In the first section of the book, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is introduced to the reader. Before becoming a Colonel, Chamberlain was a professor at Bowdoin College and taught rhetoric and occasionally “Natural and Revealed Religion”. Chamberlain was a tall, handsome, charming man. Even though Chamberlain was an excellent student, and showed it by being able to speak seven languages, all his life he just wanted to be a soldier. In the summer of 1862, Chamberlain asked for a leave to study in Europe. But instead of heading to France when he is approved to leave, Chamberlain heads to the Governor of Maine. Here he receives commission in the 20th Regiment of Infantry and Maine volunteers. With these two things he marches off to war. Chamberlain learns …show more content…
They most likely saw a difference in the way Chamberlain cared for this war compared to the men who had been leading them before which makes Chamberlain a necessity in the development of this story line. These men from the Second Maine show that with the wrong mindset, it is so east to get mad or upset over something, but when that mindset is changed, anyone can fight for a bigger picture. The mutineers put aside their disobedient attitudes when they realized Chamberlains description of what he was fighting for was not what they had been fighting for. In the second chapter within the July 2, 1863 section, Chamberlain and his men come across a slave that has escaped. This man cannot speak English very well and has a couple of wounds. This is the only time in the book the issue of slavery is really discussed. This plays a role in the significance of this plot line. A lot of men throughout the whole Union army had somewhat lost sight of what they were fighting for. The encounter with the runaway reminded the Maine men why they are fighting the