On 24 February, 1914, Major General <brevet> Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain died from a battle wound. Nothing too surprising there as this was the first year of World War I which would kill millions. But WW I did not start until August and besides, Chamberlain was an American, 85 years of age, and not involved with any conflict at the time of his death.
He received the would that would kill him during the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, in April, 1864. He was leading a charge when he was hit by a musket bullet in the hip. The bullet passed out his other hip, damaging his bladder. The wound was considered lethal (which is actually was) and his obituary was published the next day in the newspapers of his home state, Maine. By November of that year, he was again in command of an active force in the Civil War, would serve to the end of that war and eventually sustain six wounds during battle. His final service was to accept the formal surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia that effectively ended the American Civil War. Chamberlain went on to serve four terms as Governor of Main, serve as the President of Bowdoin college, practice as a lawyer in New York and several other activities. All of this despite having to wear a catheter from the time of his wound at Petersburg and going through another six operations in an unsuccessful effort to repair the damage done by that wound that would cause almost constant pain and repeated infections until his death.
Beside him at his death was Dr. Shaw, one of the two surgeons who had performed the initial wound surgery on Chamberlain 50 years before. Chamberlain is believed to be the last person to die as a result of wounds sustained during the Civil War.
Brian
