USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > A History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, vol 1 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
Though the Embargo to prevent British ships of war from entering United States harbors was repealed in 1809, yet the piracy against Ameri- can vessels by the British was continued, until the United States declared war on England, June 19, 1812. Every city and town forthwith sprang to arms. In October, Lieutenant-Colonel Nathaniel Fales ordered the troops of the Third Regiment to assemble on Berkley Common for review; and July 10, 1814, Colonel Silas Shepard's company was ordered to Clark's Harbor, New Bedford. In August that year, the Green at Taunton was appointed a regimental alarm post of the Third Regiment. In consequence of brigade order of August 26, a detachment of sixty men from Taunton was ordered to New Bedford, Benjamin Lincoln, lieutenant-colonel. Troops were also ordered to assemble at Elliot's Corner, September 27, thence to march to New Bedford. Stationed in New Bedford soon there- after were the companies of Captains Joseph Reed and Seth Staples, Crom- well Washburn, of Taunton, at this time being adjutant of the Third Regiment. Taunton's part in this war was that of instant readiness for coast defence.
Historians agree that the Mexican war was our own side-stepping from the legitimate highway, freedom-ward. Our government, not Mexico, was to blame for the war. Yet, faithful to the call, 1047 men went from Massachusetts, among whom there were five Taunton men. But this digression and its sequences brought this country great and valuable terri- tories. The Treaty of Guadaloupe was signed February 2, 1848, establish- ing the Rio Grande as the boundary mark between the two countries.
CHAPTER VII. TAUNTON IN THE CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS
How much of history has been of war, and how little of peace. And yet, through all the continuing strife and bloodshed, the spirit of optimism points away and onward to eventual independence and freedom. Taunton
91
TAUNTON IN THE CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS
well comprehended the issues that were suddenly flashed before the nation in the explosion of Civil War-the unity of States and the liberation of a race of people from the shackles of slavery. Whole-hearted were the ex- pressions here of loyalty in securing the right of way to these issues; universal was the answer of the soldier. From today's summit of a very broad and general view, we appreciate all the performances of the Taun- ton "Boys in Blue" during that critical period. Yet from that very hilltop, though our individual losses seemed irreparable, despite the final victory, we now as heartily grant the devotion of the "Boy in Gray" to his cause that was lost. For has not there been a marching together of the sons of both, since then?
There still remain in Taunton a few of the grand old guard who re- member the alarm and the summons of April, 1861, the quick recruiting and muster to arms, the din of the drums of war, the continuous appeal of speakers in street and hall, and the day's change from citizen to soldier. Every schoolboy is aware how the Civil War was precipitated, and how every city, town and village, North and South, armed for whatever struggle there was to come.
Yet, as early as January, 1861, the persistent rumors of war caused the Massachusetts military authorities to acquaint themselves with the con- dition of the active forces in cities and towns, and, with Governor John A. Andrew in co-operation, to start enlistments, fill up quotas, and make exer- tions to record the standing of all companies. So that when Governor Andrew, on April 15, 1861, called for 1500 men in this State to get under arms, the commanders of the Third, Fourth, Sixth and Eighth regiments were instant in reply. It was a sudden call for Taunton, but the Taunton Minute-Men, -- the Light Guard-were alert and away the next morning, with the town awake to the fact of the presence of war. And it was so in every section of New England.
Company G, Fourth Regiment, M. V. M., led the way April 16, 1861, upon receipt of orders, and the departure by train that day was a glorious yet sad send-off; though the echoes of the salvos of the cheering and the speech-making have never died away. And even while the men were en- training for their destination, there were patriots in the crowd of on- lookers distributing some of the first of such papers in the State for the benefit of the families of the soldiers of Taunton. Without the knowledge of any member of the company, two subscription papers were started, one being taken by Thompson Newbury, the other by George M. Woodward. Mr. Woodward himself afterwards made the statement that when the com- pany marched to the station to take the train which left the town at about eleven o'clock that morning, more than $6000 had been subscribed as a guarantee fund to be drawn upon by assessments as the money should be needed; and the sum was increased by subsequent subscriptions until it amounted to over $12,000. There were men of all creeds and professions in that first company, and among them was James M. Cushman, last of the old town clerks, and destined to be the first of Taunton's city clerks.
It came about that an honor at the very outset should be credited to this Taunton Light Guard, for, upon arrival with the regiment at Fortress Monroe on April 20, Company G was on the right of the line, with Cap- tain Timothy Gordon as senior officer, and thus it has been spoken of as
92
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
having been the first company in the Civil War from the North to enter Virginia. The three months' service of the company included its share in the engagement at Big Bethel, on June 9, the mustering out taking place July 22.
