USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > History of Newburyport, Mass., 1764-1905, Volume I > Part 51
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EBENEZER MOSELEY, Moderator. WILLIAM WORK, Town Clerk.
NEWBURYPORT, Feb. 7th, 1814 1
In June, news reached Newburyport that Paris had been captured and Napoleon dethroned.
[June 14, 1814] Voted that the selectmen be requested to cause the Bells of the Town to be rung from eleven to twelve o'clock on the day of the Fifteenth of June, instant, in commemoration of the great events in Europe.2
1 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., pp. 456-458.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 476.
THE EMBARGO AND THE WAR OF 1812
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The use of the cannon belonging to the town was granted to any person or persons wishing to fire a salute, at their own expense, on the morning of that day, and also permission to illuminate the town hall in the evening.
The ship masters and seamen of Newburyport organized a voluntary association, called the " Sea Fencibles," for the de- fence of the sea coast. The following-named officers were elected early in the month of June :-
Jeremiah Stickney
Captain
David Lufkin
First Lieutenant
Hector Coffin
Second
Charles Hodge
Third
William Bartlet, Jr.
Orderly Sergeant
Jeremiah Wheelwright
Second
Green Johnson
Third
James Francis
William Young
Corporals
Joseph Aubin
Joseph Buntin
Most of the men who served in the ranks had been thrown out of employment by the embargo, and were bitterly opposed to the prolongation of the war. They were willing to assist in defending the town but refused to enlist in expeditions or- ganized for service beyond the limits of the state. Prominent among the active members of the association were Richard P. Coffin, Enoch Gerrish, Jacob Knapp, John H. Titcomb, Thomas Boardman, David Coffin, Jr., Humphrey W. Currier, Lawrence Brown, Samuel Swasey, Abner Caldwell, Moses Brown, Jr., Micajah Lunt, Jr., and many others." The follow- ing communication undoubtedly relates to an offer made by the " Sea Fencibles " to perform military duty on the sea coast.
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, BOSTON, June 23, 1814. MAJOR GENERAL AMOS HOVEY,
SIR :- Enclosed is an association of a number of citizens of Newbury- port and Newbury and a tender of their services to his Excellency the Commander in Chief for maritime defence, which he has been pleased to accept. The same document contains an expression of the sense of the association as to the officers to command them, and if you on exam- ination should give your assent to the returns of their election made by
' Newburyport Marine Society Records.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Major Knapp, and will forward the same to this office, commissions will immediately be made out for the gentleman designated. The urgency of the occasion pleads for dispatch
Very respectfully sir
Your obedient servant
J. BROOKS.I
Major-General Hovey was ordered, June 16, 1814, to furnish Newburyport and other towns on the sea coast with a military force sufficient to protect them, if attacked by British cruisers. The names of the officers and men, stationed in Newburyport, who served on Plum island during the following summer have been preserved in the archives of the adjutant general's office, in Boston, Mass.
August 17, 1814, the inhabitants of Newburyport author- ized the treasurer " to pay such of the soldiers as have done, or may do duty as guard for the defence of the Town" the wages due them and forward an account of the same to the treasurer of the commonwealth.2 On the ninth day of Sep- tember following, a committee was appointed to assist the se- lectmen in providing for the protection of property and the security of the inhabitants of the town. This committee was instructed to apply to the governor and council of the state of Massachusetts "and request them to furnish such military aid & assistance as the present alarming exigency requires."3
Firemen, municipal officers and young men exempt by law from military duty, offered their services and were accepted. Fortifications were erected at Plum island and military com- panies in the neighboring towns were ordered to meet twice a week for exercise and drill.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
HEAD QUARTERS, BOSTON, September 16, 1814.
General Orders.
For the greater security of the seaports within the second division and to render as efficient as possible the internal military strength of those places the commander in chief orders that the several companies and
1 Archives, Adjutant General's office, Boston, Mass., Letter Book B, p. 112.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 477.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 480.
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THE EMBARGO AND THE WAR OF 1812
regiments in the towns of Salem, Marblehead, Beverly, Gloucester, New- bury, Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury be assembled for the pur- pose of instruction in military tactics, two days in each week until further orders. Major General Hovey is charged with the execution of this order.
