USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 41
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 41
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At their first meeting they decided, by a vote of the company, that no spirituous liquors should be brought to the place of mil- itary exercises, and agreed to celebrate " Independence Day" in the following complete uniform :- " Blue coats, buff waistcoats and breeches, guns all alike, white stockings, half gaiters and powdered hair."
The first time they were called into service was in 1814,1 Sun-
command over us. That we will equip ourselves suitably for such a company. That we will do all in our power to promote good order and discipline, and no minor be admitted, without liberty first obtained of those who have the immedi- ate care of them."
Names on the roll at the organization of the company :-
" Daniel Baxter, Peter Brackett, John Newcomb, John Pray, Ebenezer Adams, Jr., Joseph Arnold, Josiah Adams, William Baxter, Joseph Baxter, Joseph Cleverly, Jr., Josiah Bass, Seth Burrell, Edward Curtis, Ebenezer Crane, Eliphalet Chandler, Benjamin Cleverly, Daniel Arnold, Thomas Adams, Micajah Adams, Anthony Baxter, Elijah Belcher, Jr., Nathaniel Blanchard, Seth Bass, Jonathan Bass, John Cleverly, Lemuel Dwelly, James Field, Henry F. Gay, John Glover, Henry Hardwick, Frederick Hardwick, Nathan Hunt, Adam Hardwick, Charles Hardwick, James Hall, Abel Hayden, John Newcomb, Ebenezer Newcomb, Stephen Randall, Loring White, John Spear, Hezekiah Bass, Nathaniel Glover, Thomas Crane, Josephus Curtis, John Belcher."-Braintree, Feb. 11th, 1790, Company Records.
1. June 11th, 1814. "This Sunday afternoon, at 5 o'clock, the bells rang an alarm. The Quincy Light Infantry Company immediately assembled under the command of Lient. Elisha Thayer, for the purpose of marching to Scituate, where two tenders manned with marines, had come into the harbor and set fire to the shipping, and returned without further violence. This act of the English can hardly be called honorable warfare; ten vessels, fishing and coasting crafts, were lost. On arriving at Hingham, it was found that the enemy had returned to their seventy-four gun ship, and they were ordered not to proceed further. These bloodless heroes formed a hollow square around a barrel of eider, pre- sented to them by the citizens of Hingham, upon which they made a powerful and heroic assault, and it was soon captured."
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day afternoon, June 11th, when an alarm was given by the ring- ing of bells, that the enemy were going to attack Cohasset, but instead of that, they entered Scituate Harbor and burned sey- eral vessels. In 1812, the town allowed each man detached from the military companies one dollar per day when called out to do duty, in consequence of such detachment. That whenever they shall be called on by proper authorities to march to a distance, the town will make up to them the sum of twenty dollars per month, including the pay by the government, and to dednet one year's interest if paid within two months of date.
Sept. 12th, 1814. The company under the command of Capt. Thomas Tirrell, agreeable to general orders, marched to Boston Common, where they reported to the Adjutant-General, and were ordered to South Boston, and went into barracks. They remained here without any important event, until Oet. 30th, 1814, when they broke camp, and began their march for Quincy at 12 o'clock, noon, and arrived in town at 3 o'clock, r. JI.
Sunday morning, Nov. 5th, 1814, the company proceeded to the First Church for the purpose of a public acknowledgment to " Ahnighty God for preserving them from the perils of war, and permitting them to return safely to their homes and fami- lies."
July 18th, 1817. Marched to Roxbury, where they were or- dered to do guard duty on the reception of the President of the United States.
1819. Escorted the citizens and Mr. Whitney, orator of the day, to the First Church, after which they partook of a dinner at the town house.
July 4th, 1823. The company celebrated this day by a public parade, and marched to the town house, where they enjoyed a sumptuous dinner, provided for them by the much-esteemed school-master, Mr. Seaver. On this occasion the venerable John Adams honored them with his presence.
