USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 62
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66
Lieut. Col.,
June 29, 1864
Dec. 29, 1862
66
Captain,
July 30, 1862
Ambrose Bancroft, Captain, Ezra S. Farnsworth, Captain, George A Hall, Captain,
2d Lieut.,
Isaac F. Kingsbury, Captain,
Ambrose Bancroft, Ist Lieut.,
Isaac F. Kingsbury, 1st Lieut.,
Feb. 6, 1863
June 15, 1864 Mar. 19, 1863
Dec. 4, 1864
John F. Boyd, 2d Lieut.,
July 30, 1862
Isaac F. Kingsbury, 2d Lieut.,
Dec. 15, 1862
William F. Tuft, 2d Lieut.,
Apr. 1, 1865
Charles E. Madden, 2d Lieut.,
June 7, 1865
Jan. 5, 1864
Aug. 13, 1862
Aug. 15, 1862
War Dept., '65 2d Lt., Dec., '62 d. of w'nds, '63
ODAA D D
Sept. 8, 1862
Nov. 18, 1861
Oct. 7, 1864 Transferred June 29, 1865 Transferred
Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862 Jan. 5, 1864 66 Aug. 13, 1862 66
2d Lt., Mar., '63 2d Lt., July, '64 June 29, 1865 Feb. 9, 1864 2d Lt., Apr. 1, '65 k. June 3, 1864 Jan. 9, 1863 Re-enlisted 2d Lt., Feb., '65 June 29, 1865 Mar. 20, 1864 Feb. 27, 1865
Feb. 27, 1864
Jan. 5, 1864
Mar. 25, 1864 Re-enlisted
Sept. 9, 1865
66
Major,
Dec. 29, 1862 July 20, 1864 Apr. 1, 1865 July 20, 1864 June 1, 1865 July 30, 1862
Ezra S. Farnsworth, 1st Lieut., 66 2d Lieut.,
George A. Hall, 1st Lieut.,
Q. M. Serg.,
Charles E. Madden,
66 Colonel,
643
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS.
NAMES.
Co.
MUSTERED IN.
SERVICE EXPIRED.
Edward Moore,
Sergeant,
K K
Aug. 13, 1862
May 29, 1865 April 1, 1863
John H. Percival,
66
K
Jan. 5, 1864
June 29, 1865
Samuel H. Potter,
K
Aug. 13, 1862
Mar. 15, 1863
Melvin M. Snow,
K
Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862
Serg. Major, 1863. June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted
Grafton H. Ward,
K
Charles P. Bates,
Corporal,
K K
.
66
Dec. 19, 1864
John Doherty,
K Jan. 5, 1864
July 15, 1865.
Moses Drown,
66
K
June 29, 1865
Lewis R. Dwyer,
K
Charles E. Fifield,
K
Aug. 13, 1862
William L. Gilman,
Hosea Hyde, 66
66
Charles E. Madden,
66
John H. Percival,
66
George P. Ramsdell, 66
66
Aug. 13, 1862
George T. Smallwood,
66
K
Aug. 20, 1863
Stillman C. Spaulding, John Fell, Musician, Herman A. King, 66
K K K
Feb. 27, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862 66
Orestus J. Adams, George Baker, Reuben L. Butler, James Cahill,
K K
66 Jan. 5, 1864
Patrick Callalıan,
Aug. 13, 1862
Edward Carey,
K K K
Thomas W. Clifford,
Edward J. Coggin,
K
.66
Thomas Costello,
K
Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 18, 1862 Aug. 13, 1862
66
Frederick A. Cutler, Albert C. Dearborn,
60
John Doherty,
Thomas Dolan, Francis Drake, Moses Drown, Winthrop A. Durgin,
Michael Emanuel,
66
Charles L. Fairbanks,
June 29, 1865 Dec. 19, 1864 Re-enlisted Jan. 19, 1863 Re-enlisted July 13, 1865 k. May, 1864 d. Sept., 1862 d. Dec., 1862 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Mar. 9, 1863 Feb. 6, 1863 d. Jan., 1863. d. Mar., 1864 Deserted Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted Transferred Feb. 6, 1863 Dec. 21, 1862. k. July, 1863 Re-enlisted Transferred Re-enlisted Oct. 28, 1863 War Dept., '65. Re-enlisted
Ivory L. Cousens, Samuel Cousens, Seth Cousens, William S. Cropper,
66 66 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862 66
Jan.
