Historical sketch of the old Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, during its three campaigns in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 : containing the history of the several companies previous to 1861, and the name and military record of each man connected with the regiment during the war, Part 19

Author: Hanson, J. W. (John Wesley), 1823-1901
Publication date: 1866
Publisher: Boston : Lee and Shepard
Number of Pages: 372


USA > Massachusetts > Historical sketch of the old Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, during its three campaigns in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 : containing the history of the several companies previous to 1861, and the name and military record of each man connected with the regiment during the war > Part 19


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


Wells G. Kellogg. Charles F. Low. John Loughrey.


Stephen Mitchell ; 66th N. Y., one year ; discharged, disability.


S. Oscar Merrill. Timothy Murphy ; 36th N. Y .; 2 years.


Luther Moulton ; 38th Mass.1 Charles H. Nowell.


Gardner O. North ; 53d Mass.,2 9 months ; discharged, disability. Albert Norton. George E. Otis. John H. Oviatt. Frank L. Putnam.


1 The Thirty Eighth Massachusetts started for the seat of war, Sept. 24, 1862, and arrived in New Orleans, Jan. 1, 1863. It was at Port Hudson, Red River, and in the Shenandoah Valley under Sheridan, and at Cedar Creek, etc.


The Fifty Third Massachusetts spent its nine months of service in the Department of the Gulf, aud served an honorable campaign.



331


THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.


Arthur W. Pope. Arthur Rogers.


John Rider. Thomas Scott.


Edwin R. Swett. Clarence A. Swan.


Gregory Stone. Charles L. Snow.


Robert W. Storer; 45th Mass., 1862-63.


Frederick W. Stackpole ; 45th Mass., 1862-63.


George T. Scott. Pelatiah R. Tripp ; 27th Maine, 1862-63.


Daniel L. Tower.


George W. Thacher; died, Fort Delaware, Sept. 13, 1864, of chronic diarrhea.


Francis A. Taylor. Walter T. Winslow.


H. Howard Wilson. William M. Whitehouse.


COMPANY I, SALEM.


Company I, the Salem Mechanic Light Infantry, is one of the oldest and most honored companies in the State. It was organized February 22d, 1807, and paraded for the first time, July 4th, of the same year. It has uniformly preserved its organization to the present time, and never paraded with fewer than twenty-five non-com- missioned officers and privates. Before 1861, and since the three months' campaign of that year, it was always known as company B, Seventh Massachusetts ; but it was detached to the Fifth Massachusetts, by the Gov- ernor, and received orders, April 19th, 1861, at 3 P. M., to report in Faneuil Hall at 10 the next morning. At 7 o'clock, April 20th, the company assembled in its armory, to the number of one hundred and twenty, includ- ing three commissioned officers, answered to roll-call, and then marched to the City Hall, where Col. Perley


.


.


332


THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.


Putman, the first commander, presented them a silk American flag, in behalf of the ladies, when, followed by the cheers and regards of the whole city, they departed for Boston, arriving at the place of rendezvous at ten precisely. The surplus men of the maximum number re- quired were sent home, very much to their disappointment.


At 7 o'clock on the morning of the 21st, the Fifth Reg- iment left Boston, with Cook's Battery, arriving in Wash- ington April 26th, in the vicinity of which city and of Alexandria they remained till July 16th, doing garrison and fatigue duty, when the regiment left in the direction of Bull Run. The Fifth did good service on that un- fortunate day, and fell back with the rest of the federal army to Washington on the 22d, and reached Boston a fortnight beyond its time, on the 30th. It had a mag- nificent reception everywhere ; company I receiving from Salem, on the 1st of August, a most flattering wel- come. Captain Staten entered the campaign as First Lieutenant, but was promoted to the captaincy on the promotion of Captain Pierson to the lieutenant-colonelcy, July 6th, 1861.


The commissioned officers of this company, from 1807 down, were as follows:


Captains. - Perley Putnam, 1807-10; Benj. Ropes, 1810-12; Joseph Edwards, 1812-16 ; David Robbins, 1816-20; Daniel Millett, 1820-22 ; Benj. George, 1822-24; David Pulsifer, 1824-28 ; Jeremiah S. Perkins, 1828-34; James Chamberlain, 1834-37; James Kimball, 1837-41 ; John A. Browne, 1841-43; Wm. B. Brown,


-


333


THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.


