USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Athol, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 8
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Vigorous measures were taken to form and equip a military company, and at a meeting held April 22nd, after brief addresses 26 volunteers, all young, active and brave, stepped forward and subscribed their names to the enlist- ment papers amidst a perfect shower of cheers.
The first Athol man to enlist and be mustered into the United States Service was Leander W. Phelps; with him were fifteen young men who share with him the honor of standing at the head of the long list of Athol soldiers, and of being the first to start for the seat of war. Their names are: David E. Billings, J. B. Billings, Delevan Richardson, Hubbard V. Smith, Edward L. Townsend, Charles H. Hill, Charles S. Green, Columbus Fox, William L. Clutterbuck, Horace Hunt, William Nute, Frederic Cummings, John D. Emerson, Thomas Johnson and Aurin B. French. These were assigned to the Second Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, under command of Col. George H. Gordon. Two brothers, John F. Merrill and James L. Merrill, joined the Tenth Regiment, which left for the seat of war a few days after the Second. During
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the summer 23 men joined the Twenty-first Regiment, most of whom were connected with Co. A, which was raised in Templeton, and was under command of Captain George P. Hawkes. A successful effort was made in Sep- tember to recruit a company in Athol and vicinity, and in ten days from the time the list was opened for recruits, Mr. Adin W. Caswell had raised a full company of 101 men, mainly from the citizens of Athol, of which he was made captain.
The first day of the annual Cattle Show and Fair of that year, Oct. 4th, 1861, was made memorable as the date of the departure of the company for the encampment at Springfield, when a dinner was given the soldier boys on the Common at Athol; and the men were addressed from the balcony of the Summit House. Dr. James P. Lynde presided, and with words of encouragement and patriotism addressed the soldiers and immense audience assembled. A sword, sash, etc., were presented to Captain Caswell, Hon. Chas. Field making the presentation address. Capt. Caswell responded, and addresses were made by Hiram Woodward Esq., of Orange ; James Brooks Esq., of Peters- ham ; J. H. Goddard, editor of the " Barre Gazette "; Rev. I. S. Lincoln, of Warwick ; Rev. A. Harding, of New Salem ; Calvin Kelton Esq., Chairman of the Board of Selectmen ; Rev. Ira Bailey and Rev. John F. Norton of Athol. A patriotic poem, prepared for the occasion, was read by Rev. D. J. Mandell of Athol. At the close of the exercises the company was escorted to the depot by the large assembly, the Athol High School Guard, under com- mand of Principal Lathrop, with fifty mounted men of Athol, and nearly the same number from Royalston, doing
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escort duty. The company left with the cheers and bene- dictions of the assembled multitude, and at Springfield were mustered into the United States Service as Co. B, of the Twenty-seventh Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers.
On Aug. 4th, 1862, President Lincoln issued an order for three hundred thousand men to serve for the term of nine months ; the quota of Athol under this call was sixty- one men. Great enthusiasm was manifested while the enlisting for nine months service was going on, and many offered themselves who could not be accepted on account of physical disability. Farwell F. Fay Esq., of Athol, re- cruited this company, and was elected its captain. This company was assigned to the Fifty-third Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and became Co. E of that regiment. They went into camp at Camp Stevens, Groton Junction, Oct. 1st, 1862, and left that place for New York Nov. 30th.
Athol had representatives in many other regiments, of this and other states, and always responded promptly to the various calls, and when the quota of the last call of Dec. 19, 1864, was filled, the Town had a surplus of 28 men to her credit.
The whole number furnished by the town was 387, and of this number 50 died in the service, or from diseases contracted in it. Fourteen were killed, or died of wounds received in action. Thirty-four died of various diseases. One was killed by the cars, and one thrown from a horse.
Among the early town meetings after the breaking out of the war, was one held April 30th, 1861, when upon the recommendation of a committee, consisting. of C. C. Bassett, Hon. Charles Field, Nathaniel Richardson, Lyman
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W. Hapgood and John Kendall, it was voted "that $5000 be appropriated" for the purpose of encouraging men to volunteer for military service; and that ten dollars per month be given to each unmarried volunteer and twenty dollars to each married volunteer, in addition to the pay insured them by the laws of the United States. And, "if more be necessary to support the families of the married volunteers, the committee is to make up the deficiency."