66
66
Jan. 4, 1864 July 16, 1863
June 29, 1865 66
K
Stillman C. Spaulding,
William F. Tufts,
K
Henry S. Benson,
Henry C. Bixby,
K
April 2, 1864 War Dept., '65
Re-enlisted d. of w'nds, '63 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted
Thomas Kennedy,
66
K K K Jan. 5, 1864 K Aug. 13, 1862 K 66 Jan. 5, 1864
Aug. 13, 1862 66
66 Musician,
K
K K K
Ferdinand Champion,
William I. Neff,
644
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
NAMES.
co.
MUSTERED IN.
SERVICE EXPIRED.
William Fell, John F. Franklin,
Aug. 13, 1862
Jan. 5. 1864
Charles W. French,
Aug. 13, 1862
Jan. 5, 1864
Aug. 13, 1862
66
66
Joseph A. Gayett, Joseph Gehling, Theodore Green, Amory Hall. 66
66
66
66
Henry A. Hart,
Leopold H. Hawkes, Franklin Hildrith,
Franklin Hill, David Inglis, Thomas L. Jackson,
Francis E. Jennison, 66
Thomas Kennedy, Richard Kennedy, 66 66
Albert D. Kingsbury, Roger S. Kingsbury, Lorenzo J. Latham, 66
Charles H. Leavitt,
Aug. 13, 1862
George E. Leavitt,
Aug. 12, 1862
Aug. 13, 1862
Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862
Jan. 5, 1864
Aug. 13, 1862 Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862
William B. Neff,
George P. Neill,
Charles Newell,
George Nicholson,
George H. Nichols,
Stephen L. Nichols, 66
John N. Nichols, 66
Frederick Pero,
Joseph R. Pratt, Joshua V. Ramsdell,
Jan. 5, 1864
Aug. 13, 1862 Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862 66 Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862 66
66 66
Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862
Feb. 27, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862 66
Jan. 5, 1864
K K K K K
Charles B. McCarthy, 66 66
Michael H. McGrath, John D. Meskell,
66 Joseph M. Morse,
Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862 Jan. 5,1864 Aug. 13, 1862 Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862
d. Jan., 1863 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted War Dept., '65 Dec. 17, 1864 Dec. 17, 1862 Jan. 1, 1863 Re-enlisted Mar. 28, 1863 Transferred Re-enlisted May 7, 1863 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 k. July, 1863 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Dec. 7, 1863 Deserted k. July, 1863 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted 66 June 29, 1865 War Dept., '65 June 28, 1864 Re-enlisted War Dept., '65 d. Oct., 1862 April 22, 1863 Re-enlisted d. of w'nds, '63 Deserted Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted Feb. 17, 1863 Aug. 15, 1862
Feb. 9, 1863 July 2, 1863 Re-enlisted k. May, 1864 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted War Dept., '65 d. Oct., 1862 Nov. 25, 1863
George B. French, Samuel Freeman, John Friends, Edward J. Fuller, Joel H. Fuller,
645
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS.
NAMES.
CO.
MUSTERED IN.
SERVICE EXPIRED.
William H. Rice, Daniel Sanger, 66 Obadiah Sherman,
Warren A. Skelton, Robert W. Somerville, 66 66
K K
Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862
Jan. 5, 1865 Aug. 13, 1862
Aug. 15, 1863
Aug. 13, 1862
Jan. 5, 1864
Aug. 13, 1862
July 28, 1864
3 years. 33d Regiment of Infantry.
