USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > North Brookfield > History of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Preceded by an account of old Quabaug, Indian and English occupation, 1647-1676; Brookfield records, 1686-1783 > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
341
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
WALKER, SUMNER. Age 25. Unmarried. Residence, North Brookfield. Occupation, Leather Cutter. Born in North Brookfield, April 16, 1839. Parents, Lyman and Mary L. Enlisted July, 11, 1864, for one hundred days. Bounty $77.99. Mustered July 15, 1864, 42d Regt., Co. F, Mass. Vols. Private. Discharged at expiration of service, November 11, 1864. Residence in 1886, North Brookfield, Mass.
WALKER, OSBORN. Age 22. Unmarried. Residence, North Brook- field. Occupation, Mechanic. Born in North Brookfield, September 20, 1841. Parents, Elisha and Nancy. Enlisted for three years. Bounty $395. Mustered December 11, 1863, 2d Regt. Heavy Artillery, Co. I, Mass. Vols. Corporal. Spent most of the time in Virginia and North Carolina. Discharged at expiration of service, September 3, 1865. Residence in 1886, North Brookfield, Mass.
WALKER, WILLIAM H. Age 19. Unmarried. Residence, North Brook- field. Occupation, Clerk. Born in North Brookfield, March 2, 1845. Parents, Freeman and Emily P. Enlisted July 11, 1864, for one hundred days. Bounty $77.99. Mustered July 15, 1864, 42d Regt., Co. F, Mass. Vols. Private. Discharged at expiration of service, November 11, 1864. Residence in 1886, Minneapolis, Minn.
WARD, PETER. Age 21. Residence, birthplace and parentage, un- known. Enlisted for three years. Bounty $325. Mustered May 3, 1864, 2d Regt., Co. F, Mass. Vols. Private. Died (as Peter Devlin) at Nashville, Tenn., June 5, 1865.
WATERMAN, JOHN. Age 20. Birthplace and parentage, unknown. Enlisted for three years. Bounty $325. Mustered July 14, 1864, 2d Regt., Co. D, Mass. Vols. Private. Deserted November 11, 1864.
WARREN, FRANK. Age 29. Residence, birthplace and parentage, un- known. Enlisted for three years. Bounty $100. Mustered January 9, 1865, 28th Regt., Co. C, Mass. Vols. Private. Discharged at expiration of service, June 30, 1865.
WARREN, WILLIAM H. Age 23. Birthplace and parentage, unknown. Enlisted for one hundred days. Bounty $77.99. Mustered July 21, 1864, 42d Regt., Co. G, Mass. Vols. Private. Discharged at expiration of service, November 11, 1864.
WHEELER, BENJAMIN P. Age 27. Residence, birthplace and parent- age, unknown. Enlisted for three years. Bounty $183.66. Mustered
-
342
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
December 29, 1864, 3d Regt. Cavalry, Mass. Vols. Discharged at ex- piration of service, September 28, 1865.
WHEELOCK, BENJAMIN C. Age 31. Married. Residence, North Brookfield. Occupation, Shoemaker. Born in South Orange, March 24, 1830. Parents, Rufus and Polly. Enlisted for three years. Mus- tered February 3, 1862, 15th Regt., Co. F, Mass. Vols. Private. In Battles of Fair Oaks, Seven Days' Fight before Richmond, and Antietam. Discharged from Co. A, March 4, 1863, for disability. Residence in 1886, Fort Fettiman, Wyoming Territory.
WHEELOCK, JOSEPH B. Age 29. Unmarried. Residence, North Brookfield. Occupation, Shoemaker. Born in South Orange, Mass., December 8, 1832. Parents, Rufus and Polly. Enlisted for three years. Mustered July 27, 1862, 36th Regt., Co. E, Mass. Vols. Private. In Battles at Jackson's Mills, Blue Springs, E. Tenn., Campbell's Station, Siege of Knoxville, Spottsylvania Court House (wounded). Discharged for disability, March 27, 1865. Residence in 1886, North Brookfield, Mass.
WHITMAN, MARCELLUS. Age 38. Married. Residence, North Brook- field. Occupation, Shoemaker. Born March 5, 1822. Parents, Daniel C. and Polly. Enlisted for nine months. Mustered October 15, 1862, 53d Regt., Co. F, Mass. Vols. Private. In Battles of Bisland and Port Hudson. Discharged at expiration of service, September 2, 1863. Credited to Barre, Mass. Residence in 1886, Minnesota.
WILLIAMS, HENRY. Age 26. Birthplace and parentage, unknown. Enlisted for three years. Bounty $325. Mustered May 4, 1864, 2d Regt., unassigned, Mass. Vols. Never joined the regiment.
WILLIAMS, Jean. Age 22. Birthplace and parentage, unknown. En- listed for three years. Bounty $325. Mustered June 18, 1864, 2d Regt., unassigned, Mass. Vols. Never joined regiment.
WINSLOW, LOUIS D. Age 24. Unmarried. Residence, North Brook- field. Occupation, Mechanic. Born in Barre, Mass., September 27, 1838. Parents, David L. and Mercy H. Enlisted August 18, 1862, for three years. Mustered August 20, 1862, 36th Regt., Co. H, Mass. Vols. Private. In Battles of Fredericksburg, Va., December 17, 1862 ; Vicks- burg, July 4, 1863 ; Jackson, July 16, 1863 ; Blue Springs, October 10, 1863; Campbell's Station, November 16, 1863 ; Knoxville, Tenn., No- vember 16, 1863 ; Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864 ; and killed in action near Spottsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864.
343
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
WOODARD, ELIAS H. Age 39. Married. Residence, North Brook- field. Occupation, Mechanic. Born in Leicester, Mass., Sept. 11, 1822. Parents, Asa and Maria. Enlisted for three years. Mustered July 12, 1861, 15th Regt., Co. F, Mass. Vols. Private. Discharged for disability, Feb. 12, 1862. Residence in 1886, Brookfield, Mass.
344
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
REGIMENTAL ASSIGNMENTS.
OUR SOLDIERS WERE MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING REGIMENTS :
Ist Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Bates, Thomas S.
2d Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Anderson, Andrew.
Ring, George.
Christy, George.
Rogers, William.
Congdon, John.
Erwin, James.
* Ryan, William. Sanford, Charles.
Falmer, (or Fuller) Frederick.
Ward, (Devlin) Peter.
Green, William.
Waterman, John.
Jones, John H.
Williams, Henry.
Otto, Frederick.
Williams, Jean.
11th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Clark, William.
12th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Bates, George Albert. Miller, John.
Kelley, Christopher.
13th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Prouty, Elphonso W. Sullivan, Thomas.
15th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Babbitt, William J. Barnes, Francis A. Bartlett, Charles H. Bliss, Henry R.
Bliss, Oliver. Brewer, W. H. H. Cummings, Theodore. Dean, Amos.
345
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
DeLand, Carlton M.
Moulton, Henry Harrison.
Earle, David M.
Nichols, Elijah.
Earle, Henry G. Ellis, Elias B.
Pellett, Archibald S.
Foster, Albert H. Fretts, Joseph.
Perry, Charles. Raymore, John W.
Graham, William.
Rice, Edwin A.
Greene, J. Evarts.
Rock, Michael.
Harrington, Stephen.
Russell, Edward J.
Hill, G. W. A.
Smith, Henry E.
Howard, John.
Stevens, Benjamin.
Hughes, John A.
Stone, Harrison W. Torrey, Charles C.
Johnson, John H.
Kimball, Amasa B.
Tucker, George F.
Knight, Daniel W.
Walker, Francis A.
Lamb, Harrison S.
Wheelock, Benjamin C.
Lynch, Jeremiah.
Woodard, Elias H.
Marsh, George L.
18th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Miles, Edward C.
19th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Rosenburg, Charles.
20th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Barnes, Francis A.
Moulton, Henry Harrison. Rock, Michael.
DeLand, Carlton M. Ellis, Elias B.
Smith, Henry E.
Frieman, August.
Stone, Harrison W.
Hill, William F.
22d Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Powers, John L.
24th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Dickinson, Curtis. Page, Henry J.
Reynolds, William. Tucker, Edwin M.
Reynolds, Nathan.
25th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Ashby, Charles H.
Burns, John. Crouch, (or Cromb) Geo. H
Barnum, Cutler.
Nichols, John R.
346
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
Dickinson, Nathan S.
Kemp, Stephen B.
Dunn, William.
McCarthy, John.
Foster, Nathaniel H.
McCarthy, Timothy.
Henderson, James.
Meade, Josiah C.
Hill, Charles F.
Mitchell, David.
Holman, Albert T.
Price, David.
Johnson, Henry S.
Smith, George C.
Johnson, Palmer P.
27th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Gilmore, John W. Stoddard, Jason T.
Leach, Addison.
28th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Donn, Bec.
Sherman, George L. Warren, Frank.
Lafleur, Alfred.
3Ist Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Johnson, Emory W. Sherman, Daniel W.
Johnson, Julius W.
34th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Babcock, Edwin G.
Perkins, George H.
Coolidge, James P., Jr.
Porter, Charles A.
Granger, Charles E.
Prouty, George S.
Giffin, Timothy P.
Russell, John W.
Hebard, John L.
Smith, Asa.
Holmes, Bradford R.
Walker, Robert W.
Jackson, Andrew F.
36th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Bell, Leander.
Jenks, Frank L.
Cheever, Moses A.
Snell, Moses P.
Cummings, James B.
Thompson, Alvin M.
Gilbert, Lyman H.
Tyler, Warren, M.D.
Hair, Addison S.
Walker, Joseph L.
Harwood, George W.
Wheelock, Joseph B.
Haskell, William James.
Winslow, Louis D.
42d Regiment Infantry, M. V. Nine Months.
Amidon, Frederick S. Allen, Harvey. Barstow, John.
Bothwell, Sylvander. Bragg, Warren S. Dane, Emerson.
347
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Doane, Freeman.
Miller, James.
Doane, Freeman R.
Montague, William H.
Doane, Hubbard S. Duncan, Timothy M.
Parkman, Henry L.
Eaton, Hiram.
Pepper, Samuel J. Smith, Frank A.
Fisher, Andrew J.
Smith, Melville W.
Glazier, Leroy.
Spooner, Edward A.
Harlow, James F. Hebard, J. Franklin.
Stoddard, Elijah. Stoddard, Emerson.
Holmes, Sumner.
Howe, Willard M.
Tucker, George A. Upham, John J.
Knight, James A.
42d Regiment Infantry, M. V. One Hundred Days.
Barton, Charles P.
Hunter, Edward.
Boyd, John F.
Cutler, Abijah D.
Stoddard, Albert L. Stoddard, Emerson. Tucker, Emery H.
Dewing, Henry B.
Doane, Edwin.
Tucker, Lyman.
Fay, William B.
Walker, William H.
Hanson, Warren.
Walker, Sumner.
Harris, George R.
Warren, William H.
44th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Nine Months. Knight, Charles W. Potter, Albert F.
46th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Nine Months.
Earle, Israel C. Fay, William B.
53d Regiment Infantry, M. V. Nine Months. Whitman, Marcellus.
54th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Freeman, Theophilus D.
56th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Bell, Leander.
57th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Barron, William. Bates, William. Brigham, Charles L.
Burke, James. Crowley, Patrick. Gould, Harvey (or Henry) W.
Parkman, Charles.
Fisher, Francis H.
348
SECOND PRECINCT- NORTH BROOKFIELD.
Gaul, John.
Howard, Timothy.
McCarthy, Cornelius. Tyler, Warren, M.D.
Howard, Daniel H.
58th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years. Atkinson, Thomas.
Boggs, Archibald.
59th Regiment Infantry, M. V. Three Years.
Barron, William.
Howard, Daniel H.
Burke, James.
Howard, Timothy.
Crowley, Patrick.
McCarthy, Cornelius.
Daley, Patrick.
McNamara, Michael.
Gaul, John.
Quigley, John, 2d.
62d Regiment Infantry, M. V. One Year. Boyd, John F. Nichols, John R.
127th Regiment Infantry. Colored Troops.
Perkins, Geo. H., 2d Lieut. Snell, Moses P., Ist Lieut.
Ist Regiment Cavalry, M. V. Three Years. O'Brien, Dennis.
3d Regiment Cavalry, M. V. Three Years.
Cahill, Peter. Wheeler, Benjamin P.
O'Brien, Henry.
4th Regiment Cavalry, M. V. Three Years.
Amidon, Charles K.
Perkins, Newton M.
Flagg, Samuel C.
Pope, (or Pogne) Wm., Jr.
Kerrigan, Daniel.
Raymore, John W.
Luce, Asa R.
Stone, Henry H.
Nealor, Samuel.
St. Peter, Peter.
O'Brien, James.
Tucker, George A.
Passage, Eugene.
5th Regiment Cavalry, M. V. Three Years. Simmons, James W.
Ist Battalion Frontier Cavalry.
Brown, Daniel C. Hartwell, Charles.
Chapin, Charles L.'
349
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Ist Regiment Heavy Artillery, M. V. Three Years. Maxwell, Nathaniel B. Spooner, George R. Moran, Thomas.
2d Regiment Heavy Artillery, M. V. Three Years.
Anderson, Charles.
Bloom, William C.
Jenks, Frank L. Rowan, (or Rayhne) James H.
Burton, John. Snow, William A. Walker, Osborne.
Green, John.
3d Regiment Heavy Artillery, M. V. Three Years. Adams, Nicholas. Russell, Edward J.
Jones, Otis G.
4th Regiment Heavy Artillery. M. V. Three Years. Edwards, Augustus. Maxwell, Samuel W.
Glazier, Eugene.
8th Unattached Company Heavy Artillery, M. V. Three Years. Spooner, Edward H.
12th Regiment Heavy Artillery. United States Colored Troops. Foster, Nathaniel H., Major.
9th Battery, M. V.
Adams, John Q. -
Veteran Reserve Corps.
Bliss, Oliver. Nichols, Elijah. Stoddard, Jason T. Tucker, George F.
Cummings, Theodore. Henry, John A. Lynch, Jeremiah.
Miscellaneous.
Beecher, Robert E., 73d Regt. Ohio Vols. Clark, Robert H., Ist Regt. Conn. Vols. Clark William, 35th Regt. N.J. Vols. Jenks, John Henry, 14th Regt. N.H. Vols. Lamb, John H., 9th Regt. Maine Vols. Moulton, David S., 82d Regt. N.Y. Vols. Rice, Edwin A., Ist Regt. Conn. Heavy Artillery.
350
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.
The Soldiers' Monument, which stands upon the grounds of the First Congregational Society, was contracted for with Martin Milmore, of Boston, erected in 1869, and publicly dedicated Jan. 19, 1870. Hon. Charles Adams, Jr., chairman of the Committee, presented the monu- ment to the town, and Dr. Warren Tyler, chairman of the Selectmen, accepted the same in the town's behalf. The Oration was delivered by Gen. Francis A. Walker, and followed by Addresses by His Excellency Gov. William Claflin, and Gen. Charles Devens.
The statue is of a private soldier at parade rest, with downcast face, suggestive of the whole mournful story connected with the fall of the brave ones whose names are cut on the tablets beneath. The statue is of granite, seven feet high, and stands on a plinth eight feet high. It cost $5,500. The town contributed $3,000, the Grand Army of the Republic $500, and private citizens $2,000. On the north side is the following inscription :
ERECTED
BY THE
TOWN OF NORTH BROOKFIELD,
IN HONOR OF HER SOLDIERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY AGAINST THE REBELLION, 1861-65.
