Chacahoula, Louisiana through Chavis Creek, Kansas

CHACAHOULA, LOUISIANA, May 3, 1865. 12 men from 3d Rhode Island Cavalry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 243.


CHACAHOULA STATION, LOUISIANA, June 24, 1863. Detachment of the 9th Connecticut Infantry. Lieutenant-Colonel Fitz Gibbons, with five companies of the regiment, left La Fourche crossing at 8 a. m. to guard a train while repairing the New Orleans, Opelousa & Great Western railroad. About a mile from Chacahoula Station he found a bridge on fire. Captain Wright was sent with Company G, to skirmish toward the station, supported by the greater part of the detachment, while the rest extinguished the flames and repaired the bridge. As the skirmishers approached the station they were fired on by a considerable force of the enemy. The fire was promptly returned, when the Confederates took shelter behind some small buildings and fences, with an open field in front, and as Fitz Gibbons was ordered to confine his operations to the line of railroad, he withdrew his forces after a desultory engagement of about an hour. The Union loss was 3 men wounded; that of the enemy was not learned.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 243.


CHACE, Elizabeth Buffum, 1806-1899, Society of Friends, Quaker, women’s suffrage leader, penal reform leader, abolitionist leader.  Co-founder of the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society of Fall River, Massachusetts, 1836.  Member of the New England Anti-Slavery Society, founded by her father, Arnold Buffum, in 1832.  Contributed articles for abolitionist newspaper, Liberator.  Her home was a station on the Underground Railroad.  She resigned from the Society of Friends in 1843 as a result of its continuing pro-slavery position.  At the end of the Civil War, she was elected Vice President of the American Anti-Slavery Society.  She published her memoirs in 1891, Anti-Slavery Reminiscences. Her grandfather, parents, husband, two sisters, and two brothers-in-law were all abolitionists.  (Drake, 1950, p. 158; Mabee, 1970, pp. 225, 280, 290, 424n54; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 44, 218; Van Broekhoven, 2002, pp. 22, 37, 49-52, 58, 67, 69-71, 73, 159, 171, 191-192, 208-209, 219-221, 232n5; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 1, p. 584; American Reformers: An H.W. Wilson Biographical Dictionary, New York, 1985, pp. 158-159; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 4, p. 609)


CHAFFIN'S BLUFF, VIRGINIA, July 28, 1864. (See Deep Bottom, same date.)


CHAFFIN'S FARM, VIRGINIA, September 29-30, 1864. (See Fort Harrison.)


CHAIN-BALL. It has been proposed to attach a light body by means of a chain to the rear of an oblong projectile, when thrown under high angles with a moderate velocity, so as to cause it to move with its point foremost. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 156).


CHAIN-SHOT consist of two hemispheres, or two spheres connected together by a chain. The motion of rotation of these projectiles in flight would render them useful in cutting the masts and riggings of vessels, if their flight was not so inaccurate. When the mode of connection is a bar of iron instead of a chain, they are called Bar-shot. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 156).


CHALK BLUFF, ARKANSAS, May 15, 1862. Detachment of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry. Colonel Daniels, learning that a force of Confederates under Colonel Jeffers was at Chalk Bluff, impressing men and collecting supplies, marched from Bloomfield with 300 men for the purpose of dispersing them. He arrived at his destination about daylight, seized the ferry, dismounted his men and crossed under a heavy fire from the enemy, attacked, routed and pursued him for about 6 miles, killing 11 and wounding 17. All the wounded were captured. Daniels lost 1 man killed and 8 wounded, 1 mortally.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 243.


CHALK BLUFF, ARKANSAS, March 10, 1863. 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry. This affair was an incident of an expedition from Bloomfield, Missouri The advance arrived too late to secure the ferryboat and was exchanging shots with the enemy across the river when the main column arrived. The Confederates could not be dislodged from their position on the opposite bank until the howitzers were brought to bear. The casualties in the Union force were 2 men wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 243.


CHALK BLUFF, ARKANSAS, April 1, 1863. One company of the 2nd Missouri Militia Cavalry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 243.


CHALK BLUFF, ARKANSAS, May 1, 1863. Army of the Frontier; Pursuit of Marmaduke. Marmaduke left Bloomfield, Missouri, on April 30, and a few hours later was pursued by the Union forces under McNeil and Vandever. For 20 miles on May 1, his rear-guard skirmished with McNeil's advance, being driven from one position after another. In his report of the expedition Marmaduke says: "When I commenced my retreat, I ordered details of the unarmed and non-effective to proceed rapidly to Chalk Bluff, under charge of my division quartermaster, to construct rafts for crossing. * * * My division reached Chalk Bluff the evening of May 1. I dismounted the greater part of my command, selected a strong position about 4 miles from the crossing, where I formed line of battle to resist the advance of the enemy till my wagons, horses and artillery had crossed. A little before day I quietly withdrew the men, and by sun-up my whole command was across." In a letter to General Herron, under date of May 4, Vandever says he followed Marmaduke to the St. Francis river "and drove him across, with heavy loss of men, though he contrived to save his guns." The crossing of the St. Francis was the end of the pursuit.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 243-244.

CHALK BLUFF, ARKANSAS, May 11, 1865. There was no fighting at Chalk Bluff on this date, the incident being merely the surrender of the Confederate forces under General M. Jeff Thompson to General Dodge. Chamberlain's Creek, Virginia, March 31, 1865. While Sheridan's cavalry and the 5th corps were concentrating against the Confederate force at Five Forks some sharp skirmishing occurred at the crossings of Chamberlain's creek. (See Five Forks.)  The Union Army, 1908


CHALLENGE. No officer or soldier shall send a challenge to another officer or soldier to fight a duel, or accept a challenge if sent, upon pain if a commissioned officer of being cashiered; if a non-commissioned officer or soldier, of suffering corporeal punishment at the discretion of a court-martial; (ART. 25.) If any commissioned or non-commissioned officer commanding a guard shall knowingly or willingly suffer any person whatsoever to go forth to fight a duel, he shall be punished as a challenger; and all seconds, promoters, and carriers of challenges, in order to duels, shall be deemed principals, and be punished accordingly. And it shall be the duty of every officer commanding an army, regiment, company, post or detachment, who is knowing to a challenge being given, or accepted, by any officer, non-commissioned officer or soldier under his command, or has reason to believe the same to be the case, immediately to arrest and bring to trial such offenders; (ART. 26.) Any officer or soldier who shall upbraid another for refusing a challenge shall himself be punished as a challenger; and all officers and soldiers are hereby discharged from any disgrace, or opinion of disadvantage, which might arise from their having refused to accept challenges, as they will only have acted in obedience to the laws, and done their duty as good soldiers, who subject themselves to discipline; (ART. 28.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, pp. 156-157).


CHALLENGE OF MEMBERS OF COURT-MARTIAL. When a member shall be challenged by a prisoner, he must state his cause of challenge, of which the court shall, after due deliberation, determine the relevancy or validity, and decide accordingly; and no challenge to more than one member at a time shall be received by the court; (ART. 71.) Challenges of members are made in writing. The member withdraws and the court is cleared for deliberation. If the challenge is disallowed the member resumes his seat. Blackstone says: A principal challenge is where the cause assigned carries prima facie evidence of malice or favor; as that a juror is of kin to either party within the 9th degree; that he has been arbitrator on either side; that he has formerly been a juror in the same cause; that he is the party's master, servant, &c. These grounds of challenge, if true, cannot be overruled. Challenges to the favor are, where the party hath no principal challenge, but objects only on probable circumstances of suspicion, as acquaintance and the like; the validity of which is left to the triers; (HOUGH.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 157).


CHALLENGE OF A SENTINEL. Who goes there?


CHAMADE is a signal made for parley by beat of drum. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 157).


CHAMBER OF A MINE is a cell of a cubical form, made to receive the powder. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 157).


CHAMBER of howitzers, columbiads, and mortars, is the smallest part of the bore, and contains the charge of powder. In the howitzers and columbiads the chamber is cylindrical, and is united with a large cylinder of the bore by a conical surface; the angles of intersection of this conical surface with the cylinders of the bore and chamber, are rounded (in profile) by arcs of circles. In the 8-inch siege howitzer, the chamber is united with the cylinder of the bore by a spherical surface, in order that the shell may, when necessary, be inserted without a sabot. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 157).


CHAMBERLAIN, Daniel Henry, governor of South Carolina, born in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, 23 June, 1835. He was graduated at Yale in 1862, and at Harvard law-school in 1863. He entered the army in 1864 as lieutenant in the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry, was promoted to be captain, and served in Maryland, Louisiana, and Texas. He went to South Carolina in 1866, and became a cotton-planter. He was a delegate to the constitutional Convention of 1868, and in the same year became attorney-general of the state. On his retirement from this office in 1872 he resumed his law practice at Columbia, South Carolina, and in 1874 was elected governor of the state. In 1875 he refused to issue commissions to two judges who had been elected by the legislature, and who were condemned as corrupt  the best men of both parties. For this action the governor was publicly thanked by prominent citizens of Charleston. Governor Chamberlain was renominated by the Republicans in September, 1876. The year had been marked by several serious conflicts between whites and Negroes, and it was reported that more than 16,000 of the former, in all parts of the state, had organized “rifle clubs.” On 7 October, 1876, the governor issued a proclamation commanding these clubs to disband, on the ground that they had been formed to intimidate the Negroes and influence the coming election. An answer to this proclamation was made by the Democratic Executive Committee, denying the governor's statements. Governor Chamberlain then applied to President Grant for military aid, and the latter ordered U.S. troops to be sent to South Carolina. After the election, the returning-board, disregarding an order of the state supreme court, whose authority they denied, declared the Republican ticket elected, throwing out the vote of £ and Laurens counties, on account of alleged fraud and intimidation. The members from these counties were refused admission to the house, whereupon the Democratic members of the legislature withdrew, and, organizing by them: declared Wade Hampton, the Democratic candidate for governor, elected, as he had received a majority of the votes cast, counting those of the two disputed counties. The Republican members declared Chamberlain elected, and he refused to give up his office to Hampton, who was supported by the majority of white people in the state. After the inauguration of President Hayes, both claimants were invited to a conference in Washington, the result of which was that the president withdrew the troops from South Carolina, and Chamberlain issued a proclamation declaring that he should no longer assert his claims. He then moved to New York City, where he resumed the practice of his profession. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 564-565.


CHAMBERLAIN, Jeremiah, 1794-1851, clergyman, educator, abolitionist.  President of Centre College, Kentucky, 1822-1825.  Founder and President of Oakland College in Mississippi, 1830-1851.  Co-founded Mississippi Colonization Society.  He was murdered for his anti-slavery stance on September 5, 1851, by a pro-slavery planter.


CHAMBERLAIN, Joshua Lawrence, soldier, born in Brewer, Maine, 8 September, 1828. His grandfather, Joshua Chamberlain, was a colonel in the war of 1812, and his father, of the same name, was second in command of the troops on the Maine frontier in the “Aroostook war.” He attended, in his boyhood, the Military Academy of Major Whiting at Ellsworth, was graduated at Bowdoin in 1852, and at Bangor Theological Seminary in 1855. He was licensed to preach, but never assumed the ministerial office, as he was called in that year to a tutorship at Bowdoin. He was professor of rhetoric there from 1856 till 1862, became also instructor in modern languages in 1857, and in 1861 was made professor in this department, holding the chair till 1865. In 1862 he obtained leave of absence from the trustees, intending to go abroad for study, but with their permission entered the National Army as lieutenant-colonel of the 20th Maine Infantry. He became colonel in 1863, and was promoted brigadier-general on the field by General Grant, 18 June, 1864, for his gallantry on that occasion. General Grant, in his “Memoirs,” describing the movement against Petersburg, says: “Colonel J. L. Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine, was wounded on the 18th. He was gallantly leading his brigade at the time, as he had been in the habit of doing. He had several times been recommended for a brigadier-generalcy for gallant and meritorious conduct. On this occasion, however, promoted him on the spot, and forwarded a copy of my order to the war Department, asking that my act might be confirmed and Chamberlain's name sent to the Senate for confirmation without any delay. This was done, and at last a gallant and meritorious officer received partial justice at the hands of his government, which he had served so faithfully and so well.” General Chamberlain was again wounded at Quaker Road, on 29 March, 1865, and on the same day was brevetted major-general of volunteers for his conduct in the first successful assault on Lee's right flank. He commanded two brigades of the 1st Division of the 5th Corps, leading the advance, in the operations that ended in Lee's surrender, 9 April, 1865, and was designated by the commissioners in charge of the ceremonial to receive the formal surrender of the arms and colors of the Confederate Army. He was engaged in twenty-four pitched battles, including Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Five Forks, and was six times wounded, thrice severely. After resuming his professorship for a few months, he was elected governor of Maine in 1866, and thrice re-elected, serving till 1871. He was chosen president of Bowdoin College in 1871, and also held the professorship of mental and moral philosophy from 1874 till 1879. He was made major-general of the state militia in 1876, and by his wise and vigorous action in January, 1880, did much toward averting Civil War, which had become imminent on account of the contest between the Republicans and “fusionists,” and the total absence of a state government. In 1878 he visited Europe as a member of the U. S. Commission to the Paris Exposition of that year. He resigned the presidency of Bowdoin in 1883, but continued to lecture there on public law and political economy until 1885. He has delivered numerous public addresses, several of which have been published, including that at the centennial exhibition, entitled “Maine; Her Place in History” (Augusta, Maine, 1877). A special edition of his Paris report on “Education in Europe” was published by the government (Washington, 1879). [Appleton’s 1900] p. 565.


CHAMBERS, Alexander, soldier, born in New York State about 1832. He was graduated at the U.S. Military Academy in 1853, and made second lieutenant of Infantry. He served first in garrison at Fort Columbus, New York, in 1853-'4, and on frontier and other duty until 3 March, 1855, when he was promoted second lieutenant, took part in hostilities in Florida against the Seminoles, 1856–77, was promoted first lieutenant, 19 January, 1859, and participated in the march to New Mexico in 1860. He became captain in the 18th Infantry, 14 May, 1861, and colonel of the 16th Iowa Volunteers, 24 March, 1862; served in the Tennessee and Mississippi Campaign, 4 April to 19 September, 1862, having been twice wounded in the battle of Shiloh, and was promoted brevet major 7 April for his meritorious services during that action. He was present at the siege of Corinth, and brevetted lieutenant-colonel, 19 September, 1862, for gallant conduct at the battle of Iuka, where he was wounded severely in the Vicksburg Campaign, and was promoted brevet colonel, 4 July, 1863, for meritorious services during the siege; was a brigadier-general of volunteers, 11 August, 1863, and was in garrison at Vicksburg from August, 1863, till 1 February, 1864, when he participated in General Sherman's march to Meridian. He was at Omaha as judge-advocate of the District of Nebraska from January till 7 June, 1866, and in the Department of the Platte from 7 June, 1866, till transferred to the 27th U.S. Infantry, 21 September, 1866. On 5 March, 1867, he became major of the 22d U.S. Infantry. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 566.


CHAMBERS, Ezekiel Forman, 1788-1867, Maryland, jurist, soldier, U.S. Senator from Maryland.  Supported the American Colonization Society (ACS) in the Senate.  Proposed bill in Senate to support the ACS with federal funding.  Defended colonization from detractors.  (Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 566; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 1, p. 602; Staudenraus, P. J. The African Colonization Movement, 1816-1865. New York: Columbia University Press, 1961, pp. 176, 207)

CHAMBERS, Ezekiel Forman, senator, born in Kent county, Maryland, 28 February, 1788; died in Charleston, Maryland, 30 January, 1867. He was graduated at Washington College, Maryland, in 1805, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1808. He performed military service in the war of 1812, and subsequently attained the rank of brigadier-general of militia. Though elected in 1822 to the state senate against his will, he took an active part in the legislation of that body, and in 1825 arranged a system for the more effectual recovery of slaves. In 1826 he was elected U. S. Senator from Maryland, and in 1832 re-elected. He distinguished himself as one of the ablest debaters and antagonists in that body. In 1834 he was appointed chief judge of the second judicial district and a judge of the court of appeals, which places he held till 1857, when the Maryland judiciary became elective. In 1850 he was a member of the constitutional convention of the state. In 1852 President Fillmore offered him the post of secretary of the Navy on the resignation of Secretary Graham, but the condition of his health compelled him to decline. Yale conferred on him the degree of LL. D. in 1833, and Delaware in 1852. Appletons’ Cylcopædia of American Biography, 1888. Vol. I p 602.


CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, July 2, 1863. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania (Burning of). July 30, 1864. Lieutenant H. T. McLean, with a small force of infantry and cavalry, and 1 piece of artillery, was stationed about 2 miles from the town on the morning of the 30th, to "keep up the appearance of defending it," until Averell's force of some 2,000 men, which was encamped a few miles away, could come to the defense of the place if it should be threatened by the enemy in any considerable force. About 5 a. m. McLean was compelled to fall back before the brigades of McCausland and Johnson, numbering about 2,600 men. A detachment of some 400 mounted and dismounted men, commanded by Major Gilmor and accompanied by both Johnson and McCausland, entered the town at 5 :30, the main body halting at the fair grounds, about a mile and a half out on the Pittsburg pike. At the Franklin Hotel was W. S. Kochersperger, a clerk at the headquarters of the Department of the Susquehanna. At the time he was dressed in citizens' clothes, and was taken by the two Confederate generals for one of the residents of the town. McCausland handed him the order for the destruction of the town, the general purport of which was that, in retaliation for the depredations committed by Maj .-General Hunter, during his recent raid, "it is ordered that the citizens of Chambersburg pay to the Confederate States by General McCausland the sum of $100,000 in gold, or in lieu thereof $500,000 in greenbacks or national currency," otherwise the town would be laid in ashes within three hours. This order was signed by General Early. The citizens refused to pay the ransom and Gilmor's men were ordered to apply the torch. Houses, stores, etc.. were broken into and plundered. Johnson tried to persuade McCausland not to carry out the order, but his efforts in that direction were futile. The court-house was one of the first buildings fired, then followed the town hall and commissary store-house (empty at the time), after which private buildings received the attention of the incendiaries. In a little while the town was in flames. In looting the hotel Kochersperger's uniform was found in his trunk and he was arrested as a prisoner of war. He was confined in a tin store adjoining until the flames attacked the next building, when he managed to make his escape. The Confederates retreated in the direction of McConnellsville closely followed by Averell. Chambers' Creek, Tennessee, January 13, 1863. Champion's Hill, Mississippi, May 16, 1863. Parts of the 13th, 15th and 17th Army Corps. On the 13th General Johnston reached Jackson. His idea was that the Confederate forces east of Vicksburg should be united and a battle fought which would decide the fate of that city. To this end he sent a despatch to General Pemberton, then at Bovina, directing him to attack the Federals at Clinton (about 10 miles west of Jackson), and promised to cooperate in the movement. Pemberton's idea was that he should remain near Vicksburg, in order to defend the place and at the same time be near his base. He therefore called a council of war and laid Johnston's suggestion—it could hardly be called an order—before his officers. A majority expressed themselves in favor of it and Pemberton sent a reply to Johnston, closing with these words: "In directing this move, I do not think you fully comprehend the position that Vicksburg will be left in, but I comply at once with your order." Subsequently he sent another despatch, announcing his intention to move on the morning of the 15th, via Dillon, on the Raymond and Port Gibson road, in an effort to cut off the Federal communications, and added: "I do not consider my force sufficient to justify an attack on the enemy in position or to attempt to cut my way to Jackson." Although an order was promulgated on the evening of the 14th for the troops to be ready to move early the next morning, it was 1 p. m. before the advance guard left Edwards' station, near the point where the Vicksburg & Jackson railroad crosses the Big Black river. This delay of more than 24 hours prevented the successful culmination of Johnston's plans, for on the 14th he was compelled to evacuate Jackson and fall back on the Canton road. Having driven Johnston from Jackson, Grant disposed his forces so as to prevent his forming a junction with Pemberton, and at the same time made preparations to attack the latter. From the Bolton and Raymond road three roads led to Edwards' station. On the 15th the troops were moved westward to occupy these roads. At 6 a. m. on the 16th Hovey's division of McClernand's corps (the 13th) was at the crossroads just south of Bolton, with Logan's and Crocker's divisions of McPherson's corps (the 17th) a short distance in the rear. These three divisions were to move on the north road to Champion's hill. On the middle road were Osterhaus' and Carr's divisions of the 13th corps, and on the south road was A. J. Smith's division of the same, supported by Blair's division of the 15th. Thus arranged the whole army moved forward, ready to assume either the offensive or defensive as circumstances might require. Pemberton's forces encamped on the night of the 15th on a crossroad south of Champion's hill. About 6:30 a. m. on the 16th a courier arrived with a despatch from Johnston, in which he said: "Our being compelled to leave Jackson makes your plan impracticable. The only mode by which we can unite is by your moving directly to Clinton, and informing me that we may move to that point with about six thousand." Having wasted over a day in trying to get to the Federal rear to cut off communications, Pemberton now decided to follow Johnston's suggestions. Accordingly orders were issued for the trains to clear the road so that the troops could countermarch to Edwards' station, from which place they were to move over the Brownsville road to join Johnston. But it was too late. Before the movement could be executed Smith's advance was driving Loring's pickets on the Raymond road. Pemberton selected a strong position on the hills along the right bank of Baker's creek with Loring's division forming his right, Bowen's the center and Stevenson's on the left. His line was hardly formed before Hovey's skirmishers had engaged those of Stevenson near the foot of the hill on Champion's plantation, from which the battle takes its name. About 10 o'clock Grant joined Hovey, who was then forming his men for an assault on Stevenson's position, but the commanding general directed him to wait until word was received that McClernand was ready. McClernand had been delayed in driving in the enemy pickets and artillery. At 9:45 a. m. he sent a messenger to Grant to inquire whether he should bring on an engagement. That despatch was not received until noon. Grant promptly sent back orders for him to attack in force, and later sent word to "push forward with all rapidity." The attack was not made until 2 p. m., and was not then as vigorous as it might have been. Meantime McPherson's men had reached the field and Hovey's two brigades were deployed on the left of the road, Logan's division being formed on the right . At 10:30 Hovey's skirmishers advanced steadily up the slope, followed by McGinnis and Slack with the two brigades, and in a little while the engagement became general. Stevenson was forced back for over 600 yards, losing 11 pieces of artillery and about 300 prisoners. The Confederates were rallied under cover of the woods and in turn advanced, forcing the Federals back down the hill. Boomer's brigade of Quinby's (Crocker's) division and two regiments, the 10th Missouri and 17th la., were now sent to Hovey's assistance, but the whole line, reinforcements and all, was forced back to a point near the brow of the hill. Up to this time the irregularity of the Union lines prevented the use of artillery in enfilading the enemy's, but when the retreat was checked Hovey ordered the 1st Missouri and part of the 16th Ohio batteries in position on his right; two sections of the latter and the 6th Wisconsin battery on the left, and for a little while poured an incessant shower of shot and shell into the enemy, not only checking his advance, but also turning it into a retreat. With a cheer the Union forces advanced and this time held the position that had been so hotly contested three times within as many hours. While these events were transpiring on the hill Smith's and Leggett's brigades of Logan's division had advanced against the northern slope of the hill on the right of Hovey. As they advanced the 3d brigade, under General Stevenson, was thrown still further to the right, made a quick march across a ravine, cut off Barton's and Lee's brigades from the main body of the Confederate left and captured 7 pieces of artillery. This action turned the tide of battle. Barton's brigade was driven across Baker's creek, while Lee's and Cumming's fell back in disorder toward the Raymond road. In the heat of the engagement on the hill Pemberton ordered Loring to send reinforcements to Bowen and Stevenson. Buford's brigade was first moved to the left, closely followed by that of Featherston, but neither reached the scene in time to prevent the disaster. Loring was then ordered to form his men between the Clinton and Raymond roads to cover the retreat. The two brigades were recalled to join Tilghman's, which was resisting the attacks of Osterhaus and Smith, in which Tilghman was killed. The whole division was cut off from the main body and compelled to make a long, circuitous detour to the south, and the next day reported to Johnston his arrival at Crystal Springs, "without baggage, wagons or cooking utensils." The next day part of Pemberton's command made a feeble stand at Big Black river (q. v.), after which the remnants of his shattered army retired to Vicksburg and the siege commenced. In this engagement at Champion's the Union losses were 410 killed, 1,844 wounded and 187 missing. The Confederates lost 380 killed, 1,018 wounded and 2,441 missing. In his report Pemberton says he had 17,500 men engaged at Champion's hill, though subsequent estimates place the strength of his army at nearly 24,000. The Union forces numbered about 32,000, though all were not actively engaged, the brunt of the battle being borne by Hovey and Logan. This engagement was the turning point of the Vicksburg campaign, and had Pemberton promptly obeyed Johnston's order of the 13th, thus effecting a union of the two armies, the history of that campaign might have been differently written. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 244-246.


