History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 77

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 77

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239

FITCHBURG.

The regiment was mustered out of the service Sep- tember 2, 1863, at Camp Stevens.

The Fifty-third was in service for only a compara- tively short time, but it made for itself a most bril- liant record, and, in the words of the various gen- erals it served under, "it ought to have been a three years' regiment."

Considering the short time it was in service, its loss from disease was something fearful, as the fol- lowing statement, given by Mr. Willis, in his book, shows :

Original strength of regiment. 950

Killed in battle and died of wounds 33

Died of disease. 132

Discharged for disability 53

Deserted 22

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Mustered out

710

Many of the members of the regiment who re- turned home had disease fastened upon them, from which they never recovered; some twenty dying within a few days after reaching home.

COMPANY F, FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT .- Octo- ber 17, 1863, President Lincoln issued a call for three hundred thousand more men. Fitchburg's quota was found to be one hundred and twenty, and Cap- tain Levi Lawrence was authorized to raise a com- pany in town.

It took a long time to fill the ranks, and many meetings were held and strenuous efforts made by the citizens before the company was ready to start. Finally, on February 6, 1864, it left for camp at Worcester, under command of Captain Lawrence, and became Company F, of the Fifty-seventh Regi- ment.

The Fifty-seventh left Massachusetts April 18th and arrived at Annapolis two days later, whence it proceeded to Washington and was immediately ordered to the front.

Its first battle was at the Wilderness, where it was hotly engaged for one hour, in which time its loss was two hundred and fifty-one officers and men killed, wounded and missing.

May 12th it took part at Spottsylvania and h.st seventy-two officers and men, and on the 18th, in a reconnoisance, lost seventeen more. On the 24th it was ordered to cross the North Anna River to test the strength of the rebels, was attacked on both flanks and lost its lieutenant-colonel and thirty-six men.

The regiment then went to Cold Harbor, and was engaged in that vicinity for a few days and then marched to Petersburg, where it arrived June 16, 1864, and remained for several months. On the 30th of July it participated in the assault at the explosion of the mine, and lost six officers and forty-five men in the disastrous attempt.

During the following two months the Fifty-seventh was engaged in picket duty near Petersburg, and on September 30th was in the battle of Poplar Grove

Church. Atthis time there were only sixty men in the regiment present for duty, and eight of them were lost in this action.

During the next three months the regiment, or rather what there was left of it, was engaged in recon- noitering and skirmishing, losing, during the period, some twenty men.

In a movement on the Weldon Railroad in Decem- ber, 1864, the men suffered extremely from cold. For some time afterward it lay in the lines before Peters- burg, with the exception of a short period when it joined in a reconnoisance towards Weldon about the middle of February, 1865. The intense cold during much of the winter caused severe suffering.

On March 25, 1865, the Fifty-seventh was engaged in the memorable repulse of Gordon's corps, and earned for itself a proud record.

Petersburg was evacuated on April 3d, and on that day the regiment entered the works and was ordered to guard the roads to Richmond and Chesterfield. Soon afterward it went to Washington and performed provost duty at various points in that vicinity until July 30th, when it was mustered out after a service of about fifteen months, during which time it made for itself a most honorable and enviable record.

COMPANY H, FOURTH HEAVY ARTILLERY .- This was the last company raised in this town, and was recruited under President Lincoln's call, issued July 18, 1864, for one year troops. As the bounty was large + $200), and the term of service short, the company was very quickly raised, a large proportion of the men in it having seen service in other Fitchburg com- panies. Eben T. Hayward, of this town, was chosen captain, and the company left Fitchburg for Readville August 15th, and left the State for Washington Sept- ember 13, 1864. It was then consolidated with various other unattached companies as the Fourth Heavy Artillery Regiment, and designated Company H.

This regiment was assigned the duty of garrisoning various forts on the Virginia side of the Potomac, and Company H, during most of its term of service, occu- pied "Fort Garasche," where there was little to do except to drill in artillery and infantry practice. It was an uneventful year for the men. They faithfully performed their allotted tasks and received much praise " for their good drill and soldier-like conduct."

The regiment was mustered out of service June 17, 1865.

