training conducted by units of the Mississippi Army National Guard at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. While walking through headquarters with Major General Jim Garner, the adjutant general of the State of Mississippi, I looked at prints of famous Confederate Generals such as Lee, Longstreet, and Barksdale prominently displayed on the walls. I stopped when I saw one Union general officer- Major General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. I asked, "Whats he doing here?" General Garner replied, "Hes a great soldier who has our utmost respect." This was 129 years after Chamberlain conducted the surrender ceremony at Appomattox Court House."