CHAMBLISS, John Randolph, soldier, born in Wicksford, Greenville County, Virginia, 23 January, 1833; died in Deep Bottom, near Richmond, Virginia, 16 August, 1864. His father, John R. Chambliss, was a delegate to the Virginia secession Convention of 1861. Young Chambliss was graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in 1858, and served at the cavalry school, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, till 4 March, 1854, when he resigned. He then became a planter at Hicksford, Virginia, was major on the staff of the governor from 1856 till 1861, and colonel in the militia from 1858 till 1861. He joined the Confederate Army at the beginning of the Civil War as colonel of an infantry regiment, and afterward became colonel of the 13th Virginia Cavalry. He was subsequently made a brigadier-general, and was killed in action while leading a brigade of cavalry. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 567.


CHAMBLISS, William Parham, soldier, born in Chamblissburg. Bedford County, Virginia, 20 March, 1827. After attending a private school in Giles County, Tennessee, he served through the Mexican War as second lieutenant in the 1st Tennessee Volunteers from June, 1846, till July, 1847, and afterward as captain of the 3d Tennessee Volunteers. From 1850 till 1855 he practised law in Pulaski, Tennessee, and from 1852 till 1855 edited there the " Citizen," a Democratic weekly newspaper. He was also a member of the legislature from 1853 till 1864. He entered the regular army as first lieutenant in the 2d U.S. Cavalry, 3 March, 1855, and was engaged in Texas against hostile Indians most of the time till March, 1861. He was made captain in the 5th U.S. Cavalry, 6 April, 1861, and served through the Manassas and Peninsular Campaigns, receiving the brevet of major, 4 May, 1862, for gallantry at Hanover Court-House, Virginia. At the tattle of Gaines's Mills, 27 June, 1862, he was wounded in several places, lay four days and four nights on the field of battle, and was then taken to Libby prison, Richmond. For his conduct at Gaines's Mills he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel on 28 June, 1882. The wounds that he received on this occasion nearly caused his death, and have partially disabled him for the rest of his life. After his release from Libby prison he underwent treatment in St. Luke's hospital, New York, and then served as instructor of cavalry at the U. S. Military Academy from October, 1862, till June, 1864. He was made major in the 4th U.S. Cavalry, 30 March, 1864, served as special inspector of cavalry, Division of the Mississippi, from August, 1864, till April, 1865, and with his regiment in Texas till 1 November, 1867, when he resigned and became president and general manager of the Cobourg Railway and mining Company, Cobourg, Canada. He has published a pamphlet on "General McClellan and the Presidency'' (1864).  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 567.


CHAMPION'S HILL, MISSISSIPPI, February 4, 1864. Part of the 17th Army Corps. This action was an incident of the Meridian expedition, which left Vicksburg on the 1st. The corps, commanded by Major-General James B. McPherson, moved out across Big Black river and on the night of the 3d bivouacked at Edwards' station. At an early hour the next morning the whole command moved forward with the 2nd brigade of Crocker's division, under the command of Colonel Cyrus Hall, in the advance. Near Champion's hill two brigades of Confederate cavalry (Wirt Adams' and Ferguson's), with 2 pieces of artillery, were found drawn up to dispute the progress of the Federals. Hall deployed the 15th Illinois as skirmishers and formed the other two regiments of the brigade, the 14th and 76th Illinois, on the right and left of the Clinton road, in easy supporting distance. In this order the brigade moved forward to Baker's creek, where the enemy opened with his artillery with great accuracy. The 15th Wisconsin, of Gresham's brigade, was now sent forward to the support of Hall and in a short time the skirmishing became general. Winslow's cavalry, the 5th and 11th Illinois, 4th la. and 10th Missouri, was ordered to move on the flanks of the enemy's position and this movement, in connection with the steady advance in front, forced him to abandon his position and fall back toward Bolton depot . There was more or less skirmishing all day, the Union loss being about 30 in killed and wounded. At Champion's hill the Confederates left 4 dead on the field and a major mortally wounded. Others were seen to fall during the fight.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 247.


CHAMPLIN, Stephen, naval officer, born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, 17 November, 1789; died in Buffalo, New York, 20 February, 1870. He was a cousin of Commodore Perry. When he was five years old his parents moved to Lebanon, Connecticut, where he was employed on his father's farm, and received a common-school education. At the age of sixteen he ran away from home to become a sailor, and at twenty-two was captain of a fine brig in the West India trade. He was appointed a sailing-master in the U.S. Navy, 22 May, 1812, placed in command of a gun-boat under Commodore Perry at Newport, and soon after ordered to Sackett's Harbor, New York, where he soon attracted the attention of his superior officers by his remarkable promptness. On 18 July, 1813, he was ordered to take charge of seventy-four officers and men and report to Commodore Perry at Erie, Pennsylvania, going by way of Lakes Ontario and Erie, and marching across the country from Niagara to Buffalo. He made the entire distance, using only setting-poles and oars for propulsion, in five days. He was ordered, on 25 July, to take command of the “Scorpion,” and engaged with that vessel in the battle of Lake Erie, 10 September, 1813, being at that time under twenty-four years of age. The “Scorpion” fired the first shot on the American side, and was fought with great bravery, keeping its place near the Lawrence throughout the engagement. At ten o'clock in the evening of 13 September Champlin captured the “Little Belt,” and in so doing fired the last shot in the battle. He was afterward placed in command of two of the captured prize-ships, the “Queen Charlotte” and the “Detroit.” In the spring of 1814 he commanded the “Tigress,” and blockaded, with Captain Turner in the 'Scorpion,” the port of Mackinac. They cruised for some months in the service, cutting off the supplies of the British garrison; but both vessels were surprised and captured at nine o'clock on the evening of 3 September by a superior force of Indians and British, sent from Mackinac in five boats to raise the blockade. Every American officer was severely wounded, and Champlin was crippled for life by a canister-shot, which passed through the fleshy part of the right thigh and embedded itself in the left thigh, shattering the bone and remained lodged in the limb for eighteen days. He was taken prisoner and carried to Mackinac, where he lay suffering for thirty-eight days, and was then paroled and sent to Erie, and then, by easy stages, to Connecticut, arriving there in March, 1815. He was prevented by his wounds from seeing much active service after this. He had been made lieutenant on 9 December, 1814, and in 1815 was attached to Perry's flag-ship, the “Virginia” He commanded the schooner “Porcupine” from 1816 till 1818, and was employed during 1816 in surveying the Canada boundary-line. He then retired to Connecticut, still suffering from his wound, and undergoing several operations without relief. He lived here, with the exception of a short service on the receiving-ship “Fulton,” from 1828 till 1834, when he moved to Buffalo, and remained there till his death. He was promoted to commander, 22 June, 1838, put in charge of the rendezvous at Buffalo in 1842, and commanded the “Michigan” from 1845 till 1848. He was made captain, 4 August, 1850, and placed on the retired list in 1855. He was raised to the rank of commodore, 16 July, 1862, and was the last survivor of the battle of Lake Erie. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 570.


CHAMPLIN, Stephen Gardner, soldier, born in Kingston, New York, 1 July, 1827; died in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 24 January, 1864. He was educated in the common schools, and at Rhinebeck Academy, New York, studied law, and admitted to the bar in Albany in 1850. He moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1853, where he became judge of the recorder's court and prosecuting attorney of Kent County He entered the army in 1861, as major in the 3d Michigan Infantry, and became its colonel on 22 October Among the battles in which he took part were Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Groveton, and Antietam. He received at Fair Oaks a severe wound, which prevented him from seeing active service after his promotion to the rank of brigadier-general, 29 November, 1862, and he was placed on detached duty in command of the recruiting-station at Grand Rapids, dying in the service, from the effects of his wound. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 570.


CHANCELLORSVILLE, VIRGINIA, May 1-4, 1863. Army of the Potomac. General Hooker superseded General Burnside in command of the Army of the Potomac on January 26, 1863. As nothing in the way of active operations would be undertaken in the dead of winter, more than two months were spent in getting the army in good condition. During that time it remained in its winter quarters on the left bank of the Rappahannock river opposite Fredericksburg. It consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 3d, 5th, 6th, 11th and 12th army corps, respectively commanded by Major-Generals John F. Reynolds, Darius N. Couch, Daniel E. Sickles, George G. Meade, John Sedgwick, Oliver O. Howard and Henry W. Slocum, and the cavalry corps, commanded by Brigadier-General George Stoneman. In round numbers Hooker had 111,000 infantry, 11,000 cavalry, and 8,000 artillery, with 404 guns. Opposed to this force was Lee's army, the Army of Northern Virginia, made up of the 1st and 2nd army corps. The former was commanded by General James Longstreet and the latter by General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson. Longstreet, with two divisions and two battalions of artillery, was absent in southeastern Virginia, so the troops with Lee numbered about 57,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, and probably 170 pieces of artillery. This force lay at Fredericksburg, on the south side of the Rappahannock, where all winter Lee had been watching the movements of the Federals. Early in April Hooker advised his officers of his plan of campaign. Stoneman, with the main body of the cavalry, was to move up the Rappahannock, cross at the upper fords and cut Lee's communication with his base of supplies at Richmond. After crossing the river the cavalry was to divide into two columns; one, under General Averell, was to attack Gordonsville and Culpeper, and the other, commanded by General Buford, was to reach the Fredericksburg railroad via Louisa Court House. The two divisions were then to unite south of the Pamunkey river to harass Lee's retreat from Fredericksburg, which all felt was sure to come. Stoneman started on his mission on April 13, but heavy rains had made the river unfordable and he was compelled to wait until the 28th before he could effect a crossing. This delay interfered somewhat with the original plans, but on the evening of the 26th Hooker issued orders for the corps of Meade, Howard and Slocum to move the next morning in light marching order for Kelly's ford, 27 miles above Fredericksburg, where they were to cross, then press rapidly forward, cross the Rapidan, sweep down the southern bank and strike the Confederate army on the left flank. Couch, with two of his divisions, was to proceed to the United States ford and be in readiness to cross as soon as the Confederate force there should be driven away by the Federal advance. Gibbon's division of this corps was left in camp at Falmouth, where it was in plain view of the Confederates, and to move it might give Lee some idea of Hooker's intentions. To further confuse the enemy demonstrations had been made for several days at various points along the river. To prevent Lee from sending a strong force against the four corps operating above Fredericksburg Sedgwick, with his own corps and those of Reynolds and Sickles, was to cross below the town and make a demonstration to draw the attention of the enemy in that direction. On Monday morning, April 27, the troops moved according to instructions, and reached Kelly's ford late in the afternoon next day. A detachment was sent across in boats to drive away the picket guard, and by daylight the next morning all were over and on the way to the Rapidan. Stoneman crossed his cavalry at the same time. Pleasonton's brigade of cavalry, with two batteries, was attached to Slocum's corps, and this was all of that arm that participated in the battles of Chancellorsville, the rest of Stoneman's command moving toward Culpeper. Meade crossed the Rapidan at Ely's ford and the other two corps at Germanna ford, 10 miles above. As soon as Meade's column appeared on the south side of the Rappahannock opposite the United States ford Couch threw the pontoons across and passed his two divisions over. On the afternoon of the 30th the four corps were concentrated at Chancellorsville. Sedgwick waited until the 28th, to give the other division of the army time to reach Kelly's ford, and then moved down the river with the 1st, 3d and 6th corps to a point near the old Franklin crossing, where they bivouacked for the night. Early the next morning the 1st and 6th corps were crossed over, leaving Sickles' corps on the north side as a reserve and to cover the advance with his artillery. A small force of the enemy in rifle pits disputed the passage of the river, but a detachment sent over in boats soon drove them from their position. The Confederates then contented themselves with shelling the advancing troops from the batteries on the heights. When it became evident that no serious attack was to be made on Sedgwick, Sickles' corps was ordered to join the forces at Chancellorsville and moved on the 30th. Sedgwick then disposed his forces in such a way as to lead Lee to think a large body of troops was below the town, and that an attack was likely to come from that quarter. Had the feint succeeded the story of Chancellorsville might have been differently told. In his report Lee says: "No demonstration was made opposite any other part of our lines at Fredericksburg, and the strength of the force that had crossed and its apparent indisposition to attack indicated that the principal effort of the enemy would be made in some other quarter. This impression was confirmed by intelligence received from General Stuart that a large body of infantry and artillery was passing up the river. During the forenoon of the 29th, that officer reported that the enemy had crossed in force near Kelly's ford on the preceding evening. Later in the day he announced that a heavy column was moving from Kelly's toward Germanna ford, on the Rapidan, and another toward Ely's ford on that river. The routes they were pursuing after crossing the Rapidan converge near Chancellorsville, whence several roads lead to the rear of our position at Fredericksburg." This was the first intimation Lee had of Hooker's real purpose. Upon receipt of this information he sent a despatch to General Anderson, as follows: "I have received reliable intelligence that the enemy have crossed the river in force. Why have you not kept me informed? I wish to see you at my headquarters at once." The bearer of that despatch was captured by some of the Union cavalry. The cavalry had also captured a picket, among whom was an engineer officer belonging to Stuart's staff, and who had in his possession a diary containing the record of a council, held by the Confederate generals some weeks before, in which it was decided that the next battle was likely to be fought in the vicinity of Chancellorsville, and that it would be well to seize and prepare a position there. This diary and Lee's despatch were turned over to Hooker by Pleasonton, who suggested that, as Lee was now advised of the movements of the Union forces and was expecting a fight at Chancellorsville, it might be good tactics to forestall him by moving on toward Fredericksburg and selecting a new position. Here was Hooker's golden opportunity, but he allowed it to pass. Lee remained in Fredericksburg until the 30th, still uncertain as to Sedgwick's motives, and fearing to move in either direction until he had a better understanding of the situation. Hooker on the 29th had over 45,000 men, and Sickles had orders to join him the next day with his corps, numbering 18,000 more. Failing to receive Lee's despatch ordering him to headquarters, Anderson retired to Tabernacle Church and commenced intrenching. This was the only force to prevent Hooker from pressing forward, seizing Banks' ford, thus shortening the distance between himself and Sedgwick by at least 10 miles, and forcing Lee to meet him at a disadvantage on ground where the superior numbers of the Federals meant certain victory. Late on the 30th Lee became fully convinced that Sedgwick did not intend to attack. Leaving Early's division and Barksdale's brigade to hold Fredericksburg, the remainder of the Confederate forces were concentrated in front of Hooker. A little after sunrise on May 1 McLaws' division joined Anderson, and three divisions of Jackson's corps arrived on the field about 8 o'clock. Three hours later Hooker began his advance in four columns, each preceded by a detachment of cavalry. Howard and Slocum moved on the plank road to the right; Sykes' division of Meade's corps and Hancock's division of Couch's took the turnpike; the other two divisions of Meade's corps (Humphreys' and Griffin's) took the river road toward Banks' ford; French's division was to march south to Todd's tavern, while Sickles' corps was held at Chancellorsville and Dowdall's tavern as a reserve and to guard the ford against Fitz Hugh Lee's cavalry.  Hooker's object was to form a line of battle with his left resting on Banks' ford and his right on Tabernacle Church, which was to be his headquarters. But the ground, which might have been occupied the day before almost without a struggle, was now in possession of the enemy. When Jackson reached Tabernacle Church, he stopped the work of intrenching and moved forward to meet Hooker. Sykes, therefore, had not proceeded more than a mile before he encountered McLaws' division deployed on both sides of the pike. McLaws fell back steadily for a mile, when he was reinforced by Anderson and Ramseur, and the Confederates now assumed the offensive. Sykes tried to connect his line with Slocum by throwing out a regiment as skirmishers, but the movement failed. Anderson succeeded in getting on his flank, and he was compelled to fall back behind Hancock, whose command then came to the front and engaged the enemy. Sykes then secured a strong position, which he was preparing to hold, when the orders came for all to fall back to the positions they held early in the morning. Couch and Hancock protested against anything like a retreat. The general position was a good one. The infantry was almost clear of the woods and thickets, and there was plenty of open space in which the artillery could be used effectively. General Warren, chief engineer on Hooker's staff, urged Couch and Hancock to hold their positions until he could consult Hooker, but the latter would not rescind the order to retire. Subsequently he countermanded the order and directed the troops to return to their positions, but it was too late, as the enemy was already in possession of the ridge. Meantime Meade's column had come within sight of Banks' ford without seeing anything of the enemy when the order was received to fall back to Chancellorsville. Both divisions started to return, but Griffin was ordered to form on Hancock's left, where about 6 p. m. he aided in repulsing the enemy in an advance on Sykes' position, after which they went into bivouac for the night. Humphreys was sent to the extreme left of the line to guard the approaches to the United States ford. French, who had moved in the morning via Todd's tavern, came within sight of the Confederates, but was ordered to fall back before he could engage them. During the afternoon a new line was formed with Meade on the left toward Fredericksburg facing east; Slocum in the center facing south, Howard on the right facing west, with Couch and Sickles in reserve, except one brigade from each division, which occupied positions in the front line. The left and center were protected in front by ravines, through which ran small brooks, but on the right there was nothing but the thickets to hinder a near approach of the enemy in an attack on Howard. As thus formed the line covered all the roads passing through Chancellorsville. Late in the day an assault was made by Wright and Stuart on the advance portion of Slocum's corps and it was driven back on the main body. Artillery was then brought up and a heavy fire directed against Slocum, but he held his position. An artillery fire was also opened on Hancock's line, when Knap's battery replied with such effectiveness that the Confederates gave up the attempt to drive the Union troops back by this method. Owing to the thickets, which screened the Federal army, Lee was at a loss where to direct his attacks, and the waning hours of the day were spent in a number of pretended assaults at various points to ascertain, if possible, just how Hooker's forces were posted. These demonstrations developed the fact that the lines in front of Chancellorsville were impregnable. Lee and Jackson held a consultation about dark to determine the course they should pursue on the following day. Stuart had learned the weakness of the Union right and had communicated his knowledge to Jackson, who now advised a flank movement against that part of the line. During the night the roads were picketed by the Federal cavalry, while within the lines of both armies could be heard the sound of the ax as the contending forces engaged in strengthening their fronts by log breastworks, etc. In some places along the Union line this work was continued far into the next day. Long before daylight on the morning of the 3d Jackson was up and studying a rough map of the country to find a route to the right and rear of the Union army. An old resident was found, who pointed out a way, and at sunrise Jackson, with his three divisions, was on the march. For some distance the movement was hidden by the dense forest, and then a point was reached where the by-road ran over a hill in plain view of Sickles' position. It was readily seen that it was a movement in force, but as the road here ran due south and directly away from the Federals, it was thought the Confederate retreat was begun. General Birney reported the matter to Sickles and at the same time directed a section of Clark's rifled battery to fire a few shots at the moving column. The range was easily found and Birney ordered the rest of the battery to the same position. The artillery fire was so effective that the column was apparently thrown into confusion, hurrying forward to get out of range of the guns. This fact added to the belief that the enemy was in full retreat. This was about 8 a. m. Hooker was at once notified of the affair and was inclined to believe that the Confederates were retiring. Realizing, however, that it might be one of the flank movements for which Jackson was noted, he issued orders to Slocum and Howard to strengthen their lines as much as possible and advance their pickets "to obtain timely information of their approach." At noon Sickles received orders to follow Jackson and harass his movements. Birney's division, with two battalions of Berdan's sharpshooters and Randolph's battery, were hurried forward, supported by Whipple's division. Birney's advance was checked by a 12-pounder battery at the iron foundry near Welford's house, but Livingston's battery was brought up and soon silenced the enemy's guns. Pleasonton's cavalry was also brought up as a reinforcement, but the woods being too thick to permit its use to advantage. Sickles advised Pleasonton to return to the open space near Scott's run. Sickles wanted to cut off the divisions of Anderson and McLaws and capture them, and sent for reinforcements for that purpose. He was promised the rest of his own corps, as well as support from Slocum and Howard, and was preparing to attack, when Hooker changed his mind and recalled the reinforcements. About 300 prisoners were taken, however, and from these it was learned that Jackson's purpose was to strike a blow on the right. But the information came too late to be of service. All day Lee had been keeping up a demonstration against the Union left and center; now directing a heavy cannonade against Meade; now a musketry fire against Couch and Slocum; followed by an attack on Hancock, who occupied a position in advance of the main line. These movements were intended to create the impression that the principal assault was to be made in that quarter, and to draw attention from Jackson. By 3 p. m. Jackson had reached the plank road, within 2 miles of Howard's corps. Howard had neglected to observe Hooker's order of the morning to advance his pickets in order to guard against a surprise. Even when informed by Captain Farmer, of Pleasonton's staff, that a Confederate battery was posted directly on his flank he did not believe that any attack was intended against his corps. The Confederate pickets, therefore, crept through the thickets unmolested and accurately reported Howard's position. Jackson formed his forces in three lines, Rodes in front, then Colston, then A. P. Hill, his formation reaching some distance on either side of the road and completely enveloping the front, flank and rear of the 11th corps. Anderson and McLaws had orders, as soon as the sound of Jackson's guns was heard, to make a feint of attacking the Union left to prevent aid being sent to Howard, and at the same time to press gradually to their left until they connected with Jackson's right, when the whole force was to close on the Federal center. It was 5 p. m. when Jackson formed his lines for the final attack. Howard's men had stacked their arms and were preparing their suppers. Some were playing cards, and all were unprepared for the assault that was soon to arouse them from their fancied security. Intrenchments had been thrown up but they were not manned. Not even the shot of a solitary picket alarmed the corps. With a yell and a volley of musketry the Confederates dashed out of the woods upon the defenseless Federals, who fled in confusion without firing a shot. A few made an attempt to withstand the advance, but they were swept from their position and joined their comrades now streaming through the woods toward Chancellorsville. The wild rush of the fugitives aroused Hooker to action. His staff vainly tried to rally the panic-stricken troops, making it necessary to form a new line immediately to prevent Jackson from sweeping everything before him. But it was not an easy matter to find men for the formation of this new line, for as soon as Lee heard the sound of Jackson's attack he immediately engaged the whole line to prevent any aid being sent to Howard. Berry's division happened to be in reserve at a convenient distance. He was ordered to move at once, form across the plank road' and drive the Confederates back, or at least hold them in check until reinforcements could be sent to him. But the check to Jackson's impetuous onslaught came from a different and somewhat unexpected quarter. When Pleasonton left Sickles at the iron foundry he proceeded leisurely back to Hazel grove with the 8th and 17th Pennsylvania cavalry and Martin's battery of horse artillery. Upon reaching the open space he had left a short time before he found it filled with a confused mass of men, guns, caissons and ambulances, all bent on getting out of the way as soon as possible. Charging upon this disorderly aggregation he cleared the space for action. To gain time, for the enemy was already forming for another attack, he ordered Major Keenan of the 8th Pennsylvania to charge the Confederate lines. This was bravely done, though Keenan and 32 of his men never returned. Pleasonton next ordered Martin to bring his guns into battery, load them with double charges of canister, and aim so that the shot would strike the ground some distance in advance of the approaching enemy, but not to fire until orders were given. Just at this juncture Lieutenant Crosby, of the 4th U. S. artillery, reported to Pleasonton that he had a battery of 6 guns at hand. This was placed by the side of Martin's battery, giving Pleasonton 12 guns, and to get more a detachment of the 17th Pennsylvania charged on the stragglers and took possession of 10 pieces, which were brought quickly into line. It was now dusk. Keenan's charge, although disastrous to himself, had gained for Pleasonton a valuable quarter of an hour. The Confederate line emerged from the woods bearing a Union flag which had been dropped by some of the flying troops. They called out not to shoot as they were friends, but a moment later discharged a volley directly at the men behind the guns. Pleasonton then gave the order to fire. The whole line of guns, double-shotted and aimed low, belched forth a murderous discharge of iron hail that swept the advancing Confederates off their feet . Before the line could be reformed the guns were again loaded and again that shower of death-dealing missiles was sent hurtling through the ranks of the enemy. The cannonade continued for fully 20 minutes, when the Confederates gave up the attempt to storm the battery and retired to the woods. When Berry received the order to move out and recapture the works of the routed 11th corps he promptly obeyed, but found a large force of the enemy in possession. He then formed his line in the valley in front and held his position there to await developments. Warren had stopped several of the retreating batteries and now formed them across the plank road in the rear of the infantry. When Pleasonton opened fire on the enemy Warren's guns were also brought into action and rendered effective service, while Berry steadily advanced his line, meanwhile keeping up an incessant fire of musketry up the road and into the woods. About 8:30 the firing began to decrease and half an hour later ceased altogether. Jackson ordered A. P. Hill's division to the front for the purpose of continuing the fight, and with his staff rode forward to examine the position. He had not proceeded far when a fire from Berry's pickets warned him that the Federals were on the alert. As he rode back to his lines Hill's men were just taking position. Mistaking Jackson and his staff for Union cavalry some of them fired. Half of his escort were killed or wounded. He was struck by three balls, being wounded in both hands and his left arm. He was taken to Guiney's station, to keep him from being captured, pneumonia set in and he died on May 10. In the Union line of battle on Sunday morning the position of the left and center remained the same, except Howard's corps was moved to the extreme left, where no attack was likely to be made. The left was held by Hancock, the center by Slocum, and the right, facing west, by Sickles and French's division of Couch's corps. Sickles' extreme left (Birney's division) occupied the little plateau of Hazel grove, which commanded the Union center, and if won by the enemy he could pour an enfilading fire into Slocum's ranks. During the night Reynolds' corps had come up. It was placed so as to guard the roads to Ely's and the United States fords, and occupied the position which had been Jackson's objective point. After Jackson was wounded the command of the corps fell on Stuart, who was busy all night reorganizing his forces. At dawn he swung his right through the woods toward Hazel grove, from which all the Union troops had been withdrawn with the exception of Graham's brigade. Graham mistook the movement for an attack and a sharp skirmish ensued, which resulted in the Federals evacuating the hill and retiring to Fairview. Stuart was quick to see the advantage he had gained. He immediately occupied the hill with 30 pieces of artillery and opened fire on Chancellorsville. His next move was to attack Sickles on the Fairview ridge. Sickles obstinately defended his position for over two hours, repulsing several assaults, and then sent for reinforcements. Just as the request reached headquarters Hooker was knocked senseless by a cannon ball from Hazel grove, which struck the pillar against which he was leaning. There was no one with authority to send Sickles the desired assistance, though Meade and Reynolds were both disengaged and either corps would have been sufficient to enable Sickles to hold his position, or even to assume the offensive and secure a victory. Sickles fought on until his ammunition was exhausted, when he withdrew his useless artillery, fell back to a second line, only partially fortified, and prepared to hold that by bayonet. Just then French made a determined attack on the Confederate left and forced it back. This was the only offensive movement of the Union forces that day, and Stuart rushed reinforcements to the spot, quickly repelling the assault. Had half of Reynolds' corps, lying idle a short distance away, been ordered up Stuart's army might have been destroyed. During this time Slocum's line had been subjected to a heavy fire from the artillery at Hazel grove, and Hancock was threatened. By 10 a. m. Lee and Stuart had succeeded in effecting a junction of their forces, and with 40,000 men began pressing on toward Chancellorsville, opposed by probably 30,000 under Sickles, French and Slocum. The 42,000 of Meade, Howard and Reynolds, all within easy call, remained inactive. Again the assault fell on Sickles, who was without ammunition. Five times he repulsed the enemy with bayonets. Then the overwhelming numbers of the enemy hurled against him compelled him to give way and the army fell back to a line which had been mapped out the evening before. Here was a strong position. The left was protected by the ravine of Mineral Spring run, the right by the ravines of the Big and Little Hunting runs, leaving only a narrow front open to attack, and this was not easy to approach by a line of any extent. Hooker had here over 70,000 men, while Lee's strength was barely 40,000. Notwithstanding this disparity of numbers he was preparing to renew the fight when he received the news that Sedgwick and Gibbon were between him and Fredericksburg, ready to fall on his rear or overpower Early and cut the Confederate communications. At 11 p. m. on Saturday, the 2nd, Sedgwick received the order to join Hooker. It was daylight before his advance reached the left and rear of Fredericksburg. Marye's hill was carried by assault at 1 1 o'clock, and Sedgwick was between Lee and Early with his corps of 22,000 men. Gibbon, with his division of 5,000, had crossed over from Falmouth as soon as the town had been taken, and moved to the right, but was checked by the artillery fire and held at the canal until after the storming of the heights. Gibbon was left to hold the town and cover the bridges and Sedgwick sent back for Brooks' division, which had been left 3 miles below the town, to come forward and take the advance. This delayed Sedgwick's movements until 3 p. m., giving Lee time to send four brigades to check the Federal advance. At Salem Church this detachment met the Confederates that had been driven from Marye's heights, and a stand was made on a low ridge covered with timber. An attack by Brooks and Newton drove the Confederates from this position, but reinforcements coming up the Union forces were in turn compelled to fall back, closely pressed by the enemy until he was checked by the artillery. Both armies lay that night on the field. On Monday morning, May 4, Lee's army was in an extremely hazardous position. His entire strength was less than 50,000 men and this force was scattered. Stuart's corps, with the greater part of Anderson's division, was in front of Hooker at Chancellorsville; McLaws, with about 10,000, was at Salem Church, holding Sedgwick in check; and Early, with 8,000, was 3 miles farther south. Thus divided the Confederate army ought to have fallen an easy prey to the superior force of the Federals. But it was saved by the good generalship of Lee and the inactivity of Hooker. The remainder of Anderson's division was quietly withdrawn from Stuart and sent against Sedgwick. Early recaptured Marye's hill, forcing Gibbon to abandon Fredericksburg and recross the river, and then moved to join Anderson. At 11 a. m. Sedgwick found himself encompassed on three sides by the enemy. He reported the situation to Hooker and asked the active support of the main army. In reply he was directed not to attack unless the main body at Chancellorsville did so. This order placed him on the defensive. At 4 p. m. he formed his corps—now less than 20,000 men—with Howe facing Early on the east, Newton, with Russell's brigade of Brooks' division, facing west against McLaws, while Brooks' other two brigades were facing Anderson on the south. Within the three sides of this square, both flanks of which rested on the river, was Banks' ford, his line of retreat in case he was compelled to abandon his position. His entire line was thin and was confronted by a superior force. He realized that his position was precarious, but he determined to hold it until dark, as an attempt to cross the river in the daytime. would sacrifice a large part of his command. About 6 p. m. three guns were fired in quick succession from one of the Confederate batteries. This was the signal for the attack and the whole line began to advance. The assault fell the heaviest on Howe in an effort to cut off the Federals from the ford. Newton was not assailed and Brooks easily repulsed the attack on his line. Howe's artillery did effective work on Early's column and threw it into confusion. Taking advantage of the situation Howe advanced his right and captured the greater part of the 8th Louisiana regiment, but the movement exposed his left and he was compelled to fall back to a position previously selected. The enemy took this for a retreat and charged, bringing his flank opposite the Vermont brigade stationed in a little piece of woods. This brigade opened a galling fire and Early beat a precipitate retreat. After the attack on his lines in the morning Sedgwick sent word to Hooker that he could hold his position. Before Hooker received that despatch he had sent Sedgwick an order to cross the river. After receiving it he countermanded the order, but Sedgwick did not receive the countermand in time. General Benham, of the engineers, had thrown a bridge across at Scott's dam, about a mile below Banks' ford, on the 3d. While the attack on Sedgwick was in progress he threw over another, and this precaution enabled Sedgwick to save his corps. Soon after dark the order was issued to fall back to the north bank of the Rappahannock and by daylight the next morning the entire command was encamped on the Falmouth road a mile from the ford. On Sunday night Hooker called a council of war, at which it was decided to recross the Rappahannock. Some difficulty was encountered in crossing, owing to a sudden rise in the river, but by the 6th the entire army was on the north side, and the disastrous Chancellorsville campaign was ended. In the several engagements the Union army lost 1,606 killed, 9,762 wounded, and 5,919 missing. The Confederate losses, as given by brigade and division commanders, aggregated 1,649 killed, 9,106 wounded, and 1,708 captured or missing.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 247-255.


