Alaric B. Chapin

Alaric B. Chapin was born in northern New York in 1847. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society gives his birthplace as Ogdensburg, while the University of Calgary’s family archive describes it as Oswegatchie. He enlisted at Pamelia, New York, on 29 February 1864. The official roster records his muster into Company G, 142nd New York Infantry, as a corporal on 1 March. [1, 2, 4]

On 15 January 1865, during the assault on Fort Fisher, North Carolina, Chapin volunteered to go forward with the leading column and cut through the defensive palisade. His Medal of Honor citation reads in full: “Voluntarily advanced with the head of the column and cut down the palisading.” The award record lists him as a private, although the New York service rosters record him as a corporal. [1–3]

Chapin transferred to the 169th New York Infantry on 7 June 1865 and was mustered out at Raleigh, North Carolina, on 19 July. According to the University of Calgary’s account of his family papers, he subsequently lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He married Mary Smith, and they had three sons and two daughters. A son later operated an automobile and tractor dealership in Calgary. [3, 4]

His Medal of Honor was awarded on 28 December 1914, nearly fifty years after Fort Fisher. Chapin died in Portland, Oregon, on 27 November 1924 and was buried in Rose City Cemetery. His surviving papers include his discharge documents and records of the award; the archival catalogue identifies his medal, musket and bayonet with the Glenbow Museum’s military collection. [1, 4]

Sources [1] Congressional Medal of Honor Society: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/alaric-b-chapin [2] New York Adjutant General, 142nd Infantry roster, p. 397: https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Infantry/142nd_Infantry_CW_Roster.pdf [3] New York Adjutant General, 169th Infantry roster, Chapin entry: https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Infantry/169th_Infantry_CW_Roster.pdf [4] University of Calgary, Alaric B. Chapin fonds, F2483: https://searcharchives.ucalgary.ca/alaric-b-chapin-fonds