The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Two Union Veterans at Fort Fisher-- Part 5

Alaric Chapin was from upstate New York and enlisted at the age of 16 in 1864 after he lied that he was 18. He had blue eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, stood 5'10" (quite tall for the time as most men stood around 5'6". He was promoted to corporal in Co. G, 142nd New York Infantry and fought at Cold Harbor, Petersburg and New Market.

Chapin volunteered to cut a hole in the palisades along with Jimmy Spring from Co. G. Personally, I am surprised any of the fence was still standing after that horrific Naval bombardment.

At 2 pm, the Navy guns stopped firing and Chapin, Spring and eleven other volunteers ran across 300 yards to the palisades. They used axes to cut the binding ropes and then shovels and battering rams to open holes and came under a withering fire as they did this.

At this time, the Naval column charged along the beach aimed at the fort's northeast salient. Lt. Lawson was among them.

At this time, Chapin and Lawson were probably no more than 500-700 yards apart and each with a definite task at hand.

More to Come. --Old B-Runner

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