Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences [Hardcover]

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Stan Clark Military Books; Limited 1st edition (December 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879664216
• ISBN-13: 978-1879664210
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #295,077 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eloquent and moving, August 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences (Hardcover)

If you want to learn more about Joshua L. Chamberlain, what better way to do it than to read his first hand accounts and speeches. This book is a compilation of several articles he wrote for a magazine and a number of speeches he gave after the war. Bear in mind that the magazine articles were heavily edited by the editor of the magazine, much to the chagrin of Chamberlain, who was quite angry! One of his speeches at the dedication of the Gettysburg monuments very succinctly outlines his reasons for volunteering for the Union Army and the ideology that kept him going back to the field, even after a horrible wound that should have killed him. Chamberlain wrote very eloquently about his experiences and his speeches are extremely moving. A must read for any Chamberlain fan!

58 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bayonet! Forward! My Civil War Reminiscences, January 27, 2000

By 

Stacy L. Cooke (Diboll, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences (Hardcover)

As an avid reader of Civil War history, I found the book interesting, but not quite as exciting as I would have suspected. Chamberlain's description of battles are a little heavy and confusing; some of which, no doubt, has to do with 19th century semantics and the fact that he had been a professor of rhetoric, oratory and modern language (not to mention that I am not an infantryman!). His descriptions, however, bear the special benefit of this hero's personal experiences in battle and are probably made more humble than they should be judging by the man's character.

69 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Genuine American Hero, May 26, 2001

By 

The Rev. Dr. Daniel J. G. G. Block - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bayonet! Forward: My Civil War Reminiscences (Hardcover)

These United States of America have more pretenders to the title than genuine heroes. Revisionist historians often inform us that our idols have feet of clay. George Washington, the "father of our country," was too proud to shake the hand of ordinary American citizens. Thomas Jefferson, "author of the Declaration of Independence," held others in servitude. Abraham Lincoln was subject to deep bouts of depression. George Patton was a bully incapable of showing compassion for psychologically wounded soldiers. It is even whispered that "Ike," the very symbol of 1950s family stability, may have had an affair during WWII, while Mamie patiently waited at home for the return of her soldier. The list goes on.

That on-going litany of real world disappointments is what makes Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain so important to the American story. In Chamberlain, we find one of the few genuine heroes, so far revealed in our short, national history.

In this volume, we read Chamberlain's (mostly) post-war speechs and reports on some of the most critical actions of the Civil War. Despite his meteoric rise from Lieutenant Colonel to Major General in four, awful years, Chamberlain does not turn the spot light upon himself. Despite being awarded the Medal of Honor, Chamberlain does not see himself as special. Instead, in speech after speech, Chamberlain gives credit (by name) to his soldiers and to his God. Like Alvin York, another American hero who would follow him 50 years later, Chamberlain was truly humble, and in his humility could be found the seeds of his heroism.

This book, like Chamberlain's other writings is a magnificent primer for those who would seek to give selfless service to their nation, their God, or both.