History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II, Part 15

Author: Drake, Samuel Adams, 1833-1905
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Boston : Estes and Lauriat
Number of Pages: 650

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July 4, Hon. George S. Boutwell delivered the oration.

July 8, the Butler Rifles, Captain Eben James, and the Hill Cadets, Captain S. Proctor, left Lowell for Camp Cameron, Cambridge, and were attached to the 16th Massachusetts regiment.

September 5, General B. F. Butler returned to Lowell after the affair at Hatteras Inlet. He was received by the mayor, and escorted by the military to his home. September 10, he obtained an order from the Secretary of War, countersigned by the President of the United States, to raise a force not exceeding six regiments, and organized a camp at the fair-grounds of the North Middlesex Agricul- tural Society. It was named Camp Chase.

September 24, the Prince Jerome Napoleon visited Lowell, accompanied by Princess Clotilde and. the Duchess d'Abrantes.

January 2, 1862, the Bay State and Maine regi- ments left Camp Chase for Boston, where they embarked on board the ship Constitution for Ship Island.

January 5, the Rev. J. P. Cleveland was appointed chaplain of the 26th regiment. On the 13th he was presented with a sword and belt; on the 15th he was dismissed as pastor of the Appleton Street Church, and went to Ship Island. He was discharged from his chaplaincy May 2, and returned to Lowell May 24. Hc died March 7, 1873.

February 6, the Maine, Vermont, and 4th Massa-

chusetts batteries and the Gloucester Light Infan- try, Captain Cook, left Camp Chase for Ship Island. February 20, the 31st Massachusetts regiment left Camp Chase.

April 22, John A. Andrew, governor of Massa- chusetts, transmitted to the General Court a copy of " an Act for the relief of the families of those of the Massachusetts 6th Regiment of Volunteers who were killed or wounded in the riot of the 19th of April, 1861," passed by the General Assembly of Maryland. This Act appropriated seven thousand dollars for this object.

May 26, a call for troops to defend the capital, endangered by the near approach of the enemy, fired anew the patriotism and zeal of the 6th regi- ment. Proceeding to Boston, it remained in readi- ness two days, when intelligence was received that the apparent danger had been averted, and it re- turned home.

July 1, President Lincoln issued a call for 300,000 volunteers. The quota for Lowell was 397. The city council authorized the payment of " a bounty of $110 to all such men as should come immediately forward, enlist, and be mustered into the United States service for the term of three years, or the war." Lowell was the first city in the commonwealth to raise her quota.

August 4, the President issued a call for troops to serve for nine months. The 6th regiment was among the first to respond. September 9, the regi- ment departed from Lowell; arrived in Washing- ton on the 11th; on the morning of the 12th was ordered to Fortress Monroe, and on the 13th Gen- - eral Dix ordered the regimeut to Suffolk, on the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. Suffolk was an outpost of Norfolk occupied by a force of about 5,000 men under the command of General O. F. Terrv.

The field and staff officers of the 6th regiment were: colonel, Albert S. Follansbee, Lowell ; lieu- tenant-colonel, Melvin Beal, Lawrence ; major, C. A. Stott, Lowell ; surgeon, Walter Burnham, Lowell ; chaplain, John W. Hanson, Haverhill ; adjutant, Thomas O. Allen, Lowell; quartermasters, William G. Wise, Charles H. Coburn, Lowell ; assistant-surgeons, Otis M. Humphrey and George E. Pinkham, Lowell.

List of the companies : Company A, Lowell, Cap- tains Andrew C. Wright, Alfred J. Hall, 97 men ; Company B, Groton, Captain George F. Shattuck, 75 men ; Company C, Lowell, Captain John C. Jepson, 100 men; Company D, Lowell, Captain

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

James W. Hart, 89 men ; Company E, Acton, Captain Aaron C. Handley, 75 men ; Company F, Cambridge, Captain John S. Sawyer, 87 men ; Company G, Lowell, Captain George L. Cady, 94 men ; Company H, Lowell, Captain Rodney C. Fersons, 96 men; Company I, Lawrence, Captain Augustine L. Hamilton, 100 men ; Company K, Dracut and Chelmsford, Captain C. E. A. Bartlett, 82 men. Hanson says : " During more than eight months of our stay in Suffolk a line of works, nine miles in extent, flanked by the Dismal Swamp, was erected. . ... In sickness, wounds, and death the regiment was remarkably favored throughout the nine months, considering the unhealthiness of its location and its exposure to danger."