By his excellency's command J. BROOKS, Adj. General.I
Capt. William Nichols, who was captured in the brig De- catur and taken to England in 1813, was released ten or twelve months later and returned to Newburyport. He took command of the brig Harpy, three hundred and fifty tons bur- then, carrying fourteen heavy guns and a crew of one hundred men. He sailed from Baltimore in September, 1814, and after a short cruise fell in with and captured the Princess Elizabeth, a British packet-ship. The Turkish ambassador, on his way to England, an English army officer, an aide to a British gen- eral and the second lieutenant of a seventy-four gun ship were passengers on board the packet.
Taking from the captured vessel " ten thousand dollars in specie, five pipes of Maderia wine, two brass 9 pounders and two 12 pounders, Captain Nichols threw overboard the remain- ing guns and allowed the Princess Elizabeth to proceed on her voyage after paying a ransom of two thousand dollars."2
The Harpy arrived at Portsmouth, N. H., early in the month of October. She sailed again a few days later, return- ing to that port after a cruise of twenty-one days, with sixty- five prisoners including one major-general and several other army officers, having captured two English transports, the Budges and the Amazon, from London, for Halifax.3
Both craft were laden with provisions for the British army in America, the Budges having a cargo of rum, brandy, beef, pork, flour and bread. They belonged to a fleet that had sailed from Portsmouth, England. Among the prisoners were two majors and several other officers. It was estimated that the value of the prizes taken by the Harpy in this cruise was at least half a million dollars.4
1 Archives, Adjutant General's office, Boston, Mass.
2 History of American Privateers (Maclay), p. 459.
3 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, October 28, 1814.
4 History of American Privateers (Maclay), p. 460.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
BRIG HARPY.1
On her next cruise, the Harpy was at sea eighty-six days, arriving in Salem February 5, 1815, having captured seven prizes. Three of these prizes were sent into port, two were destroyed and two released.2 From the vessels destroyed Captain Nichols took a large amount of merchandise described as follows :-
One hundred and eighteen boxes and trunks, and one hundred and sixteen hogsheads and casks of dry goods, jewelry, plate, women's rich dresses, navy trimmings, fine clothing, etc. Three hundred and thirty boxes fresh Malaga raisins, sixty six frails Turkey figs, one hundred and fifty eight pieces of British manufactured goods, twenty nine bolts of canvas, a quantity of cordage, ten pipes of Sherry wine, three barrels of gunpowder ; carronades, muskets, pistols, cutlasses, sails, signal flags, lamps and paint oil ; white and patent sheet lead, nautical instruments, cut glass, medicines and upward of one hundred thousand pounds ster- ling in British treasury notes and bills of exchange.3
The ship William and Alfred, with a cargo of dry goods and
1 This half-tone print of the brig Harpy is reproduced from a drawing in the pos- session of George E. Hale of Newburyport.
2 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, February 7, 1815.
3 Newburyport Herald, February 10, 1815, fourth page.
THE EMBARGO AND THE WAR OF 1812
663
CAPT. WILLIAM NICHOLS. 1
plantation utensils, was bound from London to Antigua. After her capture by the Harpy she was sent into port in charge of a prize crew, and her captain wrote and signed the following testimonial :-
Capt. William Drysdale, late of the ship William and Alfred, captured January 2, 1815, by the brig Harpy, returns his grateful acknowledge- ment to William Nicholls, Esq. commander of the said brig, and all his officers for their great civility, indulgent lenity and humane usage while on board and generously delivering up all his private property. And should, at any future time, Captain Nichols, or any of his officers come to London, Captain Drysdale will be happy to see them at his house,
1 From a portrait painted on glass now in the possession of George E. Hale of Newburyport.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Stepney Green, near London. Given under my hand on board the Harpy at sea, this day, January 6, 1815.1
This testimonial was endorsed by other ship-masters on board the Harpy, as follows :-
We the undersigned feeling congenial sentiments with Captain Drys- dale towards Captain Nichols, Lieutenant Place, and the officers on board the Harpy and desirous that such humanity and goodness may be made public, as well in the United States as in England, declare that our treatment is worthy of every praise and encomium, and that all our pri- vate property has been held sacred to us and a cartel fitted for us as early as circumstances would permit. George Harrison, W. Newell, J. W. Hall, Andrew Mccarthy, late masters of vessels taken by the Harpy.2
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Newburyport held Janu- ary 16, 1815, a long and spirited memorial to the General Court was adopted from which the following extracts are taken :-
To the Honorable the Senate and the Honorable the House of Repre- sentatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts :
The Inhabitants of Newburyport in town meeting assembled beg leave respectfully to represent that they believe the time to have arrived in the disastrous course of our national policy when measures of the most firm, temperate and efficient character, on the part of our State Legislature can alone save this land.