It seemed from that time onwards that the town had become as one big recruiting camp, with every available office on the Main street hired by the recruiting officers, and all halls, as well as the highways, themselves, in continual use for drilling; with eloquent military leaders always talking up the immediate necessity for enlistment; with benefit concerts providing liberally as might be for the cause; and with women gathering to sew and to plan for the comfort of the soldiers in camp and field, their work in behalf of the Sanitary Commission being among the most laudable under- takings of the time.
Then in 1862 there was established at Lakeville, nearby, Camp Joe Hooker, where a number of companies mobilized preceding the call to larger camps and actual service. There, at the call for nine months' regi- ments, went Companies G and K, the Fourth Regiment thus again volun- teering; and thence they departed, December 17, 1862, Colonel Henry Walker in command, to the Department of the Gulf, under Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks.
Before this and succeeding companies had left for the front and camp, they were remembered with the most and the best that Taunton could bestow upon her soldier boys; and promises were made and kept for the maintenance of the families of the enlisted men. On certain specified occasions, too, many an officer was made the recipient of sword, epaulettes and pistols from admiring friends and former employers or co-workers. In the line of gift-making it is recalled how, at the beginning of the war, the citizens of Taunton through Hon. Marcus Morton presented Major Robert Anderson, commander of Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, S. C., with an elaborate and costly sword, in recognition of that officer's signal courage and patriotism.
The desperate encounters at Port Hudson in March, 1862, found the Fourth Regiment, in which Charles H. Paull was senior captain, to the fore. On June 14th that year, occurred that disaster that brought sorrow to many Taunton homes, and in which Captain William H. Bartlett, of Company K, was killed, while in charge of two companies from the Fourth, and three from other regiments, engaged in carrying hand grenades. Cap- tain Bartlett was one of the tireless workers in the early recruiting days, and in all wartime effort while he was in Taunton, and no one was more highly regarded. It is for him that the Post No. 3 of the Grand Army of the Republic, in Taunton, was named. At the death of Captain Bartlett, the command of Company K devolved upon Lieutenant John H. Church; and Lieutenant Philander Williams became quartermaster upon the pro- motion of Lieutenant L. J. Lothrop to the brigade staff. After performing garrison duty, the regiment embarked for Boston August 14, and was mus- tered out of the service August 28.
The Seventh Massachusetts Regiment was one of the notable regi- ments of the war, and its performances are enthusiastically recalled by townsmen and veterans at this hour-veterans who continue annually to gather at Taunton, for reunion and reminiscence. The enrollments of the
93
TAUNTON IN THE CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS
companies here in 1861 were of the most stirring nature. General Darius N. Couch, of Taunton, a veteran of the Mexican War, was the first colonel of the Seventh Massachusetts, and he received his first introduction to Governor John A. Andrew, by Hon. Samuel L. Crocker, one of Taunton's leading citizens. Under his direction ten companies were organized, at first known as the Fifteenth Regiment of Infantry, First Division; this was on May 21, 1861. On May 29th, the officers of this regiment, as commis- sioned, were: Colonel Darius N. Couch, of Taunton; Lieutenant-Colonel Charles W. Green, of Fall River; Major David E. Holman, of Attleboro. The title of the Fifteenth was then changed to the Fourth, and soon after to the Seventh. The regiment then encamped at Camp Old Colony from the latter part of May, 1861 to July 12, it having been mustered into the service, June 15. Meantime on July 1st, the regiment marched over to Taunton Green, where it was presented with a handsome silk national flag by Edmund N. Baylies. After participating in the July 4th celebration on the Green, the regiment broke camp on July 12th, and on the 15th arrived at Washington, D. C., where it was quartered at the Capitol. Participation in great battles and long marches followed, for four years-the Seventh having its full share on the Peninsula, at Fredericksburg, and Antietam, in 1862; at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg in 1863; Chancellorsville, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River and Cold Harbor, in 1863-1864. The regiment was mustered out of service on Taunton Green, July 5, 1864, and those of its members whose terms of service had not expired at the date of the muster-out of the regiment, were transferred to the Thirty-Seventh Regiment.