CHANDLER, Elizabeth Margaret, 1807-1834, poet, Society of Friends, Quaker, abolitionist.  Member of the Free Produce Society.  Co-founded the first anti-slavery society in Michigan, the Logan Female Anti-Slavery Society, in Lenawee County, Michigan Territory, October 8, 1832, with Laura Haviland.  Writer for Benjamin Lundy’s Genius of Universal Emancipation after 1829.  In 1836, Chandler’s anti-slavery writings were published. (Dumond, 1961, pp. 279-281, 350-351; Van Broekhoven, 2002, pp. 90-91, 97, 111, 113, 120; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 573; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. II, Pt. 1, p. 613; Mason, Martha J. Heringa, ed. Remember the Distance That Divides Us. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press, 2004)

CHANDLER, Elizabeth Margaret, author, born in Centre, near Wilmington, Delaware, 24 December, 1807; died 22 November, 1834. She was the daughter of Thomas Chandler, a Quaker farmer, was educated at the Friends' school in Philadelphia, and began at an early age to write verses. Her poem “The Slave-Ship,” written when she was eighteen years old, gained the prize- offered by the “Casket,” a monthly magazine. She became a contributor to the “Genius of Universal Emancipation,” a Philadelphia periodical favoring the liberation of the slaves, and in it nearly all her subsequent writings appeared. In 1830, with her aunt and brother, she moved to a farm near Tecumseh, Lenawee County, Michigan, and from there continued her contributions in prose and verse on the subject of slavery. A collection of her poems and essays was edited, with a memoir, by Benjamin Lundy (Philadelphia, 1836). Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 573.


CHANDLER, Ralph, naval officer, born in New York, 23 August, 1829. He was appointed to the U.S. Navy as midshipman, 27 September, 1845, served on the west coast of Mexico during the Mexican War, and was engaged in skirmishes near Mazatlan. He became passed midshipman, 6 October, 1851, was promoted to master in 1855, and commissioned as lieutenant on 16 September of that year, he was on the "Vandalia" at the battle of Port Royal, 7 November, 1861, and in 1862 was assigned to the " San Jacinto," of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, on which he was present at the capture of Norfolk. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander, 16 July, 1862, commanded the "Maumee" at both attacks on Fort Fisher, and was made commander, 25 July, 1866. He became captain, 5 June, 1874, and commodore, 1 March, 1884, and in the same year was appointed commandant of the Brooklyn U.S. Navy-yard. He was promoted to rear-admiral on 6 October, 1886, succeeded in command of the U.S. Navy-yard by Commodore Gherardi on 15 October, and was ordered to relieve Rear-Admiral Davis in command of the Asiatic Squadron. . Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 573


CHANDLER, William Eaton, born 1835, Concord, New Hampshire. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 574.

CHANDLER, William Eaton, cabinet minister, born in Concord, New Hampshire, 28 December, 1835. He studied law in Concord, and at the Harvard law-school, where he was graduated in 1855. For several years after his admission to the bar in 1856 he practised in Concord, and in 1859 was appointed reporter of the New Hampshire supreme court, and published five volumes of reports. From the time of his coming of age Mr. Chandler was actively connected with the Democratic Party, serving first as secretary, and afterward as chairman of the state committee. In 1862 he was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, of which he was speaker for two successive terms in 1863-'4. In November, 1864, he was employed by the Navy Department as special counsel to prosecute the Philadelphia Navy-yard frauds, and on 9 March, 1865, was appointed first solicitor and judge-advocate-general of that department. On 17 June, 1865, he became first assistant secretary of the treasury. On 30 November, 1867, he resigned this place and resumed law practice. During the next thirteen years, although occupying no official position except that of member of the Constitutional Convention of New Hampshire in 1876, he continued to take an active part in politics. He was a delegate from his state to the Republican National Convention in 1868, and was secretary of the national committee from that time until 1876. In that year he advocated the claims of the Hayes electors in Florida before the canvassing board of the state, and later was one of the counsel to prepare the case submitted by the Republican side to the electoral commission. Mr. Chandler afterward became an especially outspoken opponent of the southern policy of the Hayes administration. In 1880 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and served as a member of the committee on credentials, in which place he was active in securing the report in favor of district representation, which was adopted by the convention. During the subsequent campaign he was a member of the national committee. On 23 March, 1881, he was nominated for U. S. Solicitor-General, but the Senate refused to confirm, the vote being nearly upon party lines. In that year he was again a member of the New Hampshire legislature. On 7 April, 1882, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy. Among the important measures carried out by him were the simplification and reduction of the unwieldy navy-yard establishment; the limitation of the number of annual appointments to the actual wants of the naval service; the discontinuance of the extravagant policy of repairing worthless vessels; and the beginning of a modern navy in the construction of the four new cruisers recommended by the advisory board. The organization and successful voyage of the Greely Relief Expedition in 1884 were largely due to his personal efforts. Mr. Chandler was a strenuous advocate of uniting with the navy the other nautical branches of the federal administration, including the light-house establishment, the Coast Survey, and the Revenue Marine, upon the principle, first distinctly set forth by him, that “the officers and seamen of the navy should be employed to perform all the work of the National government upon or in direct connection with the ocean.” Mr. Chandler is controlling owner of the daily “Monitor,” a Republican journal, and its weekly, the “Statesman,” published in Concord, New Hampshire In June, 1887, he was elected U. S. Senator. Appletons’ Cylcopædia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 574.


CHANDLER, Zachariah, 1813-1879, statesman, abolitionist.  Mayor of Detroit, 1851-1852.  U.S. Senator 1857-1975, 1879.  Secretary of the Interior, 1875-1877. Active in Underground Railroad in Detroit area.  Helped organize the Republican Party in 1854.  Introduced Confiscation Bill in Senate, July 1861.  Was a leading Radical Republican senator.  Chandler was a vigorous opponent of slavery.  He opposed the Dred Scott U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the Fugitive Slave Law.  In 1858, opposed the admission of Kansas as a slave state under the Lecompton Constitution.  Voted for Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery. (Appletons’, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 574-575; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. II, Pt. 1, p. 618; Congressional Globe)

CHANDLER, Zachariah, senator, born in Bedford, New Hampshire, 10 December, 1813; died in Chicago, Illinois, 1 November, 1879. After receiving a common-school education he taught for one winter, at the same time managing his father's farm. He was noted when a youth for physical strength and endurance. It is said that, being offered by his father the choice between a collegiate education and the sum of $1,000, he chose the latter. He moved to Detroit in 1833 and engaged in the dry-goods business, in which he was energetic and successful. He soon became a prominent Whig, and was active in support of the so-called “Underground Railroad,” of which Detroit was an important terminus. His public life began in 1851 by his election as mayor of Detroit. In 1852 he was nominated for governor by the Whigs, and, although his success was hopeless, the large vote he received brought him into public notice. He was active in the organization of the Democratic Party in 1854, and in January, 1857, was elected to the U. S. Senate to succeed General Lewis Cass. He made his first important speech on 12 March, 1858, opposing the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton constitution, and continued to take active part in the debates on that and allied questions. In 1858, when Senator Green, of Missouri, had threatened Simon Cameron with an assault for words spoken in debate, Mr. Chandler, with Mr. Cameron and Benjamin F. Wade, of Ohio, drew up a written agreement, the contents of which were not to be made public till the death of all the signers, but which was believed to be a pledge to resent an attack made on any one of the three. On 11 February, 1861, he wrote the famous so-called “blood letter” to Governor Blair, of Michigan. It received its name from the sentence, “Without a little blood-letting this Union will not, in my estimation, be worth a rush.” This letter was widely quoted through the country, and was acknowledged and defended by Mr. Chandler on the floor of the Senate. Mr. Chandler was a firm friend of President Lincoln, though he was more radical than the latter in his ideas, and often differed with the president as to matters of policy. When the first call for troops was made, he assisted by giving money and by personal exertion. He regretted that 500,000 men had not been called for instead of 75,000, and said that the short-term enlistment was a mistake. At the beginning of the extra session of Congress in July, 1861, he introduced a sweeping confiscation-bill, thinking that stern measures would deter wavering persons from taking up arms against the government; but it was not passed in its original form, though Congress ultimately adopted his views. On 16 July, 1862, Mr. Chandler vehemently assailed General McClellan in the Senate, although he was warned that such a course might be politically fatal. He was, however, returned to the Senate in 1863, and in 1864 actively aided in the re-election of President Lincoln. He was again elected to the Senate in 1869. During all of his terms he was chairman of the committee on commerce and a member of other important committees, including that on the conduct of the war. In October, 1874, President Grant tendered him the post of secretary of the interior, to fill the place made vacant by the resignation of Columbus Delano, and he held this office until President Grant's retirement, doing much to reform abuses in the department. He was chairman of the Republican National committee in 1876, and took an active part in the presidential campaign of that year. He was again elected to the Senate in February, 1879, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Isaac P. Christiancy, who had succeeded him four years before. On 2 March, 1879, he made a speech in the Senate denouncing Jefferson Davis, which brought him into public notice again, and he was regarded in his own state as a possible presidential candidate. He went to Chicago on 31 October, 1879, to deliver a political speech, and was found dead in his room on the following morning. During the greater portion of his life Mr. Chandler was engaged in large business enterprises, from which he realized a handsome fortune. He was a man of commanding appearance, and possessed an excellent practical judgment, great energy, and indomitable perseverance. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 574-575.


