Charles Chipman

On 26 October 1850, a 20 year old machinist from Sandwich, MA, he enlisted in Boston as a Private in the US Army. He was discharged, by then a Corporal (Sergeant?), in February 1853. By 1860, still a machinist, then at the Boston & Sandwich Glass Works, he was living with his in-laws in Sandwich. In April 1861 he organized a company of recruits who became Company D, 29th Massachusetts Infantry, and he enrolled with them on 18 May 1861 at Sandwich. He mustered on 22 May as their Captain. He was promoted to Major of the regiment on 13 December 1861.

He was with his regiment in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

In the latter part of 1863 and first part of 1864 he was frequently in command of the regiment as senior officer present, Colonel Barnes in brigade command. On 2 July 1864 at Petersburg, VA he was temporarily detached to command the 14th New York Heavy Artillery, then without field-grade officers and acting as infantry.

Late in the afternoon of the 7th of August, the enemy opened a furious fire upon our entrenchments. The fire was particularly heavy on that part of our lines occupied by the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery, which was still commanded by Major Chipman. Great confusion ensued, and the troops were ordered to form in line of battle. The faithful Major, who was never missing in time of peril, hastened from his quarters to attend personally to the formation of his regiment; but while engaged in the performance of this duty, he was mortally wounded by the fragment of a large mortar-shell which exploded near him. From this time till eleven o’clock the next forenoon, he lingered, apparently unconscious, when life became extinct. His body was carefully embalmed and sent to his home in Sandwich, Mass., for burial, where it was received by a heart-broken wife and children, and many sorrowing neighbors and friends.

By an act of Congress in March 1867 the US Treasury paid his widow $125 for his horse "lost" on the day of his death.

His Volunteer service information from Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines1, the History,2 source of his presence at Antietam and the quote above, and his Compiled Service Records,3 online from fold3. Regular Army service from the Registers.4 Personal details from biographical information [PDF] accompanying his papers at the US Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC), Carlisle, PA, and from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture is from a photograph also in the USAHEC collection. He's also found on page 6021 of Volume 117 of the MOLLUS Massachusetts album online from the USAHEC.

He married Elizabeth Freeman Gibbs (1829-1920) in October 1854 and they had 3 children.

12/23/1829; Sandwich, MA

08/08/1864; Petersburg, VA; burial in Freeman Cemetery, Sandwich, MA