The Scholar of Little Round Top: Joshua Chamberlain
Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born in Brewer, Maine, in 1828. Growing up in a disciplined household, he developed an intense passion for education, mastering ancient and modern languages. By his early thirties, Chamberlain had established a respected academic career as a professor of rhetoric and modern languages at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Fluent in nine languages, he seemed destined for a quiet life devoted to scholars and books. However, as the American Civil War threatened to tear the nation apart, Chamberlain felt a profound moral duty to defend the Union. Over the objections of college administrators—who believed his talents belonged in the classroom—he requested a leave of absence and volunteered for military service in 1862.
- rhetoric:
- The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively.
- infantry:
- A branch of an army composed of soldiers who fight on foot.
- tactics:
- Carefully planned actions or maneuvers used to achieve a specific goal in battle.
- casualties:
- People in the military who are killed, wounded, captured, or missing during combat.
- counterattack:
- An attack made in response to an attack by an enemy or opponent.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What was Joshua Chamberlain's career before he joined the Civil War?
- 2Why did administrators at Bowdoin College object to Chamberlain's plan to join the military?
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About this biography passage for Middle School
“The Scholar of Little Round Top: Joshua Chamberlain” is a biography reading passage about Joshua Chamberlain and the Battle of Gettysburg, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (448 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.