Samuel Chamberlain
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Caution: There are two Samuel Chamberlains Samuel Chamberlain - Painter of Architecture and Samuel Chamberlain (described below) Samuel Chamberlain - Warrior and Painter
Samuel E. Chamberlain (November 27, 1829-1908) was a soldier, painter, and author who travelled throughout the American Southwest and Mexico.
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[edit] 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 he left home without permission to go to Illinois where two years later he was to join the Illinois Second Volunteer Regiment, which was at that time headed to Texas for the Mexican-American War. In San Antonio he 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, but was found to be a deserter in 1849 when he returned home to Boston to raise a family. He and his wife, Mary, had three children.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Later life
After settling in Massachusetts with his family, Chamberlain became well-known for his 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.
[edit] 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."
