History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 84

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 84

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).

It is thus seen that, both in their public and pri- vate capacity, the men and women of this town united most heartily in carrying on the work of the war. It may be safely said that Leominster left nothing undone on her part to bring back order and liberty to our distressed country.

The secret history of this war, here as elsewhere, its suffering and angnish, can never be written. Leo- minster dismissed her first soldiers with feasting and flying banners. This for Leominster, and on her scale, was the "pomp and circumstance of war." But when, in less than five months, her first martyr came back from the fatal field of Ball's Bluff, Leo- minster understood what price the maintenance of liberty was likely to demand at her hands. She paid this full price in blood before 1865. Company A of the old Fifteenth saw almost two-score battles, and there was hardly any part of the service to which Leominster did not pay full tribute. Of this, the names on her monument are a swift witness.

Soldiers' Monument .- In the spring of 1866 the town appropriated the necessary funds for a soldiers' monument. The committee to whose hands was committed the work of carrying out the wishes of the town was John H. Lockey, Leonard Burrage, Joel Smith, Solon Carter and William Tilton.

The monument is a handsome shaft of Quincy granite. The base is six feet, ten inches square. The first stone above the base bears the names of the four battles in which Leominster soldiers were espe- cially engaged,-Ball's Bluff, Gettysburg, Port Hud- son and Knoxville. Upon the four sides of the die are the names of the men who were killed in battle or died in service. At the time of his death James Bennett, Esq., had, by the most pains-taking effort, obtained many facts in regard to each of these men. By permission of the writer of this sketch, this rec- ord, in an abbreviated and unsatisfactory form, ap- pears in "Leominster Historical and Picturesque." The following is the record as Mr. Bennett left it, only adding a word here and there to make the sen- tences complete. In justice to Mr. Bennett, wlio, of all the men in town, seems to have been the only one who attempted to find or preserve these facts,

the matter should be kept in such form as to show his work. The names are given in the order of the tablets :

FRONT TABLET (facing east).

Corporal Andrew W. Cowdrey, son of William Cowdrey, was born in Lunenburg June 12, 1834 ; enlisted in Leominster, his place of resi- denre ; was mustered into the United States service July 12, 1861, in Wor- cester, 15th Regt., Co A., Mass. Vols , under Captain George W. Rock woud ; started for Washington Angust 8, 1861. Ile was severely wounded in the battle of Ball's Bluff, Va., October 21st, and died of his wounds No- vember 3, 1861, at Poolsville hospital, on the Maryland shore. Ile left a wife and two children. He was buried in Leominster with military honors. Corporal Cowdrey was the first man from Leominster lost in: the War of the Rebellion.

George H. Gallup, private in 15th Regt., Co. A., Mass. Vols., son of James B. Gallup, was born in Leominster December 16, 1843. He en- listed at Worcester August 7, 1861 ; started the next day with his com- pany for Washington ; went with General Mcclellan to the Peninsula Campaign ; was taken sick at Savage Station of typhoid fever. In the last letter he ever wrote his father he says: "Being left behind at Chicka- hominy sick, I was taken prisoner by Major-General Jones June 29th. I gave ons soldier my rubber blanket to carry my things; exchanged my canteen with another to assist me, and when we arrived at Richmond prison, I was put into a filthy tobacco-house for a prison, the floor my only bed, and the 27 days I was a sick prisoner there { received no medicine nor medical care." He was exchanged at Fortress Monroe ; was sick there of diphtheria, and died of suffocation by falling into a foul vault Angust 6, 1862, at Fortress Monroe Hospital.