And thus, all through the years of the war, the voters of Athol were ever ready to provide liberally for the sol- diers who were fighting the battles of their country, and for their families left at home, and when the war closed, the total amount of expenses of the town and individual citizens had reached the sum of $39,565,62.
One of the great war meetings was held at the Town Hall, July 2nd, 1864, when, by special invitation of many citizens, Geo. W. Horr Esq., delivered an address. The poster announcing the meeting called upon the citizens of Athol, both ladies and gentlemen, to meet at the Town Hall on that evening. "To consult together upon the state of the country-to review the heroic past-to act in the living present-to provide for the uncertain future-to make a united offering in aid of our struggling country."
The ladies of both villages organized Soldiers' Aid Societies, and all through the war were actively engaged in sending supplies and hospital stores for the comfort and relief of the brave defenders of the country.
ATHOL'S ROLL OF HONOR.
The following are Athol's soldiers, who died in the service or from diseases contracted in it:
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Andrew J. Ames, private, was born at Brattleboro, Vermont; he enlisted at the age of 18 years in Company K, Twenty-seventh Regiment. He died of congestion of the lungs at Newbern, N. C., April 2nd, 1862, and was buried at Newbern.
Thomas G. Barry, private, was born in Leominster. He enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment ; was in the engagement with his regiment at Roanoke Island. While at that Island he took a severe cold and, remaining sick, was discharged September 12, 1862. He returned to Athol, where he died October 18th, 1862, of the disease contracted at Roanoke Island.
Warren A. Beaman, private, was born in Millbury ; he was drafted in July, 1863, and reported for service, when he was mustered into the Ninth Regiment, August 21, 1863, and joined the regiment in Virginia. In May, 1864, he was in the engagements when General Grant moved towards Richmond and is supposed to have been taken prisoner in the battle of the Wilderness, or about that time. He was carried to Andersonville, Georgia, and was in other rebel prisons ; was sick of chronic diarrhea at the time he was parolled for exchange at Charleston, S. C., in December, 1864. He was brought to Annapolis very low, and died there January 2nd, 1865. He left a wife and one child.
Harry R. Blackmer was born in Dana; enlisted as a private in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, and joined the regiment in North Carolina in the fall of 1862. He was in the engagements at Kingston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, Gum Swamp, and at the seige of Washington, N. C. In October 1863, he came with his regiment to
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Newport News, Va., and served with it in Norfolk and Portsmouth, having been promoted Corporal August 14, 1863. In January, 1864, he was taken with small-pox, of which he died Jan. 28th, at Norfolk, Va.
Eli Bodet, private, was born in Canada East; he en- listed in Company A, Thirty-second Regiment, and partic- ipated with his regiment in the marches of Porter's Corps in the retreat down the peninsula, and during the campaign in Maryland supported batteries at the battle of Antietam. He was taken sick with chronic diarrhea and removed to a hospital in Washington. He was discharged Jan. 22, 1863, and, while being removed to his home, died in New York, Jan. 26, 1863. His remains were brought to Athol, and funeral services held at the Congregational church, Jan. 29, 1863. He left a wife and two children.
Francis B. Brock, private, was born in Dudley and enlisted in Company A, Twenty-fifth Regiment. He was with his regiment in the expedition of General Burnside to North Carolina and was a participant in the battles of Roanoke Island, Newbern, Kingston, Whitehall and Goldsboro, N. C., and in engagements in Virginia. In the battle of Coal Harbor, while engaged in a desperate but unsuccessful assault upon the enemy's works, he was killed June 3, 1864. His body lay upon the ground about a week before it could be reached by our troops, and buried.
George H. Clark, private, was born in Athol. He enlisted in Company F, Thirty-second Regiment, when only 16 years of age; was in the campaign in Maryland, at the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancel- lorsville, and was in the thickest of the fight at Gettysburg
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and in the battles in the Wilderness; he is supposed to have participated in 21 battles. Late in the year, 1864, he was taken sick with chronic diarrhea, and died in Washington, Dec. 15, 1864, in which city he was buried.
Welcome J. Cleveland, private, was born in Barre; he enlisted in Company E, Fifty-third Regiment, at the age of 18 years, and went with his regiment to Louisiana. He was taken sick with the measles, and was three months in the hospital, but going into the first day's fight near Brashear City, the effort was too much for him, and he was taken worse and died at that place, April 24th, 1863. His remains were removed to New Orleans for burial.
