History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 10

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292

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The brig Reindeer, Captain Nathaniel Snow, of Truro, having a crew mostly of Cape Cod men, sailed from Boston in the month of De- cember, 1814, under letters of marque to cruise in the vicinity of the Western islands and on the coast of Spain, to capture and annoy the British commerce. They encountered a terrific gale in the Bay of Biscay, and came very near being lost. Between the Western island and the mouth of the English channel they captured six prizes. After removing portions of the cargo, they burned the vessels. They fell in with several other fleets of merchantmen, but as they were of su- perior strength and under a strong convoy, they were obliged to with- draw, and sailed for the harbor of Corunna, a seaport of Spain, in the province of Galicia. Before the vessel was ready for sailing they re: ceived the intelligence that peace had been declared between the United States and Great Britain.

During the last year of the war the people of Barnstable county experienced the greatest deprivations of the necessaries of life. The intercourse between the states was so far interrupted that a small quantity only of flour and corn could be obtained from the southern ports, and the small amount that was in the market brought great prices. Flour sold for eighteen dollars per barrel, and corn brought $2.50 per bushel. It was almost impossible for vessels to reach the West Indies and return in safety, consequently molasses and sugar were very scarce. The good housewives, however, would improvise a kind of molasses from cornstalks and pumpkins, which was quite a good substitute for the real article, serving an excellent purpose in the culinary department, besides making the wives of those days doubly sweet to their lords, and each could say of his wife, with Milton,

"Love, sweetness, goodness in her person shined."

On account of the geographical situation of Cape Cod, projecting about sixty miles out into the Atlantic ocean, and all the towns thereon being approachable by water, no part of the country was more ex- posed to the rapacity of the enemy than this portion of Massachusetts. The inhabitants were in constant fear and trepidation during the war, thinking that the foe might at any time land and devastate their homes.

MILITARY HISTORY.

As the British cruisers were most of the time in the eastern por- tions of American waters, Cape Cod was in proximity to the scene of several naval conflicts, and it was no uncommon sound for the people to hear the heavy roar of artillery as it came booming over the bosom of old ocean. The heavy cannonading of that celebrated naval duel between the Chesapeake and Shannon, off Boston harbor June 1, 1813, was distinctly heard by the people of Cape Cod.

The town of Falmouth was greatly harrassed by the British during the war. A bombardment took place at one time by which the meet- ing house and several dwelling houses were slightly injured. It is a matter of wonderment that they did not entirely destroy the town, as it was so exposed to the range of their guns, and possessing as they did a spirit of vandalism which manifested itself afterward in bom- barding Stonington, Conn., burning the capitol at Washington, the congressional library and other public buildings, besides destroying private dwellings and storehouses.

A demand was made upon Orleans by the British for the payment of a certain sum of money as a protection against the destruction of property and for the safety of the inhabitants, but the insulting requi- sition was peremptorily declined. On the 19th of December, 1814, they attempted to land from their barges and put into execution their oft-repeated threats. Their movements were quickly observed by the citizens, an alarm was given and in a short time the militia of the town was at Rock harbor, the place of operations. A lively encounter took place and one or more of the invaders were killed. After a short skir- mish they were repulsed and returned to their. ship, which was at anchor outside of the bar. The militia of the adjoining towns, on learning that demonstrations were being made at Orleans, started at once for the scene of action, but did not arrive in season to take part in the action. This little skirmish was styled the " Battle of Orleans," and about sixty years after the participants or their surviving widows obtained, under an act of congress passed March 3, 1855, land war- rants of 160 acres as a bounty, and a few were granted pensions under an act of congress passed March 9, 1878, giving a pension to all sailors or soldiers who were in any engagement during the war of 1812.

A report reached several of the Cape towns on the second of Octo- ber, 1814, that the enemy were making preparations to land at Barn- stable. The militia turned out in full force and soon were en route for the contemplated scene of action. No attack was made, however, and the several companies returned to their homes after two nights' tarry in camp at Barnstable.

