Something Abides

[Danvtemt]

I recently purchased a copy of Howard Coffin's wonderful book "Something Abides" which highlights Civil War related sites across the state of Vermont. ( Reviewed elsewhere in the forum: http://civilwartalk.com/threads/’something-abides’-a-civil-war-book-like-no-other.84013/).

The front of the book contains a quote from Joshua Chamberlain that I had never seen before, despite my lifelong interest in the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. I'm sure many of you are familiar with it but I thought I'd copy it because it really captures, for me, the essence of what I feel when I study the battle and visit the battlefield. He spoke the following words at the dedication of Maine monuments at Gettysburg in October 1889:

"In great deeds, something abides. On great fields, something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls… generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field, to ponder and dream; and lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls."

Please forgive me in advance if this has been covered here before but I thought it might be of interest in this forum.

 

[Wallyfish]

Beautifully written words. Thanks for reminding us of them.

Every trip to Gettysburg I recall those words and I feel that I close the gap slightly to his "generations that know us not" comment.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

That statement by Chamberlain, delivered at the dedication of the monument to the 20th Maine, gives me chills every time I read it.

 

[E_just_E]

Nobody accused Chamberlain of not having his way with words, or self-promotion for that matter.

This is a great read (the book too) about LRT, 20th Maine, and the Battle of Gettysburg. This graphic in particular is astonishing and has a lot of research put into it.

Movies aside.

 

[brass napoleon]

That's a wonderful quote that I had never heard before. Thanks for sharing it. It is so absolutely true. I've felt that "shadow of a mighty presence" on many a Civil War battlefield.