USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Great Barrington > History of Great Barrington, (Berkshire County,) Massachusetts > Part 38
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"3d, Resolved .- That we urge the adoption of measures for speedily raising in this and the adjacent towns, one or more mil- itary companies, and that measures, by this Convention, be also taken for raising funds for the above object, and towards sup- porting the families of those who enlist and go forth to the bat- tles of our country.
'. 4th, Resolved .- That as citizens of this great American Confederacy, participating in the common history and glory of the American Revolution, our chief desire is peace, the general welfare and the blessings of liberty in all the States and amongst all the kindred and races within that Confederacy, and that har- mony and good fellowship, without more bloodshed, may be speedily restored ; but, if it be otherwise ordered, and traitors and rebels persist in their deeds of treason and rebellion, then, trusting in the favor and strength of Almighty God, who sus- tained our fathers in their sufferings and battles for freedom, we will contribute all our might to conquer and punish the offenders.
" Resolved, That to carry out the purposes of the 3d resolution, a committee of thirteen be appointed with instructions promptly and energetically to address themselves to the discharge of their duties."
These resolutions-expressing, as they did, the sentiments of a very large majority of the people- supported by an eloquent and forcible speech from Mr. Sumner, were unanimously adopted. Charles N. Emerson, Esq .- a former resident of the town-then addressed the meeting, and was followed by brief speeches from Rev. Horace Winslow, Rev. C. A. L. Richards, George R. Ives, John H. Coffing and James Sedgwick. The resolutions and speeches, interspersed with music by the band, and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, were greeted with immense applause and manifestations of great enthusiasm.
A Committee of thirteen was appointed to carry out the intent of the third resolution-the raising and equipping a Volunteer Military Company, soliciting funds for the purpose and for aiding the families of
447
FIRST VOLUNTEERS.
such as might enlist in the service. An enlistment roll, hastily prepared by this committee was promptly signed by Ralph O. Ives, and several other young men, amid the continuous cheers of the assemblage.
For raising funds to meet the contemplated expen- ditures, a subscription paper was immediately presented and subscribed to a large amount, the president head- ing the list with the sum of $1,000.
The convention then adjourned for one week-to the first of May-at which time nearly fifty men had volunteered, most of whom were encamped on the Fair Ground, having their quarters in the Agricultural building, and the sum of $4,614, had been subscribed, all-with the exception of $30-by citizens of Great Barrington. At the same time a beautiful flag-pole, one hundred and fifteen feet in length, was in prepara- tion for erection in the Main street, south of the Berkshire House.
At this adjourned meeting, a resolution was adopt- ed, inviting the ladies to co-operate in the work and to meet and organize for that purpose, the next day ; and as the work of the Convention was being well forwarded by the committee having it in charge, no further meet- ing was held.
This Convention, though in its call embracing ad- joining towns, was in fact a Great Barrington institu- tion, originated and conducted entirely by the inhabi- tants of this town. Its effect-as was intended-was to unite and harmonize the people in the work of the war, to give expression and direction to their wishes and efficiency to their action, and, as its results proved, the intent was fully accomplished. It was a step in the right direction and at the right time. The record of the proceedings of the Convention, as well as the subscriptions and expenditures of funds, written by Charles J. Taylor, who at the adjourned meeting, was appointed permanent secretary, are preserved in the office of the Town Clerk.
The ladies-not less patriotic than the men-in ac- cordance with the request of the Convention, met on the 2d of May, organized a Soldiers' Aid Society, and were soon busily engaged in preparing clothing and
448
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
other articles for the soldiers. The officers of this. Society were: Mrs. Clara A. W. Sumner, President ; Mrs. Delia Hulbert, Vice-President ; Miss Nancy Kel- logg, Secretary. This Society, within three weeks' time, provided by manufacture and purchase, 300 shirts and undershirts and a great variety of other necessa- ries for the volunteer company then forming.
Of the amount subscribed, fifty per cent. only was called for, and there was collected and paid into the: treasury
The sum of $2,210.60
To this the town of Sheffield added-for its own men, 137.97
The town of Egremont added for its own men, 65.00
10.00
And David Dalzell, of Egremont,
$2,423.57
This sum was placed in charge of a committee, ap- pointed by the Convention, and was expended in or- ganizing, clothing, and subsisting the company of sol- diers then gathering, and in aiding the families of those who went into the service.
