Alaric Chapin gets His Medal of Honor

From the Oregon Magazine article "Storming the Ramparts." This is the stories of two Union veterans, one in the Navy and the other in the Army, whose lives came together at Fort Fisher (but they never met) and who lived out their lives in Oregon.

Alaric Chapin, US Army, got his Medal of Honor for his service January 15, 1865. He was 17 at the time and in Co. G of the 142nd New York when he volunteered for a very dangerous mission to make openings in the palisades of the fort which would bring them close to the Confederate defenders and under fire. His best friend, Jimmy Spring also volunteered. He was also young after having lied about his age in order to serve.

They crawled along the ground for 300 yards until they reached the palisades unobserved. They used axes on lashing ropes and shovels and battering rams to loosen and topple posts until they had cut an opening in those wooden walls.

Jimmy Spring was shot in the head during this time and died instantly.

Chapin was mustered out June 7, 1865, eleven days shy of his birthday.

Capture My Fort!! --Old B-Runner

Man's Mission to Honor Fort Fisher Heroes-- Part 2

Continuing with the list of men whose actions at Fort Fisher should be honored:

GEORGE HOYT-- 142nd NY

OSCAR R. KINGSLAND-- 112th NY after enlisting in the 28th NY Light Artillery. Wounded at Fort Fisher and died April 28, 1865. Buried at the Wilmington (NC) National Cemetery.

WILLIAM J. MCDUFFIE-- 142nd NY, promoted to corporal March 1, 1865.

DAVID H. MORGAN-- 142nd NY, born Feb. 29, 1844. Died Jan. 14, 1887.

SAMUEL L. PORTEOUS-- 142nd NY. Born Aug. 3, 1836. Died Feb. 17, 1880

JAMES SPRING-- 142nd NY Volunteer Infantry who lied about his age to enlist. He presented Curtis with a captured Confederate flag (probably at the first battle) and was later killed in the second Battle of Fort Fisher.

I mentioned his name back on in connection with Alaric Chapin on May 15th.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the attempt to get honors.

Heroes, All. --Old B-Runner

Two Union Veterans at Fort Fisher-- Part 11

Alaric Chapin retired from farming after 30 years and traveled to Canada to visit his oldest son and later moved to Oregon to be near his two youngest sons. There, he joined the GAR Post 21 in Portland. Thanksgiving Day in 1924, he died at his home at 1452 Cleveland Avenue and his funeral notice did not mention his Medal of Honor.

His burial took place at Rose City cemetery. Many years later he had notification of his Medal of Honor placed on his marker. His granddaughter donated his Medal of Honor, his musket and bayonet to the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I have to wonder why to there.

Chapin and Lamson never met in life, but both were on that narrow spit of land by Fort Fisher for several days back in 1865. It is too bad they didn't as I'm sure they could have really swapped some stories.

Quite a Story. --Old B-Runner

Two Union Veterans at Fort Fisher-- Part 10

This article originally appeared in the January 2009 Oregon Magazine by Randy Fletcher called "Storming the Ramparts." It was about two Union veterans whose lives converged at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, although they didn't know each other.

One was in the Army and from New York and the other from Oregon and in the Navy. Both performed their duties at the battle with the utmost of courage and bravery. One was badly wounded and the other won a Congressional Medal of Honor.

Both eventually ended up in Oregon and are buried near each other.

A really amazing story and one I'm thankful that Mr. Fletcher was able to find.

Let's talk about your coincidences.

You can find the full article along with pictures at

http://oregonmag.com/FletcherCivilWar109.ntml.

Heroes, Both. --Old B-Runner

Two Union Veterans at Fort Fisher-- Part 8

Lamson recovered and went back to command the USS Gettysburg. In 1866, he resigned from the US Navy and married Kate Buckingham (with whom he had become engaged Christmas Day 1862. The couple moved to Oregon.

Alaric Chapin was mustered out of service June 7, 1865, 18 days shy of his 18th birthday. He returned to New York and moved west. He bought a farm near River Falls, Wisconsin and, on April 6, 1871, married Mary Smith and later had three sons and two daughters.

Thirty years later, he moved to Workman Township in Minnesota.


MEDAL OF HONOR ARRIVES IN THE MAIL

More Medals of Honor were awarded after the war than during it. Forty-nine years after the war, Bruce Anderson, one of the 13 volunteers with Chapin who had cut open the palisades, hired a lawyer and petitioned Congress for the Medal of Honor that General Ames had recommended after the battle.

A search of archives was made and Ames' letter found. A search was made for survivors and Chapin was found. he received his medal at age 67 and a grandfather. He proudly wore it to GAR meetings for the rest of his life.

Better Late Than Never, But the Story Is Not Over Yet. --B-R'er

Two Union Veterans at Fort Fisher-- Part 7

Lamson rose to his feet and continued to fight, but later said that armed with pistols and cutlasses "we might as well have had broom sticks." He was one of the few to make it to a rise in the beach near the fort's walls and was pinned down there. Confederates in the fort taunted them to "come up and fight."

Thought the Naval attack failed, it enabled the Army's assault to succeed by drawing defenders away from the west end of the fort.

Chapin's friend Jimmy Spring was shot in the head and died on the spot. Alaric Chapin continued on to the palisade and proceeded to open holes in it for the attacking federals.

For his bravery, Chapin and thirteen others were recommended by General Adelbert Ames for Congressional Medals of Honor. However, his report was misplaced and Chapin and the others never received the great honor.

Aftermath. --Old B-Runner

Two Union Veterans at Fort Fisher-- Part 2

Roswell Lamson was an outstanding midshipman at the Naval Academy, graduating second in his Class of 1862, and rose rapidly through the ranks of the wartime Navy to the command of the USS Mount Washington. In action in the James River in 1863, the ship's boiler was destroyed and the ship drifted aground where they had to repel boarders before being towed away, suffering 5 killed and 14 wounded,

Oregon newspapers extensively covered his exploits.

Lieutenant Lamson went on to command more ships and flotillas than anyone his age ever did before.

The USS Gettysburg was one of the fastest Union ships at 15 knots and was 950 tons, 221 feet long with a crew of 96 and mounting seven guns. It captured seven blockade-runners and received big prize money.

Poor Alaric Chapin earned $13 a month while the crew of a blockader could earn $500 to $1000 when adding additional money for prize money from captured blockade-runners. I have even heard stories of Union ships chasing blockade-runners farther away so other federal ships would be out of sight and couldn't claim the capture money. During the Civil War, $25 million in prize money was paid out by the government.

A Sailor's Life for Me. Give Me the Money. --Old B-Runner

Two Union Veterans at Fort Fisher-- Part 1

From the January 2009 Oregon Magazine, "Storming the Ramparts" by Randy Fletcher. A very interesting account of two men, their lives, and who were at the same battle, but on two different fronts of it.

Lt. Roswell Lamson, 26, USN, commander of the USS Gettysburg was preparing for a naval assault on Fort Fisher, NC's northeast salient. At the same time, 17-year-old Alaric Chapin was on land and was one of thirteen volunteers who had the job of moving against the fort first and cutting through the palisades.

Both of these men never met at the time, nor did they meet afterwards, but both are buried in Oregon, one as a native and the other having moved there.

Lamson was born in Iowa, and at age 9, his family had moved west on the Oregon Trail. His parents took a Donation Land Claim near present-day Willamina. he got his education at the Oregon institute in Salem. he fought in the Yakima Indian War and at a big battle where La Grande, Oregon is located today. In 1858, he became the first Oregonian appointed to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis.

More to Come. --Old B-Runner