Civil War Union Army Officer. He was a young New York City, New York merchant when the Civil War began. He first served as Private in Company B, 7th New York Militia, which was one of the militia units federalized to meet the Secession crisis. After his mustered out of that unit, he again offered his services, and on August 20, 1861 he was commissioned as Captain and commander of Company A, 57th New York Volunteer Infantry, a regiment recruited and commanded by Colonel Samuel Kosciuszko Zook. He was promoted to Major of the unit on February 2, 1862, and served in that capacity through the Spring 1862 Peninsular Campaign. At the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, Maryland, he assumed command of the 57th New York after it's Lieutenant Colonel was killed in action, and it sustained 98 casualties. Alford Chapman was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after the battle of fill the command vacancy. During the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg he and his men were detailed to protect the pontoon bridges needed as the Union army crossed the Rappahannock River, and he fell severely wounded from the fire the Confederates poured on to his men to prevent the crossing. He when he recovered from his wounds he was promoted to Colonel on April 24, 1863. At the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, he and his men were engaged on the 2nd Day of the Battle (July 2) as they took part in the counterattack on the Wheatfield area by the II Corps Division commanded by Brigadier General John C. Caldwell. Initially successful, the Confederates themselves counterattacked and Colonel Chapman led his men in it's retreat from the area after brigade commander Samuel K. Zook, now a Brigadier General, fell with a mortal wound. The 57th New York sustained 34 casualties in the battle. He remained in command through 1863 as the Army of the Potomac maneuvered in Virginia until the end of the fall Mine Run Campaign. The next year, during Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, Colonel Chapman was commanding his divisions' skirmish line at the May 5, 1864 Battle of the Wilderness when he was mortally wounded, dying a few hours later. Today his name is inscribed on the 57th New York Volunteer Infantry Monument on Sickles Avenue at the west edge of the Wheatfield in the Gettysburg National Military Park.
Civil War Union Army Officer. He was a young New York City, New York merchant when the Civil War began. He first served as Private in Company B, 7th New York Militia, which was one of the militia units federalized to meet the Secession crisis. After his mustered out of that unit, he again offered his services, and on August 20, 1861 he was commissioned as Captain and commander of Company A, 57th New York Volunteer Infantry, a regiment recruited and commanded by Colonel Samuel Kosciuszko Zook. He was promoted to Major of the unit on February 2, 1862, and served in that capacity through the Spring 1862 Peninsular Campaign. At the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, Maryland, he assumed command of the 57th New York after it's Lieutenant Colonel was killed in action, and it sustained 98 casualties. Alford Chapman was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after the battle of fill the command vacancy. During the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg he and his men were detailed to protect the pontoon bridges needed as the Union army crossed the Rappahannock River, and he fell severely wounded from the fire the Confederates poured on to his men to prevent the crossing. He when he recovered from his wounds he was promoted to Colonel on April 24, 1863. At the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, he and his men were engaged on the 2nd Day of the Battle (July 2) as they took part in the counterattack on the Wheatfield area by the II Corps Division commanded by Brigadier General John C. Caldwell. Initially successful, the Confederates themselves counterattacked and Colonel Chapman led his men in it's retreat from the area after brigade commander Samuel K. Zook, now a Brigadier General, fell with a mortal wound. The 57th New York sustained 34 casualties in the battle. He remained in command through 1863 as the Army of the Potomac maneuvered in Virginia until the end of the fall Mine Run Campaign. The next year, during Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, Colonel Chapman was commanding his divisions' skirmish line at the May 5, 1864 Battle of the Wilderness when he was mortally wounded, dying a few hours later. Today his name is inscribed on the 57th New York Volunteer Infantry Monument on Sickles Avenue at the west edge of the Wheatfield in the Gettysburg National Military Park.
Bio by: RPD2
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