Volunteering progressed rapidly ; by the middle of May sixty men had enlisted, and the ranks of the com- pany-afterwards Company A. of the Tenth Massachu- setts Regiment-were soon swelled to the full number of seventy-nine. The men had their quarters in the. Agricultural building, using the gallery for a dormitory and the main floor for drilling. Here they were drilled. and disciplined by Ralph O. Ives-who became their captain-and by Sergeant Daniel J. Bishop, who had served in the Mexican war, and who was very efficient. Allen S. Mansir-then of Monterey-officiated as stew- ard for the company. A cannon was transported to the ground, and salutes were regularly fired at morn- ing and night, at the raising and lowering of the flag. The men were subjected to a surgical examination by Doctor Samuel Camp, and pronounced fit for military service. This company consisted largely of men from this and adjacent towns, with a few from other places; and twenty-four served on the quota of this town.
Tuesday, the 28th of May, was a gala-day both with: the citizens and soldiers. On that day the company,.
449
COMPANY A. ORGANIZED.
then fully uniformed, held its election for officers at. the town-hall ; a previous but invalid election had been held on the 16th. Ralph O. Ives was unanimously chosen Captain, and James L. Bacon and Henry L. Wilcox were respectively elected First and Second Lieu- tenants. The election was followed by a presentation of Bibles and Testaments-from the Bible Society- by Rev. C. A. L. Richards, and gifts in cash were made to many of the soldiers by individuals from their re- spective towns. The company then marched to the residence of Mrs. Judith Bigelow, escorted by twenty- four citizens on horseback led by David Leavitt, and attended by a large concourse of people. Mrs. Bige- low presented the company with an elegant banner, Samuel B. Sumner, Esq., making the presentation speech, to which Captain Ives properly responded .. From Mrs. Bigelow's the procession moved to Mount Peter-a spot made memorable by the liberty pole of 1775-where each of the soldiers, kneeling and kissing the flag, made solemn oath to defend it under all cir- cumstances. A characteristic speech from Sergeant Daniel J. Bishop followed, which was loudly applauded. This ceremony being completed, the soldiers and many citizens repaired to the Collins House, where a supper furnished by Doctor C. T. Collins, was in waiting, and the evening was spent in speech-making and mirth- fulness.
The morning of Wednesday, May 29th-the day appointed for the company to leave for the rendezvous: at Springfield-opened with unpropitious showers ;: nevertheless the men started upon their march in ex- cellent spirits, stopping over night at Otis, and reach- ing Springfield on the 31st, where they encamped on Hampden Park. These men were mustered into the service on the 21st of June, 1861, and formed a large part. of Company A. of the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment.
From the funds raised by subscription, the men were uniformed, and in part, subsisted to the time of their muster, and the families of the soldiers of this town were assisted until the 8th of June, when the town assumed this responsibility, and at a special town- meeting held that day, voted "to assume and provide:
29
450
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
for the support of the families of the soldiers who have enlisted or who shall hereafter enlist into the ser- vice of the United States, so long as they shall remain in such service." At the same time a committee was appointed to consider all applications for support, with power to draw funds from the treasury for that pur- pose; and the Treasurer was authorized to borrow money to the extent of $2,000 to meet the demands.
The officers of this company-Company A. of the Tenth Massachusetts-were: Captain, Ralph O. Ives, of Great Barrington; First Lieutenant, James L. Bacon, of Great Barrington ; Second Lieutenant, Hen- ry L. Wilcox, of Great Barrington. Lieutenant Wil- cox resigned October 7, 1861, and Sergeant Allen S. Mansir was appointed in his stead; and after the dis- charge of Lieutenant Bacon for disability, December 4, 1861, Lieutenant Mansir was again promoted, to the office of First Lieutenant-June 21, 1862. Sergeants : -Allen S. Mansir, of Monterey : Daniel J. Bishop, of Great Barrington ; Melancthon B. Beach, of Great Barrington ; Varnum Bazil, of Lee; William M. Stan- nard, of New Marlboro; Alvin Turner, of Falls Village, Ct., who is reported to have deserted July 23, 1861; John W. Nye, of Lee, (who succeeded Sergeant Man- sir); Hubert L. Barber, of New Marlboro. Corporals :- Orville E. Cutting, of Lee ; Charles P. French, of West Stockbridge, who died of wounds received May 6, 1864, in battle of the Wilderness ; Marshall A. Hines, of Lee; John McElroy, of Falls Village, Ct., who is reported to have deserted July 23, 1861; Patrick O'Brien, of Springfield; Kenan Ryan, of Lee. Charles A. Gil- more, of Great Barrington, was principal musician on non-commissioned staff.
