What do you think?
Rate this book
Civil War America
In the Hands of Providence: Joshua L. Chamberlain and the American Civil War
Deserve[s] a place on every Civil War bookshelf.--New York Times Book Review
"[Trulock] brings her subject alive and escorts him through a brilliant career. One can easily say that the definitive work on Joshua Chamberlain has now been done.--James Robertson, Richmond Times-Dispatch
"An example of history as it should be written. The author combines exhaustive research with an engaging prose style to produce a compelling narrative which will interest scholars and Civil War buffs alike.--Journal of Military History
"A solid biography. . . . It does full justice to an astonishing life.--Library Journal
This remarkable biography traces the life and times of Joshua L. Chamberlain, the professor-turned-soldier who led the Twentieth Maine Regiment to glory at Gettysburg, earned a battlefield promotion to brigadier general from Ulysses S. Grant at Petersburg, and was wounded six times during the course of the Civil War. Chosen to accept the formal Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Chamberlain endeared himself to succeeding generations with his unforgettable salutation of Robert E. Lee's vanquished army. After the war, he went on to serve four terms as governor of his home state of Maine and later became president of Bowdoin College. He wrote prolifically about the war, including The Passing of the Armies, a classic account of the final campaign of the Army of the Potomac.
"[Trulock] brings her subject alive and escorts him through a brilliant career. One can easily say that the definitive work on Joshua Chamberlain has now been done.--James Robertson, Richmond Times-Dispatch
"An example of history as it should be written. The author combines exhaustive research with an engaging prose style to produce a compelling narrative which will interest scholars and Civil War buffs alike.--Journal of Military History
"A solid biography. . . . It does full justice to an astonishing life.--Library Journal
This remarkable biography traces the life and times of Joshua L. Chamberlain, the professor-turned-soldier who led the Twentieth Maine Regiment to glory at Gettysburg, earned a battlefield promotion to brigadier general from Ulysses S. Grant at Petersburg, and was wounded six times during the course of the Civil War. Chosen to accept the formal Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Chamberlain endeared himself to succeeding generations with his unforgettable salutation of Robert E. Lee's vanquished army. After the war, he went on to serve four terms as governor of his home state of Maine and later became president of Bowdoin College. He wrote prolifically about the war, including The Passing of the Armies, a classic account of the final campaign of the Army of the Potomac.
569 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
60 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
February 24, 2017
Great subject which author who never wrote another book that I could find did an uninspired job of telling for first half of book in which the main non-fiction character saved the Union by winning at Gettysburg. Then she warmed to the subject and described in much better detail the other five!! 5 times he was wounded. Overall a good read but considering the subject matter- could have been much better.
May 27, 2013
If you have seen Gettysburg or otherwise are a Civil War buff, you know right away who Joshua Chamberlain is. A strong argument could be made that his (and the 20th Maine's) stand on Little Round Top on the second day at Gettysburg was the turning point in the battle, and perhaps the Civil War. {Actually stand is not accurate--out of ammunition, he led a bayonet charge of his troops that overwhelmed the opposing Confederate line.)
Trulock's biography fleshes out this unlikely hero--a college professor who ends up a brevet Major General by war's end. We follow him through the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg (where he is badly wounded in the abdomen) through to the final battles, in which he once again plays a decisive role. What is fascinating (and similar in many ways to Stonewall Jackson, and so many others) is his fearlessness in battle nourished by a belief in Providence--that his life--and death--is in the hands of God (hence the book's title.
The biography gives a moving account of the Confederate surrender ceremonies organized by Chamberlain, in which Confederate soldiers laid down their arms without laying down their dignity. Chamberlain treated them as fellow brothers at arms, not evil and inferior enemies. Sadly this conviction hindered him at times from seeing that the South would not always act honorably in the matter of Reconstruction. But Chamberlain went on to a distinguished career as four-time governor of main, innovative college president of Bowdoin College, his alma mater, and businessman.
But the Civil War forever changed his life. Not only was he often called on as a speaker at many veterans events and remembrances. He also lived in pain from his wounds for the rest of a long life. Trulock does not go into detail but one wonders if he was rendered impotent. At one point the couple nearly divorced, and no more children were born. The wounds were a source of recurring infections, from which he finally died fifty years later.
The book is a mix of good historiography, and narrative skill, which sometimes lapses into hagiography. Perhaps it is difficult not to, given the courage and character of Chamberlain.
Trulock's biography fleshes out this unlikely hero--a college professor who ends up a brevet Major General by war's end. We follow him through the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Petersburg (where he is badly wounded in the abdomen) through to the final battles, in which he once again plays a decisive role. What is fascinating (and similar in many ways to Stonewall Jackson, and so many others) is his fearlessness in battle nourished by a belief in Providence--that his life--and death--is in the hands of God (hence the book's title.
The biography gives a moving account of the Confederate surrender ceremonies organized by Chamberlain, in which Confederate soldiers laid down their arms without laying down their dignity. Chamberlain treated them as fellow brothers at arms, not evil and inferior enemies. Sadly this conviction hindered him at times from seeing that the South would not always act honorably in the matter of Reconstruction. But Chamberlain went on to a distinguished career as four-time governor of main, innovative college president of Bowdoin College, his alma mater, and businessman.
