{"id":2167281,"date":"2024-02-04T05:15:04","date_gmt":"2024-02-04T10:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-legend-from-little-round-top-2\/"},"modified":"2024-02-04T05:19:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-04T10:19:37","slug":"the-legend-from-little-round-top-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-legend-from-little-round-top-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Little Round Top Legend"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-legend-from-little-round-top-2%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2167281&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The\u2062 Unlikely Heroism of Joshua \u200cLawrence Chamberlain<\/h2>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain may not have commanded \u200ca\u200d great army like William Sherman or steered \u2062a \u2064warship into battle like\u200d David\u2062 Farragut. He wasn&#8217;t \u200deven elected\u200c president based on his Civil War record like Ulysses Grant. However, Chamberlain has become an iconic\u2063 figure among Civil War enthusiasts, particularly those who consider the battle of Gettysburg to be the war&#8217;s \u2062defining moment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>A Desperate Gamble<\/h3>\n<p>On the second day of \u200cthe battle, a determined Confederate attack threatened to overwhelm the Union forces on\u200d Little Round\u2064 Top, a wooded hill.\u200b It was \u2062Chamberlain and\u200c his \u2063regiment, the 20th Maine \u200cVolunteers, who stood \u200cin the\u2064 way. \u2063Running low on\u2063 ammunition, Chamberlain made a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-and-new-disney-board-ask-federal-court-to-back-off-2\/\" title=\"DeSantis and Disney Board urge court to step back.\">bold\u200d decision<\/a>: he ordered his men to fix bayonets and charge downhill at\u2063 the Confederates, catching them off guard. Against all odds, it worked. Little Round\u200b Top \u2062was saved, and with it, the battle of Gettysburg and possibly the \u2062Union itself.<\/p>\n<p><i>Presumption<\/i> is the key word\u2062 here. For decades after the battle, Union\u200b veteran organizations \u200dchose to \u200cmeet\u200b on Cemetery Hill, not Little\u200d Round Top, considering it the crucial military \u2064position. However, in 1957, John J. Pullen&#8217;s <i>The Twentieth Maine: A Volunteer Regiment in the Civil War<\/i> \u2064brought Chamberlain and Little Round Top back into\u200d the \u200bspotlight. This resurgence \u200ccontinued with Michael \u2062Shaara&#8217;s\u2063 <i>The Killer Angels<\/i> in 1974, which was later adapted into \u200cthe film \u2062 <i>Gettysburg<\/i>. Chamberlain&#8217;s image became iconic, adorning keychains, t-shirts, and Christmas ornaments.<\/p>\n<h3>A Legacy of Books<\/h3>\n<p>Chamberlain&#8217;s newfound \u200bfame also led to \u2062a surge in \u2062books about his life. Authors like Alice Rains\u2064 Trulock, Diana Loski,\u2062 Ed \u2063Longacre, John\u200c Pullen, \u2062Tom Desjardin, Brian Swartz, and Ronald C. White all contributed to the growing Chamberlain literature. White&#8217;s <i>On Great Fields<\/i> takes Chamberlain worship to new heights, praising his postwar efforts to foster\u2062 reconciliation between\u2062 the North and South.<\/p>\n<h3>A Multifaceted Historian<\/h3>\n<p>Ronald C. White, the author of <i>On Great Fields<\/i>, has had a\u200b diverse career as a \u2064historian. While he\u2063 initially focused \u2064on the history of the \u2064Social \u200dGospel, he gained public recognition with his book <i>Lincoln&#8217;s Greatest Speech: The\u2062 Second Inaugural<\/i>. White went on to write \u2064acclaimed biographies of Lincoln and Grant before \u200bdelving into Chamberlain&#8217;s \u200blife.<\/p>\n<p>White&#8217;s narrative of Chamberlain&#8217;s life covers all \u200cthe major points, \u2062from his \u2064New England \u2064Puritan roots to\u200c his service in the \u200dUnion Army and \u2063his \u200csubsequent political and academic\u2063 career.\u2064 However, there have always been questions surrounding Chamberlain&#8217;s legacy. His terms\u2063 as governor of \u200dMaine were unremarkable, and he played \u2062no significant role in Reconstruction. His business ventures \u200bfailed, and his marriage was fraught with difficulties.<\/p>\n<h3>A Controversial Figure<\/h3>\n<p>While White \u2063admires Chamberlain, he\u2063 acknowledges the criticisms \u200dleveled \u200cagainst him. Veterans of the 20th Maine accused\u2064 Chamberlain of vanity and dishonesty\u2062 in his \u2062attempts to portray himself as a heroic figure. Furthermore, William Marvel has challenged Chamberlain&#8217;s \u200bclaims in \u200d <i>The Passing of the Armies<\/i> \u2064regarding his role in \u2063the \u200csurrender parade at \u2063Appomattox.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these controversies, Chamberlain&#8217;s fame persists, largely due \u200dto his portrayal\u200b in fiction and film. \u2064However, it remains \u2064unclear why \u2062Chamberlain receives such adulation. White, not a military historian, provides a \u200blimited account of the Gettysburg battle and overlooks the dramatic \u200devents of Pickett&#8217;s Charge. Gaps in\u200b Chamberlain&#8217;s own records also leave\u200c room for speculation.