CHANNING, Reverend William Ellery, 1780-1842, Unitarian clergyman, orator, writer, strong opponent of slavery.  Active in the peace, temperance, and educational reform movements.  Published anti-slavery works, The Slavery Question, in 1839, Emancipation in 1840, and The Duty of the Free States, in 1842. (Brown, 1956; Channing, “Slavery,” 1836; Dumond, 1961, pp. 273, 352-353; Filler, 1960, pp. 33, 34, 59, 80, 88, 93, 101, 128, 141, 184; Goodell, 1852, pp. 419, 560; Mabee, 1970, pp. 15, 16, 43, 51, 79, 105, 384n14; Pease, 1965, pp. xxxix-xl, lvii, lx, 114-118, 240-245; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 43, 46, 162, 169; Sorin, 1971, p. 72; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 576-577; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, pp. 7-8; American Reformers: An H.W. Wilson Biographical Dictionary, New York, 1985, pp. 160-163; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 4, p. 680)

CHANNING, William Ellery, clergyman, born in Newport, Rhode Island, 7 April, 1780; died in Bennington, Vermont, 2 October, 1842. His boyhood was passed in Newport, where his first strong religious impressions were received from the preaching of Dr. Samuel Hopkins. As a youth, he appears, though small in person and of a sensibility almost feminine, to have been vigorous, athletic, and resolute, showing from childhood a marked quality of moral courage and mental sincerity. In his college life at Harvard, where he was graduated in 1798, he showed a singular capacity to win the ardent personal attachment of his fellows; and, though he was very young, his literary qualities seem even then to have been fully developed, his style being described by his classmate, Judge Story, as “racy, flowing, full, glowing with life, chaste in ornament, vigorous in structure, and beautiful in finish.” He was also conspicuous in the students' debating-clubs, and shared fully in the political enthusiasms of the day, refusing the commencement oration assigned him until granted permission to speak on his favorite theme. Among the authors of his choice at this time, Hutcheson appears to have inspired his profound conviction of “the dignity of human nature,” Ferguson (“Civil Society”) his faith in social progress and his “enthusiasm of humanity,” and Price (“Dissertations”) that form of idealism which “saved me,” he says, “from Locke's philosophy.” As a private instructor in Richmond, Virginia, in the family of D. M. Randolph, in 1798-1800, he felt “the charm of southern manners and hospitality,” and at the same time acquired an abhorrence of the social and moral aspects of slavery, then equally abhorred by the most intelligent men and women at the south. Here he became eagerly interested in political discussions growing out of the revolutionary movements in Europe, and a keen admirer of such writers as Godwin, Mary Wollstonecraft, and especially Rousseau; but, as if by a certain unconscious reaction against these influences, he gave special study to the historical evidences of Christianity, to which class of evidences he ever after strongly adhered, and was confirmed in his purpose to prepare for the ministry. He also disciplined himself by a vigorously ascetic way of life—exposure to cold, hardship, and fatigue, with scant diet (leading to permanent “contraction of the stomach” with painful dyspepsia), insufficient clothing, and excessive devotion to study. The ill-effect of these practices, aggravated by the exposures of his return voyage to Newport, followed him through life, and “from the time of his residence in Richmond to the day of his death he never knew a day of unimpaired vigor.” After a short stay in Newport, where the influences of early life were renewed and deepened, he returned to Cambridge as a student of theology, with the title and petty income of “regent,” a sort of university scholarship. At this period Bishop Butler and William Law were the writers that chiefly influenced his opinions; and he is represented as having had a tendency to Calvinistic views, though “never in any sense a Trinitarian.” His first and only pastoral settlement was over the church in Federal street, Boston, 1 June, 1803, which he accepted, in preference to the more distinguished place in Brattle square, partly on the ground that a smaller and feebler congregation might not overtax his strength. Here he was shortly known for a style of religious eloquence of rare “fervor, solemnity, and beauty.” His views at this time—and indeed, prevailingly, during his later life—are described as “rather mystical than rational”; in particular, as to the controverted doctrine of Christ's divinity, holding “that Jesus Christ is more than man, that he existed before the world, that he literally came from heaven to save our race, that he sustains other offices than those of a teacher and witness to the truth, and that he still acts for our benefit, and is our intercessor with the Father.” Early in his ministry, however, Mr. Channing was closely identified with that movement of thought, literary and philosophic as well as theological, which gave birth to the “Anthology Club,” and to a series of journals, of which those longest-lived and of widest repute were the “North American Review” and the “Christian Examiner.” Essays published in these journals, especially those on Milton and on the character of Napoleon, gave him literary reputation in Europe as well as at home. The intellectual movement in question was marked by an increasing interest in questions of theological and textual criticism, and by a leaning toward, if not identification with, the class of opinions that began about 1815 to be currently known as Unitarian. Though Mr. Channing was disinclined to sectarian names or methods, though he never desired to be personally called a Unitarian, and would have chosen that the movement of liberal theology should go on within the lines of the New England Congregational body, to which he belonged from birth, yet he became known as the leader of the Unitarians, and may almost be said to have first given to the body so called the consciousness of its real position and the courage of its convictions by his sermon delivered in Baltimore, 5 May, 1819, at the ordination of Jared Sparks. This celebrated discourse may be regarded less as a theological argument, for which its method is too loose and rhetorical, than as a solemn impeachment of the Calvinistic theology of that day at the bar of popular reason and conscience. And a similar judgment may be passed, in general, upon the series of controversial discourses that he delivered in the succeeding years. For about fifteen years, making the middle period of his professional life—a life interrupted only by a few months' stay in Europe (1822-'3) and a winter spent in Santa Cruz (1830-'31)—Mr. Channing was best known to the public as a leader in the Unitarian body, and the record of this time survives in several volumes of eloquent and noble sermons, which constitute still the best body of practical divinity that the Unitarian movement in this country has produced. Very interesting testimony to the habit and working of his mind at this period is also to be found in the volume of “Reminiscences” by Miss E. P. Peabody (Boston, 1880). A sermon on the “Ministry at Large” in Boston (1835) strongly illustrates the sympathetic as well as religious temper in which he now undertook those discussions of social topics—philanthropy, moral reform, and political ethics—by which his later years were most widely and honorably distinguished. From organized charity the way was open to questions of temperance and public education, which now began to take new shapes; and from these again, to those that lie upon the border-ground of morals and politics—war and slavery. Regarding the last, indeed, which may be taken as a type of the whole, it does not appear that he ever adopted the extreme opinions, or approved the characteristic modes of action, of the party known as abolitionists. But his general and very intense sympathy with their aims was of great moral value in the anti-slavery movement, now taking more and more a political direction. Of this the earliest testimony was a brief but vigorous essay on slavery (1835), dealing with it purely on grounds of moral argument; followed the next year by a public letter of sympathy to James G. Birney (“The Abolitionists”), who had just been driven from Cincinnati with the destruction of his press and journal; and again, in 1837, by a letter to Henry Clay on the annexation of Texas, a policy which the writer thought good ground to justify disunion. The event that, more than any other, publicly associated his name and influence with the anti-slavery party was a meeting held in Faneuil Hall, 8 December, 1837, after the death of Elijah P. Lovejoy, who was shot while defending his press at Alton, Illinois, when for the first time Mr. Channing stood side by side, upon the public platform, with men in whom he now saw the champions of that freedom of discussion which must be upheld by all good citizens. His later writings on the subject are a letter on “The Slavery Question” (1839) addressed to Jonathan Phillips; a tract on “Emancipation” (1840), suggested by a work of J. J. Gurney's on emancipation in the British West Indies; and an argument (1842) on “The Duty of the Free States,” touching the case of the slaves on board the brig “Creole,” of Richmond, who had seized the vessel and carried her into the port of Nassau. His last public act was an address delivered in Lenox. Massachusetts, 1 August, 1842, commemorating the West India emancipation. A few weeks later, while on a journey, he was seized with an attack of autumn fever, of which he died. Interesting personal recollections remain, now passing into tradition, of Channing's rare quality and power as a pulpit orator, of which a single trait may here be given: “From the high, old-fashioned pulpit his face beamed down, it may be said, like the face of an angel, and his voice floated clown like a voice from higher spheres. It was a voice of rare power and attraction, clear, flowing, melodious, slightly plaintive, so as curiously to catch and win upon the hearer's sympathy. Its melody and pathos in the reading of a hymn was alone a charm that might bring men to the listening like the attraction of sweet music. Often, too, when signs of physical frailty were apparent, it might be said that his speech was watched and waited for with that sort of hush as if one was waiting to catch his last earthly words.” Numerous writings of Dr. Channing were published singly, which were gathered shortly before his death (5 vols., Boston, 1841), to which a sixth volume was added subsequently, and also, in 1872, a volume of selected sermons entitled “The Perfect Life.” All are included in a single volume published by the American Unitarian association (Boston). A biography was prepared by his nephew, W. H. Channing (3 vols., Boston, 1848). Translations of Channing's writings “have been, either wholly or in part, published in the German, French, Italian, Hungarian, Icelandic, and Russian languages.” While in America he is best known as a theologian and preacher, his influence abroad is said to be chiefly as a writer on subjects of social ethics. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 576-577.


CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA, September 1, 1862. 3d Corps, Army of Virginia; 3d and 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac. After the battle of Manassas, on August 30, Pope fell back to Centerville. His forces there on the morning of September 1 numbered about 62,000 men. They were made up of the 1st, 2nd and 3d corps of the Army of Virginia, commanded by Sigel, Banks and McDowell, and the 2nd, 3d, 5th, 6th and 9th corps of the Army of the Potomac, commanded by Sumner, Heintzelman, Porter, Franklin and Reno. (The 9th corps was temporarily commanded by Brigadier-General Isaac I. Stevens.) The last day of August was rainy, but Lee decided to push his advantage in spite of the weather. To this end Jackson's corps, closely followed by Longstreet's. was moved to Sudley ford, where they crossed Bull run, and early on the morning of the 1st Jackson started for the Little River turnpike, intending to reach Fairfax Court House. 7 miles in the rear of Pope, and cut off his retreat. At 3 o'clock that morning Pope ordered Sumner to make a reconnaissance in the direction of the pike, and the detachments sent out for that purpose discovered Jackson's column. Pope ordered McDowell to move back toward Fairfax. Hooker's division of Heintzelman's corps was to take a position on the right of McDowell, while Stevens was directed to push forward north of the road from Fairfax to Centerville in the direction of Chantilly to intercept Jackson's advance. The remainder of Heintzelman's corps was posted on the road between Centerville and Fairfax in support of Stevens; Franklin was placed on the left of McDowell; Sumner, Sigel and Porter, in the order named, were to form on the left of Heintzelman. Banks' corps was sent with the trains by the old Braddock road to strike the Alexandria pike beyond Fairfax. Stevens was unable to reach the pike in advance of Jackson, but became engaged with the Confederate skirmishers south of the road. Without waiting for support he determined to attack. Seizing the colors of the 79th New York Highlanders—his old regiment—he led the advance in person. His division, numbering about 2,000 men, every one of whom was inspired by the heroic conduct of their commander, charged impetuously upon the Confederate column, effectively checking its further progress. Stevens fell in the charge. General Kearny, commanding the 1st division of Heintzelman's corps, moved promptly to the assistance of Stevens and was also killed. The fighting continued for an hour or more. Ricketts' division of McDowell's corps was drawn up across the road in the valley of Difficult creek and attacked Jackson in front while the fighting on his flank was going on. This assault from two directions forced the enemy to retire and Pope's army was saved. The engagement is also known as the battle of Ox hill. The official statement of the Union loss here is included in the report of the operations from August 16 to September 2. The Confederate reports give 44 killed, 151 wounded and 5 missing.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 255.


CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA, December 29, 1862. Detachment of the 1st New Jersey Page 256 This was an incident of Stuart's cavalry raid to Dumfries and Fairfax Court House. Colonel Wyndham, with 500 men of his regiment, fell on the enemy's rear about 10 a. m., and although the Confederates numbered over 3,000 his attack was so vigorous that they were compelled to halt and deploy their forces, by which means Wyndham discovered their strength. Seeing himself outnumbered he withdrew a short distance, but when the enemy again resumed the march he pursued them to Pleasant Valley, harassing their rear at every opportunity. No casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 256.


CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA, February 10, 25-26, 1863. Chantilly, Virginia, March 23, 1863. (See Little River Turnpike.) Chantilly, Virginia, October 17, 1863. Chapel Hill, Missouri, July 30, 1864. Detachment of the 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Lieutenant Horn, with 93 men, set out from Camp Grover, near Warrensburg, on the evening of the 27th for the northwest part of Johnson county, for the purpose of breaking up a band of bushwhackers that was operating in that vicinity. From Wagon knob he discovered a party of the enemy in a grove near Chapel hill. Deploying his men so as to cover the grove he ordered a charge, killed 1 man and wounded another, and captured 2 horses and 5 rifles and shotguns without loss.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 256.


CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, April 15, 1865. General Joseph Wheeler, of the Confederate army, in one of his reports states that Federal troops approached his position at Chapel Hill, fired a few shots, and then retired. No mention of the affair is found in any of the Union reports or communications.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 256.


CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, March 5, 1863. 3d Division, 14th Army Corps. Brigadier-General James B. Steedman, commanding the corps, sent out a detachment from Triune to make a reconnaissance to the Confederate camp near Chapel Hill. The reconnoitering party encountered two regiments of Roddey's cavalry and drove them across Duck river, wounding 7 and capturing 60, with their horses and equipments, without casualty.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 256.


CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, April 13, 1863. Detachment of Cavalry of the 14th Army Corps. General Steedman sent Lieutenant-Colonel J. P. Brownlow, with two companies, to capture a forage train near Chapel Hill. Two miles from the town Brownlow attacked the train, killed 1 man and dispersed the guard, but before the train could be destroyed the enemy was reinforced and the Federals were forced to retire, which they did in good order and without loss.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 256.


CHAPLAIN. Punished by a court-martial for undue absence; (ART. 4.) One allowed to Military Academy who shall be professor of geography, history, and ethics with pay of professor of mathematics. Chaplains allowed to military posts, not exceeding twenty, are selected by the council of administration of the post, and are also to be school-masters, with $70 per month, 4 rations per day, and quarters and fuel; (Acts July 5, 1838; and Feb. 21, 1857.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 157).


CHAPLIN, William Lawrence, 1796-1871, abolitionist leader, Farmington, NY.  Manager, American Anti-Slavery Society, 1839-1840.  Agent of the New York Anti-Slavery Society.  He was known as “The General.”  He was involved in slave freedom lawsuits, “Self-Purchase,” and aided fugitive slaves.  Helped plan the “Pearl” ship escape.  Supported by Gerrit Smith.  (Dumond, 1961, p. 297; Goodell, 1852, pp. 246, 445, 463, 556; Sinha, 2016, pp. 402, 405, 407, 501, 529, 534; Sorin, 1971, p. 113; Radical Abolitionist; Wilson, 1872, Vol. 2, pp. 80-82)

Chapter: “Underground Railroad. - Operations at the East and in the Middle States,” by Henry Wilson, in History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America, 1872.

The case of William L. Chaplin affords another example of what it cost in those days to be honest and humane, to listen to the voice of sympathy and to carry into action the simple precepts of Christian love. In the year 1836 this gentleman, a young lawyer of Eastern Massachusetts, just entering upon the practice of his profession, with generous ambition and flattering prospects, was invited, on the very threshold of what· he had marked out as his life's work, to relinquish all these prospects, that he might espouse the cause of the despised and downtrodden slave. Yielding to what he regarded the voice of duty, he relinquished his profession and its prospects, and for a quarter of a century devoted himself to the cause of the oppressed. Having served the National Antislavery Society for several months, he accepted the appointment of general agent of the New York State Society. Possessing energy and marked executive ability, he devoted himself for four years, with large success, to the work of organizing the new forces of freedom in those early years of the reform.  Afterward, for several years in connection with others, he made a specialty of procuring and publishing antislavery tracts, documents, and volumes. In 1844 he assumed control of the Albany "Patriot," the paper which Mr. Torrey then in the Maryland penitentiary, had recently started. Becoming the Washington correspondent of his own paper, he often found occasion, during his residence at the capital, to exhibit the philanthropy of his nature by aiding in the purchase of the relatives of those who had previously escaped to the North. During the session of 1850 he was persuaded to assist two young men, slaves of Robert Toombs and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, in their endeavor to escape. Being surprised in the attempt, he was arrested and cast into prison, on the charge of abducting slaves. Having lain in prison five months, he was released on the excessive bail of twenty-five thousand dollars.

But his alleged offences, according to the laws of the District of Columbia and of Maryland, would subject him, if convicted, to imprisonment for years, if not for life. The masters of the slaves he had aided were violent and most exacting in their demands, the country was intensely agitated, and the fate of. Torrey was fresh in memory. There was little doubt that,. if brought to trial, he would be convicted. It was deemed advisable, therefore, to prevent .a trial whose probable results would be thus serious, if not practically fatal; and it was determined by his friends that his bail, though so large, should be forfeited and paid. · To do this, his own little property was sacrificed and heavy contributions were made by his friends and the friends of the cause. In this work, Gerrit Smith of New York, with his usual and prompt sympathy, his large-hearted beneficence and princely munificence, became his surety, and contributed a large portion of the amount. And this was the price demanded by the nation, and paid by Mr. Chaplin and his friends, for performing the simple and neighborly act of aiding two young men to escape from the horrible bondage of chattel slavery. But he lived to see the day when those slaves, if living, were not only free, but enfranchised men, and those masters, stripped of all control over them and of their own rights of citizenship, were dependent upon the generosity of the nation for even the privilege of life.

Source:  Wilson, Henry, History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America, Vol. 2.  Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1872, 80-82.


CHAPLIN HILLS, KENTUCKY, October 8, 1862. (See Perryville.)


CHAPLINTOWN, KENTUCKY, January 30, 1865. Detachment of the 30th Kentucky Infantry. Captain Searcy's company had a running fight with Clarke's guerrillas 3 miles east of Chaplintown and wounded 1 man. The guerrillas were better mounted than the Federals and succeeded in making their escape.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 256.


CHAPMAN, George H., soldier. He served during the Civil War in the volunteer army, and was appointed a brigadier-general on 21 July, 1864 On 13 March, 1865, he received the brevet of major-general, and was mustered out of service on 7 January, 1866. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 581


CHAPMAN, Maria Weston, 1806-1885, educator, writer, newspaper editor, prominent abolitionist leader, reformer.  Advocate of immediate, uncompensated emancipation.  Editor of the anti-slavery newspaper The Liberty Bell.  Also helped to edit William Lloyd Garrison’s newspaper, the Liberator.  Co-founded and edited the National Anti-Slavery Standard.  Leader and founder of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society (BFASS), which she founded and organized with twelve other women, including three of her sisters.  The Society worked to educate Boston’s African American community and to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia.  In 1840, Chapman was elected to the Executive Committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society.  She was Councillor of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society from 1841-1865.  Her husband was prominent abolitionist Henry Grafton Chapman.

(Dumond, 1961, p. 273; Filler, 1960, pp. 55, 76, 129, 143, 184; Mabee, 1970, pp. 62, 68, 72, 80, 105, 249, 259, 274; Pease, 1965, pp. xliv-l, li, lii, lxx, 205-212; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 199, 367, 402; Van Broekhoven, 2002, pp. 97, 119, 123, 135, 137, 173, 185, 190-191, 206-208; Weston, “How Can I Help Abolish Slavery?, or Councels to the Newly Converted,” New York, 1855; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 581; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, pp. 19-20; American Reformers: An H.W. Wilson Biographical Dictionary, New York, 1985, pp. 163-164; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 4, p. 710; The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. II. New York: James T. White, 1892, p. 315)

CHAPMAN, Maria Weston, reformer, born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, in 1806; died there in 1885. She was a daughter of Warren Weston, of Weymouth. After being educated in her native town and in England, she was principal of the newly established Young ladies' high-school in Boston in 1829-'30. She was married in 1830, and in 1834 became an active abolitionist. Her husband died in 1842, and in 1848 she went to Paris, France, where she aided the anti-slavery cause with her pen. She returned to this country in 1856, and in 1877 published the autobiography of her intimate friend, Harriet Martineau.  Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 581. 


CHAPMAN, Mary G., abolitionist leader, Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society (BFASS). (Yellin, 1994)


CHAPMAN, Reuben Atwater, jurist, born in Russell, Hampden County, Massachusetts, 20 September, 1801; died at Fluellen, Switzerland, 28 June, 1873. He was a New England farmer's son, and received but a limited education. At the age of nineteen he became a clerk in a country store in Blanford, where he attracted the attention of a lawyer, who invited him to become a student in his office. This offer was gratefully accepted, and after his admission to the bar he practised successively in Westfield, Monson, Ware, and Springfield. Later he became associated with George Ashmun, and during its twenty years' continuance the firm of Chapman & Ashmun was among the most successful in the state. In 1860 he was appointed an associate justice of the supreme judicial court, and in 1868 was advanced to the chief justiceship. He received the degrees of A. M. from Williams in 1836 and from Amherst in 1841, and LL.D. from Amherst in 1861 and from Harvard in 1864. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 582.


CHAPMAN, William, soldier, born in St. Johns, Maryland, 22 January, 1810. He was graduated at the U.S. Military Academy in 1831, and promoted to lieutenant in the 5th U.S. Infantry, after which he served on frontier duty at Fort Mackinac, Michigan, in 1831–2, on the Black Hawk Expedition in 1832. Chapman was an instructor at West Point in 1832-’3, and with his regiment at various posts on the frontier until 1845. In 1845–6 he was in Texas during the military occupancy of that country, and in the Mexican War was present at the principal engagements. He received the brevet rank of major in August, 1847, and that of lieutenant-colonel in September, for gallant conduct during the war. Subsequently he again served on garrison duty in Texas and New Mexico, becoming major of the 2d U.S. Infantry in February, 1861. During the Civil War he had command of a regiment in the defences of Washington in 1862, and was with the Army of the Potomac during the Peninsular Campaign, being engaged in the siege Yorktown and at Malvern Hill, and afterward at Manassas, where he received the brevet of colonel. He was retired from active service in August, 1863, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and assigned to the command of the draft rendezvous at Madison, Wisconsin Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 582.


CHAPMAN'S FORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, May 26, 186+ U. S. Transport Boston. An expedition was sent out by Gen Hatch, under command of Brigadier-General William Birney, to destroy the bridges on the line of the Charleston & Savannah railroad. Of the transports conveying the expedition two— the Boston and the Edwin Lewis—made a mistake, and, instead of stopping at the point designated, proceeded on up the Ashepoo river until they came within range of the Confederate guns at Chapman's fort. There the Boston ran aground, in such a position that she was subjected to a raking fire, and was soon disabled. The men on board saved their lives by swimming to the Lewis, though they were compelled to lose their arms and equipments. The loss was 13 killed, drowned and missing. The steamer fell into the hands of the enemy and was burned, with about 100 horses that were on board. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 256.


CHAPMANVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA, September 25, 1861. 1st Kentucky and 34th Ohio Volunteers.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.


CHAPMANVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA, April 18, 1862.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.


CHAPPELL HOUSE, VIRGINIA, September 27-October 2, 1864.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.


CHARACTER. Where a witness is introduced by a prisoner to prove character, the court may ask how long he has known the prisoner, and whether he has known him from that time to the present without interruption, and whether he speaks from his own knowledge or from general report. Cross-examination by the prosecutor, of witnesses introduced by the prisoner to prove character, is not allowed. (Consult PHILLIPS' Law of Evidence) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 158).

