(born Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain, September 8, 1828 – February 24, 1914)[3]
was an
American college professor from the State of Maine,
who volunteered during the American Civil War
to join theUnion Army.
He became a highly respected and decorated Union officer,
reaching the rank of brigadier general (andbrevet major general).
For his gallantry at Gettysburg,
he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
He was given the honor of commanding the Union troops at the surrender ceremony for the infantry of Robert E. Lee's Army at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
After the war,
he entered politics as a Republican and served four one-year terms of office as the32nd Governor of Maine.
He served on the faculty, and as president, of his alma mater, Bowdoin College.
The 20th Maine charged down the hill,
with the left wing
wheeling continually to make the charging line
swing like a hinge,
thus creating a simultaneous
frontal assault and
capturing 101 of the Confederate soldiers and successfully saving the flank. This version of the battle was popularized by the book The Killer Angels and the movie, Gettysburg but there is debate on the historical validity of this account.[7] Chamberlain sustained two slight wounds in the battle, one when a shot hit his sword scabbard and bruised his thigh, and another when his right foot was hit by a spent bullet or piece of shrapnel. For his tenacity at defending Little Round Top, he was known by the sobriquet Lion of the Round Top. Prior to the Battle, Chamberlain was quite ill, developing malaria and dysentery. Later, due to this illness, he was taken off active duty until he recovered.
For his "daring heroism and great tenacity in holding his position on the Little Round Top against repeated assaults, and carrying the advance position on the Great Round Top", Chamberlain was awarded the Medal of Honor.
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