Captain Ralph O. Ives, in pursuit of provisions, entered a house outside of the lines, September 3, 1863, and was captured by guerrillas. He was taken to Rich- mond, and later to Salisbury, N. C., and as a retalia- tory measure, doomed to hard labor with ball and chain, but was eventually returned to Richmond and exchanged. Two other Great Barrington men joined the Tenth regiment, early in 1862, making the number serving on the quota of the town twenty-six.
451
TENTH REGIMENT.
The Tenth Regiment-composed principally of men from the five western counties-went into camp at Springfield, May 31, 1861 ; was mustered into the ser- vice, and its officers commissioned June 21st. Henry S. Briggs, of Pittsfield, its Colonel, had long been con- nected with the volunteer militia of the state, and, when the war broke out, was in command of the Pitts- field company-the Allen Guards-and was amongst the first to offer the services of himself and company, under the first call of the President-April 16-for three months' men. Before the expiration of that ser- vice, Colonel Briggs was appointed to command the Tenth regiment. The regiment remained in Spring- field to the 17th of July, when it removed to Medford, where it was encamped a few days, and sailed for Washington July 25th. It formed part of the army of the Potomac, was engaged in the battles before Rich- mond and at Fredericksburg in 1862, and at Chan- cellorsville, Gettysburg and Rappahannock Station in 1863. In May, 1864, it took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottslyvania, and Cold Harbor-losing heavily in these actions-and in the battle of Peters- burg in June.
Its term of service expiring, the regiment returned home, arriving at Springfield June 25, 1864, where it met with an enthusiastic reception, and was mustered out on the 1st of July. Of the twenty six men who served for Great Barrington, in this regiment, ten were discharged for disability before termination of enlist- ment; one, Lieutenant Henry L. Wilcox, resigned ; one, Francis M. Ives, was promoted; three, Lafayette Markham, Benjamin F. Remington, George Warner, re-enlisted; two were transferred to other service ; nine were mustered out at expiration of service.
While the first military company was organizing, in May, 1861, a company of Home Guards was formed, and for a time subjected to daily drill; and a little later Richard J. Bush gathered a small company-the "Brownell Zouaves," of which he was the Captain, and which he disciplined to a tolerable degree of efficiency. These organizations, though of little importance, tend- ed to encourage a martial spirit among the young men,
452
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
and the Zouave company was productive of positive good, as Captain Bush, with several of his comrades, soon after enlisted for three years in the Twenty-Seventh Regiment.
On the 20th of August, 1861, Henry W. Wright, Edward L. Kellogg, Stillman P. Pattison, George G. Ray, Gilbert Oakley, and James Douglas, all of Great Barrington, and William H. Shears of Sheffield, left town to join the Second New York Cavalry-Harris' Light Cavalry-Kilpatrick's regiment. These men usually rode together on the right of the line and were known in the regiment as the Great Barrington dele- gation. Following the fortunes of that noted regi- ment, they were engaged in numerous battles, raids and skirmishes, and experienced as severe service as fell to the lot of any of our soldiers.
Pattison died in the hospital at Georgetown, D. C., December 25, 1861; this was, perhaps, the first death of any Great Barrington man in the army. Oakley was killed by the accidental discharge of his carbine in his own hands, September, 1862. Douglas, disabled by the kick of a horse, was discharged. Wright was taken prisoner at the battle of Buckland's Mills, Va., October 19, 1863, and confined at Belle Island, where, suffering the privations and hardships common to prisoners of war, he experienced the further affliction of the small pox. He was eventually released on parole May 8, 1864. Shears was captured at Brandy Station, Va., September 11, 1863, confined at Belle Island, and paroled in March, 1864. Kellogg fell into the hands of the rebels September 22, 1863, and Ray in June, 1864; both remained prisoners to the close of the war.
Great Barrington responded promptly to the first calls of the President-May and June, 1861-for three years volunteers, and continued the work of recruiting through the following autumn. About the middle of September, Dr. Samuel Camp, having authority for enlist- ing, opened a recruiting office in the village and obtained a large number of volunteers, many of whom entered the 27th, and 31st regiments. Richard J. Bush was also active in obtaining recruits for the 27th regiment, and by the middle of October the town had sixteen men in its ranks, which number was soon increased to thirty.