July 5th, 1824. The company proceeded to the house of the Rev. Peter Whitney, and there received the following gentle- men, viz :- Messrs. Whitney, Cutler, Colman, Brooks and Geo. W. Adams, Esq. They then marched to the meeting-house of the First Church, where an oration was delivered by Mr. Adams.
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This oration was published. After the services they closed the festivities of the day by a dinner at the town hall.
July 4th, 1826.1 The company assembled at 7 o'clock, and procceded to the house of the Rev. Mr. Whitney, to receive their new and elegant standard, provided for them by the la- dies of the town at a cost of one hundred and fifty dollars. After the remarks of Miss Caroline Whitney on the reception of the flag, the company escorted the clergymen of the town and Mr. George Whitney, to the First Church, where the Dec-
1. "In compliance with the request of several of the ladies of this town, I now present to you this Military Standard, for the use of the Quincy Light Infantry, confiding that in the possession of so well disciplined and patriotic a company it will never be surrendered to a foreign enemy. Be pleased to accept it, Sir. Let it be an incentive to you to be always ready in times of peace, and your rallying point in the hour of trial. And should you in the course of provi- dence he called to contend with an invading foe, you will meet the crisis with unshrinking courage, will stand by your country's rights at all hazards, and maintain that Independence, which fifty years ago this day was completed, and was secured at the expense of so much blood and treasure."
Ensign Gay, on receiving the standard, made the following reply :-
" Miss Whitney,-In behalf of the Quincy Light Infantry Company, I tender you, and through you to the ladies of Quincy, our warmest acknowledgments for this distinguished token of your confidence and liberality. Be assured that should we be called to unfurl this standard in defence of our country, our rights, our firesides, this, and the recollection of its fair donors, shall rouse us to a manful performance of our duty, shall fill our hearts with patriotism, and nerve our arms for war."
This standard was very appropriate in design and execution, and purchased for one hundred and fifty dollars, which amount was collected by the ladies of the town, and by them presented to the company on this occasion. On one side of it was the national emblem, on the reverse a figure of Minerva, with the bust of the venerable ex-President John Adams, and his distinguished son; on the background an accurate representation of the mansion of the ex-President. Over these patriotic emblems was engraved the following motto :-
" Pulmam qui meruit ferat."
At the close of this exercise occurred the most thrilling episode of the day. The president of the occasion stated that he held a toast from the venerable John Adams, and by permission would present it to them .- "Independence For- ever." Abont fifty minutes after this toast was drank by the assembly, Mr. Adams expired, and this patriotic sentiment may be considered among the last of this venerated patriot and renowned statesman, to commemorate this fif- tieth anniversary of his country's birthday. It must, however, be borne in mind that this sentiment was given to Mr. John Whitney, president of the day, on the 30th of June, and not on the 4th of July, as many have supposed.
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laration of Independence was read by the Hon. Thomas Green- leaf, and an eloquent oration delivered by Mr. George Whitney. The celebration of the day was closed by the usual and custom- ary dinner at the town hall.
July 4th, 1835. This day was celebrated by the company re- ceiving the Washington Guards of Hingham, at the Point, and proceeding to the Stone Church, where public services were held ; after which, they escorted the citizens of the town to the Hancock lot, where a dinner had been provided for them under a large pavilion.
March 8th, 1837. This year, for the first time, the company voted to engage three pieces of music, other than the customary drum and fife, at the coming muster.
1840. This was a busy year for the company, as public cele- brations were quite numerous. The first was the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of their organization, which occurred April 13th, by a public dinner. Capt. Joseph Bass was chosen president of the day, and Ex-Capts. Whitney, Brigham, Glover, Hardwick, Gay and others, made speeches and offered . toasts, after which, the past officers made a donation of fifteen dollars in aid of the company.
