Say What Special: “Well, it is murder, but it’s the order.”

Ole Miss

Major
Forum Host
Silver Patron
Regtl. Staff Shiloh 2020
Asst. Regtl. QM Stones River / Franklin 2022
Joined
Dec 9, 2017
Location
North Mississippi
1593577126907.png



On July 3, 1863 at the foot of Culp’s Hill, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mudge received an order to attack the Confederates behind breastworks. Incredulously he requested the messenger to repeat the message. Mudge stated “Well, it is murder, but it’s the order.” and ordered “Up men, over the breastworks! Forward at the double quick!”

Charles Redington Mudge
was a graduate of Harvard who along with a classmate, Robert Gould Shaw, soon joined the 2nd​ Massachusetts Infantry and was soon commissioned a 1st​ Lieutenant. He first experienced battle at Front Royal and Winchester and by Gettysburg was the commander of his regiment. He was well thought of and respected both within the regiment and by his peers.

There are several extant threads about Charles Mudge and the action early of July 3rd​ when he was ordered to accompany the 27th​ Indiana to charge the established positions of the Rebels. I would be foolish to attempt to explain this action as well as other members such as @Tom Elmore , @Gettysburg Greg for example. Therefore I have listed threads below that deal with the terrible action in Spangler’s Meadow early in the morning of July 3rd​.
Regards
David


 
When I first read about Charles R. Mudge it was in regards to his Harvard days when he was a classmate of William Henry Fitzhugh Lee or Rooney Lee. They both served as oarsmen for the “Harvard Eight”. Apparently for the brief time Rooney was at Harvard they were friends. Mudge was “the smaller oarsman” and both men were elected to the Hasty Pudding Club and attended the same church in Cambridge. Rooney left Harvard after his third year - but would meet Mudge again on opposite sides during the Battle of Brandy Station where Rooney sustained a severe injury.

As my source ends the narrative:

“Rooney Lee valiantly served throughout the war, and later as a U.S. Congressman, he joined the Harvard Club and was invited back to Cambridge with much fanfare to speak at a huge reunion. One person not there to greet him, however, was his fellow oarsman, Charlie Mudge. Killed at Gettysburg while leading his men in a disastrous charge, Mudge's body would be removed to Saint Stephen's Church in Lynn, Massachusetts, and buried with honors.” {*}

Charles R. Mudge was a favorite among his Harvard classmates. He was a "solid student, he was also a prominent member of the Glee Club [his] classmates revered him, and he was described as the ‘only man in the Class who could be sure of a kind word...from every member’.” {*}

Sadly it’s another of the many stories of friendship before the war that turned into sadness after the fighting was done.

{*} https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/harvard-vs-harvard
 
Lee and Mudge were perfect examples of why a Civil War is so vile and dangerous. Close friendships that shatter always create bitter recriminations and when you add fighting in the mix.
The sad fact about this case of Mudge's death is that it possibly was a misunderstanding.
Whether General Thomas Ruger, the division commander, ordered Colonel Colgrove to probe the Confederate entrenchments or attack them. Colgrove believed that he was to attack and chose his regiment, 27th Indiana, and the 2nd Massachusetts to make the assault.

The vicissitudes of life revolving around one man's interpretation of an order. What might have been.
Regards
David
 
Last edited:
Back
Top