★ Chambers, Alexander

Alexander Chambers​

Born: August 23, 1832

Birthplace: Cattaragus, New York

Father: Alexander Wood Chambers 1803 – 1876

(Buried: Forest Hill Cemetery, Owatonna, Minnesota)​

Mother: Sarah McDougall 1800 – 1882

(Buried: Forest Hill Cemetery, Owatonna, Minnesota)​

Wife: Hannah Frances "Fannie" Winslow 1839 – 1927

Children:

Margaret T. Chambers Hoyt 1856 – 1912​

(Buried: Lakeview Cemetery, Cheyenne, Wyoming)​

Education:

1853: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (43rd​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

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1853 – 1855: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army Infantry​

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1853 – 1854: Garrison Duty at Fort Columbus, New York​

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1854 – 1855: Frontier Duty at Fort McIntosh, Texas​

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1855 – 1859: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 5th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1855 – 1856: Escort for Captain Pope's Artesian Well Expedition​

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1856 – 1857: Served in Florida in the Seminole War​

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1857 – 1861: Adjutant for U.S. Army, 5th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1857: Garrison Duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri​

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1857 – 1860: Served in the Utah Expedition​

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1859 – 1861: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 5th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1860: Served in the march to New Mexico Territory​

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1860 – 1861: Served in the Navajo Expedition​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Mustering Officer in Iowa​

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1861 – 1867: Captain United States Army 18th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1862 – 1863: Colonel of 16th​ Iowa Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Wounded twice in the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee​

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1862: Brevetted Major for Gallantry at Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee​

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1862: Served in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi​

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1862: Guarded the Railroad at Bolivar, Tennessee​

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1862: Wounded in the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi​

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1862: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Iuka​

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1862 – 1863: Disabled by his war wounds unable to take field​

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1863: Served in the Vicksburg, Mississippi Campaign​

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1863: Brevetted Colonel for Gallantry during Siege of Vicksburg​

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1863: Served in the Expedition to Monroe, Louisiana​

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1863 – 1864: Brigade Commander in Vicksburg, Mississippi​

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1863 – 1864: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1864: Served on General Sherman's raid on Meridian​

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1864: Mustering and Disbursing Officer in Davenport Iowa​

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1865: Commander of Battalion at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee​

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1865: Brevetted Brig. General for Gallantry at Battle of Champion Hills​

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1865: Battalion Commander in Louisville, Kentucky​

Occupation after War:

1861 – 1866: Captain United States Army 18th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1865: Served in the March to Fort Kearny Nebraska and Omaha​

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1866: Judge Advocate for District of Nebraska​

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1866 – 1867: Captain United States Army 27th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1867 – 1869: Major United States Army 22nd​ Infantry Regiment​

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1866 – 1867: Judge Advocate for Department of the Platte​

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1867 – 1869: Frontier Duty at Fort Randall Dakota Territory​

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1869: Major United States Army, 10th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1869: Major United States Army, unassigned duty​

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1870 – 1876: Major United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1871 – 1873: Garrison Duty at Lexington, Kentucky​

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1873: Frontier Duty at Little Rock, Arkansas​

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1874: Member of United States Army, Equipment Board​

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1875: Member of United States Army, Ambulance Board​

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1876 – 1886: Lt. Colonel United States Army, 21st​ Infantry Regiment​

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1876: Served in the Big Horn and Yellowstone Expedition​

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1876 – 1877: U.S. Army Commander, Fort Columbus Recruiting Depot​

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1877 – 1878: Military Attaché U.S. Legation at Constantinople, Turkey​

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1886 – 1888: Colonel of United States Army, 17th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1886 – 1887: Regimental Commander at Fort D. A. Russell​

Died: January 2, 1888

Place of Death: San Antonio, Texas

Cause of Death: Pleuropneumonia and Chronic Asthma

Age at time of Death: 55 years old

Burial Place: Forest Hill Cemetery, Owatonna, Minnesota

 

[Pollaco]

For some reason the Senate refused to confirm the nomination of Chambers for a brigadier's star and he reverted back to his regular army rank of captain.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday (August 23rd) to Brig. General Alexander Chambers! Salutes remembering General Chambers on his birthday week.

 

[DixieRifles]

1876: Served in the Big Horn and Yellowstone Expedition

What was his duty during this Expedition?

 

[Pollaco]

He was the commanding Colonel of the 16th Iowa but this unit was part of the "Iowa Brigade" under a Colonel Crocker. The Iowa Brigade consisted of the 11th, 13th, 15th, and the 16th Iowa Infantry Regiments.