THE CALL FOR THREE MONTHS' TROOPS .- To- ward the end of May, 1862, when Gen. Banks' army was routed and the rebels were rapidly approaching the national capital, the President hurriedly issned a call to the Governors of all the States to send on all three months' troops that could be spared for the defence of Washington.

Gov. Andrew's call upon the Massachusetts militia reached Fitchburg early Monday morning, May 26, 1862. Both the Guards and Fusiliers had efficient organizations at that time, and were ready to respond

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to any sudden call. The men assembled at their armories, and at 5 o'clock in the afternoon took the train for Boston, the Fusiliers, with sixty-six men, under Capt. Engene T. Miles, and the Guards, with fifty-eight men, under Capt. Jonas Corey.

" Among the incidents of this exciting day may be mentioned the fact that when the order of Captain Miles reached the shop of Whitman & Miles (of which firm the captain was a member) fifteen men dropped their tools and stepped forward to join the ranks of the 'Fusiliers,' and the firm, not at all dis- turbed at this wholesale reduction of their 'available force,' at once gave another proof of their patriotism by presenting ten dollars to each of the fifteen."

Our men, together with other companies that had been hurried to Boston, were quartered for two nights in Faneuil Hall. But the alarm at Washington soon subsided and Governor Andrew received a telegram saying that the troops were not needed ; so the men were dismissed and Wednesday afternoon, May 28th, the Fusiliers and Guards returned to Fitchburg in high feather, had a parade through the streets and were treated to a collation by the jubilant citizens.

Though these men did not go to the " seat of war," yet it was their expectation and intention so to do, and their prompt response is worthy of record in a history of Fitchburg. The majority of them saw service and fought bravely in the companies sent out later from this town.

March 13, 1865, Colonel Kimball was made brevet brigadier-general United States Volunteers, "for gallant and distinguished services in the field and during the war."

By way of summary, it may be stated that of the citizens of this town who went to the war, one was brevet brigadier-general, two were colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors, two surgeons, four brevet majors, seventeen captains, twenty first lieu- tenants, seven second lieutenants, three navy officers and sixteen seamen in the navy, six hundred and ninety-three non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, making a grand total of seven hundred and sixty-nine men-nearly one-tenth of Fitchburg's population at that time. Of this number sixty were killed in battle, sixty-eight died from wounds, disease or starvation in rebel prisons, twenty-five were taken prisoners and eighty-four received wounds from which they recovered.

Much more might have been written about our brave soldiers if space would permit, and the writer would be glad also to give some history of the naval experience of the sixteen war-ships and gunboats, on board of which were citizens and natives of this town. Suffice it, however, to say that there were very few great battles in the War of the Rebellion in which Fitchburg men did not participate with credit to themselves and honor to the town.

It remains to speak of what was done by the citizens of Fitchburg who remained at home during the war.

Of the large amount of private benevolence and assistance no record has been, or ever can be, written: but of the work of the town and of various benevolent societies, a record can be given which, if elaborated, would form one of the most interesting portions of Fitchburg's history.

It will be remembered that at the very beginning of the war the town appropriated $10,000 for the equipment of our soldiers and support of their families ; and at every annual town-meeting during the war the following vote was passed : "Voted, That the Selectmen he authorized to pay for the support of the families of Volunteers such sums as they think their circumstances require."

The money thus voted was in addition to the "State Aid" authorized by the Legislature to be paid by towns. By this generous provision of the town the selectmen, aided by the hearty co-operation of the citizens, were enabled to relieve all cases of need ; and it is safe to say that no soldier's family in Fitch- burg suffered from lack of the necessaries of life during all the period of the war.

Of the two principal societies organized in this town for the relief and assistance of soldiers we propose to give a brief account, and the first to be spoken of is

THE LADIES' SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY .- The ladies of Fitchburg, as has been stated before, began their work of preparing clothing, etc., previous to the departure of our soldiers; and this work they unre- mittingly continued while the war lasted.

