Major Charles P. Chandler, 1st Massachusetts Infantry, Two Civil War Diaries incl. First Battle of Bull Run and Siege of York

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• Lot Description

  Lot of 2 diaries, 1861 and 1862, written by Major Charles P. Chandler, 1st Regimental Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Both are daily diaries with entries on the majority of the days.

  Under the command of Colonel Robert Cowdin, the 1st Massachusetts Volunteers saw action at the First Battle of Bull Run, the Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Williamsburg, Battle of Fair Oaks, and Seven Pines. Major Chandler was killed in action at Glendale at the end of June 1862. 

  Early in 1861, Chandler writes about the weather in Brookline, MA, and his day-to-day family affairs. Several news clippings are tipped in, which confirm Chandler's record of the harsh New England winter. On January 8, 1861, he writes, Col. Cowdin...called to present my commission as 3rd Lieutenant of Company "A." February and March details many meetings and social affairs. Chandler apparently was involved in the practice of law. He also notes reading quite often, including finishing the Bible. By April 14...everyone talking of War. The excitement is intense...the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter is stirring up the nation. Soon, Chandler is drilling Company A almost every day. On May 16, he meets with Governor Andrew and is offered a commission of major for the war; commission is voted by officers of the 1st Regiment with 31, or 33 affirmative votes out of 36, which is described as a compliment. 

  The 1st MA mustered in on May 23, 1861, and the company boards a steamer on June 15 for Philadelphia, via railroad to Baltimore then Washington, DC. Chandler writes on June 19, The 1st Massachusetts Regiment marched out of Washington, paying a passing salute to the President. I walked four miles, having got no horse yet, and found it rough enough. 

  Encamped at Camp Banks in Georgetown Heights for the next several weeks with much drilling and complaints about the heat. He notes on July 7, My disrespect for Colonel (left blank) as an officer and man is fast-becoming a disgust. By July 14, they have advanced to Great Falls of the Potomac where Chandler is often left in command. Interestingly on July 21, the Battle of Bull Run, Chandler talks about receiving a crowd of letters at mail call. The main battle is on our right, two miles off, we expect an attack each moment. I [sic] up in a tree see much of the fight: it is a terrible sight. He continues the following day, The flight of our army has been scandalous...cold and tired - fires and coffee and food do us good...had they followed us up on Sunday night, Washington would now be theirs (July 22).

  By August 22, the 1st MA encamps at Bladensburg, MD as part of Hooker's Brigade. On this day, Chandler writes verbatim his orders from Brigadier General Hooker making him Field Officer of the Day. Chandler is very proud of each advancement. A couple days later, Hooker's Brigade is reviewed on parade by the President of the United States. Things go downhill for Chandler as he is soon laid up with camp fever. He writes...am weak, and my mouth and throat are sore from canker so that I cannot eat (October 14). By October 30, Chandler is well enough to sit for a Brady portrait; however, curiously he is not back with his regiment but staying in Baltimore through mid-November. He sits on a court-martial case (his background was in law) and also makes note on December 7 that up in the balloon, first time in my life, held by ropes at some 700 feet. He suffers more illness into December. On the 12th, Chandler remarks...hospital still, tho I feel ready for duty, but the doctors and Lieut. Col. seems to hinder it. 

  Chandler discusses his work as Judge Advocate, and a general order is written on January 16, 1862 (included in the appendix) in which he lists the 13 officers in a General Court Martial he is overseeing. He also serves at the General Court Martial for Hooker's Division at Posey's House into April 1862. By mid-April, Chandler is back with his regiment and moving towards Yorktown, VA, where he participates in the Siege of Yorktown. He writes on April 17, Our brigade, and am told the whole army, was called out at 3 o'clock this morning and stood on our arms, over an hour, awaiting an attack...after breakfast I was over to look at the rebel forts - saw a few of the "varments."

  Chandler continues on April 22...a rumor afloat that General Joe Johnston at Yorktown, by flag of truce...gave us notice to leave these premises in forty-eight hours. This turned out to be false as the "siege" ended in early May with the Confederate forces slipping away. He reports on the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5...and here occurred the fearful fight before Williamsburg...lasted all day...our division suffered fearfully and would have been whipped had not Kearny come up to reinforce us - our regiment was first in, opening, as skirmishes, the fight. I felt very little fear - perhaps some.

  His brigade missed most of the action at the Battle of Fair Oaks. Heavy firing heard at no great distance...a battle evidently going. The following day, June 2, he reports, news reach us of a battle on our right...we were victorious. 

  Chandler was killed in action on June 30, 1862 at White Oak Swamp/Glendale. The last journal entry is from June 16...awakened early...because of sharp musketry on our picket lines...sent mother a large letter began on picket Saturday...and finished this morning.

  Included with the diaries is an affidavit dated October 24, 1980, stating the diaries were acquired directly from a Chandler heir in July 1949.

  Condition

  Both journals include several pages of appendices including a general order written on January 16, 1862, listing 13 officers in a General Court Martial in which Chandler served as Judge Advocate. Both journals are commercially produced daily journals and are in good plus condition. The 1862 diary has several loose pages at front but all pages are present. Generally very readable, some small sections show fading ink.
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