Far to the north, the great state of
Maine did not witness any
Civil War battles. Mainers, however, contributed to the war in many important ways. Hailing from the mainland to the islands, soldiers bravely fought to preserve the United States in most major battles. Men like General Joshua Chamberlain, the hero of Little Round Top, proudly returned home to serve as governor. Maine native Hannibal Hamlin served as
Abraham Lincoln’s first vice president. And Maine’s strong women sacrificed and struggled to maintain their communities and support the men who had left to fight. Author Harry Gratwick diligently documents the stories of these and other Mainers who preserved “The Way Life Should Be” for Maine and the entire United States.
Background Information
Maine was still part of Massachusetts at the time of the Revolution, but soon separated and was admitted as a state. American Civil War lasted from the bombardment of Fort Sumter in 1861 to the surrender of the Confederacy in 1865. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican President and led the Union during the Civil War.