1843-47; Wm. Saunders, 1847-50; Benj. R. White, 1850-3; Simeon Flint, 1853-6; Albert S. Follansbee, 1856-7; George H. Peirson, 1857-61 ; Edward H. Staten, 1861-65.


Lieutenants. - Several of the captains, and Oliver Peabody, Wm. Roberts, Josiah Lord, Wm. Brown, Jonathan L. Kimball, Wm. Merritt, Wm. H. Danforth, Thomas M. Dix, Reuben G. Nelson, George Norris, Jr., Henry F. Saunders, Lewis E. Went- worth, Jesse B. Edwards, Daniel B. Lord, Israel P. Harris, Isaac S. Noyes, Daniel B. Lord, Jr., Chas. D. Stiles, Joseph H. Glidden, Geo. M. Crowell.


COMPANY ROSTER.


Captain, EDWARD H. STATEN; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862.


First Lieutenant, JOSEPH H. GLIDDEN ; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861 ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862 ; Capt. in 1865.


Second Lieutenant, GEORGE M. CROWELL; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861 ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862. Sergeant, ROBERT P. CLOUGH; 5 months at Fort Warren, 1862, in Battalion of Cadets.


JOSHUA W. DOWST; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861 ; Capt Reed's Mounted Rangers; discharged for disability.


BENJAMIN F. PICKERING ; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861 ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862.


¥ CHARLES A. WILLIAMS; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861.


CHARLES H. GWINN; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861 ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862.


Corporal, ELDEN BENNETT ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unat- tached, 1862.


" AUGUSTUS SHEPARD ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862.


334


THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.


Corporal, CHARLES A. STATEN ; 6th months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862.


46 WARREN P. DODGE ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unat- tached, 1862.


NATHANIEL A. SYMONDS ; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861.


= JOHN CHANDLER.


66 JOSEPH E. WALDRON ; 5 months at Fort Warren, Battalion Cadets, unattached, 1862.


66 DANIEL STANIFORD; 5 months at Fort Warren, Bat- talion Cadets, unattached, 1862.


PRIVATES.


Peter F. Adams. Thomas M. Adams. Frank Atwood.


George F. Averill ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862.


George W. Bragdon ; re-enlisted in Frontier Cavalry.


John H. Burrough. Albion W. Bodwell.


Otis Burnham ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862.


Edward W. Burding. Arthur Branigan.


William Collins; 8th Mass., 1862. Daniel A. Caskin.


Patrick Collins; 8th Mass., 1862.


J. H. Dodge ; died of diphtheria, Sept. 5, 1864. Walter S. Daniels.


Henry F. English ; 8th Mass., 1862; 1 year in Navy.


James W. English ; 5 years in 2d U. S. Cavalry.


George Evans; Navy, 3 years. John Flood ; 48th Mass., 1862. George L. Goss ; 23d Wisconsin ; discharged for disability.


William Goodrich.


Charles H. Giles ; 5th Mass., 3 months, 1861. John H. Hall. Onis K. Huff.


James A. . Hall; re-enlisted in 62d Mass.


Thomas T. Hines; 48th Mass., 9 months.


Thomas Hartman ; 17th Mass. ; discharged for disability ; re-en- listed in 62d Mass.


THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN. 335


Nathaniel K. Howard. William S. Inman.


Luther D. Kilbourn. Jeremiah Kerby.


Charles L. Lord ; 5 months at Fort Warren, Bat. of Cadets, 1861.


William D. Lufkin. Henry A. Long. George C. Lord.


Hiram O. Lamb ; 5 months at Fort Warren, Bat. of Cadets, 1861.


John E Moody. Charles E. Moulton.


George Murray ; 3d Mass. Cavalry, from Jan. to Aug., 1865.


Edward Moulton ; re-enlisted in 3d Mass. Cavalry.


Phillip A. Manning ; re-enlisted, Frontier Cavalry.


Hugh Murphy ; re-enlisted, 17th Mass.


John J. McKenny. Frank B. Messer.


Joseph A. Moulton; re-enlisted, 9th N. Y. Cavalry.


Edward North; re-enlisted, 17th Mass.


William H. Nichols, Jr. ; previously in R. I. Cavalry.


Thomas Nugent.


Thaddeus Osgood ; re-enlisted and served 7 months in unattached company.


Joseph H. Oldsen ; re-enlisted in - unattached. John O'Connor.


James E. Perry ; 12th Mass. ; discharged for disability.


Isaiah B. Peabody. George Pettengill. Charles D. Paine.


