Samuel Chamberlain
Encyclopedia
Samuel E. Chamberlain was a soldier
, painter
, and author
who travelled throughout the American Southwest
and Mexico
. He and his wife, Mary, had three children.
and soon afterward moved to Boston
, where he spent most of his childhood. In 1844 at age 15, he left home without permission to go to Illinois
. Two years later he was to join the Illinois Second Volunteer Regiment, then headed to Texas
for the Mexican-American War. In San Antonio Chamberlain joined the regular army
and became part of the First United States Dragoons. He fought at the Battle of Buena Vista
and several other operations in the Mexican-American War. In 1849 he was found to be a deserter when he returned home to Boston to raise a family.
Samuel Chamberlain was also involved in some less savory aspects of the Texas/Mexico border disputes. Most notably, he rode with the infamous Glanton gang, under the command of John Glanton, and was involved in the taking of scalps
under highly questionable circumstances to claim bounties from Mexican authorities for raiding Indians.
, after being chief of staff to Brigadier General William W. Averell and Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, Chamberlain commanded Camp Parole at Annapolis, Maryland for a time and also commanded the Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, an all African American
unit, with the rank of colonel. He was wounded on six different occasions. On February 24, 1865, President
Abraham Lincoln
nominated Chamberlain for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general, U.S. Volunteers, to rank from February 24, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 3, 1865. Chamberlain was mustered out of the U.S.Volunteers on September 16, 1865.
After settling in Massachusetts with his family, Chamberlain became well-known for his charming paintings, which consist largely of landscape
s and battle scenes concerning the Mexican-American war. A large collection is held at the San Jacinto Museum of History Paintings in San Antonio. Chamberlain is also the author of a harrowing account of his early adventures entitled My Confession: The Recollections of a Rogue. It was the primary source for author Cormac McCarthy
's 1985 novel Blood Meridian.
Chamberlain died on November 10, 1908 in Worcester, Massachusetts
.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
who travelled throughout the American Southwest
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He and his wife, Mary, had three children.
Early life
Chamberlain was born in Center Harbor, New HampshireCenter Harbor, New Hampshire
Center Harbor is a town located in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 1,096, a number which multiplies severalfold during the summer months. It is situated between Lake Winnipesaukee and Squam Lake.- History :Center Harbor...
and soon afterward moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, where he spent most of his childhood. In 1844 at age 15, he left home without permission to go to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Two years later he was to join the Illinois Second Volunteer Regiment, then headed to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
for the Mexican-American War. In San Antonio Chamberlain joined the regular army
Regular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
and became part of the First United States Dragoons. He fought at the Battle of Buena Vista
Battle of Buena Vista
The Battle of Buena Vista , also known as the Battle of Angostura, saw the United States Army use artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican army in the Mexican-American War...
and several other operations in the Mexican-American War. In 1849 he was found to be a deserter when he returned home to Boston to raise a family.
Samuel Chamberlain was also involved in some less savory aspects of the Texas/Mexico border disputes. Most notably, he rode with the infamous Glanton gang, under the command of John Glanton, and was involved in the taking of scalps
Scalping
Scalping is the act of removing another person's scalp or a portion of their scalp, either from a dead body or from a living person. The initial purpose of scalping was to provide a trophy of battle or portable proof of a combatant's prowess in war...
under highly questionable circumstances to claim bounties from Mexican authorities for raiding Indians.
In the Civil War
During the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, after being chief of staff to Brigadier General William W. Averell and Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, Chamberlain commanded Camp Parole at Annapolis, Maryland for a time and also commanded the Fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, an all African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
unit, with the rank of colonel. He was wounded on six different occasions. On February 24, 1865, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
nominated Chamberlain for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
brigadier general, U.S. Volunteers, to rank from February 24, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 3, 1865. Chamberlain was mustered out of the U.S.Volunteers on September 16, 1865.
Later life
After the war, Chamberlain was warden of state prisons in Massachusetts and Connecticut.After settling in Massachusetts with his family, Chamberlain became well-known for his charming paintings, which consist largely of landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
s and battle scenes concerning the Mexican-American war. A large collection is held at the San Jacinto Museum of History Paintings in San Antonio. Chamberlain is also the author of a harrowing account of his early adventures entitled My Confession: The Recollections of a Rogue. It was the primary source for author Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy is an American novelist and playwright. He has written ten novels, spanning the Southern Gothic, Western, and modernist genres. He received the Pulitzer Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction for The Road...
's 1985 novel Blood Meridian.
Chamberlain died on November 10, 1908 in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
.
See also
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War
External links
- Images of the U.S.-Mexican War — Sam Chamberlain's Mexican War Watercolor Paintings
- Samuel E. Chamberlain's My Confession from Texas State Historical AssociationTexas State Historical AssociationThe Texas State Historical Association or abbreviated TSHA, is a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to documenting the rich and unique history of Texas. It was founded on March 2, 1897. As of November 2008, TSHA moved from Austin to the University of North Texas in Denton.The executive...
- part 1 of Chamberlain's account .pp.68-91
- Part 2 of Chamberlain's account .pp.52-74
- Part 3 of Chamberlain's account .pp.64-83; epilogue.p.86
- .p.9-10 Letters written by Chamberlain