Ellis Spear

Infobox Military Person
name=Ellis Spear
born=Birth date|1834|10|15
died= death date and age|1917|4|3|1834|10|15
placeofbirth=Warren, Maine
placeofdeath=Washington, D.C.
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery


caption=Bvt. Brig. Gen. Ellis Spear
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch= Union Army
serviceyears=1861–65
rank= Brevet Brigadier General
commands=20th Maine Infantry
unit=
battles=American Civil War *Battle of Fredericksburg *Battle of Gettysburg
*Battle of Petersburg *Appomattox Campaign
awards=
laterwork=Patent attorney

Ellis Spear (October 15, 1834 – April 3, 1917) was an officer in the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment who rose to the rank of general during the American Civil War.

Biography

Spear was born in Warren, Maine, in 1834 and was educated at Bowdoin College, graduating in 1858. Eventually Spear studied law, but when the Civil War erupted he became a recruiter and formed Company G of the 20th Maine. Spear enlisted as a captain, but was quickly promoted to the rank of major, then lieutenant colonel, and later brevetted colonel and brigadier general at the end of the war. At Appomattox Court House in 1865, Spear witnessed the meeting of Grant and Lee during the surrender the Army of Northern Virginia. [Spear, Ellis, "The Civil War Recollections of General Ellis Spear".]

After the war, Spear became a patent attorney and eventually became the U.S. Commissioner of Patents and wrote about the war. He believed that many members of the 20th Maine, particularly Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, exaggerated their roles at the Battle of Gettysburg actions at Little Round Top. His writings provide corroboration to Lieutenant Holman S. Melcher's claims about initiating the charge. [Styple, William B. (Ed.), "With a Flash of his Sword: The Writings of. Maj. Holman S. Melcher, 20th Maine Infantry", Belle Grove Publishing, 1994.] [ [http://www.brotherswar.com/Civil_War_Quotes_4m.htm Letter from Spear to his granddaughter] ]

Spear died in Washington, D.C., and was buried with honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His papers were later published by his grandson.

Spear was played by Donal Logue in the 1993 film "Gettysburg".

ee also

*List of American Civil War generals

References

* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/espear.htm Arlington National Cemetery biography]

Notes

Persondata
NAME= Spear, Ellis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Union Army general
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH= Washington, D.C.