suzenatale
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- May 25, 2013
JerseyBart had mentioned wanting to hear the true story from Ellis Spear. So I have been making a collection of Spear quotes for him.
Spear would write of Chamberlain after Chamberlain's death that he, "was absolutely unable to tell the truth." This is an interesting accusation considering Chamberlain was rather consistent in his statements but Spear's own testimony varied greatly over the years. I'll start with a comparison of Spear's statements of Chamberlain's Petersburg wound. ( For those unfamiliar with Chamberlain's wound, the best place to start before looking at Spear's statements below would be the description of the wound by one of Chamberlain's doctors. See 1883 Sickness and Operation)
It is clear that in one of these accounts Spear found himself "unable to tell the truth." What is not clear is his reasons for changing his story. Spear's "True story of the 20th Maine at Gettysburg" also changed over the years.
It is possible he is alluding to Melcher, who was in command of company F, the color company, or he is possibly referring to someone in company A to their left.
While neither of Spear's two memoirs were published during his lifetime, Spear did publish a similar account in 1913....
The Left at Gettysburg - National Tribune, June 12, 1913
"...I returned immediately to my place on the left, and almost immediately thereafter I heard a shout of “Forward!” on the right and progressing to the left, and, looking saw the center advancing. Wondering for an instant what this might mean (as I received no orders), the next impulse was that if any part of the regiment was charging all must, we all shouted “Forward!” and plunged down the hill into the enemy. Some of them, nearer, crouching behind the boulders, threw down their guns and we ran over them. The main body yielding easily, as it seemed, ran among the trees behind them. Then we discovered Morrill and Co. B. They had been behind a stone wall in rear of the enemy, and had been paying their respects to him in true backwoods fashion. They were all sharpshooters, Captain and all, and loved a gun. . . . But how did we happen to charge? I give the story as told by the men at the time and on the spot. It appeared that on the left of the colors there were men wounded by the earlier fire and left in front as the line readjusted itself among the rocks. They were calling upon their comrades to get them back out of the fire. Comrades will understand that that involved cessation of fire on the part of the men attempting it, and danger and disturbance to the line at a critical moment. But some enterprising and undaunted fellow said, “It’s a damned shame to leave the boys there; let’s advance and cover them.” And those in the immediate vicinity joined the cry of “Forward!” Then the wounded would be in the rear and in reach of the stretch-bearers. The shout was heard and the movement seen to right and left further than the explanation of the original purpose of the 26 movement, and every comrade also will understand that those were good men who made that proposition and carried it out."So there you have it, the "true" story as told by Ellis Spear
Spear would write of Chamberlain after Chamberlain's death that he, "was absolutely unable to tell the truth." This is an interesting accusation considering Chamberlain was rather consistent in his statements but Spear's own testimony varied greatly over the years. I'll start with a comparison of Spear's statements of Chamberlain's Petersburg wound. ( For those unfamiliar with Chamberlain's wound, the best place to start before looking at Spear's statements below would be the description of the wound by one of Chamberlain's doctors. See 1883 Sickness and Operation)
1885 Spear at the Dedication of Bowdoin’s Memorial Hall. "A terrible fire was opened upon them. Three times was General Chamberlain’s horse shot under him. Then he himself received a shot, going completely through both hips. He was unhorsed, but he stood his ground, though unable to walk. He was bleeding copiously. His boots filled with blood and his pantaloons were saturated. As he grew weaker, he thrust his sword into the ground and leaned upon it, still holding his position and encouraging his men. Becoming weaker still from loss of blood, and unable to stand with that support, he sank upon his knees, but still kept the upright position and encouraged his men. Then he fell prostrate entirely, wholly unable to keep erect. Soldiers came to his aid. “No,” he said, “I am too far gone. You can do nothing for me. Help the others.” But they lifted him on a stretcher and carried him away."
- General Chamberlain's Courage.
- General Chamberlain's Courage.
1896 Spear to Tom Chamberlain "Of course the injury which he received was internal. no bones were broken or muscles impaired. The scar of course shows nothing and I suppose the Surgeons who made the examination saw nothing and they so reported. I said to the Commissioner that such an examination was manifestly incomplete and that nothing could be learned of the real condition of Genl. Chamberlain by one mere physical inspection, and that his condition could be ascertained only by testimony as to his ordinary health. That observations running through a series of months could be the only satisfactory proof as to the result of his wounds. I asked if such evidence could not be introduced to supplement or take the place of the report of the examining surgeon. This was denied, very unjustly as I think. All this we should avoid by going to Congress. But whether his disability be great or little I think it is time that liberal pensions should be given such officers."
(Spear was not alone in his frustration over the small pensions given to patients with conditions similar to Chamberlain's. This can be seen in the Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion, "There are now at least thirty-eight sufferers from urethral fistules consequent on shot wounds received during the war of the rebellion. In Germany, pensioners with urinary fistules receive the largest sum accorded to any class of sufferers. In this country, no discrimination has yet been made in behalf of these unfortunates. It has been suggested, on page 362, that they should be assembled, to receive such succor as art can afford, from some one skilled in this branch of surgery."1899 Spear to Amos Allen " I was with him when he was wounded, and I know how severely it was. The common belief was that he would not recover from it. His is the most conspicuous and singular case in the State of distinguished service in the war, old and poor".
1916 Spear to O. W. Norton "Of his wound at Petersburg I know, as I went back to the Hospital after dark and was with him. He was sitting up, but making some fuss. He was wounded in the penis. Of course I made no examination but the surgeon explained the wound to me. It was a painful wound of course, as a catheter had to be introduced to carry urine past the wound. That was the only time he was touched by iron or lead. He artfully made much out of that wound, by adroit and persistent lecturing and writing after the war. His literary ability was of a high order and he always had a gracious manner, but was absolutely unable to tell the truth and was of inordinate vanity. As far as he could, he robbed Vincent. Did I ever tell you the true story of the 20th Maine at Gettysburg? I wrote it for the National Tribune two or three years ago."
