While Chamberlain was still Bowdoin's president, he became embroiled in a very serious political crisis in Maine--one which came very close to plunging the state into civil war. It became known as the "Twelve Days".

In the fall 1879 election, none of the candidates running for Governor won a majority of the popular vote, which meant that the Legislature would elect the new Governor. The Republicans had just won the majority of seats in both the House and state Senate, so their candidate, Daniel Davis, was favored to win over Greenback candidate Joseph Smith, and Democratic candidate (and current Governor) Dr. Alonzo Garcelon. But before it came to a vote, Greenbackers and Democrats began to accuse Republican legislators of using bribery and fraud to win their positions--which became front page news. Governor Garcelon and his Council conducted an investigation into the election returns--and the power shifted. Now the Republicans were in the minority, and they began to cry foul! They claimed the returns had been tampered with by the Governor and his Council, and that the constitutional rights of those newly-elected legislators, whose seats were lost in the recount, had been violated. Former Maine Governor and Senator Lot M. Morrill urged Governor Garcelon to let the State Supreme Court decide who was right in these conflicting claims. The whole problem might have been solved peacefully, but for one man: a very influential Republican senator named James G. Blaine.

Determined to "rescue" his party, Blaine set up an armed camp of Republicans at his home, next to the Capitol building. Answering show of force by show of force, Governor Garcelon placed nearly 100 hired men in and around the Capitol, armed to the teeth. Democrats and Greenbackers joined forces and raised their own army in turn, with headquarters in a downtown Augusta hotel.

In late 1897, Chamberlain wrote this impassioned letter to Blaine, virtually begging him to not aggravate the situation any further than it already was:

State civil war loomed: Maine men descended on Augusta, ready to battle for their parties. Newspapers took sides, fueling emotions. Blaine's men aimed their rifles at Governor Garcelon's men at the Capitol, and Augusta became a powder keg ready to go off. At last, Garcelon realized he was in over his head, and called out the State Militia on January 5, 1880. As Major General of the militia, it was now up to Chamberlain to keep some semblance of order, until the State Supreme Court could decide the election.

As he looked over the situation, Chamberlain realized a show of military force would only make things worse. He ordered his militia commanders to mobilize their men, but not to come to Augusta unless he gave the order. Augusta was swarming with riflemen, but Chamberlain was the only man in a military uniform--and he chose to come unarmed. He received permission from Augusta Mayor Charles Nash to use the city police force to maintain law and order--and he managed to persuade Governor Garcelon to replace his hired guns with city police. He also placed state documents in the Treasury vaults for safekeeping, and kept entrances to all executive chambers under guard.

During this tense time, Chamberlain managed to find time to write to Fannie, who was home in Brunswick:

For twelve days, Chamberlain worked in a small office in the Capitol, using Mayor Nash's aid and the city police force to keep a lid on things. Each opposing camp tried to win Chamberlain's favor, asking him to recognize their candidate as Governor. Chamberlain refused; he said it was up to the Legislature, and those who made up that body had to be decided by the State Supreme Court. It would not be decided by a military commander. Even pleas from his own Republican party fell on deaf ears--his role was that of a military officer only; he would remain neutral. Chamberlain soon became the focus of many people's anger; newspapers began calling him "The Tool of Blaine", "The Serpent of Brunswick", and "The Most Dangerous Man in Maine". Chamberlain would not be bullied, so his enemies decided to try and eliminate him; Mayor Nash discovered an assassination plot against Chamberlain,and sent a police squad with him whenever he left the Capitol. Chamberlain also made it a point never to sleep two nights in the same place.

In this letter, Chamberlain describes the rising tension of the crisis to Fannie--who had to be very anxious for the fate of her husband:

As the crisis neared its climax, an aide ran into Chamberlain's office, warning that a crowd of angry men had gathered outside, wanting to kill him. Chamberlain went outside the building, alone. Descending the first two steps, he confronted the mob, saying:

With those words, Chamberlain flung open his coat in a dramatic gesture, daring the mob to kill him. His courage caught the mob off guard, and the words caused some to remember his leadership in the Civil War. One veteran was heard to yell:

The crowd dispersed, and Chamberlain was unharmed. But the crisis was not yet over: both Chamberlain and Mayor Nash uncovered a plot to assassinate Senator Blaine, and warned him of it. Suddenly Blaine's view of the situation began to change; instead of using force, he urged the Republican party to let the Court decide the matter. But the Greenbacker Joseph Smith refused, declaring himself Governor, and revoked Governor Garcelon's order that had ordered Chamberlain to duty. Chamberlain wouldn't recognize Smith as the new Governor; neither would he relinquish the duty he'd been given to carry out. When Smith sent a police officer to arrest Chamberlain, And Chamberlain refused to be arrested!

That very same day, the State Supreme Court finally made its ruling: the Republicans would retain the majority of seats in both the House and state Senate. The next day, new Governor Daniel Davis relieved Chamberlain of his duty. The crisis was over. Now, instead of being "The Most Dangerous Man in Maine", Chamberlain was hailed as the "Champion of Liberty in Maine". He received numerous letters of support from people in and out of the state, but he was especially grateful for those who stood by him when he was considered "The Serpent of Brunswick": people like Mayor Nash, and the veteran who came forward in the Capitol mob. Unfortunately, the "Twelve Days" also made Chamberlain a host of political enemies who could do great harm to Bowdoin, as long as he was its president.

It also ruined his chances to hold a major political office, such as U.S. Senator from Maine, or even a diplomatic post abroad--which he would have been greatly suited for, given his fluency in such languages as French, Italian, Spanish, and German. He was also too independent for the political bosses of the Republican party, but this very quality was something that appealed to many individuals throughout Maine.

So the crisis of the "Twelve Days" finally ended, and Chamberlain returned to Brunswick--to Bowdoin College, and to his family.

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