But the Civil War forever changed his life. Not only was he often called on as a speaker at many veterans events and remembrances. He also lived in pain from his wounds for the rest of a long life. Trulock does not go into detail but one wonders if he was rendered impotent. At one point the couple nearly divorced, and no more children were born. The wounds were a source of recurring infections, from which he finally died fifty years later.
The book is a mix of good historiography, and narrative skill, which sometimes lapses into hagiography. Perhaps it is difficult not to, given the courage and character of Chamberlain.
June 18, 2014
Recently my daughter earned a position a position at Bowdoin College and when I visited the campus I was struck by the statue of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, an individual who I was familiar with but had not read much about. A week before visiting the Bowdoin campus my wife and I celebrated our anniversary traveling up and down the Maine coast, and for those who know me, they could predict I would find a few books, and in this case they were two biographies of Chamberlain, one of which was Alice Rains Trulock’s IN THE HANDS OF PROVIDENCE: JOSHUA L. CHAMBERLAIN AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, the subject of this review. I knew in advance that Chamberlain’s life story was remarkable, and perhaps, the book should have been titled, “The Professor turned General.” In any case students of the Civil War should become familiar with his exploits; a hero at Gettysburg, a hero during the run up to the siege of Petersburg, a hero at the final battle of the war that led to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox; achieving the rank of major-general, and having his horse shot out from under him six times. His amazing career also included a professorship and presidency of Bowdoin College, and a four term governorship of the state of Maine. There is no question that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain deserves a full length biography depicting his many exploits and accomplishments, but I must ask, has Alice Rains Trulock done Chamberlain’s life justice? Trulock has written a comprehensive biography, but it lacks the incisive analysis that a major work of historical biography calls for. Trulock spends two-thirds of the book detailing Chamberlain’s role in the Civil War and the remaining third on his pre and post-war career. I wonder whether the book is an improvement over Willard M. Wallace’s biography, SOUL OF THE LION, written over thirty years earlier.
To Trulock’s credit she mines the documents carefully and does an exceptional job integrating Chamberlain’s own writings throughout the narrative. Her discussion of the attack and eventual siege of Petersburg and Chamberlain’s role in planning and carrying out orders is perhaps the author’s best section of the book, surpassing her very solid description of the Battle of Gettysburg. Her blend of the course of the many battles she describes, as well as her human interest approach provides the reader with the feel that they were riding along side Chamberlain as he was constantly under fire and repeatedly wounded. The major drawback to the narrative is the paucity of analysis, something that is not expected from a work of this type. Her approach is as a reporter and less so a historian. Her observations of Chamberlain’s bravery and the respect that the troops had for him is well and good, but beyond this and intricate details of a myriad of battles, I expected further discussion of the whys and wherefores of decision making and the historical significance of what transpired.
Trulock’s political observations are more interesting than her military ones. Her discussion of the Election of 1864 that saw President Lincoln defeat General George McClellan was astute. Arguing that it “was one of the most important victories of the war” for union forces, it belied the myth of McClellan’s popularity with the troops as Lincoln garnered a 3-1 advantage among the military. (221) The author also does a credible job as she portrays the important commanders during the war. In particular, her description of the self-serving Philip Sheridan, by providing examples of his egotistical nature is well put. I also enjoyed her discussion of the soldiers and the cross they had to bear. Her short biography of Sgt. Patrick DeLacey and his interaction with Chamberlain is poignant and reflects the raw courage of the men who fought for the union.
Aside from matters relating to the Civil War the reader is exposed to Chamberlain’s early years in Brewer, ME, his staunch moralism, and his early years at Bowdoin. After the war the narrative concentrates on Chamberlain’s presidency of Bowdoin, his governorship, military reunions, business ventures, his health, and family issues. An example of the analysis that may be missing is seen with the ruckus over the mandatory military drilling that Chamberlain called for at Bowdoin. When students opposed the order and rebelled, he suspended the entire student body as his solution for the “drill rebellion.” Trulock could have related this episode to Chamberlain’s own suspension from college when he thought his stand was a matter of honor to defend his beliefs, but she does not. Further, she does not really address why Chamberlain was able to be such a success in the military arts with little combat training. Perhaps it was the discipline he forged during his earlier life.
Overall, despite its flaws, Trulock’s biography is comprehensive and is a useful addition to any Civil War library. There are areas that should have been addressed, perhaps greater clarity of the “fog of war,” but to her credit she does address his depression, physical issues related to the war (he was wounded “by shot and shell” six times), and alludes to a probable case of PTSD from his wartime experiences. One wonders how he accomplished so much as he had to deal with so many personal issues. It reaffirms that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is a worthy subject, and those with an interest in the topics that encompass his life might want to pursue Trulock’s biography.
To Trulock’s credit she mines the documents carefully and does an exceptional job integrating Chamberlain’s own writings throughout the narrative. Her discussion of the attack and eventual siege of Petersburg and Chamberlain’s role in planning and carrying out orders is perhaps the author’s best section of the book, surpassing her very solid description of the Battle of Gettysburg. Her blend of the course of the many battles she describes, as well as her human interest approach provides the reader with the feel that they were riding along side Chamberlain as he was constantly under fire and repeatedly wounded. The major drawback to the narrative is the paucity of analysis, something that is not expected from a work of this type. Her approach is as a reporter and less so a historian. Her observations of Chamberlain’s bravery and the respect that the troops had for him is well and good, but beyond this and intricate details of a myriad of battles, I expected further discussion of the whys and wherefores of decision making and the historical significance of what transpired.