May 25th. The company performed escort duty for the citi- zens of Quincy, who this day celebrated the two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town. They proceeded to the Universalist Church, from whence the procession took up its line of march through El, Hancock, Sea and Washington streets, to the Stone Temple, accompanied by the Boston Brass Band. Prayer by Dr. Lunt; historical address by the Rev. Geo. Whitney, of Roxbury; address to the young men by the Rev. John Gregory ; poem by Mr. Pearse Cranch. The Union Sing- ing Society furnished them with excellent singing. At half-past two, they re-formed, accompanied by several hundred ladies and gentlemen, and marched to the Hancock lot, where, under a spacious pavilion, a sumptuous repast had been prepared by Mr. Daniel French. Hon. Josiah Quincy, president of the day, presided over the festivities of the occasion.
July 4th. The company paraded, this day, for escort duty for the Democratic celebration on the Hancock lot, and were
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paid by the party twenty dollars for their services. They assem- bled at 9 o'clock, A. M., and proceeded to the Unitarian Church, where the procession was formed under the direction of Col. Freeman White, as Chief Marshal; from thence they marched over the President's hill (now called Goffe street), accompanied by the Dorchester Brass Band, to Dr. Lunt's house, where they received the clergymen of the town, then proceeded to the Stone Temple. The Declaration of Independence was read by the Rev. John Gregory; oration delivered by the Hon. Increase Sumner; prayers by Dr. Lunt and the Rev. Mr. Cornell ; sing- ing of patriotic songs by the Union Singing Society. The pro- cession re-formed at one o'clock, and marched to the Hancock lot, where a pavilion had been erected for the occasion, and a dinner provided by Daniel French & Son. About seven hun- dred ladies and gentlemen were present, and Mr. Bradford L. Wales, of Randolph, presided at the table in his usual happy manner. Party spirit ran so high in this presidential campaign that it created a division in the infantry company, which had never been known before to have occurred in its ranks. Many of the members resigned, and from this date the dissolution of the company may be considered to have began, as it continued to dwindle away until 1846, when it expired.
Sept. 13th, 1845. The company of seven members marched to Boston Common for general inspection and review, viz :- Capt. George Crane, Lieut. Elisha Packard, Mr. Pope, D. Monk, William S. Glover, James T. Penniman.
Aug. 28th, 1846. The company, with the Tiger Engine Com- pany, paraded for target practice at the Point Holes (so called). William Barnard, of the infantry, won the first prize of three dollars ; Warren Whicher, of the Tiger, won the second of two dollars; the third of one dollar was won by Mr. John Faxon, of the Tigers.
Dec. 16th. This day the property of the Quincy Light Infan- try Company was sold at auction. The marquee, tables, benches, Indian1 and chest, which had cost about two hundred dollars, sold for fifteen. The bass drum, which cost two dollars and
1. This Indian was the noted target of the Company, which had for years valiantly withstood the attack of its best shots.
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sixty-three cents to repair, sold for one dollar and sixty-three cents. On the evening of the sale, the remaining members of the company met at the Hancock House and received a dividend of one dollar and twenty-five cents. They then, on the pro- ceeds of the sale, partook of a supper. After relating the many pleasant times they had enjoyed in the ranks of the old com- pany, they bid it a long farewell. Thus expired the Quincy Light Infantry Company, after having been connected with the Massachusetts military for fifty-six years.
WAR OF 1812.
For some years the English Government had been making hostile aggression upon the commerce of the United States, by sending ships of war to cruise along the shores of the principal ports of the United States for the purpose of intercepting Amer- ican merchant vessels; capturing and sending them as lawful prizes to England. Another grievance and outrage committed on our marine service, was the impressment of American sea- men into the service of Great Britain. This so exasperated the United States, that in June, 1812, the President, by authority of Congress, formally proclaimed war against England and all her dominions. This war was called the War of 1812, or the second war for independence, for the consummation of those principles which were supposed to have been decided by the War of the Revolution.
