A question for you Chamberlain fans...

gary · #1 12-26-2005, 09:45 AM

When he led the 20th Maine at Little Round top, what type of gun did Charmberlain carry? I limited my research to Don Trioiani's and Mort Kunstler's paintings (prettie gud researchar, ain't I?) on the net but in both cases the artist depicted him with a sword.

FSPowers · #2 12-26-2005, 10:23 AM

I really can't be certain, but he might have been carrying a standard Colt Army revolver that was issued to Union officers. Unless he managed to picked up the more popular Navy, that is.

johan_steele · #3 12-26-2005, 10:47 AM

I recall reading somewhere that he carried a .36 Colt Navy and the only time he fired it in anger through the entire war was at Little Round Top.

Alabaman · #4 12-26-2005, 10:35 PM

Shane,

It must have been a Colt 'cause we Alabamians bent his sword with a minie ball. lol! But whichever weapon he used, it won the day, dadblameit! :-)

Alabaman

30th_il · #5 12-26-2005, 10:51 PM

In the movie Gettysburg, if you can rely on that, he fired a Colt Navy.

FSPowers · #6 12-29-2005, 10:48 AM

The Colt Army was the standard sidearm for US officers, however anyone with a few greenbacks could pick up a Colt Navy, since it was more rugged than the Army.

Birddog · #7 12-29-2005, 12:54 PM

Here is a quote relating to his pistols:

The Maine Military Historical Society has in its collection a Chamberlain pistol. It is a Moore's Patent Firearms Co. S.A. Belt Revolver with a six inch barrel, patented in 1860 and commonly worn in a belt holster. The weapon's back strap is engraved "J.L.C." This revolver and the captured Colt are the only two pistols known to have been associated with Chamberlain. Both are described as "well tested in the Civil War" and "quite used to their business." Chamberlain's saddle, which is in the collection of the Pejepscot Historical Society, does not have holsters so it is unlikely that he left his revolver with his saddle.

It came from Mort Künstler web site relating to the Hero of Little Round Top picture:

http://www.americanmastersgallery.co...littlernd.html

Some interesting reading there. Enjoy.

IrishBrigadeLadd · #8 12-30-2005, 04:24 PM

A handgun.
hehe.
I am not sure. I'm not that proficient at pistols and such.
Good luck.
Andrew