Samuel Chamberlain

Samuel Chamberlain
[[Image:File:Samuel E. Chamberlain.png|center|200px|border]]Brig. Gen. Samuel Chamberlain
Personal Information
Born:	November 27, 1829
Place of Birth:	{{{place of birth}}}
Died:	1908
Place of Death:	{{{place of death}}}
Nickname:
Birth Name:	{{{birth name}}}
Other Information
Allegiance:	United States of America Union
Participation(s):	{{{participations}}}
Branch:	United States Army Union Army
Service Years:	{{{service years}}}
Rank:	Bvt. Brigadier General
Service number :	{{{servicenumber}}}
Unit:	{{{unit}}}
Commands:	1st Massachusetts Cavalry 5th Massachusetts Cavalry
Battles:	Mexican-American War American Civil War
Awards:
Relations:	{{{relations}}}
Other work:	{{{otherwork}}}

Samuel E. Chamberlain (November 27, 1829–1908) was a soldier, painter, and author who travelled throughout the American Southwest and Mexico.

Early life

Chamberlain was born in Center Harbor, New Hampshire 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 1849 he was found to be a deserter when he returned home to Boston to raise a family. He and his wife, Mary, had three children.

In the Civil War

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. During the Civil War, he commanded the Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry, an all African American unit, and rose to the rank of brigadier general.

Later life

After settling in Massachusetts with his family, Chamberlain became well-known for his charming paintings, which consist largely of landscapes 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.

Gallery

Sanpatricioshang.jpg

Hanging of the San Patricios

The Great Western as Landlady.jpg

The Great Western as Landlady, a portrait of Sarah A. Bowman

Sam Chamberlain.jpg

Sam in his old age, recalling the Mexican War

See also

• List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War

References

• Goetzmann, William H.: "Sam Chamberlain's Mexican War: The San Jacinto Museum of History Paintings"
• Chamberlain, Samuel E.: "My Confession: Recollections of a Rogue."

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 Association
• 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

es:Samuel Chamberlain