USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 63
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" Four o'clock came, and with it the intoxicating news, 'LEE HAS SURRENDERED !' What wild cheers upon cheers thundered along that bristling line ! What triumphant joy filled every breast ! Men rolled upon the ground - embraced each other again and again - yelled themselves hoarse, and wept like children. Their country was saved - their homes were near - their lives were again their own. Our brigade was detailed to receive the formal surrender of the rebel arms."
On the 29th of June, 1865, the regiment was mustered out.
While Colonel Edmands held the inferior rank of Major, on the occasion of a visit at his home in Newton, a ceremony occurred which is worthy of record, in connection with the history of the Thirty-second Regiment. The record is taken from a Boston newspaper.
A very rich and elegant sword was presented yesterday by some of the citizens of Newton to Major Joseph Cushing Edmands, of the Massachusetts. Thirty-second. It was accompanied by a very neat letter in an elegant frame, and signed by the Selectmen of the town, expressing the high public estima- tion of his services and character. A large number of his friends called upon him at his father's residence in the evening. The whole affair was no unmeaning ceremony, but the hearty expression of the true, carnest and high consideration inspired in his fellow-citizens by a very gallant soldier and faithful man. He leaves immediately to join his regiment in the field, and carries with him the kindest wishes of all for future honors and success.
THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The Thirty-third Regiment of Infantry was mustered into the service of the United States, August 13, 1862; left the State August 14, 1862, and was mustered out June 11, 1865.
It took part in the following named engagements :
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Beverly Ford, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, and the battles of General Sherman's Grand Army.
At Gettysburg on the second of July, 1863, "the Thirty-third, supporting a battery, were exposed for hours to a terrific cross-fire of shot and shell from the rebel batteries, and elicited praise even from the regular army officers, for the unflinching steadiness with which it maintained its position. Through the remainder of the fight, it was constantly in the front, and took a prominent part in. repulsing the rebel attack on the centre."
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A soldier in this regiment contributes the following graphic and touching reminiscence of the battle of Lookout Mountain :
The battle of "Raccoon Ridge," near the base of Lookout Mountain, was fought in the thick woods, October 29, 1863, by order of General Hooker, opening about two o'clock in the morning, under the combined force of the Thirty-third Massachusetts and the Seventy-third Ohio, commanded by Colonel, but since (by brevet) General, Underwood, now of the Boston cus- toms. It was a most daring and desperate engagement. Twice the Union force was compelled to fall back with severe loss. The advance was up a steep hill, so steep that the men had to pull themselves up by the bushes, dragging their guns after them, to face a force 3,000 strong, and entrenched in rifle pits on the summit. Of course the enemy was dislodged, for that was what the boys went up the hill to do ; but not till half their number was either killed or wounded. Among the former was Adjutant William P. Mudge, of Boston, the wit and light and life of the regiment. The next morning, I tele- graphed the sad news to his widowed mother. In a few days I received from her a letter, requesting me to mark his grave, and saying, "I have two other sons, one is in the Army of the Potomac, the other yet too young to bear arms ; but though my heart is bleeding, still, if the cause of my country re- quires, I am ready to offer them on her altars." Had old Sparta truer or braver mothers?
Among the wounded, we found Captains Walker and Blasland, of South Boston, and Colonel Underwood. The Colonel's right thigh was terribly shattered near his body, and the surgeon said he could not survive, and that I had better telegraph his family that he was mortally wounded, which I did. Having gotten him into an unoccupied wretched old house, half a mile away, entirely destitute of comforts, faint, helpless and bleeding, with scarce a ray of hope to comfort his sad-hearted comrades, they bolstered him up on a wretched old bed, unfit for a dog, raising his limbs as high as possible to sup- press the blood. When they had done all they could, I turned to him and said, " Colonel, this seems a hard fate, that a fellow should leave all the com- forts of a New England home, and come away down here to be shot in the night, in the woods, by these wretched rebels?" I shall never forget his an- swer. Opening his languid eyes, pale and haggard, he said, " Chaplain, this is what I came for. I thought it all over before I enlisted. I have ex- pected and am prepared for such a result, and if the salvation of my country calls for the sacrifice of my life, I am ready to render it." Such men deserve to be embalmed in honey and fed on diamonds.