<\/p>\n<h3>A Fragile Reputation<\/h3>\n<p>After \u200cChamberlain&#8217;s death, he was largely \u2062forgotten until the novel and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jordan-peeles-nope-gives-way-to-undercooked-action-cliches-after-compelling-start\/\" title=\"Jordan Peele\u2019s \u2018Nope\u2019 Gives Way To Undercooked Action Cliches After Compelling Start\">film brought<\/a> him back into the public consciousness. \u200cHowever, these \u200bmay\u2064 not\u200c be \u2064the\u2062 most substantial foundations for his lasting legacy.<\/p>\n<p><em>On Great Fields:\u200b The Life and \u200cUnlikely Heroism\u2063 of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain<\/em> by\u2062 Ronald \u2062C.\u2063 White is a comprehensive exploration of Chamberlain&#8217;s life and impact. While Chamberlain&#8217;s reputation may\u2064 be subject to debate,\u2063 his story continues to captivate and \u2064inspire.<\/p>\n<p><em>Allen C. Guelzo is director of the Initiative on Politics and\u2064 Statesmanship in Princeton \u2063University&#8217;s James Madison Program and author of<\/em> Robert E. Lee: A Life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2>What was\u2063 Joshua\u200b Chamberlain&#8217;s famous quote?<\/h2>\n<p><span>In \u200dgreat deeds, something abides. On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-legend-from-little-round-top\/\" title=\"The Little Round Top Legend\">great fields<\/a>, something stays. Range\u2064 of topics,\u2063 from \u200dhis early \u200cyears as a\u200b professor at Bowdoin College to his military \u200cservice \u200dduring\u200d the Civil \u2064War\u2063 and his postwar political career. White explores the \u2063complexities of Chamberlain&#8217;s character, \u200chighlighting his leadership skills, bravery, and determination on the battlefield, as \u200bwell \u2064as his commitment\u2063 to \u200bequality and \u2062reconciliation after \u2063the war.<\/p>\n<p>Chamberlain&#8217;s \u2063remarkable actions at Gettysburg, particularly his defense of Little Round\u200d Top, have \u200bbeen widely praised and studied. His strategic thinking and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/palestinian-boys-decapitated-head-reattached-by-israeli-surgeons-using-amazing-rare-procedure\/\" title=\"Israeli surgeons successfully reattach Palestinian boy's 'decapitated' head using rare procedure.\">quick decision-making<\/a> in the\u200c face \u200cof overwhelming odds turned the tide of the battle and became a turning point in the war. Chamberlain&#8217;s heroism and bravery are celebrated not only by military\u200c historians\u2062 but \u2062also by a wider audience \u2062who \u200dappreciate his role\u2062 in \u2064preserving the Union.<\/p>\n<p>Chamberlain&#8217;s legacy \u200dextends beyond his military \u200bachievements. As White explores, Chamberlain&#8217;s commitment to reconciliation and equality\u2062 in the postwar years \u2062set him apart from many of his contemporaries. He\u200c believed in the power \u200dof education and advocated for the rights of African Americans, even serving as the Governor of Maine during Reconstruction. His\u2063 efforts to heal the\u200d wounds of\u200d war and promote unity among the American \u2063people are commendable and continue to \u2064inspire.<\/p>\n<p>The enduring popularity of\u2062 Chamberlain&#8217;s story can be attributed \u2063to a\u2062 number\u2062 of factors.\u2062 His actions at Gettysburg, coupled\u200c with his postwar endeavors, embody \u200cthe values and ideals that many Americans hold dear:\u2063 bravery, sacrifice, and a\u2064 commitment\u2064 to justice and equality. Chamberlain&#8217;s story resonates with people from \u2062all walks\u200b of life and serves as a reminder of \u200bthe \u200dpower of \u2062individual\u200b actions to shape history.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain may not have attained the same level of \u2063fame as some of his contemporaries, but his unlikely heroism and lasting impact on American history cannot be denied. From his \u200cdefense of \u2062Little Round Top to his dedication to reconciliation and\u2064 equality in the aftermath of\u200d the Civil\u2064 War, Chamberlain&#8217;s story is one\u200d of courage, leadership,\u2062 and a steadfast\u2063 commitment to\u200c the principles upon which the United \u2063States\u2063 was founded. \u2063His legacy continues to inspire and \u200bhis story serves as a testament to the\u2064 power of individual actions \u2064in shaping the \u2064course of history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, though not a commander of a large army or a renowned naval officer, nor a president like Grant, has emerged as a prominent figure in the Civil War. His distinctiveness among countless others is undeniable<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2180,"featured_media":2167282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Untitled-design-20.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2167281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Untitled-design-20.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2167281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2180"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2167281"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2167281\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2167282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2167281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2167281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2167281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}