Richard Poor ; 6 months at Fort Warren, unattached, 1862.


John O. Rollins. Nathaniel A. Riley. Joshua O. Rider.


John E. Rogers ; 2 years in Navy ; discharged for disability ; 4th Mass. Cavalry. Robert Rowley.


Samuel A. Stevens; 2d Maine ; discharged for disability.


Frederick H. Sanger. George L. Stone. John J. Sheehan. Abner K. Sanborn; previously in 27th Maine.


Joseph Thompson. John Thompson. Joseph F. Thomas.


Theodore P. Teague; 5 months at Fort Warren, Battalion of Ca- dets, 1862; 4th Mass. Cavalry, 1865.


336


THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.


Walter F. Tarlton ; previously in 8th Mass.


Austin Towne. Russell T. Varney.


Frederick Wright ; 17th Mass. ; discharged for disability.


COMPANY K, LAWRENCE.


This company was a new one, raised mostly in Law- rence upon the call of the Governor for five thousand 100 days' men. Recruiting commenced on the 11th day of July, 1864, and the company was filled on the evening of the 12th, went into camp on the 13th, was mustered into the service on the 14th, and, on the 15th and 16th, the men were clothed, armed, and equipped throughout, and ready to move on the 17th, -just six days after the first movement was made.


"Capt Sherman," says the " Lawrence American," " under extraordinary difficulties, raised a company of men for nine months' service, himself enlisting as a pri- vate, from which he was promoted to a captaincy, and, as we personally know, no braver or more faithful officer has left our city ; always attentive to the needs of his men, and even when weak and emaciated with sickness, as we saw him at Port Hudson (in the 48th Massachu- setts) leaving the hospital, against the positive prohibi- tion of the surgeon, to lead his men in the assault."


Lieut. Batchelder was in the siege of Charleston, and in the assault on the forts there, with the Fortieth Mas- sachusetts, one of the finest regiments in the service. Lieut., now Capt. Emerson, was drummer in the old Sixth, April 19, 1861.


THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN. 337


COMPANY ROSTER.


Captain, EDGAR J. SHERMAN ; Capt. in 48th Mass., 1862-3.


First Lieutenant, MOULTON BATCHELDER ; Private, Corporal, 1st Sergt. and 2d Lieut. in 40th Mass .; resigned, Jan. 30, 1864.


Second Lieutenant, JOHN D. EMERSON ; drummer in 6th Mass., 3 months, 1861; Capt. Co. K, 1865.


First Sergeant, GEORGE N. ARCHER ; 8th Mass., 3 months, 1861 ; 2d Lieut. Co. K, 1865.


Sergeant, SMITH DECKER; 13th Vt., 1862-3 ; 1st Lieut., 1865.


66 JOHN M. FISHER.


WILLIAM H. SINER ; 36th Mass. ; wounded and disch.


LORENZO S. LEAVITT, 23d Maine, 1862-3. .


Corporal, ALANSON C. HAINES : 15th N. H., 1862-3.


SAMUEL BROUGHTON; 40th Mass .; wounded, dis- charged ; Frontier Cavalry.


JOSEPH A. BABB; 4th Mass., 1862-3.


66 CHARLES J. RHOADES ; 44th Mass., 1862-3.


J. FRANK EATON ; 4th Mass., 1862-3.


ALBERT E. LAZELLE.


66 EDWARD B. TAYLOR.


Drummer, AARON P. ORDWAY; drummer, Co. H, 4th N. H. ; discharged for disability.


FRANK A. EDWARDS.


PRIVATES.


Charles H. Abbott. John Adams ; 3d Mass. Cav .; 1 year in Virginia and Colorado.


Henry F. Barnard. John Boyle; 4th Mass., 1862-3.


Thomas Bagley. John B. Brierley.


Joseph Buckley. William Blyth.


John Bond. John Busfield. William Barker. George Buchan.


22


1


338 THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.


William F. Belanger. John Brannan ; 4th Mass., 1862-3.


James M. Cutter. John Chelley.


Willard L. Carleton. Frank C. Carleton.


Patrick Curry. Baldwin Coolidge.


Gardner A. Carpenter. Thomas Donnelly.


Ai E. Durgin. Remi Dionne. Thomas A. Dyson. Solomon N. Davis.


William H. H. Davis. Daniel N. Davis.


Franklin E. Doyen. Benjamin L. Dixon.


John J. Dixon. Trustram S. Goss. Warren George. Moses F. Goodwin.