In order that their good work might be carried on in a methodical and efficient manner, it was thought best to organize a society, and, at a meeting held September 16, 1861, this "Soldiers' Aid Society " was formed, and Mrs. Ebenezer Torrey was chosen presi- dent, with Mrs. Amasa Norcross as secretary. The prime object of this society, as stated in its constitu- tion, was " to furnish to the soldiers engaged in the present war of our country such aid as may be in our power." Most faithfully did the members carry out this object to the end. Any lady could become a member on payment of twenty-five cents, and it is needless to say that the membership was very large. All the preparation of work, purchasing and general direction of affairs were vested in a board of twelve directresses, chosen, with the other officers, annually.

The funds of the society were derived from mem- bership fees and annual assessments, but were largely increased by private donations and church contribu- tions; and the Dramatic Club, the Musical Associa- tion and the "Relief Committee " placed goodly sums at its disposal. The "Old Folks" choir also gave concerts at various times and donated the proceeds to the society.

One of the first things done by this society was the preparation of boxes of clothing, etc., which were sent to the Twenty-first and Twenty-fifth Regiments at Annapolis, and also blankets and winter clothing

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FITCHBURG.

sent to the Fifteenth at Poolesville; and in return the secretary of the society received letters from the commanders of the Fitchburg companies conveying their sincere and heartfelt thanks. The Thirty-sixth and Fifty-third Regiments were similarly provided for before they left the State.

At the time the Fifty-third was detained in New York, in the winter of 1862-63, under very uncom- fortable circumstances, the society, on January 1, 1863, sent to the members of Companies A and B an inviting dinner of roast turkey and New England plum-pudding and pies. That the dinner "went to the right spot " was amply attested by the acknowl- edgments received in return.

Of course the intention of our Soldiers' Aid Society was to make the Fitchburg boys its chief care ; but its work was by no means limited to them. During the war it sent large amounts of various supplies and necessaries to the Sanitary and Christian Commis- sions, the Massachusetts Relief Association at Washı- iogton, the New England Soldiers' Relief Association at New York, the Worcester Relief Society and to persons known to the society who were caring for the wounded in the hospitals. From all these societies and individuals thus aided came scores of apprecia- tive and thankful letters.

The actual amount of money received and ex- pended for relief by this society during its existence was something over one thousand five hundred dol- lars ; but of the innumerable gifts of clothing, hed- ding, delicacies for the sick and wounded, no esti- mate of value can ever be made.

The society held stated meetings, but there were times in its history when sudden and imperative calls were made npon it; and its earnest members, putting aside their household duties, worked, as we may say, day and night, for the soldiers. One such occasion as this was when, in May, 1862, the Fusiliers and Guards were ordered to report in Boston, ready for duty, at a few hours' notice. In relation to this emergency the records of the society contain the following :- " Forthwith, the ladies, Monday morning though it was, snatched sewing implements, and in rapid haste gathered at the Town Hall, to fit out our men with flannel shirts and other appropriate garments, and sewing-machines and busy fingers vied with each other to achieve the work."

And in the same way, when the wires flashed to us the news of some terrible battle raging, as at Gettys- burg, the Wilderness, or other fields of carnage and suffering, the ladies flew to their work of mercy and comfort. All honor to the ladies of Fitchburg who performed this vast amount of noble work ! Many of them have long since left us and gone to their reward; but, whether living or dead, their labors during those long, dark years are, and ever will be, remembered, and will remain as an everlasting memorial of their self-sacrificing devotion to the cause of liberty and the relief of suffering.

When the Rebellion was crushed and the army dis- banded, the necessity of this society ceased. Its last meeting was he'd June 22, 1865, " no member regret- ting she had been identified with its labors, but rather that it could not more truthfully be said of her, 'she hath done what she could.'"

The second relief organization in Fitchburg, of which we propose to give a brief account, was known as

THE SOLDIERS' RELIEF COMMITTEE .- This was a large organization composed of gentlemen living in all sections of the town, and did a vast amount of good work during the two years of its existence.

It was started at a citizens' meeting in the town hall, September 26, 1861, its object being "to organize for the more effectual aid and comfort of the soldiers in the field from this town and their families."

A sub-committee of eighteen was chosen "to raise funds to aid enlistments, to procure comforts for our soldiers and their families and take such other action in the matter as may be deemed expedient."

This committee to raise funds, etc., went to work immediately, and collected considerable money, farm produce and clothing ; and the following-named gentlemen were appointed an executive committee to distribute the same: Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle, Alvah Crocker, Lewis H. Bradford, Hanson L. Reed and Henry A. Willis.