Corporal Franklin Gardner, son of Volney Gardner, born January 8, 1841, in Sterling Mass., enlisted at Leominster into the 15th Regt., Co A, Mass. Vols; was mustered into the service of the United States at Wor- cester, July 12, 1861, and went to the front with bis company ; was in the battle of Ball's Bluff, the Peninsula Campaign under General Mcclellan. Rev. Eli Fay, then a pastor in Leominster, after the battle of Antietanı, Md., visited him at the hospital near the battle-field at Sharpsburg, September 24th, seven days after he received his wounds. He was removed on the 25th to the Patent Office, Washington, D. C., where he died from his wounds October 6, 1862. Mr. Fay did not regard him dangerous, for he found him reading on bis bed. He loved to read history ; he had just been making "history." He was one of the "Celer Guard," and took up the colors from the hands of three who had been shot dead by his side. He received three balls : the first passed through a limb, the second through his thigh, the third in his stomach ; he could not get up after that, but kept the flag waving till the next gnard took it; the company was in that engagement but half an hour. He fell in the battle Wednesday morning, September 17th, and lay there within the enemies' lines till Friday morning, when our men went to Imry the dead and remove the wounded ; he was then placed in the hospital at Sharpsburg. Ilis grave at Washington, D. C., lies near the road, range No. 7, block No. 2, the sixteenth grave from the fence opposite the entrance and on a line with a large locust tree.

Hans Peter Jorgenson, a native of Denmark in Europe, enlisted at Leo- minster into the 15th Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vols .; was mustered into the United States service at Worcester; went to the seat of war as orderly- sergeant; he was in the battle of Ball's Bluff ; he had his canteen struck by a ball. He was wounded in his right arm and was detailed to re- cruit. October 22, 1861, he was promoted to second lieutenant ; July 19, 1862, to first lieutenant; and October 28, 1862, to a captain; and was in command of Co. A, 15th Regt., when he was killed on the field at the battle of Gettysburg. Ile had seen service in the campaigns of the Danish army, and was twice wounded when fighting the Prussians in Schleswig and Holstein, once in his arm by a ball and also on the head by a sabre. After he enlisted into the United States service, it was re- marked by a friend of his, "you not being a citizen of the United States were not obliged to enter the army, for you could not have been drafted," he quickly answered, " Freedom is the same everywhere, I cheerfully give my life in its defence."

Corporal Charles A. Lamb, son of Albert Lamb, of Leominster, was born at Leominster January 25, 1838. He enlisted into the 15th Regt., Co. A, at Leominster ; was mustered into the service June 12, 1861 ; went with the company to Washington Angust 8, 1861. He was in the battle of Ball's Bluff, where he was taken prisoner and hurried away to a tobacco-house in Richmond, where he sickened and died of congestion of the lungs, November 25, 1861.

bergeant Edward B. Rollins, son of Jonathan Rollins, was born at Montpelier, Vt., January 20, 1828 ; enlisted at Leominster in the 15th

1244

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vole., and was munstered into the United States Ber- vice June 12, 1861 ; went with his company to Washington August 8th. After fighting at Ball'e Bluff he reached the Maryland shore, and seeing some of our boys oo the Virginia shore who were not taken prisoners, he proenred a skiff, rowed it over amid the whistling of balls, got the soldiers into it and landed them in safety. He sent his wife a beanti- fully wrought card with the names of eleven hard-fought battles that he had been in, viz .: Ball's Bluff, Yorktown, West l'oint, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville ; he left a space for one more, und wrote his wife that after one more battle he should probably come home; he went into the twelfth battle July 2, 1863, and was killed en Gettysburg battle-field. Hle left u wife and four small children.

Cuptuin Charles H. Sterens, enlisted at Leominster ; was mustered into the service of the United States June 12, 1861; left camp for Washing- ton Angust 8, 1861, as fourth sergeant in the 15th Regt., Co. A. IIe participated io the battle of Ball's Bluff, the Peninsular Campaign, AG- tietam and Gettysburg ; he was promoted to second lientenant July 19, 1862; to first lientenant October 21, 1862; to a captain July 4, 1863. He was wounded near Bristow Station, where the head of the column was attacked by infantry and artillery. After about an hour's fighting the enemy gave way. Lieutent Stevens died October 15th of wounds re- ceived the 14th ; he was wounded in the foot at Savage Station ; at Gettysburg he was wounded in the leg while supporting our batteries, probably by our own osen.