Brevet-Major Edward G. Abbott, captain of Company A of the Second Infantry, was killed at the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862. He was born in Lowell, September 29, 1840, the son of Hon. J. G. and Caroline Abbott ; graduated at Harvard College in 1860, and entered the law office of Samuel A. Brown. He raised the company of which he was appointed captain, called the Abbott Light Guard, and joined Colonel Gordon's regiment.

The battle of Cedar Mountain was drawing to a close when he fell ; and during the fight, says Gen- eral Andrews, his colonel, his conduct " was as brave and noble as any friend of his could desire." Just as the Union army began their retreat Cap- tain Abbott was shot, the ball passing directly through his neck. He died immediately. The body was brought to Lowell, and buried Sunday, Angust 17, with public honors.

September 27, William Spencer died. He was born in Manchester, England ; engaged in the management of a print-works in Ireland; came to Lowell in 1827 - 28, and had charge of the Hamil- ton Print-Works until his death. He was a practi- cal printer, loved his husiness, and served the com- pany faithfully and well. He was the first person who succeeded in dyeing yarn from the beam. He was the first president of the North Middlesex Agricultural Society, and manifested great interest in its prosperity and success.

October 5, " Captain Timothy A. Crowley, com- pany A, Thirteenth Infantry, died at New Orleans. He was born in Lowell, February 14, 1831, and after leaving school was employed in the Lowell Machine-Shop. For several years he was connected with the city police ; in 1858 was deputy marshal. He subsequently studied law, and was admitted to

the bar in 1860. He was a corporal in the Watson Light Guard in their three months' campaign, and bore the colors of the 6th regiment, during the Baltimore riot in 1861, with a steady courage that attracted the admiration of all. He then gathered the company of which he was captain at his death. He displayed fine abilities as an officer, and won the respect of all with whom he came in contact in the Department of the Gulf. He left a widow and two children. His remains were brought to Lowell for burial, October 26, 1862.

Central Bridge, over the Merrimack River, was rebuilt this year at a cost of $34,008.51. Dracut paid $7,875, Lowell, $26,133.51.

In his address to the city council, delivered Jan- uary 5, 1863, Mayor Hosford said : "The whole number of men who have been or are now engaged in the service of their country from this city is 3,279; of which number, 215 are three months' men, 607 nine months' men, 2,227 three years' men, 34 in the regular army, and 196 in the navy. Since the commencement of hostilities, 176 are known to have lost their lives ; 56 have been killed in battle or died of wounds received, 111 have died of disease, 8 of accidents, and one was shot for insubordination. About 25 have been reported as actual deserters."

January 12, General B. F. Butler returned from New Orleans, and addressed his fellow-citizens in Huntington Hall. He gave them an account of his administration in the Department of the Gulf, and answered the charges brought against him. April 14, the Andover Association of Congrega- tional ministers met in Lowell. They called ou General Butler, and thanked him for his ser- vices.

January 24, at a meeting held by the ladies of Lowell, the first sanitary fair was inaugurated ; officers were chosen and committees appointed. All the religious societies were represented on the committees. The fair was held in Huntington Hall, February 26, 27, and 28, for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission, and $4,850 were realized, after paying all expenses.

April 16, Peter Lawson, Nicholas Mickel, John A. Goodwin, James Kent, and their associates were incorporated as the Lowell Horse-Railroad Company. Laying the track for the road was commenced September 9.

The Chase Mill, on the bank of Concord River, was built for the manufacture of woollens. Jan- { uary 17, 1866, the mill was burned.

LOWELL.

Brevet-Major Solon A. Perkins, of the Third Cavalry, in an engagement June 3, 1863, at Clin- ton, La., was mortally wounded. He was born at Lancaster, N. H., December 6, 1836, the son of Apollos Perkins, who came to Lowell in 1840. Major Perkins served with General Butler in the Department of the Gulf, and earned the reputation of being the boldest and most successful cavalry officer in the army.

April 2, 1864, the 26th regiment returned, and inarched to Huntington Hall, where a collation was provided for the soldiers.

Henry Livermore Abbott, major of the 20th regiment of Massachusetts volunteers, fell, mortally wounded, in the battle of the Wilderness, on Fri- day, May 6, 1864, at the age of twenty-two. He was the second son of the Hon. J. G. and Caroline Abbott. He was born in Lowell, January 21, 1842, and graduated at Harvard College in 1860.

May 16, the First National Bank, incorporated with a capital of $250,000, was organized.

