By Stephen P. Hall

When the first call to arms went out on April 15^th 1861, he a groom of only three months, left his young bride, with three hours notice, to join the fight to preserve the union. The 22 year old, first signed up in Boston as a private in the 8^th Regiment, of the Massassachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which at the time was a three month enlistment. This group left the state of Massachusetts on April 18^th 1861, for Washington, DC, and he served there until he was muster out with the rest of the militia on August 1^st 1861. This regiment followed the 6^th Regiment to Baltimore, MD, but they were spared the riots, by bypassing the city. During this time John H. Chipman, Jr. was "prostrated by hemorrhage from the lungs", and returned home. It is most likely that he was exposed to someone in the Regiment who had tuberculosis or "consumption," and this was the first sign of that "fatal" disease.

Rapidly recovering, he once more enlisted, in Co. "E", 8^th Regiment, on August 11^th 1862, this time at the rank of Corporal, and this enlistment was for a 9 month period. This time the 8^th was organized at Camp Lander, in Wenham, MA, and moved to Boston on 25 Nov. 1862, and thence on the steamer "Mississippi" to Moorhead City, NC, and then to New Berne, by November 30^th. They had garrison duty at New Berne until June of 1863. But Co. "A" and "E" detached as a garrison at Roanoke Island, NC from 4 Dec 1862 to 12 July 1863. They moved on July 12 - 13 to reinforce the Army of the Potomac at Funkstown, MD, and then to Rappahannock on July 16-22, 1863. He, along with the rest of the Regiment were ordered home on July 26^th and mustered out, on August 7^th 1863. The regiment lost 11 men to disease.

He was not home more than a two months, when he re-enlisted yet a third time, in the newly formed 59^th Infantry Regiment. This time he received the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant, commissioned on 13 Oct 1863. Four days later his wife presented him with his first and only child, a son, Frank Ellsworth Chipman. The newspapers of the day noted that "Lieutenant Chipman had been busy finding recruits in Beverly, for his regiment". He would stay in Beverly for several months and during this time he was promoted at least once, or perhaps twice, for on December 16^th 1863, he was commissioned Captain.

It was noted in the February 6^th 1864 issue of The Beverly Citizen that, "The members of Company "C" 59^th Mass. Regt., have presented to their commander, Capt. J. H. Chipman, a fine regulation sword, straps and belt, the whole costing $100." The regiment left for Washington, DC, April 26^th and then on to Rappahannock Station, VA. The campaign proceeded from the Rapidan to the James from May 3^rd until June 15^th, 1864. The regiment was in the battle of the Wilderness, from May 5^th-7^th, Spottsylvania, May 8^th-12^th, Ny River, on May 10^th, and Spottsylvania Court House, May 12^th - 21^st, 1864. They then assaulted the North River, May 23^rd-26^th. They were on the line of the Pamunkey from May 26^th-28^th, Totopotomoy, May 28^th- 31^st, and Cold Harbor June 1^st-12^th, 1864. It was at Totopotomoy Creek, VA, on May 31^st 1864, or possibly Cold Harbor, that Capt. John H. Chipman was wounded in the hand. He came home on furlough to recover, and as the medical help was better off the field of battle, this probably saved his life. He was home for about two months when he was called to return.