Chambers was born in
Cattaraugus, New York. He graduated from
West Point with the class of 1853 (which also included
John Schofield and
Philip Sheridan), and was commissioned a
second lieutenant. He fought in the
Third Seminole War from 1855, and was promoted to
first lieutenant in 1859. In May 1861, shortly after the war started, he was promoted to
captain, and performed recruiting duty in
Iowa. Promoted to
colonel in March 1862, he took command of the
16th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, leading it at the
Battle of Shiloh and the
Battle of Iuka, being wounded on both occasions. Returning to duty, he led a brigade in the
Vicksburg Campaign. In August 1863, he was appointed
brigadier general of volunteers and led a division in the
XVII Corps, but his appointment was revoked by the U.S. Senate in April 1864. On December 8, 1868,
President Andrew Johnson nominated Chambers for appointment to the
brevet grade of
brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, for the
Battle of Champion's Hill, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 16, 1869. After the war, he reverted to the rank of captain and remained in the army and served as a military judge-advocate in
Nebraska, receiving promotions to
major and
lieutenant colonel. He was also
military attache to the
Ottoman Empire from July 1877 to September 1878. His last appointment was as garrison commander at
Fort Townsend. He died in
San Antonio,
Texas with the rank of
colonel in the 17th U.S. Infantry Regiment and was buried in
Owatonna, Minnesota. ==Notes==