John J. Pullen - Joshua Chamberlain: A Heros Life and Legacy

Joshua Chamberlain

A HEROS LIFE AND LEGACY

J OHN J. P ULLEN

STACKPOLE
BOOKS

Copyright 1999 by John J. Pullen

Published by

STACKPOLE BOOKS

5067 Ritter Road

Mechanicsburg PA 17055

www.stackpolebooks.com

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055.

The author makes grateful acknowledgment for permission to quote or reproduce material from the following sources: Patton: A Genius for War by Carlo DEste, reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc.; The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, reprinted by permission of the Princeton University Press; Gettysburg Film Should Be Applauded in the June 1998 issue of The Civil War News, Turnbridge, Vermont; In Memoriam, Joshua Chamberlain in the February 24, 1996, issue of The Day, New London, Connecticut; Chamberlain and Thomas Brackett Reed Collections, the Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine; Chamberlain and Abner R. Small Collections, the Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine; Chamberlain and Rutherford B. Hayes Collections, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont, Ohio; and the Chamberlain Collection, the Pejepscot Historical Society, Brunswick, Maine.

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6

FIRST EDITION

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pullen, John J.

Joshua Chamberlain : a heros life and legacy / John J. Pullen.

1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.

ISBN 0-8117-0886-1

1. Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence, 18281914. 2. GeneralsUnited

StatesBiography. 3. United States. ArmyBiography. 4. Maine

HistoryCivil War, 18611865. 5. United States. Army. Maine

Infantry Regiment, 20th (18621865). 6. Gettysburg (Pa.), Battle of,

1863. I. Title.

E467.1.C47P85 1999

973.7'441092dc21

[b] 99-17606

CIP

ISBN 978-0-8117-0886-9

eBook ISBN: 9780811740999

For Margaret

Acknowledgments

The author is most fortunate to have had at his side in this work Margaret Rogers Pullen, whose editorial experience and advice, research assistance, and patience in enduring the trials of a writers wife are deeply appreciated.

Two people must appear near the top of my thank-you list for more than alphabetical reasons: Herbert Adams and Rita C. Bailey. Ritas extensive knowledge of Chamberlains correspondence, her research in furtherance of the work, and her care and skill in preparation of the manuscript have been of immense help. Herbert, a fine historian and a friend of long standing, has located and suggested the use of much material and has been a valuable consultant in the final stages of writing.

Rosamond Allen, granddaughter of Joshua Chamberlain, graciously gave permission to publish his and other letters of his family. Her friend Jacquelyn M. Beard was most helpful in arranging this permission. Thanks go to Richard Balkin, literary agent, for his guidance and advice; to Pat Wright-Buckley for the photograph of her delightful Joshua Bear; to Dwight B. Demeritt Jr. for contributions that will be recognized in the text and notes; to Dr. Thomas A. Desjardin for finding time from a busy life to answer questions; to Fred M. Forsley, president of the Shipyard Brewing Company, and artist Ken Hendricksen for permission to publish the Chamberlain Pale Ale label; to Richard Hede of Stockholm, Maine, for information about New Sweden; to Katherine Jenney for permission to publish part of a Thomas B. Reed letter; to author and historian William B. Jordan Jr. for a creative contribution identified in chapter twelve; to Dr. C. Kenneth McAllister, Colonel, U.S. Army Medical Corps, for his analyses of Joshua Chamberlains wounds and medical problems; also to urologist Samuel B. Broaddus, M.D., for his help in interpreting medical terms; to Warren Randall for important contributions of material; to David E. Rathbun for his In Memoriam notice; and to Edward, James, and Marjorie Spear for permission to publish a letter from the late Abbott Spears collection.

At a party in the summer of 1994 the author heard from Campbell B. Niven, publisher of The Times Record of Brunswick, a story that is a key element of chapter two. Mr. Nivens permission to use this story is greatly appreciated.

Individuals connected with several institutions deserve special thanks. Among them, Susan Ravdin, former assistant curator of Bowdoin College Library Special Collections. Also secretary emeritus of Bowdoin and friend for forty years, Robert M. Cross, whose encyclopedic knowledge of Bowdoin and its alumni and review of the manuscript were most helpful. Special thanks go to Mildred Jones, historian and archivist of the First Parish Church in Brunswick for her assistance. Sylvia J. Sherman, director of archival services at the Maine State Archives in Augusta has been a friend to many authors, and she was a good friend to this one. The privilege of consulting with her is greatly appreciated. Valuable contributions came from Earle G. Shettleworth Jr., director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, and Julia Hunt, curator of fine arts, graphic arts, and archives at the Maine State Museum. Craig Freshly, program director of the Maine Development Foundation provided helpful information. Linda R. Mansfield, owner of Chamberlains former home in Portland, graciously permitted Erik Jorgensen to photograph the house for me. At the Portland Customs House, Jeffrey R. Walgreen, John Foley, John Barrett, and D. Peter Goodridge helped with research and photography.

The library of the Maine Historical Society, in Portland, was a prime resource, with the aid of William David Barry, Don King, Nicholas Noyes, and Stephanie Philbrick. The help of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States is recognized in the notes to chapter eleven. My sincere thanks to members of the National Park Service, especially Joseph A. Williams, curator at Appomattox National Military Park, and D. Scott Hartwig, supervisory park historian at Gettysburg.

The research center most frequented was the Pejepscot Historical Society, in Brunswick, Maine, where valued support came from several good friends: Erik Jorgensen, executive director 198998; Amy L. Poland, the curator; and staff members Jill Wallace and Betty Hyde; and the curator emeritus, Julia Oehmig.

An important photograph was obtained from the Portland Newspapers with the aid of Marcia MacVane. At the Portland Library, Thomas Bennett, Paul A. DAlessandro, and Thomas Gaffney were most helpful. Nan J. Card, curator of manuscripts at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont, Ohio, responded quickly to requests and sent additional material that was used. Important contributions were made by World Chamberlain Society members, Ted and Welton Chamberlain. Notes to chapter sixteen give the names of visitors to the Chamberlain Museum who offered interesting opinions, as well as those of police sergeant Linda L. Belfiore and of my friend Kenneth Discorfano. Thank you, all.