July 6, Colonel Follansbee received a request inviting the 6th regiment to enter the service for one hundred days. This was complied with, and its services were offered and accepted.

In the record of the Great Rebellion two names intimately connected with Lowell have gained a prominence that entitles them to a place in her history.

Captain Gustavus V. Fox was born in Saugus, June 13, 1821. He came to Lowell with his father, Dr. Jesse Fox, in 1823, and entered the United States Navy, where he served nineteen years at different stations, - on the coast survey, in com- mand of mail steamers, and in the war with Mex- ico. While in the naval service, in 1856, he accepted a position as agent of the Bay State Mills, now the Washington Mills, of Lawrence, which he held till 1861. In February, 1861, he was sent for by General Scott, at the instance of Postmaster-General Blair, in reference to throwing supplies and troops into Fort Sumter, but Presi- dent Buchanan refused at that time to allow the expedition.

On the 6th of April, 1861, the first part of a secret naval expedition under Captain Fox sailed from New York for the relief of Fort Sumter. Captain Fox says : -

" My plan for supplying Fort Sumter required three hundred sailors, a full complement of armed launches, and three tugs. The Powhatan carried the sailors and launches, and when this vessel was

about to leave in obedience to the orders of the secretary of the navy, two officers, Lieutenant D. D. Porter, U. S. N., and Captain M. C. Meigs, U. S. Engineer, presented themselves with an order from the President of the United States, anthoriz- ing the former to take any vessel whatever in com- mission, and proceed immediately to the Gulf. of Mexico. This order did not pass through the navy department, was unknown to the secretary of the navy, and when signed by the President he was not conscious that his signature would deprive me of the means to accomplish an object which he held to be of vital importance."

This expedition arrived in season to hear the heavy guns and see the smoke and shells from the batteries that had opened fire on Fort Sumter. The arrival of this expedition was anticipated, the President having on the 8th of April notified the governor of South Carolina that supplies must be sent to Fort Sumter. The fort was evacuated on Sunday, the 14th of April. On Monday the steamer Sabel took the garrison outside to the steamer Baltic, which left that evening direct for New York, where she arrived on the morning of the 18th.

Captain Fox received a letter from the President dated May 1, 1861, acknowledging that he, the President, was in a measure responsible for the failure of the expedition, and that the cause of the country was advanced by the attempt.

Alive to the necessity of keeping open the com- munications with the North, Captain Fox, when he found that those of Washington and New York were severed, applied to Mr. Aspinwall for a small steamer to enable him to reach Chesapeake Bay. Mr. Aspinwall applied to John Jacob Astor, Jr., who very generously gave a check for $3,000. With this, Captain Fox procured the tug Yankee, and persuaded Commodore Breese to arm and fit her out. Having received from the commodore an appointment as acting lieutenant, Captain Fox left, on the 26th of April, for Hampton Roads. The services of the boat not being required at this point, he offered his vessel to General Butler, who was about opening communications with Washington. The general sent him through with a report to the President, and immediately after Captain Fox was appointed assistant-secretary of the navy.

After nearly six years' service as assistant-sec- retary of the navy, Captain Fox returned to private life. In 1869 he became agent of the Middlesex Company, which position he retained until March,

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

1874. He is now a member of the firm of E. R. Mudge and Company, Boston.

Benjamin F. Butler was born at Deerfield, N. H., November 5, 1818. The district school helped him to spelling, figures, a little geography, and the rudiments of grammar. His father died in 1819, leaving the care of the son to the mother, who conceived the idea of giving him a liberal education as a preparation for the ministry. In 1828 she came to Lowell. Here he had an op- portunity for education, which was well improved. From the common school he graduated to the high school. Afterward he attended the academy at Exeter, preparatory to a college course. Strong in the hope of seeing him grace the pulpit of a Baptist church, his mother sent him to Waterville, Maine, where the Baptists had recently founded a college. He returned to Lowell in his twentieth year, with a preference for the legal rather than the clerical profession. He entered the office of Wil- liam Smith, Esq., and helped himself to law, occa- sionally practising in the police court. This prac- tice, and teaching for a time in one of the public schools, enabled him to pay for the clothes he wore. In 1840 he was admitted to the bar. This marked an era in his life, for in the practice of his profession he has gained a reputation that will abide. His military career commenced about this time. He rose through the various grades to be a brigadier-general of militia. His varied experi- ences in the courts and at the hustings are omit- ted from necessity, and the reader is taken to the year 1860.