John Gould Snow, son of Thomas S. Soow, of Leominster ; enlisted at Leominster ; was mustered into the United States service June 12, 1861. 15th Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vols., went to Washington, D. C., August 8, 1861. He was in the battle of Ball's Bluff and shared in six other battles with his company, when he sickened and died of chronic diarrhurg, De- comber 10, 1863, at Fairfax Hospital, Virginia. He was an only child and died a single man.

Sergeant John Tripp, son of John L. Tripp, born in the city of Lowell December 19, 1847 ; enlisted in the 15th Regt., Co. A, Msss. Vols. ; was mustered into the United States service at Worcester, January 12, 1861 ; went to Washington, D. C., with his company, August 8th, and was in seventeen battles. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg ; he was taken prisoner at Petersburg, Va., and was carried to Anderson- ville, and when Sherman marched from Atlanta to the sea be was hur- ried away to another place ; he was paroled, entered our lines exhausted by starvation, cold and sickness, and died in a hospital at Baltimore, Md., March 19, 1864. His body was buried in Leominster Cemetery, March 23d, with military honors. He was detailed to the position of nurse in the hospital soon after the battle of Ball's Bluff and distinguished him- belf for fidelity, kindness and cheerfulness among the sick and wounded in Poolsville Hospital.

Sergeant George E. Wilder, son of George Wilder, of Leominster, was born at Petersham, June 17, 1842; enlisted in the 15th Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vols., at Leominster ; was mustered into the United States service June 12, 1861 ; went with his company to Washington, D. C. He was with his company, in the Peninsula Campaign under Mcclellan; was shot in the head near Spottsylvania the last hour of the battle and died May 17, 1864, while under Grant. He was never married.

William L. Whitney, a private, son of William Whitney, late of Leo- minster, was born in Princeton, September 10, 1833; enlisted into the 15th Regt., C'o, A, Mass, Vols. He died at the hospital in Washington, D. C., of fever. He was a single man.

RIGHT IIAND.

Geo. W. Diroll, private, son of Thomas Divoll, late of Leominster, bura at Lancaster July 31, IS26; enlisted at Leominster in the 7th Mass. Battery, and was mustered into the United States service Jannary 5, 1864, under Captain P. A. Davis. When he enlisted he had a wife, who died about the time of hie death, which occurred September 21. 1864. lle died of chronic diarrhea, in the hospital at New Orleans.

Horace R. Barker, private, son of Ephraim Barker, of Walpole, N. H., horn in Graoby, Mass., May 6, 1837 ; enlisted in the 21st liegt., Co. D, from West Fitchburg, under Captain Theodore S. Foster, went into camp at Worcester, July 19, 18G1 ; left Worcester August 23d, for An- napolis, Md., where the company joined General Burnside's expedition to North Carolina. He died at Newbern, N. C., of typhoid fever, April 19, 1862.

Rufus H. Carter, private, so0 of David Carter, born at Leominster February 12, 1840; enlisted at Fitchburg into the 21st Regt., Co. D, un- der Captuin Theodore S. Foster, and was mustered into the I'nited States service July 19, 1861 ; he participated in the battles of the com- pany and was mustered out at Bloines Cross-roads, East Tennessee, De-

cember 31, 1863, and re-enlisted into the Veteran Volunteers. lle was killed on the battle-field st Petersburg, Va., by a ball from a sharp- shooter, September 30, 1864. He was never married.

Albert F. Creed, private, son of Moses Creed, was born in Leo. minster March 15, 1845 ; enlisted into the 21st Regt. Mass. Vols. under Captain Rice, and was mustered into the Immited States service August 22, 1861. He died at Newbern, N. C., in the hospital, of typhoid fever, May 2, 1862. He was never married.

