The Qualities That Made Chamberlain a Great Leader - Essay Example

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (1828-1914) was born in Brewer, in the of Maine. He was a college professor but later volunteered to join the Union Army during the American Civil War. This elevated him to a highly respected Union Army office with a high rank and Medal honour award. He was certainly a great leader admired by many. No wonder his outstanding accomplishments feature in many books, archival reports and even movies. Michael Shaara is one of the many authors and novelists who have written about him.

His novel “Killer Angels” offers a very vivid description of his leadership and this proves that he certainly possessed the qualities of a good leader. Chamberlain was a man with the determination to excel in all his endeavours. He always strategized means of overcoming difficulties he faced. This is seen in the way he performs under a challenging military operation at Little Round Top. He was determined to accomplish all his missions at all costs and was a man who was ready to learn and guide people in the right direction.

Through the diaries, letters, memoirs and journals used by Shaara in the novel, Chamberlain is depicted as a man who was full of respect to people and constantly extended respect to the people he led. Chamberlain had an excellent mastery of language and was very vocal with instrumental achievement which gave him an upper hand. He believed that he had an intrinsic calling to combat the forces that threatened to disunite his nation. This is proved by the fact that he was just a college professor and not a trained soldier, but his leadership qualities in the Army Union seem in-born.

For instance, at the onset of the war, he was a lieutenant Colonel, but towards the end, he was a brigadier. He displays this when he leads his men on Little Round Top, which ultimately saved the Union from the threats to divide it eventually being awarded the Medal of Honour. His exceptional leadership qualities won him four consecutive terms as the Governor for Maine State, and eventually the President of Bowdoin College for thirteen years. All these traits qualify Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain as a great leader with an exceptional attitude that ultimately earned him much appreciation and admiration by scores of people.