Adin B. Underwood, Colonel, 66 66 Lieut. Col.,
66 Major,
George M. Walker, Captain,
1st Lieut.,
2d Lieut.,
3 years. 35th Regiment of Infantry.
Daniel H. Adams, Herbert Estes,
I K
Aug. 16, 1862 Aug. 10, 1862
June 9, 1865 66'
3 years. 38th Regiment of Infantry.
William A. Richardson, Q. M. S.,
Aug. 25, 1862
Jan. 31, 1863
3 years. 54th Regiment of Infantry.
Joseph E. Cousins, Captain,
July 17, 1865
Aug. 20, 1865
Feb. 22, 1865
July 17, 1865
Feb. 4, 1864
Feb. 22, 1865
3 years. 55th Regiment of Infantry.
Burt G. Wilder, Surgeon,
July 11, 1865 May 22, 1863
Aug. 29, 1865 July 11, 1865
3 years. 57th Regiment of Infantry.
Frank Allcott,
K K
Aug. 13, 1862 66
d. Jan., 1863 Re-enlisted
Jan. 5, 1864
Aug. 13, 1862
Jan. 5, 1864 Aug. 13, 1862
K
Aug. 15, 1862
Louis G. Stone, Daniel Sullivan, James C. Taylor, Edward H. Tombs, Lucius F. Trowbridge, John Varley,
Charles Ward, Serg. Major, William H. Wentworth, George Wilson, Jonathan E. Woodbridge,
James W. Wright, Andrew S. Stewart,
K K K M
April 3, 1863
July 24, 1862 July 11, 1862 June 3, 1863
Br. Gen. Nov. '63 Col. April,'63 Lt. Col. July '62 Jan. 11, 1864
June 3, 1863
Dec. 4, 1862 July 31, 1862
Dec. 4, 1862
66
66 1st Lieut., 2d Lieut.,
Asst. Surgeon,
K April 6, 1864
War Dept., '65
k. June, 1864 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Feb. 14, 1863 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 Dec. 6, 1862 War Dept., '65 Feb. 20, 1863 April 16, 1863 d. Dec., 1862 Re-enlisted June 29, 1865 April 11, 1863 Mar. 12, 1864 June 29, 1865 Re-enlisted July 15, 1865 Deserted d. Dec., 1864
K K K K
646
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
NAMES.
co.
MUSTERED IN.
SERVICE EXPIRED.
Charles M. Gildea,
K
April 16, 1864
July 30, 1865
3 years. 59th Regiment of Infantry.
Fred. A. H. Andrew, Musician.
G
Mar. 4, 1864
Disability
1 year. 61st Regiment of Infantry.
Michael Coaney,
Jan. 5, 1865
July 16,,1865
Thomas F. Culliton, Sergeant,
James L. Ryan,
John Toal,
Jan. 7,1865
John Coulter, Corporal,
Jan.
5, 1865
66
Thomas J. J. Harvey, "
K
66
66
Cornelius A. O'Brien, "
K
66
July 12, 1865
Charles A. Adams,
66
July 16, 1865 66
Charles A. Grant,
Dennis C. Sullivan,
Jan. 10, 1865
66
Alfred C. Wheat,
Jan. 5, 1865
66
1 year. 62d Regiment of Infantry.
Frederick A. Andrew,
A
Mar. 17, 1865
May 5, 1865
Veteran Reserve Corps.
Casseus Barrows,
Jacob Beckers,
Francis Belcher,
George Bott,
Dwight W. Brigham,
William C. Brookings,
July 9, 1864
Ralph M. Brown,
April 16, 1864
;
George Brunt,
Sept. 3, 1864
William Bryan,
April 16, 1864
William Burns,
April 10, 1864
Cornelius Callahan,
War Dept., '65
Patrick H. Carten,
Christopher Cassabry,
April 6, 1864 July 29, 1864
Jerome A. Chatman, William Clark, Lewis B. Clapp, Charles Coffin, Philip H. Collins,
July 9, 1864 66
April 16, 1864 66
Emery E. Cowing, John Donnough, Charles Dow, Lewis Foster,
Aug. 22, 1864 April 13, 1864 Aug. 31, 1864 Sept. 1, 1864 April 16, 1864
Samuel Foss,
April 25, 1864
Aug. 22, 1864
April 25, 1864 April 16, 1864
66
66
66
Dennis Mahoney,
MMMMMMMMMMMM K K K
66
April 6, 1864
April 14, 1864 April 16, 1864
April 19, 1864 66
Disability, '64
Lyman B. Gallup, Isaac L. Garrison, John Garritson, William H. Garlets,
647
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS.
