William Henry Chaffin (1839 - 1864)

Born 21 May 1839 in Claremont, Sullivan, New Hampshire, United States

Died 19 Sep 1864 at age 25 in Winchester, Frederick, Virginia, United States

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Biography

14th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry

Cap. William Chaffin served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Jan 11, 1863
Mustered out: Sep 19, 1864
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 14th Regiment, New Hampshire Infantry - Company B

Cap. William Chaffin was Killed in Action at the Third Battle of Winchester (Opequan) during US Civil War.

On 19 Sept 1864, during the Third Battle of Winchester (Opequan), Captain William Chaffin was shot through the temple and died on the battlefield.

A Memorial of the Great Rebellion Being a History of the Fourteenth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers:^[1]

William Henry Chaffin was born in Claremont, N.H., on May 21, 1839. His parents, John and Delia (Olney) Chaffin, gave him a good common-school education. He entered Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H., from which he graduated in 1861. While pursuing his studies, he taught school and proved a successful teacher while retaining his high standing in his class. He entered the Norwich Military University, but, after remaining there a year, left his studies to open a recruiting-office in his native town in August 1862. When the Fourteenth rendezvoused at Concord, he was employed in drilling the recruits and was very zealous in disciplining them. Before the regiment left Concord, S. M. Bugbee, captain of Company I, fell sick; and William H. Chaffin went to Washington in command of the company, though without any commission. Early in December Capt. Bugbee resigned, and he was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Capt. Chaffin was distinguished for his steady observance of duty under all circumstances, and his untiring care for his men. He generally reported more men fit for duty than the captain of any other company of the same size. In cases of peculiar danger and responsibility, requiring courage, coolness, and determination, Capt. Chaffin was often selected as being eminently fitted for such duty. In the summer of 1863, he was sent to the front with a detachment of sixty men to return some convalescents to their regiments. While on the way, they overtook a large army-train of ammunition wagons that had been attacked by nearly two hundred of Moseby's guerillas, disguised as Union soldiers. Capt. Chaffin dispersed the guerillas, and recovered nearly all the mules which they had driven off. During the voyage to New Orleans in March 1864, he was active and efficient in preserving discipline and stimulating the men to courage and cheerfulness. Capt. Chaffin was acting lieutenant colonel at the time of the battle, by order of Col. Gardiner, and was among the first who fell, shot through, the head by a Mini-ball. He had a presentiment of his death, and just before the battle had sent home a request that his body is not removed from the field where he fell. He was twenty-six years of age, unmarried, but left a mother and one brother to mourn his early death. His father died soon after, and the funeral sermon of both was preached at the same time, in the Congregational Church in Claremont, by Rev. E. W. Clark.

William Henry Chaffin is memorialized in Winchester National Cemetery. His name is inscribed on the east side of the monument.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ A Memorial of the Great Rebellion Being a History of the Fourteenth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers.
2. ↑ http://stonesentinels.com/less-known/winchester-sites/national-cemetery/14-nh/

• Buffum, Francis. A Memorial of the Great Rebellion Being a History of the Fourteenth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers (Boston, MA, 1882)
• Ayling, Augustus D. Revised Register of the Soldiers and Sailors of New Hampshire in the War of the Rebellion (Concord, NH 1895)

• 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850"
  citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M432; Line: 34; Digital film/folder number: 004201718; FHL microfilm: 443645; Image number: 302; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01007-0
  FamilySearch Record: MWZP-XP3
  FamilySearch Image: S3HY-68X3-ZXJ
  Henry W Chaffin (11) in Claremont, Sullivan, New Hampshire, United States. Born in New Hampshire.
• 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860"
  citing Page: 22; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Digital film/folder number: 005170262; FHL microfilm: 803681; Image number: 372; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01753-7
  FamilySearch Record: M7WG-GNN
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GBS8-YRG
  Wm H Chaffin (21) in Claremont, Sullivan, New Hampshire, United States. Born in New Hampshire.
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #3006118
  Memorial page for CPT William Henry Chaffin (21 May 1839-19 Sep 1864), citing Winchester National Cemetery, Winchester, Winchester City, Virginia, USA (plot: , TRENCH); Maintained by Jim Nelson (contributor 47275092).

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: KCCK-CHD