Chandler was born on October 6, 1837 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Joined the Navy from Boston in November 1861 for 3 years, and served during the Civil War as a coxswain on the . In the April 1862 Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, "Richmond" fought Confederate ships in the Mississippi and passed artillery batteries at Chalmette, Louisiana, leading to the capture of New Orleans. The ship then proceeded up the river and Chandler participated in the passage of Vicksburg, Mississippi, in mid-1862. Although recovering from illness, he "rendered gallant service" through heavy fire at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864.