NAMES.
CO.
MUSTERED IN.
SERVICE EXPIRED.
Orton G. Green, Harvey L. Haskell, Patrick Hoary, Burnham Holmes, Herman Jacobs,
April 14, 1864
April 30, 1864
April 6, 1864
July 9, 1864
Horace L. Jellerson,
April 30, 1864
Orris S. Jennings,
Mar. 30, 1864
Daniel Kelley,
April 13, 1864
Aug. 22, 1864
April 11, 1864 April 25, 1864 April 16, 1864
Aug. 24, 1864
April 16, 1864
Aug. 23, 1864
April 16, 1864
66
April 19, 1864
April 16, 1864 April 19, 1864
April 16, 1864
April 6, 1864
April 16, 1864 April 25, 1864 July 9, 1864 April 16, 1864
April 9, 1864 April 9, 1863 April 16, 1864 June 27, 1864 July 9, 1864 April 16, 1864 Aug. 31, 1864 April 25, 1864
April 16, 1864
July 11, 1864
July 1, 1864
July 11, 1864
April 15, 1864 July 11, 1864 July 17, 1864 July 11, 1864 Aug. 26, 1864
July 11, 1864
War Dept., '65
War Dept., '66
War Dept., '66
ARM OF SERVICE.
6th Infantry
4th Artillery
6th Infantry
General Service 6th Infantry Ordnance Corps 6th Infantry 3d Artillery 66 6th Infantry
War Dept., '65
Patrick Kenney, Martin Kerrigan, Allen V. King, Martin King, Timothy Lane, William H. Latten, James Lavery,
Alexander Masterdon,
Warren L. Maxon,
George W. Mccullough,
William F. Morrill,
Louis Murray, Henry A. Parmenter,
Henry Pepper, Henry Ramsdale, Joseph Rollery, John Rose, John Sexton, Andrew Shaw, Philip Shannon, Robert Sillers, Augustus Sorg, Alexander Stewart, James Swan,
James H. Sweetser, Jacob Swishir, Ira A. E. Taylor, William Taylor, Philip Thauvarth, William Tynan,
Regular Army.
Francis Armstrong, Stephen Baker, Louis Beck, James Bradley, William Buckley, Thomas Butler, Edmond Byron, John Callett, Joseph Cameron, John Carrall, Patrick Carrigan, Edward Collins, Bernard Daney,
April 8, 1864
648
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
NAMES.
CO.
MUSTERED IN.
ARM OF SERVICE.
Matthew Dillingham, Jeremiah Donahue,
July 11, 1864 66
6th Infantry
Cornelius Dougherty, William Dougherty, Henry Fox,
66
66
Bernard Harrington,
66
John W. Keough,
July 1, 1864
66 4th Artillery 6th Infantry Ordnance Corps 6th Infantry
James Mason, William Mason,
July 11, 1864 66
Patrick McGee,
66
66
Timothy McNulty,
66
66
William Milligan,
66
66
Stanislaus Palouskie,
66
Marcel Pezygodzinski,
July 1, 1864
Daniel Riordan,
July 28, 1864
Charles N. Ruley,
July 11, 1864
Raphael Spitiechi,
July 18, 1864 July 11, 1864
Mortimer Sullivan,
July 11, 1864
Oct. 26, 1864
July 1, 1864
June 13, 1865 4th Artillery 6th Infantry
Daniel H. Wielana,
60
Charles Zeigler,
Aug. 17, 1864
Hospital Steward
NEWTON MEN IN THE NAVY, IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861-5.