George H. Greene. William Ileap; 4th Mass., 1862-3.


David Henderson. Michael H. Herbert.


Benjamin F. Hodgdon. William C. Holt. Thomas Hernon.


Seth C. Hildreth ; 4th Mass., 1862-3; Frontier Cavalry.


James T. Jolinson. David Johnston, Jr.


Mark Judge. James Leach. Murdo MeA. Mckenzie. John McCullough.


Angus McPhee. Thomas Norris.


Albert Needham. Edward W. Packard.


James Partington ; 4th Mass., 1862-3. Nathaniel B. Parsons.


James II. Rowell. William Rushworth.


John A. Ross. Bernard Rourk. John G. Rines. Leander A. Robinson.


William Sorton. George I. Sargent.


Daniel Stevens. Melvin E. Smith.


James Standring. George Stewart. John W. Stewart. John Sonle. John Summers. George W. Town.


David Y. Tufts ; 6th Mass., 3 months, 1861. Duncan Wood. James Waddington. Russell Wentworth.


John Welch. Lamont C. Willouby. John F. Whitehill.


Edward Lurvey ; Deserter.


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THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.


Additional items, relating to the Three Months' Roster, obtained while the book was passing through the press, are here printed.


Company A. W. F. Lovrein was promoted sergeant in 1861; was 1st lieutenant in Mass. 30th, and prisoner from June, 1864, to April, 1865. William Higson afterwards was in the Navy. Gilbert A. Hood was not killed. Bradford S. Norton was ser- geant and 2d lieutenant in the 26th, and was killed at Cedar Creek. Charles H. Richardson was sergeant in the 2Gth Mass.


Company B. William T. Childs was 2d lieutenant in the 6th in 1864. Joseph A. Bacon was 1st lieutenant in 1864. Solomon Story joined at Relay House, May 20th. Avander N. Blood was a musician. Russell O. Houghton was promoted captain. Ansell A. Stall was in the 33d. George N. Spalding beeame 1st lieuten- ant in - Mass. Cavalry. Charles H. Wright and Henry F. Whitcomb afterwards served in a Massachusetts regiment.


Company C. Joseph J. Donahue was in the 3d N. Hampshire. Seth Bonney was major in the Mass. 26th. Thomas Burns was in the Mass. 6th Battery.


Company F. Lieutenant Stone has been major of the 41st Massachusetts. Andrew J. Butterfield bas not served since the three months' campaign. W. Marland has been captain in Nims's Battery. James A. Troy was captain in the 26th.


Company G. Major Harrison W. Pratt was wounded mortally at Fisher's Hill. Brown P. Stowell was 2d lieutenant in Mass. 42d. John E. Caligan was sergeant and lieutenant in Mass. 34th. Thomas E. Cogger was in company A, Mass. 17th. George H. Conklin was in Mass. 51st, and was 1st lieutenant in Unattached Artillery. Thomas A. Doherty was in Mass. 21st. John Emer- son was eaptain in Mass. 42d. Church Howe was aid to Major General Sedgwick. John F. Methuen was Ist lieutenant in U. S. A. Dennis H. Nolan was sergeant in 8th Penn. Cavalry. Henry M. Richter is not dead, but was afterwards sergeant in 7th R. Island.' John F. Towle was in 7th R. Island, and was wounded at Petersburg. Charles H. Wilson was wounded at Roanoke Island. John Wolf was in 7th Connectieut. J. Wallace Wood- ward was sergeant in Mass. 51st.


Company I. Major Oliver has been lieutenant-colonel.


Company K was a long time in the Fifth Artillery, and after- wards in the First Infantry. J. S. Burrill and Robert Cowdin should be omitted from the list of captains. James E. Mareh is


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340


THE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.


now brevet major of volunteers. William H. Daly was in the 30th regiment. Omit Fire Zouaves after Lysander J. Hume.


Company L. Sidney L. Colley was promoted to lieutenant. Charles H. Barry promoted to lieutenant. James D. Sanborn was sergeant instead of captain.


Company G. Worcester. By the kindness of His Honor. Mayor Lincoln, of Worcester, I am able to present some interest- ing facts that had not come to my knowledge when the roster passed through the press.


