Samuel Chamberlain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Chamberlain
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Brig. Gen. Samuel Chamberlain
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| Born | November 27, 1829 Center Harbor, New Hampshire |
| Died | November 10, 1908 (aged 78) Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1849 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel Brevet Brigadier General |
| Unit | 2nd Illinois Volunteer Regiment 1st U.S. Dragoons |
| Commands held | 1st Massachusetts Cavalry 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
Samuel Emery Chamberlain (born November 27, 1829 – died November 10, 1908) was an American soldier, artist, and writer. He traveled a lot through the American Southwest and Mexico in the mid-1800s.
Early Life and Adventures
Samuel Chamberlain was born in Center Harbor, New Hampshire. Soon after, his family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he grew up. In 1844, when he was 15, he left home and went to Illinois.
Two years later, he joined the 2nd Illinois Volunteer Regiment. He headed to Texas to take part in the Mexican–American War. In San Antonio, Chamberlain joined the regular army. He became part of the 1st U.S. Dragoons. He fought in the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847. He also took part in other operations in Mexico. In 1849, he left the army without permission. By 1854, he had returned to Boston to start a family. He married Mary Keith on July 4, 1855, and they had three children.
Chamberlain also had some wild adventures near the Texas–Mexico border. He rode for a time with a group led by John Glanton. This group was hired by Mexican officials to track down and deal with hostile Apaches after the war. The group became known for its questionable actions. Its members were eventually declared outlaws by the Mexican government. Chamberlain's writings are the only known source about a person called Judge Holden, who was Glanton's second-in-command. While Chamberlain and some others escaped, Glanton and many of his group were attacked by Yuma Indians in April 1850.
Serving in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Samuel Chamberlain was an important leader. He served as chief of staff for Brigadier General William W. Averell. He was also a Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment.
Chamberlain later commanded Camp Parole in Annapolis, Maryland. He also led the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry. This was a unit made up entirely of African-American soldiers. He held the rank of colonel. He was wounded six times during the war.
On February 24, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln honored Chamberlain. He nominated him for the honorary rank of brevet brigadier general. This award was confirmed on March 3. Chamberlain left the U.S. Volunteers on September 16, 1865.
Life After the War
After the war, Chamberlain worked as a warden in state prisons in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He settled in Massachusetts with his family.
Chamberlain became famous for his beautiful paintings. These paintings often showed landscapes and battle scenes from the Mexican–American War. A large collection of his artwork is kept at the San Jacinto Museum of History.
Chamberlain also wrote and illustrated a book about his travels in the 1840s. The book was called My Confession: The Recollections of a Rogue. He wrote it between 1855 and 1861. It told about his time in the Mexican–American War and his adventures with the Glanton group. Even though some stories in his book were a bit exaggerated, most of them have been proven true by research. His book is important because it gives a real look at what it was like to be an American soldier during the Mexican–American War. It is still a valuable source for historians today. The book also inspired author Cormac McCarthy's 1985 novel Blood Meridian. The main character in the novel, known as "the kid," is thought to be loosely based on Chamberlain.
Samuel Chamberlain passed away on November 10, 1908, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Gallery
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Hanging of the San Patricios
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Sam in his old age, recalling the Mexican War
See also
In Spanish: Samuel Chamberlain para niños
