Chamberlain Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the Maine Civil War of 1880

The event, known as the "Count Out, is, for the most part, described accurately. There are a few errors. The all powerful Sen. Blaine, soon to be Sect. of State and future presidential candidate, was Chamberlain's nemesis. It hadn't taken Blaine long to realize that when Chamberlain was elected to four one year terms as Maine's Republican governor, JLC would not do as he was told,... would not toe the party line as it was defined and laid down by Blaine. After serving as governor, Chamberlain would have liked to have served as Maine's senator, but at that time, the senator was chosen by the State Legislature, and since the Legislature was controlled by Blaine, that wasn't going to happen. JLC told a friend privately that, Blaine had offered him his pathway to be senator during the Count Out, if JLC would throw his influence and authority as head of the militia behind the Republican candidate in the disputed election, but Chamberlain insisted that the final decision be made by the state's Supreme Court. There's a certain irony that many of Chamberlain's opponents on the battlefield, Confederates like William C. Oates and John B. Gordon would be representing their readmitted states in Washington, while Chamberlain never would be a senator. I can assure people that JLC did not "enjoy" the count out. His life was threatened, he feared enemies would retaliate against his wife and home in Brunswick, his state was on the brink of armed insurrection, and Chamberlain's standing up to Blaine brought any hope of JLC's having any further political career to a very definite end.
I'm becoming a big Joshua Chamberlain fan, and it has nothing to do with that fact that someone made him the hero of a movie in 1993.
 
"Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine -
Continental liar from the State of Maine"


(Democratic campaign chant from the equally contested Cleveland-Blaine Presidential election of 1884)

It appears that the more things change the more they remain the same...
 
"Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine -
Continental liar from the State of Maine"


(Democratic campaign chant from the equally contested Cleveland-Blaine Presidential election of 1884)

It appears that the more things change the more they remain the same...
James Blaine has given Maine its gubernatorial residence in Augusta. He bought the house during the Civil War and lived there until his death (1893).

1626454798922.png


While "the Twelve Days" was a major to-do in Augusta, it passed by with little notice in the rest of the state.

Grover Cleveland was no great shakes either. He had hired a substitute rather than serve during the Civil War and Union veterans disliked him for his negative treatment of them.
 
... While "the Twelve Days" was a major to-do in Augusta, it passed by with little notice in the rest of the state.

Grover Cleveland was no great shakes either. He had hired a substitute rather than serve during the Civil War and Union veterans disliked him for his negative treatment of them.
"Ma, Ma, where's my Pa?
Gone to the White House, ha, ha, ha!"


(Republican rejoinder promoting the idea Cleveland had also fathered an out-of-wedlock child he was reputed to be supporting.)
 

It was known as The Twelve Days, early in January, 1880, when the State House in Augusta, Maine, was under siege by a rebellious force of some 2000 armed men. Inside, Maj Gen Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain stood almost alone, trying to keep the peace between the besiegers and a private army of hired thugs raised by Gov. Alonzo Garcelon.

The issue was the recent contested election. Garcelon, a Democrat, had held the Executive Office for the past year; while the Legislature maintained a clear Republican majority. In the 1879 election, however, the Democrats had been joined by the Greenback Party (together they were known as Fusionists) to challenge Republican dominance. The published results gave the Republicans a very small Legislative majority. But, as none of the three gubernatorial candidates received a majority of the popular vote, it would be up to the Legislature to choose the next Governor. Predictably, they chose Republican Daniel Davis over Garcelon and Greenback candidate Joseph Smith.

No sooner was this announced that the Democrats and Greenbackers began challenging the results of the legislative election: charging fraud and bribery on the part of the Republicans. Garcelon and the Governor’s Council did their own investigation of election returns, and their recount gave the Fusionists control of the Legislature. The Republicans countered by charging the Governor and his Council of tampering with the returns, and fraud of their own.

It was Senator James G. Blaine, who lit the fuse. Determined to “save” Maine for the Republicans, he began to gather a private army. He set up a military camp on the grounds of his home, near the State House, and soon a crowds of armed men were hovering about the state capitol. Gov. Garcelon responded by hiring his own force of mercenaries to defend it. He also cabled Gen. Chamberlain, as commander of the State Militia, to mobilize his troops, and come to Augusta immediately. Blaine had done likewise, sure that a sound Republican like Chamberlain would “do the right thing” and throw Garcelon out.

