Lieutenant Colonel Charles L. Chandler rallying the 57th Massachusetts Infantry at Ox Ford on the North Anna River, just north of Richmond, Va.
This is the Official painting for the North Anna Battlefield Park in Hanover County, Virginia.
During their march towards the North Anna River, following the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House, Confederate infantrymen promised General Lee that they would go "even to hell itself" if he asked it of them, but it was to be the Federal soldiers they would meet near a river crossing called Ox Ford, who were destined to face "hell itself."
On May 24, after crossing the North Anna with his brigade, Union Brigadier General James H. Ledlie, whose courage was enhanced by large quantities of alcohol, ordered an attack on the Confederate "Inverted V" entrenchments centered at Ox Ford. Ledlie's lone brigade attacked an entire Confederate division.
One of Ledlie’s regiments, Lt. Colonel Charles L. Chandler's 57th Massachusetts Infantry, pressed bravely towards the Confederate works. "Suddenly", recalled Captain John Anderson, an officer in the 57th, "every gun flashed out a shower of grape and canister which shook the very ground and swept everything in front of it...the gallant charge went no further, but turned into a complete rout." The 57th fell back into a shallow ravine and held their position in the face of a murderous fire. Only when the 12th Mississippi, during a driving thunderstorm, advanced down the hillside to complete the Confederate victory, did the Massachusetts men begin to break.
Lieutenant Colonel Chandler tried desperately to rally his regiment. Moments later a Confederate volley felled Chandler and drove his men from the field.
(The above historical text was written by J. Michael Miller, author and historian)
The painting is reproduced on a permanent display surface at the North Anna Battlefield Park. It has been published on the covers of several books and magazines and was also reproduced as a limited edition print.
During their march towards the North Anna River, following the battles of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House, Confederate infantrymen promised General Lee that they would go "even to hell itself" if he asked it of them, but it was to be the Federal soldiers they would meet near a river crossing called Ox Ford, who were destined to face "hell itself."
On May 24, after crossing the North Anna with his brigade, Union Brigadier General James H. Ledlie, whose courage was enhanced by large quantities of alcohol, ordered an attack on the Confederate "Inverted V" entrenchments centered at Ox Ford. Ledlie's lone brigade attacked an entire Confederate division.
One of Ledlie’s regiments, Lt. Colonel Charles L. Chandler's 57th Massachusetts Infantry, pressed bravely towards the Confederate works. "Suddenly", recalled Captain John Anderson, an officer in the 57th, "every gun flashed out a shower of grape and canister which shook the very ground and swept everything in front of it...the gallant charge went no further, but turned into a complete rout." The 57th fell back into a shallow ravine and held their position in the face of a murderous fire. Only when the 12th Mississippi, during a driving thunderstorm, advanced down the hillside to complete the Confederate victory, did the Massachusetts men begin to break.
Lieutenant Colonel Chandler tried desperately to rally his regiment. Moments later a Confederate volley felled Chandler and drove his men from the field.
(The above historical text was written by J. Michael Miller, author and historian)