Gettysburg Essay

I think that Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain was a good leader and general in the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He had a very successful military career and helped the Union army win, not only the Battle of Gettysburg, but the whole American Civil War.
Chamberlain felt the call of war as a teacher. He wanted to help the Union cause and joined the army in 1861. He was teaching at Bowdoin College. He was placed in the 20th Maine Regiment and was appointed lieutenant colonel of it on August 8, 1862. He learned the ropes in the army under the command of the highly regarded Colonel Aldebert. This set him up well to succeed in the early battles of the War.
Joshua had military triumphs before the Battle of Gettysburg. The 20th Maine Regiment fought in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He heroically lead his troops in their attempted assault on Marye’s Heights, a ridge on the northern side of the battlefield. This battle was bloody and contentious. Not a single Union soldier reached the top of the hill, but many died attempting it. It is said that, at one point when the attack was not looking like it was to be a success, Chamberlain and many of his men shielded themselves with dead bodies. But they kept charging until retreat was eventually ordered. Chamberlain’s Regiment missed the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia due to a major smallpox outbreak among many soldiers in both armies. Very soon before Gettysburg, he was given 120 soldiers from the 2nd Maine Regiment with orders to shoot them. Instead of shooting them, he evenly distributed them across his troops. This improved his inexperienced line.
Battles like Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, some of in which Chamberlain fought, led up to the Battle of Gettysbur...

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...d because he was grievously wounded at the Battle of Petersburg and they were not sure if he would live to see another day. After his military vocation, Chamberlain had a career in politics. He was elected to be Governor of Maine as a member of the Republican party. He served four, one year terms. This proved how much people respected his governorship.
Without Chamberlain, the Union may not have won the Battle of Gettysburg. Without Chamberlain, the Union may not have even won the war. General Lee and the Confederacy surrendered in May of 1865. The result of the Union victory was the abolishment of slavery and the end of the bloodiest war in American History. Chamberlain will go down in history as one of the great American heroes. He was determined and fought vigorously for his cause. He died at the age of 86. His valor and fearlessness will always be remembered.