The back of the block presents only a plain surface, while the re- maining sides are inscribed with the names of the dead in the following order :
EAST SIDE. N. B. MAXWELL, PETER DEVLIN, WILLIAM CLARK,
WEST SIDE. JAMES P. COOLIDGE, GEORGE S. PROUTY, LYMAN H. GILBERT,
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
35I
EAST SIDE.
HENRY R. BLISS,
JOSEPH C. FRETTS,
CHARLES PERRY, JOHN A. HUGHES,
HENRY H. MOULTON,
WM. F. HILL,
CHARLES H. ASHBY,
ALBERT F. HOLMAN, TIMOTHY MCCARTY,
N. S. DICKINSON,
JAMES HENDERSON, JOHN W. GILMORE,
GEORGE L. SHERMAN.
WEST SIDE. ALVIN M. THOMPSON, LOUIS D. WINSLOW, ANDREW J. FISHER, JAMES A. KNIGHT,
LYMAN TUCKER, ALBERT F. POTTER, WM. BATES,
DAVID S. MOULTON, JOHN F. LAMB, THOMAS GRIFFIN,
J. HENRY JENKS, ALONZO E. PELLET.
352
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
MEMORIAL TABLETS.
The following is a copy of the names and inscriptions on the Memorial Tablets in the Town Hall :
WEST SIDE. 1862.
John W. Gilmore, Co. B, 27th Mass. Vols. Died at Newbern, April 13th. Henry R. Bliss, Co. F, 15th Mass. Vols. Killed at Antietam, Sept. 1 7th.
Joseph C. Fretts, Co. F, 15th Mass. Vols. Killed at Antietam, Sept. 1 7th.
Charles Perry, Co. F, 15th Mass. Vols. Killed at Antietam, Sept. 17th. Albert T. Holman, Co. C, 25th Mass. Vols. Died at Newbern, Sept. 23d.
David S. Moulton, Co. C, 82nd N.Y. Vols. Killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13.
1863.
Albert F. Potter, Co. B, 44th Mass. Vols. Died at Newbern, Jan. 28th. John A. Hughes, Co. F, 15th Mass. Vols. Died in Hospital, May. 16th. Andrew J. Fisher, Co. F, 42d Mass. Vols. Died at sea, Aug. 6th.
James A. Knight, Co. F, 42d Mass. Vols. Died, almost home, Aug. Ioth.
William F. Hill, Co. K, 20th Mass. Vols. Died at Morrisville, Va., Aug. 28th.
1864.
Thomas S. Bates, Band, Ist Mass. Vols. Died in Washington, Feb. 6th. George L. Sherman, Co. I, 28th Mass. Vols. Killed at Spottsylvania, May 12th.
Louis D. Winslow, Co. H, 36th Mass. Vols. Killed at Spottsylvania, May 12th.
William Bates, Co. B, 57th Mass. Vols. Killed at Wilderness, Va., May 13.
353
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
George S. Prouty, Co. C, 39th Mass. Vols. Killed at Piedmont, Va., June 2nd.
John F. Lamb, Co. G, 9th Maine Vols. Killed at Petersburg, Va., June 29.
EAST SIDE. 1864.
N. S. Dickinson, Co. C, 25th Mass. Vols. Died of wounds, Aug. 18. N. B. Maxwell, Co. I, Ist Mass. H. A. Died at Andersonville, Aug. 23. Timothy McCarty, Co. E, 25th Mass. Vols. Died at Andersonville, Sept. 2.
Lyman Tucker, Co. F, 42d Mass. Vols. Died at Alexandria, Sept. 11. James P. Coolidge, Co. A, 34th Mass. Vols. Killed at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19.
Lyman H. Gilbert, Co. E, 36th Mass. Vols. Killed at Petersburg, Va., Sept. 30.
James Henderson, Co. I, 25th Mass. Vols. Died at Newbern, Oct. 3. J. Henry Jenks, 14th N.H. Vols. Killed at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19. Thomas Griffin, Co. I, 90th Pa. Vols. Died at Salisbury, N.C., Dec. 7. William Clark, Co. I, 11th Mass. Vols. Killed near Savannah, Ga., Dec. IO.
