connecticut yankee
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2017
Here's a video that tells a true but little-known story of how a Confederate infantryman spared Joshua Chamberlain's life on Little Round Top, July 2, 1863.
You're welcome. Perhaps someone on the forum can add to the story as dramatic as it is. I forgot the name of the soldier and who he fought with, but if I remember correctly Chamberlain shared the letter with others at various times on proper occasions. I can picture him relating the story to his comrades in various GARs where he was an active participant and orator until the end of his life.I never knew this. Thanks for sharing
This story has circulated in Maine for some time. It's a nice story.Here's a video that tells a true but little-known story of how a Confederate infantryman spared Joshua Chamberlain's life on Little Round Top, July 2, 1863.
Here's a video that tells a true but little-known story of how a Confederate infantryman spared Joshua Chamberlain's life on Little Round Top, July 2, 1863.
As I said earlier, it is a nice story that has circulated in Maine--but I am inclined to agree with you: it's hard to imagine a soldier doing such a thing. Apparently such a letter hasn't been found but Thomas Desjardins (who has biographied General Chamberlain) is said to have located a letter in which a private sprang in front of the general to take the shot--and be killed. If true, the soldier probably was a fellow Mainer. The sparing Alabaman seems to have been one of those events penned by William Randolph Hurst.I doubt this even if it was true the man involved not only let down his fellow soldiers but betrayed them and their sacrifice in trying to take the hill , If this was modern times he would be shunned if not booted out of the service.
This guy had no qualms about shooting your everyday soldier but had a rush of guilt about shooting an officer and all of a sudden he felt honourable and noble with his friends dying all around him what utter rubbish.
Chamberlain had a habit of elaborating stories i would not be surprised if this is made up.
If i was a soldier then and my unit was in a tight spot you can be dammed sure i would take that shot for the sake of my comrade's.
In my view of course.
This story seems plausible to me. From a momentary position of relative safety, a soldier had a brief time to reflect or consider the consequences of his proposed action or entertain feelings of ambivalence. There are numerous battlefield accounts of soldiers on both sides during the war pausing or refraining from shooting an exposed enemy officer, due to feelings of admiration for their heroic deeds.Here's a video that tells a true but little-known story of how a Confederate infantryman spared Joshua Chamberlain's life on Little Round Top, July 2, 1863.
There are numerous battlefield accounts of soldiers on both sides during the war pausing or refraining from shooting an exposed enemy officer, due to feelings of admiration for their heroic deeds.
Not sure that is right , Its easy to to romanticise war after it has ended with accounts of honourable actions the reality is rather different and not very noble.
One stand out account for me was a CSA major trying to rally members of the 33rd Virginia on Culps Hill and stop them surrendering he was alone on his horse swinging his sword in full view of 60 or so Yanks but that didn't stop them showring him with lead and then robbing him of all his personal belongings and sword.
As an ex serviceman i was in command at section level doing two active tours of duty and the last thing you want to hear out of any of your men is their inability to do their job not only does it put them at risk but it risks the lives of everyone in the section thankfully i never had the problem of a man struggling with the emotions of regret or questioning why we were doing what we did , If i had he would have been on COs orders and out of my section in a flash.
I'm pretty sure it worked the same way in the ACW small groups of men 6-10 sharing a tent and fire would have got to know each other pretty well the inability of a soldier to do his duty would have been the same as in my day which is why most of these honourable deeds are noted after the war has ended as any soldier admitting he could not pull the trigger more than likely would be shunned or transferred out regardless if it was a brave officer or not.