453
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
The Twenty-Seventh Regiment, organized at Spring- field in the autumn of 1861, left the state Novem- ber 2d, and encamped at Annapolis, Md., until the 6th of January, 1862, when it sailed for North Carolina as part of the Burnside expedition. Into this regiment thirty men of Great Barrington were mustered in September and October, 1861, and, with the exception of three, were all in company E. A few others from this town also joined the regiment at a later date. This regiment was engaged in the battles at Roanoke Island, Newbern, Washington, and Gum Swamp in the spring of 1863, and through the follow- ing summer was in service at and about Newbern. In October it was transferred to Virginia, and in the spring and summer of 1864, participated in the active opera- tions in that quarter. This regiment was in the bat- tles at Arrowfield Church-May 9th-and Drury's Bluff and vicinity May 14-16, where, after hard fight- ing and severe casualties nine of its officers and two hundred and forty-three men were made prisoners. It was afterwards engaged in the battles at Cold Har- bor and Petersburg-June, 1864-and remained in the trenches before Petersburg, until the 24th of August. In September, a considerable portion of the regiment-179 men-whose term of service was about expiring, returned to Massachusetts, and was mustered out at Springfield, September 27th. The balance of the regiment was transported to North Carolina and continued in active service to June 26, 1865, when it was mustered out. Returning to Massachusetts, the regiment, numbering seven commissioned officers and one hundred and thirty-two men, arrived at Readville July 7th, where the men were paid off and disbanded.
Amongst the officers of the Twenty-seventh regi- ment were the following from Great Barrington : Doc- tor Samuel Camp, Assistant Surgeon ; Richard J. Bush, at first a Sergeant, became Second Lieutenant ; Otto L. Stamm, also Corporal and Sergeant, became Second Lieutenant; George W. Brewer, a Sergeant, killed at Petersburg, June 18, 1864; Washington I. Burghardt, and Frederick A. Robbins were Corporals.
Of the thirty-three representatives of the town in
454
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
this regiment, six were discharged for disability before termination of enlistment; two resigned, Doctor Sam- uel Camp and Lieutenant R. J. Bush ; two died in the service, James M. Hamlin and Gilbert C. Comstock ; five were discharged at termination of enlistment ; six- teen re-enlisted, one of whom, Sergeant Brewer, was afterwards killed as mentioned above, and another, Jonas Scott, died of wounds June 7, 1864, at Rich- mond. Va. : one, Anthony Wackel, was killed at New- bern, March 14, 1862; one, Charles Masten, was re- ported as deserted October 27, 1861. One of the ear- liest sad casualties of the war, affecting Great Barring- ton families, was the death of James M. Hamlin, a young man of this village, highly esteemed, who was drowned at the embarkation of the regiment at An- napolis, January 7, 1862.
Immediately following the enlistments in the Twen- ty-seventh, twenty-two Great Barrington men volun- teered in the Thirty-first regiment, most of whom were mustered in November and December, 1861. At a later date two others joined this regiment on the quota of the town. The Thirty-First Regiment sailed from Boston February 21, 1862, arriving at Ship Island, March 20th, and was engaged in the battles of the De- partment of the Gulf in 1862-63. It was in the expe- dition against New Orleans-April, 1862-and to- gether with the Fourth Wisconsin regiment, was the first Union regiment to land and take possession of the city on the 1st of May. In the spring of 1863, a part of the regiment was in the advance against Port Hudson, and was prominently engaged in the battles of May 25th, 27th and 29th, and of June 14th. In 1864, this regiment took part in the battle at Sabine Cross Roads and other actions in Louisiana. In the battle at Sabine Cross Roads, April 8, 1864, Henry Sherry was wounded, and Jeremiah Thomas was taken prisoner-both of this town.
William H. Pelton, who was First Sergeant of com- pany H, became Second Lieutenant January 1, 1863, and was, later, promoted to First Lieutenant. Charles T. Phillips was Sergeant, and George Howes Corporal in the same company. Nine of the Great Barrington
455
BOUNTIES TO VOLUNTEERS.
men were discharged for disability ; three at the expi- ration of their term of enlistment; seven re-enlisted ; two died in the service, viz., Frank Seeley, July 29, 1862, at Kenner, La., and Corporal George Howes, May 23, 1864, at Yellow Bayou, La .; one, John Dolan, is unaccounted for ; two are reported as "deserted."
The Rev. Horace Winslow went early in 1862, as Chaplain of the Fifth Connecticut regiment ; and Doc- tor Jonathan Cass entered the service September 2, 1862, as Assistant Surgeon in the Fortieth Massachu- setts regiment.
To the volunteers of 1861 and the early part of 1862, no bounties were paid; but with the increased demand for men, it became difficult to obtain volun- teers in sufficient numbers, and resort was had to the payment of bounties. Under the call of the President -of July 4, 1862-for 300,000 three years volunteers the quota of the town was established at forty-eight. To meet this demand a special town-meeting was held on the 19th of July, at which the following resolutions, presented by the Hon. Increase Sumner, were unani- mously adopted.