Cyrus W. Conant, private, was born in Stowe; he enlisted in Company E, Fifty-third Regiment, and was with the regiment in its first engagements, but being taken sick at Vermillionville, La., he was taken to the hospital at New Orleans, where he died July 10, 1863, of chronic diarrhea. He was buried at New Orleans.
James Connell, private, was born in Ireland; he en -; listed in Company A, Thirty-second Regiment, and went with the regiment to Washington and Harrison's Landing, Va. ; at the latter place he was taken sick and was re- moved to Philadelphia. After his recovery he did service with his regiment. In January, 1864, he reenlisted and came home on a furlough of 30 days. Returning to his regiment he was in the great battle of the Wilderness, and was instantly killed, not far from Spottsylvania Court House. He was shot in the morning and his remains lay upon the breast works until evening, when they were recovered and buried by his comrade, Ebenezer Kneeland, and others.
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Joseph H. Collins, Color Sergeant, was born in Marlboro; he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-first Regi- ment, and was with his regiment in the engagements at Roanoke Island, Newbern, Camden, and in the forced march to Pollocksville to rescue the Second Maryland Regiment; he was in the Bull Run battle. No. 2, in the battles of Chantilly and Antietam, and finally in the terrible contest at Fredericksburg, Dec. 12, 1862. He was Color Sergeant in the battle of Fredericksburg, and when about sixty rods from the city, was severely wounded in the leg and fell. This was when Sergeant Plunkett of Company E seized the colors, and, as he was bearing them forward, a shell from the rebel earth works carried away both of his arms. Mr. Collins was removed, with other wounded ones, to a hospital at Washington, where he died from the effects of his wound, Jan. 3, 1863. He was buried at Southboro, Mass., Jan. 12, 1863.
Marshall Collins, private, was born in Marlboro; he enlisted in Company E, Fifty-third Regiment, and was with his regiment at the capture of Fort Bisland, and in the long marches to Opelousas and Alexandria : was sent sick with chronic diarrhea from before Port Hudson, June 6, 1863, to Baton Rouge, where he died July 14, 1863. He was buried at Baton Rouge, and left a wife and two chil- dren in Athol.
George S. Dresser, private, was born in Orange and enlisted at the age of 18 years in Company B, Twenty- seventh Regiment, in the fall of 1863. He was taken prisoner at Drury's Bluff, May 16, 1864, was removed to Libby Prison, Richmond, and then to Danville, where he was taken sick with lung fever. He was afterwards
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carried to Andersonville, Ga., where it is supposed he died in the summer or fall of 1864.
Theodore Jones Dyer, private, was born in Athol ; he enlisted in Company I, Twenty-fifth Regiment, and as- sisted in the captures of Roanoke Island and Newbern, and was with his regiment in all its engagements and expeditions in North Carolina; he went with his regiment to Virginia, and was probably in the battles at Drury's Bluff and Coal Harbor, but during the siege of Petersburg he was taken sick and died near that city Sept. 19, 1864.
Daniel W. Foster, private, was born in Phillipston ; he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-sixth Regiment, and was with his regiment in Maryland and Virginia. He was taken sick with an intermittent fever on board the Trans- port, "South America," in Chesapeake Bay; was landed at Newport News, and died in the hospital there Feb. 14, 1863. His remains were brought to Athol, and funeral services were held Feb. 26, 1863.
Jacob Orlando Gould was born in Athol. He en- listed in Company E, Fifty-third Regiment, and was made Corporal May 1, 1863; was with his regiment in the fight of Fort Bisland, and in the long marches to Opelousas and Alexandria. He died at Baton Rouge, July 27, 1863, of chronic diarrhæa.
Charles S. Green, private, was born in Oakham. He was one of the first young men to enlist, from Athol, in Company F, Second Regiment. He was with his regiment on the Upper Potomac and in the Shenandoah Valley. Early in December, 1862, he was taken sick with brain fever, and died at Frederick City, Maryland, on the 20th of that month. His remains were sent home to his friends.
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Charles E. Hagar, private, was born in Athol. He enlisted in Company A, Twenty first Regiment, and was with the regiment in the engagements in North Carolina. He was thrown from a horse in Alexandria, Va., and killed.