This regiment was with General Sherman in his grand advance to Savannah, Ga.
FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The Forty-fourth Regiment was organized at Readville, under the supervision of Colonel Lee, and mustered into the service of the United States for nine months, September 12, 1862; left the
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State October 22, and arrived in Newbern, North Carolina, Octo- ber 26. Mustered out June 16, 1863.
The regiment took part in the following engagements :
Williamston, Kinston, Whitehall Bridge, Goldsboro', Washing- ton, N. C. In the vicinity of Tarboro', " they were under fire in the dark, in the middle of a stream. The enemy, concealed by a wooded bank, fired into them for some time. They behaved to the entire satisfaction of their colonel, and General Stevenson said, they be- haved as well as men could." "The only time the whole regiment was under fire that amounted to any thing, was at Whitehall. It would have been impossible for any regiment to do better than they did. He ordered them into position, and they obeyed with perfect coolness, although under fire; not a single man hung back."
In the Goldsboro' expedition, the Forty-fourth Regiment was under fire at the skirmish near Kinston, and the next day, some fifteen miles beyond that town, at Whitehall Bridge. Colonel Lee writes,-" They marched across a high field, parallel to the river Neuse, under fire of artillery ; two men were killed, but the men did not falter nor check ; but filed down into a lower field and across it under fire of musketry, and took position behind a rail fence on the river bank ; men all cool and obedient. We retired about two P. M., and I was proud of the officers and men."
The regiment formed part of the garrison which successfully defended Washington, N. C., against a body of from twelve to fifteen thousand rebel troops. The commanding officer bears tes- timony that the soldiers of the regiment "always tried to do their duty faithfully, and they generally succeeded."
On their return from the seat of war, a reception was given at Newton Corner to Company B, of the Forty-fourth Regiment, highly complimentary to the men, and honorary to the town. The weather of the afternoon was perfect, and every thing conspired to the success of the occasion. We give the account of it, partly in the words of the Boston Journal, and partly in a condensed form.
One of the most charming and hearty demonstrations which it has yet been our duty to record in connection with the movements of our citizen soldiery, occurred at the village of Newton Corner yesterday, the occasion being the welcome home of Co. B, of the Forty-fourth Regiment, by the citizens of the town. The stores were closed, the public schools were dismissed, and every body
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seemed to vie with those about him in doing whatever could be devised, for the pleasure of the parties to be welcomed.
At two o'clock, P. M., a procession was formed under the direction of William Otis Edmands, Esq., chief marshal, consist- ing of the National Brass Band, of Newton, the Nonantum Drill Club, Nonantum Rifle Corps, Independent Zouaves (boys), Com- pany B, Massachusetts Volunteers, and ex-Triton Engine Compa- . ny. On the route, the procession was joined by the Selectmen and other officers of the town, the engineers of the Fire Department, teachers of the Public Schools, and many of the most respected citizens. Floral and other decorations were displayed from the buildings along the route of the procession.
A pavilion had been erected on the ground near the Public Li- brary, for the public exercises. The assembly was called to order by the Hon. J. Wiley Edmands, who, after prayer by Rev. J. W. Wellman, briefly recounted the history of the returning corps, say- ing "that they had never yet disgraced their flag or their native town," and closing with a call for " three times three," for the gal- lant command in whose honor the day was kept. The cheers were given with emphasis.
The President then introduced the Hon. David H. Mason, who had been selected by the Committee of Arrangements to express the sense of the town relative to the return of its soldiers. Mr. Mason, addressing Captain Griswold and the soldiers, said,-
" You have just returned from the seat of war, and I am here, on behalf of your fellow-citizens, your friends and neighbors, wives and sweethearts, to bid you a hearty welcome to your homes. You have proved yourselves MEN, tried your courage and patriotism, finished every work appointed you to do, and the judgment is rendered, ' Well done, faithful soldiers,' you shall wear the honors of the sons of liberty in our ancient town. You have shown by actual experiment what has been so long denied, that a free, independent and educated citizen of this Commonwealth, in the full enjoyment of his equal rights, in the full blast of sovereignty, can put off his power and dignity, bow his neck to the yoke of military law, leave his palace home, and cheerfully enter upon and endure the dangers and hardships of military service, in any capacity or place, performing the most menial service, perseveringly and con- tinually, in or out of season, without murmuring or complaint, perilling every thing for the sake of liberty protected by law. And you have also shown how the same citizen soldier, following the example of our sainted Washington, when his work is all accomplished and his duties done, can lay aside the arms and weapons of savage war, beat his sword into a ploughshare and his spear into a pruning-hook, and can gracefully ascend, to adorn his accustomed place in the highest circle of social and civil life.