Other regiments in which Tauntonl men were enlisted in numbers were : the Eighteenth M. V. I., mustered in, August 24, 1861, and mustered out, September 2, 1864, its members whose terms of service had not ex- pired at the muster-out being transferred to the Thirty-Second Regiment; the Twenty-Second M. V. I., mustering in, October 5, 1861, and mustering out October 17, 1864, with the exception of Company E, which mustered out October 20, 1864. Those in that regiment whose term of service had not expired were transferred to the Thirty-Second Regiment. The Twenty-Ninth, M. V. I., whose companies were mustered in, and left the State at different times, also had many Taunton men. Re-enlisting as a regiment, it was mustered out July 29, 1865; also the Thirty-Third, M. V. I., mustered in August 13, 1862, and out, July 11, 1865; the Thirty-Ninth, M. V. I., mustered in September 4, 1862, and out, June 2, 1865. The Forty-Eighth, M. V. I., with its own organization of eight companies, was completed April 25, 1864, and mustered out July 14, 1865.
Company C of the Twenty-Second Massachusetts, whose officers and non-commissioned officers had seen service in Company G, Fourth Regi- ment, was recruited in Taunton in the summer of 1861, was named the "Gordon Guard," after Captain Timothy Gordon, and served for three years in the Army of the Potomac. The roster includes mostly those men who lived in Taunton, and the company was of no cost whatever to the town, as money was contributed and aid given in many ways by Hon. Henry Wil- liams, Hon. Samuel L. Crocker, Captain Timothy Gordon, S. N. Staples and William H. Phillips.
Of the Board of Enrollment that was organized in the Second Con-
94
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
gressional District for the draft in May, 1863, John W. D. Hall, of Taun- ton, was commissioned provost-marshal, ranking as captain of cavalry; Nathaniel Wales, of Stoughton, was commissioner; and Henry B. Hub- bard, M.D., was surgeon of the board. The first draft was held in Templar Hall, July 15, 1863, and 334 names were drawn for the quota of Taunton. During the call and drafts, Taunton furnished 1652 men.
One of the last acts of the city government of 1888 was to provide money for a bronze memorial tablet that was cast in 1889, and placed in the corridor of City Hall, to preserve the names of the 141 soldiers who died in the Civil War.
Members of the brave old guard lived to see and some of them to share in many ways, two other conflicts-the Spanish-American and the World Wars. Freely, they gave money and equipments, as well as many members of their families. But their own self-sacrifice is one of the unforgettable martial deeds of all time. From the wars of colonial self-assertion through the absolute national independence won in the Revolutionary struggle, and past the war of civilians for the liberation of a struggling race-thus far had proceeded crusading Taunton of the Old Colony.
Spanish-American War .- Toward empire and aggrandizement, as some asserted; toward the world's larger liberty, through United States interven- tion, as many believed, this country assumed the weight of the responsibili- ties of civilizing the islands of the sea. The War with Spain was a war for freedom, also, and for deliverance from the bondage of oppression.
Taunton's share in that war was that of the frontiersman, -- the soldier on guard, and in momentary readiness for whatever further summons might come. Therefore, on April 18, 1898, the call for a company of volunteers was opened at Elks' Hall, with Captain A. S. Eldridge, formerly in com- mand of Company G, as chairman of the meeting, and William H. Reed as secretary. Those who were enrolled at that time were as follows: Captain A. S. Eldridge, Richard H. Butler, Frederick H. Walker, Charles H. Seekell, Joseph H. Chaisty, J. Lucey, E. K. Vanderwarker, Frank A. Sullivan, T. E. Hatch, Richard Marley. On April 21, Captain (now Major) Norris O. Danforth was ordered by Colonel Charles Pfaff to receive all available re- cruits for increasing the enrollment to one hundred; and Captain Danforth requested the local newspapers to display a bulletin for recruits to be en- rolled at the armory. That night there were thirty recruits enrolled, and Captain Eldridge advised his men to fill out the ranks of Battery F, first. Charles H. Seekell being the first man to sign his name. The opening gun in the War with Spain was fired April 22, and as a result the number of re- cruits for service increased to over forty. That day a meeting for the for- mation of a company of naval reserves was held, with an enrollment of twenty-five; but this contingent was not required in the service.
The House passed the declaration of war, April 25, in one minute and forty-five seconds, by a unanimous vote; and Captain Danforth received a telegram at 5:10 o'clock that evening to assemble his command immedi- ately; and through the squad system they fell into line, with every man present or accounted for. The local company, Battery F, with the Fall River and New Bedford companies, were the first reporting for duty in Boston next morning outside of the South Armory.