Trulock’s political observations are more interesting than her military ones. Her discussion of the Election of 1864 that saw President Lincoln defeat General George McClellan was astute. Arguing that it “was one of the most important victories of the war” for union forces, it belied the myth of McClellan’s popularity with the troops as Lincoln garnered a 3-1 advantage among the military. (221) The author also does a credible job as she portrays the important commanders during the war. In particular, her description of the self-serving Philip Sheridan, by providing examples of his egotistical nature is well put. I also enjoyed her discussion of the soldiers and the cross they had to bear. Her short biography of Sgt. Patrick DeLacey and his interaction with Chamberlain is poignant and reflects the raw courage of the men who fought for the union.
Aside from matters relating to the Civil War the reader is exposed to Chamberlain’s early years in Brewer, ME, his staunch moralism, and his early years at Bowdoin. After the war the narrative concentrates on Chamberlain’s presidency of Bowdoin, his governorship, military reunions, business ventures, his health, and family issues. An example of the analysis that may be missing is seen with the ruckus over the mandatory military drilling that Chamberlain called for at Bowdoin. When students opposed the order and rebelled, he suspended the entire student body as his solution for the “drill rebellion.” Trulock could have related this episode to Chamberlain’s own suspension from college when he thought his stand was a matter of honor to defend his beliefs, but she does not. Further, she does not really address why Chamberlain was able to be such a success in the military arts with little combat training. Perhaps it was the discipline he forged during his earlier life.
Overall, despite its flaws, Trulock’s biography is comprehensive and is a useful addition to any Civil War library. There are areas that should have been addressed, perhaps greater clarity of the “fog of war,” but to her credit she does address his depression, physical issues related to the war (he was wounded “by shot and shell” six times), and alludes to a probable case of PTSD from his wartime experiences. One wonders how he accomplished so much as he had to deal with so many personal issues. It reaffirms that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is a worthy subject, and those with an interest in the topics that encompass his life might want to pursue Trulock’s biography.
February 12, 2020
Well researched and written. Recommended to Civil War buffs.
December 16, 2022
I had never even heard of Joshua Chamberlain. An old teacher of mine told me he was a personal hero of his, so I read this book about his life. He was truly an exceptional man. At his funeral it was said they there was a fabric to his thoughts, a color to his soul, that blended a particular mix of integrity and manliness not often seen. I think that sums him up very well. He was an English professor who volunteered to join the Union Army during the Civil War. He won the Medal of Honor for his bravery and leadership during the battle of Gettysburg. He rose to become an officer and then brigadier general. Twice he evaded capture by the confederates through his quick thinking and mastery of accents, pretending to be one of their sergeants…and faking a southern accent and drawl. I found his life to be very tough yet Inspiring. The essence of real manhood.
April 26, 2022
4.5 stars for the biography; a full 5 stars for the life of Joshua L. Chamberlain. What an exemplary life. A bonafide national hero. He was, in Trulock’s words, “a true hero in the romantic and classical tradition,” and in the Christian tradition.
October 20, 2016
After Killer Angels became a best seller in 1993—almost 20 years after it was published—a rather unsung hero of the Civil War emerged for the 20th century and beyond: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the beloved Maine professor turned inspirational Union general.
Perhaps Alice Rains Trulock began researching information about Chamberlain back in the 1970s, since it could well have taken her twenty years to gather all the letters, documents, papers, news releases, and more that she needed to publish, in 1992, what has become the definitive biography of this heroic human being.
I looked for a biography of Chamberlain after I read Angels because I wanted to know more about him. Although Trulock’s work included many, many (!) more statistics than I needed to know about each of the battles in which Chamberlain participated and that he led throughout the Civil War, she also narrated an equal number of detailed examples and colorful vignettes to vividly paint an extremely good man, who again and again put others before himself to do what was right.
Many of his famous decisions contained kernels of wisdom that matured from a lifetime of concern for others. His heroic charge on Little Round Top arguably changed the course of the Civil War. At Appomattox when the treaty was signed, it was Chamberlain’s leadership and his brigade’s silent salute to the Confederates that began to restore dignity to the vanquished South.
Trulock also lets us know Chamberlain through his own words that permit his thoughts and ideals to speak for themselves. We learn that he was not a born leader—in fact, he stuttered throughout his early life into his college years—but became one by taking courageous, difficult actions again and again. He wasn’t perfect, of course—as Trulock states simply and sweetly in her introduction—but his strong Christian beliefs helped him to rise about his shortcomings and difficulties to become a man of honor and excellence.
Chamberlain endured great physical suffering for the rest of his life from wounds that were almost fatal, and yet served his college, his state, and his country for almost fifty years after the war ended. He taught every subject except math and science at Bowdoin College before, during, and after he was its president, and mastered nine languages other than English. He was elected four times as governor of his beloved Maine.
As wonderful a researcher as Trulock was, her writing style in the first few chapters made me check the copyright date—it was unpleasantly “old-fashioned” to me. Either I gradually embraced her style or she modernized her writing as her characters matured, because by the time Trulock was narrating Chamberlain’s heroism during the Battle of Little Round Top—for which he received a Medal of Honor—I had forgotten any of Trulock’s perceived shortcomings, and was focusing on the hero that Chamberlain had become.