The constant watchfulness and vigilance of the people were evi- dently known to the British in their armed vessels as they hovered about the bay, and it is highly probable that they would have landed

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

and done much mischief, even devastated the Cape, had no resistance been offered. But in repelling the invaders the defenders of the soil had the " vantage grounds," for had they attempted to land in force at low tide the militia and citizens under arms could have easily kept them at bay on the treacherous flats, from their fortified positions on the shore, until the tide arose, when they would have been over- whelmed by its flow, like Pharoah's army of old. To have landed at high tide would have been equally as disastrous, for it would have been very difficult for them to effect a landing from their barges in any kind of military order in the face of such a determined opposition as the militia and citizen soldiery presented.

The people of the Cape during the war maintained that spirit of resistance to British tyranny which characterized the American people all over the Union, and in the protection of their homes displayed patient endurance and zealous patriotism.

The downfall of Napoleon in 1814, caused by the allied powers of Europe, put an end to the contest, and the principal causes of the war between the United States and England were removed. The object for which the war was waged having been gained, peace was effected December 24, 1814, at Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, Austria, and ratified by the United States government February 17th follow- ing. Again, as Watson has it,

" The stars and stripes, Columbia's sacred flag, Like eagle's pinions fluttered in the breeze: And the Red Lion, haughty Briton's emblem, Discomfited, went howling back with rage, To lair amidst the white cliffs of Albion."

The news of peace was hailed with joy by the citizens of Barn- stable county. Under its glorious sunlight a degree of prosperity soon manifested itself in all departments of business. The hardy fishermen resumed their toils upon the waters without fear of molesta- tion from armed cruisers. Commerce spread its white wings in pro- fusion over the billows, and the industries of the land started up with new life and increased vigor.

CHAPTER VII.

MILITARY HISTORY (Concluded).

The Civil War .- The Election of Lincoln and the Fall of Sumter .- The first Call for Three-Months' Men .- Response from the Cape Towns .- War Meetings .- Subsequent Calls .- Bounties .- Enlistments .- Return of the Volunteers .- G. A. R. Posts .- Mon- uments.

T HE news of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, in April, 1861, greatly affected and changed the feelings of the political parties of the Cape; and when the surrender of the fort by Major Anderson, on the 13th, was announced, the feeling was almost unani- mous in favor of crushing the rebellion, the method remaining the only party question. Of the citizens of the Cape large numbers were engaged in various pursuits on the sea; but those at home recognized the issue as inevitable and were at once determined in their action.

On the morning of Monday, April 15th, appeared the proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, calling for seventy-five thousand men for three months, to suppress the rebellion. Its effect was like an electric spark in quickening the resolution and action of the men of this county. The president's estimate was short of the necessities of the movement, as the history of the war abundantly proved; but to his calm and judi- cious patriotism a grateful nation has erected enduring monuments of granite, and engraved his deeds upon lasting pages of history.

The first official act of this Commonwealth relating to the war was the recommendation by Governor Andrew, in January, 1861, that the adjutant general ascertain with accuracy the number of officers and men of the volunteer militia of the state who would instantly respond to any call of the president of the United States for troops. January 23, 1861, the legislature passed a resolution tendering to the president the aid of the Commonwealth in enforcing the laws; and February 15th an act was approved providing for the retention in service of all mili- tia organizations then existing, and for the formation, " as the public exigency may require," of other companies by the municipal officers of cities and the selectmen of towns. On April 3, 1861, the first ap- propriation made by the legislature for war purposes was a sum of twenty-five thousand dollars to equip two thousand soldiers for active service. In May of that year the legislature, before its adjournment,

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

gave full power to the governor and his council to issue scrip, or cer- tificates of debt, in various sums not to exceed seven million dollars, to be expended for the government; and gave authority to towns to raise money by taxation for war purposes, for which the state would reimburse them to a limited extent. Let such patriotism, manifested thus early in the Old Bay State, be forever on record for the benefit of the present and unborn generations! Her militia were first in the field. On the 15th of April, 1861, a telegram was received from Sen- ator Wilson at Washington, requesting twenty companies to be sent to the national capital to act in defense of that city. The request was immediately complied with by sending state militia, whose military history is foreign to this chapter.