This conflict was very unpopular in the New England States ; especially was it so in Massachusetts, she standing squarely on the doctrine of State Rights. Governor Strong, then the Fed- eral Governor of the State, refused to send troops from the Commonwealth for the protection of the United States from the invasions of a foreign foe, on the requisition of the Presi- dent for this purpose ; he believing that the President had no authority to call the State troops out of the Commonwealth. Still, with all this opposition, many citizens took an active and renowned part in this conflict, which was done by voluntary action on their part.
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This war officially ended Dec. 24th, 1814, when both govern- ments signed a treaty of peace at Ghent, Belgium, but its rati- fication did not reach the United States in time to deprive General Jackson of his glory at New Orleans; which battle was fought Jan. 8th, 1815, some days after the signing of the treaty. Peace was not proclaimed by the President of the United States until Feb. 18th, 1815.
As the war progressed, the Federal party of New England waxed stronger in their opposition to it, and in 1814, called that noted Hartford Convention together, for the purpose of seeing if some definite action could not be devised to set New England off as an independent community from the States; by this means she would not be responsible for this unjust war, as she thought.
The principle having been established by the government of the State, that her military could not be called out of it, and only could be used for the protection of her own soil, was prob- ably the reason why the Light Infantry of this town was only called into service twice during this strife ; once at South Bos- ton, and the second time, on an alarm that the British were landing at Cohasset or Scituate. Capt. Ralph Arnold's Com- pany, of Braintree, was also called out on the same occasion. A detachment of Captain Arnold's Company was ordered to join the Randolph Rifle Company, for guard duty, to protect the coast from any further invasions of the enemy.
The names of the inhabitants of Quincy that served in land and naval service of the war of 1812, we are not able to give, as the muster rolls are deposited in the United States Archives at Washington. The special tax assessed on the citizens of Quincy, to pay the expenses of this war, was more than nine hundred dollars.
The only vessel belonging in Quincy taken by privateers, that we have any account of, was the Enterprize. It is somewhat singular that this schooner was taken by the people of their own State, and carried into Marblehead as a prize.1
1. Statement of Mr. Brackett, a passenger on board the Enterprize at the time of her seizure :---
July 14th, 1812.
" Mr. Russell,-Misstatements having been made of an outrage committed ou
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MEXICAN WAR.
Texas, formerly a part of Mexico, had by war achieved her independence, and sustained it for nine years, being recognized as such by several European nations. Under her president, Gen. Samuel Houston, she applied, in April, 1844, for annexa- tion to the United States. After considerable debate in Con- gress, the bill for admission was defeated. Another application was made the next year, which proved successful, and Texas
the coasting schooner Enterprize by a Marblehead privateer, and having been a passenger on board the Enterprize, I am induced to give the following state- ment of facts :-
" The Enterprize, Hersham, master, sailed from Penobscot as a coaster, with firewood in hold, and fish and lumber on deck. On the 6th of July, inst., in Boston Bay, about two miles from Half Way Rock, we fell in with the Marble- head privateer Germantown, Hooper in command, who very valiantly fired at and brought ns to, and then boarded with a prize-master and eight men armed with pistols and cutlasses, in such a ruffian-like manner, as very much fright- ened a lady passenger and her child, and whose ferocious conduct could not be restrained by the prize-master, who appeared to be as much of a gentleman as the nature of his new profession would admit. This crew examined the schooner half an hour, and then ordered us to bear down to the privateer,-the captain of which came on board, searched and examined the papers and then ordered us to proceed. We had proceeded about a mile when we were again fired at, and the same prize-master and crew boarded us a second time, made a bon prize of us, and made sail for Marblehead. A proposition was then made to them to conduct us to Quincy, and there to inspect the unloading of the schooner, which would save them expense, which they refused, but carried us into Marblehead, where the vessel was again examined, the deck load taken off, and we delayed nearly two days. They then began to talk of compromise ; when, being only a freighter, and being anxious for the release of the lady under my care from her fears, I stipulated that they should land the lady and child, and my freight in Quincy, free of all expense, and pay me forty dollars for the forty hours detention, which they agreed to, fulfilled, and gave me what they called an honorable discharge. As the public may wish to know who the owners of this privateer is, which is aiding the enemy in making war on American property, I give their names, to wit :- Thomas Appleton, Wm. Bear, J. H. Gregory, John L. Harris, J. G. Hooper, S. W. Phillips, John Humpheys, S. Turner, Edward Barry, William Elliott, Richard Brewer, B. Robinson, James Topsham, Jr., Ambrose Martin, Lot Martin, David Kings- bury, (the last two conducted themselves towards us like gentlemen,) J. C. Blackler, T. B. Brown, Benjamin Stevens, Dan. Weid and John Johnson.