So, another American hero has entered my lexicon—Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. We owe a debt of gratitude to Michael Shaara for reintroducing him to Americans, and to Alice Raines Trulock for the biography he deserves.
P.S. Although Trulock never truly admits it, Chamberlain had, in my opinion, a less than happy marriage with his true love, Fanny Adams. Although they were married for almost 50 years, many of Fanny’s actions over the decades hinted that she did not celebrate the belief that her husband was a wonderful hero, and appeared not to return his love as he might have deserved.
Although this seems a sad fact, Trulock does narrate familial sweetness that Chamberlain knew with his daughter Grace and her family. Through their letters and deeds, we learn that Grace valued her father greatly; his granddaughters were joyful lights in his later years.
Perhaps Alice Rains Trulock began researching information about Chamberlain back in the 1970s, since it could well have taken her twenty years to gather all the letters, documents, papers, news releases, and more that she needed to publish, in 1992, what has become the definitive biography of this heroic human being.
I looked for a biography of Chamberlain after I read Angels because I wanted to know more about him. Although Trulock’s work included many, many (!) more statistics than I needed to know about each of the battles in which Chamberlain participated and that he led throughout the Civil War, she also narrated an equal number of detailed examples and colorful vignettes to vividly paint an extremely good man, who again and again put others before himself to do what was right.
Many of his famous decisions contained kernels of wisdom that matured from a lifetime of concern for others. His heroic charge on Little Round Top arguably changed the course of the Civil War. At Appomattox when the treaty was signed, it was Chamberlain’s leadership and his brigade’s silent salute to the Confederates that began to restore dignity to the vanquished South.
Trulock also lets us know Chamberlain through his own words that permit his thoughts and ideals to speak for themselves. We learn that he was not a born leader—in fact, he stuttered throughout his early life into his college years—but became one by taking courageous, difficult actions again and again. He wasn’t perfect, of course—as Trulock states simply and sweetly in her introduction—but his strong Christian beliefs helped him to rise about his shortcomings and difficulties to become a man of honor and excellence.
Chamberlain endured great physical suffering for the rest of his life from wounds that were almost fatal, and yet served his college, his state, and his country for almost fifty years after the war ended. He taught every subject except math and science at Bowdoin College before, during, and after he was its president, and mastered nine languages other than English. He was elected four times as governor of his beloved Maine.
As wonderful a researcher as Trulock was, her writing style in the first few chapters made me check the copyright date—it was unpleasantly “old-fashioned” to me. Either I gradually embraced her style or she modernized her writing as her characters matured, because by the time Trulock was narrating Chamberlain’s heroism during the Battle of Little Round Top—for which he received a Medal of Honor—I had forgotten any of Trulock’s perceived shortcomings, and was focusing on the hero that Chamberlain had become.
So, another American hero has entered my lexicon—Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. We owe a debt of gratitude to Michael Shaara for reintroducing him to Americans, and to Alice Raines Trulock for the biography he deserves.
P.S. Although Trulock never truly admits it, Chamberlain had, in my opinion, a less than happy marriage with his true love, Fanny Adams. Although they were married for almost 50 years, many of Fanny’s actions over the decades hinted that she did not celebrate the belief that her husband was a wonderful hero, and appeared not to return his love as he might have deserved.
Although this seems a sad fact, Trulock does narrate familial sweetness that Chamberlain knew with his daughter Grace and her family. Through their letters and deeds, we learn that Grace valued her father greatly; his granddaughters were joyful lights in his later years.
February 12, 2017
Not a bad biography, going from what was known at the time. She's a bit over-the-top with her hero worship, even for me (and I've been referred to as "High Priestess of the Church of Saint Josh"!) Her treatment of his wife is...well, less than generous. Still, it's on my shelf and I still pick it up from time to time.
January 20, 2025
“Oh my young countrymen, into whose hands we commit these sacred trusts, remember well, and do not forget, but face to the front. That flag shall be the beckoning signal for human eyes in many a good fight yet. Men will love it and die for it and glorify it on many a field to come. Great things are coming on—I know not what. Be ready." p. 345
“We are struck with amazement, and thrown upon our guard when we see those who with scorn and contumely spurned the Constitution, and defied the Govern-ment, and sought with violence and cruelty to destroy the Union, now demanding, with equal effrontery and the same spirit of violence, without an apology for the past, without a guaranty for the future, the unconditional restoration of their rights under the Constitution, their place in the Union and their prestige in the Govern-ment.” p. 337
What would Chamberlain think of the world today?
“We are struck with amazement, and thrown upon our guard when we see those who with scorn and contumely spurned the Constitution, and defied the Govern-ment, and sought with violence and cruelty to destroy the Union, now demanding, with equal effrontery and the same spirit of violence, without an apology for the past, without a guaranty for the future, the unconditional restoration of their rights under the Constitution, their place in the Union and their prestige in the Govern-ment.” p. 337
What would Chamberlain think of the world today?
May 11, 2021
An inspirational life of someone who seemed fairly ordinary, but had significant leadership ability, courage, competence, work ethic, and some luck.
April 16, 2021
One of the few officers in the Union Army whose sole purpose for fighting was more opposition to slavery is a great inspiration for today or any time where the moral cause is not popular one.
August 4, 2009
This was the first nonfiction work about Joshua L. Chamberlain that I read. I was pretty drunk on the Chamberlain kool-aid at this point. The biography didn't bring me back down off my high, but it got me closer.