The first seven companies enlisted in the state under the call of the president. which were subsequently the first mustered into the service of the United States for the term of three years, were the nucleus of what was actually the first, but misleadingly numbered the Twenty-ninth Regular M. V. These seven companies were those of Captain Chamberlain, raised in Lynn, April 18th; Captains Tyler and Clarke, raised in Boston, April 19th; Captain Chipman, Sandwich, April 20th; Captains Leach, Barnes and Doten, raised respectively in East Bridgewater, East Boston and Plymouth, about April 20th. Thus the Cape raised the fourth of the first seven companies enlisted in Massachusetts within four days after the call.

With only a few hours' notice, a very large meeting was held Sat- urday evening, April 20, at Sandwich, "to devise means and ways to raise a company of troops for the defence of the country." Theodore Kern called the meeting to order, Dr. Jonathan Leonard was chosen to preside, and E. S. Whittemore was chosen to act as secretary. Dur- ing the evening $626 was pledged toward a bounty for the men who should enlist. A committee of nine was chosen to thoroughly canvass the town and raise more bounty money-sufficient to pay twenty dol- lars to each man. Three men were appointed to wait upon the gov- ernor and offer the services of the company. On the sixth of May the company were ready for commands from Governor Andrew, and on the eighth proceeded to Boston. The election of officers of this com- pany was presided over by the selectmen of the town of Sandwich, and the following list of commissioned officers may be pointed to as the first from Barnstable county: Charles Chipman, captain; Charles Brady, first lieutenant; Henry A. Kern, second lieutenant; Alfred E. Smith, third lieutenant; James H. Atherton, fourth lieutenant; and the company adopted the name "Sandwich Guards." This company was at once sent to Fortress Monroe, and formed Company D in the Third regiment of the militia. In July, 1861, it was made part of the Massachusetts Battalion, and in December of the same year was em-

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MILITARY HISTORY. 85

braced in the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Infantry. This valiant company participated in the battles of Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mills, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Centerville, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and others.

The first special town meeting of Sandwich for war purposes was held May 11, 1861, at which four thousand dollars was voted for the support of the families of those who had enlisted, and five hundred dollars to uniform the first company accepted from the town.

The town furnished, according to the report of its selectmen, 292 men for the army-exceeding the several quotas by two men. Twelve of its men were commissioned officers. The money expended was $33,081.99, besides $19,938.55 for state aid. The other towns of the county also called special town meetings, or later ratified the action of their selectmen.

Concerning Yarmouth's action, Hon. Charles F. Swift says: "The part taken by the town in the war of the rebellion is briefly summa- rized. Informal meetings were held during the summer and fall of 1861, in which material aid for the troops in the field was provided for, volunteering encouraged and hospital supplies sent forward. May 2, 1862, the first legal town meeting was held. James B. Crocker was chosen moderator, and a series of resolutions, presented by Charles F. Swift, adopted. These pledged the aid of the town to the govern- ment, and recommended especially volunteering for the navy, as the especial department of the service adapted to our people. July 2d, a town meeting was held to procure enlistments, D. G. Eldridge, mod- erator. Three years' men were offered one hundred dollars on being mustered in and one hundred dollars when honorably discharged. The town's quota was filled in a few days. August 14th a bounty of $125 each was offered by the town to nine months'men. December 1, 1863, a meeting was called to aid in the enlistment of . 300,000 more ' troops, Charles F. Swift, moderator. Oliver Gorham, N. C. Fowler, David Matthews and (subsequently) Freeman Howes were appointed a committe to co-operate with the selectmen in filling the quota. April 24, 1864, a meeting was held to aid in filling the town quota 'under the two last calls of the President,' C. F. Swift, moderator. At this meeting $125 was voted to each recruit, and June 1st it was announced that the quota was filled, through the expenditure of two thousand four hundred dollars by the citizens' committee. Under the last call for troops citizens' meetings were held in July; $325 being offered for recruits, and three hundred dollars paid to those who had furnished substitutes. The collapse of the rebellion rendered further effort use- less. Yarmouth furnished 250 men for the army and navy, five over all demands. There were fifteen volunteer officers in the navy and three pilots from this town. The expenditures of the town for war

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

purposes was $17,017, besides $3,592.10 voluntarily contributed by in- dividuals, in all, $20,609.10. The sum of $4,514.71 was expended in aid of soldiers' families."