The original charter bears the date of 1804, and has the sig- nature of Harrison Gray Otis, Speaker of the House, and Caleb Strong, Governor. The petition for the company is signed by Levi Lincoln, Jr. (afterwards Governor), Levi Thaxter, John Nelson, Jr. (afterward Rev. John Nelson, D. D., of Leicester), Daniel W. Lincoln, and thirty-three others. The first officers were Levi Thaxter, captain ; Enoch Flagg, lieutenant ; and Levi Lincoln, ensign. Many of the principal citizens of Worcester have been in the ranks of the company, among whom may be mentioned Joseph R. Caldwell ; Edward D. Bangs (Sec. of Mass.) ; William Lincoln (historian of Worcester) ; Joseph Wil- lard (historian of Lancaster); Brigadier-General William S. Lincoln (of Mass. 34th) ; Brigadier-General Calvin E. Pratt (of N. York 31st) ; Hon. Isaac Davis ; Hon. George W. Richardson ; Hon. D. Waldo Lincoln (Mayor of Worester) ; and others dis- tinguished in the civil and military history of the state and nation.


The company was in Boston, in defence of the coast, from Sept. 14, till Oct. 31, 1814.


The following is a complete list of captains from 1804 to 1806 :


Levi Thaxter, 1804-6 ; Enoch Flagg, 1806-9; William E. Green, 1809-11 ; Isaac Sturtevant, 1811-12; John W. Lincoln, 1812-16 ; Sewall Hamilton, 1816-20; John Coolidge, 1820-22; Samuel Ward, 1822-24 ; Artemas Ward, 1824-26 ; John Whit- temore, 1826-28; Charles A. Hamilton, 1828-31 ; William S. Lincoln, 1831-34; Charles H. Geer, 1834-37; Henry Hobbs 1837 ; Dana H. Fitch, 1837; D. Waldo Lincoln, 1838-40; Ivers Phillips, 1841 ; Henry W. Conklin, 1842; Joseph B. Rip- ley, 1843 ; Edward Lamb, 1844-8, 50-51, 56-57; Levi Barker, 1849 : Charles S. Childes, 1852 ; Samuel P. Russell, 1853 ; George W. Barker, 1854 ; George F. Peck, 1855; Harrison W. Pratt. 1858-62.


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The Cotvell Monument.


1


THE LOWELL MONUMENT.


HE propriety of placing a monument above the remains of Ladd and Whitney was suggested by Mayor Sargent, of Lowell, directly after their funeral; and the body of Ladd was re- turned to the city with the understanding that a monument would at some time be erected. In 1861, the mayor and aldermen of Lowell ad- dressed a petition to the General Court, asking for aid in constructing it ; but the petition was referred to the next Legislature. In 1863, Mayor Hosford urged the matter ; and the legislature of that year passed a resolve, appro- priating $2000, provided the city would give a like sum. A plan was obtained, designed by Woodcock & Meach- um, of Boston, and the monument was wrought by Runels, Clough, & Co., and erected on Merrimack - hereafter Monument - Square. It was finished early in April, 1865, and the intention was to dedicate it on the 19th, -the anniversary of the event it commemorated ; but the melancholy death of President Lincoln postponed the services to June 17. April 28, the bodies were de- posited in the vault beneath the superstructure.


June 17th, 1865, dawned intensely hot, yet very pleasant, and saw Lowell crowded with thousands of in- terested strangers, who had come from all quarters to participate in the day's exercises. They were very suc- (343)


344


THE LOWELL MONUMENT.


cessfully performed. More than 4500 persons were in the procession, while the city, along the route, was densely thronged. The oration was by Gov. Andrew, and the religious exercises were conducted by Rev. Dr. Amos Blanchard. The services of consecration were performed by the Massachusetts Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The Governor closed his oration in these words : -


" Let this monument, raised to preserve the names of Ladd and Whitney, - the two young artisans of Lowell, who fell among the first martyrs of the great rebellion, -let this monument, now dedicated to their memory, stand for a thousand generations. It is another shaft added to the monumental columns of Middlesex. Henceforth shall the inhabitants of Lowell guard for Massachu- setts, for patriotism, and for liberty, this sacred trust, as they of Acton, of Lexington, of Concord, protect the votive stones which commemorate the men of April, '75.


"Let it stand as long as the Merrimac runs from the mountains to the sea ; while this busy stream of human life sweeps on by the banks of the river, bearing to eternity its freight of destiny and hope. It shall speak to your children, not of death, but of im- mortality. It shall stand here, a mute, but expressive witness of the beauty and the dignity of youth and manly prime, consecrated in unselfish obedience to duty. It shall testify that gratitude will remember, and praise will wait on, the humblest, who, by the in- trinsic greatness of their souls, or the worth of their offerings, have risen to the sublime peerage of virtue."