As with several other reviews, I feel duty-bound to plug the book Stand Firm Ye Boys From Maine . That is the book to read if you're are a fan of Chamberlain's now mythologized contribution to the Battle of Gettysburg. However, I'm not knocking this biography. I really enjoyed it, and recommend it for those wanting to get to know Chamberlain.
As with several other reviews, I feel duty-bound to plug the book Stand Firm Ye Boys From Maine . That is the book to read if you're are a fan of Chamberlain's now mythologized contribution to the Battle of Gettysburg. However, I'm not knocking this biography. I really enjoyed it, and recommend it for those wanting to get to know Chamberlain.
July 6, 2017
Combined bio and military history
One of the most enjoyable reads I have had I quite some time. Most people would likely enjoy at least a portion of the book. The story of a great man from the simple parts of life to many of the details of his military service. There are stories of childhood and romance of the 1800s and his early life to details of Civil War military conflicts. The later chapters then read much like a biography of many who have acc ok polished so much their lives are worth writing about. My favorite parts were the great writings and speeches of Chamberlain himself.
One of the most enjoyable reads I have had I quite some time. Most people would likely enjoy at least a portion of the book. The story of a great man from the simple parts of life to many of the details of his military service. There are stories of childhood and romance of the 1800s and his early life to details of Civil War military conflicts. The later chapters then read much like a biography of many who have acc ok polished so much their lives are worth writing about. My favorite parts were the great writings and speeches of Chamberlain himself.
October 22, 2015
Definitely a book I found hard to put down and even more difficult to have end. Possibly the most definitive work on Joshua chamberlain if not the most informative and entertaining next to his own memoir. A definite must read for any civil war follower but more importantly for anyone who wishes to learn about a great human character and natural leader worthy to emulate as a design of providence itself.
October 9, 2017
A well written biography of a worthy subject. It's more comprehensive when it comes to Chamberlain's Civil War service; his post war life only takes up a few chapters, even though he lived another half century after. I would have appreciated a bit more about his time as Governor of Maine and his post-war tenure at Bowdoin, but otherwise a good book.
I particularly appreciated that the author quoted heavily from Chamberlain's own writings as it helped give a real sense of the man.
I particularly appreciated that the author quoted heavily from Chamberlain's own writings as it helped give a real sense of the man.
January 30, 2018
An interesting biography of one of the interesting heroes of the Civil War. While the author details the interesting life of a very unique man and leader, all but the most avid history buff will likely find the details of Chamberlain's life before and after the war to be tedious. However, they are important to understand the hero of Little Round Top.
June 10, 2019
Very enjoyable! I recently finished Rebel Yell and the Yankee Hurrah: The Civil War Journal of a Maine Volunteer by Ruth L. Silliker, which provides an enlisted man's perspective on many of the same battles and events covered by this text. I recommend pairing the texts for a broader view of the topic.
October 1, 2007
Read this way back in my initial 'Chamberlain is God' phase, and it's probably the best biography of him to date. Easy to read and good, good stuff. What a great man...
March 31, 2008
A credible biography but Trulock feeds into the ivory tower complex. She does, however, cover the action and wounding at Petersburg very well.
July 15, 2012
Interesting and filled with details, but more of a hagiography than a biography.
April 19, 2023
Alice Rains Trulock was not a trained historian and this biography is a bit of hagiography, but it is to be excused because the subject turns out to be close to a saint in his life and work. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain first came to my attention in the film “Gettysburg” by Stephen Spielberg. It was Chamberlain who, heading the 20th Maine, faced a dire situation at Little Round Top in that battle. The Confederates were mounting an attack on the south end of the vital point in the battle: the high ground from which artillery could blast the Union army to bits. The 20th was short on ammunition, losing manpower by the minute and facing a desperate alternative: give up the position guarding Little Round Top or fight on, probably to the death. Chamberlain studied the situation and selected the least-likely alternative to either of the others. He ordered his troops to put in place their bayonets and ordered them to charge the confederates. The noise they made and the madness of the charge confused the Southern troops and they departed, the position was held and Chamberlain’s name was entered into the sacred hall of heroes of the Civil War. As this volume attests, however, Chamberlain’s heroics and battle savvy was not used up at Gettysburg; he served heroically at Five Forks, Fredericksburg, at several other battles and at Appomattox, where his gracious treatment of Robert E. Lee won him plaudits and acclaim throughout the South. Returning to Bowdoin College from which he had departed for service years earlier, he resumed teaching courses in oratory and rhetoric and eventually became the school’s president. In that role he was a progressive supporter of new ideas in college education, introducing a science department to the curriculum, much to the consternation of some faculty and alumni. He survived that however and installed other innovations at Bowdoin before his eventual retirement for a brief flirtation with national politics and investment in Florida. Those investments did not work out so well for Chamberlain and he returned to Maine and Brunswick to live out his active life. It is amazing that he lived as long as he did. He was severely injured several times and suffered the after-effects of those injuries for the rest of his life. He had six horses shot from under him yet he insisted, most of the time, that he ride at the front of his attacking troops. Trulock’s writing is a bit flamboyant, if not fawning at times, but the subject keeps living up to the flattery. I am glad to have lived long enough to finally read about Chamberlain in detail as he remains one of the most memorable of all Civil War figures.