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" Such a spectacle as this has never been so realized as in New England. In such a land of churches and schools, simply a welcome home to returning soldiers is more of a triumph than the victorious march of a Roman general." Mr. Mason here described the origin and purpose of the Rebellion, and the materials of which the two contending armies are composed, saying in respect to the men of the North, " that for pluck and courage, strength of mind and will, for clear and comprehensive common sense, the world has furnished no equal since the morning of the first day." He complimented Colonel Lee, of the Forty-fourth, in flattering terms, and the officers and men of Company B, and also made appropriate reference to other citizens of Newton, still remain- ing at the seat of war.
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Captain Griswold modestly responded in behalf of his company. Remarks were made by Colonel Lee, Hon. Thomas Rice, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, George W. Briggs, Esq., and Lieuten- ant Kenrick, of Company B.
After the public speaking, a collation was served in Eliot Hall, prepared by the ladies. The company went to the war with ninety- five men, and returned with eighty-eight. But one death occurred, and that was by disease.
FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The Forty-fifth Regiment was raised in the autumn of 1862, and there were numbered among its soldiers citizens of more than two hundred cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Twenty- seven of the number were Newton men. Their enlistment was for nine months. The regiment left the State November 5, and arrived in Newbern, N. C., November 14.
The regiment formed a portion of the force in the expedition to Goldsboro', and participated in the battle of Kinston, where it was hotly engaged, and suffered severe loss. The soldiers behaved with the greatest steadiness and gallantry, and, though exposed to a galling cross-fire, advanced resolutely through a dense wood and swamp upon the enemy, who were unable to withstand their attack. . The regiment also suffered losses at the battle of Whitehall, and was engaged in a brisk skirmish on the railroad near Kinston.
The regiment was mustered out of service July 8, 1863.
FIRST REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
The First Regiment of Massachusetts Cavalry went into camp at Readville, Mass., September 9 and 16, 1861. The first bat-
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talion proceeded to Annapolis, Md., December 25, the second December 27, and the remainder, December 29. Twenty-seven Newton men were enlisted in the regiment, which was mustered out of service June 26, 1865. It took part in the following named engagements :
Poolesville, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chan- cellorsville, Brandy Station, Aldie, Upperville, Gettysburg, Wil- liamsport, Culpepper, Auburn, Todd's Tavern, Fortifications of Richmond, Vaughan Road, St. Mary's Church, Cold Harbor, Belle- field.
Besides these engagements, during the capture of Petersburg this regiment was employed in picket duty in rear of the Ninth Army corps. At the termination of the service the commanding officer bore testimony to "the valuable services rendered by the regiment, and the good conduct by which they had been uniformly distinguished."
THIRD REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
The Third Regiment of Cavalry, including nine Newton men, was mustered into service November 1, 1862, and left the State November 15, 1862. It was mustered out September 28, 1865. Originally entering the service as the Forty-first Regiment of In- fantry, it was changed to a Cavalry Organization June 17, 1863, and three unattached companies of cavalry were consolidated with it and became a part of the organization.
The regiment took part in the following engagements :
Irish Bend, Henderson Hill, Cane River, Port Hudson, Sabine Cross Roads, Muddy Bayou, Piney Woods, Red River Campaign, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, Snag Point, Winchester, Cedar Creek and others.
During its three years of service, this regiment marched fifteen thousand miles, and was in more than thirty engagements, in all of which it bore an honorable part. In the course of its long and arduous service, it received high commendations for good discipline and gallantry in action from the eminent commanders under whom it had the honor to serve.
FOURTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
The Fourth Regiment of Cavalry, embracing nine Newton men, participated in the battles at Gainesville, Florida, Drury's Bluff,
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Picolata Road, Manning, Dingley's Mills, Swift Creek, Camden, Waterbury, Deep Creek, High Bridge and in several of the engage- ments in front of Petersburg and Richmond. In the engagement at High Bridge, in which this regiment took part, " so fierce were the charges and so determined the fighting, that General Lee received the impression that they must be supported by a large · part of the army, and that his retreat was cut off. When Lee dis- covered his mistake, and that the fighting force in his front was only a small detachment of cavalry and infantry, a retreat directly south was no longer practicable ; he was obliged to make a detour by Appomattox Court House." The importance of this fight and its influence on the final result has never been appreciated.
The regiment was mustered out of service November 14, 1865.
FIFTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
The Fifth Regiment of Cavalry, including eighty-one Newton men, was composed mainly of colored men, and was mustered into service at various dates, from January to May, 1864. It was mus- tered out October 31, 1865. These troops took part in the engage- ments at Bailor's Farm and Virginia. The men did much heavy work, and at one period many of them were on the sick list, in consequence of exposure and over-exertion.
SIXTY-FIRST REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
The Sixty-first Regiment, containing twelve Newton men, was recruited as a one year regiment. Five companies left the State October 7, 1864, and the remainder, as soon as they reached the maximum number. Five companies were mustered out June 4, 1865, and the residue, July 16, 1865. The regiment took part in the engagements before Petersburg, and was distinguished by its bravery and patient endurance of hardship. On reaching Peters- burg, the privates connected with the regiment were the first at the office of the local newspaper, the Petersburg Express, for the purpose of issuing a Union paper. But, failing to break in the door, they left the office, and another party, more successful, printed the first copy of Grant's Petersburg Progress. The Bay State flag was the first to float from the Court House.
Besides the Newton men included in the Regiments of Massa- chusetts, others, who were natives or residents of the town, found their way into the service of their country, in connection with regi-
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ments recruited in other States of the Union. Of the names of such, with slight exceptions, we have no record. But their patri- otism and valor were not without results. The whole number of enlisted men in Massachusetts regiments and batteries, during the war, was 106,330. The total number of deaths, from all causes, was 12,534. Of these, 7,434 died of disease and in rebel prisons ; 5,100 were killed, or died of wounds; showing that 2,334 more died of disease or in rebel prisons, than were killed in battle or died of wounds ; but all, alike, died for their country. And of these heroic men of Massachusetts, Newton furnished her full share.
CHAPTER XLIX.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN NEWTON .- WEST PARISH SOCIAL LIBRARY .- ADELPHIAN LIBRARY .- WEST NEWTON ATHENAEUM .- NEWTON BOOK CLUB .- NEWTON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION .- NEWTON FREE LIBRARY .- NEWTON CENTRE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION .- NEWTON LOWER FALLS FREE LIBRARY .- NORTH VILLAGE FREE LIBRARY.
WEST PARISH SOCIAL LIBRARY .- A library was organized in the West Parish in Newton in 1798. The proprietors associated them- selves together into a Society called "The Social Library Society in the West Parish in Newton," and subscribed a Constitution of eleven articles. This Constitution was printed in a pamphlet of eight pages,-with a catalogue of the books in the Library, the latter numbering one hundred and sixty-five volumes, and covering only two pages. The first article of the Constitution was as follows :
That a Library be formed, of the value of one hundred and fifty dollars, at least; that it be divided into a number of equal rights; that each single right be of the value of three dollars ; that each proprietor shall pay annually twenty-five cents upon each of his rights, to be' laid out in making additions to the Library and defraying other necessary expenses ; that the Library be composed of such books as are the best " calculated to raise the genius and mend the heart;" and that all books which tend to promote infidelity and immorality be excluded.
The Librarian was required "to be possessed, in his own right, of an estate of at least double the value of all the books which the Library may contain."
Most of the articles have reference to the internal economy of the Library and the duties of the officers. Article seven provides that books may be taken from the Library the second Monday of every month, in the proportion of one folio or quarto volume, or two
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volumes, if of smaller size, for each right. Books to be returned in one month ; but a reader was permitted to exchange his book or books within the month, if the librarian could attend to it. No proprietor was permitted to allow any book to be read outside of his own family. Many of the works on the catalogue were of ster- ling value, suited to communicate information, to enlarge the mind, to stimulate the genius, and to train the intellect and the heart. But in modern days such a library would find few readers. It is easy to see how such reading made such men. And such a selec- tion of books, at the period when French infidelity was let loose upon the world, and the young were ready to be carried away by the flippant folly of the age, is very refreshing.