Provincetown had the first special town meeting May 2, 1861, at which strong resolutions were passed and ample provisions made for the enlistment of troops. Several meetings were held during the war; the contributions of the citizens for filling quotas were reimbursed, and the town sent to the service fifty-seven men more than were called. Three were commissioned officers in the service. The num- ber reported by the selectmen was 247; but the number much exceeded that. The whole amount of money raised was $37.452, and for state aid, which was reimbursed, $7,368.24. It is also a fact that Province- town paid to the families of volunteers double the amount reimbursed. The ladies of the town organized, in 1862, a Soldiers' Aid Society, which contributed $2,291.65 in money and clothing. The exposure of this extreme portion of the Cape induced the government to erect earthworks, which were garrisoned by a company of volunteers.

Barnstable commenced raising troops early, and held its first special town meeting May 10, 1861. At this meeting liberal bounties were offered, promises were made for the support of soldiers' families, and money was placed at the disposal of the governor for the assist- ance of the troops of the state. On the 21st of July, 1862, still stronger resolutions of patriotism and aid were passed, and the bounties were increased. The work of the selectmen and clerk was most arduous, but was cheerfully accomplished. The number of men reported as sent was 272-thirty-five over and above all demands. The acting adjutant general of the state reported that Barnstable had underrated the number sent. Three of these men were commissioned officers. The sum appropriated was $38,574.15, besides $19,652.93 for state aid, which was refunded. The work of the Barnstable ladies was import- ant. Three aid societies were organized-one each in its three largest villages-which contributed the sum of $1,283, and many thousand articles of clothing, bandages and luxuries.

Harwich showed the same earnest determination by calling a town meeting May 10, 1861, at which resolutions were passed to place a coast guard of one hundred men, and raise money to pay bounties for the enlisting of troops. Several meetings were held during 1862 and the bounties were increased; committees were appointed to recruit men and assist the selectmen; and a very liberal appropriation of money was made. In the meeting of November 7, 1865, the town voted " that the selectmen treat all widows in town whose husbands have fallen in the war, with especial benevolence, and, if they have no house, see that they have a home outside of the almshouse." This was very commendable. The town furnished 341 men-a surplus of

MILITARY HISTORY.

twenty-nine over all demands-of whom four were commissioned officers. The sum raised during the war was $42,560.02, and $11,462.99 for state aid, which was refunded. The ladies of the several religious societies sent many needed articles to the army hospitals.

The first town meeting of Brewster to consider war matters was held May 21, 1861, which made liberal provision for the aid fund, en- listing soldiers, and for the support of their families. Meetings were called often during the continuance of the war and the selectmen were always empowered to expend money in every manner for the interest of the town in its relation to the common cause, and the care of the families of absent soldiers. Brewster furnished 141 men for the war, a surplus of seventeen; and expended $19,453.73, besides a large con- tribution from liberal-minded citizens. The sum for state aid was $4,356.23, which was refunded. An aid society by the ladies did much good.

Wellfleet sent several men to Fortress Monroe in April, 1861, and was rapidly enlisting a company when the first special town meeting was called in May following. Bounties for those who had enlisted and who might, were liberally provided; and a request was sent to the governor for equipments for a full company. The meetings of each succeeding year of the war increased the bounties, not forgetting the needs of the soldiers' families. No officers were commissioned from this town; but 221 men were furnished on the different calls, which was twenty-five more than required. About $2,000 was contributed by individuals and $18,324.67 was raised by the town for war purposes, besides $1,138.73 for state aid, which was reimbursed. The ladies or- ganized an aid society to work for the sick and wounded in hospitals. At the expiration of the war the unexpended funds of the society were given in aid of a monument for deceased soldiers.