John F. Crosby, private, soo of John Crosby, of Leominster, born in Leominster Aug. 12, 1842; enlisted at Boston in the 23d Regt., Co. D, Mass. Vols., a recruit to fill the regiment. He re-enlisted for three years. When ordered by the enemy to surrender he replied, "urver." They fired at him and cut off part of his ear. He was under McClel- lan in the Peninsula Campaign. He was wounded at the battle of Kingston by the enemy, and when the Union troops were ordered to re- treat, the fire was 80 sharp the commander ordered the men to crawl till they reached a less exposed position. While thus retreating a gull in the rear by dragging was discharged, and the ball entered Crosby's back ; he was helped along by his comrades in arms to an ambulance ; the ball was never ent ont at his chest, as he was too exhausted when he arrived in camp. He was four weeks in the hospital in Newbern, N. C. He was theo put on board a steamer bound for the North, but died on board in New York Ilarbor, April 22, 1865. He was brought bome and buried with military honors. He was never married.

First Sergeant Artemas S. Farwell, son of Peter Farwell, of Leominster, bern io Fitchburg, July 29, 1835; enlisted into a New Hampshire Regt. three months' Vol. militia, and served ont his time ; he then re- enlisted at Fitchburg into the 25th Regt., Co. F., Mass. Vols., under Captain Foss. Ile was in the battles of Roanoke, Va. and Newbern, N. C. He died at Newbern, Nov. 23, 1862, of diphtheria, and was buried at Leominster. He was never married.

Frank George, son of William George, born at Topsham, Vt., Ang. 28, 1836; enlisted into 3d Regt., Co. D., Mass. Vol. Cavalry. He was taken prisoner in the Shecandoah Valley, Va Two commanders of Confederates, dressed in the U. S. uniformi, with a U. S. flag, rode np to them and shouted "we have come to relieve you," which threw the company off their guard, and they then took them prisoners. They stripped them of their clothlag, gave them some dirty rebel rags to barely cover their nakedness, and marched them off on foot as prisoners. It was five days before the rebels gave them any rations. He was first imprisoned at Belle Isle. He was sent from there to Andersonville slanghter peas. When Sherman went from "Atlanta to the Sea " lie was hurried away to Salisbury prison, where he died of starvation Ite- cember 6, 1864.

George A. Iloughton, private, son of Levi IIoughton, of Lunenburg, born in N. Chelsea, Mass., July 20, 1845; enlisted st Worcester, August 24, 1861, into the 21st Regt., Co. I, Mass. Vols. He died of ship fever at Hatteras Julet, on board the transport ship "Northerner," Jannary 20, 1862. He was buried in the sand on the beach by Chaplain George S. Balt and a band of sailors who volunteered to go ashore in the violent gale. They gathered sea-shells and placed at the head of the grave. George H. was on the muster-roll. It should have been George A., as that was the proper initial letter.

William H. Johnson, private, son of Ilenry Johnson, of Leominster, born in Leominster, Angust 11, 183] ; enlisted into the 21st Regt., Co. H, Mass. Vols. He died in hospital at Newbern, N. C., June 18, 1862, of typhoid fever. He left a wife.

Captain James Musters Mallon, son of William S. Mallon, of Boston, born in Manchester, Mass., March 7, 1835 ; enlisted in the 1st Msss. Vols., Co. A, May 23, 1861. He was discharged, but re-enlisted October 18, 1863, and was appointed and commissioned first lientenant of the 3d North Carolina Colored Vols. He was killed at Wilmington, N. C., September 23, 1865, while endeavoring to quell a mutiny io another company. He was commissioned captain, but the commission arrived two days after he died, and was forwarded to his friends by Captain Rembough.

James E. Marshall, private, son of James II. Marshall, of Leominster, born in Leominster Jaunary 27, 1843, was drafted and assigned to the 32d Regt., Co. I, September 1, 1863. Ile was shot dead near Laurel Hill, Va., soon after getting that series of battles through the Wilderness ult- der General Grant, May 12, 1864. He was never married.

John C. Reudy, private, son of John Ready, born in Canada March 8, 184], enlisted in Lyan, Mass., into the 1st Regt., Co. A., Mass. Vols., went with General Mcclellan into the campaign of the Peninsula, and died in Columbia Hospital of wounds received at the second hattle at or near Fair Oaks, Va., July 6, 1862.

1245

LEOMINSTER.