95
TAUNTON IN THE WORLD WAR
The departure of Battery F for its tour of duty at Fort Warren was an occasion of much patriotic enthusiasm, the company being escorted to the depot by the veterans of the Grand Army and the cadets. The alder- men and common council, the mayor presiding, passed a joint resolution pledging support to President Mckinley, and promising that the families of the soldiers would be cared for, and their positions retained for them. Bat- tery F, with Batteries E, I and M, remained at Fort Warren until Septem- ber 19, 1898, and were then ordered to Framingham, where they remained until October 5, and were then ordered home for a furlough of thirty days, being mustered out November 14 by Lieutenant John B. Hains, now colonel of field artillery, U. S. A. The First Regiment of Heavy Artillery lost but one man by death-Henry A. Williams, of Battery F.
At the muster-out, a number of men re-enlisted, some going to China, some to the Philippines. William A. Dobson served as a lieutenant in the Twenty-Third Infantry in the World War; Captain Frank A. D. Bullard, corporal in 1898, went as captain of the Ninth company in the World War. The muster-roll of F Battery, Taunton : Captain, Norris O. Danforth; First Lieutenant, Ferdinand H. Phillips; Second Lieutenant, James E. Tot- ten; First Sergeant, Samuel P. Totten ; Sergeants, George Grigor, Alonzo K. Crowell, William N. Potter, George T. Seekell; Corporals: Frank A. D. Bullard, Homer C. Hathaway, Charles O. King, Frank O. Dean, James W. Brown, Ernest F. Miller; Mess Corporal, Frank H. Dansrow; Musician, Eben H. Shaw; Privates: Andrew B. Albro, John J. Bagge, Benjamin S. Barnes, Sinare Beaulieu, Peter Brissette, James Broadhurst, Jr., Charles C. Bryant, Joseph Butterworth, William F. Chandler, Willard A. Cobbett, George W. Creamer, Frederick L. Davis, Alton H. Dean, James A. Dever- eaux, Elmer J. Dodge, Michael J. Dorgan, Charles F. Eager, George F. Eaton, Charles M. Gibson, Ambrose J. Gorey, Charles A. Holmes, William M. Holmes, Edward H. King, Frederick D. King, Benjamin L. Lovell, Horace C. Lovell, Alfred W. McVay, William S. Parlow, Pembroke Peirce, Norman H. Pidgeon, George H. Robinson, Henry W. Roby, Joseph Scan- lon, Charles H. Seekell, Thomas R. Shaftoe, Charles I. Smith, William D. Thacher, Ernest H. Timms, Arthur Wedmore, James A. Welch, Darius E. White; Honorably discharged: Arthur H. Baker, Charles H. Baker, Wil- liam A. Dobson, James D. King; Died in service: Henry A. Williams, for whom the Taunton U. S. W. V. camp is named; James F. Davison, Thomas H. Faulkner, Fred Hayward, James F. Littleton, Herbert A. Percival, Lulu M. Plant, John Rafter, Clarence E. Gifford, Harry G. White.
CHAPTER VIII.
TAUNTON IN THE WORLD WAR
The narrative of Taunton's enduring place and her fulfilled pledge in the World War has for its inspiration and accompaniment the greatest unity of effort for any cause in which the city was ever concerned, and the noblest consecration of its every faculty and resource. Taunton's share in that war was whole-hearted; it was not circumscribed for any reason nor at
96
BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
any time. The volunteers and the drafted men, close upon sixteen hundred of them, went away to their various service; those who might not go to frontier or field, toiled in scores of ways to maintain and to urge forward a realization of the principle of democracy. All their drives, of whatever name or aim, eventually became the one great drive, in the culmination, to that date, of all wars.
When the country was ready to enter the war in behalf of the Allies, Taunton was ready, preparedness being one of her safeguards for just such an emergency. At the word, the city lined up, and got into marching order, and while her sons went out to the encounter, Taunton did far better than to mark time until their return, the mobilization of every possible organiza- tion ensuing, for the upbuilding of that hope for world liberty that the nations were striving for. There was no withholding the enthusiasm of all classes of citizens, native or foreign-born. In mass meetings at public halls ; in parades through the streets under an array of banners of all nations; in pageantry and tableaux-the Portuguese, the Jew, the French-all were Americans. The women were patriotic and were prepared, with the Special Aid Society for Preparedness launched by Mrs. Walter C. Baylies, under the general direction of Mrs. Barrett Wendell, of Boston. It is recalled that the first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Nathan Newbury; that Miss Flora L. Mason was president; Mrs. Nathan Newbury, acting president; Miss Susan Lovering, secretary; and Mrs. Albert Field, treasurer. The large public meetings at Historical Hall, the noteworthy systems of work begun, and the practical sowing of seed for the Red Cross field-these things are now part of history here.
