Norton P. Chipman
Encyclopedia
Norton Parker Chipman was an American Civil War
army officer, military prosecutor, politician, author, and judge.
, the son of Norman and Sarah Wilson (Parker) Chipman, he graduated from the Cincinnati Law School
in 1859, prior to the school's merger with the University of Cincinnati in its present form. Having enlisted in the Union Army
's Iowa Infantry during the Civil War, Lieutenant Colonel Chipman fought courageously in battle and was nearly mortally wounded, leading his commanders to report him as dead at the Battle of Fort Donelson
. Chipman did, in fact, survive and, upon recovery, was appointed as a member of General Henry W. Halleck's and later Samuel R. Curtis's staff. He later became a member of the Judge Advocate General's staff.
Chipman successfully prosecuted Captain Henry Wirz
, the commander of the Confederacy's
infamous Andersonville prison
camp, where almost 13,000 Union soldiers lost their lives. Chipman published his recollections of the famous Andersonville Trial in his 1911 book, The Tragedy of Andersonville.
After the Civil War, Chipman was appointed Secretary of the District of Columbia by President Ulysses S. Grant
, and was later elected to Congress as representative of the District of Columbia, serving two terms. He was a co-founder of the Grand Army of the Republic
, and authored the order creating Memorial Day
. After moving to California
in 1876, Chipman served as a member of the California State Board of Trade, eventually becoming its president. Finally, he was appointed by California's governor
George Pardee
as the first presiding justice of the newly created California Third District Court of Appeal, a position he held until 1921.
He died in 1924 in San Francisco at the age of 89. He is interred in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri
. An elaborate memorial remains in the library of the California Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento
, complete with Chipman’s old photographs, letters, desk and gavels. Chipman remains to date the longest serving presiding justice of the court. In April 2006, the Federalist Society
of Chipman's alma mater, the University of Cincinnati College of Law
, officially honored Chipman, renaming its local chapter the "Norton Parker Chipman Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies at the University of Cincinnati College of Law."
-winning film The Andersonville Trial
(1970), directed by George C. Scott
. In the film, William Shatner
played the protagonist Chipman, Richard Basehart
played Wirz, and Martin Sheen
played a minor supporting role.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
army officer, military prosecutor, politician, author, and judge.
Biography
Born in Milford Center, OhioMilford Center, Ohio
Milford Center is a village in Union County, Ohio, United States. The population was 626 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Milford Center is located at ....
, the son of Norman and Sarah Wilson (Parker) Chipman, he graduated from the Cincinnati Law School
University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School...
in 1859, prior to the school's merger with the University of Cincinnati in its present form. Having enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
's Iowa Infantry during the Civil War, Lieutenant Colonel Chipman fought courageously in battle and was nearly mortally wounded, leading his commanders to report him as dead at the Battle of Fort Donelson
Battle of Fort Donelson
The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The capture of the fort by Union forces opened the Cumberland River as an avenue for the invasion of the South. The success elevated Brig. Gen. Ulysses S...
. Chipman did, in fact, survive and, upon recovery, was appointed as a member of General Henry W. Halleck's and later Samuel R. Curtis's staff. He later became a member of the Judge Advocate General's staff.
Chipman successfully prosecuted Captain Henry Wirz
Henry Wirz
Heinrich Hartmann Wirz better known as Henry Wirz was a Confederate officer in the American Civil War...
, the commander of the Confederacy's
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
infamous Andersonville prison
Andersonville prison
The Andersonville prison, officially known as Camp Sumter, served as a Confederate Prisoner-of-war camp during the American Civil War. The site of the prison is now Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia. Most of the site actually lies in extreme southwestern Macon County,...
camp, where almost 13,000 Union soldiers lost their lives. Chipman published his recollections of the famous Andersonville Trial in his 1911 book, The Tragedy of Andersonville.
After the Civil War, Chipman was appointed Secretary of the District of Columbia by President Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
, and was later elected to Congress as representative of the District of Columbia, serving two terms. He was a co-founder of the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
, and authored the order creating Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
. After moving to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1876, Chipman served as a member of the California State Board of Trade, eventually becoming its president. Finally, he was appointed by California's governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
George Pardee
George Pardee
George Cooper Pardee was an American doctor of medicine and politician. The 21st Governor of California, holding office from January 7, 1903, to January 9, 1907, Pardee was the second native-born Californian to assume the governorship, after Romualdo Pacheco, and the first governor born in...
as the first presiding justice of the newly created California Third District Court of Appeal, a position he held until 1921.
He died in 1924 in San Francisco at the age of 89. He is interred in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. An elaborate memorial remains in the library of the California Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, complete with Chipman’s old photographs, letters, desk and gavels. Chipman remains to date the longest serving presiding justice of the court. In April 2006, the Federalist Society
Federalist Society
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, most frequently called simply the Federalist Society, is an organization of conservatives seeking reform of the current American legal system in accordance with a textualist and/or originalist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution...
of Chipman's alma mater, the University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School...
, officially honored Chipman, renaming its local chapter the "Norton Parker Chipman Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies at the University of Cincinnati College of Law."
Popular culture
The story of the Andersonville trial and Chipman's role in bringing Wirz to justice inspired the Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning film The Andersonville Trial
The Andersonville Trial
The Andersonville Trial was a television adaptation of a 1959 hit Broadway play by Saul Levitt, presented as an episode of PBS's 1970-71 season of Hollywood Television Theatre....
(1970), directed by George C. Scott
George C. Scott
George Campbell Scott was an American stage and film actor, director and producer. He was best known for his stage work, as well as his portrayal of General George S. Patton in the film Patton, and as General Buck Turgidson in Stanley Kubrick's Dr...
. In the film, William Shatner
William Shatner
William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor, musician, recording artist, and author. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of James T...
played the protagonist Chipman, Richard Basehart
Richard Basehart
John Richard Basehart was an American actor. He starred in the 1960s television science fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, in the role of Admiral Harriman Nelson.-Career:...
played Wirz, and Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
played a minor supporting role.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals