Chapter 3 – This poem introduces Colonel Chamberlain. He needs to convince a group of soldiers from Maine to join them in an upcoming battle. He is a Colonel in the Union Army V Corps, 1st Division, 3rd Brigade, leading the 20th Regiment from Maine.

Colonel Joshua Chamberlain

Chapter 3 – Colonel Chamberlain of Maine

Early in the morning

20 miles south of PA

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Awoke to a hot day

Just a year ago

He was a professor eminent

Teaching rhetoric at Bowdoin

Now a Colonel of a regiment

Part of the V Corps

He led the 20th of Maine

250 farmers, fishermen, loggers

Now soldiers well trained

His aide told him news

2^nd of Maine disbanded

Soon 120 mutineers

He would be handed

They had seen too much death

And since they did enlist

These strong lumber jacks

Were famously feared for fierce fists

But they had seen enough

A dozen or more battles

Men were dazed

Nerves completely rattled

Yet they were ordered now

To fight or die

He had orders to shoot them

If they didn’t comply

They arrived ragged

Hungry and extremely parched

But orders had been given

20th Maine was to lead the march

For a battle monumental

Would be fought in the upcoming days

A ferocious fight was brewing

Somewhere in PA

There was little time

To talk to these rugged men

No time to write

His speech down in pen

He must trust his gut

His instinct and insight

Speak from his heart

Inspire them to fight

34 years old

Picturesque and tall

He spoke honestly

Heeding the call

The choice was theirs

He made it very clear

Death from him

They should not fear

He spoke of liberty

And justice for all

To free mankind

From slavery’s cruel jaws

Fight for a land

Where no one has to bow

To royalty privileged

Judged only by knowhow

And after all they were

From Maine all brothers

And in the end

They must fight for each other

His brother Tom

Told him of their changed sentiment

All but six would fight

Adding 114 to their regiment

And so the men from Maine

Took the honorable lead

Onto PA

Where thousands upon thousands would bleed

Go to Chapter 4

Battle of Gettysburg Poem

Posted on May 8, 2022 by admin

A ballad poem about the unexpected and miraculous victory of The Union.

Charge of the 1st Minnesota

“Christopher Rudolph exercises his study of the Confederacy’s invasion of Pennsylvania to create a poem. He relates the story of the campaign and Battle of Gettysburg with insight and care for detail. It will appeal to the student and the enthusiast.” – Donald J Frey – Civil War Author, Longstreet’s Assault – Pickett’s Charge, In The Woods Before Dawn, The Adventures of Daniel Buchwalter in the Western Army, and others.

A “Monumental piece.” Janet Morgan Riggs – President of Gettysburg College

“Excellent, and a great way to get students interested in history! It’s extremely creative, and a great approach to teaching.” – Diane Zazzali DeBella – Writing Professor at University of Colorado

“I loved it. Quite a tour de force.” – Judy Hammer – High School English and Drama Teacher

This battle was fought for three days from July 1st to July 3rd, 1863. It is estimated that there were over 50,000 casualties in the two armies fighting (28,000 from the Confederate Army and 23,000 from the Union Army). It was the bloodiest battle of the entire Civil War.

Battle of Gettysburg Poem

Chapter 1 – Army of Northern Virginia

Chapter 2 – Army of Potomoc

Chapter 3 – Colonel Chamberlain

Chapter 4 – General Buford

Chapter 5 – The First Shot

Chapter 6 – Buford Day 1

Chapter 7 – Railroad Cut

Chapter 8 – Chamberlain Day 1

Chapter 9 – Buford Night 1

Chapter 10 – Chamberlain Day 2

Chapter 11 – General Longstreet