Alvin M. Thompson, Co. K., 36th Mass. Vols. Died at Andersonville.
1865.
Henry H. Moulton, Co. F, 15th Mass. Vols. Died at Andersonville, Jan. 23.
Peter Devlin, Co. F, 2d Mass. Vols. Died at Nashville, June 5.
Harvey Allen, Co. F, 42d Mass. Vols. Died at North Brookfield, July 14th.
Charles H. Ashby, Co. H, 25th Mass. Vols. Died at North Brookfield, July 28th.
1867.
Charles F. Dubord, Co. I, 2d Mass. Cav. Died at North Brookfield, Apr. 24.
Albert L. Stoddard, Co. F, 42d Mass. Vols. Died at North Brookfield, June II.
1868.
Elijah Nichols, Co. F, 15th Mass. Vols. Died at North Brookfield, Mar. 13.
354
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
REGIMENTAL HISTORIES.
FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.
This Regiment was organized and recruited in Worcester County, and mustered into the U.S. Service, July 12, 1861, under command of Col. Charles Devens. It was at Camp Scott, in Worcester, while recruiting and drilling. Left for Washington, D.C., August 8, 1861. Its first battle was at Ball's Bluff, on the right bank of the Potomac, about thirty-three miles northwest of Washington, October 21, 1861, with Col. E. D. Baker in command of the Union forces, and proved a disastrous defeat, with a reported loss, in killed, drowned, and wounded, of more than 1,000, while the whole force engaged was only about 1,900 men. Col. Baker displayed great courage and bravery, and was killed about 5 P.M. Col. Devens was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers, April 15, 1862, and left the Regiment to take command of a Brigade, when at York- town. He was succeeded by Col. (then Lieut. Col.) George H. Ward, of Worcester, who having lost a leg at Ball's Bluff, went home and was absent from October 21, 1861, till February 5, 1863, when he again joined the Regiment, Lieut. Col. John W. Kimball of Worcester in the mean time commanding. The 15th was in the Battles on the Peninsula, and in the bloody Battle of Antietam, Md., about six miles above Har- per's Ferry, September 17, 1862 ; one of the great conflicts of the war, and attended with great losses on both sides, resulting in a victory for the Union forces, but our losses in that engagement were so great that we contemplate it with more of sadness than joy. Our loss, as officially reported, was 12,469 men, and among them fell three of our own brave boys, Charles Perry, Henry R. Bliss, and Joseph Fretts. This Regiment was also in the great Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., about sixty miles south of Washington, December 13, 1862. Here the Union forces fought bravely and desperately, but at great disadvantage, the Rebel forces being in a protected position, and having fortifications and breast- works which almost wholly shielded them, while our men were in open field, receiving the murderous fire of the enemy. Our losses in this battle were appalling, and officially reported as more than 12,000 men, who were sacrificed to little purpose, resulting in no advantage to the
355
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Union Army. Here fell David S. Moulton, one of our own heroic boys, but not of this regiment.