With esteem and regard, your humble servant,
ยท JAMES BRACKETT, JR."
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was admitted into the Union as a State, Dec. 29th, 1845. Out of this grew the Mexican War, which was declared between the United States and Mexico, May 11th, 1846. This war was very unpopular in the New England States. Notwithstanding the war was so obnoxious to a majority of the citizens of Massachu- setts, a volunteer regiment was organized under the command of Caleb Cushing. In this regiment five persons enlisted from this town, viz :- Capt. George Crane,1 Timothy Wiggin, Charles Andrews, William Wood and Erastus Prior; all of whom re- turned with the regiment after the close of the war, but in poor health. In all the wars, from the Indian, French and the Revo- lution in Colonial times, down to the civil conflict between the Northern and Southern States, some of the inhabitants of that part of Old Braintree called Quincy, have taken an active part.
At the time Quincy became an independent municipality there were but two military organizations-the Quincy Light Infantry and the militia company. Early in the present century, a cav- alry company was organized from her citizens and the neighbor- ing towns. This fine independent company was for years the pride of the village; but a short time after the close of the War of 1812, the people having had enough of military, lost their interest in it, and the horse company was disbanded. The stat- ute requiring all persons between certain ages to be enrolled for service, together with the rapidly-increasing population of the town, obliged them to form another company. To prevent all confusion and trouble between them and the other existing or- ganizations, the town established Hancock street as the boun- dary line between them. All west of it was to be called the west and all east of it was to be known as the east company. The west was the new company to be organized. This duty being obligatory upon them, made the service very obnoxious, and was the cause of its formation being delayed for some time, by making choice of officers that they knew would not serve; thinking by this means to evade the statute and prevent its per- manent organization. As an illustration of this point, they chose for captain, Rev. Peter Whitney, who they knew would
1 Capt. George Crane had been Captain of the Quincy Light Infantry.
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not accept; also, an inmate of the almshouse was selected for the position. Finally, after much time had been spent in these burlesque organizations, they chose Dr. Sanborn, of West Quin- cy, as captain, who accepted, but soon resigned his command. Mr. Samuel Eaton Brackett, then a young man, was then elected as first officer, and Mr. Charles P. Tirrell as orderly sergeant. Treating being the custom at that time, made the position as officers of the company quite burdensome; especially was this the case in Capt. Brackett's time, when the roll numbered three hundred.
Among the commanders of the east company were Captains Boylston Adams, Taylor, Drake, Horton and others.
These unwieldy bodies of men were very difficult to manage, as they had no desire for military duty or exercise, but were forced to assemble for inspection. So distasteful was this duty to the members of these military organizations, that they would appear at the place of parade with all manner of costumes and accoutrements ; half a dozen guns would answer for the whole company at inspection, a small corn broom for a brush to keep the pan clean, a tamping iron or some other uncouth instrument for a priming wire, mustard seed for ammunition-supposing that the inspecting officer did not know the difference between powder and this noted condiment. At last, these organizations had become such a burlesque on the State military, that they were disbanded, which was the end of the "Ragamuffin Brigade," so called.
In 1855, or about ten years after the dissolution of the Quincy Light Infantry, the Hancock Light Guards were formed out of a "Know-nothing " organization, called the "Guards of Liberty." The Liberty Guards desired to be organized as an independent company, but finding that it could not be legally accomplished, they concluded to form a company under the military law of the State.