Ayles William, Bahe Emanuel, Baker George, Barnes Barnabas, Baury Frederic F., Acting Master, Brackett George F., Breck Joseph B., Lieut. Com'ding, Bryson Thomas, Burke Michael, Clark Charles P.,
Keyes Michael, O'Donnell John, Purdee Henry A., Ragan Jeremiah, Roberts Charles,
Robinson John A., Rogers George, Ryan Edward,
Sandholzer Adrian H.,
Curtis Frederic, Duffee James,
Shattuck Sumner, Sheehan James, Stearns David,
Sullivan John,
Washburn Alfred, Acting Master, Welch John, Wetherell Hiram B., jr., Paymaster, Whall Charles, Withington Charles H., Withington Sumner S., Wright Patrick.
66
66
Charles J. Limerick, Henry Lohmeyer,
July 11, 1864
July 30, 1864
66 4th Artillery Ordnance Corps 6th Infantry 4th Artillery 6th Infantry
John Tiernay (Band), Manson B. Turner, Michael Tyrrell, Thomas Weldon, John White,
July 11, 1864
Evans Charles O., Faber James, Farwell Charles H., Gardner Francis, Garfield Walter H., Acting Master, Hazelton Isaac H., Asst. Surgeon, Jackson Marcellus, Jackson Orlando, Johnson Nelson,
649
DECORATION DAY.
Newton has evermore cherished the memory of her heroic dead, celebrating their valor both as a tribute of merited gratitude and affection, and as a stimulus to the patriotism of her children and citizens. Year after year the Feast of Decoration has been duly observed, the young and the old with equal zeal participating in the beautiful ceremony. A grant from the public treasury, reinforced by the liberality of private citizens and organizations, has been annually laid on the altar of freedom, and processions and music, flowers and commemorative addresses have, year after year, hal- lowed the memory of the dead and proved an inspiration to the living. The spot where the soldiers' monument lifts itself into the light of heaven has always been, most appropriately, the central point of the interest on these tender occasions ; and the survivors of the deadly strife, returned to their friends, have been held in highest honor. Gifted orators have enlivened the scene with their eloquence, and poetry has given voice to the emotions of a patri- otic and grateful people.
Breathe balmy airs, ye fragrant flowers, O'er every silent sleeper's head ; Ye crystal dews and summer showers, Dress in fresh green each lowly bed.
Strew loving offerings o'er the brave, Their country's joy, their country's pride ; For us their precious lives they gave, For freedom's sacred cause they died.
Each cherished name its place shall hold, Like stars that gem the azure sky ; Their deeds, on history's page enrolled, Are sealed for immortality.
Long, where on glory's fields they fell, May freedom's spotless banner wave ; And fragrant tributes, grateful, tell, Where live the free, where sleep the brave.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
NEWTON AND THE WAR OF THE REBELLION .- BATTLES IN WHICH
REGIMENTS CONTAINING NEWTON'S SOLDIERS TOOK PART .- BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN .- RECEPTION AFTER THE WAR.
IT is easy to present the names of the men enlisted in the ser- vice of the United States during the war. But what was included in that service, no human language can adequately describe. The enlistment, the preparations, and the departure from home, sur- rounded by friends, and furnished with all the appliances for com- fort which love could invent, was the beginning. But afterwards came the tiresome marches, the days of anxious suspense, the weary watchings by night, the hunger and thirst, the piercing cold, the deadly conflict, the wounds, the mutilated forms, and " the last of earth," often with no friendly heart to sympathize or hand to help. These were the end. And not these alone. For we must add the sufferings of the thousands who never went to the field of strife, the wives, and mothers, and helpless children, who silently stood and watched the daily bulletins, and waited in agonizing dread for the latest news from the front, uncertain whether the tidings of victory or the rumor of defeat would not alike pronounce them widows, and childless, and orphans. And afterwards came the announcement that the hero would return no more, or, in place of that announcement, the lifeless form, sent back to be buried, the funereal pomp, the hopeless woe, the desolate home,-the young life smitten in the glory of its prime,- a family bereft of its head and reduced to poverty, or mourning its strong staff, broken, and hidden in the grave. How many silent sleepers rest under headstones inscribed with the years of early manhood ! How many budding hopes never reached maturity !