Soon after this battle -- about December 20, the Regiment went into winter quarters, near Falmouth, Va., opposite Fredericksburg, on the same ground it occupied previous to the battle. The campaign of the 15th Regiment in 1863, was begun at the battle of Chancellorsville a few miles west of Fredericksburg, May 1 and 2. Gen. Joseph Hooker now commanded the Army of the Potomac, which numbered about 132,000 men, and this was his first great battle after assuming command, in Jan- uary previous. Gen. Lee commanded the Rebel forces, and the battle was waged with great courage and determination on both sides, and after terrible fighting and great slaughter for two days, Gen. Hooker retired and re-crossed with his whole force to the north bank of the Rappahan- nock. The Union losses were reported at 18,000 men, and the Rebel loss at 13,000. In this battle the 15th bore an honorable part. Its next great battle was at Gettysburg, Pa., about eight miles north of the Mary- land line, on the 1st, 2d, and 3d of July, 1863. When this battle began, July 1, the 15th was at Uniontown, Md., twenty miles south of Gettys- burg, but hearing heavy cannonading on the north, started immediately and marched 17 miles and bivouacked at night behind a barricade of rails three miles south of Gettysburg. On Thursday morning, July 2, started one hour before daylight for the battle-field and got into position about sunrise behind Cemetery Ridge, where a large part of the 2d Corps, to which the 15th belonged, was massed. At the close of the fighting of the first day the Confederates had gained some slight advan- tage, which evidently encouraged them ; but darkness, nevertheless, found the Union forces established, as they believed, in an impregnable position, and they hopefully awaited the morrow. During the night heavy re-enforcements arrived, the 3d Corps under Sickles, the 12th under Slocum, the 2d Corps under Hancock, and others, by which the Union forces were greatly strengthened and encouraged. July 2d there was skirmishing in the forenoon, but the great battle of the day began about noon, and from that time fighting was incessant until the darkness closed the fearful conflict for the day. The battle was still undecided, the Federal forces holding the better position on the field, with hope and courage unabated. It was decided by Gen. Meade and his associ- ates before they slept, that if Lee gained a victory on this field he should win it by an aggressive movement with but few points in his favor. The morning of July 3d brought the renewal of the struggle, which continued on different parts of the field until about II o'clock A.M., at which time the Confederates had lost all the advantage they had gained during the first two days of the fight, but the great conflict of the day and the decisive battle did not really begin until about I P.M., when the Con-
356
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
federates opened fire with 150 pieces of artillery, which were responded to by 80 pieces from the Union lines, and for about two hours the air was full of flying shot and shell, and the carnage was frightful to behold. Lee then, evidently supposing that the courage and hope of Meade's army must be weakened, threw about 18,000 of the bravest of his veter- ans upon the Union left centre, hoping to force back his foe and win the day. But in this he signally failed. The assault was bravely and grandly repulsed and the Confederates were driven back. Upon this movement Lee had staked his chances, and had lost. The great Battle of Gettysburg had been fought, and a splendid victory won, which really decided the success and final triumph of the Union arms in the War of the Rebellion. The old Fifteenth may well be proud of the part it bore in that terrible struggle, and there are many brave and noble men of our town who will remember that battle and will tell with pride and pleasure to their children, and children's children, how they helped to win the day on that bloody field. The Union losses in the three days are reported at 16,500 killed and wounded, and 6,600 missing, mostly taken prisoners on the first day. The Rebel losses were reported at 18,000 killed and wounded, and 13,600 missing, mostly prisoners in the hands of the Union Army. Gen. Lee entered Pennsylvania with at least 100,000 men, of whom about 83,000 were in this battle. The Union forces on the field were reported at 85,000, of whom not over 70,000 were in action. Gen. Hooker resigned command of the Army of the Potomac, June 27, and Gen. Meade assumed it June 28, only three days before the opening of the Battle of Gettysburg.
The next important battle in which the 15th was engaged, was fought October 14, 1863, at Bristow Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, about four miles from Manassas Junction, and about thirty-five miles southwest from Washington. The Confederates under Gen. A. P. Hill made the attack, which was handsomely repulsed by the Federal forces under Gen. G. K. Warren, who captured a large number of pris- oners and several pieces of artillery. The losses of the enemy were severe, while the Union loss was only one officer and two men killed, nine men wounded, and two missing. This Regiment was in the Battle at Robertson's Tavern, November 27, and other unimportant engage- ments, before closing the campaign. The Regiment went into winter quarters near Stevensburg, Va., December 7, 1863. This place is about ten miles east of Culpepper, sixty-five or seventy miles southwest from Washington, and six or eight miles north of the Rapidan River. In March, 1864, Gen. Grant, then in command of all the Union Armies, made his headquarters with Gen. Meade, who was still in command of the Army of the Potomac, and determined "to fight it out" with that Army and " on that line." Gen. Meade's army, in which was the 15th
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.