At the close of the services, a banquet was enjoyed at Huntington Hall, which was richly decorated for the oc- casion. Among the adornments were about fifty portraits of those who had laid down their lives for their country dur- ing the past four years, furnished by Count Schwabe, a noble foreigner, who, during the war, contributed thou- sands of dollars for the relief of our sick and wounded


345


THE LOWELL MONUMENT.


soldiers. Beside the 1400 guests feasted here, multi- tudes were provided for elsewhere.


After dinner, in response to sentiments offered by C. C. Chase, Esq., toastmaster, gentlemen were called up by Hon. J. G. Peabody, mayor of the city, president of the day. Rev. Mr. Peck, Gen. B. F. Butler, and Rev. J. W. Hanson, responded. The latter was called out by the following sentiment : -


" THE SIXTH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, first in the field of danger : its record will form a bright page in the history of the Commonwealth."


The reponse was in rhyme, as follows : -


" Of those who at Thermopyla were slain, Glorious the doom and beautiful the lot; Their tomb an altar: men from tears refrain, To honor them and praise, but mourn them not! Such sepulchre nor drear decay, Nor all-destroying time shall waste! "


Two white-winged ships from Europe sought the late-discovered shore Of bountiful America, and each full freightage hore, To colonize the wilderness and found a mighty state, To stand among the nations, down to time's remotest date.


In the Mayflower's rude cabin rode a freedom-loving hand, Resolved that Heaven's great institutes should govern all the land, - Law, liberty, and knowledge, rights of man and fear of God, Should go where'er tlicir homes and fanes should rise above the sod.


In the cabin of the other floated a lordly crew, Whose highest law, " The many shall be subject to the few; " And in the hold beneath them, stripped of all that manhood craves, In manacles of iron, crouched a group of negro slaves.


Each colony a landing found; one reached old Plymouth Rock, And on New England's sterile soil set freedom's hardy stock ; And one in fair Virginia planted that Upas tree Beneath whose poison shadow lies the blight of slavery.


Both grew apace, - their monuments rose high in all the land; The pilgrims built the school-house, the church, and sent the band Of colonizing emigrants, till, like the vital air, Their heaven-born institutions were potent everywhere.


346


THE LOWELL MONUMENT.


The other, cruel, arrogant, its deadly influence threw Wherever its protecting folds the star-sprent banner flew, Till all men's hearts were failing them, as they with anguish saw, Suspended o'er the land, the sword of Heaven's avenging law.


In the heart of each lay nourished a stern, relentless hate; And both foreread the prophecy, writ by the pen of fate, That in a mortal conflict they their forces should array, And Liberty or Slavery bear universal sway.


At length the destined hour came on, when Slavery, filled with hate, Drunken with human suffering, entrenched in church and state, Lifted its iron gauntlet high, to smite, with dastard blow, -


Time's last and best republic, to a fatal overthrow.


The flag that waved on Sumpter's walls, from Carolina's sands, Was rent in twain by hostile shot, - torn down by traitor hands; And where the cloud-born eagle shrieked from ont the stripes and stars, The viper of secession hissed, behind its symbol bars.


But every cannon's lond-voiced wrath, that o'er the country rolls, Finds echoes quick responding in twenty million sonls, - And legions swift, invincible, the summons gathers forth, From the happy homes of freemen, in all the loyal North.


First to meet the hastening danger, foremost to do and die, The sens of Massachusetts heard the lond alarum cry; And Essex shops, and Suffolk marts, and Worcester valleys then, And Middlesex's factories, sent out their bravest men. r


On Baltimore's rude pavement their blood was freely shed ; With an immortal valor they the martyr legions led ; And on the bright'ning pages of the muster-roll of fame, To-day we write, in living light, each proud, illustrions name.


Since then, what sacred blood has poured its tides of crimson glow, By Mississippi's yellow floods, where James's waters flow, Along Potomac's rugged banks, on Carolina's plains ! - A thousand thirsty fields have drunk those pure and precions rains.


To-day four rapid years have passed, and lo! each patriot eye O'er Richmond and o'er Charleston sees again the old flag fly, - The rebel cohorts scattered wide, and Treason's power o'erthrown, Its altar's crumbled fragments in ruin wildly strewn.


