Civil War service Stephen Gardner Champlin

champlin during american civil war

when american civil war began in 1861, champlin chose follow union cause. on june 10 entered union army major in 3rd michigan infantry. regiment organized @ grand rapids serve 3 years, , left city on june 13. camplin in command of reconnaissance on august 30 near bailey s corners in virginia. afterwards highly praised performance in minor action union army of potomac s commander, maj. gen. george b. mcclellan. on september 5, mcclellan sent 3rd michigan aide following message: general pleased major champlin s dispositions on occasion, deems eminently proper, , desires convey major champlin efficient manner in service performed. fall champlin appointed commander of 3rd michigan, rank of colonel of october 28.

champlin participated during 1862 peninsula campaign, , wounded in hip @ battle of 7 pines on may 31. subsequently granted 30-day leave mend. champlin commended actions during battle divisional commander maj. gen. philip kearny, shortly before latter s own death in combat.

partially recovered, champlin led regiment during second battle of bull run on august 28–30, , again injured during battle s last day, re-opening wound received in may. during second leave recuperation, champlin promoted brigadier general in union army, rank november 29, 1862. while resting in washington, d.c., wrote michigan governor austin blair on january 3, 1863, formally resigning command of 3rd due promotion.

in 1863 champlin appointed command of draft depot @ camp cleveland, ohio. order revoked in late august, due health condition. instead, champlin assigned command of draft depot near home in grand rapids on september 22. champlin s hip wound still bothered him, , reportedly resigned commission in union army on november 8, 1863.

champlin died in 1864 @ home due wounds. funeral conducted @ st. mark’s church in grand rapids on january 28, , buried there in fulton street cemetery. in honor, grand army of republic post #29 in grand rapids named him.