Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's Role In The Civil War

Over 600,000 casualties was the devastating result of the Civil War, America’s bloodiest military conflict. The South’s decision to secede from the Union is what prompted the onset of the Civil War, which started April 12, 1861- May 9,1865. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was a Colonel for the Union army. Although he was in multiple battles in the Civil War, he is most remembered for his role in the Battle of Gettysburg. Of all battles fought during the Civil War, it was argued that the Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest and deadliest battle because it resulted in roughly 50,000 casualties. Chamberlain’s role at Gettysburg had the most impact towards the outcome of both the battle itself, and the Civil War, because of his crucial regiment defence …show more content…
Chamberlain worked in a brickyard and also and timber industry before he began to teach (Joshua Chamberlain Biography 1). After spending some time working in a brickyard, he decided to further his education by studying at Bowdoin College which he began in 1848. Upon his college graduation in 1852, he went to Bangor Theological Seminary to pursue a career in religion. Eventually Chamberlain abandoned the idea of becoming a minister, and instead pursued a position as a professor at his Alma Mater. Chamberlain’s love for his country and interest in the military led him to contacted Maine’s governor asking if he could fight in the war (JC Biography 1). Colonel Chamberlain and his regiment fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg and he succeeded, because while commanding his regiment, he did not lose many men. Due to an outbreak of smallpox within his regiment, Chamberlain and his men were unable to join forces in the Battle of Chancellorsville (Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain 1). During the Battle of Chancellorsville, Colonel Ames’s regiment suffered a high number of deaths, leaving Chamberlain and his regiment to go on and fight in the Battle of Gettysburg (Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain