Col Chamberlain is one of the many great leaders that the Civil War produced. There were many leaders in the Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army that made bigger impacts on the war than Col Chamberlain made. But none, that has made a bigger impact on me than Col Chamberlain.
Col Chamberlain was an American college professor from the State of Maine. He volunteered in the Union Army and by the time he got out had reached the rank of brigadier general. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg during the fight at Little Round Top. He went on after the Civil War to successfully run and serve as the Governor of Maine and even served as president of Bowdoin College.
Col Chamberlain is probably most known for his actions during the Battle of Gettysburg where his defense of Little Round Top became famous. Chamberlain and the 20th Maine found themselves on the left flank of the Union lines and understood that if they were overrun the confederate army would have artillery advantage over the entire Union Army. The 20th held their ground due to the fact that Chamberlin had to think of new stock maneuvers suitable to the terrain to repel the attacks that were not in the Army manuals. The Confederate attacked five times until the 20th Maine was down to 1-2 rounds per man. Knowing that he couldn’t give up his position ordered a bayonet charge. The Confederates where caught by surprise and finally retreated.
Chamberlains loyalty to his superiors’ orders to “Hold at all Hazards” kept the confederates from gaining the high ground during the battle of Gettysburg. His personal courage kept him from sounding retreat and his sense of duty to his country has made Col Chamberlain one of the greatest American Hero’s.
Col Chamberlin is recognized as one of the greatest officers during the Civil War. During the battle of Gettysburg he had to ability to overcome extreme difficulties while in the face of danger. In today’s world he would be known as someone who had the ability to “Think outside the box.” Col Chamberlin is someone that I knew very little about until attending the Civilian Basic course. He is now someone that I have come to admire and would want to emulate.