Rev. Bob Macfarlane, a Civil War historian and retired minister, visited a packed Marion Music Hall on Thursday dressed as Gen. Joshua Chamberlain, a decorated Union officer during the Civil War.

The talk was hosted by the Sippican Historical Society as part of the group's Speakers' Series.

Macfarlane embodied Chamberlain while he spoke, pretending as if he were the general in his later years, traveling the East Coast and speaking about his life and experiences as a soldier at the Battle of Gettysburg, as the governor of Maine and as president of his alma mater Bowdoin College.

Chamberlain came from a long line of soldiers, including a grandfather who had fought in the War of 1812 and a great-grandfather who had fought in the Revolutionary War.

While Macfarlane detailed the life of Chamberlain, such as how he spent time at the Stowe residence listening to Harriet Beecher Stowe read from her novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” he also added some local touches for the audience, such as how Robert E. Lee had visited New Bedford in 1848.

According to Macfarlane, Chamberlain was inspired by Stowe’s willingness to say what was right. So inspired that he took a leave of absence from his studies to volunteer to “help out Mr. Lincoln,” Macfarlane said.

Chamberlain was wounded six times in battle, once almost fatally. He was shot through his hips, and were it not for his brother summoning a surgeon, he would have been left for dead.

Chamberlain had two brothers serving in the Army, both of whom were also at Gettysburg. Chamberlain made sure the three of them were spread out in hope that one of them would survive for their mother. All three Chamberlain brothers survived.

Macfarlane said that about 30 years after the war, Chamberlain received a paper bag in the mail with a Congressional Medal of Honor inside for his efforts at Gettysburg.

While giving his presentation, Macfarlane was wearing an authentic Union soldier uniform replica.

“It’s wool, it’s authentic and it’s hot,” he laughed.