In history, the Library contained Adams' Flowers of Ancient and Modern History, Belknap's History of New Hampshire, Cooper's History of France, Cooper's History of North and South America, Goldsmith's History of England, Goldsmith's History of Rome, Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, Plutarch's Lives, Rollin's Ancient History, Robertson's History of Greece, Robertson's His- tory of India, Ramsay's American Revolution, Sullivan's History of the District of Maine, Smith's History of New York, Williams' History of Vermont ; in travels, Anacharsis' Travels in Greece, Cook's Voyages, Carver's Travels, Embassy to China, Keafe's Pelew Islands, Moore's Travels, Morse's Geography ; in theology, Addison's Evidences, Blair's Sermons, Baxter's Saints' Rest, But- ler's Analogy, Doddridge on Regeneration, Edwards on the Affec- tions, Edwards' History of Redemption, Hunter's Sacred Biogra- phy, Life of Watts and Doddridge, Mason on Self Knowledge, Newton on the Prophecies, Paley's Evidences, Sterne's Sermons, Taylor's Life of Christ, Whitefield's Sermons, Zimmerman on Sol- itude ; in politics, Burlamaqui on Natural and Political Law, Con- stitution of the several States, Laws of Massachusetts, Presidents" Speeches ; in literature, Beauties of Poetry, Cowper's Poems, Franklin's Works, Johnson's Lives of the Poets, Rasselas, Beau- ties of Johnson, Paradise Lost, Beauties of Pope, Spectator, Thomson's Seasons, Trumbull's McFingal, Telemachus, Vicar of Wakefield, Watts' Lyric Poems, Young's Night Thoughts.
ADELPHIAN LIBRARY.
The Adelphian Library, so named by the suggestion of Rev. James Bates, colleague Pastor with Dr. Homer, was formed,
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WEST NEWTON ATHENAEUM.
says Mr. Rice, in 1826, [according to Dr. Gilbert, 1827; Seth Davis, Esq., says, about 1830]. The Hon. William Jackson and others, by begging, buying and giving, procured quite a valuable library. Mr. Davis furnished lumber, and Mr. Rufus Pratt made a book-case (all a gratuity), and it was placed in the entrance room to Mr. Davis' Academy. Mr. Davis was the Librarian, till he sold out his academy in 1839. About 1832 or 1833, it was arranged that the books, in part, should be kept, and occasionally exchanged, in both parishes, the East and the Mr. West. Mr. Rice was the librarian in the East parish. Davis says, "I think there was but one exchange of books, -- about 1834." Mr. Rice, speaking of the eastern branch of the library, says,-"The Temperance Society, formed in Newton in 1826, be- lieving if the people staid at home and saved their money, they would need books to read, collected, by begging and buying, a large library called the Adelphian Library. This library was kept for a number of years in the vestry of Dr. Homer's Society, and the books were very generally read." When Mr. Davis sold his academy, the books of the Adelphian Library of West New- ton were removed to the vestry of the Second Congregational church (West Newton). It was proposed to donate or sell the books of the Library of 1798 to the Adelphian Library. But Mr. Samuel F. Dix, the custodian, and some others, objected to the arrangement, for want of authority from the originators of the Library of 1798, of whom some were dead, others had removed, and a new generation had come into their places. Mr. Davis says, " I understand that ultimately, during the fourth decade of this century, the Library of 1798, together with the Adelphian, became merged with the Athenæum."
WEST NEWTON ATHENAEUM.
A Library Association was formed in West Newton, in Decem- ber, 1849, styled "The West Newton Atheneum." Among its founders were Hon. Horace Mann, William B. Fowle, Cyrus Pierce, Rev. Joseph S. Clarke, D. D., Dr. J. H. Brown and J. W. Plympton, the latter of whom made, at one time, a donation of $1,000 to the Library. The Institution, as originally established, contemplated the promotion of liberal culture and social improve- ment, as well as a Library Association. The property of the Li- brary was held in shares, of the par value of ten dollars each.
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HISTORY OF NEWTON.
The Library has increased to several thousand volumes, and the design is to make it, ultimately, free to all.
NEWTON BOOK CLUB -NEWTON LITERARY ASSOCIATION.
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