James Harkins, Jr., private, was born in Ireland. He went into the service first as a member of the First New York Mounted Riflemen. He was taken prisoner in North Carolina, and taken to Richmond ; after a few months was exchanged, and, his time of service having expired, was discharged. Jan. 1, 1864, he enlisted in the Thirty-first Regiment, but was transferred to the Sixth Massachusetts Cavalry, and went with General Banks on the Red River expedition. In a desperate engagement he was again taken prisoner and carried to Texas; he escaped and made his way back through swamps and thickets to Louisiana, but was soon taken sick with rheumatic fever, and died at New Orleans, August 30, 1864.
William Hill, private, was born in Athol. He enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment; in the engagement at Roanoke Island, Feb. 8, 1862, he was mor- tally wounded by a ball that passed through him and lodged in his overcoat, and died two days after, being the first man from Athol who was killed in the war. He was buried at Roanoke Island, and left two sons in service and two daughters in Athol.
Andrew J. Hill, private, was born in Athol, a son of William Hill. He enlisted in Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, and was in the engagement at the capture of Roanoke Island. While standing in the water during the battle he took a severe cold that brought on a fever, from
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which he died March 3, 1862. He was buried at Roanoke Island.
James S. Hodge, drummer, was born in Athol. He enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, and was with his company in the various engagements in North Carolina. While on a furlough to visit his family in Athol he was killed by the cars, at Springfield, Sept. 20, 1863.
John W. Howe, private, enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, and was taken prisoner at Drury's Bluff from whence he was carried to Richmond, and finally to Andersonville, Ga., where he died of chronic diarrhea July 24, 1864. He left a wife in Athol.
John Humphrey was born in Athol. He joined the United States Navy in the summer of 1861, going first on board the receiving ship at Charlestown ; he was after- wards a marine on board the Cumberland when that ill fated vessel was attacked by the rebel ship, Merrimac, near Newport News, Va., March 8, 1862, and was one of the six marines who were killed by a shot before the sinking of the Cumberland. His remains were not recov- ered.
Horace Hunt, private, was born in Prescott. He was among the first men to enlist from Athol in the Second Regiment; was clerk for his captain, and afterwards in the Commissary Department. While with his regiment in New York, to suppress riots, he took a severe cold, and going with the regiment to Tullahoma, Tenn., he was taken sick and returned to his home in Athol very feeble, where he died April 7, 1864. Funeral services were held at the Baptist church.
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William H. Johnson, private, was born in Athol. He enlisted in Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, and while participating in the battle of Newbern fell, mortally wounded, dying the next day, March 15, 1862. His remains were buried at Newbern.
C. Dwight Kelton, son of Calvin Kelton Esq., was born in Athol. He enlisted in Company F, Thirty-second Regiment, and went with it to Washington and Harrison's Landing, Va., and to Maryland when the rebels invaded that State. He was taken sick at Alexandria, Va., of pneumonia, and died there Oct. 31, 1862. His remains were brought to Athol for burial, and the funeral was held in the Congregational church, Nov. 11, 1862.
Patrick Leonard was born in Ireland. He enlisted in Company C. Twenty-first Regiment. He went with his regiment to North Carolina ; was wounded very severely in the right leg at the batttle of Roanoke Island, from the effects of which he died, eight days after, and was buried on the island.
Horatio W. McClellen was born in Athol; he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, when 18 years of age; was in the Kinsgton, Whitehall and Goldsboro fights and participated in the defence of Washington, N. C., and the Gum Swamp engagement. He was made Corporal June 19, 1863. He was wounded at Arrowfield Church, Va., May 9, 1864, and was removed to Philadelphia, where he died of scarlatina, June 21, 1864.
Adin Oakes was born in Athol. He enlisted in Com- pany E, Fifty-third Regiment, and took part in the capture of Fort Bisland, in the marches to and from Alexandria, and in the first engagement at Port Hudson; he was
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wounded at the latter place, May 29, 1863, and sent to the hospital at Baton Rouge, where he died June 29, 1863. He was buried at Baton Rouge, and left a wife and chil- dren in Athol.
Sylvanus E. Oliver was born in Athol. He enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment. He was with his regiment in the various engagements in North Carolina, and in the desperate battle of Drury's Bluff, May 16, 1864, where he was taken prisoner with 247 others of his regi- ment, and carried to Libby Prison, Richmond, afterwards to Andersonville, Ga., where he died of chronic diarrhoea Aug. 14, 1864.