Looking over the situation, Chamberlain concluded that a massive display of military force would only make matters worse. "I am determined that Maine should not become a South American state!" He ordered selected officers to mobilize their commands and stand ready if needed, but not to come near Augusta without his direct order. He arrived in Augusta alone, where Blaine’s men outside at first cheered him -- but, when they learned that he wasn’t taking sides in the dispute, they turned sour and threatening. He was reviled in Republican newspapers as "The Serpent of Brunswick", and "The Most Dangerous Man in Maine;" while Democrats were still calling him “The Tool of Blaine." Soon there were death threats, from both sides.

He convinced the Mayor of Augusta to let him use city police to protect the State House, while persuading Gov. Garcelon to dismiss his mercenaries. He wrote to Senator Blaine, politely taking him to task for complicating matters. “I can guarantee peace with the dispositions I have made, … But do be assured that the position shall be held & that all rights & privileges shall be yet fairly and lawfully vindicated. Neither force nor trick shall get the mastery of the situation out of my hands.” The situation remained tense.

“My Dear Fanny 15 Jan 1880

"Yesterday was another Round Top; although few knew of it. The bitter attack on me in the Bangor Commercial calling me a traitor, & calling on the people to send me to a traitor's doom, created a great excitement.

"There were threats all the morning of overpowering the police & throwing me out of the window, & the ugly looking crowd seemed like men who could be brought to do it (or to try it). Excited men were calling on me -- some threatening fire & blood & some begging me to call out the militia at once. But I stood it firmly through, feeling sure of my arrangements & of my command of the situation.

"In the afternoon the tune changed. The plan was to arrest me for treason, which not being a jailable offence, I should be kept in prison while they inaugurated a reign of terror & blood. They foamed & fumed away at that all the evening. Mr. Lamson kindly came to me & said he would be the one to sue out a writ of habeas corpus & have me set at liberty again. That plan failed.

"At about 11 P.m. one of the citizens came & told me I was to be kidnapped -- overpowered & carried away & detained out of people’s knowledge, so that the rebels could carry on their work. I had the strange sense again -- of sleeping inside a picket guard.

"In the night Gen'l Hyde of Bath came up with 30 men & Col. Heath of Waterville with 50 men: sent by Republicans I suppose & greatly annoying to me & embarrassing too.

"I wish Mr. Blaine & others would have more confidence in my military ability. There are too many men here afraid [for] their precious little pink skins. I shall have to protect them of course: but my main object is to keep the peace & to give opportunity for the laws to be fairly executed.

"Do not worry about my safety. Make yourself as comfortable as you can at home. If you are afraid, send word to the Selectmen, or Mr. Thos. K. Eaton to have the police keep an eye on you & the house. But I don’t believe anybody will think of troubling you.

"Somebody else beside Annie ought to be in the house with you. Don’t worry about me.

"Yours aff. J.L.C."


As the crisis neared its climax, an aide ran into Chamberlain's office, warning that a crowd of angry men had gathered outside, wanting to lynch him. Chamberlain went out alone. Descending steps, he confronted the mob, saying:

"Men, you wish to kill me, I hear. Killing is no new thing to me. I have offered myself to be killed many times, when I no more deserved it than I do now. Some of you, I think, have been with me in those days. You understand what you want, do you? I am here to preserve the peace and honor of this state, until the rightful government is seated --- whichever it may be, it is not for me to say. But it is for me to see that the laws of this state are put into effect, without fraud, without force, but with calm thought and purpose. I am here for that, and I shall do it. If anyone wants to kill me for it, here I am. Let Him Kill!”

With those words, Chamberlain flung open his coat in a dramatic gesture, daring the mob to kill him. It became very quiet, and a lone voice of an old veteran was heard to call out:

"By God, General, the first man that dares to lay a hand on you, I'll kill him on the spot!"

The situation changed quickly, as the mob dispersed. The next day a plot was uncovered to assassinate Blaine -- who suddenly decided to dismiss his followers and let the General calm things down, he now encouraged the Republicans to let the Supreme Court settle the matter, as Garcelon had been urging the Fusionists. The Court soon decided that the Republicans had, indeed, maintained control of the Legislature. Garcelon was satisfied that the crisis was over, but Greenback Party candidate for Governor refused to accept the decision. Joseph Smith declared himself Governor, dismissed Chamberlain from command of the Militia, and ordered his arrest. Chamberlain ignored him -- and so did just about everybody else. The Legislature once again chose Daniel Davis to be Governor.

The crisis was over, and Chamberlain went back to Brunswick, and resumed his Presidency of Bowdoin College. But, he had earned a lot of political enemies in Maine, who would make a lot of serious trouble for him during his future political career.

