Captain James Chase grew up in Hopkinton, New Hampshire and Cambridge, Massachusetts, entered Harvard University in 1846, graduating with honors in 1850.  After working briefly as a private tutor, chase entered Harvard Law School and was admitted to the bar of Suffolk County in 1856.  In the fall of 1861, Chase began recruiting for the Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers and mustered into the United States service as captain of Company D.  Although he suffered from illness during a great part of his service, Chase did take part in most of the engagements of the regiment.  He was honorably mustered out of the regiment December 30, 1864, upon expiration of his term of service.   (pp. 486-489).