James C. Parker was born in Stickney, C. E .; he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, and went with his regiment to North Carolina. In the battle of Newbern he was in the thickest of the fight and was mor- tally wounded, dying the next day, March 15, 1862. He was buried at Newbern, leaving a wife and three children in Athol.
Chauncey Parkman Jr., was born in Northfield. He enlisted in the First Heavy Artillery, and went with his company into service in Virginia, and was in the battle at Spottsylvania, May 17, 1864, when he was fatally wounded by a shell in the head and side, and was removed with the wounded to Washington, where he died June 3, 1864. He was buried at Washington, and left one child in Athol.
Asa Phillips was born in Hubbardston. He enlisted in Company E, Thirtieth Regiment, and started for the seat of war under General Butler, but died at or near Fortress Monroe, Jan. 30, 1862. His remains were brought to Athol for burial, where he left a wife and children.
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Joshua Rich was born in Royalston; he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-sixth Regiment, and went with his regiment into service in Virginia, and accompanied it to Mississippi. He was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, a ball passing through his body from side to side, and he lived but three hours, his remains falling into the hands of the enemy. He was made Corporal April 1, 1863.
Samuel Rich was born in Athol; he enlisted in Com- pany B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, and was with the regiment nearly three years in North Carolina and Virgin- ia. At the battle of Drury's Bluff he was taken prisoner, and died at Andersonville, Ga., of Chronic diarrhea, caused by starvation and cruel treatment about Aug. 1, 1864.
Neri F. Ripley was born in Tinmouth, Vt .; he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, and was with his regiment in North Carolina. He died at Winchendon, Jan. 16, 1863, of an abscess in the stomach, brought on in the service. His remains were brought to Athol for burial.
Harvey Robbins was born in Warwick; he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, and joined the regiment in North Carolina in 1862. He was taken sick and died of a fever, at Newbern, June 23, 1863. He left a wife and four children in Athol.
Cutler Seaver was born in Milford; he enlisted when 17 years old in the Forty-second Regiment aud went to Great Falls, Maryland, where he did garrison duty till the term for which he had enlisted expired. He reentered the service, and while in camp at Readville, was taken sick and died.
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Spencer Stockwell was born in Athol; he enlisted in Company E, Fifty-third Regiment, and went into camp at Groton Junction, where he was taken sick with diptheria, and died Nov. 20, 1862. His remains were brought to Athol for burial. .
Horace O. Thayer was born in Ware; he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-sixth Regiment, and went into camp at Readville in the fall of 1863, but before the regiment left for the seat of war was taken sick of brain fever, and died Feb. 2, 1864.
Lauriston A. Thorpe was born in Athol; he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, and went with his regiment to North Carolina, and after taking part in the battles at Roanoke Island, Newbern, and other places, he was sent to the hospital sick ; after recovering he served in various departments of the hospital until the period of his enlistment expired, when he started for home, but the vessel upon which he embarked was sent into quarantine at Fortress Monroe, on account of the prevalence of yellow fever, and Mr. Thorpe died at that place, of the disease, Oct. 7, 1864. His remains were brought to Athol, and funeral services were held at the Methodist church, Oct. 23.
Robert W. Thrower was born in Athol; he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment; was in the battle of Roanoke Island, but was sick on board a transport at the battle of Newbern, and was landed at that place, where he died of lung fever, March 31, 1862. He was buried at Newbern.
Nathaniel B. Twichell was born in Erving ; he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-seventh Regiment, and was in va-
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rious engagements in North Carolina ; was made Corporal Feb. 20. 1863. He reenlisted in January, 1864, and after a furlough, returned to his regiment and was killed in the engagement at Arrowfield Church by a ball that struck his head, killing him instantly, May 9, 1864. He left a wife and two children in Athol.
Willard Twichell was born in Athol ; he enlisted in Company D. Eleventh U. S. Infantry, early in the war, and was in six of the seven days' conflicts before Rich- mond in 1862, also at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and North Anna, and was fatally wounded in the engage- ment before Petersburg, June 24, 1864.
William Washburn was born in Orange ; he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-sixth Regiment, and was with his regiment at the siege of Vicksburg. After the surrender of Vicksburg he returned with his regiment to Kentucky, where he was sick with dumb ague, and died near Nich- olasville, Ky., Sept. 5, 1863. He left a wife and five children in Athol.
Edmund R. West enlisted in Company A, Twenty- fourth Regiment, and is supposed to have died a prisoner at Andersonville, Ga., May 24, 1864.
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