Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Austin Chambers

5^th KANSAS VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Organized: Fall/Winter, 1861
Mustered In: 12/31/1861 Camp Denver, Barnesville, KS
Mustered Out:  6/22/1865

48^th IOWA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: 7/1864 Davenport, IA
Mustered In: 7/13/1864 Davenport, IA
Mustered Out: 10/10/1864

REGIMENTAL HISTORY: (5^th)

The 5^th was a three year cavalry regiment. Its period of service was within the western theater of the American Civil War (ACW).

Even before its official date of Federal muster, elements of the 5^th saw considerable action in the field. Early on two companies joined an expedition to Harrisonville, MO. Returning to Kansas City this contingent was joined by infantry to escort a supply train to Ft. Scott, KS.

Next came a number of skirmishes around Ft. Scott which resulted in a few men being wounded. At Morristown, MO (9/17/1861) the regiment’s colonel was killed. Additional actions included Osceola and West Point, MO. The winter of 1861/’62 was spent in Barnesville, KS.

From 4/25 to 5/25/1862 the 5^th was stationed at Springfield, MO. It then moved to Helena, AR. During the Helena period a contingent of the unit escorting the regimental wagon train clashed with the enemy suffering some loss. Still, the train safely reached its destination.

The 5^th remained in the vicinity of Helena, AR participating in many scrapes with Rebel forces until 8/1863. It then began a march to Little Rock. During this expedition if clashed with the Rebs not only at Brownsville (8/25/1863), but during the Little Rock Campaign (8/1 – 9/14/1863). In 10/1863, at Tulip, AR it suffered twenty seven killed (27), wounded and missing.

In 1/1864 the enemy was met at Branchville and other Arkansas locations. In 4/1864 a portion of the 5^th suffered in the disaster at Mark’s Mills. There the 5^th lost five (5) killed, seven (7) wounded and forty four (44) captured. 

The final significant action faced by the 5^th was at Warren Cross-roads. Their loss was one killed, (1) four (4) wounded and one (1) missing. Scouting, picketing and other arduous duties assigned a cavalry unit completed the regiment’s history.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
 Officers killed or mortally wounded: 2; Officers died of disease, accidents, etc.:2; Enlisted men killed or mortally wounded: 45; Enlisted men died of disease, accidents, etc. 219   ‘

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:  (48^th)

In the spring of 1864 Union Gen. U.S. Grant launched his Overland Campaign into Virginia. The following year this push would help greatly in bringing an end to four years of bloody civil war.

During the run-up to the campaign’s opening salvos, in order to put as many “seasoned” troops as possible into the field, established military regiments were pulled out of stationary fortifications and rear echelon duties.

To replace these units, a number of “100 Day” organizations were formed. One such regiment was the 48^th Iowa.

The 48^th was a battalion-sized short-term unit. Its period of serve was spent guarding Confederate prisoners of war (POW) at Rock Island, IL.

REGIMENTAL LOSSES:
 Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  0; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.: 0; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded:  0; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:4 

SOLDIER: (5^th)
Residence:  Inf. Not Avail.   Age: 20.7 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 11/14/1861   Rank:  Pvt.
Mustered In: 11/14/1861
Discharged For Disability: 12/1/1862 Cairo, IL
Highest Rank: Pvt.
Rank At Discharge: Pvt.

SOLDIER: (48^th)
Residence: Decatur County, IA Age: 22.11 yrs.
Enlisted/Enrolled: 2/5/1864 Rank: Cprl.
Mustered In: 7/13/1864
Mustered Out: 10/21/1864 Rock Island, IL
Highest Rank: Cprl.

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

Austin Chambers was born 3/29/1841. The location of his birth was Johnstown, PA.

Fathering Austin was Daniel Chambers (b. ca. 1817 NJ). His mother was Elizabeth “Eliza” (no nee b. ca. 1817 loc. unk.) Chambers.

The Chambers were a farm family that, in 1850, was tilling the soil in Des Moines Jefferson County, IA. In 1860 they were residing in High Point Decatur County, IA. As of this latter year Austin was still living with his parents and siblings.

Based on available U.S. Census data, Austin had at least four identified siblings all of whom were younger than he. They were:  Sarah A. Chambers (b. ca. 1844), Mary E. Chambers (b. ca. 1847), Amos C. Chambers (b. ca. 1855) and Emma J. Chambers (b. ca 1858).

In 1861, with the onset of the American Civil War, (ACW) Austin enlisted in the U.S. Cavalry. As his unit was not from Iowa, but Kansas, it is surmised that enlistment quotas in Iowa, at that time, had been met.

Private Chambers period of service was to have been for three years. However, near the end of 1862, for an as yet, undocumented reason, he was granted at disability discharge.

Looking at existing evidence, it would appear that after exiting the 5^th, Austin returned to his parent’s farm in Decatur County, IA to recuperate from his injury/injuries.  Then, in mid-1864 he re-enlisted, this time in a “100 day” Iowa infantry regiment.

In 1885 a census was taken in Colorado. That tally found Austin with his mother and father residing in District 1 of that state’s Douglas County.

By 1888 Austin was living in the Pacific Northwest community of Lynden located in Whatcom County, Washington Territory (WT). What had drawn him to this region and exactly when he had arrived are unknowns.

A newspaper article from  ‘88 read as follows:

“Austin Chambers, of Lynden came home from the county fair at Whatcom with the horns of every one of his thoroughbred short-horn Durham cattle decorated with red and blue ribbons, significant of premiums won in competition at the fair……..We are informed that all but one of the decorations meant first premium. Hurrah for Lynden. “ 

To the best of our knowledge, Austin Chambers never married or sired children. He died 1/1/1889 in Lynden Whatcom County, WT at the age of forty seven years and nine months (47.9). He was/is buried in the Lynden Cemetery.
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Posted: 9/17/2024
Updated:  

Buried at Lynden Cemetery