Edward Payson Chapin

Edward Payson Chapin
Col. Edward Payson Chapin
Born	(1831-08-16)August 16, 1831 Waterloo,New York
Died	May 27, 1863(1863-05-27)(aged 31) Port Hudson,Louisiana
Place of burial	Maple Grove Cemetery, Waterloo, New York
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/ branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1863
Rank	Colonel Brigadier General(posthumously)
Unit	44th New York Infantry Regiment
Commands	116th New York Infantry Regiment
Battles / wars	American Civil War

Edward Payson Chapin(August 16, 1831 – May 27, 1863) was anAmericanlawyer and soldier. He served in theUnion Armyduring theAmerican Civil War,and was wounded twice, both times occurring on May 27. Chapin was killed in action fighting inLouisiana,and after his death was promoted tobrigadier general.

Early life and career

Edward P. Chapin was born in 1831 inWaterloo,a village located inSeneca County, New York.He was the youngest of six children of Ephraim Chapin (1789 –1871), aPresbyterianminister, and of Elizabeth White Maltby (1794–1886). Chapin's siblings were named Ephraim, Eliza, Maria, Louise, and Charles.

Chapin's initial education came from a local school in Waterloo, and then he studied law atBuffaloas well as atBallston Spa.He was admitted to New York'sbar associationin 1852, and then became a lawyer, practicing in Buffalo.Chapin was also part of theNiagaras,the city's first semi-probaseballclub.He was also active in the New York'smilitia,serving as acaptainin the state forces.

Civil War service and death

When the American Civil War began in 1861, Chapin chose to follow his home state and theUnion cause.He was mustered into the Union Army on September 6 as a captain in the44th New York Infantry Regiment.The 44th left New York on October 21, numbering 1,061 strong, and joined theArmy of the Potomac.On January 2, 1862, Chapin was promoted tomajor,and he fought during thePeninsula CampaigninVirginia.On May 27 he was seriously wounded in theBattle of Hanover Court House,among the 86 casualties the 44th suffered in the fight. Chapin's performance there was praised by his commanding officer, Brig. Gen.John H. Martindale.

Chapin during the Civil War

On July 4, 1862, Chapin was promoted tolieutenant colonelin the 44th New York, however he resigned that day and returned home.During the convalescence from his wound, Chapin was approached by Buffalo officials requesting he raise and lead a new regiment, the116th New York Volunteer Infantry. On September 5 Chapin was appointed commander of the 116th, with the rank ofcolonel.He led the regiment south toBaltimore, Maryland,where it remained until ordered toMississippithat November.

Chapin and the 116th arrived atShip Island, Mississippi,by sail on December 14, 1862, and by the end of the year they reachedNew Orleans, Louisiana.On February 9, 1863, Chapin was givenbrigadecommand in the army ofMaj. Gen.Nathaniel P. Banks,operating againstConfederateforces defending theMississippi River.Chapin and his command saw action at theBattle of Plains Storeon May 21, where he was again praised for his conduct by his superiors.Six days later Chapin led his brigade (part of Brig Gen.Christopher C. Augur's division) against the Confederate fortifications aroundPort Hudson, Louisiana,the first assaults in theSiege of Port Hudson.What happened has been described as:

After several hours of heavy Federal cannonading upon the Confederate works, at 3 pm on May 27, 1863, General Augur’s men advanced from the woods across an open area of about a mile in length obstructed by fascines, abattis, and underbrush. Colonel Chapin’s Brigade rushed forward under heavy grape, shell, and canister fire from the Confederate artillery during which Colonel Chapin, wounded in the knee early in the contest, received a mortal wound from a Minié ball in the head within a few yards of the Rebel breastworks.

After being wounded in the American Civil War with the second injury causing his death,Chapin's body was sent back to Waterloo, New York, and was buried there in the city's Maple Grove Cemetery. Four months after his death, PresidentAbraham Lincolnsent Chapin's father a commission, appointing Chapin abrigadier general"for gallant and meritorious service at the assault on Port Hudson."The commission was dated from the day of Chapin's death,but was never confirmed by theU.S. Congress.Chapin Parkwayin Buffalo, New York, was named in his honor.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Union)

References

• Eicher, John H., andEicher, David J.,Civil War High Commands,Stanford University Press, 2001,ISBN0-8047-3641-3.
• Nash, Eugene Arus,A History of the Forty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil War, 1861–1865,Harvard University Press, 1910.
• Ezra J. Warner (1964).Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.LSU Press.ISBN978-0-8071-0822-2.
• bivouacbooks.comBivouac site biography of Chapin.
• longislandgenealogy.comGenealogy of Chapin family line.

External links

• "Edward Payson Chapin".Find a Grave.Retrieved2008-12-27.
• sunsite.utk.eduSunsite biography of Chapin.