It is clear that in one of these accounts Spear found himself "unable to tell the truth." What is not clear is his reasons for changing his story. Spear's "True story of the 20th Maine at Gettysburg" also changed over the years.
The Twentieth Maine at Gettysburg (newspaper clipping attributed to Spear circa 1865)
"...in the hottest part of the fight, when it was perhaps uncertain whether we should hold the place assigned us, the Colonel ordered a charge!"
1896 history printed in Maine at Gettysburg
"At this crisis, with the quick and resolute instinct to strike before he was struck, Chamberlain staked all upon a desperate counter-charge. He repaired to the left centre to advise Capt. Ellis Spear who, acting as field officer was in charge there, of this new purpose. Great responsibility was to fall upon this officer, as his flank was to start the movement, and moreover to become the wheeling flank, as the movement must swing on the right as a pivot; otherwise the regiment would be cut in two by the enemy, massing on the centre, as they naturally would do."
In 1896 Spear also started writing his personal memoirs, however, the story presented in this unpublished account is very different when compared to his Maine at Gettysburg account. Because Spear wrote it over the course of a number of years it is hard to determine when Spear wrote the section on Gettysburg; but it is clear that after the section was complete Spear went back and added a passage marking with an X where he wanted it to be inserted into his work. The inserted passage reads in part,"...in the hottest part of the fight, when it was perhaps uncertain whether we should hold the place assigned us, the Colonel ordered a charge!"
1896 history printed in Maine at Gettysburg
"At this crisis, with the quick and resolute instinct to strike before he was struck, Chamberlain staked all upon a desperate counter-charge. He repaired to the left centre to advise Capt. Ellis Spear who, acting as field officer was in charge there, of this new purpose. Great responsibility was to fall upon this officer, as his flank was to start the movement, and moreover to become the wheeling flank, as the movement must swing on the right as a pivot; otherwise the regiment would be cut in two by the enemy, massing on the centre, as they naturally would do."
- Maine at Gettysburg pg 257
Personal Memoranda of the War of the Rebellion
"...In explanation of the charge I add here the story told by the men at the time, for it seemed strange that I did not get orders or notice, seeing that I was in my duty as Acting Major in command of the left of the line & the extreme flank. We had gone into position on the slope of the hill facing to left & rear. The line on the left bending back from the colors. On the first appearance of the enemy, coming down the opposite hill, Big Round Top, & scattering themselves through the trees & bushes, I went to Col. Chamberlain & told him that they seemed to overlap us, & asked him if I should not bend back the left a little more to meet this flanking movement He assented. As the sharp fire continued the ranks & turned & the men readjusted themselves amongst the rocks, thus drawing back the line about the center, and the men wounded by the earlier fire, were lying in front, side exposed and calling to their comrades to take them back out of the fire. Some men in Co. K. suggested that they "advance & cover them" & therefore started the shout to advance. The shout & corresponding movement immediately spread to the left, (and I suppose to the right also.) But the cause & nature of the movement was not also transmitted with the shout, it was understood to be an order to charge - I repeated the order, which came "in the air," though I had received none directly, as it seemed to be the only thing to be done - Fortunately it resulted well."
As he had decades earlier here Spear again insists that it was he and not James Nichols who reported to Chamberlain with news of the flanking movement. In this version not only did Spear report of the Confederate advance but he also told Chamberlain what actions to take. In his 1889 address Chamberlain had attempted to settle the dispute claiming both men came to him. Spear, apparently still refusing to share the credit with Nichols, decides in this account to give Nichols' Company K credit for starting the charge. When rewriting his memoirs yet again sometime after 1905 Spear states "A brave fellow in the company on the left of the colors, proposed to his fellows to advance and cover [the wounded]" this statement no longer gives Nichols the credit. - The Civil War Recollections of General Ellis Spear pg 315
It is possible he is alluding to Melcher, who was in command of company F, the color company, or he is possibly referring to someone in company A to their left.
"...I returned immediately to my place on the left, and almost immediately thereafter I heard a shout of “Forward!” on the right and progressing to the left, and, looking saw the center advancing. Wondering for an instant what this might mean (as I received no orders), the next impulse was that if any part of the regiment was charging all must, we all shouted “Forward!” and plunged down the hill into the enemy. Some of them, nearer, crouching behind the boulders, threw down their guns and we ran over them. The main body yielding easily, as it seemed, ran among the trees behind them. Then we discovered Morrill and Co. B. They had been behind a stone wall in rear of the enemy, and had been paying their respects to him in true backwoods fashion. They were all sharpshooters, Captain and all, and loved a gun. . . . But how did we happen to charge? I give the story as told by the men at the time and on the spot. It appeared that on the left of the colors there were men wounded by the earlier fire and left in front as the line readjusted itself among the rocks. They were calling upon their comrades to get them back out of the fire. Comrades will understand that that involved cessation of fire on the part of the men attempting it, and danger and disturbance to the line at a critical moment. But some enterprising and undaunted fellow said, “It’s a damned shame to leave the boys there; let’s advance and cover them.” And those in the immediate vicinity joined the cry of “Forward!” Then the wounded would be in the rear and in reach of the stretch-bearers. The shout was heard and the movement seen to right and left further than the explanation of the original purpose of the 26 movement, and every comrade also will understand that those were good men who made that proposition and carried it out."
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