Ellis
Spear
Born in Warren Maine in 1834, Ellis Spear graduated
from Bowdoin College in 1858 and was studing for the bar and teaching school in Wiscasset Maine at the
outbreak of the Civil War. In the fall of 1862 President Lincoln called for 300,000
more volunteers to help put down the rebellion. Spear began recruiting a
company of men from Wiscasset, his hometown of Warren and the neighboring areas
of Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties. The company of 87 men was assigned to the 20th
Maine Regiment and designated Company G. Spear, now commissioned a Capt.,
served as the commanding officer of Co. G. until just before the Battle of
Gettysburg, in July of 1863, when he was named acting Major of the regiment.
His character is featured in early parts of the movie "Gettysburg"
and he in fact commanded the left of the regiment during the famous battle of
“Little Round Top” on July 2, 1863 under Lt. Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain. After
Gettysburg he assumed command of the 20th Maine Regiment for most of
the war. He later commanded a brigade under Gen. Bartlett. He was commissioned
Lt. Col., Brevetted Col. and finally Brevet. Brig. General for his brave
service during the final Appomattox campaign.
After the war he was a successful patent lawyer in
Washington D.C., served as Commissioner of Patents for the United States,
remained active in the 20th Maine Association and designed the
monument to the regiment at Gettysburg. He wrote and published his own account
of the Battle of Fredericksburg. His wartime diaries, and recollections have
been published by his late grandson Abbott Spear of Maine in a book entitled,
"The Civil War Recollections of General Ellis Spear".
His diaries and recollections portray an
educated man with a wonderful dry whit, who hated war, valued life and loved
his country. He saw the war not as an opportunity for glory but as "the
work" needed to preserve the Union. He cared not for rank or personal
gain. Instead he cared about the men that he recruited and lead. He nursed them
when they were sick with what food he could find and buried them when they
died. After the war his wife Susan died. He married Sarah Keene, the widow of
his good friend Sam Keene, who had died in his arms in front of the trenches at
Petersburg. He lived to the age of 80 and is buried in Arlington National
Cemetery. In addition to his grandson Abbott's work on the
"Recollections" and "Fredericksburg", members of the Spear
family have preserved his valuable papers and correspondence and are working
now to have more of them published.
Learn more about the life and service of Ellis
Spear from these books available through:
The Civil War Recollections of
General Ellis Spear By Ellis and Abbott Spear
My Story of Fredericksburg By Ellis and Abbott
Spear
The 20th Maine By John Pullen
Stand Firm Ye Boys from
Maine By
Tom Desjardin
Learn about Ellis Spear's postwar career as United States Commissioner of Patents
Learn about the influence and kindness of Mrs. Sarah Spear that helped in
the establishment of the Boys Scouts of America. Founders of Boy
Scouts, James E. West
Links of Interest:
20th
Maine Volunteer Infantry of the American Civil War Association
If you would like more information on Ellis Spear, the 20th Maine or have information you would like to share please contact: Lt. D. Thomas Starr 20th Maine Vol. Inf. Co. G. American Civil War Association of California