CHARGE. Cavalry charges have been sometimes made silently. Those of Frederick the Great always began the HURRAH at fifty paces from the enemy. If at the moment of the shock the infantry is not disturbed, but their bayonets and fire have on the contrary saved them from the impulsive force of the charge, the fall of the front ranks of the cavalry will have interposed a rampart behind which infantry cannot fail to be victorious. But if the cavalry has practised the stratagem of beginning operations by drawing the fire of infantry upon skirmishers, and the commander of the cavalry ready for the charge has pushed forward curtains of light cavalry in a single rank, who succeed, by means of clouds of dust, in making an unskilful infantry believe that to be an attack which in reality is only a feint, the infantry may fire its balls at random the thinness of the curtain of light cavalry will render the infantry's fire of little effect the infantry will be eager to reload, and this may be done in agitation and disorder. The proper moment is then at hand, and the heavy cavalry in mass, concealed by the dust of their skirmishers, may charge, break, and sabre the infantry. The light cavalry 'finish the fugitives. The passage of defiles in retreat ought to be secured by a charge of cavalry. Coolness, silence, immobility, contempt of hurrahs, and a reserved fire until within suitable range, are the principal means of resisting a charge of cavalry. The file-closers must prevent firing, not ordered; watch the execution of the fire by ranks; see that it does not commence at too great a distance, then enjoin upon the soldiers to aim at the breast; to act only upon signals of the drum, or at the command of officers on horseback, who occupy the centre of the square, and who from that height alone can judge whether the charge of cavalry is a mere feint or a real attack. This necessary impassibility of infantry is obtained by discipline and experience, and is only perfected upon battle-fields. Without sang froid, and also promptness in manoeuvring upon any ground, infantry will not be able to exhibit the whole strength of its arm against the best cavalry. Charges by infantry are made in order of battle, in column of attack, and in close columns in mass. Charges in order of battle are executed as follows: If the combat is between infantry and infantry, the troops receiving the charge, fire at the moment at which it is almost joined with the enemy. The troops making the charge, fire at one hundred or one hundred and twenty paces from the enemy; without waiting to reload, they march forward at the quick step; at two-thirds the distance take charging step, and if the ground permits they subsequently take a running step, keeping up the touch of the elbow, and throw themselves upon the enemy with HURRAHS. Frederick the Great says that it is “ better for a line to falter in a charge than to lose the touch of the elbow,” so necessary is it that the charge should be en muraille. In modern wars the charge in column has been used but not exclusively, and sometimes with fatal results. But whatever may be the form of the charge, success must not make the victor at once pursue his enemy. He must, on the contrary, halt, rally his men, form line if the charge was made in column, reload, fire upon the fugitives, and continue thus to gain ground, by a regulated fire, until at last the cavalry which seconds him comes to his aid. It must be considered that there may be a second line of the enemy, fresh troops, masked batteries, flank fires, or squadrons of cavalry ready to oppose an unforeseen resistance. It may be, that the attacking party has experienced some disadvantage, not far from the point where the infantry has just triumphed in the charge. Such circumstances may cause the infantry to pay dearly for its temporary success, a temporary success sometimes owing to stratagem on the part of the enemy. These precepts are given by the best writers on charges of infantry. (Consult DECKER; BARDIN, &c., &c.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, pp. 158-159).


CHARGER. The horse rode by an officer in the field or in action. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 159).


CHARGES AND SPECIFICATIONS. The form of indictments tried by courts-martial. (See COURT-MARTIAL; EVIDENCE.) As to the perspicuity and precision of charges: If the description of the offence is sufficiently clear to inform the accused of the military offence for which he is to be tried, and to enable him to prepare his defence, it is sufficient; (Opinions of Attorney-general, p. 189.)

A copy of charges, as well as a list of witnesses for the prosecution, should be given to the prisoner in all cases as soon as possible. Antecedent to arraignment, charges may be framed and altered by the party who brings forward the prosecution, or by the officer ordering the court, both in regard to substance and in other respects; but the court, where the deviation was material, would probably deem it sufficient cause for delaying proceedings upon application of the prisoner. As the witnesses of an officer may be at a distance, the sooner a copy is given the better; (HOUGH'S Law Authorities.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, pp.159-160).


CHARITON BRIDGE, MISSOURI, August 3, 1862. 6th Missouri Cavalry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.


CHARITON COUNTY, MISSOURI, April 11, 1864. Detachment of the 9th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Sergt. T. J. Westly, with a small force of men, was sent in pursuit of a gang of guerrillas that had been committing depredations around Brookfield and Porche's prairie. About 9 a. m. on the 11th he came up with them in Chariton county, captured 3 prisoners, 5 horses, 6 double-barreled shotguns, 3 revolvers and a quantity of clothing. Two of the bushwhackers were run into Elk creek, and were thought to have been drowned. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.


CHARITON COUNTY, MISSOURI, May 27, 1865. Detachments of the 62nd Missouri Militia. For some time after the close of hostilities, this part of Missouri was infested by bands of guerrillas. On the 27th Captain Dolman's company had a skirmish with one of these gangs, led by one Jackson. In the skirmish Jackson's horse was shot from under him, but he managed to escape, although pursued for some distance. On the same day Lieutenant Wright, with part of Captain Denny's company, surrounded Rider's gang at Switzler's mill, at 3 o'clock in the morning. One guerrilla was severely wounded; several in trying to escape ran into the millpond and at least one was drowned. In both these affairs the Union forces suffered no casualties.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.


CHARITON ROAD, MISSOURI, July 30, 1864. Detachment 35th Enrolled Missouri Militia Infantry. Lieutenant Benecke, with 44 men of Captain Stanley's company, was sent to Union Church to disperse Holtzclaw's band of guerrillas. Finding the trail at the church, Benecke pursued to the forks of the Chariton, where he attacked, killing 4 and wounding about a dozen. The rest of the gang, after a spirited fight of a few minutes' duration, sought safety in flight. The Union loss was 1 man slightly wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.


CHARLES CITY COURT HOUSE, VIRGINIA, December 12-14, 1863. Detachments, 139th New York and 6th U. S. Colored Infantry and New York Mounted Rifles. The expedition against Charles City Court House was sent out by General Wistar, under the command of Colonel R. M. West, the object being to capture the enemy's cavalry at that point. On the 12th 200 men of the 139th New York were started from Williamsburg, under Colonel Roberts, with instructions to reach the Forge bridge by 5 a. m. the next day and hold it. Roberts made a detour to the rear of the enemy's pickets and reached the bridge on time. At 7 o'clock that evening 275 men of the New York mounted rifles, under Colonel Onderdonk, and accompanied by West, moved by the direct road to the bridge. At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 13th the 6th Colored infantry, under Colonel Ames, was ordered to move to Twelve-mile Ordinary, with ambulances and a wagon loaded with rations, and picket the roads there. When the mounted rifles reached the bridge they were divided into two parties, one under Onderdonk and the other under Major Wheelan, and advanced on the enemy's two camps, which were near together. Wheelan surprised his camp completely, the Confederates firing a straggling volley from their houses and then surrendering. The camp attacked by Onderdonk received notice of his approach and for a short time the enemy put up a spirited resistance from the houses, but in the end they were overpowered and compelled to surrender. The Union loss was 2 killed, 4 wounded, and 1 man belonging to the Colored regiment captured. The enemy lost 8 officers and 82 men captured, with 55 horses, 3 mules, 100 carbines, 100 sabers, 100 sets of horse equipments, 20 new tents and a quantity of ammunition and provisions. Several horses that were unserviceable were shot.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.

CHARLES CITY CROSS-ROADS, VIRGINIA, June 30, 1862. This is one of the names given to the battle of Glendale, a full account of which is given under the head of the Seven Days' battles.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLES CITY CROSS-ROADS, VIRGINIA, November 16, 1863. Cavalry Expedition, commanded by Colonel West.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLES CITY ROAD, VIRGINIA, June 19, 1862. 20th Indiana Infantry. The regiment was engaged in picketing the Charles City road near Richmond. About 4:30 a. m. a force of Confederate infantry and cavalry, numbering probably 300, made an attack on the left of the line. Colonel Brown ordered Captain Dick and Lieutenant Andrew to take 50 sharpshooters, who were under arms at the time, and assist in repelling the attack. After being driven from the left the enemy showed himself in front, where Lieutenant Carr, with a small squad, occupied a position slightly in advance. Carr and one of his men were wounded, but the enemy was repulsed. Next the center of the line was assailed and again the Confederates were driven off. No further demonstration was made. The Union casualties were 3 men wounded, 1 fatally. Brown reported several of the enemy wounded, some perhaps killed.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLES CITY ROAD, VIRGINIA, August 16, 1864. (See Deep Bottom, same date.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, August 19, 1861. Detachment of the 22nd Illinois Infantry. Colonel Dougherty, commanding the regiment, which was stationed at Bird's Point, took 250 men and went by train over the Cairo & Fulton railroad to Charleston, where a force of Confederate infantry and cavalry belonging to the Missouri state troops was stationed. When near the city the troops were divided into two parties, one commanded by Dougherty in person and the other by Lieutenant-Colonel Hart. About 100 yards from the public square the cavalry, numbering about 200, was drawn up to dispute the further progress of the Federals. One volley was sufficient to drive them into a convenient cornfield. Dougherty then ordered the men forward at the double-quick to the public square, where the main body of the infantry was encountered. The enemy took shelter behind the houses and poured a heavy fire on the Union troops, who stood like veterans and answered shot for shot. In the meantime the cavalry had been rallied and attacked Hart, who faced his men both ways and finally succeeded in dispersing them. Colonel J. H. Hunter, commanding the Confederates, then beat a precipitate retreat and was afterward placed under arrest, charged with ignorance and cowardice. The Union loss was 1 man killed and 7 wounded, among whom was Colonel Dougherty. The loss of the enemy was not learned, but it must have been considerable.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, December 13, 1861.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, January 8, 1862. 10th Iowa Volunteers. The regiment, commanded by Colonel Perczel. left Bird's Point at 9 p. m. to break up a Confederate camp in the neighborhood of Charleston. Two hours later they left the train and proceeded on foot to surprise the camp. But the guide lost his way and the regiment wandered around until nearly daylight. Perczel, then seeing a light in a farmhouse, sent some of his men to inquire if there were any Confederate soldiers in the vicinity. The farmer, whose name was Rodan, replied that he had not seen a soldier for two weeks. Again the Union troops moved forward, but had not proceeded far until they were fired on from ambush. while passing through a narrow lane, with the result that 5 were killed, 2 mortally and 15 slightly wounded. For a few minutes confusion prevailed, but the men were rallied and started in pursuit. The enemy, however, made his escape. Rodan was arrested and charged with a capital crime.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, February 15, 1864. Detachments of the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Captain Ewing sent Corp. T. M. Philliber, with 20 men and 2 guides, to look for some guerrillas that were operating west of the town. They surrounded the house of one Vernon, in which some of the guerrillas were concealed, and as they approached were fired on, 1 man being killed and another mortally wounded. The bush-whackers then made a dash for the brush and a spirited fight of several minutes followed. Philliber sent back to Charleston for assistance and for a wagon to take care of the dead and wounded. Lieutenant Calvert, with about 20 men, hurried to the scene and started in pursuit of the enemy. He was fired on from ambush with the result that Philliber and a citizen who had volunteered fell severely wounded, after which the guerrillas made their escape. Ewing went to the house the next morning, found 4 horses tied in the brush near by, but no trace of the bush-whackers. The house was burned.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.

CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, April 19-20, 1864. Detachment of the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Colonel J. B. Rogers, commanding the regiment, reported a fight on the 19th in which 4 guerrillas were killed. The next day a detachment came upon a party in a house and another fight ensued in which 8 were killed, among them Philip Davis, one of the guerrilla leaders. The house was then burned.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, November 5, 1864. Detachment of the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry. While Captain Diehl and his men were at breakfast a party of guerrillas made a dash into the town, wounded Diehl seriously, 1 man slightly and took 8 prisoners. Most of Diehl's company were on a scout at the time and he had not sufficient force at hand to pursue the guerrillas, who numbered about 60. (See Sikeston.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.


CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, August 21-December 31, 1863.—In most of the operations about Charleston during the year 1863 the navy played an important part, and a detailed account of these operations will be found in the volume on the navy, with the exception of some attacks on individual fortifications where the land forces participated. Charleston, South Carolina, February 17-18. 1865. 21st U. S. Colored Troops. No engagement was fought at Charleston on this date. The Confederates evacuated their works on the night of the 17th and the early morning hours of the 18th, and about 10 a. m. Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Bennett, commanding the United States forces about Charleston, landed at Mills' wharf with about 30 men, demanded of the mayor and received a formal surrender of the city. The retreating Confederates had set fire to a number of public buildings, among them the commissary depot. This was blown up at a time when about 200 persons, mostly women and children were engaged in procuring food there by permission from the Confederate authorities. Nearly all these people were killed, many of them being blown to atoms, which were the only casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.


CHARLESTON, TENNESSEE, September 25, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 23d Army Corps. Charleston is just across the Hiawassee river from Calhoun. In the skirmishing about the latter place on this date, and on the Dalton, Cleveland and Chatata roads, some of the fighting occurred about Charleston, though no specific report was made of that part of the action. (See Calhoun, same date.) Charleston, Tennessee, November 30, 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.

CHARLESTON, TENNESSEE, December 28, 1863. Escort from Sheridan's Division, and part of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. Colonel Laiboldt. of the 2nd Missouri infantry, with an escort of convalescents from Sheridan's command, was taking a wagon train from Chattanooga to Knoxville. Near Charleston he was attacked by about 1,500 of Wheeler's cavalry. Colonel Eli Long happened to be at Calhoun, just across the Hiawassee river, with about 150 men of his brigade. He moved out with this force and vigorously assaulted the enemy. The Page 260 Confederates, not knowing how strong the attacking party might be, retreated. As soon as the train was across the river Long and Laiboldt both started in pursuit and followed the enemy to Chatata creek, killing and wounding a number and taking 121 prisoners and several stands of arms. No Union loss was reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259-260.


CHARLESTON, TENNESSEE, August 18-19, 1864. 2nd Ohio Heavy Artillery. Lieutenant-Colonel M. B. Ewing reported that Humes' Confederate brigade, about 1,400 strong, undertook to destroy the railroad near Charleston, but that he drove them off with seven shots from his guns. A deserter brought the information that the last shell, a 10-pounder Parrott, exploded in the midst of the Confederates and wounded 6 men.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, September 13, 1862. (See Kanawha Valley Campaign.)


CHARLESTON HARBOR, SOUTH CAROLINA, April 7, 1863. Naval attack on Fort Sumter. (See Naval Volume.)


CHARLESTOWN, ARKANSAS, April 4, 1864. Charlestown, West Virginia, May 28, 1862. Confederate Generals Jackson and Winder mention a demonstration toward Harper's Ferry. In his report Winder says: "On emerging from the woods, some three-quarters of a mile from Charlestown, I discovered the enemy in line of battle, some 1,500 strong, and decided to attack him. As soon as we were discovered he opened upon us with two pieces of artillery. Carpenter's battery was placed in position, the 33d regiment being ordered to support it. This battery was admirably worked, and in twenty minutes the enemy retired in great disorder, throwing away arms, blankets, haversacks, &c." No account of this affair is to be found in any of the Federal reports. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, December 2, 1862. (See Berryville.) Charlestown, West Virginia, February 12, 1863. Scouts, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry. A party of 12 men was attacked near Smithfield by some of Baylor's Confederate cavalry, about an hour after noon, 1 man being killed, 2 wounded, and 4 men and several horses captured. Another scouting party came up with the Confederates about 4 p. m., a short distance south of Charlestown, and engaged them. A running fight followed, in which the prisoners taken near Smithfield were recaptured, Baylor and 2 of his men being taken prisoners, and the remainder of his command scattered in all directions.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, May 16, 1863. (See Piedmont Station, same date.)


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, July 15, 1863. 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac. Brigadier-General D. McM. Gregg, commanding the division, reported from Shepherdstown at 3 p. m. as follows: "This morning had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry near Charlestown. The enemy used artillery. Have taken 100 prisoners, including sick." The affair was an incident of the pursuit of Lee's army from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, October 7, 1863. Colonel B. L. Simpson, commanding the post at Charlestown, sent out a party of 20 cavalry to scout on the Berryville road. Hearing soon after their departure that they were likely to be cut off by the enemy, he sent Captain Summers, with 43 men, to their assistance. The first party dodged the Confederates and came in by another road, but Summers was cut off at Summit Point. He was leading the advance, when, upon turning a bend in the road, he saw some of the enemy drawn up in line of battle. A charge was ordered and as it was being made Summers' men received a fire on the flank from a squad concealed behind a stone wall. Summers and 1 man were instantly killed and 4 men were wounded. The Confederates then retired toward Winchester and Martinsburg. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.

CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, October 18, 1863. 9th Maryland and 34th Massachusetts Infantry; Detachment of the 1st Connecticut Cavalry; and 17th Indiana Battery. Colonel B. L. Simpson, with the 9th Maryland, was surprised by a superior force under General Imboden about 7 a. m. A few of the officers made their escape, but most of the regiment was surrendered. Almost immediately after the affair information was received at Harper's Ferry. Colonel George D. Wells, with the other troops, hurried to Charlestown, drove the Confederates out of the place and pursued them nearly to Berryville, when General Sullivan sent an order to Wells to return. The Union loss was 6 killed, 43 wounded and about 375 of the 9th Maryland captured. The loss of the enemy was not definitely learned. Wells reported seeing about 25 dead along the line of the pursuit. Imboden's force numbered about 1,500.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260-261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, March 10, 1864. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. The pickets at the crossing of the Keys' Ferry and Kabletown roads were attacked about 6 a. m. by a detachment of Mosby's command. The Confederates wore the Federal uniform and the picket mistook them for a reserve from Charlestown. When within about 10 rods of the outpost they suddenly fired, killing 1 and wounding 4 others. They then made a dash and captured 13 prisoners. Although the enemy numbered some 60 men, Major Sullivan followed with only 9 and overtook them at Kabletown, where they fired from ambush and killed Sullivan and 2 privates. A reserve under Lieutenant Conway arrived soon after this unfortunate affair and gave chase, but failed to overtake them.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, May 24, 1864. The only official mention of this engagement is in a report of Brigadier-General Max Weber, from Harper's Ferry. He says: "One of my scouting parties had a fight with some of Mosby's men this afternoon near Charlestown, * * * The number of Mosby's men is reported to be between 200 and 300."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, June 29, 1864. Part of Sigel's Division, Army of West Virginia. About 1 p. m. a body of some 500 Confederate cavalry broke through the Union lines at Charlestown and after a skirmish with the cavalry attacked a company of infantry at Duffield's station, where they took about 25 prisoners. They also destroyed a storehouse and cut the telegraph wires, but did not succeed in tearing up the railroad track, as they were too closely pressed by troops from Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry. They escaped by way of Berry's ferry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, August 21-22, 1864. 6th Army Corps. In the Shenandoah Valley campaign the corps reached Flowing Spring, about 2 miles west of Charlestown, on the 18th. Detachments were thrown out toward Berryville, Summit Point and Smithfield, skirmishing at various points with the enemy. On the 21st the Confederates crossed the Opequan at Smithfield in considerable force, and the corps fell back to Charlestown. That night the main body fell back to Halltown, leaving Lowell's brigade to bring up the rear. Early the next morning Lowell moved toward Halltown, the 2nd Massachusetts cavalry, which formed the rear-guard, skirmishing with the enemy all the way. (See Halltown.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, August 26, 1864. In the Shenandoah Valley campaign there was almost constant skirmishing around Charlestown during the latter part of August. The Confederate reports mention that Anderson's division was engaged on the afternoon of the 26th near the town, but no detailed report of the affair was made by either side.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, August 29, 1864. 3d Division, 6th Army Corps. The Confederates drove in the Union pickets and the 3d division was ordered to the front. The order was promptly obeyed and the enemy was repulsed, the division following for several miles.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, November 29, 1864. 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry. A short time before midnight the reserve post was attacked, 2 men killed, 1 wounded, and 5 men and 19 horses captured. The Confederates lost 1 killed and 3 wounded. They numbered about 200, while the post numbered less than 30.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 261-262.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, April 6, 1865. Loudoun County Rangers. Some of Mosby's guerrillas made a descent on the camp of the rangers, capturing several men and nearly all the horses. No report of killed and wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA (Note.) The location of Charlestown, in the Shenandoah Valley and on the direct road from Harper's Ferry to Winchester, made it the theater of numerous reconnaissances and skirmishes. In addition to those above described the official records of the war mention actions at or near Charlestown on July 21, 1861; October 6, November :o and 26, and December 25, 1862; July 19 and August 15, 1864; and March 13, 1865.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHARIOT, MISSOURI, October 25, 1864. Curtis' and Pleasonton's Cavalry. The engagement at Chariot on this date was an incident of Price's Missouri expedition. After the defeat of the Confederate forces at the Osage river in the morning they beat a rapid retreat until the Marmiton river was reached, where they made another stand to protect the crossing of their train. McNeil's brigade of Pleasonton's division was in advance and soon became actively engaged. Benteen's brigade was hurried forward to McNeil's assistance. As it came on the field Benteen noticed the position of the enemy's artillery, which was practically unsupported, made a dashing charge and captured the guns. The Federal line was then advanced until the conflict assumed the nature of a hand-to-hand fight, when the Confederates gave way and fell back across the river, leaving 8 pieces of artillery and over 1,000 prisoners in the hands of the Union forces. Losses in killed and wounded not stated in the reports of the officers engaged. (Sometimes called the battle of the Marmiton.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHARLOTTE, TENNESSEE, March 13-14, 1863. Cavalry under Colonel Bruce. A scouting party sent out by Colonel Bruce captured 13 Confederates with their horses. Five, of the prisoners claimed to be Union men who had been drafted into the Confederate service.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, February 29, 1864. (See Albemarle County, Custer's Expedition.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHASE. The conical part of a piece of ordnance in front of the reinforce. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 160).


CHASE, Salmon Portland, 1808-1873, statesman, Governor of Ohio, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1864-1873, abolitionist, member, Liberty Party, Free Soil Party, Anti-Slavery Republican Party.  “A slave is a person held, as property, by legalized force, against natural right.” – Chase.

“The constitution found slavery, and left it, a state institution—the creature and dependant of state law—wholly local in its existence and character.  It did not make it a national institution… Why, then, fellow-citizens, are we now appealing to you?...Why is it that the whole nation is moved, as with a mighty wind, by the discussion of the questions involved in the great issue now made up between liberty and slavery?  It is, fellow citizens—and we beg you to mark this—it is because slavery has overleaped its prescribed limits and usurped the control of the national government.  We ask you to acquaint yourselves fully with the details and particulars belonging to the topics which we have briefly touched, and we do not doubt that you will concur with us in believing that the honor, the welfare, the safety of our country imperiously require the absolute and unqualified divorce of the government from slavery.”

