Alford B. Chapman

  The Fifty-seventh New-York State Volun-
             teers--The Late Col. Chapman...
Correspondent of the New-York Times;
            FREDERICKSBURGH, Friday, May 12, 1864.
The rebels hold out bravely. They have fallen
back not more than four miles, after a week's reso-
lute fighting. 
 Col. A.B. CHAPMAN, Fifty-seventh New-York, was
killed at 5 1/2 o'clock of the afternoon of the 5th inst.
Being ordered by Gen. Barlow to support a line of
skirmishers, he advanced with two companies to the
front. He had scarce deployed his men when he
was struck three times; one bullet passed through
his body, just above his heart. Falling off his horse,
Capt. BOYD, aid-de-camp, came up to him and asked
him if he desired to be carried to the rear. "No,"
said this brave soldier.  "I have received a mortal 
wound. Let me die here. Don't carry me back."
He then took his diary out of his pocket, wrote
in it a few words, replaed it, and then turning
over, instantly died.
 Gen. MILES, hearing the firing, ordered up the re-
mainder of the regiment to the support of the skir-
mishers. The skirmishers found the Irish Brigade
hotly engaged, and these then fell back, out of am-
munition. For two hours the Fifty-seventh stood
their ground, though vastly outnumbered. Three
times they charged, driving back the enemy three
hundred yards. A fierce fight took place over the
body of their beloved Colonel, and they finally suc-
ceeded in carrying it off. At 8 1/2 o'clock Col. SMITH,
commanding brigade, relieved the Fifty-seventh. On
the field he thanked the officers and the men for their
gallantry. Yet their honors were dearly won. They
went into the field 220 strong, and 109 now report for
duty.
 By order of Gen. MEADE, this noble remnant were
sent to Fredericksburgh to guard the town.
 A distinguished record is the record of Col. CHAP-
MAN. Before the first battle of Bull Run, he left New-
York as Sergeant of the Seventh Regiment. On the
return of this regiment he organized a company for
the Fifty-seventh New-York. At Yorktown, at Fair
Oaks, at Gaines Mill, at Malvern Hills, he fought
with his regiment. At Harrison's Landing he was
promoted to the rank of Major. After Antietam he
was made Lieutenant-Colonel. At Frederericksburgh,
being then not more than 25 years old, he was made
Colonel, and was severely wounded in laying a pon-
toon bridge in the upper part of the town.
 He fought at Gettysburgh, at Bristoe Station, at
Mine Run, and in the Wilderness died an honorable
death. The sword which the privates of the Fifty-
seventh had just procured for him, as a token of
their attachment, will be presented by them to his
father.
...   
                                         H.B.