Alexander Chambers

Alexander Chambers (August 23, 1832 – January 2, 1888) was a US Army officer, who became a general during the American Civil War.

Relief portrait at Vicksburg National Military Park
Alexander Chambers
Alexander Chambers
Born(1832-08-23)August 23, 1832
Cattaraugus, New York
DiedFebruary 2, 1888(1888-02-02) (aged 55)
San Antonio, Texas
Buried
Owatonna, Minnesota
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchArmy
RankGeneral
Commands held16th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Alma materWest Point
Other workMilitary judge-advocate
For the mixed martial artist, see Alex Chambers.

Chambers was born in Cattaraugus, New York. He graduated from West Point with the class of 1853 (which also included John Schofield and Philip Sheridan), and was commissioned a second lieutenant.[1] He fought in the Third Seminole War from 1855, and was promoted to first lieutenant in 1859. In May 1861, shortly after the war started, he was promoted to captain, and performed recruiting duty in Iowa. Promoted to colonel in March 1862, he took command of the 16th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, leading it at the Battle of Shiloh and the Battle of Iuka, being wounded on both occasions.[2] Returning to duty, he led a brigade in the Vicksburg Campaign. In August 1863, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and led a division in the XVII Corps, but his appointment was revoked by the U.S. Senate in April 1864.[3] On December 8, 1868, President Andrew Johnson nominated Chambers for appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, for the Battle of Champion's Hill, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 16, 1869.[4]

After the war, he reverted to the rank of captain and remained in the army and served as a military judge-advocate in Nebraska,[5] receiving promotions to major and lieutenant colonel. He was also military attache to the Ottoman Empire from July 1877 to September 1878.[6][7] His last appointment was as garrison commander at Fort Townsend. He died in San Antonio, Texas with the rank of colonel in the 17th U.S. Infantry Regiment[8] and was buried in Owatonna, Minnesota.[3]

Notes
  1. "Colonel Alexander Chambers". Omaha, Nebraska: Omaha Daily Bee. 28 Feb 1888. p. 3. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  2. "A Hero's Record". Davenport, Iowa: Quad-City Times. 4 Jan 1888. p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  3. Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3. p. 169
  4. Eicher, 2001, p. 742
  5. "Col. Chambers and Red Cloud". Ottumwa, Iowa: The Weekly Ottumwa Courier. 12 May 1870. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  6. "Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Chambers Appointed by Gen. Sherman". Redwood Falls, Minnesota: The Redwood Gazette. 28 Jun 1877. p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  7. "An American in the Field to See How They Do Things in Turkey". Minneapolis, Minnesota: Star Tribune. 22 Sep 1877. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  8. "Colonel Alexander Chambers Dead". Fort Worth, Texas: Fort Worth Daily Gazette. 4 Jan 1888. p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2022.

References
  • Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
  • Warner, Jr., Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders, Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2006 ISBN 978-0807131497.
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