"Save yourselves if you can"

"Save yourselves if you can". May 24, 1864 6:00 - 7:00pm. As the imperiled Union brigade huddled in the ravine before you, General Mahone recognized that their bold assault was unsupported and ordered General Harris to send a regiment from these trenches to attack them. At 6:45 p.m. the 12th Mississippi came out of its earthworks and ran down the slope to your front, firing a volley at point blank range. Simultaneously, the 8th and 11th Alabama hit the exposed Union right flank. Ledlie’s men broke for the safety of the trees behind them. Several Union commanders tried to rally their men but to no avail. The most prominent among them, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Chandler of the 57th Massachusetts, fell mortally wounded into the muddy ravine. Colonel Merry B. Harris, commanding the 12th Mississippi, ordered Chandler brought into the Confederate line, where he died only hours later., “Mrs. T. P. Chandler, , Brookline Mass., , “Yesterday...during a flag of truce...Colonel Harris, 12th Mississippi Regiment, came to me, and requested me to write to you that Lieut.-Col Charles L. Chandler, 57th Mass. Regt. fell mortally wounded May 24th, 1864.... He lived for some hours, and was kindly cared for by Colonel Harris, who has his watch, money, diary, and photograph of a young lady, in his possession.... The articles were at the rear yesterday, otherwise he would have forwarded them through me. Colonel Harris said, Lieutenant Colonel Chandler died happy, and desired him to give his love to his family and friends....” , Your obedient Servant, , A. Manning Wright, , Capt, 57th Reg’t N.Y.V Inf’y”, Harris’ action inspired the regimental historian of the 57th Massachusetts to remark, “Such noble characters do honor even to a bad cause.”, (sidebar) , Presented to the people of the United States in memory of Kathleen E. Wheeler, Grandniece of Cpl. Michael Shortell, 7th Wisconsin Volunteers, by her family, friends, and members of the Blue and Gray Education Society., (captions) , Lieutenant Colonel Chandler attempts to rally his men, as the 12th Mississippi moves toward the Union line. , Lieutenant Colonel Charles L. Chandler