Chipman, Cyrus B

Cyrus B Chipman

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company H, 42nd Illinois Infantry

Place of Birth:

Sunderland, Bennington County, Vermont

Date of Birth:

May 31st, 1832

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

December 31st, 1863

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Cyrus B Chipman was born May 31st, 1832 in Sunderland, Bennington County, Vermont. In his adulthood, he moved to Momence, Kankakee County, Illinois and worked as a farmer until the civil war broke out. Chipman was 29 when he decided to enlist, so he went to Chicago, Illinois and enlisted on August 17th, 1861. The Illinois descriptive rolls list him as being 5' 9 1/2" with a light complexion, having dark hair and blue eyes. He enlisted into Company H of the 42nd Illinois Infantry regiment which was under the command of Roberts, Sheridan, and McCook. Cyrus Chipman was a Sergeant, although the Illinois register of death lists him as having been a Lieutenant. It is likely that he was promoted just before his death.

In December of 1862, the 42nd Illinois was in Nashville, Tennessee, awaiting orders on what to do next. On December 26th, they received orders to march to Murfreesboro in pursuit of General Bragg. After a 4 day journey, they made it to Murfreesboro and set up camp, waiting for the inevitable fighting to begin. On the first day of fighting, the 42nd Illinois was positioned along the Wilkinson Pike. The Confederates in the area were pushing the Union into a J-shaped position with the goal of causing them to collapse in on themselves. The 42nd Illinois was pushed back by this maneuver into the other side of the Wilkinson Pike.

Eventually, they were pushed into a V-shaped position, with the 42nd Illinois making the point in the V. They were in an extremely vulnerable position and had to go into a retreat in order to preserve those that remained in the regiment. From this day of fighting alone, the 42nd Illinois had 225 casualties. Sergeant Chipman was among those lost on December 31st, 1862.

Cyrus B Chipman is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot L-4694.