“Having resolved on my political course, I devoted all the time and means I could command to the work of spreading the principles and building up the organization of the party of constitutional freedom then inaugurated.  Sometimes, indeed, all I could do seemed insignificant, while the labors I had to perform, the demands upon my very limited resources by necessary contributions, taxed severely all my ability… It seems to me now, on looking back, that I could not help working if I would, and that I was just as really called in the course of Providence to my labors for human freedom as ever any other laborer in the great field of the world was called to his appointed work.”

(Blue, 2005, pp. 19, 30, 34, 61, 70-73, 76-78, 84, 123, 124, 177, 178, 209, 220, 225, 226, 228, 247, 248, 259; Dumond, 1961; Filler, 1960, pp. 142, 176, 187, 197-198, 229, 246; Mitchell, 2007, pp. 4-5, 8-9, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 33-36, 61-64, 67, 68, 70-72, 76, 87, 89, 94, 118, 129, 136, 156, 165, 166, 168-169, 177, 187, 191, 193, 195-196, 224, 228, 248; Pease, 1965, pp. 384-394; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 46, 56, 58, 136, 173, 298, 353-354, 421, 655-656; Wilson, 1872, pp. 167-173; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 585-588; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 34; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 4, p. 739; Hart, Albert Bushnell, Salmon Portland Chase, 1899)

Biography from Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography:

CHASE, Salmon Portland, statesman, b, in Cornish, New Hampshire, 13 January, 1808; died in New York City, 7 May, 1873. He was named for his uncle, Salmon, who died in Portland, and he used to say that he was his uncle's monument. He was a descendant in the ninth generation of Thomas Chase, of Chesham, England, and in the sixth of Aquila Chase, who came from England and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, about 1640. Salmon Portland was the eighth of the eleven children of Ithamar Chase and his wife Jannette Ralston, who was of Scottish blood. He was born in the house built by his grandfather, which still stands overlooking Connecticut River and in the afternoon shadow of Ascutney Mountain. Of his father's seven brothers, three were lawyers, Dudley becoming a U. S. Senator; two were physicians; Philander became a bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church; and one, like his father, was a farmer. His earliest teacher was Daniel Breck, afterward a jurist in Kentucky. When the boy was eight years old his parents moved to Keene, where his mother had inherited a little property. This was invested in a glass-factory; but a revision of the tariff, by which the duty on glass was lowered, ruined the business, and soon afterward the father died. Salmon was sent to school at Windsor, and made considerable progress in Latin and Greek. In 1820 his uncle, the bishop of Ohio, offered to take him into his family, and the boy set out in the spring, with his brother and the afterward famous Henry R. Schoolcraft, to make the journey to what was then considered the distant west. They were taken from Buffalo to Cleveland by the “Walk-in-the-Water,” the first steamboat on the great lakes. He spent three years in Worthington and Cincinnati with his uncle, who attended to his education personally till he went to England in 1823, when the boy returned home, the next year entered Dartmouth as a junior, and was graduated in 1826. He at once established a classical school for boys in Washington, D. C., which he conducted with success, at the same time studying law with William Wirt. Mr. Chase gave much of his leisure to light literature, and a poem that was addressed by him to Mr. Wirt's daughters was printed and is still extant. In 1830, having completed his studies, he closed the school, was admitted to the bar in Washington, and settled in Cincinnati, where he soon obtained a large practice. In politics he did not identify himself with either of the great parties; but on one point he was clear from the first: he was unalterably opposed to slavery, and in this sentiment he was confirmed by witnessing the destruction of the “Philanthropist” office by a pro-slavery mob in 1836. In 1837 he defended a fugitive slave woman, claimed under the law of 1793, and took the highest ground against the constitutionality of that law. One of the oldest lawyers in the court-room was heard to remark concerning him: “There is a promising young man who has just ruined himself.” In 1837 Mr. Chase also defended his friend James G. Birney in a suit for harboring a Negro slave, and in 1838 he reviewed with great severity a report of the judiciary committee of the state senate, refusing trial by jury to slaves, and in a second suit defended Mr. Birney. When it became evident, after the brief administration of Harrison was over and that of Tyler begun, that no more effective opposition to the encroachments of slavery was to be expected from the Whig than from the Democratic Party, a Liberty Party was organized in Ohio in December, 1841, and Mr. Chase was foremost among its founders. The address, which was written by Mr. Chase, contained these passages, clearly setting forth the issues of a mighty struggle that was to continue for twenty-five years and be closed only by a bloody war: “The constitution found slavery, and left it, a state institution—the creature and dependant of state law—wholly local in its existence and character. It did not make it a national institution. . . . Why, then, fellow-citizens, are we now appealing to you? . . . Why is it that the whole nation is moved, as with a mighty wind, by the discussion of the questions involved in the great issue now made up between liberty and slavery? It is, fellow-citizens—and we beg you to mark this—it is because slavery has overleaped its prescribed limits and usurped the control of the national government. We ask you to acquaint yourselves fully with the details and particulars belonging to the topics which we have briefly touched, and we do not doubt that you will concur with us in believing that the honor, the welfare, the safety of our country imperiously require the absolute and unqualified divorce of the government from slavery.” Writing of this late in life Mr. Chase said: “Having resolved on my political course, I devoted all the time and means I could command to the work of spreading the principles and building up the organization of the party of constitutional freedom then inaugurated. Sometimes, indeed, all I could do seemed insignificant, while the labors I had to perform, and the demands upon my very limited resources by necessary contributions, taxed severely all my ability. . . . It seems to me now, on looking back, that I could not help working if I would, and that I was just as really called in the course of Providence to my labors for human freedom as ever any other laborer in the great field of the world was called to his appointed work.” Mr. Chase acted as counsel for so many blacks who were claimed as fugitives that he was at length called by Kentuckians the “attorney-general for runaway Negroes,” and the colored people of Cincinnati presented him with a silver pitcher “for his various public services in behalf of the oppressed.” One of his most noted cases was the defence of John Van Zandt (the original of John Van Trompe in “Uncle Tom's Cabin”) in 1842, who was prosecuted for harboring fugitive slaves because he had overtaken a party of them on the road and given them a ride in his wagon. In the final hearing, 1846, William H. Seward was associated with Mr. Chase, neither of them receiving any compensation. 

When the Liberty Party, in a national convention held in Buffalo, New York, in 1843, nominated James G. Birney for president, the platform was almost entirely the composition of Mr. Chase. But he vigorously opposed the resolution, offered by John Pierpont, declaring that the fugitive-slave-law clause of the constitution was not binding in conscience, but might be mentally excepted in any oath to support the constitution. In 1840 the Liberty Party had cast but one in 360 of the entire popular vote of the country. In 1844 it cast one in forty, and caused the defeat of Mr. Clay. The Free-Soil Convention that met in Buffalo in 1848 and nominated Martin Van Buren for president, with Charles Francis Adams for vice-president, was presided over by Mr. Chase. This time the party cast one in nine of the whole number of votes. In February, 1849, the Democrats and the Free-Soilers in the Ohio legislature formed a coalition, one result of which was the election of Mr. Chase to the U. S. Senate. Agreeing with the Democracy of Ohio, which, by resolution in convention, had declared slavery to be an evil, he supported its state policy and nominees, but declared that he would desert it if it deserted the anti-slavery position. In the Senate, 26 and 27 March, 1850, he made a notable speech against the so-called “compromise measures,” which included the fugitive-slave law, and offered several amendments, all of which were voted down. When the Democratic Convention at Baltimore nominated Franklin Pierce for president in 1852, and approved of the compromise acts of 1850, Senator Chase dissolved his connection with the Democratic Party in Ohio. At this time he addressed a letter to Hon. Benjamin F. Butler, of New York, suggesting and vindicating the idea of an independent democracy. He made a platform, which was substantially that adopted at the Pittsburg Convention, in the same year. He continued his support to the independent Democrats until the Kansas-Nebraska bill came up, when he vigorously opposed the repeal of the Missouri compromise, wrote an appeal to the people against it, and made the first elaborate exposure of its character. His persistent attacks upon it in the Senate thoroughly roused the north, and are admitted to have influenced in a remarkable degree the subsequent struggle. During his senatorial career Mr. Chase also advocated economy in the national finances, a Pacific Railroad by the shortest and best route, the homestead law (which was intended to develop the northern territories), and cheap postage, and held that the national treasury should defray the expense of providing for safe navigation of the lakes, as well as of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 

In 1855 he was elected governor of Ohio by the opponents of the Pierce administration. His inaugural address recommended single districts for legislative representation, annual instead of biennial sessions of the legislature, and an extended educational system. Soon after his inauguration occurred the Garner tragedy, so called, in which a fugitive slave mother, near Cincinnati, attempted to kill all of her children, and did kill one, to prevent them from being borne back to slave-life in Kentucky. This and other slave-hunts in Ohio so roused and increased the anti-slavery sentiment in that place that Governor Chase was re-nominated by acclamation, and was re-elected by a small majority, though the American or Know-Nothing Party had a candidate in the field. In the National Republican Convention, held at Chicago in 1860, the vote on the first ballot stood: Seward, 173½; Lincoln, 102; Cameron, 50½; Chase, 49. On the third ballot Mr. Lincoln lacked but four of the number necessary to nominate, and these were given by Mr. Chase's friends before the result was declared. When Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated president, 4 March, 1861, he made Governor Chase secretary of the treasury. The difficulty that he was immediately called upon to grapple with is thus described by Mr. Greeley: “When he accepted the office of secretary of the treasury the finances were already in chaos; the current revenue being inadequate, even in the absence of all expenditure or preparation for war, his predecessor (Cobb, of Georgia) having attempted to borrow $10,000,000, in October, 1860, and obtained only $7,022,000—the bidders to whom the balance was awarded choosing to forfeit their initial deposit rather than take and pay for their bonds. Thenceforth he had tided over, till his resignation, by selling treasury notes, payable a year from date, at 6 to 12 per cent. discount; and when, after he had retired from the scene, General Dix, who succeeded him in Mr. Buchanan's cabinet, attempted (February, 1861) to borrow a small sum on twenty-year bonds at 6 per cent., he was obliged to sell those bonds at an average discount of 9½ per cent. Hence, of Mr. Chase's first loan of $8,000,000, for which bids were opened (2 April) ten days before Beauregard first fired on Fort Sumter, the offerings ranged from 5 to 10 per cent. discount; and only $3,099,000 were tendered at or under 6 per cent. discount—he, in the face of a vehement clamor, declining all bids at higher rates of discount than 6 per cent., and placing soon afterward the balance of the $8,000,000 in two-year treasury notes at par or a fraction over.” When the secretary went to New York for his first loan, the London “Times” declared that he had “coerced $50,000,000 from the banks, but would not fare so well at the London Exchange.” Three years later it said “the hundredth part of Mr. Chase's embarrassments would tax Mr. Gladstone's ingenuity to the utmost, and set the [British] public mind in a ferment of excitement.” In his conference with the bankers the secretary said he hoped they would be able to take the loans on such terms as could be admitted. “If you cannot,” said he, “I shall go back to Washington and issue notes for circulation; for it is certain that the war must go on until the rebellion is put down, if we have to put out paper until it takes a thousand dollars to buy a breakfast.” At this time the amount of coin in circulation in the country was estimated at $210,000,000; and it soon became evident that this was insufficient for carrying on the war. The banks could not sell the bonds for coin, and could not meet their obligations in coin, and on 27 December, 1861, they agreed to suspend specie payment at the close of the year. In his first report, submitted on the 9th of that month, Secretary Chase recommended retrenchment of expenses wherever possible, confiscation of the property of those in arms against the government, an increase of duties and of the tax on spirits, and a national currency, with a system of national banking associations. This last recommendation was carried out in the issue of “greenbacks,” which were made a legal tender for everything but customs duties, and the establishment of the national banking law. His management of the finances of the government during the first three years of the great war has received nothing but the highest praise. He resigned the secretaryship on 30 June, 1864, and was succeeded a few days later by William P. Fessenden. On 6 December, 1864, President Lincoln nominated him to be chief justice of the United States, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Roger B. Taney, and the nomination was immediately confirmed by the Senate. In this office he presided at the impeachment trial of President Johnson in 1868. In that year his name was frequently mentioned in connection with the Democratic nomination for the presidency, and in answer to a letter from the chairman of the Democratic National committee he wrote: 

“For more than a quarter of a century I have been, in my political views and sentiments, a Democrat, and I still think that upon questions of finance, commerce, and administration generally, the old Democratic principles afford the best guidance. What separated me in former times from both parties was the depth and positiveness of my convictions on the slavery question. On that question I thought the Democratic Party failed to make a just application of Democratic principles, and regarded myself as more democratic than the Democrats. In 1849 I was elected to the Senate by the united votes of the old-line Democrats and independent Democrats, and subsequently made earnest efforts to bring about a union of all Democrats on the ground of the limitation of slavery to the states in which it then existed, and non-intervention in these states by Congress. Had that union been effected, it is my firm belief that the country would have escaped the late Civil War and all its evils. I never favored interference by Congress with slavery, but as a war measure Mr. Lincoln's proclamation of emancipation had my hearty assent, and I united, as a member of his administration, in the pledge made to maintain the freedom of the enfranchised people. I have been, and am, in favor of so much of the reconstruction policy of Congress as based the re-organization of the state governments of the south upon universal suffrage. I think that President Johnson was right in regarding the southern states, except Virginia and Tennessee, as being, at the close of the war, without governments which the U.S. government could properly recognize—without governors, judges, legislators, or other state functionaries; but wrong in limiting, by his reconstruction proclamations, the right of suffrage to whites, and only such whites as had the qualification he required. On the other hand, it seemed to me, Congress was right in not limiting, by its reconstruction acts, the right of suffrage to the whites; but wrong in the exclusion from suffrage of certain classes of citizens, and of all unable to take a prescribed retrospective oath, and wrong also in the establishment of arbitrary military governments for the states, and in authorizing military commissions for the trial of civilians in time of peace. There should have been as little military government as possible; no military commissions, no classes excluded from suffrage, and no oath except one of faithful obedience and support to the constitution and laws, and sincere attachment to the constitutional government of the United States. I am glad to know that many intelligent southern Democrats agree with me in these views, and are willing to accept universal suffrage and universal amnesty as the basis of reconstruction and restoration. They see that the shortest way to revive prosperity, possible only with contented industry, is universal suffrage now, and universal amnesty, with removal of all disabilities, as speedily as possible through the action of the state and national governments. I have long been a believer in the wisdom and justice of securing the right of suffrage to all citizens by state constitutions and legislation. It is the best guarantee of the stability of institutions, and the prosperity of communities. My views on this subject were well known when the Democrats elected me to the Senate in 1849. I have now answered your letter as I think I ought to answer it. I beg you to believe me—for I say it in all sincerity—that I do not desire the office of president, nor a nomination for it. Nor do I know that, with my views and convictions, I am a suitable candidate for any party. Of that my countrymen must judge.” 

Judge Chase subsequently prepared a declaration of principles, embodying the ideas of his letter, and submitted it to those Democrats who desired his nomination, as a platform in that event. But this was not adopted by the convention, and the plan to nominate him, if there was such a plan, failed. In June, 1870, he suffered an attack of paralysis, and from that time till his death he was an invalid. As in the case of President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton, his integrity was shown by the fact that, though he had been a member of the administration when the government was spending millions of dollars a day, he died comparatively poor. His remains were buried in Washington; but in October, 1886, were removed, with appropriate ceremony, to Cincinnati, Ohio, and deposited in Spring Grove cemetery near that city. Besides his reports and decisions, Mr. Chase published a compilation of the statutes of Ohio, with annotations and an historical sketch (3 vols., Cincinnati, 1832). See “Life and Public Services of Salmon Portland Chase,” by J. W. Schuckers (New York, 1874). Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 585-588.

Chapter: “John Quincy Adams. - William H. Seward. - Salmon P. Chase,” by Henry Wilson, in History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America, 1872.

In the formation of the Liberty Party Mr. Chase had taken an active part. From his pen were issued its platform and address, which have been regarded as the clearest and most discriminating papers of the struggle, upon the constitutional limits, provisions, and obligations concerning slavery and the slave States. This party, basing its action on moral grounds, the pioneer of all subsequent organizations which have been formed for the purpose of resisting slavery by political action, received nowhere else a more enthusiastic support: The nonresistant and non-voting policy found few adherents in Ohio; and the principle of meeting a political evil by political action encountered few who denied its soundness and necessity. 

Under these circumstances, and with the fruits of those years of earnest toil, the election of 1848 resulted in a vote of thirty-five thousand for the Free Soil candidate for the Presidency, and in the choice of a legislature in which the friends of freedom held the balance of power. The Senate was equally divided between the Whigs and the Democrats. In the House there were thirty-four Whigs and thirty-four Democrats, and two members elected, in opposition to both parties, as Free Soilers. Several Democrats and Whigs were elected, however, by the aid of Free Soil votes, or by the union of Free Soilers with Whigs or Democrats. The legislature, thus chosen, had nearly the whole appointing power of the State. A United States Senator was to be elected, two judges of the Supreme Court were to be chosen, and a large number of less important offices were to be filled. The existence of what were familiarly termed the “black laws” had been made the subject of discussion during the canvass; the Democrats generally defending them, a majority perhaps of the Whigs desiring a modification, and the Free-Soilers demanding their unconditional repeal. Such was the composition of that legislature, and such was the work to be accomplished. It was the purpose of the friends of human rights to use their power in such a manner as would best inure to the interests of freedom. The results amply vindicated the fidelity and sagacity of their course. Without ignoring the overruling hand of Providence in what secured such large results by numbers so insignificant, from means so seemingly inadequate, and in spite of agencies which threatened defeat, instead of triumph, there are revealed in, this election and its immediate results striking illustrations of what may be achieved by a brave and persistent adherence to principle and a wise use of even the most inconsiderable means.

Soon after the organization of the legislature, the Free Soil members, including Townsend and Morse, the two independent members, and eleven who had been elected by the union of Free Soil and Whig votes, held a caucus. At that meeting a motion was made that each member should attend all the subsequent meetings of the Free Soil caucus, and pledge himself to support its decisions in regard to all matters likely to come up for legislative action. The eleven supported the motion;  but the two, recognizing their paramount obligations to use their legislative powers only as fealty to freedom and their constituents demanded, refused to support the motion or to give the pledge. This refusal incensed their associates, who declared them to be no longer members of the Free Soil Party of the House.

The meeting broke up without accomplishing the purpose for which it was called, and to the evident discomfiture of the Free Soil Whigs. The two independent members thereupon informed their Whig associates that, if they were not permitted to attend their meetings, they should constitute themselves the Independent Free Soil Party of the legislature. This position gave them great power with both parties, and no doubt furnishes the key to the extraordinary results which two men, in a legislative body of one hundred and six members, were enabled to accomplish.

Holding the balance of power, they naturally became objects of solitude and electioneering effort with both Whigs and Democrats; the Whigs having the advantage, in that several of their members had been elected by the aid of Free Soil votes. The political objects of special interest and effort at that time were the election of a United States Senator, the proposed action in respect to the "black laws," and the election of judges of the Supreme Court. Of these objects the Democrats were specially solicitous concerning the election of judges, as there existed an impression that the question concerning election districts, in which they were particularly interested, might be brought before them for adjudication; the Free Soil members making it a condition precedent of their co-operation with any party that the “black laws " should be repealed.

The greatest triumph, however, of that remarkable election was found in the repeal of the “black laws," which disgraced the statute-book of the State, and which had been the objects of the special hostility of antislavery men, though they had found earnest Democratic defenders in the previous canvass.  

These laws required the colored people to give bonds for good behavior as a condition of residence, excluded them from the schools, denied them the right of testifying in courts of justice when a white man was party on either side, and subjected them to other unjust and degrading disabilities. As Mr. Chase had been an avowed opposer of these inhuman statutes, they very properly selected him as their adviser, and requested him to draught a proper bill. This he did by preparing one that would secure substantially their object, but at the same time excite as little as possible the hostility of members who had at heart small sympathy with the purpose in ,view. Aiming to make the most of the favorable conjunction of circumstances, he incorporated into the proposed bill provisions which the most hopeful hardly expected to be enacted. He was sanguine, however, the Free Soil members were resolute, and the circumstances propitious. It was submitted to the examination and criticism of the Democrats, who unexpectedly accepted it and agreed to support it. How much the considerations they were expecting or had exacted from the Free Soil members had to do with their decision, and how much their indignation at the recent election of General Taylor, a Southern slaveholder, over their Democratic candidate, and their consequent relief from the responsibility for a national administration may never be known. It is sufficient for this purpose to record their assent to its provisions, and its adoption in the House by a large majority. In the Senate it was referred to a committee, who modified it somewhat, and it was then passed. The House concurred, and the bill became a law. Thus, by this wise use of the power their position gave them, was a humane and just law enacted, somewhat, indeed, in advance of the popular sentiment and moral convictions of the people, and yet, being enacted, it was not likely to be reversed, while the very struggle needful to enact it and its presence on the statute-book tended to educate the popular mind and to lift it up to the plane on which it rested. It relieved the colored people from all their most onerous disabilities, gave them entrance into schools, and awakened hopes of the future which have been far more than realized. 

No question, however, of all that occupied and agitated public attention at that time excited deeper interest than that of the United States Senatorship. The antislavery men were specially anxious to have a representative in the Senate, where the Slave Power had so long wielded an almost unquestioned sway, and where so few voices had ever been raised for freedom. Thomas Morris had spoken ably. In him Ohio had found a voice potential in behalf of human rights. Otherwise she had shared in the general recreancy, and had been either silent or had spoken at the behest of slavery. There was, indeed, John P. Hale, the Abolition senator from New Hampshire, --strangely as those words sounded, -- that long-time stronghold of the Northern slavery-bestrode Democracy. But he was treated with contumely, and maintained his ground only by his talent and tact, by his unfailing wit and his unbounded good-humor.

Most earnestly, therefore, did the antislavery men, not only of Ohio but of the North, desire that advantage should be taken of this fortunate conjunction of affairs to select and send to the Senate some worthy coadjutor of the eloquent representative of the Granite State. The thoughts of many, perhaps most, of the friends of humanity and equal rights were instinctively turned to Joshua R. Giddings, who had for years maintained an unequal contest with the champions of aggression in the lower house of Congress. His incorruptible integrity, his stern and sturdy independence, his unflinching advocacy of the unpopular cause, pointed to him as the proper person to be selected for that high office, not only for the service to be performed, but for the honor richly deserved.