In Chatham several citizens' meetings were held during the first year of the rebellion, and every necessary action was taken for sup- plying the town's quota of volunteers and the necessary funds for bounties and soldiers' families. July 22, 1862, a town meeting was held to reimburse the liberal contributions of the citizens and approve of what the selectmen had already accomplished. The meeting voted a monthly sum of eighteen dollars to each family of the men absent on duty, which was six dollars a month more than was reimbursed by the state. In February, 1863, the selectmen had borrowed on their individual notes $8,000, which had been expended in bounties and other necessary expenditures. At a meeting then held this town promptly assumed the entire liability, arranged for meetings on every Tuesday evening in furtherance of the cause, and appointed a com- mittee to assist the selectmen. In 1866, after the close of the war, the town voted to refund every citizen the money he had contributed and

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

pay every person who had furnished a substitute the money he had necessarily expended. Chatham furnished 264 men, which was a sur- plus of thirty-two; five were commissioned officers. The money ex- pended was $27,611.69, and for state aid $6,487.42.

In Dennis, every action required for furnishing means and men for the war was taken, during 1861, by the citizens and selectmen, and not until July 26, 1862, did the town act in a corporate capacity; then, under the president's call for three hundred thousand men, the town appointed six gentlemen to act with the selectmen in recruiting volunteers, and arranged a bounty of $250 each for former and future enlistments. The reports of the action of the town during the war are not as full as some of the others, but the result shows that Dennis was not only very earnest in the good work, but could show a better record at its conclusion. The reports of the town show that 220 men were furnished for the war; but in the army and navy Dennis had over 350. Every call of the president was promptly filled, and in the final aggregate a surplus of forty-three men had been furnished. The money raised and expended was $22,652.66, with $3,813.61 for state aid, which the Commonwealth refunded as it did to other towns.

During the year 1861 the town of Eastham held no special meet- ings in a corporate capacity, but its citizens and officers filled every call for men, and furnished ample means for necessary expenses and bounties. In 1862, July 28th, when the largest call of the war was made for men, the citizens in a special town meeting voted full authority for the action of the selectmen as well as provided for what had been previously done. Meetings were held as often as necessary, money was raised as needed, and the bounty for soldiers placed at $160. No commissioned officers went from the town, but eleven men were sent in excess of the quota. The number of men furnished was seventy- seven; the money expended was $3,476.54; and the state aid fund was $833.23.

In Falmouth, as in other towns, many of the best young men were on the seas at the breaking out of the rebellion; but every require- ment of men and money was fulfilled, with a surplus of ten men over the quota. August 2, 1862, a special town meeting was held at which a bounty of $125 was promised to every volunteer who was accepted by the government and one hundred dollars when regularly discharged from the service; to this private citizens added ten dollars for each volunteer. Enlistments were rapid, and every subsequent demand was as promptly met. Falmouth was compelled to enlist many from outside, and furnished in all 25S men-138 for the army and twenty for the navy from its own citizens. The amount raised and expended was $20,154.35 exclusive of the aid fund, which was $4,674.20. The ladies of Falmouth furnished their share of aid to the soldiers in the

MILITARY HISTORY.

field. This town, like others, had sacrifices that called for the con- tinued aid and sympathy of its citizens; one case was where three sons of a very poor citizen enlisted, and all were killed; one left a wife and five small children, and upon the other two the aged parents of the three valiant sons depended for support.

No corporate action of the town of Truro was taken during the year 1861, but all quotas were filled by the officers and citizens until July 25, 1862, when at a special town meeting their action was rati- fied and expenditures refunded by the vote of the town. A bounty of two hundred dollars was offered for nine-months' men, and the most liberal provisions were made at each future meeting for the volun- teers and their families. At a meeting, February 4, 1863, the town voted to bring home the remains of Edward Winslow, the first of its soldiers who had fallen; and that the widow and orphan children of the deceased receive a gratuity of one hundred dollars. Through the selectmen, assisted by proper committees, Truro furnished 144 men for the war -- an excess of fourteen over all demands. The fund ex- pended was $4,786.10, and the amount sent to the state aid was $2,328.21, which was refunded.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 10

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: New York : Blake Number of Pages: 1292

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292