Ted & Faye Chamberlain Adoption
Ted and Faye Chamberlain of St. Joseph, Michigan have adopted the flag of the Third Brigade, First Division, 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. This adoption marks the first time one of our “designating flags” has been adopted and our sincere thanks go to the Chamberlains for their support.
The Third Brigade was commanded after Gettysburg by Ted’s fifth cousin Brigadier General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Chamberlain, the pre-war Professor of Languages and Rhetoric at Bowdoin College was the Colonel of the 20th Maine in its famous fight holding Little Round Top at the battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863, depicted in Michael Shaara’s novel The Killer Angels and later in the film Gettysburg.
After the death of General Strong Vincent, brigade command went to Chamberlain. Chamberlain received the Medal of Honor for “conspicuous gallantry” and post-war served four terms as the Governor of Maine, finally succumbing in 1914 to the lingering effects of his six wartime woundings.
The 16th Michigan fought alongside the 20th Maine with great distinction and the brigade was commanded before Gettysburg by the 16th’s Colonel Thomas Stockton of Flint. Very little information is known as to the accession of this designating flag into the Michigan collection but our assumption has been that is was donated either through the auspices of Colonel Stockton or a member of the 16th Michigan.
(left) Designating battle flag of the Third Brigade, First Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. (right) Ted and Faye Chamberlain portraying Brigadier General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and his wife Fanny Chamberlain.