Charles H. Sinclair, private, son of Charles P. Sinclair, born at Leo- minster November 25, 1839, enlisted in the 21st Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vols., August, 1861. He was killed at Newbero, N. C., March 14, 1862. He was shot through the head. Ile was never married.

LEFT IIAND.

First Lieutenant Alfred R. Glover, onlisted at Camp Stevens, from Groton, into Co. C, 53d Regt. Mass. Vol. Infantry. He was killed Jone 14, 1863, at Port Hudson, while attacking the works.

Corporal Albert H. Carter, son of Summer L. Carter, born at Leomin- ster May 31, 1844, enlisted into the 36th Regt., Co. A, in July, 1862; passed to the front in September. He was shot dead on the battle-field near Spottsylvania in the battle of the Wilderness May 6, 1864 He was not married.

Sergeant Charles H. Derby, sou of David S. Derby, born at Leominster October 0, 1839, enlisted into the 36th Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vols., under Captain Thaddeus L. Boker, of Leominster, August I, 1862. He was killed at Hanover Court-House, Va., on the battle-field by being shot through the bead. He was not married.

Henry K. Derby, son of Henry Derby, of Leomineter, boru in Leo- minster October 2, 1840, enlisted at Leominster October, 1861. He had not been assigned to a regiment or company when he was taken sick at Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor. He obtained a furlongh to go home, and died there Jannary 5, 1862, of pneumonia.

Corporal Leonard Goodrich, son of Benjamin Goodrich, of Luven- burg, born in Leominster May 5, 1842, enlisted at Leominster August ], 1862, in the 36th Regt., Co. A, left for Washington September 2, 1862. He was in no battles, died at Washington, D. C., December 31, 1862, of typhoid fever. A single man.

Sargeant Le Roy R. Gallup, son of William Gallup, of Foster, R. I., boro at Foster June 25, 1831 ; enlisted in the 30th Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vole., August 1, 1862, under Captain Thaddeus L. Boker. He was killed by the premature bursting of one of our own shells while lying in front enpporting our batteries at Campbell's Station, near Knoxville, Teun. He left a wife and two children.

Roland H. Moore, private, son of Samuel H. Moore, born in Chazy, Clinton County, N. Y .; was drafted at Greenfield to fill the quota of Leominster, and was assigned to the 36th Regt., Co. C, Mass. Vols. He died at Bealston Station, Va., December 6, 1863, of exhaustion and diarrhies, aged thirty-one years. He was not married.

Andrew B. Osborn, private, son of Benjamin Osborn, boru at Fitzwil- liam, N. H., April 19, 1824 ; enlisted into the 36th Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vols., and was discharged April 22, 1863, for disability. He re-eulisted in the 16th Battery Mass. Vols., and was mustered into the service of the United States March I1, 1864, and was assigned to provost duty, where he served till near his death. He died at Camp Angus General Hos- pital, Alexandria, Va., January 31, 1865, of beart disease. lle lett a wife and two children. His body was deposited in the cemetery at Leo- minster, with military honors.

John F. Owens, private, son of Benjamin Owens, of Leominster, born io Vernon, N. J., March 2, 1840 ; culisted at Leominster, and was mus- tered into the 5th Regt., Co. E, Mass. Vols., and died in camp at Read- ville April 13, 1865, of diphtheria. His body was deposited in Leoniio- ster Cemetery, with military honors aud by the Sons of Temperance, of which the young soldier was an officer at the time of his enlistment.

John Schouw, boru in Amsterdam, in Holland, Europe ; enlisted from Leominster into the 29th Regt., Co. H., Mass. Vols. He died on board a steamer transport at the wharf at Cairo, Ill., August 20, 1863, of dys- entery. He left a wife and three children.

Abel Lafayette Wilder, son of Abel Wilder, of Leominster, born at Leo- minster December 20, 1815 ; enlisted from Leominster into the 3d Regt., Co. D, of Mass. Cavalry, and was mustered into the service of the United States November 1, 1862; left the State November 15th, as the regiment was originally the Forty-first Infantry and was organized into cavalry Juve 17, 1863. He was taken prisoner at the same time, place and under the same circumstances as bis brother-in-law, Frank George. To keep himself and companions from starving be sold, for a trifle, a valuable present sent by his sister to him as a token of ber love, for they were made to march five days without any rations. He weighed one hundred and eighty pounds when taken and was a picture of health, but he was starved to death at the rebel prisons, and died just about the time that Frank George died.

BACK.

John McDonough, private, sou of Michael McDonough, of Leominster ; boru in Ireland June 20, 1843 ; enlisted into the 20th Regt., Co. F, Mass. Vols. He was killed at the battle of Antietam. When the 20th Regt.

was discharged there were twenty-two men present whose term of service expired.

Daniel Butterfield, a private, son of David Butterfield, was born at Tyngsboro', Mass., July 27, 1833 ; eulisted into the 53d Regt., ('o. C, and was mustered in under Captain Joel A. Stratton, and went out under the call for nine months' service ; he died May 4, 1862, at St. Louis, Mo., of erysipelas.

Eli .1. Ellich, private, son of William C. Ellick, of Leominster, was born at Fitchburg April 23, 1843 ; enlisted at Worcester, and was ims- tered into the Veteran Reserves January 1, 1864 ; he was killed at Peters- burg, Va., Jour 17, 1865.

Ira B. Foster, private, son of Gardner Foster, of Shirley, born in Hopkinton, N. H .; enlisted in Leominster, 53d Regt., Co. C, Mass. Vols., for nine months' service under Captain Joel J. Stratton ; he was wounded Dear Port Hudson, La., in the neck ; it was in the morning ; he went to the rear, had his neck bound up with cotton to stop the flow of blood, then returned and fought through the day ; he did no more service ; . was sent to Baton Rouge to the hospital, where be died ; he left a wife.

John Ferguson, private, born in Nova Scotia of Scotch parents; en- listed at Leominster into the 53d Regt., ('o. C, Mass. Vols., for nine months' service ; he was sent from Opelousas sick, and died at Marino Hospital, New Orleans, La., June 15, 1863, of chronic diarrhea ; he left a wife.

Edmund Hurdy, son of Dr. Samuel Hardy, Cornish Flat, N. H., was born at Scotland, N. Y., December 11, 1833 ; enlisted at Leominster, Mass., 53d Regt .; diedl at Island Hospital, Brashear City, La., May 30, 1863, of diarrhea ; he left a wife.

Adelbert H. Johnson, private, son of Frederick Johnson, of Leomin- ster, born in Leominster September 5, 1837 ; enlisted at Leominster in the service of the United States for nine months in 53d Regt., Co. C, Mass. Vols .; he was severely wounded at l'ort Hudson June 14th, requiring am- putation ; he died from the effects of his wounds July II, 1863, at hos- pital Port Hudson ; he was not married.

Martin Luther Jordan, private, son of Rev. J. W. P. Jordan, boru at West Brookfield, Mass., September 9, 1846 ; enlisted at Worcester into the 57th Regt., Co. HI, Mass. Vols., December 28, 1863 ; he died in the hospital at Washington, D. C., June 9, 1864, of pneumonia ; he was a single man.

Sergeant James Munford Lewis, fife-major, born in Sterling, Mass .; en- listed at Leominster September 16, 1863, for nine months' service, 53d Regt., Co. C, Mass. Vols .; he came home sick and died there before he was mustered out of the service ; he left a wife.

Lewis Richardson, private, son of Thurston Richardson, ot Leominster. boro in Sterling March 14, 1848 ; enlisted inte the 57th Regt., Co. IF, Mass, Vols .; he was killed on the battle-field in the battle of the Wilder- ness, under General Grant, May 6, 1864 ; a wiivor and unmarried.

George Thompson, private, son of William Thompson, of Boylston, born in Stoddard, N. H ; enlisted in the 531 Regt., Co. A, Mass. Vols .; went out under Captain Joel A. Stratton.

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.

History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 84

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464