In the midst of these aggravated evils we find no consolation in the reports of peace which the administration contrive to circulate, whenever it suits their purposes ; whenever some new chain is to be rivetted upon us, some new act of desperation attempted. Peace itself could not heal the wounds which they have inflicted on their country, or atone for their sins, nor can we hope for a lasting peace while corruption is seated in our high places, and the stain of blood, wickedly and wantonly shed, is crying to heaven for vengeance.
It was with feelings of unqualified approbation that we witnessed the appointment by your honorable body of delegates to a New England Convention.3
And it is for the purpose of expressing our assent to all its doctrines and our willingness to support to the last hazard and extremity the measures which it proposes, that we now approach you,-To what-
1 History of American Privateers (Maclay), p. 460.
2 History of American Privateers (Maclay), p. 461.
3 Held at Hartford, Conn., in December, 1814.
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THE EMBARGO AND THE WAR OF 1812
ever consequences these measures may lead, we pledge to you our own, and we believe this whole people will pledge to you their undivided and fearless support. And should your demands and requisitions on the na- tional government be treated with the neglect and contumely shown to your humble remonstrances ; should the equitable compromise suggested by that convention be refused, and the approaching season still find us bend- ing under domestic tyranny and exposed to foreign invasion, we have no hesitation in saying that we shall consider our State Legislature as the sole, rightful and bounden judge of the course which our safety may require, without any regard to the persons still assuming to be the Nation- al Government, nor have we a doubt that the citizens of the Northern States, ardently as they are attached to the Union, would in that event, under the guidance of their enlightened sages, standing in the spirit and upon the extreme boundary of their constitutional privileges,-Would declare that our own resources shall be appropriated to our own defence, that the laws of the United States shall be temporarily suspended in their operation in our territory, and that hostilities shall cease towards Great Britain on the part of the free, sovereign and independent states of New England.
EBENEZER MOSELEY, Moderator.I
The threatened disruption of the Union was averted, and incipient rebellion crushed, by the abrupt close of the war.
About two o'clock in the afternoon of February 13, 1815, news reached Newburyport that a treaty of peace had been concluded between the United States and Great Britain. The announcement was received with shouts of joy, the roar of can- non and the ringing of bells. At a town meeting held in the evening the " Sea Fencibles " were granted permission to use the cannon belonging to the town for the purpose of firing a Federal salute at noon the next day, and a committee was appointed to raise, by subscription, money to pay the cost of illuminating the town hall and other prominent buildings on the evening of that day.2
February twenty-second, the Washington Benevolent socie- ty, the " Sea Fencibles " and other charitable and military organizations celebrated the return of peace by a public pro-
1 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, January 27, 1815.
2 Newburyport Herald, February 14 and 17, 1815. In addition to the town hall, the Bank building, Phoenix Insurance Company building, Union Insurance Company building, Herald office, Wolfe tavern, the observatory on Marsh's hill and many private residences were illuminated.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
cession, under the escort of the Washington Light Infantry. They marched through the principal streets of the town to the meeting house of the First Religious Society, where Stephen Hooper, Esq., delivered an address appropriate to the occa- sion.I
On the same day, the inhabitants of that part of Newbury known as Belleville assembled at the meeting house on High street, near the head of Moody's lane, now Woodland street, Newburyport, where, after prayer by the Rev. James Miltimore, an ode, written by James Miltimore, Jr., was read and an oration on " Patriotism and Peace " delivered by John Merrill, A. M.2
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Newburyport held March 28, 1816, the selectmen made the following report :-
In the course of the preceding summer, under instructions from the late board of war, we caused the ordnances, muskets & other munitions of war which had been received from the commonwealth to be returned to Boston the expenses of which transportation were paid from the treas- ury of the Commonwealth.
Under instructions from the same board of war, we have caused the batteries on Plumb Island, and on the Plumb Island turnpike, and also such utensils and personal property as belonged to the Commonwealth to be sold at public auction and the nett proceeds thereof to be paid over to the agent of the board of war.3
1 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, February 17, 21 and 24, 1815.