This executive committee immediately issued a circular, which was distributed among the citizens requesting that all cases of destitution in the families of volunteers be reported without delay.

On October 21, 1861, occurred the battle at Ball's Binff, in which the Fifteenth Regiment lost heavily. Our own Company B, of that regiment, suffered terribly in the battle, and Capt. Clark S. Simonds and eighteen of his men were captured and impris- oned at Richmond. Nothing was known here con- cerning their fate till letters were received from Capt. Simonds informing us of the imprisonment of himself and his men, and making an earnest appeal for his men, who were suffering for lack of clothing and money. This news did not reach us till Novem- ber 20th, a month after the battle. A meeting of the citizens was forthwith called, and held on the evening of the 20th, at which seven hundred dollars in cash were raised, and about one hundred dollars' worth of clothing contributed by the merchants. This money and clothing, together with blankets, etc., given by the Soldiers' Aid Society, were consigned to the hands of Henry A. Willis, Esq., who started with them for Fortress Monroe on November 26th, whence they were in due time forwarded to our boys at Rich- mond. At this time Mr. Willis visited the camps of the Fifteenth, Twenty-first and Twenty-fifth Regi- ments. About three weeks after the supplies were forwarded from Fitchburg, a letter was received from Captain Simonds, acknowledging the receipt of the money and clothing and conveying his thanks, on be-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

half of his men, for the prompt and generous response which the people of Fitchburg had made to his appeal. The letter also contained the following, which is cer- tainly worthy of record in this place :

It is a fact of which I shall ever speak with pride, that Fitchburg was the first and only town as yet to aid her prisoners, and Massachusetts the only State. Since the clothing came from Fitchburg, clothing of all kinds, enough for three hundred and fifty men, has arrived, sent by the State authorities of Massachusetts, for the relief of her men now here in captivity, placing them in comfort, in this respect, for the winter.

This statement that Fitchburg was the first town in the whole North to send aid to suffering prisoners is in- deed oue that may justly inspire a feeling of pride. Many other towns soon followed her example, but ere long the inhuman orders of the rebel authorities made it impossible for our supplies ever to reach the starv- ing and almost naked Union prisoners.

Our citizens most willingly contributed money to be placed at the disposal of the Soldiers' Relief Commit- tee, and the town, on December 14, 1861, voted to appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars to help it in its noble work, and until the committee ceased to exist, in October, 1863, it carefully sought out the needy families of soldiers and relieved their wants. About two thousand dollars was thus disbursed, be- side a very large amount of clothing, farm produce, &c., of which no accurate account was ever kept. After October, 1863, this work was conscientiously carried on by the citizens and the town until the close of the war.

During the whole course of the war, when news reached us of great battles, either the Soldiers' Re- lief Committee or the citizens very quickly despatched committees to the front with generous amounts of supplies, and to look after and bring home the wounded. Such action was taken after the battles of Ball's Bluff, Roanoke Island, Antietam, Fredericks- burg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and the battles before Petersburg.

Lack of space prevents us from giving an account of all this, and the mere details of a few of the more im- portant contributions after some of the great battles must suffice. After the battle of Gettysburg there were sent, on July 14, 1863, in charge of Henry F. Coggshall, Esq., $1079.60 in money, and nine barrels and five large boxes packed solidly with clothing, bandages, liquors, wines and delicacies for the sick and wounded.

News of the battle of the Wilderness reached Fitch- burg May 8, 1864. It was Sunday, and that evening a meeting of the citizens was held in the town hall, the result of which was that in less than twenty-four hours after the meeting Dr. Alfred Hitchcock and Messrs. H. A. Goodrich and E. B. Hayward started for the front, taking with them seventeen hundred dollars in cash and sixteen barrels and bundles of carefully selected stores for the sick and wounded. This promptness and generosity of our citizens re- ceived wide notice in the newspapers "and Fitchburg, for her repeated efforts in this direction, became noted

for the very liberal care she bestowed upon her soldiers."

