The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-21
CHANDELIERS MEDAL Of HONOR
How He Won the Honorable Dist1nc-
ton in 1865.

How He Won the Honorable Distinc-
ton in 1865.
To the Editor of The Journal:
i recently received copy of j u -
a l. in which appeared an article to the ef-
feet that Sergeant S. E. Chandler OF Company
A, Twenty fourth New. York cavalry, was the
last IMAM to receive the fire of the Army or
Northern Virginia at Appomattox Courthouse
Va, April 8, 1865. The sketch closed by say
ing that Mr. chandler was Medal OF Hon
orr man. congress having voted him medal
for conspicuous gailantry in action u you
will allow me space in your paper, Will tell
your readers how he won his medal OF honor
The afternoon of April s. 1865, four days
before the surrender of General Lee, General
Sheridan ordered our brigade (First brigade,
Second division, Cavalry corps) to make a
reconnaissance in the direction of Amelia
Courthouse in order to ascertain the position
Of Lees army. After passing Amelia Springs
we discovered the enemy's wagon tram on
road running parallel to the one >|on which
we were moving and about mile away. We
soon found cross road into which we turned,
and it.was but thework Of a few minutes to
cross the valley and charge the train. The
first thing we struck was "a battery OF five
Armstrong guns, which We, captured before
they had time to fire shot:TfE
After Gripping the train the recall was
sounded and we started back, but were some
what delayed on account of our wounded,
prisoners and captured guns; so much so, IN
fact, that the enemy's cavalry division, under
command Of General ~'Fitz' Lee, was soon
in pursuit "''-- 49, -.
when near Amelia Springs we formed line
of battle in an open field in order to check
the advance of the enemy, who were firing
Mt us from the edge of belt. OF timber about
forty rods away. Lieutenant Colonel Rich
ards, who was in command of the regiment,
was riding along in front of the line of bat
49,. no ond-
stand to their work, when he was shot and
fell from his horse, nortally wounded.
At about the same time while was busy
firing my Spencer carbine, a ball from the
enemy on our flank struck me in the right
side and came out near the spinal column,
causing me to fall from my horse. At about
the same time the horse on which Sergeant
Chandler was riding shot, leaving him
dismounted and he came to my assistance.
AS we were greatly outnumbered, our troops
;were ordered to fall back and form "a new
line of battle, leaving us between the two
firing lines. Chandler examined my wound,
then helped me to my feet, when we slowly
started for the newly formed line of battle.
in the meantime the balls were whstling and
singing over our heads and on every side
from both directions. We finally passed to
the rear of our line, where we found sur
geon, who dressed my wound, after which
we again started for the rear; but, owing to
that in the retrograde movement. of the troops
us have remarking he could go faster on foot
which at this time consisted OF scattering
fire, as the enemy were directing their efforts
on the tianks of our command, with view
Of cutting us off.
I soon became too weak to go any farther
and dropped to the ground at the same time
telling chandler that he had better go ant
save himself; that I had doubtless received
my death wound and that he had better leave
me at once but he refused to do so, saying
he would stay by me until we were both safe
or both fell. Just then straggler came
along with a played-out horse, which he lei
us have, remarking he could faster on foot
Chandler helped me to mount the horse am
we proceeded on our way. Here we Were
Joined by George Beck and John Smith, botf
OF our company, who held me on while Chan
dler led the horse.
At about this time the bullets began tt
sing about our ears again, but, we kept OF
until the boys found a stretcher, on which
they placed me, as had become too weak t
retain my position on the horse. In passing
a horse, which they borrowed. The.
they placed me, with my head to the from
and my feet hanging down at the rear. The,
were about to start off, hauling the buggy b.
hand, when wounded man came along witt
a horse, which they borrowed They sool
found old collar and pair of names in tn
barn, and soon had the horse hitched to tn
buggy and away we went just as the enem.
were appearing in an endeavor to capture us
In going down hill the boys were compelled
to. hang on to the buggy to keep it off tn
horses heels. We soon reached a place 0
Eafety and in due time / recovered
Sergeant Chandler stayed by me when tn
chances thousand to one that ne woul
be either shot or captured and if any on
ever earned medal of honor, he did. I hav
seen him but once since the war, which wa
in the spring Of rs, at fulton, N. Y, tn
town where we enlisted but so long as I liv
I shall have warm place in my heart TO
the man who rescued me from the wide ope
jaws of death. Eugene Van Buren,,
Corporal Co. "A, oath ~ Y. Cavalry.
Gaylord, Mich.
eve Can Keep You Cool,