But that's the problem: where is the letter? The only indication of such a letter is in an account edited by William Randolph Hearst, a "yellow journalist" (whose improvements on the general's story have earned Chamberlain the inaccurate description of "embellisher" and caused a problem with Ellis Spear.The purported explanation he gave for his hesitation in his post-war letter to Colonel Chamberlain
One such instance involves the death of Confederate Brigadier General John Adams at the battle of Franklin (November 30, 1864). Adams was mounted and prominent at the front of his infantry brigade leading an assault on entrenched Union works. He was allowed to ride right up to the parapets of the works, as Union soldiers refrained from shooting at him. Inside the works, Colonel W. Scott Stewart of the 65th Illinois commanded his men to hold their fire in the witness of such bravery. Another Union soldier present in the 65th attested, “We hoped he would not be killed. He was too brave to be killed”. Unfortunately Adams overstepped the mark. When he entered the Union works he reached down to try and seize the regimental flag from the color guard of the 65th and was then shot down instantly. Ironically, it was Federal soldiers upholding a notion of honor (protecting their colors) that finally led to his death.
There are battlefield accounts of soldiers deliberately resisting shooting exposed enemy officers, due to admiration for their bravery or heroic acts.
I like nice stories and happy endings but, alas, there are many instances where historic reality and positive spin clash. Recently I did historical research for a forensic historian who demolished one good story after another with findings such as "the trajectory is inaccurate" or "there was no moon that night, how could he see so far?".This is where we get different accounts from the romanticised version to this.
Quote:
Though wounded severely in his right arm near the shoulder early in the fight and urged to leave the fields he said: “No; I am going to see my men through.” He fell on the enemy’s works, pierced with nine bullets. His brigade lost on that day over 450 in killed and wounded, among them many field and line officers.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. X, p. 285
End Quote
A Colonel from an Indiana regt noted his gallant charge but stated his horse tried to vault the breastworks and failed landing on top of him , When the charge was repulsed men from the regt leaped over the works and found him riddled with nine bullets but still alive and gave him water before he died.
So Adams never made it into the works let alone grab some federal colours and it seems he was shot nine times before his horse tried to vault the works a much more believable version of events , Their is no mention of any Union troops holding fire to allow him to approach and we can plainly see he had already been shot before he even made it to the works.
Like i said most of these accounts Nathan were written well after the war to embellish stories or make the war sound more noble and civilised.
Sherman summed it up quite nice "War is Hell you cannot refine it" .
I like nice stories and happy endings but, alas, there are many instances where historic reality and positive spin clash. Recently I did historical research for a forensic historian who demolished one good story after another with findings such as "the trajectory is inaccurate" or "there was no moon that night, how could he see so far?".
This is where we get different accounts from the romanticised version to this.
Quote:
Though wounded severely in his right arm near the shoulder early in the fight and urged to leave the fields he said: “No; I am going to see my men through.” He fell on the enemy’s works, pierced with nine bullets. His brigade lost on that day over 450 in killed and wounded, among them many field and line officers.
Source: Confederate Military History, vol. X, p. 285
End Quote
A Colonel from an Indiana regt noted his gallant charge but stated his horse tried to vault the breastworks and failed landing on top of him , When the charge was repulsed men from the regt leaped over the works and found him riddled with nine bullets but still alive and gave him water before he died.
So Adams never made it into the works let alone grab some federal colours and it seems he was shot nine times before his horse tried to vault the works a much more believable version of events , Their is no mention of any Union troops holding fire to allow him to approach and we can plainly see he had already been shot before he even made it to the works.
Like i said most of these accounts Nathan were written well after the war to embellish stories or make the war sound more noble and civilised.
Sherman summed it up quite nice "War is Hell you cannot refine it" .
I acknowledge that many civil war veterans tended to embellish to a degree their postwar accounts. Similarly, some later writers, who were not present at these events, wrote romanticized versions according to their own interpretation or preconceptions of the subject.
You're welcome. Perhaps someone on the forum can add to the story as dramatic as it is. I forgot the name of the soldier and who he fought with, but if I remember correctly Chamberlain shared the letter with others at various times on proper occasions. I can picture him relating the story to his comrades in various GARs where he was an active participant and orator until the end of his life.