2 Newburyport Herald and Country Gazette, February 28, 1815.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 516.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE MEXICAN, CIVIL AND SPANISH WARS.
MAY II, 1846, congress declared, the American army on the Rio Grande having been attacked, "that war existed between the United States and Mexico," and the president, James K. Polk, was authorized to arm and equip fifty thousand volunteers to re-inforce the regular army. The pulpit and the press in New England opposed the war and only a few men volunteered to enter the service.
When the General Court of Massachusetts assembled in January, 1847, Caleb Cushing, a member of the house of rep- resentatives from Newburyport, introduced a resolution ap- propriating twenty thousand dollars for the purpose of raising a regiment of able-bodied men for immediate service in the field. The resolution was referred to a committee who re- ported in favor of its passage but the report was vigorously opposed and after a brisk debate the resolution was defeated by a decisive vote. I
The friends of the Federal government, however, decided to arm and equip the regiment and raised a fund for that purpose to which Mr. Cushing contributed liberally. Ten companies were speedily organized and on the fifteenth day of January Caleb Cushing was chosen colonel, Isaac H. Wright, lieutenant colonel, and Edward W. Abbott, major.
On the first day of February, Colonel Cushing resigned his seat in the legislature and a few days later several hundred dollars were subscribed in Newburyport to procure a suitable gift to be presented to him, but, at his suggestion, the money was expended for the benefit of the regiment and a plain gold ring purchased and presented to him at a public
1 Newburyport Herald, January 22, 1847.
66-
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
meeting held in Market hall on the ninth day of February.I Miss Mary C. Burnham, assisted by Miss Anna P. Le Breton and Miss Sarah P. Hervey, made the presentation, and Mr. Cushing responded in a brief and appropriate speech that was received with great applause.2
Thursday evening, February nineteenth, an immense audi- ence assembled in Boston, at the Melodeon. Hon. David Henshaw presided and Robert Rantoul, Jr., Esq., speaking for himself and his political associates, presented a sword to Colonel Cushing who accepted the gift with evident emotion and replied in a speech worthy of the occasion.
The next day the friends of David Brainard Stover, Jr., second lieutenant of company A, presented him, at his home in Newburyport, with a sword and a heavy gold ring, both suitably inscribed.3
Men from Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties enlisted in the regiment and the following-named persons, with Colonel Cushing and Lieutenant Stover, were mustered into the ser- vice from Newburyport.4
Henry Furlong, 29 years of age, painter, enlisted as a pri- vate in company B June 3, 1846.
James Carey, 37 years of age, painter, enlisted as a private in company D June 5, 1846.
Rufus Rand, 26 years of age, trader, first sergeant in company A, December 7, 1846.
William F. Tucker, 19 years of age, shoemaker, a private in company C, January 28, 1847.
1 Newburyport Herald, February 12, 1847.
2 Newburyport Herald, February 19, 1847.
3 David Brainard Stover, son of Henry and Charlotte Stover, was born in New- buryport August 5, 1823. He learned the trade of a goldsmith, and December 3, 1846, was mustered into service as second lieutenant in company A, of the First Massachusetts regiment. At the close of the war he returned to Newburyport and soon after the discovery of gold in California went there and worked in the mines for several years. He was appointed captain and assistant quarter- master of the United States volunteers by President Lincoln, and in 1863 was ordered to Salt Lake city. He died there October 24, 1898.
4 This list is probably incomplete but it has been prepared after consultation with Brigadier-General Adolphus W. Greeley, chief signal officer of the United States army, and James W. Cheney, librarian of the war department, from the pension rolls on file in Washington, D. C., and from the muster rolls in the adjutant general's office in Boston.