General Butler was a delegate to the democratic convention held at Charleston that year ; and it was there, at Baltimore, and subsequently at Washing- ton, that he acquired a thorough knowledge of the designs and purposes of the Southern disunionists. General Butler gave Governor Andrew a full rela- tion of what he had seen and heard, and advised him to get the militia of the state in readiness to move at a day's notice.

" On the morning of the 15th of April, 1861, Governor Andrew received a telegram from Sena- tor Wilson, asking that twenty companies of Mas- sachusetts militia be instantly despatched to defend the seat of government. A few hours after, the formal requisition arrived from the secretary of war, calling for two full regiments.

The 6th regiment, one of General Butler's brig- ade, it was determined should go first. Mr. Cam- eron was reminded that a brigade required a

brigadier, and an order was received calling for a brigade of four full regiments to be commanded by a brigadier-general. General Butler, on the morning of April 17, received an order to take command of these troops. The 6th departed that afternoon. The general accompanied the 8th regi- ment to Philadelphia, where it arrived on the memorable 19th of April. At 11 o'clock, A. M., April 20, the 8th started in cars for Havre-de- Grace, where it embarked on the ferry-boat Mary- land for Annapolis. The general and troops arrived safely, and after a tedious and vexatious delay were landed, much against the wishes of the governor of Maryland and the mayor of Annapolis. Upon examination it was found that the railroad depot contained a "small, rusty, damaged loco- motive," and when the general inquired of his men if any of them knew "anything about this machine," Charles Homans, a private of Company E, responded affirmatively. .

The troops went through to Washington, but General Butler remained at Annapolis, and was or- dered by General Scott to hold the town and super- intend the passage of the troops that were con- tinually arriving. An offer by General Butler to employ Massachusetts troops to suppress an insur- rection of the slaves in Maryland called forth a mild remonstrance from the governor of Massachu- setts. This question was better understood at a later day.

General Butler went to Washington and recom- mended the occupation of Manassas Junction, but his recommendation was unheeded. He was after- wards ordered to the Relay House, the occupation of which is given in the history of the 6th regi- ment. After the occupation of Baltimore, General Butler was recalled to Washington, received a com- mission as major-general and the command of For- tress Monroe. May 22, he took possession of his command; then followed the possession of New- port News, the employment of slaves as contraband of war, and a spicy correspondence. June 10, occurred the unfortunate affair of Big Bethel, where Major Winthrop fell. August 18, General Butler was removed from the command of Fortress Mon- roe, and General Wool appointed in his stead ; General Butler had been in command of the De- partment of Virginia two months and twenty-seven days. He accepted a subordinate position under General Wool, and participated in the capture of the forts at Hatteras Inlet. September 10, he obtained an order to raise not exceeding six regi-

LOWELL.

ments in the New England states. He returned home ; the six thousand troops were raised. Febru- ary 25, 1862, General Butler sailed from Hampton Roads in the steamship Mississippi, for Ship Island, with orders to capture New Orleans. After a re- markable voyage of nearly thirty days, the steam- ship arrived at Ship Island and the troops were landed. April 17, the fleet, under command of Captain Farragut, approached Fort Jackson, and on the 24th was anchored before New Orleans. On the 26th of April the 26th Massachusetts, under Colonel Jones, started for Sable Island, twelve miles in the rear of Fort St. Philip, and on the morning of the 27th the fort was invested on all sides. General Butler hastened to the fleet before New Orleans, and arrived in season to aid Farragut by his counsel. The troops were landed May 1.› June 5, Mumford was condemned to die for tearing down the Union flag. General Butler's government of the city of New Orleans is a matter of history which my limits will not allow me to dwell upon. The order appointing his successor is dated Washington, November 9, 1862; his last general order is dated December 15, and he left New Orleans December 24. Upon reaching New York he found a letter from the President, re- questing his presence at Washington. His at- tempt there to find out why he was recalled only led him to the conclusion that the French govern- ment had to be conciliated. His reception at the North showed that the people approved his course in New Orleans. In November, 1863, he was ordered to take command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina. All colored troops recruited at the North and in Maryland were sent to him, and he caused them to be equipped and drilled. On the 5th of May, 1864, Butler's forces sailed up the James River, preceded by the navy, and seized and held two salient points which were afterwards fortified, - Forts Powhatan and Poca- hontas.