[Quotes are from J. E. Goulka, ed., The Grand Old Man of Maine: Selected Letters of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, (20o5)]

This is was something I was not aware that had occurred in Maine and that Chamberlain was involved. Sounds really chaotic
 
This is was something I was not aware that had occurred in Maine and that Chamberlain was involved. Sounds really chaotic
Strange things happen in Maine.

Remember, the first Mainer was the guy who saw this
1626470642583.png
crawl up onto the beach, and immediately thought: "Say, I bet that would be great with drawn butter!"
 
Last edited:
General Chamberlain was a remarkable politician. As governor, he advocated abolition of the death penalty and, even after it had been greatly adjusted, continued to maintain that it was unconstitutional. The friend of veterans, he was a frequent attendee and speaker at GAR & MOLLUS gatherings and he frequently was present at services to honor the war's veterans (for instance, he came to my little town when a cannon was dedicated in the square). A lay person, he recognized the ravages of the war on the minds of his soldiers: when he found his sergeant at Gettysburg in prison, he helped to free Sgt. Tozier--and installed him in his own house in Brunswick (turned that life around).

He came from a fine and productive family. His brother John Calhoun Lawrence was a chaplain during ACW and served in the US Christian Commission; his brother Thomas D. Chamberlain was a lieutenant-colonel; his brother "Hod" (who had died in 1861) had been a Bowdoin graduate and a lawyer; his sister Sarah (apparently called "Genny") was the wife of a merchant--and it was she who amassed many of the Chamberlain letters.

Some people are thrust into the spotlight and take what they can. But, IMO, he was good citizen.
 
... He came from a fine and productive family. His brother John Calhoun Lawrence was a chaplain during ACW and served in the US Christian Commission; his brother Thomas D. Chamberlain was a lieutenant-colonel; his brother "Hod" (who had died in 1861) had been a Bowdoin graduate and a lawyer; his sister Sarah (apparently called "Genny") was the wife of a merchant--and it was she who amassed many of the Chamberlain letters.

Some people are thrust into the spotlight and take what they can. But, IMO, he was good citizen.
Wonder exactly what the reason for THAT was in a New England state like Maine???
 
Wonder exactly what the reason for THAT was in a New England state like Maine???
While I should very much like to say that living in Maine embues its citizens with a community-oriented and virtuous outlook :smile:, I suspect that the reason was his backgound: his mother was deeply religious and instilled a strong sense of ethics in all her children; he had a theological degree (he trained at Bangor Theological Seminary for the ministry) and taught theology along with rhetoric at Bowdoin.
 
While I should very much like to say that living in Maine embues its citizens with a community-oriented and virtuous outlook :smile:, I suspect that the reason was his backgound: his mother was deeply religious and instilled a strong sense of ethics in all her children; he had a theological degree (he trained at Bangor Theological Seminary for the ministry) and taught theology along with rhetoric at Bowdoin.
I'm NOT talking about his chosen profession (especially in a state that began as part of Calvinist-founded Massachusetts) but his NAME. How is it that a proper New Englander was evidently named for "notorious" Southerner, slave owner, and proto-Secessionist John C. Calhoun? Perhaps and the only reason that I can think of was that early in his career Calhoun, like his contemporaries Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson, had been one of the War Hawks favoring U.S. action against Britain which led to the War of 1812, after which New Englanders may have originally believed would benefit trade and commerce once we won.
 
Last edited:
I'm NOT talking about his chosen profession (especially in a state that began as part of Calvinist-founded Massachusetts) but his NAME! How is it that a proper New Englander was evidently named for "notorious" Southerner, slave owner, and proto-Secessionist John C. Calhoun? Perhaps and the only reason that I can think of was that early in his career Calhoun, like his contemporaries Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson had been War Hawks favoring U.S. action against Britain which led to the War of 1812, after which New Englanders may have originally believed would benefit trade and commerce once we won.
I'm sure that you're right. John Calhoun Chamberlain was born (and named) in 1838. Also, there is a possibility that he was named for a Scottish forefather: Clan Colquhoun was involved in the Ulster Scots migrations to New Brunswick (esp.) and New England. Can you not picture General Chamberlain in a kilt? 😂
 
Strange things happen in Maine.

Remember, the first Mainer was the guy who saw this View attachment 408338 crawl up onto the beach, and immediately thought: "Say, I bet that would be great with drawn butter!"


Native American tribes of Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut cooked clams and lobsters in sand pits as means of subsistence as far back as 2000 years ago.
http://www.maine-lylobster.com/2015/09/history-of-lobster-in-culture.html

Carry on.
 
Back
Top