"Gen. Joshua Chamberlain: Soul of a Lion"

Don Troiani's "The Last Salute" depicting Gen. John B. Gordon giving a sword salute to Gen. Chamberlain,

who has his Federal troops stand at "carry arms" to show respect to the surrendering Confederates at Appomattox, April 12, 1865.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain rose from a professor at a small college to become Governor of Maine. In between came the Civil War, where he became commander of the 20th Maine Infantry Regiment, participated in the doomed Federal assaults on Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg, and led the bayonet charge to secure Little Round Top at Gettysburg, which earned him the Medal of Honor. He served in 20 battles and was wounded six times.

It was General Joshua Chamberlain whom Grant picked to take charge of the surrender of Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House in April, 1865. On April 12, as the defeated Confederates marched past the Union soldiers to lay down their arms and strike their colors, Chamberlain ordered his men to attention and to “carry arms” as a show of respect. Confederate Gen. John B. Gordon, who was in charge of the surrender for the Southern troops, later said Chamberlain was “one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal army.” But would Chamberlain’s action have been approved by all today? It certainly caused a little discontent on the Northern side at the time.

Come hear the story of this exceptional officer told by Dr. John Tole, a student of the Civil War for five decades. John is president of the Rappahannock Historical Society and and project manager for the Civil War Trails Markers program that has erected over 30 roadside historical markers in the county. A native of Washington, D.C., he has one great-great-grandfather who was a Union Naval officer in the war and another who was a member of Company K, 5th Virginia Infantry, in the Stonewall Brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia. John earned his PhD at M.I.T., where he taught and conducted research in engineering. He and his wife, Judy, reside on a Christmas tree farm in Woodville. Va.

The presentation is open to the public. Visitors from outside our gated community should inform security at the front gate that they are attending the Civil War Study Group meeting. Proceed straight ahead toward the Clubhouse to the parking on the right. Enter the front door. Welcome.