MAJOR GENERAL JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 09/15/1894 - HFSID 309247

JOSHUA LAWRENCE CHAMBERLAIN
Four-page letter strongly supporting an art student's hopes of joining a New York company
Autograph Letter signed: "J. L Chamberlain", 4 pages (integral leaf), 9¾x8 Open flat, 5x8 Folded. Brunswick, Maine, 1894 September 15. To "Dear Mr. Laurence", in full: "Your characteristic thoughtful & kind letter was received last evening. Miss Edmunds had already written you, having first tried her hand for a day or so in the line of your work, to see whether she could even satisfy herself. She sent you a few designs she made off hand in that short time. Whatever may have been the merits (or demerits) of these designs, I have not the slightest doubt of her ability to meet the most critical requirements of your house, when once she gets your ideas & wishes fully before her. She is a girl of considerable talent 'all around' and has an active, energetic spirit which will ensure her success in whatever she finds appropriate for her best abilities. Indeed she is a rare character in all that constitutes woman's worth. I am much gratified at the prospect of her being within the reach of your influence and care. I may add that I feel an equal satisfaction at the prospect of her engagement by your company, the spirit and business principles of which commend themselves to me to a remarkable degree. She is far from dreading hard work. Her seeming delay in responding to your last kind letter was her earnest desire to show whether her work would be acceptable to you. With all her enthusiastic spirit she has a modesty amounting almost to diffidence. Yet she is bold enough in her course when she is sure she is right. I am so confident of her success with your house that I am advising her to go to Newton at once, or as soon as she hears from you again, whatever way be your decision as to the value of her hasty little sketches. She thinks of leaving here Wednesday. Could she know where to express her little baggage for the week of 'trial'? But I feel sure she will stay with your company, and would almost venture to suggest rooms for her. Truly yours". Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828-1914, born in Brewer, Maine), formerly a professor at Bowdoin College in Maine, commanded the 20th Maine in its famous defense of Little Round Top in the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. His unit was posted as left flank of the Union Army and fended off repeated Confederate attacks throughout the day. Chamberlain broke the Confederate lines by a bayonet charge. Chamberlain, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for this action, received the only battlefield promotion to General in the Civil War. Assigned to brigade command in June 1864, he was wounded 12 days later in the assault on Petersburg. Chamberlain was promoted to Brigadier General on the spot by General Grant, then carried to the rear, where a surgeon declared that he would certainly die from the wound (he did, 50 years later). At Appomattox Courthouse (April 9, 1865), Brevet Major General Chamberlain was chosen to accept the Confederate surrender. He then ordered Union troops to present arms to their former enemy as a mark of respect. Chamberlain was Governor of Maine from 1867 to 1871 and president of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine from 1871 to 1883. "Mr. Lawrence", the head of a New York commercial art company, was also a faculty member of New York City's Stinson Institute for Artist-Artisans, which Chamberlain served as President in the 1890s. Lightly toned. Worn on edges. Mailing folds. Fine condition.