A reunited country, restored by patriot hands, Honored at home, and all abroad, she now securely stands, - Her beauteous shield no longer marred by battle-dints and scars; And on her untorn flag she wears all the old stripes and stars !


347


THE LOWELL MONUMENT.


Tears for the fallen martyrs who've died without the sight Of this, the glorious triumph-hour of Justice, Truth and Right! Yet theirs a happier lot to win than ours but to receive; For blessed most of all are those whom God empowers to give!


Each grave shall be a hallowed shrine, a Mecca for men's feet, Around whose sacred boundaries shall countless pilgrims meet, To bless the hands that struggled, and the hearts that nobly bled, - The soldiers of the army, the living and the dead.


Among them all we celebrate OUR DEAD, who went before, And poured their precious blood upon the ground of Baltimore; Their uoble lives and nobler deathis shall still be fondly known, When Time, with iron tooth, shall gnaw to dust yon shaft of stone !


Hail! NEEDHAM, WHITNEY, TAYLOR, LADD! the pioneers were ye, Who led the bright procession on to death-bought victory ! Your memories embalmed shall be in a grateful nation's tears, Your names be passed from sire to son, down all the coming years !


And here shall liuger loving hearts your honored names to read; Here generations yet unborn shall emulate each deed; Your hands have joined to 'Seventy-Five the days of Sixty-One, And married fairest Baltimore to gallant Lexington !


To-day, upon this granite shrine, we kindle a new fire, Whose flame upon its glowing hearth shall never more expire; Its light shall down the future shine, to guide the patriot's way; And men shall learn to live and die, directed by its ray.


And when the drum forgets to throb, when o'er the cannon's mouth The spider weaves his web, and when, from North to farthest Sonth, The sword shall rest in idleness, the battle cry shall cease, And o'er the land the happy bells ring through long years of peace, -


When, from Maine's rugged coast of pines to the far-off Golden Gate, Our happy children shall possess a land regenerate, And our blood-cemented Union, great, glorious, and free, Shall draw the wand'rers of all climes to a realm of liberty, -


To the heroes who have fallen, the brave who've lived and died, To all who've bled for Freedom's sake, she'll point, with holy pride, And, leaning o'er each silent bed, as here we bend to-day, Will pour her choicest chrism ou their consecrated clay.


The monument is of Concord granite, cruciform, meas- uring fifteen feet on the longer, and twelve on the shorter


348


THE LOWELL MONUMENT.


arms. It is twenty-seven feet and six inches high. The central shaft is placed upon a plinth and high base, on the two sides of which, forming the longer arms, are two sarcophagi, having on their sides the names of the mar- tyred soldiers beneath, and on their ends granite leaves. The cornices of the sarcophagi are ornamented with thir- teen raised stars ; four more are on the plinth trusses, . and four near the top of the shaft, making thirty-four, - the number of the States in 1861. On the other two sides of the base, forming the shorter arms, are two plinths, of the same height as the sarcophagi, on one of which is the following inscription : -


" Nothing is here for tears, - nothing to wail, Or knock the breast; no weakness, no contempt, Dispraise or blame ; nothing but well and fair, And what may quiet us in a death so noble."


L. C. LADD. A. O. WHITNEY.


1861.


On the opposite plinth : -


ADDISON O. WHITNEY, BORN IN WALDO, ME., OCT. 30, 1839, LUTHER C. LADD, BORN IN ALEXANDRIA, N. H., DEC. 22, 1843, Marched from Lowell in the 6 M. V. M. to the Defence of the National Capital, And fell mortally wounded in the attack On their regiment while passing through Baltimore, April 19, 1861. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, And the City of Lowell, Dedicate this monument to their memory, April 19, 1865.


A. O. WHITNEY.


L. C. LADD.


349


THE LOWELL MONUMENT.


The horizontal lines are merged into the vertical by fluted trusses, resting upon the four arms ; and above these is a plinth, with moulded base and ornamental cornice, on two sides of which are bronzed medallions, representing the coats of arms of Massachusetts and Lowell, respectively. Upon the plinth is a pyramidal shaft, terminating in a cone.


These ceremonies were a fitting conclusion to the career of the Sixth during the great Four Years' Rebel- lion. Having felt the first blows given in the war, it had sent into other organizations those who received the last blows, and who yet remain in the service of their country. Not a moment during the struggle was it unrepresented or misrepresented. And now, with its ranks full, its discipline thorough, with accomplished officers and brave men, it is, and (let us hope) will ever remain, as in 1861, ready to quell domestic trea- son, or repel foreign aggression, should either ever threaten. May it always do honor to its historic tra- ditions and fame !


APPENDIX.


THE adventures of the car containing company K and Major Watson, having been somewhat different from those of the rest of the regiment, the author desired Major Watson to furnish the story in his own language. Just as this book was being published, I received the following, which will be of great interest to all. I extract from the Register that part which has not previously been stated in these pages.


" LAWRENCE, October 30th, 1865.


" My dear Sir, - I regret that my engagments have not permitted me time to comply with your request, that I should furnish you a state- ment of my recollections of the first campaign of the Old Sixth. I have been too much engaged to write a single line at any time, for publication, about the deeds of our good old regiment. In looking over the Massa- chusetts State Register for 1862, I find a statement which briefly and imperfectly, but nevertheless substantially, embodies my recollections of that part of the passage through Baltimore coming under my personal observation. I think it is mainly to be relied on; but it would be strange if all memories should exactly agree upon the details of that exciting occasion. You are at liberty to make such use of this as you may think proper. Very truly, your obedient servant,


" B. F. WATSON.


" Rev. JOHN W. HANSON,


" Chaplain and Historian of 6th Regiment Mass. Vol. Militia, Haverhill, Mass."


* * " On arriving at the Susquehanna, our train was greatly augmented by the addition of cars containing an unarmed corps of young men, apparently from sixteen to twenty-two years of age,


(350)


351


APPENDIX.


numbering, as was said, about one thousand, and calling them- selves Small's Brigade. I am unaware that any official recognition took place between the two corps at any time. In re-arranging the train on the south side of the Susquehanna, it being night-time, some of the cars, in which were a portion of the Sixth Regiment, were misplaced, separating them from the other companies of the regiment, and breaking the order in which it was embarked in the cars at Philadelphia; namely, in regular order from right to left, each company occupying a single car, the last and ' left' com- pany being company K, Captain Sampson, from Boston. This disarrangement of the line was not discovered by the regimental officers, and was afterward the occasion of unhappy results. The great length of the train so retarded its speed that we did not ar- rive in Baltimore until nearly noon. * * * The colonel also ordered Major Watson, his second in command, to repair, upon the stop- ping of the train, to the left company, Capt. Sampson, to remain in the car with that company until ordered to file out into place in column, and charged him to see the rear of the battalion through the city. When the train arrived and stopped, Major Watson proceeded, in obedience to this order, through the gather- ing and excited crowd, from the forward car to that one containing Capt. Sampson's command. No orders came to file out ; and, in a few minutes' time, all of the cars forward of the one occupied by Capt. Sampson's company, or the larger portion of that com- pany, disappeared, and horses were being attached to that. We knew notlring of the movements of the balance of the regiment, as no intimation had been transmitted to us of a change in the orders. Our car was drawn by horses until it came to the first turn in the street, when, owing to the obstructions, it was thrown from the track. Major Watson ordered Capt. Sampson to pre- vent his men from leaving the car, while he, with the aid of a pass- ing team, succeeded in replacing the car upon the track. At this time, the mob were much excited, and many missiles were thrown


352


APPENDIX.


at and into the car. We proceeded on to Pratt Street, nearly opposite the dock, when the mob surrounded the car, and, de- taching the horses, stopped the car in suspicious proximity to a large pile of paving-stones. Here a most furious and determined attack was made with stones and other missiles and fire-arms, wounding several in the car, and making of it almost a complete wreck. After we were fired upon, the fire was returned from the car. Major Watson ordered the command to shelter them- selves, so far as was possible, by lying upon the floor of the ear, while he went out into the crowd, and by threats, enforced by the formidable appearance of his revolver, compelled the driver to re-attach the horses, and, amid a fresh volley, it went forward a short distance, when the horses were again detached. Here the crowd was less numerous, and Major Watson succeeded in again getting the horses replaced ; and the car was drawn to the Washington Depot without further difficulty, other than an occa- sional stray shot or brick-bat and torrents of imprecations and threats."


ERRATA BY THE AUTHOR.


" 92, Huntington should be Harrington.


" 101, for Garson, read Ganson.


" 102, 1. 9, for May, read Maj.


" 118, 1. 2, for Harrsion, read Harrison.


" " 1. 13, for Lowell, read Lovell.


" 150, and 151, for Terry, read Ferry.


" 322, 1. 12, For Mathu, read Mather.


1924


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