Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain--Medal, Coin and some History! LARGE IMAGES!

Leiana

Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain famously commanded the 20th Maine Regiment of Volunteers at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg. His regiment was assigned the left most position in the Union line on the second day of battle. They were the flank. Though outnumbered by the attacking Confederates, the 20th Maine managed to hold off wave after wave. Finally, they ran out of ammunition. Faced with the terrible decision of either retreating or facing the imminent attack of a new wave of Confederate soldiers, Col. Chamberlain decided to order a bayonet charge down the hill they were positioned at. This charge took the Confederates by surprise and saved the flank from being over-run. Through this unorthodox maneuver, Col. Chamberlain arguably saved the entire battle.



This medal was purchased at the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park gift shop. It is silver dollar sized and the obverse displays very nice high relief. Col. Chamberlain is on the obverse and the reverse depicts the monument to the 20th Maine Regiment on the top of Little Round Top, the hill they were stationed at.



Here is a picture I took of the monument over the summer.

Joshua Chamberlain went on to great heights in the Union Army through the course of the rest of the war. He was promoted to Brigadier General by General Grant. His brigade accepted the weapons of the surrendered Confederate troops at Appomattox Court House (which, incidentally, is referring to the name of a town in Virginia, not a building) where he famously ordered his men to salute the Confederates because they were all brothers again.

His words grace the reverse of the 1995 Civil War Battlefields Commemorative Silver Dollar.



That is one of the more difficult coins I have ever imaged! The obverse depicts a soldier helping a wounded soldier get a drink of water.

Anyone interested in the Civil War should definitely read The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. It is a very good book that recounts the Battle of Gettysburg from the points of view of various officers of both sides, including Colonel Chamberlain.

Colonel Chamberlain is one of my heroes, and I just thought I would share my numismatically related items about him with the forum.

-Amanda

IGWT

Very nice, Amanda. Did you visit his house in Brunswick where he served as President of Bowdoin College following the war and after completing multiple terms as governor? After he retired from Bowdoin, he moved to Portland and lived in a house about one-half mile from where I'm sitting now.

RYK

Great post, excellent photos, and important history lesson.

Leiana

I have only been to Maine once, and that was southern Maine and all we did was have lunch. But Brunswick is on the list of travel destinations next summer.

-Amanda

bidask

Gettysburg, the movie, is also a great flick. Portrays the Colonel and the battle.

Leiana

<< <i>Gettysburg, the movie, is also a great flick. Portrays the Colonel and the battle. >>



It's based off of the book mentioned above.

Thanks, Lou and Robert.

-Amanda

RYK

Little known fact: RYK was conceived at Gettysburg.

BTW, April 1865: The Month That Saved America is probably the best Civil War book I have ever read. Check it out. Edit: Gives me an idea for a great giveaway...

Leiana

That looks like an exceptionally good read. I shall have to see if my library has it. Thanks!

-Amanda

MadMarty

You know Amanda, with you around here we might actually learn something!!!

NumisOxide

Interesting post Amanda.

Nice medal.

morgannut2

Certainly a brave Colonel and fully deserving of the medal and place in his earned place in history. But in fairness I'd point o the
Confederate general who actually had gotten most of the high ground---AS even Longstreet said certainly the horrible result was
not only the result of MR. Chamberlains brillance---The confererate general's actions certainly contributed. The commanding fool wasn't even demoted,
much less shot on sight by Longstreet!

Coinosaurus

Nice job. With a bit more text, this in an article in the Numismatist!

Leiana

<< <i>Certainly a brave Colonel and fully deserving of the medal and place in his earned place in history. But in fairness I'd point o the
Confederate general who actually had gotten most of the high ground---AS even Longstreet said certainly the horrible result was
not only the result of MR. Chamberlains brillance---The confererate general's actions certainly contributed. The commanding fool wasn't even demoted,
much less shot on sight by Longstreet! >>



That would be General Ewell, yes?

Oh and Marty, I think that might have been my intent when I made the post.

-Amanda

JRocco

Great post Amanda. The more you get into numismatics the more light it shines (and vise-verse) on history.
I remember when I purchased an 1812 CBH and realized when the coin was made and under what possible circumstances were occurring. What was going thru the minds of the mint operators..
Cool stuff-- thanks for the post.

TAClough

Amanda,

Great post! Joshua Chamberlain had another side to him, do you know the meaning of the obverse that the 1995 Civil War dollar commemorative has towards General Chamberlain? Have you found out why General Chamberlain ordered his men to salute the Confederate troops as they surrendered their weapons after Grant and Lee met at Appomattox Court House?

Two books that I would recommend if you are interested about Chamberlain are; “Through Blood & Fire” by Mark Nesbitt and “Joshua Chamberlain: The Soldier and The Man” by Edward Longacre. The first book deals with selected Civil War Papers of General Chamberlain.

Studying history and the reasons why, is a passion in it’s self.

JapanJohn

Amanda,

I assume you've seen the movie, where Jeff Bridges, I think plays Chamberlain. A remarkable portrayal.

Civil War stuff is cool.

The best hunk of civil war reading I ever did was a book called At Gettysburgh: What a Girl Saw

What a Girl Saw

I know you'd like this book as you seem to be a Gettysburgh historical nut. (I mean that in a good way)

John

Leiana

<< <i>Great post Amanda. The more you get into numismatics the more light it shines (and vise-verse) on history. I remember when I purchased an 1812 CBH and realized when the coin was made and under what possible circumstances were occurring. What was going thru the minds of the mint operators..
Cool stuff-- thanks for the post. >>



I totally agree! Thanks.



<< <i>Amanda,

Great post! Joshua Chamberlain had another side to him, do you know the meaning of the obverse that the 1995 Civil War dollar commemorative has towards General Chamberlain? Have you found out why General Chamberlain ordered his men to salute the Confederate troops as they surrendered their weapons after Grant and Lee met at Appomattox Court House?

Two books that I would recommend if you are interested about Chamberlain are; “Through Blood & Fire” by Mark Nesbitt and “Joshua Chamberlain: The Soldier and The Man” by Edward Longacre. The first book deals with selected Civil War Papers of General Chamberlain.

Studying history and the reasons why, is a passion in it’s self. >>



No I haven't, but those books sound like a good place to start! I do know that he was wounded 6 times in various battles and was always altruistic towards captives.



<< <i>Amanda,

I assume you've seen the movie, where Jeff Bridges, I think plays Chamberlain. A remarkable portrayal.

Civil War stuff is cool.

The best hunk of civil war reading I ever did was a book called At Gettysburgh: What a Girl Saw

What a Girl Saw

I know you'd like this book as you seem to be a Gettysburgh historical nut. (I mean that in a good way)

John >>



Another great book reccomendation! Thanks.

-Amanda

dizzyfoxx

Great thread Amanda, you're too

Leiana

<< <i>Great thread Amanda, you're too >>



Thanks, John! I am glad you like this thread even though it is about a Union Colonel and your hero is Confederate General John B Hood.

-Amanda

Leiana

<< <i>Nice job. With a bit more text, this in an article in the Numismatist! >>



Hmmm. That sounds like fun!

-Amanda