There were four candidates. The Democrats had selected William Allen; the Whigs, Thomas Ewing; and the two Free Soilers were divided in their choice between Mr. Giddings and Mr. Chase. Mr. Allen was not only proslavery in sentiment, but his views were extreme and violent. Mr. Ewing was of Southern birth, and though not antislavery in his opinions he was opposed to the extension of the peculiar institution. Mr. Giddings was an antislavery Whig. Mr. Chase, though Democratic in principle and sympathy, was not a member of the Democratic Party. He was decidedly antislavery in sentiment and action, and had rendered essential service to the cause of human rights.

In this state of the principal parties, it being understood that the Free Soil members would not give them their votes, it became evident that neither the Whigs nor the Democrats could elect their candidates. Nor could both of the Free Soil members be gratified with the choice of theirs. Some compromise must be effected. The Whigs, in order to defeat the election of the Democratic candidate, and, on the part of the antislavery portion, for the purpose of carrying out their views, were ready to substitute for Mr. Ewing some person of more pronounced antislavery sentiments. The two Free Soil members had agreed that either should vote for the candidate of the other whenever there should be a prospect of his election. The Whigs were ready, and most of them were anxious, with the exception of two members, to vote for Mr. Giddings. As, however, none of the Democrats would vote for him, and as the two recusant members obstinately refused to yield, after three unsuccessful ballotings his name was withdrawn. The Democrats, for the purpose of defeating the Whig candidate, and with the understanding that the Free Soil members would support their candidates for judges of the Supreme Court, having substituted the name of Hon. Rufus P. Spaulding, afterward Republican Representative in Congress, for that of Judge Read, whom they could not consistently support, expressed a willingness to cast their votes for Mr. Chase. By this arrangement he was elected on the fourth ballot. When the vote was announced, an enthusiastic antislavery man in the galleries exclaimed, "Thank God!"  to which were many answering responses wherever Mr. Chase was known, not only on account of the service he had already rendered, but for the confident expectation cherished of  the large additions of strength and prestige he would bring to the struggling cause on the wider and more conspicuous theatre of the United States Senate.

Many, however, were greatly disappointed that the choice did not fall on Mr. Giddings. Indeed, some of his friends felt that he had been deprived of a position to which, by his longer and more self-sacrificing service, he was fairly entitled. The cause, however, was evidently the gainer by the decision which was finally reached; for, from that time onward, freedom had two potent advocates in the councils ·of the nation, instead of one; both, too, occupying in their respective spheres positions to which each seemed best adapted, and in which each rendered yeoman's service, for which the slave and the slave's friends should ever hold them in grateful remembrance.

Source:  Wilson, Henry, History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America, Vol. 2.  Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1872, 167-173.


CHASE, William Henry, soldier, born in Massachusetts in 1798; died in Pensacola, Florida, 8 February, 1870. He was graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in 1815, and was at once assigned to the Engineer Corps. He was employed in repairing Fort Niagara from 1817 till 1818, and in 1819 was assigned to duty in constructing defences for New Orleans and the gulf ports, which the war of 1812 had shown to be vulnerable points. His first works were Forts Pike and Macomb. He was made first lieutenant, 31 March, 1819, and from then till 1828 was superintending engineer of various important works, including the forts at Rigolets, Chef Menteur, Bienvenue, and the Bayou Dupre passes to New Orleans. He was promoted to captain, 1 January, 1825, and from 1828 till 1854 was in charge of the construction of the defences in Pensacola Harbor, Florida. He was also in charge of Fort Morgan, Alabama, of Fort Jackson, Louisiana, and of the improvement of the mouth of the Mississippi from 1836 till 1839. He was promoted to major, 7 July, 1838, and served on special boards of engineers for the examination of various points. He superintended the improvement of Mobile Bay. His last work was Fort Taylor, Key West, Florida, of which he had charge in 1854- 6, when he was appointed by President Pierce superintendent of the U. S. Military Academy, but resigned from the army on 31 October, before entering upon his duties there, and became president of the Alabama and Florida Railroad Company. Major Chase took an influential part in all projects connected with the development of the region about Pensacola, where he made his home. When the Civil War began, he joined the Confederates, and was active in the seizure of Pensacola Navy-yard, but after this took no prominent part.  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1887, Vol. I, p. 589.


CHASE, William Henry, soldier, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 April, 1844; died there, 21 June, 1871. He was graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in 1865, became a first lieutenant in the Engineer Corps, and served at Willett's Point, New York, St. Paul, Minn., and San Francisco, California. While at St. Paul, he was directed by General Warren to make a topographical survey of the battle-field of Gettysburg. The survey was completed in 1869, and is a valuable contribution to the military history of the war.  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1887, Vol. I, p. 589


CHASSIS. A traversing carriage. The barbette and casemate carriages consist of gun carriages and chassis. The wrought-iron chassis now made consists of two rails of wrought iron, the cross-section of each being in form of a T, the flat surface on top being for the reception of the shoe-rail of the gun carriage. The rails are parallel to each other, and connected by iron transoms and braces. The chassis is supported on traverse wheels. A prop is placed under the middle transom of the chassis to provide against sagging. The pintle is the fixed centre around which the chassis traverses. In the ordinary barbette, the pintle is placed under the centre of the front transom; but in the columbiad carriage, it is placed under the centre of the middle transom. (See COLUMBIAD.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 160).


CHARLES CITY COURT HOUSE, VIRGINIA, December 12-14, 1863. Detachments, 139th New York and 6th U. S. Colored Infantry and New York Mounted Rifles. The expedition against Charles City Court House was sent out by General Wistar, under the command of Colonel R. M. West, the object being to capture the enemy's cavalry at that point. On the 12th 200 men of the 139th New York were started from Williamsburg, under Colonel Roberts, with instructions to reach the Forge bridge by 5 a. m. the next day and hold it. Roberts made a detour to the rear of the enemy's pickets and reached the bridge on time. At 7 o'clock that evening 275 men of the New York mounted rifles, under Colonel Onderdonk, and accompanied by West, moved by the direct road to the bridge. At 4 o'clock on the morning of the 13th the 6th Colored infantry, under Colonel Ames, was ordered to move to Twelve-mile Ordinary, with ambulances and a wagon loaded with rations, and picket the roads there. When the mounted rifles reached the bridge they were divided into two parties, one under Onderdonk and the other under Major Wheelan, and advanced on the enemy's two camps, which were near together. Wheelan surprised his camp completely, the Confederates firing a straggling volley from their houses and then surrendering. The camp attacked by Onderdonk received notice of his approach and for a short time the enemy put up a spirited resistance from the houses, but in the end they were overpowered and compelled to surrender. The Union loss was 2 killed, 4 wounded, and 1 man belonging to the Colored regiment captured. The enemy lost 8 officers and 82 men captured, with 55 horses, 3 mules, 100 carbines, 100 sabers, 100 sets of horse equipments, 20 new tents and a quantity of ammunition and provisions. Several horses that were unserviceable were shot.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 257.


CHARLES CITY CROSS-ROADS, VIRGINIA, June 30, 1862. This is one of the names given to the battle of Glendale, a full account of which is given under the head of the Seven Days' battles.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLES CITY CROSS-ROADS, VIRGINIA, November 16, 1863. Cavalry Expedition, commanded by Colonel West.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLES CITY ROAD, Virginia, August 16, 1864. (See Deep Bottom, same date.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.

CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, August 19, 1861. Detachment of the 22nd Illinois Infantry. Colonel Dougherty, commanding the regiment, which was stationed at Bird's Point, took 250 men and went by train over the Cairo & Fulton railroad to Charleston, where a force of Confederate infantry and cavalry belonging to the Missouri state troops was stationed. When near the city the troops were divided into two parties, one commanded by Dougherty in person and the other by Lieutenant-Colonel Hart. About 100 yards from the public square the cavalry, numbering about 200, was drawn up to dispute the further progress of the Federals. One volley was sufficient to drive them into a convenient cornfield. Dougherty then ordered the men forward at the double-quick to the public square, where the main body of the infantry was encountered. The enemy took shelter behind the houses and poured a heavy fire on the Union troops, who stood like veterans and answered shot for shot. In the meantime the cavalry had been rallied and attacked Hart, who faced his men both ways and finally succeeded in dispersing them. Colonel J. H. Hunter, commanding the Confederates, then beat a precipitate retreat and was afterward placed under arrest, charged with ignorance and cowardice. The Union loss was 1 man killed and 7 wounded, among whom was Colonel Dougherty. The loss of the enemy was not learned, but it must have been considerable.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, December 13, 1861.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, January 8, 1862. 10th Iowa Volunteers. The regiment, commanded by Colonel Perczel. left Bird's Point at 9 p. m. to break up a Confederate camp in the neighborhood of Charleston. Two hours later they left the train and proceeded on foot to surprise the camp. But the guide lost his way and the regiment wandered around until nearly daylight. Perczel, then seeing a light in a farmhouse, sent some of his men to inquire if there were any Confederate soldiers in the vicinity. The farmer, whose name was Rodan, replied that he had not seen a soldier for two weeks. Again the Union troops moved forward, but had not proceeded far until they were fired on from ambush. while passing through a narrow lane, with the result that 5 were killed, 2 mortally and 15 slightly wounded. For a few minutes confusion prevailed, but the men were rallied and started in pursuit. The enemy, however, made his escape. Rodan was arrested and charged with a capital crime.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, February 15, 1864. Detachments of the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Captain Ewing sent Corp. T. M. Philliber, with 20 men and 2 guides, to look for some guerrillas that were operating west of the town. They surrounded the house of one Vernon, in which some of the guerrillas were concealed, and as they approached were fired on, 1 man being killed and another mortally wounded. The bush-whackers then made a dash for the brush and a spirited fight of several minutes followed. Philliber sent back to Charleston for assistance and for a wagon to take care of the dead and wounded. Lieutenant Calvert, with about 20 men, hurried to the scene and started in pursuit of the enemy. He was fired on from ambush with the result that Philliber and a citizen who had volunteered fell severely wounded, after which the guerrillas made their escape. Ewing went to the house the next morning, found 4 horses tied in the brush near by, but no trace of the bush-whackers. The house was burned.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, April 19-20, 1864. Detachment of the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Colonel J. B. Rogers, commanding the regiment, reported a fight on the 19th in which 4 guerrillas were killed. The next day a detachment came upon a party in a house and another fight ensued in which 8 were killed, among them Philip Davis, one of the guerrilla leaders. The house was then burned.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.


CHARLESTON, MISSOURI, November 5, 1864. Detachment of the 2nd Missouri State Militia Cavalry. While Captain Diehl and his men were at breakfast a party of guerrillas made a dash into the town, wounded Diehl seriously, 1 man slightly and took 8 prisoners. Most of Diehl's company were on a scout at the time and he had not sufficient force at hand to pursue the guerrillas, who numbered about 60. (See Sikeston.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.


CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, August 21-December 31, 1863.—In most of the operations about Charleston during the year 1863 the navy played an important part, and a detailed account of these operations will be found in the volume on the navy, with the exception of some attacks on individual fortifications where the land forces participated. Charleston, South Carolina, February 17-18. 1865. 21st U. S. Colored Troops. No engagement was fought at Charleston on this date. The Confederates evacuated their works on the night of the 17th and the early morning hours of the 18th, and about 10 a. m. Lieutenant-Colonel A. G. Bennett, commanding the United States forces about Charleston, landed at Mills' wharf with about 30 men, demanded of the mayor and received a formal surrender of the city. The retreating Confederates had set fire to a number of public buildings, among them the commissary depot. This was blown up at a time when about 200 persons, mostly women and children were engaged in procuring food there by permission from the Confederate authorities. Nearly all these people were killed, many of them being blown to atoms, which were the only casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.


CHARLESTON, TENNESSEE, September 25, 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 23d Army Corps. Charleston is just across the Hiawassee river from Calhoun. In the skirmishing about the latter place on this date, and on the Dalton, Cleveland and Chatata roads, some of the fighting occurred about Charleston, though no specific report was made of that part of the action. (See Calhoun, same date.) Charleston, Tennessee, November 30, 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259.


CHARLESTON, TENNESSEE, December 28, 1863. Escort from Sheridan's Division, and part of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. Colonel Laiboldt. of the 2nd Missouri infantry, with an escort of convalescents from Sheridan's command, was taking a wagon train from Chattanooga to Knoxville. Near Charleston he was attacked by about 1,500 of Wheeler's cavalry. Colonel Eli Long happened to be at Calhoun, just across the Hiawassee river, with about 150 men of his brigade. He moved out with this force and vigorously assaulted the enemy. The Confederates, not knowing how strong the attacking party might be, retreated. As soon as the train was across the river Long and Laiboldt both started in pursuit and followed the enemy to Chatata creek, killing and wounding a number and taking 121 prisoners and several stands of arms. No Union loss was reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 259-260.


CHARLESTON, TENNESSEE, August 18-19, 1864. 2nd Ohio Heavy Artillery. Lieutenant-Colonel M. B. Ewing reported that Humes' Confederate brigade, about 1,400 strong, undertook to destroy the railroad near Charleston, but that he drove them off with seven shots from his guns. A deserter brought the information that the last shell, a 10-pounder Parrott, exploded in the midst of the Confederates and wounded 6 men.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, September 13, 1862. (See Kanawha Valley Campaign.)


CHARLESTON HARBOR, SOUTH CAROLINA, April 7, 1863. Naval attack on Fort Sumter. (See Naval Volume.)


CHARLESTOWN, ARKANSAS, April 4, 1864. Charlestown, West Virginia, May 28, 1862. Confederate Generals Jackson and Winder mention a demonstration toward Harper's Ferry. In his report Winder says: "On emerging from the woods, some three-quarters of a mile from Charlestown, I discovered the enemy in line of battle, some 1,500 strong, and decided to attack him. As soon as we were discovered he opened upon us with two pieces of artillery. Carpenter's battery was placed in position, the 33d regiment being ordered to support it. This battery was admirably worked, and in twenty minutes the enemy retired in great disorder, throwing away arms, blankets, haversacks, &c." No account of this affair is to be found in any of the Federal reports. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, December 2, 1862. (See Berryville.) Charlestown, West Virginia, February 12, 1863. Scouts, 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry. A party of 12 men was attacked near Smithfield by some of Baylor's Confederate cavalry, about an hour after noon, 1 man being killed, 2 wounded, and 4 men and several horses captured. Another scouting party came up with the Confederates about 4 p. m., a short distance south of Charlestown, and engaged them. A running fight followed, in which the prisoners taken near Smithfield were recaptured, Baylor and 2 of his men being taken prisoners, and the remainder of his command scattered in all directions.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, May 16, 1863. (See Piedmont Station, same date.)


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, July 15, 1863. 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac. Brigadier-General D. McM. Gregg, commanding the division, reported from Shepherdstown at 3 p. m. as follows: "This morning had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry near Charlestown. The enemy used artillery. Have taken 100 prisoners, including sick." The affair was an incident of the pursuit of Lee's army from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


Charlestown, West Virginia, October 7, 1863. Colonel B. L. Simpson, commanding the post at Charlestown, sent out a party of 20 cavalry to scout on the Berryville road. Hearing soon after their departure that they were likely to be cut off by the enemy, he sent Captain Summers, with 43 men, to their assistance. The first party dodged the Confederates and came in by another road, but Summers was cut off at Summit Point. He was leading the advance, when, upon turning a bend in the road, he saw some of the enemy drawn up in line of battle. A charge was ordered and as it was being made Summers' men received a fire on the flank from a squad concealed behind a stone wall. Summers and 1 man were instantly killed and 4 men were wounded. The Confederates then retired toward Winchester and Martinsburg. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, October 18, 1863. 9th Maryland and 34th Massachusetts Infantry; Detachment of the 1st Connecticut Cavalry; and 17th Indiana Battery. Colonel B. L. Simpson, with the 9th Maryland, was surprised by a superior force under General Imboden about 7 a. m. A few of the officers made their escape, but most of the regiment was surrendered. Almost immediately after the affair information was received at Harper's Ferry. Colonel George D. Wells, with the other troops, hurried to Charlestown, drove the Confederates out of the place and pursued them nearly to Berryville, when General Sullivan sent an order to Wells to return. The Union loss was 6 killed, 43 wounded and about 375 of the 9th Maryland captured. The loss of the enemy was not definitely learned. Wells reported seeing about 25 dead along the line of the pursuit. Imboden's force numbered about 1,500.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 260-261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, March 10, 1864. 1st New York Veteran Cavalry. The pickets at the crossing of the Keys' Ferry and Kabletown roads were attacked about 6 a. m. by a detachment of Mosby's command. The Confederates wore the Federal uniform and the picket mistook them for a reserve from Charlestown. When within about 10 rods of the outpost they suddenly fired, killing 1 and wounding 4 others. They then made a dash and captured 13 prisoners. Although the enemy numbered some 60 men, Major Sullivan followed with only 9 and overtook them at Kabletown, where they fired from ambush and killed Sullivan and 2 privates. A reserve under Lieutenant Conway arrived soon after this unfortunate affair and gave chase, but failed to overtake them.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, May 24, 1864. The only official mention of this engagement is in a report of Brigadier-General Max Weber, from Harper's Ferry. He says: "One of my scouting parties had a fight with some of Mosby's men this afternoon near Charlestown, * * * The number of Mosby's men is reported to be between 200 and 300."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, June 29, 1864. Part of Sigel's Division, Army of West Virginia. About 1 p. m. a body of some 500 Confederate cavalry broke through the Union lines at Charlestown and after a skirmish with the cavalry attacked a company of infantry at Duffield's station, where they took about 25 prisoners. They also destroyed a storehouse and cut the telegraph wires, but did not succeed in tearing up the railroad track, as they were too closely pressed by troops from Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry. They escaped by way of Berry's ferry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, August 21-22, 1864. 6th Army Corps. In the Shenandoah Valley campaign the corps reached Flowing Spring, about 2 miles west of Charlestown, on the 18th. Detachments were thrown out toward Berryville, Summit Point and Smithfield, skirmishing at various points with the enemy. On the 21st the Confederates crossed the Opequan at Smithfield in considerable force, and the corps fell back to Charlestown. That night the main body fell back to Halltown, leaving Lowell's brigade to bring up the rear. Early the next morning Lowell moved toward Halltown, the 2nd Massachusetts cavalry, which formed the rear-guard, skirmishing with the enemy all the way. (See Halltown.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, August 26, 1864. In the Shenandoah Valley campaign there was almost constant skirmishing around Charlestown during the latter part of August. The Confederate reports mention that Anderson's division was engaged on the afternoon of the 26th near the town, but no detailed report of the affair was made by either side.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.

CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, August 29, 1864. 3d Division, 6th Army Corps. The Confederates drove in the Union pickets and the 3d division was ordered to the front. The order was promptly obeyed and the enemy was repulsed, the division following for several miles.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 261.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, November 29, 1864. 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry. A short time before midnight the reserve post was attacked, 2 men killed, 1 wounded, and 5 men and 19 horses captured. The Confederates lost 1 killed and 3 wounded. They numbered about 200, while the post numbered less than 30.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 261-262.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, April 6, 1865. Loudoun County Rangers. Some of Mosby's guerrillas made a descent on the camp of the rangers, capturing several men and nearly all the horses. No report of killed and wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA (Note.) The location of Charlestown, in the Shenandoah Valley and on the direct road from Harper's Ferry to Winchester, made it the theater of numerous reconnaissances and skirmishes. In addition to those above described the official records of the war mention actions at or near Charlestown on July 21, 1861; October 6, November :o and 26, and December 25, 1862; July 19 and August 15, 1864; and March 13, 1865.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHARIOT, MISSOURI, October 25, 1864. Curtis' and Pleasonton's Cavalry. The engagement at Chariot on this date was an incident of Price's Missouri expedition. After the defeat of the Confederate forces at the Osage river in the morning they beat a rapid retreat until the Marmiton river was reached, where they made another stand to protect the crossing of their train. McNeil's brigade of Pleasonton's division was in advance and soon became actively engaged. Benteen's brigade was hurried forward to McNeil's assistance. As it came on the field Benteen noticed the position of the enemy's artillery, which was practically unsupported, made a dashing charge and captured the guns. The Federal line was then advanced until the conflict assumed the nature of a hand-to-hand fight, when the Confederates gave way and fell back across the river, leaving 8 pieces of artillery and over 1,000 prisoners in the hands of the Union forces. Losses in killed and wounded not stated in the reports of the officers engaged. (Sometimes called the battle of the Marmiton.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHARLOTTE, TENNESSEE, March 13-14, 1863. Cavalry under Colonel Bruce. A scouting party sent out by Colonel Bruce captured 13 Confederates with their horses. Five, of the prisoners claimed to be Union men who had been drafted into the Confederate service.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, February 29, 1864. (See Albemarle County, Custer's Expedition.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 262.


CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER, GEORGIA, July 5-17, 1864. Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee and Ohio. From May 7 to July 4 the Confederate army under General Joseph E. Johnston had been constantly falling back before the Union forces commanded by Major-General William T. Sherman. On the night of July 4 Johnston withdrew to a strong line of fortifications along the right bank of the Chattahoochee river, covering the Western & Atlantic railroad and some of the principal wagon roads leading to Atlanta, and sent his cavalry to the left bank of the river, Jackson on his left to guard the crossings below the railroad and Wheeler on the right to protect those above. On the 5th Sherman moved the Armies of the Tennessee and Cumberland, respectively commanded by Major-General J. B. McPherson and Major-General George H. Thomas, up to the Chattahoochee, forming a line from the mouth of the Nickajack to a short distance above the railroad bridge, while Schofield, with the Army of the Ohio, was posted near Smyrna as a reserve. Along the river were several fords and ferries, viz: Howell's ferry, about a mile above the railroad bridge; Pace's ferry, some 3 miles farther up the stream; Phillips' ferry, sometimes called Isham's ford, at the mouth of Soap creek, about 6 or 7 miles above Pace's; Johnson's ferry, 3 miles above Phillips'; Powers' ford, 3 or 4 miles farther up and some 6 miles below the village of Roswell; Turner's ferry, about 4 miles below the railroad bridge, and Green's ferry still farther down. The nearest bridge was at Roswell, some 20 miles above the railroad. Garrard's cavalry division was sent to seize and hold this bridge, but it was burned by Wheeler before the Union troops could reach it. Garrard destroyed several cotton and woolen factories, and a large paper mill at Roswell, the products of which were being turned over to the Confederate government, and sent to the owners under guard to Marietta. After examining the ground in both directions, Sherman decided to make a feint down the river, then push his forces across at the several passages above the railroad, turn Johnston's left and flank him out of his position. Accordingly Stoneman's cavalry was sent down the river to make active demonstrations as far as Campbellton, with instructions to cross at that place if practicable and cut the railroad communications to the southwest of Atlanta. On the 7th Schofield made a personal reconnaissance of the river from Pace's ferry to Roswell and determined on Phillips' ferry as the best place to effect a crossing. His command (the 23d corps) was moved up near the mouth of Soap creek and massed behind the ridge between that stream and the Chattahoochee. Cox's division, which was in advance, took position as close to the river as possible without exposing its presence there, and that night the men bivouacked without campfires. The pickets along the bank were carefully concealed from any force that might be on the opposite side. About half a mile above the mouth of the creek was a fish-dam, where Cameron's brigade was stationed, with instructions to cross on the dam when the signal should be given the next day. Early on the morning of the 8th canvas pontoons were launched in Soap creek, above a bend where they could not be seen from the south side of the river, and at 3 p. m. the signal to advance was given. Twenty white pontoons, manned by the 12th Kentucky infantry, shot out of the mouth of Soap creek and headed for the opposite bank, where a small cavalry force with a piece of artillery was guarding the ford. At the same time Byrd's brigade, which had been concealed in the woods along the ridge, rushed forward to the edge of the bluff and opened such a vigorous fire on the Confederates that no one could aim or fire the cannon after the first shot. Cameron's men clambered over the slippery rocks of the fish-dam and hastened down on the south side, reaching the point opposite to the mouth of Soap creek almost as soon as the men who were ferried over in the pontoons. The cavalry fled at the approach of the Federals and the one gun was captured without the loss of a man. All of Byrd's brigade was then ferried over, after which a pontoon bridge was laid, and by daylight on the 9th Cox's and Hascall's divisions occupied a strong position on the south side of the river. The Chattahoochee was crossed. On the 9th the 16th corps and Newton's division of Howard's (4th) corps were sent to Roswell to support Garrard in effecting a crossing there. Garrard crossed under the protection of the infantry and found that Wheeler's cavalry had disappeared during the night. These movements alarmed Johnston and on the night of the 9th he withdrew his infantry across the Chattahoochee, burning the bridges behind him. Sherman ordered McPherson to keep up his demonstrations at Turner's ferry for two or three days, as if he intended to force a crossing there. Stanley's and Wood's divisions of the 4th corps were moved on the 10th to a position near Phillips' ferry, where they could support Schofield, who was now busy in building a bridge in order that the pontoons might be used elsewhere. The next day Sherman ordered Howard to secure the heights on the south side of the Chattahoochee opposite Powers' ferry. Stanley's division crossed on Schofield's bridge early on the morning of the 12th and moved up to Powers' ferry, where the remainder of the corps crossed later in the day on a pontoon laid by Colonel Buell. McPherson was now ordered to cross at Roswell, move against the Augusta railroad and. destroy it to prevent reinforcements coming to Johnston by that route from the Shenandoah valley. In this movement he was to have the cooperation of Schofield and Garrard. McPherson crossed on the 14th and with the other commands moved in the direction of Decatur. Palmer's (14th) and Hooker's (20th) corps were concentrated at Pace's ferry, where pontoons were thrown across the river, and at dusk on the 17th Geary's division of the latter passed over the bridge. The whole Union army was on the south side of the Chattahoochee ready to move against Atlanta. During the movement of crossing the river there was considerable skirmishing at all the fords and ferries, but the casualties were comparatively light.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 262-264.


CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, June 7-8, 1862. Union Forces under General J. S. Negley. As Negley was returning from an expedition into East Tennessee he found General Adams and Colonel Morgan, with about 3,000 Confederate troops, occupying Chattanooga. The enemy had 10 pieces of artillery and as soon as the Federals appeared before the city these guns opened a steady fire. Negley placed his artillery in position and after a fierce duel of three hours the Confederate guns were silenced. At 9 o'clock the next morning the cannonading was again commenced on the town and rifle-pits and continued for 6 hours, when the enemy abandoned his works and evacuated the city. No casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 264.


CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, September 22, 1863. (See Missionary Ridge, same date.)


CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, September 24, 1863. 22nd Indiana and 74th Illinois Infantry. The two regiments were sent across a small creek, about a mile from Chattanooga, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance. A strong skirmish line was thrown forward, the enemy's pickets driven back for about half a mile, when the main line of the Confederates was encountered concealed behind a fence. When the Union skirmishers were within about 200 yards the enemy rose and poured in a volley that forced the skirmishers to retire to the edge of the woods, bringing 3 wounded men with them. The Confederates then advanced a regiment of infantry and a battery on the Union right flank, when the reconnoitering party received orders to retire to the original position behind the creek.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p.

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, October 2-8, 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 264.


CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, November 23-25, 1863. Army of the Cumberland; Army of the Tennessee. After the battle of Chickamauga the Union forces retired to Chattanooga, where for some time they were virtually in a state of siege. Although rifle-pits and earthworks were constructed to keep the Confederates from getting into the city, Bragg promptly moved up and constructed rifle-pits and earthworks to keep the Federals from getting out. The Confederate lines were gradually extended until they reached from the Chickamauga river above the city to the valley west of Lookout mountain, where Longstreet's corps cut off communication with Bridgeport. This made it extremely difficult to obtain supplies, the only route open being through the Sequatchie valley, and there they must be brought 60 miles in wagons, over rough roads. The situation was made worse, when, on October 1, Wheeler's cavalry made a raid upon the line of supplies at Anderson's cross-roads, where he captured a number of trains loaded with rations for the army, killed most of the mules and burned over 300 wagons. The loss of these supplies, and the coming of bad roads with the fall season, reduced the daily rations until the smallest fragments of crackers and grains of corn were eagerly seized by the soldiers to stay the pangs of hunger. This unhappy condition of affairs was relieved by the capture of Brown's ferry on October 27, and the opening of a road to Kelley's ferry. (See Brown's ferry.) During this time a number of changes were made in the army. McCook and Crittenden, who had commanded the 20th and 21st corps at the battle of Chickamauga, were relieved from their commands and ordered north to appear before a court of inquiry upon their conduct in that engagement. The two corps were then united to form the 4th army corps, which was placed under the command of Major-General Gordon Granger. By an order of the war department, under date of October 16, the departments of the Cumberland, the Ohio and the Tennessee were consolidated into the Military Division of the Mississippi, and Major-General U. S. Grant was assigned to the command of the new division. By the same order Thomas succeeded Rosecrans in command of the Army of the Cumberland. This army was made up of the 4th corps (Granger's ), consisting of Cruft's, Sheridan's and Wood's divisions; the 11th corps, Major-General O. O. Howard, consisting of the divisions of Von Steinwehr and Schurz; Geary's division of the 12th corps; the 14th corps, Major-General John M. Palmer, embracing the divisions of Johnson, Davis and Baird; the engineer troops, under command of Brigadier-General W. F. Smith; the artillery reserve, commanded by Brigadier-General J. jvf. Brannan; the cavalry, under Colonel Eli Long, and the post of Chattanooga (three regiments), under Colonel John W. Parkhurst. That portion of the Army of the Tennessee which participated in the operations around Chattanooga consisted of the 15th corps, commanded by Major-General Frank P. Blair, including the divisions of Osterhaus, Morgan L. Smith and Ewing, and John E. Smith's division of the 17th corps, the whole being under the command of Major-General W. T. Sherman. Owing to changes, however, Sherman's immediate command at Chattanooga consisted of the 11th corps, Davis' division of the 14th, the 2nd and 4th divisions of the 15th, and the 2nd division of the 17th. Major-General Joseph Hooker, commanding the 11th and 12th corps, had under his immediate command the divisions of Cruft, Geary and Osterhaus, and detachments from the 14th corps. The effective strength, of the Union forces at Chattanooga was from 60,000 to 70,000 men. The Confederate army had also undergone some reorganization. Although Bragg had received reinforcements after the battle of Chickamauga, he depleted his forces almost on the eve of battle by sending Longstreet's corps, some 12,000 strong, and about 5,000 cavalry under Wheeler, against the Army of the Ohio, under General Burnside, at Knoxville. On November 23 the Confederate troops around Chattanooga were Hardee's corps, consisting of the divisions of Cheatham, Stevenson, Cleburne and Walker; Breckenridge's corps, including Hindman's and Breckenridge's divisions, the latter now commanded by Brigadier-General W. B. Bate; the reserve artillery, under Captain F. H. Robertson, and about seven regiments of cavalry, the entire force numbering in the neighborhood of 45,000 men of all arms. After the opening of the road to Kelley's ferry, by which supplies were assured, Grant turned his attention to the work of driving the enemy from his works in front. The Confederates had four lines of breastworks. The first was along the crest of Orchard knob, or Indian hill Half a mile in the rear of this, near the foot of Missionary ridge, was the second line. The third was about half-way up the slope, while the fourth and heaviest was along the crest of Missionary ridge. The total length of the line was about 12 miles, with the right resting on the north end of Missionary ridge and the left on Lookout mountain. The Federal line of intrenchments was about a mile from the town, extending from the mouth of Citico creek above to the bank of the river near the mouth of Chattanooga creek below. All the elevations along the line were strongly fortified and well supplied with artillery. One of the strongest of these was called Fort Wood, which was almost in front of the enemy's strongest position on the ridge. It was equipped with 22 pieces of artillery, most of which were capable of throwing shells to the enemy's second line. Late in October Grant ordered Sherman, then at Eastport, Mississippi, to move at once to Bridgeport, Tennessee, and then push on to Chattanooga Sherman reported in person on November 15, and with him and Thomas the plan of battle was arranged. Sherman was to move his troops via Brown's ferry, keeping under cover of the woods, to a point opposite the mouth of the Chickamauga, where he was to cross and on the 21st assault the enemy's works on the north end of the ridge. Hooker, who had recently come from the Army of the Potomac with about 20,000 men, was to hold his position on the right, in Lookout valley, with Geary's and part of Cruft's divisions, to prevent the Confederate left from reinforcing the troops on the ridge. Thomas was to concentrate his troops in the valley well to the left, leaving one division to make a show of attacking the Confederate force in the upper part of the valley and men enough to defend the fortifications. As soon as Sherman began his assault Thomas was to move forward with his left, effect a junction with Sherman, and sweep the Confederates from the ridge. Howard was ordered to take a position on the 20th on the north bank of the Tennessee river, opposite the town and near the pontoon bridge, from which point he could move to the support of either Thomas or Sherman. Long's cavalry was to protect Sherman's left flank as far as might be necessary, then cross the Chickamauga and damage the enemy's line of communication as much as possible. It was expected that Sherman would be in position on the 19th, but heavy roads and floods retarded his movements. The breaking of the bridge at Brown's ferry cut off Osterhaus' division, which was then ordered to report to Hooker, and Davis' division was ordered to join Sherman in its stead. Sherman's movements across Lookout valley had been discovered by the enemy on Sunday, the 22nd, and upon learning this Thomas ordered Howard to cross over into the town, in order to give the Confederates the impression that his command was Sherman, coming to reinforce Chattanooga. The ruse worked successfully. Howard crossed in full view of the enemy stationed on Lookout mountain and took a position in the rear of Thomas. This little trick enabled Sherman to proceed according to the original program, and late on the 23d he reached the position from which he was to cross the river. W. F. Smith had prepared a number of pontoons in the north Chickamauga creek, where they were kept concealed from the enemy until the time came to use them. Giles A. Smith's brigade was quietly ferried over, captured the pickets, and by daylight on the 24th Sherman had about 8,000 men intrenched on the east side of the Tennessee. A pontoon bridge was then thrown across the river and by 1 p. m. his whole force was over, prepared for the attack on Missionary ridge. On the 20th Grant received the following communication from Bragg: "As there may still be some non-combatants in Chattanooga, I deem it proper to notify you that prudence would dictate their early withdrawal." This was doubtless intended to convey the impression that an attack was contemplated. Two days later a deserter came into the Union lines, bringing the information that Bragg was falling back. He was mistaken, however, having formed his conclusions from the fact that Buckner's division was that day sent to reinforce Longstreet. In order to test the truth of the report Grant directed Thomas to move out early on the 23d, drive in the Confederate pickets and make the enemy develop his lines. Accordingly Granger and Palmer, supported by Howard, moved out directly in front of Fort Wood and drove in the pickets from Chattanooga to Citico creeks. About 1 p. m. Sheridan's and P. M. Wood's divisions advanced at a double-quick, drove in the reserves and carried the line of works on Orchard knob before the Confederates were fully aware of their intentions. In this assault about 200 prisoners were taken. Granger immediately occupied the ridge, with Palmer in a threatening position on the right and Howard on the left, and the first line of the enemy's works was permanently in the possession of the Federals. The hill was fortified, the guns from Orchard knob assisting materially in the attack on Missionary ridge the following day. Shortly after noon on the 24th Sherman formed his column for an advance on Missionary ridge, with M. L. Smith on the left, J. E. Smith in the center and Ewing on the right. A drizzling rain was falling and the clouds hung low over the valley, concealing the movement from the enemy's tower of observation on Lookout mountain. The three divisions, en echelon, each preceded by a strong line of skirmishers, soon gained the foothills. Then the skirmishers, closely followed by their supports, crept up the face of the hill, and by 3 :30 p. m. the north end of Missionary ridge was in possession of the Union troops. Up to this time Sherman had been under the impression that the ridge was one continuous elevation, but he now found himself on two high points with a deep gorge between his position and the hill over the tunnel on the Chattanooga & Cleveland railroad, which was his main objective point. The two hills had been carried without loss, as but a small force of the enemy had been stationed there, and this force had retired after a slight skirmish as the Federals swept up the hill. About 4 p. m. the enemy made a demonstration on Sherman's left and a sharp engagement followed with artillery and musketry, the Confederates finally being repulsed. In this skirmish General Giles A. Smith was severely wounded and the command of his brigade fell on Colonel Tupper. During the night the hills taken by Sherman were intrenched and held by one brigade from each of his three divisions, ready for the assault on the opposite hill the next morning. While these events were transpiring at Orchard knob and the north end of Missionary ridge Hooker had not been idle on the right. Late on the 23d he received orders to make a strong demonstration the next morning against the Confederate forces on Lookout mountain, to draw Bragg's attention in that direction, in order to enable Sherman to gain his position unobserved. Later he was directed by Thomas to carry the point of the mountain if the demonstration should develop the practicability of such a movement. The Confederate force on the mountain consisted of six brigades under Stevenson, the greater portion being posted on the northern slope, about half-way between the palisades and the Tennessee river, where a line of earthworks had been thrown up, while lower down was a line of rifle-pits, redoubts, etc., constructed with a view of repelling any assault from the town or from Lookout valley. Early on the morning of the 24th Geary's division and Whitaker's brigade of Cruft's division moved up Lookout creek to Wauhatchie, where a crossing was effected, and then marched down the right bank, sweeping the enemy's pickets before them. As soon as Geary was well under way Grose's brigade advanced upon the Confederates at the bridge near the railroad, drove them away, and commenced repairing the bridge. The skirmishing at this point alarmed the enemy on the mountain, and soon lines of men could be seen filing down the slope to man the rifle-pits and intrenchments. The skirmish at the bridge, and a heavy mist which overhung the mountain, concealed Geary's movements until he was on the enemy's flank and threatening their rear. Meantime artillery had been placed by Hooker's orders to cover the Confederate works. Wood's brigade went about 800 yards up the stream and built a second bridge, which was completed by the time Geary had reached his position on the enemy's flank. At 11 a. m. Wood and Grose crossed, joined Geary's left and moved down the valley. At noon the advance had driven the Confederates around the peak of the  mountain. Geary was ordered to halt and reform his lines at this point, but his men, intent on nothing but victory, pursued the panic-stricken enemy on up the mountain. On the high ground to the right was Cobham's brigade, between the main line of the enemy's defense and the palisades, pouring an incessant fire into the Confederates, while Ireland's brigade was closely pressing them on the flank. Close behind these two brigades came Whitaker and Creighton making the success of the Union arms certain and irresistible. Reinforcements were rushed forward to the enemy only to meet the fate of those who had preceded them, and after two or three sharp engagements the plateau was cleared. The last stand was made at the Craven house, where another body of reinforcements was added, but they were driven from this position and fled in confusion down to the valley. It was now 2 p. m. The clouds, which had hung over the mountain top in the morning, had settled down until the valley was veiled from view. Those below could hear the rattle of musketry and the shouts of victory as the Federal forces pressed on toward the summit, but they could see nothing of what was taking place. This was the "Battle above the Clouds," which has since become famous in song and story. Hooker immediately fortified his position and about 4 o'clock sent word to Thomas that it was impregnable. Carlin's brigade was sent to relieve Geary, whose troops were almost exhausted, and during the night repulsed an attempt to break the lines on the right. At sunrise on the 25th the Stars and Stripes were unfurled by the 8th Kentucky on the summit of the mountain. During the night the Confederates had abandoned the mountain, leaving behind them about 20,000 rations, all the camp and garrison equipage of three brigades, etc. On the 24th Grant established his headquarters on Orchard knob and about midnight sent word to Sherman to begin the attack at daylight. At the same time Hooker was ordered to push forward toward Rossville, take possession of the pass, and then move against Bragg’s left and rear. On the morning of the 25th Bragg's entire army was posted along Missionary ridge, extending from Tunnel hill to Rossville, Lookout mountain and the valley being abandoned. Sherman began his attack with Corse's brigade of Ewing's division, while Cockerill, Alexander and Lightburn were to hold the hill taken on the 24th. Lightburn was to send one regiment to cooperate with Corse, Morgan L. Smith was to move along the east base of the ridge, his right connecting with Corse, and Colonel Loomis was to move along the west base, supported by two reserve brigades of J. E. Smith's division. At sunrise Corse began his forward movement and advanced to a secondary crest about 80 yards from the enemy's intrenchments. This crest he held by calling up his reserves, and sent for reinforcements. Owing to the narrowness of the crest and the fact that it was covered by the enemy's fire a large force there was deemed unadvisable. Corse assaulted vigorously, maintaining a heavy contest for over an hour, but continued to hold the ground he had taken in his first attack. On the east side of the ridge M. L. Smith gained ground, while on the west Loomis managed to secure a position abreast of the tunnel, from which he could harass the Confederates, thus relieving the pressure at the north end of the ridge. The batteries of Callender and Wood, on the hills held by Ewing and Lightburn, and 2 pieces of Dillon's battery with Alexander's brigade, did all they could to clear the hill, but were compelled to direct their fire with great care to avoid endangering the Federal troops. About 10 a. m. the fight raged furiously and Corse was severely wounded, the command of the brigade devolving on Colonel Walcutt of the 46th Ohio. The fight was continued at the north end by Sherman's troops, with varying results, until about 3 p. m. In his report he says: "I had watched for the attack of General Thomas 'early in the day.' Column after column of the enemy was streaming toward me. Gun after gun poured its concentric shot on us from every hill and spur that gave a view of any part of the ground held by us." In carrying out his part of the order of the day, Hooker was delayed for several hours at Chattanooga creek, where the enemy had destroyed the bridge. As soon as the stringers of a new bridge were in position Osterhaus crossed with his infantry. The 27th Missouri, deployed as skirmishers, pushed forward to the gorge in Missionary ridge, where they developed a considerable force of the enemy. This regiment was directed to keep the Confederates engaged in front, while Woods' brigade moved to the right of the ridge and four regiments of Williamson's to the left. Two regiments of the latter brigade were posted on the road to Chattanooga to guard against a surprise from that direction. The Confederates, finding that the flanks were turned, hastily evacuated the gap, leaving large quantities of ammunition, a house full of commissary stores, several wagons, ambulances, etc. By this time the bridge was completed and the remainder of the troops had crossed the creek. Osterhaus was ordered to move with his division along the east side of the ridge, Cruft along the crest, and Geary in the valley on the west side. In ascending the ridge Cruft encountered the enemy's skirmishers. The 9th and 36th Indiana were thrown forward, charged and drove them back, while the rest of the column formed in support. Then all three divisions, Osterhaus, Cruft and Geary advanced, driving everything before them and capturing a number of prisoners, Osterhaus alone taking 2,000. Grant was waiting for Hooker to reach the Confederate left at Rossville before moving against the center. From an early hour the divisions of Wood and Sheridan had been under arms, the men anxiously waiting for the order to move forward. The destruction of the bridge had not only delayed Hooker, but had also delayed the attack of Thomas for which Sherman had looked "early in the day." The signal for the advance was six cannon-shots, to be fired in quick succession from headquarters on Orchard knob. At 2:30 p. m. Baird's division was sent out from the right of Orchard knob to reinforce Sherman. A half-hour later Grant saw that Sherman's condition was growing more critical and decided to wait no longer to hear from Hooker. The six guns boomed out and with a cheer Wood's and Sheridan's men swept across the valley carrying the enemy's first line of works. Here they were supposed to stop and reform, but like Hooker's men at Lookout mountain the day before, they rushed on over the second line. In his account of the engagement in "Battles and Leaders," Grant thus describes this charge: "Without awaiting further orders or stopping to reform, on our troops went to the second line of works; over that and on for the crest—thus effectually carrying out my orders of the 18th for the battle and of the 24th for this charge. I watched their progress with intense interest. The fire along the rebel line was terrific. Cannon and musket balls filled the air; but the damage done was in small proportion to the ammunition used. The pursuit continued until the crest was reached, and soon our men were seen climbing over the Confederate barrier at different points in front of both Sheridan's and Wood's divisions. The retreat of the enemy along most of his line was precipitate, and the panic so great that Bragg and his officers lost all control over their men. Many were captured and thousands threw away their arms in their flight." Thus ended the battle of Missionary ridge and the siege of Chattanooga. The broken and shattered Confederate army was pursued into Georgia, being routed at various points and more prisoners taken. The Union loss in the several engagements about Chattanooga was 753 killed, 4,722 wounded and 349 missing. The Confederate loss was 361 killed, 2,180 wounded and 6,142 captured, 239 of whom were commissioned officers.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 264-270.


CHATTOOGA RIVER, GEORGIA, September 12, 1863. 1st Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. The itinerary of the division, commanded by Brigadier-General E. M. McCook, for this date, says: "Marched at daylight, returning to Alpine; received orders to proceed at once on the La Fayette road; marched as far as and across the Chattooga river; encountered Wheeler's cavalry command, drove them for some distance. Returned to Summerville and bivouacked."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 270.


CHAVIS CREEK, KANSAS, June 9, 1865. Detachment 2nd Colorado Cavalry. On this date four trains, of 12 wagons each, were attacked by Indians while en route to Fort Union. At a point about 2 or 3 miles east of Chavis creek they succeeded in capturing one train of mules and one train of cattle and getting off with both. Lieutenant R. W. Jenkins, with 60 men, started from Cow creek in pursuit and followed to the Arkansas river, when the chase was abandoned. One man belonging to the escort was killed.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 270.