S8 Ep1088: Ronald White, guest author, recounts how, in June 1864, Chamberlain led a perilous frontal assault at Petersburg, where he was st

The John Batchelor Show · Jul 4, 2026 · 8m

Ronald White, guest author, recounts how, in June 1864, Chamberlain led a perilous frontal assault at Petersburg, where he was struck by a minié ball that traveled through his hips, shattering internal blood vessels and his bladder. Surgeons gave him only a 10% chance of survival, and he wrote a heart-wrenching final farewell to Fanny from his hospital bed. Defying medical expectations, he survived the infection-riddled environment and returned to the field to command a brigade during the final pursuit of Lee's army. At Appomattox, General Grant chose him to preside over the formal surrender…