This history cannot, if it would, accompany each of the enlisted men through all the events of the weary years of their service. A
650
651
REPORTS OF REGIMENTS.
summary of the engagements of the regiments in which the largest number of Newton soldiers were enrolled, is all that can be offered. What is narrated of a few regiments is a specimen of what might be narrated of every regiment that took the field. The fatigues, the sufferings and the valor of one present a pattern of the fatigues, the sufferings and the valor of all.
The reports of the Colonels of regiments, written on the field, and transmitted to the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts, supply the materials for the information which follows. The story of the career and fate of each soldier from Newton would be of the highest interest. This, however, the nature of the service renders it impossible for us to give. But the narrative of the regiment is substantially the narrative of the individuals composing it.
FIRST REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The First Regiment of Infantry was mustered into the service of the United States June 15, 1861, and was mustered out May 25, 1864. The regiment took part in the following named battles :
Bull Run, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, and other battles on the Peninsula ; Kettle Run, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fred- ericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania.
This was the first three years' volunteer regiment that reached Washington. It passed through Baltimore June 17, the anniver- sary of the battle of Bunker Hill. This regiment killed the fa- mous Stonewall Jackson.
SIXTEENTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The Sixteenth Regiment of Infantry was mustered into the ser- vice of the United States August 5, 1861 ; left the State August 17, 1861, and was mustered out July 27, 1864. It took part in the following named engagements :
Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Kettle Run, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Locust Grove, Wil- derness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Coal Harbor, Peters- burg, Wapping Heights, Mine Run.
After the battle of Glendale, General Hooker wrote to Governor Andrew the following sentence : "There is no doubt but at Glen- dale the Sixteenth Massachusetts saved the army."
652
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The Twenty-fourth Regiment of Infantry was mustered into the service of the United States December 6, 1861, and left the State December 9, 1861. It took part in the following named engage- ments : S
Roanoke Island, Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro', Tranter's Creek, Newbern, James Island, Morris Island, Fort Wagner, Green Val- ley, Drury's Bluff, Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, Weir Bot- tom, Deep Run, Fussell's Mills, Siege of Petersburg, Four-mile Run Church, Darby Town Road.
The regiment was mustered out of service at Richmond, Va., January 20, 1866. In accepting the colors of the regiment on its return to Boston, Governor Bullock said, "I count it among the remarkable proofs of the steadfast and persistent patriotism of this regiment, that after it had fully tested the bitterness of war, then, even then, four hundred and twenty of its veterans re- enlisted to share in the conclusion of the conflict."
THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The Thirty-first Regiment of Infantry was mustered into the service of the United States from the date of its enrolment in the latter part of 1861 and beginning of 1862, left the State February 21, 1862, and was mustered out, as a regiment, in the latter part of December, 1864. It took part in the following named engage- ments :
Bisland, Port Hudson, Brashear City, Sabine Cross Roads, Cane River Crossing, Alexandria, Governor Moore's Plantation, Yellow Bayou, and in the several actions during the Siege of Mobile.
Through the efficiency of this regiment, the bands of guerillas, which infested the country for miles around New Orleans, were completely broken up, and an end was put to the depredations and outrages which had long disturbed the frontier.
THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The Thirty-second Regiment of Infantry was composed of six companies originally known as the Fort Warren Battalion, and was on duty at that place. It was sent to the front in May, 1862, and subsequently received four new companies to form its regi- mental organization. The regiment re-enlisted as an organization. and held a place of distinguished honor.
653
REPORTS OF REGIMENTS.