In March, 1917, the Taunton Committee of Public Safety was under way, with Frederick M. Atwood as secretary, and Arthur R. Crandell, M. D., Nathan Newbury and James H. Murphy, as co-workers, the municipal council being represented in their plans and deliberations by Mayor J. Wil- liam Flood, James E. Walsh, John Irvine and John W. Robertson; the police by Chief Fred P. Conefy; home defence by Major Norris O. Dan- forth; public works by Hon. Willis K. Hodgman; industries by Hon. Thomas J. Morton; conservation by Merle T. Barker, and relief by Albert Fuller. Of the woman's branch of this work, Mrs. Madeleine Brabrook was the chairman, and Mrs. Arthur R. Crandell the secretary.
It was on April 6, 1917, that the United States, on our own part, de- clared war upon Germany, and on April 9 mail service was suspended be- tween this country and Germany. But already service flags had been un- furled here, and many men had gone forth to battle. The members of the old Ninth Company were at their post of duty, and, with a clear eye to all future contingencies, a permanent committee with Hon. Richard E. Warner as the chairman, Dr. Edwin N. Clark, secretary, and Albert H. Tetlow, treasurer, and known as the Taunton Patriotic Committee, was organized to prepare for the probable wants of the Ninth Company and all subsequent quotas of men in service from this locality. Forthwith, on Tuesday, April 10, eighty-nine men enrolled in the local company of the Massachusetts State Guard at the State Armory.
Incident followed incident, like hot shot on the battle-front, until on June 5th 3,375 men, between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-one years, registered for enlistment. It was on that same day that the first long series
97
TAUNTON IN THE WORLD WAR
of Liberty Loan campaigns was launched, with Alfred B. Williams as chair- man of the local committee; Chester A. Reid, secretary; Harrison W. George, treasurer,-Taunton's allotment in the first drive being $1,200,000. The Taunton Chapter of the Red Cross, also, having settled down to active work on April 14, opened its own campaign on June 18 to raise the sum of $50,000, closing with the total of $62,866. The home folks were then shoulder-to-shoulder in their home fight to exceed quotas. In both Liberty Loan campaigns, the city subscribed over $3,000,000, while contributing over $100,000 to the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, the Red Triangle, and the United War Fund drives, as well as thousands of dollars for other funds.
The Ninth Company mobilized at the Armory on Tuesday, July 24; there it remained four days; and on Saturday, July 28, occurred the one memorable incident of all, when the entire city turned out to say farewell to "Taunton's Own," the Ninth, that departed that day for Fort Heath. No one remained at home that day, when the gallant company of 112 men under command of Captain Frank A. D. Bullard and Lieutenants Edwin G. Hopkins and Leo H. Coughlin (the latter to become the city's future mayor), marched through the city in notable parade. Upon arrival at the Central Station, the company heard the inspired utterances of Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle, D.D .: "Soldiers of the Ninth; may the gentle Christ shield and watch over you and return you to us, flushed with glori- ous, decisive victory, the only guarantee of lasting and honorable peace. 'Tis au revoir, and not farewell, dear soldier lads; for, please God, we shall meet again."
The Ninth was formally mustered into the federal service at Fort Heath, August 5, and on August 20 its ranks were serried, when Lieuten- ant Edwin G. Hopkins with nineteen men went to Westfield, to form a part of the 101st Ammunition Train of the Twenty-Sixth Division. Most of the old company then remaining became part of the Twenty-fourth Company, Coast Artillery Corps. Seventy of the members of the organization be- came affiliated with Battery D, Fifty-fifth Heavy Field Artillery, at Fort Banks; thence they went to Camp Merritt, and thence across to England. Lieutenant Leo H. Coughlin was of those who went across, and he was there detached to another command. Thus the Ninth was merged with other companies, and from that time lost its former identity.
The city proceeded to its accumulating tasks of planning for the com- fort of the men then at the front and those about to go. On September 1st the names of the first five per cent. who were to depart for Camp Devens were announced, and accordingly they left here on September 4, when heart- felt farewell was accorded the twelve thus sent on their way, the speakers upon that occasion being Hon. Richard E. Warner, Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle and Rev. F. Raymond Sturtevant. Again, on September 17, Taunton's first forty per cent. were given a banquet, and on the 21st ninety- two men left for Camp Devens-the second forty per cent. men, eighty-one in number, leaving on October 5.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.