'Twentieth Maine' Author John Pullen Dies
April 2003

BRUNSWICK, Maine - John J. Pullen, author of "The Twentieth Maine," long considered one of the best regimental histories ever written, died at the age of 89 on Feb. 25.

He lived to see the key figure of his book, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of Brunswick, become a national hero thanks to his book, Michael Shaara's novel "The Killer Angels" and the movie "Gettysburg."

Reporting Pullen's death in the Brunswick Times Record, Bob Kalish wrote: "Within days of the opening of 'Gods and Generals,' the second Civil War screen epic to feature the story of Gen. Joshua Chamberlain, the author who retrieved the Maine hero from the dustbin of history has died."

Pullen was a native of Maine. During World War II he was a captain in the field artillery and served at the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill and in the 65th Infantry Division campaigns of the
Rhineland and central Europe.

The Twentieth Maine was published in 1957 while he was with N.W. Ayer and Son advertising agency in Philadelphia, heading their creative department. He also had spent two years as a newspaper reporter.

He resigned in 1965 so that he could write fulltime. His other works were Shower of Stars: The Medal of Honor and the 27th Maine, Patriotism in America, Transcendental Boiled Dinner, Comic Relief, The Life and Laughter of Artemus Ward and Joshua Chamberlain, A Hero's Life and Legacy.

In "The Union Bookshelf, A Selected Civil War Bibliography," authors Michael Mullins and Rowena Reed wrote:"Bruce Catton, writing on Civil War literary classics of the Civil War in The New York Times Book Review (November 10, 1957), included Pullen's book. Catton remarked that 'one need not actually have fought in the Civil War, apparently, in order to understand what it meant to the people who were in the middle of it.'

"The author made excellent use of diaries, letters and other sources in writing this model regimental history. It is the best unit history of the Civil War."

Pullen's memberships included the Joshua Chamberlain Civil War Round Table of Brunswick and the Joshua Chamberlain Statue Committee which is installing a statue this spring. He is survived by his wife and stepchildren.

A memorial service will be held in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to First Freewill Baptist Church, Church Road, Brunswick, ME 04011, or to the Pejepscot Historical Society, 158 Maine St., Brunswick, ME 04011. The society has preserved Chamberlain's house as
a museum.