On the following day fortifications were com- menced on the left bank of the Appomattox, four miles from Petersburg, and also on the right bank of the James. Butler made a demonstration upon Petersburg, and fought the battle of Swift Creek. His movement upon Richmond was checked by the battles of the Wilderness, and he returned to Ber- muda Hundreds, where he was attacked by Beau- regard, whom he repulsed. He ordered a cavalry force, under General Kautz, to make an assault on Petersburg from the south, which he did, but was

not supported by Gilmore on the north. In another attack on Petersburg by General Smith and Gen- eral Hinks, the defences were carried ; but Peters- burg was reinforced by a portion of Lee's army, and our forces retired. The next enterprise Gen- eral Butler engaged in was the Dutch Gap Canal, four hundred and fifty feet long, which would save a circuit of seven miles; it was completed within thirty feet, when the naval commander thought he could not hold the river against the rebel gun- boats. September 29, General Terry, with a colored division, made an attack on New Market Heights and took them. Then the entire Tenth Corps attacked the fortifications on the New Market road. The Eighteenth Corps, under General Ord, made an attack on Fort Harrison and captured it. Sep- tember 30, General Lee sent two divisions to attack Butler's forces : a battle was fought which resulted in a victory for the army of the James.

During the summer of 1864 General Butler conducted the exchange of prisoners, a most labo- rious duty, and had command of the rebel prison- ers at Point Lookout. The experiment of blowing up Fort Fisher with two hundred and fifty tons of gunpowder was tried and failed. In November General Butler was sent to New York with a por- tion of his command to prevent any disturbance at the presidential election ; it was a very quiet election.

July 21, 1864, the Hill Cadets and Butler Rifles, under Captains Donovan and O'Hare, returned home after three years' service. Attached to the 16th regiment, they took part in the battles of Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg.

October 20, John P. Robinson died, aged sixty- five. He was born at Dover, New Hampshire ; educated at Phillips Academy, Exeter, New Hamp- shire; graduated at Harvard College in 1823; stud- ied law in the office of Daniel Webster, and com- menced practice iu Lowell in 1827. H. G. F. Corliss was associated with him first as a student and after- wards as a partner. Mr. Robinson served one year in the state senate, five years in the house of representatives, and was one of the committee on the Revised Statutes in 1836. It was said of him : " John P. Robinson was an able and accom- plished lawyer, an eloquent and powerful orator, and a thorough classical scholar." Mr. Robinson married a daughter of Ezra Worthen.

January 28, 1865, General B. F. Butler returned

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

home, received an enthusiastic reception in Hunt- ington Hall, and made a speech in explanation of the causes of the disaster at Fort Fisher.

April 21, the Lowell Exchange was organized, but failed for want of business.

June 17, the steamboat Traveller made a trip from Lawrence to Lowell, and landed hier twenty passengers within ten minutes' walk of the horse- car track. The engine had two-horse power; the boiler occupied the centre of the boat.

July 1, the census showed that Lowell had 30,757 inhabitants, a loss of 6,076 since the for- mer census.

Lowell's war record is thus stated :

Three months' men . 227

Nine 575

One hundred days' men 252

Twelve months' men 210

Two years' men 9

Three years' men . 3124

Substitutes for three years' men 47

Re-enlisted for three years 367

Navy recruits .

455

Total 5266

Paid bounties, less amount refunded by state $235,010.92 for relief of families . . 8,445.55

interest on money for state aid 14,671.25

Private subscriptions 40,997.86

Other items swelled the grand total to $323,942.11

October 23, 1866, Dr. J. C. Ayer gave the city a bronze statue of victory. It was placed in Monu- ment Square, and July 4, 1867, was unveiled in the presence of a multitude of people.

July 10, 1867, the building purchased and ap- propriated for the Old Ladies' Home was dedicated. It is situated at the corner of Moody and Tilden streets.

March 29, 1867, St. John's Hospital was in- corporated. Early in the fall of 1866 the Sisters of Charity purchased the " old yellow house," built by Timothy Brown in 1770, with adjoining land suitable for the erection of a hospital. Two years afterwards (in 1868) the building was completed and opened.

The report for 1879 says of St. John's Hospital : " Its doors are always open to cases where indi- viduals are suddenly stricken down or injured by accidents in the mills, or on the railroads, or by other means."

December 4, 1868, General U. S. Grant visited Lowell. A committee went to Boston the evening of the 3d, to meet him and arrange for the visit. General Grant was engaged until midnight, and

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II, Part 15

Author: Drake, Samuel Adams, 1833-1905 Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Boston : Estes and Lauriat Number of Pages: 650

Author: Drake, Samuel Adams, 1833-1905
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Boston : Estes and Lauriat
Number of Pages: 650