J.W. Chapin was born in 1837.  He lived in Columbus, Ohio.  Chapin enlisted at the age of 24.  At the age of 24 I assumed that he was a student at Otterbein, not a faculty member.  He enlisted at Camp Chase on September 24,1861.  He was part of the 1st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.  His company was section K.  Chapin was promoted to Sergeant from the rank of corporal on March 21, 1863.  The major battle he was involved in was at Chickamauga, Georgia.  During the two-day battle he was severely injured and later captured on September 21, 1863.  He was exchanged on May 1,1864.  He mustered out in  Columbia, Tennessee on the expiration of term of service.
 

http://ohioincivilwar.com; visited 2-8-01.

Roster Comm.  Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion.  Vol. 11.  Werner
    Prtg& Litho Co, 1891.

Soldier's Roster list. Otterbein Archives, Courtright Library.

Whitelaw, Reid.  Ohio in the Civil War.  Vol. 2.  Wilstach Baldwin, 1872.