March 23, 2024
Having been born and raised in Maine, I consider Joshua Chamberlain to be a homegrown national treasure. Himself born and raised in the central Maine city of Brewer, Chamberlain achieved truly remarkable feats during the American Civil War. I have a great deal of respect for the man himself: well-educated, outdoorsy, brave, self-controlled, surprisingly humble, idealistic, and deeply devoted to his country and home state. Admittedly, Alice Rains Trulock doesn’t make Chamberlain out to be a saint and he certainly wasn’t. He was an imperfect husband and father, with his wife nearly filing for divorce in the years after the war. Trulock tells us the story of a complex human being living in extraordinary times, and very much rising to the occasion. My favorite moment in In the Hands of Providence recounts an interaction between General Horatio Sickle and then Brevet Major General Chamberlain on March 29, 1865: “General, you have the soul of the lion and the heart of the woman!”. That Chamberlain rightfully took this as a compliment says a lot about him, and the 19th century concept of ideal manhood.
My favorite quote:
**
Citation:
Trulock, A.R. (1996). In the hands of providence: Joshua L. Chamberlain and the American Civil War. Blackstone Audio, Inc. https://www.audible.com/pd/In-the-Han... (Original work published 1992)
Title: In the Hands of Providence: Joshua L. Chamberlain and the American Civil War
Author(s): Alice Rains Trulock
Year: 1992
Series: Civil War America
Genre: Nonfiction - Biography, history
Page count: 592 pages
Date(s) read: 3/12/24 - 3/18/24
Book #65 in 2024
**
My favorite quote:
“From listening to the first chapters of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Mrs. Stowe’s parlor to presiding over the surrender ceremony of the South’s finest army, Chamberlain was a witness to a beginning and an ending of his country’s greatest struggle. Distinguishing himself in battle, he transcended death to become a true hero in the romantic and classic tradition that stretches back through chivalric times to epic deeds of ancient warriors. The American Union was saved, and the institution of slavery no longer darkened the luster of its shining ideals, but the great travail brought forth new challenges to a reborn nation. Still confidently placing the welfare of himself and his family in the hands of Providence, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, like his beloved country, faced a future shadowed by the continuing pain of terrible wounds, slow, if ever to heal.” (chapter 10: “The Passing of Armies,” page 333 of the 1992 hardcover edition from The University of North Carolina Press).
**
Citation:
Trulock, A.R. (1996). In the hands of providence: Joshua L. Chamberlain and the American Civil War. Blackstone Audio, Inc. https://www.audible.com/pd/In-the-Han... (Original work published 1992)
Title: In the Hands of Providence: Joshua L. Chamberlain and the American Civil War
Author(s): Alice Rains Trulock
Year: 1992
Series: Civil War America
Genre: Nonfiction - Biography, history
Page count: 592 pages
Date(s) read: 3/12/24 - 3/18/24
Book #65 in 2024
**
October 26, 2020
I was somewhat surprised that Chamberlain’s life before the war is covered quite a bit more than I expected. We’re given a look at a gentle soul, and then a gentleman, as his courtship of Fannie Adams, his future wife, attested. Yet his sense of honor and love of country would propel him away from his family and to a destiny that none could have prophesied of an academic. It would not take long for him to come to love his new life.
I appreciated that, while Chamberlain’s time during the early years of the war weren’t glossed over, neither is the reader given a blow-by-blow account of each battle. We learn what we need to know, as battles are fought and commanders come and go: McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Meade. Then there was Gettysburg and Little Round Top and everything would change. Chamberlain’s role in that battle would be decisive, as a loss there would have been devastating for the Union. After the war, he would be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions there.
After Gettysburg he was given permanent command of the 3rd Brigade, but an attack of malaria would have him sent to D.C. and then home to recuperate. During his time away, a new commander-in-chief of the Union Army would be named: Ulysses S. Grant.
The war would go on, and Chamberlain would be wounded at the battle of Petersburg. For his leadership and gallantry there, he would be given a battlefield promotion to brigadier general by Grant, and then to Major general at the Battle of the Quaker and White Oaks Roads.
Because of his outstanding soldiering at Appomattox, he would be chosen by Grant to command the surrender ceremonies of the infantry of the Army of North Virginia.
Chamberlain’s life after the war is, unfortunately, pretty glossed over, even though he would serve four one-year terms as governor of Maine and that his marriage would almost end in divorce. Of course, one does understand that will be the case from the title. One does get the impression, though, that, with age, he would lose much of his progressive leanings.
On February 24th, 1914, nearly fifty years after the minié ball tore through Chamberlain at the battle of Petersburg, the culminated affects of it would finally kill him.
I appreciated that, while Chamberlain’s time during the early years of the war weren’t glossed over, neither is the reader given a blow-by-blow account of each battle. We learn what we need to know, as battles are fought and commanders come and go: McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Meade. Then there was Gettysburg and Little Round Top and everything would change. Chamberlain’s role in that battle would be decisive, as a loss there would have been devastating for the Union. After the war, he would be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions there.
After Gettysburg he was given permanent command of the 3rd Brigade, but an attack of malaria would have him sent to D.C. and then home to recuperate. During his time away, a new commander-in-chief of the Union Army would be named: Ulysses S. Grant.
The war would go on, and Chamberlain would be wounded at the battle of Petersburg. For his leadership and gallantry there, he would be given a battlefield promotion to brigadier general by Grant, and then to Major general at the Battle of the Quaker and White Oaks Roads.
Because of his outstanding soldiering at Appomattox, he would be chosen by Grant to command the surrender ceremonies of the infantry of the Army of North Virginia.
Chamberlain’s life after the war is, unfortunately, pretty glossed over, even though he would serve four one-year terms as governor of Maine and that his marriage would almost end in divorce. Of course, one does understand that will be the case from the title. One does get the impression, though, that, with age, he would lose much of his progressive leanings.
On February 24th, 1914, nearly fifty years after the minié ball tore through Chamberlain at the battle of Petersburg, the culminated affects of it would finally kill him.
April 19, 2024
The central event in the life of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of Maine was the American Civil War. It is appropriate, then, that this biography of him should concentrate the bulk of its material on that life-changing occurrence. To be sure, the author does not neglect Chamberlain's life before he enlisted in the Union army (when he studied theology and longed to be a missionary overseas), nor his life after Appomattox (when he served four terms as Maine's governor), but these segments take a back seat to the account of the various battles and engagements of the general's life. I have rarely, if ever, encountered a book that makes the horrors of war so vivid and appalling as this one does. The maps supplied are, for the most part, helpful (but still occasionally lack place names referred to in the text). I liked the photographs being spread throughout the book, rather than concentrated in one, central set of pages. And I applaud the author for her careful insertion of Chamberlain's own words from time to time, when apposite and appropriate: this may seem a small thing, but it makes the man himself come alive in a special way. (It also demonstrates the author's utter mastery of her subject.) The notes are exhaustively detailed, almost a book in themselves, but there is a special wisdom evident in what was chosen to be consigned to the back pages: endless statistics, details of events unnecessary to the central narrative thrust, etc. -- The portrait of Chamberlain that emerges from these pages is that of an admirable, though by no means perfect, man. (One does not know what, exactly, to make of his marriage. Also Chamberlain showed a noble naivete in desiring the men of the defeated South back into the Union easily, while not showing much concern for the welfare of the now-freed slaves.) The writing style, though, is a bit dry at times -- and yet, at others, shows an odd propensity to use the exclamation point! On the whole, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the U.S. Civil War and/or wishing to know more about Joshua Chamberlain. The final biographical word on him, though, I suspect, has not yet been sounded...
November 17, 2021
In retrospect, considering how many times it has since come up in conversation, “Grant” by Ron Chernow (read last year) is an influential book in our (mine and my husband’s) literary lives. We read it aloud together, as we did this Civil War biography. One gave us the view from the top (the strategist, the chess master); and this other, the view from a fighter moving across the battlefields from Antietam to Gettysburg to Petersburg to Five Forks. And what a fighter he is! We first encountered Chamberlain as the hero of Little Round Top in “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara: having run out of ammunition, he led his men in a desperate bayonet charge against overwhelming odds, and the Confederate wave scattered. Eventually, this led to his Medal of Honor.
So what about the pros and cons of this particular narrative? The pros include many battlefield maps that add to understanding the logistical descriptions as well as lots of photographs of people and places. The reader can watch Chamberlain age from a handsome young officer in the prime of life to a distinguished professor and president of Bowdoin College. The cons are few; however, the detailed rank designations of relatively minor figures is tedious. Also the pace is rather uneven.
Overall, this is a wonderful account of a charismatic Civil War hero who deserves all the accolades he received, and more. Attending one of the many post-war lectures and speeches he made would have been a lifetime high point. But alas, born too late!
So what about the pros and cons of this particular narrative? The pros include many battlefield maps that add to understanding the logistical descriptions as well as lots of photographs of people and places. The reader can watch Chamberlain age from a handsome young officer in the prime of life to a distinguished professor and president of Bowdoin College. The cons are few; however, the detailed rank designations of relatively minor figures is tedious. Also the pace is rather uneven.
Overall, this is a wonderful account of a charismatic Civil War hero who deserves all the accolades he received, and more. Attending one of the many post-war lectures and speeches he made would have been a lifetime high point. But alas, born too late!
December 15, 2019
'In the Hands of Providence,' a biography of one of the finest officers and best people the U.S. has ever produced, is competently written and fascinating from start to finish. I recommend reading this book, with its associated maps, over listening to the audio version. I listened to the audio and, while narrator Grover Gardner does a fine job, I'd have benefited from being able to reference maps of the Civil War battles in which the book's subject, Joshua Chamberlain, participated.
I have a problem with the book, one that keeps me from giving it more than three stars. While author Alice Rains Trulock introduces Chamberlain well enough and delivers an excellent Civil War biography, she gives relatively short shrift to Chamberlain's long and distinguished postwar career. I'd have loved to learn more about the near-civil-war the man defused in Maine. I'd have loved to learn about the late-19th-century Florida land speculation in which Chamberlain engaged. I'd have loved to learn more about Bowdoin College, about Maine politics, about all the stories I imagine Trulock left behind in an earlier draft of the book, after her publisher told her Civil War buffs cared only about the Civil War.
Still, if you're interested in the Hero of Little Round Top, the President of Bowdoin College, the Governor of Maine, the Medal of Honor Recipient, the Devout Christian, and the All-Around Great Guy Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, this is the book for you. I recommend it to history buffs, Civil War buffs, and Jeff Daniels fans.