There is no accurate account of all the money thus sent away to the fields of battle for the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers ; but the whole amount received and disbursed by the various societies and committees in town was not far from twelve thousand dollars. Most of this sum went to the soldiers them- selve-, together with large amounts of supplies. Be- sides this, much was done by the town and societies for the soldiers' families in the way of money and supplies. Certainly Fitchburg did all that could be expected and the gratifying feature of it is that everything was done and given freely and spontaneously.

SOLDIERS' FUNERALS .- Soldiers from this town met death in almost every one of the great battles of the Civil War and on scores of battle-fields of minor importance.

Seven public funerals were held in Fitchburg dur- ing, or shortly after, the war, over the remains of eleven of our boys, and a brief mention will here be made of them.

The first was that of Clark S. Simonds, captain of Company B, Fifteenth Regiment. Captain Simonds was killed at Antietam, September 17, 1862, while conversing with Colonel Kimball after the battle was nearly over. His funeral was held September 23d, with military honors, and all business in the town was suspended.

The second public funeral was that of Henry A. Beckwith, first lieutenant of Company D, Twenty- first Regiment. Lieutenant Beckwith was mortally wounded at the battle of Chantilly, September 1, 1862, and died, four days later, in the hut of an old slave woman near the battle-field. His body was brought home by his wife and Henry A. Willis, Esq., and given a public military funeral on Sunday, October 5, 1862, in the town hall, which was densely packed.

The third was that of George G. Nutting, first lieu- tenant of Company A, Fifty-third Regiment. He was killed at Fort Bisland, La., April 13, 1863, and on account of the absence of Capt. Miles, was in com- mand of the company at the time of his death. His body was at once sent to Fitchburg, where it was given a public burial, May 1st. On that day business was suspended in town during the afternoon, flags were at half-mast, and the town hall, in which the services were held, was beautifully decorated. A long procession followed the remains to the cemetery, and the fallen hero was laid to rest in Laurel Hill with military honors.

The fourth was that of Frederick H. Sibley, first lientenant of Company I, Thirty-sixth Regiment. He died of disease at Louisville, Ky., August 17, 1863, and his remains were brought home by his father. His funeral occurred at the Universalist Church, August 27, 1863, and he was buried with military honors.

The fifth was the funeral of George H. Bailey and

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Jerome K. Taft, both captains of Company A, Fifty- third Regiment, and both killed at Port Hudson, La. We have already related the unfortunate accident by which Captain Bailey was mortally wounded, May 25, 1863. Captain Taft, his successor in command, was commissioned only four days before he fell in the gallant assault on the works at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863. Their remains were brought home and funeral services held October 5, 1863. The bod- ies of the two brothers-in-arms rested on one bier. The Fifty-third had returned from the war a little over a month previous, and both the Fitchburg com- panies of the regiment did escort duty and many of the officers of the Fifty-third were present. "The obsequies were a credit to those who had them in charge, and a noble tribute to the brave men they commemorated."

The sixth public funeral was held April 6, 1864, over the bodies of four of our Fitchburg boys,-Ser- geant Simon F. Marshall, of the Third Cavalry, and privates Edward P. Farwell, J. Henry Kendall and Charles W. Stuart, all of Company A, Fifty-third Regiment.

Sergeant Marshall was wounded at Baton Rouge, and died soon afterward, August 17, 1862, at the St. James Hospital in New Orleans.

Privates Farwell and Kendall were two of the youngest soldiers that went out from this town. The former was but eighteen when he enlisted. His friends tried to dissuade him from entering the army, but his answer was, "Some must defend the country and I feel it my duty to go." He went, but never returned. At Port Hudson he was stricken with a fatal disease. He lived to see the surrender of the stronghold, and on July 19, 1863, died within its fortifications. Kendall was still younger, not quite seventeen when he enlisted, and a delicate boy. Twice before had he volunteered and been rejected on account of his youth. When every effort was being made to fill up Companies A and B of the Fifty-third, he again volunteered and was accepted ; and when his mother besought him not to go, he said " Mother, if the men will not go to the war, the boys must." He endured the marches, privations and suffering remarkably well, and was courageous in battle. He was in the front ranks at the heroic charge on the works at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, where he received the wound from which, ten days later, he died, at the New Orleans hospital. Truly both these young men were heroes.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 77

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576