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THE MEXICAN WAR
Daniel M. Felch, 22 years of age, house carpenter, enlisted as a private in company D in January, 1847, and was after- wards first sergeant of the company.1
The regiment was taken in several small transports from Boston to the mouth of the Rio Grande, but Colonel Cushing went over land, by the way of Charleston, S. C., to New Or- leans, where he attended a public dinner given in his honor by the members of the New England Society. He joined his regiment at Vera Cruz and was promoted to the rank of brig- adier general April 14 1847.2
In June, his brigade, consisting of the Massachusetts regi- ment and three mounted battalions, one from Ohio, one from New Jersey and one from Georgia, was in the vicinity of Monterey. The fourth day of July was celebrated at the head- quarters of General Taylor with an oration and a dinner. General Taylor presided, Col. Isaac H. Wright read the declaration of independence and Brigadier-General Cushing delivered an address appropriate to the occasion.3
In August, the Massachusetts regiment, with a company of flying artillery, under the command of General Cushing, was ordered to join the army under Gen. Winfield Scott at Vera Cruz. The city of Mexico was captured on the four- teenth day of September. At that date the Massachusetts regiment was stationed at Jalapa. Two or three weeks later, the brigade, under the command of General Cushing, including the Massachusetts and the First Pennsylvania regiments, was encamped in the suburbs of the city of Mexico.
Peace was established between the United States and Mexico
1 Daniel M. Felch, son of Daniel and Olive (Maxwell) Felch, was born in New- buryport February 28, 1825. After his return from the Mexican war he resided in Haverhill for twenty-five years.
March 19, 1862, he was mustered into service as second lieutenant of the First regiment Massachusetts heavy artillery. He was promoted to first lieutenant December II, 1862, but was obliged to resign six weeks later on account of ill health. He returned to Haverhill, where he remained until 1878, when he re- moved to Newburyport. He was elected a representative to the General Court for the years ending December, 1886, and December, 1887. He died in New- buryport February 10, 1898.
2 Lieut .- Col. Isaac H. Wright was appointed colonel of the Massachusetts regiment May 27, 1847.
3 Newburyport Herald, August 6, 1847.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
by a treaty signed on the second day of February, 1848. Soon after that date the Massachusetts regiment was ordered to report to the officer commanding the United States troops at Vera Cruz. From that port the regiment was taken in trans- ports to New Orleans, and thence by steamer to Cincinnati and by rail to Buffalo, N. Y.
On the eighteenth day of July the regiment reached Albany and the next day arrived in Boston, about seven o'clock P. M., and went into camp near the Cambridge crossing. On Sat- urday, the twenty-second, the Massachusetts brigade and the National Lancers escorted the returned volunteers through the principal streets of the city to Faneuil hall where dinner was served and speeches made, Col. Charles C. Green presiding. The regiment was mustered out of service July 25, 1848.
THE CIVIL WAR.
The capture of Fort Sumter, April 14, 1861, in the harbor of Charleston, S. C., by the Confederate troops, under the command of General Beauregard, created intense excitement in the state of Massachusetts. In answer to the call issued by President Lincoln the next day, for seventy-five thousand volunteers, the Eighth regiment of the Massachu- setts volunteer militia was ordered to march to the defence of the capitol, and the city council of Newburyport appropriated the sum of one thousand dollars for the support of the wives and children of men having a residence in Newburyport and reporting for active service in that regiment.
On the sixteenth day of April, while rain and sleet were falling fast, the first detachment of the Cushing Guards, con- sisting of twenty members of company A of the Eighth regi- ment, left Newburyport for Boston, under the command of Capt. Albert W. Bartlett. Two days later, the number was increased by the addition of seventy men who responded to the call of the president and joined the company at Faneuil hall.
The regiment left Boston on the eighteenth, and reached Washington on the twenty-sixth, having, meanwhile, repaired
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THE WAR WITH SPAIN
the engines and road bed of the Annapolis & Elkridge Rail- road and opened communication between Philadelphia and the capitol.
Public meetings were held in City hall ; flags were displayed on public buildings and private residences ; patriotic speeches were made urging Democrats and Republicans to support the Union and the constitution ; military companies were speedi- ly organized ; committees were chosen to assist the munici- pal authorities in enlisting men and procuring fire arms.
The women of Newburyport organized an association " to aid sick and wounded soldiers in the service of the United States," and maintained it by contributions of time and money from August 14, 1862, until the close of the war.
Fifteen hundred and eleven men, including one hundred men in company B, Fortieth New York Infantry (Mozart regi- ment), enlisted in Newburyport from April, 1861, to April, 1865, and were mustered into the service of the United States, making the number of men enlisted two hundred and eighteen more than the number called for by the provost-marshal- general. Newburyport also supplied the gunboats of the navy with two hundred officers and seamen and raised nearly one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars to meet the ex- traordinary expenses incurred during the war.I
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