" Resolved, That to the call of our Union for aid to crush the existing wicked rebellion, it is our bounden duty, now, hence- forth, and forever. to give our obedient, ready, and earnest re- sponse ; and we respond accordingly ;
"That in order to raise our quota of men for the service- forty-eight in number-the treasurer of the town is hereby au- thorized and directed to borrow, upon the credit of the town, forty-eight hundred dollars, payable in five years from July 1, 1862, with annual interest; from which a bounty of $100 shall be paid, upon the order of the selectmen, to each man who shall enlist and be accepted into the service of the Union, payable when the party entitled thereto, shall be duly mustered into said service.
" Resolved, That David Leavitt, Edwin Hurlburt, and Mark Humphrey be a committee to aid the selectmen in procuring en- listments pursuant to the above resolve.
" Resolved, That each citizen of the town hereby pledges to the selectmen and committee, to give them all possible aid in the performance of their duties."
A subscription paper was presented to the meet- ing, and individuals present contributed money, as- suring each volunteer a further bounty of $25. An enlistment roll was produced, and James Sedgwick
456
HISTORY OF GREAT BARRINGTON.
took from his pocket a gold watch and offered it for the first four who should enlist; Richard E. Morgan promptly stepped forward and subscribed the roll, and was forthwith followed by seven other young men. Riley Crippen offered a silver watch for the next volun- teer ; this was quickly responded to by Frank S. Tur- ner. Mark Humphrey offered a new milch cow to any man having a family, who would next enlist ; this was accepted by Egbert Pixley. This town-meeting was followed by a war meeting of citizens, at the town hall on the 24th of July, at which patriotic resolutions pre- sented by Samuel B. Sumner, Esq., were adopted and addresses were made by Hon. Henry L. Dawes and Increase Sumner.
Volunteering had progressed rapidly, and at the time of this meeting about forty men had been en- rolled. The quota was speedily filled. Forty of the men on this quota went into the Thirty-seventh regi- ment then gathering at Pittsfield, in which Edwin Hurlburt went as Captain; four joined the Thirty- fourth regiment, and one the Twenty-seventh.
The Thirty-Seventh Regiment saw hard service and severe fighting. This regiment left the State Septem- ber 7, 1862, for the Army of the Potomac, reaching its destination in time to participate in the battle of Fredericksburg in December. In 1863 it was engaged in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Early in August, 1863, the regiment was transferred to New York City, where it remained, doing guard and provost duty connected with the draft, until the mid- dle of October, when it returned to Virginia. The Thirty-Seventh was prominently engaged, in 1864, in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House and Cold Harbor, as well as in the actions be- fore Petersburg and at Winchester. In 1865 this regiment was conspicuous in the assault on Peters- burg, and in the fight at Saylor's Creek of April 6; and from this point followed the track of Lee's army to its surrender, near Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. The regiment left Washington for Massachu- setts, July 22, 1865, and was discharged at Readville, on the 1st of July.
457
THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
The larger part of the Great Barrington men con- "nected with the Thirth-Seventh regiment were mem- bers of Company C., of which Edwin Hurlburt was the Captain. Captain Hurlburt resigned October 14, 1862. The other Great Barrington officers-all of Company C .- were: Richard H. Taylor, 1st Sergeant, who be- · came 2d Lieutenant and was promoted to 1st Lieuten- .ant October 13, 1864; William H. Dunning, Sergeant, who is reported as deserted October 2, 1862; Martin Schemerhorn, Sergeant, killed in battle; George A. Seeley, Sergeant; George J. Pinneo, Erastus Strick- land, Corporals. Four of the Great Barrington men were killed in battle, viz. : Egbert Pixley, at the Wil- derness, Va., May 6, 1864 ; John Wolcott, at the same place and time ; Colonel D. Halsey, at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864; Sergeant Martin Schemerhorn, at Opeyan Creek, Va., September 19, 1864. Two died of wounds received in battle, viz. : James Casey, at Al- exandria, Va., July 5, 1864 ; Buel Gleason, at Freder- icksburg, Va., May 17, 1864. Three others died in the service, viz .: Elijah P. Hatch, at New York, Oc- tober 18, 1863; John Smith, at Regimental Hospital, April 12, 1863 ; Jacob Van Bramer, at Falmouth, Va., February 18, 1863. Six were transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps; seven were discharged for disability ·or other cause; fourteen were discharged at expiration of service ; one resigned ; three deserted ; two are not . accounted for.
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