I have a problem with the book, one that keeps me from giving it more than three stars. While author Alice Rains Trulock introduces Chamberlain well enough and delivers an excellent Civil War biography, she gives relatively short shrift to Chamberlain's long and distinguished postwar career. I'd have loved to learn more about the near-civil-war the man defused in Maine. I'd have loved to learn about the late-19th-century Florida land speculation in which Chamberlain engaged. I'd have loved to learn more about Bowdoin College, about Maine politics, about all the stories I imagine Trulock left behind in an earlier draft of the book, after her publisher told her Civil War buffs cared only about the Civil War.
Still, if you're interested in the Hero of Little Round Top, the President of Bowdoin College, the Governor of Maine, the Medal of Honor Recipient, the Devout Christian, and the All-Around Great Guy Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, this is the book for you. I recommend it to history buffs, Civil War buffs, and Jeff Daniels fans.
May 31, 2021
A look at Civil War hero and Maine native Joshua Chamberlain. Civil War readers will recognize him as the commander of the famed 20th Maine infantry, which participated in several major battles, including a pivotal engagement at Gettysburg which could have turned the course of the battle and potentially history itself had his unit not held the line when it did. Interspersed with Chamberlain's own words in the the form of written correspondence during and after the war, the book gives a glimpse into his thoughts and feelings at important times throughout his life, particularly during the war. At almost 600 pages, this is a moderately-long book, but it didn't seem that long for two reasons. One, it flowed smoothly through the subject's early life and pre-Civil War days to his service during the war to his life in academia and public service in later life. In fact, it seemed at times to just gloss over the pre-and-post war periods despite adequate coverage of each. I suppose it's a case of Chamberlain's military exploits being more interesting and noteworthy to the average history buff than the rest of his life, despite his later years as Governor of Maine and President of Bowdoin College, to name a couple of interesting periods. His was an interesting life, and its well worth the read.
July 22, 2024
Before my review begins my background is important to consider. I have been connected with the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum In Brunswick for over 24 years, serving currently as one of the two site managers.
There are now (with White’s book) four major Chamberlain biographies. Soul of a Lion (1960) by Wallace; In the Hands of Providence (1992) by Trulock; Fanny and Joshua (1999) by Smith; and On Great Fields (2023) by White.
I will be completing my reviews of all biographies shortly and encourage reviewing each one. (An honorable mention to Joshua Chamberlain, a heroes life and legacy, by Pullen)
Trulock’s book on Joshua Chamberlain has been the biography which others are measured.
The cons would be a low presentation of Chamberlain’s wife Fanny (and family) future books by Smith and White have surpassed that.
Some feel her heavy fact based style is harder to read.
Finally she has an admiration of Chamberlain can bleed through, though fairly others can struggle with this as well.
Pros - her military coverage is very thorough and her research has certainly benefited Smith and White.
SUMMARY: if you want a full biography that is stronger on the military career of Joshua Chamberlain this is your book.
Despite it being a little tougher to read than White and Smith I would give her work a 4.4 or 4.5 if I could.
There are now (with White’s book) four major Chamberlain biographies. Soul of a Lion (1960) by Wallace; In the Hands of Providence (1992) by Trulock; Fanny and Joshua (1999) by Smith; and On Great Fields (2023) by White.
I will be completing my reviews of all biographies shortly and encourage reviewing each one. (An honorable mention to Joshua Chamberlain, a heroes life and legacy, by Pullen)
Trulock’s book on Joshua Chamberlain has been the biography which others are measured.
The cons would be a low presentation of Chamberlain’s wife Fanny (and family) future books by Smith and White have surpassed that.
Some feel her heavy fact based style is harder to read.
Finally she has an admiration of Chamberlain can bleed through, though fairly others can struggle with this as well.
Pros - her military coverage is very thorough and her research has certainly benefited Smith and White.
SUMMARY: if you want a full biography that is stronger on the military career of Joshua Chamberlain this is your book.
Despite it being a little tougher to read than White and Smith I would give her work a 4.4 or 4.5 if I could.
November 5, 2018
Chamberlain's life was characterized by unflagging courage and consistent care for his men, his wife, his family, and all those who were entrusted to his care. His career as an officer in the Union army was marked by an unyielding trust in the Sovereignty of God as relates to his own mortality; this compelled him to lead his men into the heart of battle time and time again. Wounded several times, Chamberlain continued to return to battle as soon as his recovery made it possible, eager to do not just his duty, but called by God to fight for a cause for which he would gladly give his life. Two stories I found especially entertaining were the accounts of Chamberlain extending himself beyond his own forces, yet in the face of capture by the CSA, eluded them by pulling up his faded blue union coat, (which could be mistaken as gray) and imitating a Confederate Officer--once even to the capture of the very CSA soldiers themselves. Chamberlain's is an inspiring story, worthy of retelling subsequent generations who aspire to possess honor, responsibility, faithfulness, love, and courage.
August 11, 2018
I recently re-read Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels and watched Gettysburg, the film based on the novel. I was moved by Jeff Daniels' portrayal of Joshua Chamberlain and wanted to know more about Chamberlain's life after the war. Trulock's narrative nonfiction is well researched and easy to follow. Included are many direct passages from Chamberlain's writings and photos of the main characters on both sides of the battles during the Civil War. Many feel that Chamberlain is due much more credit than he has been given for his acts in the war. His four years as Governor of Main, later Presidency of Bowdoin College and many business dealings later in his life completed the history.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews