USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > Historical sketches relating to Spencer, Mass., Volume III > Part 13
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Many others of Co. C on this charge were wounded with more or less severity. Three of them so seriously that their recovery was unexpected but all of them lived and in time got well. Their names were: Elixe Bouley of Spencer, Herbert Claffey of Brook- field and Jeffrey Vail of Worcester. All disabled for life they were discharged for disability and their names placed on the pension rolls .- Maj. Wm. T. Harlow.
89 DAVIS, FREEMAN. Shoemaker, aged nineteen, born at Newmarket, N. H. Enlisted July 12, 1861, as a private in Co. E, 15th Mass. Vols., was wounded in the side at Battle of Ball's Bluff and discharged for disability May 14, 1863. He re- enlisted from Leicester, June 10, 1864, was made corporal in Co. F, 57th Mass. Vols. and credited to Bolton. At the Battle of the Wilderness May 8, 1864, he was probably killed by a musket ball through the breast. After being hit and fallen to the ground he is said to have raised himself and fired his last shot. The woods in which he lay soon caught on fire and if he had not already died of his wound he must literally have been roasted to death. He was a brother of James L. Davis of Co. E, 15th regiment.
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Their father, Stephen H. Davis, lived at Westville. His wife died and was buried in the old cemetery.
90 DAVIS, JAMES I,. Private Co. E, 15th Mass. Vols., bootmaker, eighteen, single, Spencer. Enlisted Feb. 11, 1862, mustered in Feb. 11, 1862, re-enlisted Feb. 22, 1864 and credited. to Millbury, transferred from Co. E, 15th, to Co. E, 20th Mass. Vols., prisoner of war, June 1864, released Dec. 16, 1864, dis- charged June 21, 1865.
91 DENNIS, HENRY L. Was born the sixth day of May, 1841, in Hardwick. Was drafted at Spencer July 14, 1863. En- listed for the navy at the shipping office in Boston the day fol- lowing. Went to sea in the frigate St. Lawrence and was dis- charged at Washington from the mortar schooner Sophronia, July 18, 1864. Was credited to Spencer, where he is now living and follows the business of house painting.
92 DICKINSON, NATHAN S. Was born Aug. 31, 1836, at Barre. He was a farmer and had hired for one year the farm now owned by Myron Ludden. He was at work on the place when he enlisted as a private in Co. C, 25th Mass. Vols., Oct. 5, 1861. He was discharged for disability, but after recovery re- enlisted in same company and regiment on quota of North Brook- field and was paid a bounty of $290.66. He was in all the bat- tles of his regiment including that of Cold Harbor June 3, 1864, where he was wounded and taken to the hospital at Washington, D. C., (not Philadelphia) where he died Aug. 17, 1864. His widow now living (1903) at North Brookfield, went to Wash- ington, obtained the body and he was buried in that town. [Por- trait page 42, this volume.
93 DOHERTY, EDWARD C. Private Co. C, 19th Mass. Vols., tailor, married, thirty-one, Boston, credited to Spencer, Enlisted July 31, 1863, mustered July 31, 1863, transferred to Co. F, 28th Mass. Vols., Jan. 14, 1864, mustered out July 16, 1865.
94 DOLAN, JAMES. Unassigned recruit. Private, twen- ty-two, Spencer, mustered in June 9, 1864. Never joined regi- ment.
95 DOLMAN, CHARLES. Private Co. F, 5th Cav., la- borer, twenty-two, Spencer. Enlisted June 8, 1864, mustered in June 8, 1864, mustered out Oct. 31, 1865 at expiration of ser- vice.
96 DRAPER, CHARLES H. Private Co. I, 2d Mass. Hy. Art. Born in Spencer, July 13, 1848, farmer, eighteen, Spencer. Enlisted Dec. 17, 1863. Mustered in Jan. 2, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 3, 1865. After the war went to Worcester and
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engaged in the trucking and livery business. Deceased. Family went to Buffalo, N. Y.
97 DUVAL, PHILIP. Private Co. H, 2d Mass. Cav., bootmaker, twenty-three, single, Worcester. Enlisted Mch. 20, 1863. Mustered in June 20, 1863. Mustered out July 20, 1865.
98 FANNING. WILLIAM. Single, shoemaker, son of Edward Fanning, Spencer, was born in Tramore, County of Waterford, Ireland, Mch. 8, 1844. Served in the United States Navy it is thought on board the ship Iosco. After the war re- turned home, but finally settled at Natick, where he died Jan'y 27, 1867, and was there buried.
99 FARREL, GEORGE. Private Co. F, 5th Cav. Labor- er, twenty-one, from Charles Co., Md. Credited to Spencer. Enlisted June 8, 1864. Mustered in June 8, 1864. Died July 29, 1864, at Point Lookout, Md.
100 FAY, CHARLES L. Private Co. E, 34th Mass. Vols. bootmaker, thirty-nine, married, Spencer. Enlisted Dec. 1, 1863. Mustered in Dec. 1, 1863. Transferred to Co. A, 24th Mass. Vols. Mustered out Jan. 20, 1866. Lives at Hill, New Hampshire.
101 FAY, JAMES C. Private Co. C, 2d Heavy Art., shoe- maker, twenty-one, single, Fitchburg. Credited to Spencer. Enlisted June 7, 1864. Mustered in June 8, 1864. Discharged Sept. 3, 1865.
102 FLINT, ALBERT S. Private Co. C, 25th Mass. Vols. mechanic, nineteen, single, Spencer. Enlisted Oct. 9, 1861. Mustered in Oct. 9, 1861. Discharged disabled, Nov. 8, 1862, at Newbern, N. C.
103 FOGG, LUCIEN. A brother of Mrs. Henry R. Green. East Main St., and Mrs. Ward Bush, was born at Thomaston, Me., May 1, 1843. Enlisted June 21, 1861, to enter the service. He was promoted to the rank of corporal and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. He was a member of Co. H, 10th Mass. Vols. About five miles from Washington, D. C., the 10th Regt. and brigade to which it belonged built three earth forts, one of them called Fort Massa- chusetts. There was an underground entrance to this fort which Fogg was guarding one night when the Lieut .- Colonel of the New York 36th Regiment, considerably under the influence of liquor, came up on horseback. He refused to give the countersign and tried to force an entrance. Fogg at once took aim and fired, the bullet taking off an epaulet and the flesh underneath it to the bone. This sobered the officer who, after apologizing and com- mending Fogg for attention to duty, drove away to have his wound dressed, glad indeed to have escaped with his life. [Por- trait page 62 this volume.
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104 FORREST, DANIEL. Was born the eleventh day of Feb., 1841, in the County of Cork, Ireland. He entered the service Aug. 13, 1862, as a private in Co. I, 50th Regt. Mass. Vols. and was discharged Aug 13, 1863, his term of service having expired. He was in the forty-nine days' siege of Port Hudson which he considered the most important event in his service. He died Oct. 31, 1881, and was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery.
105 FORREST, WILLIAM. Was born July 2d, 1844, in Leicester. He entered the service Sept. 30, 1862, as a private in Co. I, 50th Regt. Mass. Vols., and on expiration of service was discharged Aug. 24, 1863. He re-enlisted as " corporal " in Co. C, 4th Mass. Cavalry and was finally discharged Nov. 27, 1865, the war having closed. He deemed the siege of Port Hudson, forty-nine days, to be the most important event in his service. He died March 18, 1883, at North Brookfield.
106 FRINK, WILLARD A. Was born July 14, 1836, at Brookfield, and was a twin brother of Wm. A. Mendell, now of High street, Spencer. He enlisted Jan'y 5, 1864, as a private in Co. H, 25th Mass. Vols. and was killed at Drury's Bluff, Va., May 16, 1864, a little more than four months after he entered the service. His widow now resides in Spencer. [Portrait page 66 this volume.
107 FOSTER, WILLIAM. Private 7th Batt. Light Art., laborer, twenty-three, single, New York. Credited to Spencer. Enlisted June 3, 1864. Mustered in June 3, 1864. Never joined for service.
108 GAGE, GARDINER M. Housepainter, was born at Monson, Feb'y 4, 1820. He had been in Spencer only about two weeks when he and his brother, James W. H. Gage, enlisted July 19, 1862, as privates in Co. E, 34th Mass. Vols., and later the first named was made corporal. He was one of the color guard when the 34th was stationed at Harper's Ferry and because of this had more privileges than were accorded the rank and file. He was allowed to hire a house, send for his wife, set up house- keeping and had the comforts of home life, rather than the rough life of the camp. The time, however, came when the regiment was ordered to the front, and on Oct. 13, 1863, at the battle of Berryville, Va., Gardiner M. Gage was shot in the breast and mortally wounded. Walton Livermore was beside him in line when the bullet did its deadly work. His wife and son obtained the body and it was buried with military honors in his native town. [Portrait on page 70 this volume.
109 GAGE, JAMES W. H. Private Co. E, 34th Mass. Vols., painter, thirty-one, single, Spencer. Enlisted July 19, 1862. Mustered in July 31, 1862. Mustered out June 16, 1865.
Deceased at South Framingham.
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111 GIBBS, LYMAN C. Just before the war, came to Spent- cer from New Salem, where he was born eighteen years before, and entered into employment at farm work and brick making with Mr. Abner Howland. He was a bright and hopeful youth, quickly learned the drill and guard duty and no doubt, had he lived longer, would have been a very useful soldier. He was the first of his company and the first of his regiment to lose his life in his country's service. His company was guarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad between Annapolis Junction and Laurel Station about six miles southerly from the Junction towards Washington. Sentinels were posted on beats along the railroad with an extra one on a bridge over the Patuxent river. Gibbs, who was on duty at the bridge, was run over and killed by the cars the night of Sept. 6, 1861. Of course it was an acci- dent and the manner of it was never known. The discharge of a gun at the bridge was heard by the other sentinels, and by the officer in charge at Laurel. Lieut. Kilton, who imme- diately with men and lanterns went to the bridge, found the mangled body of Gibbs on the track. Until his gun was found, which was not immediately, it was supposed that he had been shot by an enemy. The discharge, undoubtedly that of Gibbs' own gun, which was loaded and had a cap hammered down ac- cording to the rule on guard duty, resulted, probably, from either the direct stroke of the engine on the gun or from the gun being thrown by the stroke violently to the ground. Leave was obtained to bury his body in the little cemetery at the village of Laurel and a grave was dug there for him. As many of his com- rades as could be spared from guard duty followed his body with reversed arms. In the absence of the chaplain Lieut. Harlow read the burial service and his comrades in arms fired a last parting salute over poor Gibbs. Sadder funeral was never attended in peace or in war. - Maj. Wm. T. Harlow.
Soldier Gibbs enlisted in Co. C, 21st Mass. Vols., July 23, 1861. He wished in a few days he had not entered into the contract but when he failed to present himself for duty an officer was sent for him and without hesitating he gathered up his small personal estate and went with him. Pension No. 171, one of the earliest issued on account of the Civil War, was (probably) granted to his mother as he had no wife. He was a capital story teller and popular with his comrades. Credited to New Salem although a Spencer soldier.
112 GIBSON, EDMUND J. Private, Co. K, 25th Mass. Vols. Farmer, nineteen, single, Spencer. Enlisted Sept. 16, 1861. Mustered in Sept. 16, 1861. Re-enlisted Jan. 18, 1864. Credited to Spencer. Discharged June 29, 1865.
10
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113 GIFFIN, CHARLES H. Private, Co. E, 34th Mass., Vols. Bootmaker, thirty-eight, musician, married. Spencer. Enlisted July 19, 1862. Mustered in July 31, 1862. Mustered out July 5, 1865. Lived at Brookfield. Deceased.
114 GILES, NATHAN. Private, twenty-one. Mustered in Jan. 19, 1865. 64th Regt. Colored Troops.
115 GREEN, ALANSON. Private, Co. D, 3rd Mass. Cav. Bootmaker, thirty-seven, married, Spencer. Discharged July 29, 1865 by G. O. W. D. Living at Spencer.
116 GREEN, DAVID. Was born Aug. 20, 1827, at Wren- tham. Enlisted Jan. 4, 1864, as a private in Co. D, 3rd Mass. Cav. and died in hospital at Algiers, La., July 28, 1864. Was married. His widow married Harry Smith and now resides in Chelsea. Portrait on page 78 of this volume.
117 GREEN, JAMES. Unassigned recruit. Private, twenty-two, Spencer. Mustered in June 9, 1864. Never joined regiment.
JOEL W. GREEN
118 GREEN, JAMES W. Private Co. E, 34th Mass. Vols. Boot crimper, thirty-eight, married, Spencer. Enlisted July 19, 1862. Mustered in July 31, 1862. Discharged disabled April 4, 1865.
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119 GREEN, JOEL WRIGHT. Tinman. Son of Sam- uel B. Green, was born in Spencer, Dec. 4, 1840. He enlisted as a private Sept. 17, 1861, in Co. C, 1st Cavalry and died of disease at Potomac Creek, Va .. Jan. 22, 1863. His body was brought home for burial and interred in the old Cunningham cemetery.
120 GREEN, THEODORE. Private Co. F, 60th Mass. Vols., twenty, Spencer. Mustered in July 20, 1864. Expiration of service, Nov. 30, 1864. Lives in or near Boston. Manufac- tures lumber in New Hampshire.
121 GRIFFIN, MICHAEL. Was born August 26, 1833, in Kelworth, Ireland. He entered the service Dec. 26, 1863, as a private in Co. A, 4th Regt. Mass. Cavalry, and made Corporal June 5, 1864. Was discharged as Commissary Sergeant at Rich- mond, Va., Nov. 14th, 1865, by order of the War Department. Living in Spencer.
122 GROUT, JOHN E. Private Co. H, 57th Mass. Vols. Farmer, thirty-three, married, Spencer. Enlisted Dec. 19, 1863. Mustered in Jan. 11, 1864. Discharged July 1, 1864, by order of Gen. Dix.
123 GUILFORD, JONAS. Private Co. F, 60th Mass. Vols. Twenty-four, Spencer. Mustered in July 20, 1864. Ex- piration of service Nov. 30, 1864. For biography see Vol. II, page 167. Lawyer at Minneapolis, Minn.
124 HALE, AMOS H. Corporal Co. E, 34th Mass. Vols. Boot click, twenty-three, single, Spencer. Enlisted July 19, 1862. Mustered in July 31, 1862. Mustered out June 16, 1865. After the war engaged in business in Chicago. At present clerk in broker's office at Danville, Il1.
125 HALE, HENRY A. Private Co. E, 34th Mass. Vols. Boot click, twenty, single, Spencer. Enlisted July 19, 1862. Mustered in July 31, 1862. Discharged, disabled, May 1, 1863. Living at North Adams. Employed in shoe factory.
126 HALE, WILLIAM S. Was born Nov. 18, 1845, in Spencer. Entered the service July 13, 1864 as a private in Co. E. 60th Regt. Mass. Vol . Militia, and was discharged Nov. 30, 1864, by reason of expiration of service. He was commissioned as bugler while in service which rank he held when discharged. He states that the most important event occurring during his service was destroying the " Knights of the Golden Circle " in Indiana. At present clerk in office of Secretary of State, Albany, New York.
127 HALL, FRANCIS E. Private Co. F, 60th Mass. Vols. Twenty-three, Spencer. Mustered in July 20, 1864. Expir- ation of service Nov. 30, 1864. Resides at Quincy, Mass.
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128 HARDING, GEORGE W. Private Co. K, 21st Mass. Vols. Farmer, eighteen, Spencer. Enlisted July 19, 1861. Mustered in July 19, 1861. Discharged for disability May 8, 1862.
129 HARLOW, William T. First Lieut. Co. C, 21st Mass.
Vols. Lawyer, thirty-two, single, Spencer. Enlisted July 23,
1861. Mustered in August 23, 1861. Captain July 29, 1862. Resigned April 25, 1863. [See biography, this volume, page 9.]
130 HARRINGTON, DENNIS. Private Co. E, 25th Mass. Vols. Bootmaker, twenty-seven, married, Spencer. Enlisted June 3, 1862. Mustered in June 3, 1862, Born in Ireland, July 3, 1832. Died Sept. 21, 1862, in hospital at Newbern, N. C.
131 HASTINGS, JOHN G. Was born in North Provi- dence, R. I. He entered the service June 21, 1861, as a private in Co. H, 10th Regt. Mass. Vols., and was discharged Dec. 21, 1861, for disability brought on by malaria. He did not ask for his discharge, preferring to stay with his regiment and fight as opportunity came, but the doctors said he would certainly die if he stayed in the malarial district, so there appeared no other alter- native but to return home. After he reached Spencer he was unable to work and was in reduced circumstances, such as he had never experienced before during his married life, but the good people of the town in many ways and at divers times showed their ready sympathy for a man who had gone to the front to fight their battles and through no fault of his own had lost his health. Mr. Hastings finding he could not pay his rent called upon Asa T. Jones, his landlord, and stated the case. ¿ "Don't worry about rent," said Mr. Jones. "As long as you are sick and unable to pay rent you will not be turned out of doors." One day Mr. Hastings was surprised to find Henry Bemis unload- ing a cord of hard wood at his residence. "I thought," said Mr. Bemis "you might want a little wood, and so brought you some. It won't cost you anything, and I thought would help you along through the winter." Passing down Main street by Union block Abram Capen stood outside his market door and asked Mr. Hastings to come in. "What kind of meat do you like best ?" said Mr. Capen. Mr. Hastings told him and ample slices were cut off and handed him without money and without price. This was not the last of Mr. Capen's favors in that line, and so the good work went on until Mr. Hastings recovered his health and became able to pursue his former avocation.
Mr. Hastings lives in Spencer, engaged in the fish business.
" 'Tis woven in the world's great plan, And fixed by Heaven's decree That all the true delight of man Should spring from sympathy."
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INDIVIDUAL WAR RECORDS.
132 HAWES, LEROY. Was born at New Braintree, Sept. 24, 1839 and enlisted as a private in Co. E, 34th Mass. Vols. July 31, 1862. He died on hospital transport April 3, 1865. When living in Spencer he made his home for several years with the late Isaac Hill, on the road to North Spencer. [See portrait on page 38 this volume.
133 HENRY, CORPORAL GEORGE W. Was a native of Spencer and an intimate friend and companion of Corporal Barr before as well as after their enlistment in the 21st. Henry was twenty years old at the time. His parents, with whom he was then living, resided in the south part of the town.
Barr and Henry, before they came to the 21st, had enlisted in the Worcester company-Co. D, of the 15th, and had learned to drill at Camp Scott where the 15th was encamped. On ac- count of dissatisfaction about officers they left the 15th before muster into the U. S. service. On account of their good drill they were both made corporals to begin with. Henry was a young man of good promise and an excellent soldier and non- commissioned officer. He and another Spencer man of Co. C, Samuel D. Sargent, were both killed at the same volley of the enemy at the first battle of the 21st, at Roanoke Island, Feb. 8, 1862, and buried near where they fell.
It would seem appropriate to give a brief account of the bat- tle where the town of Spencer suffered its first loss in the war. The 21st landed on Roanoke late in the afternoon of Feb. 7, 1862, and without supper or sleep spent the night on picket in front of the selected and fortified position of the enemy. The island is a long, narrow crescent-shaped strip of land with a great swamp extending across the middle of it and a single road, run- ning lengthwise of the island and through the swamp, of cordu- roy about fifteen feet wide. Across this road in the swamp, the rebels had built a redoubt with four embrasures in it for cannon to concentrate their fire on this corduroy road which was flanked on both sides by the swamp, full of mud and water, brush and briars and had been deemed impassable for troops by the rebel engineers.
On the morning of February 8, 1862, several other regi- ments marched past the 21st to attack the rebel position in front and were repulsed, after which attempts were made to flank the position both on the right and on the left. The 21st were of the flanking party, Reno's Brigade on the rebel right, and at lengtli succeeded in reaching a position directly on the right flank of the rebel redoubt. Gen. Reno immediately ordered a charge by his brigade. It was upon this charge that Henry and
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Sargent both fell. This charge was immediately followed by another charge of Parks' Brigade on the opposite flank, and by Foster's Brigade in front. But of them all the 21st Mass. was the first regiment to get into the redoubt. The enemy left without delay. [See portrait, page 21, this volume. - Maj. W. T. Harlow.
This Spencer boy was killed by a bullet entering his mouth and then passing onward with barely force enough to go through the brain. The bullet is said then to have dropped to the ground and was thought to have been the same one that killed Samuel D. Sargent. Henry was directly behind Sargent at the time. [See portrait, page 19, this volume. ]
He was buried beside his comrade, Sargent, near the earth- works at the fort. Afterward some of the soldiers remembering that he had a ten dollar bill in one of his pockets disinterred the body, recovered the money and sent it home to his parents. Thus passed on to the spirit world the first native born Spencer soldier killed in battle during the Civil War.
134 HEFFRON, THOMAS. Was a son of Thomas Ileffron, currier, and at the time of his enlistment was, with his father, employed as a currier by Isaac Prouty at his currier shop on North street. He joined Co. A, 154th New York Vols. at Randolph, N. Y., Aug. 5, 1862, and was killed in battle at Pine Knob, Ga., June 15, 1864. [See portrait page 34.]
135 HICKEY, JOHN. Private, Co. C, 4th Mass. Cav. Bootmaker, twenty-three, married, Spencer. Enlisted Feb. 8, 1864. Mustered in Feb. 18, 1864. Mustered out Nov. 14, 1865.
136 HINDLEY, SOLOMON KINGSBURY. Was born April 29, 1837, in Manchester, England. Entered the service at Springfield, Mass., as a private in Co. H, 10th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. Was discharged at Boston, June 21, 1864, his term of enlistment having expired. He was promoted to Corporal. His first battle was at Fredericksburg, Va. Subsequently he participated in the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. His most intimate comrades in the service were John W. Bigelow of Spencer, George H. Howard of West Brookfield, Patrick Kelley of Spencer, Andrew Suner of Shelburne Falls, and Micaja H. Vincent of Conway, Mass. He had a partial attack of paralysis March 31, 1862, on the Peninsular and was not reported for duty until June, 1863. In the meantime he performed such duties as his condition would permit. He was company commissary for two years and was quartermaster's clerk in the winter of 1862-3. At the battle of Gettysburg he was prostrated by sunstroke and again a few days later at Frinkstown, Md. At the time of the first draft he was detailed for duty in Massachusetts, being
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INDIVIDUAL WAR RECORDS.
chief clerk in Gen. Devens' office at Galloup's Island, Boston Harbor. After this he was for a long time with the Bullard Arms company of Springfield and later was private secretary to G. Henry Whitcomb, envelope manufacturer, of Worcester, Mass. He was an expert accountant and while with Mr. Whit- comb had charge of the financial books of Amherst College, of
which institution Mr. Whitcomb was treasurer.
His health
failing, he purchased the former homestead of his father-in-law, Isaac N. Stearns, near Hillsville. Here he farmed for some years, much to his satisfaction, when a further decline in health made it advisable to sell his place which he did and removed to the old homestead of his father. John Hindley, nearby. Here he lived until his death, October 13, 1902, and was buried in Pine Grove cemetery. He became much interested in religion during the last few years of his life and was an earnest and val- ued member of the M. E. church. ( Portrait on page 84) He died ini the hope of a blissful immortality-
" The last end of the good man is peace How calın his exit: Night dews fall not more gently to the ground Nor weary. wo. n out winds expire so soft."
GEO. H. HOWARD
WALTON LIVERMORE
137 HORAN. THOMAS. Private, 25th Mass. Vols. Un-
assigned recruit. Mason, thirty-eight, Boston. Credited to Spencer. Enlisted June 15, 1864 Mustered in June 15, 1864.
138 HOWARD, GEORGE H. Private Co. H, 10th Mass. Vols Bootmaker, twenty-six, single, Spencer. Enlisted June 21, 1861. Mustered in June 21, 1861 Mustered out July 1, 1864 Under date of Nov. 12, 1903, Mr. Howard writes: "I have lived in West Brookfield most of the time since the war. I
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was a merchant for several years until my health failed me en- tirely. I have not seen a well day since I came out of the army My left side is paralyzed; I have not walked without crutches for twenty-five years. Had it not been for the care of my beloved and devoted wife I should have answered the roll-call on the other side years ago."
139 HOWES, ALDEN B. Private Co. C, 21st Mass. Vols. Shoemaker, forty-one married, Spencer. Enlisted July 23, 1861. Mustered in Aug. 23, 1861. Transferred to Co. I, 36th Mass. Vols. Re-enlisted Jan. 1. 1864. Mustered in Jan. 2,1864. Credited to Spencer. Transferred to Co. C, 56th Mass. Vols. June 8, 1865. Mustered out July 12, 1865.
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