At Gettysburg this regiment met with a very heavy loss, and also through the struggle of that last terrible march to Richmond. The Thirty-second had killed in battle seventy-six; died of wounds or disease, one hundred and ninety-four; discharged for disability, three hundred and eighty-four. Total, six hundred and fifty-four. This total does not include the number of men wounded who returned to duty, nor those, some two hundred more, who died in captivity, or by the roadside, in severe marches, who are included in the returns among the unaccounted for, missing and deserters. The number discharged at the expiration of service was 1,087. Total number of men enlisted, 2,286. Of the thirty- seven commissioned officers who were included in the final muster- out of the regiment, all except seven were promoted from the ranks.
This regiment had the honor of receiving the flag of truce sent by General Lee, when forced to surrender at Appomattox Court House. April 11, 1865, came the formal surrender, and the brigade to which the Thirty-second was attached was ordered to receive the arms of the rebel infantry, which duty was performed in solemn silence, and this was the practical ending of the war.
Company K of this regiment was recruited in Newton, with J. Cushing Edmands, afterwards Colonel and Brevet-Brigadier-Gen- eral ; Lieutenants Ambrose Bancroft, and John F. Boyd.
Major E. S. Farnsworth recruited the Company, the late Gen- eral Edmands assuming command after the Company was formed. The Major's own name was the first on the list, John F. Boyd's the second, John Doherty the third - Doherty served his full time, subsequently joined the navy, being assigned to the Piscata- qua, was one of the crew of the Oneida when she was sunk by collision with the English packet Bombay, and saved his life by swimming ashore. The fourth recruit was Rev. William L. Gil- man, a Universalist minister ; he was wounded at Gettysburg, and died in the "Old Barn Hospital."
The regiment took part in the following named engagements :
Malvern Hill, Gainesville, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Sta- tion, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopo- tomy, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Peeble's Farm, Vaughan Road, Dabney's Mills, Boydtown Road, White Oak Road.
654
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
During the battle of Antietam, the regiment was protected by its position from the fire of the enemy, and followed the retreating rebels to the bank of the Potomac River. In the action before Fredericksburg, the regiment was for the first time thoroughly under fire and proved itself equal to the commander's warmest expecta- tions. "Not an officer flinched a tithe of a hair during thirty hours of trying exposure, commencing with a rush to the front, over a plain, under hot fire of ball and shell, and the coolness evinced by officers and men won the applause it richly merited."
In the battle of Gettysburg, the troops in front, being very much exposed, were obliged to fall back, bringing the Thirty-second to. the face of the foe, who had opened a very heavy fire of musketry .. " The regiment stood like a rock, and would have held the posi- tion, notwithstanding the impetuous charges of the rebels, had not. the troops on the right been removed, leaving their flank exposed." Out of a total of two hundred and twenty-nine taken into the bat- tle, eighty-one were lost, in killed, wounded and missing. The regiment suffered intensely from cold and exposure, and was in several battles, having at the battle of Laurel Hill, twenty-one men killed and seventy-five wounded, which was more than one- third of the whole number engaged. From November 19, 1863, to January 1, 1865, it participated in twenty-one battles.
In the battle of Dabney's Mills, the regiment lost seventy-four men in killed, wounded and missing. On the ninth of April, 1865, after a forced march, the regiment was drawn up in line of battle. in quick time, and a determined advance commenced under a gall- ing fire of the enemy's artillery. "Suddenly, as we neared the enemy's position, and the grand charge was about to be made, the enemy's batteries became silent, and a white flag came out from the rebel line. Our lines halted, and stood breathless, while the report ran from right to left that Lee was negotiating a surrender. . Orders soon came to hold our present advanced position quietly, until four o'clock, P. M.
" What anxious, eager hours were those that followed. Before us, almost within our grasp, commanded by our artillery, and sur- rounded by our victorious army, lay the enemy that had so many times poured death and destruction upon us, when it had had us at. a like disadvantage. We almost hoped Lee would not surrender. Yet the thought that a surrender would put an end to our hard marches, wounds and deaths outweighed all else.
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