War-dated ALS signed “Edwin H. McCaleb, Jr.,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, August 30, 1864. Remarkable letter to the father of a Confederate fallen soldier. In part: “Your gallant son (Lieut. Col. Chas. Lyon Chandler) was mortally wounded while bravely leading his Regiment to assault the position occupied by the 12th Miss. Infy. Regt. near Hanover Junction Va. He was struck by a minnie ball in the left arm, but did not relinquish command of his Regiment until he was hit a second time by a grape shot in the left side. He was afterward brought to into our lines & attended to at our ‘Field Hospital,’ but he had lost so much blood that recovery was impossible…I can but admire your son, who gallantly lost life in what he believed the right cause. He was decently buried in his uniform near Hanover Junction & his grave marked, as that you can obtain his body when this cruel war is over.” In fine condition.