After having received their charter, they completed their or- ganization by making choice of the following-named persons as officers :- Abner B. Packard, Captain ; William S. Glover, 1st Lieutenant; William Nash, 2d Lieutenant; Thaddeus HI. New- comb, 3d Lieutenant ; Franklin Curtis, 4th Lieutenant. Under
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these competent officers, they became a well-disciplined and flourishing company.
In the civil conflict of 1861, between the North and South, Company H, which was the official letter by which the Han- cock Light Guards, of Quincy, was regimented, was among the first to respond to the call of the Government.1 This company was a member of the 4th Regiment, which regiment was under the command of Col. Abner B. Packard, who was first captain of Company H. On receiving their orders to procced to For- tress Monroe, they took their leave for Boston and rendezvoused in Faneuil Hall. After remaining there some twenty-four hours or more, the regular officers of the company not appearing, they concluded to make choice of a new set, which were as follows :-
1. The following persons not starred were members of Company H, Fourth Regiment, at the time of their departure for the seat of war in 1861. Those marked with asterisks subsequently enlisted as recruits, one month later, and joined the company at the South :-
Capt. Franklin Curtis, aged 31; Edward A. Spear, 1st Lieutenant, 44; Beuja- min F. Meservey, 2d Lieutenant, 23; Charles F. Pray, 1st Sergeant, 27; Mat- thew M. C. Chubbuck, Sergeant, 22; John Williams, Sergeant, 23; Robert Monk, Sergeant, 21; William H. H. Lapham, Corporal, 20; Thomas Smith, Corporal, 23; William S. Wilbur, Corporal, 26; Morton Packard, Corporal, 21; Albert Keating, Musician, 20 ;* Henry F. Barker, 22 ;* Benjamin F. Bass, 25 ;* William H. Baxter, 17 ;* Edward F. Bent, 21 ;* Luther S. Bent, 30 ;* James A. Brainard (Weymouth), 25; Edwin Brown, 23 ;* Caleb Brackett, 27; David J. Burrell, 29; David T. Chubbuck, 29; Perez Chubbuck, Jr., 26 ;* George F. Cleverly, 28 ;* Lemuel A. Colburn, 28; Charles H. Crickney, (Braintree), 34; James H. Cunningham, 21 ;* Noah L. Cummings, 25; Edward Damon, Jr., 20 ;* James J. Dowd, 23; Joseph S. Enderly, 18 ;* Lendell H. Ewell, 19 ;* William H. Feltis, 16; Richard H. Fisher, 28 ;* Daniel F. French, 29; Alonzo Fur- nald, 18 ;* Charles E. Gannet, 21, (Weymouth); George W. Gibson, 19; Na- thaniel E. Glover, 25 ;* George L. Hayden, 24; Charles N. Hunt, 38 ;* Charles H. Jameson, 17; Freeman Joseph, 19 ;* Robert Josselyn, 18; Edwin L. Joyce, 25 ;* Howard M. Kimball, 21; John H. Lamson, 19; Frederick A. Lapham, Jr., 23; Joseph A. Lapham, 18; John Larkin, 23; Frank M. Marden, 17; Peter P. Marque, 33 ;* Peter Newcomb, 18 ;* Alonzo A. Nightingale, 19; Samuel A. Nightingale, 23; Wyman B. Nightingale, 20 ;* Charles A. Nutting, 17; Edward W. H. Nutting, 20; John Parker, Jr., 20 ;* Edward L. Perkins, 18; Charles E. Pierce, 19 ;* Eugene C. Philips (Boston), 20; Alexander P. Pope, 20: William O. Pope, 19; Hiram B. Prior, 21 ;* William W. Reynolds, 28; Charles D. Riley, 24; Luke A. Rideout, 23, William W. Robinson, 25; Emerson H. Shaw, 17; Christopher A. Spear, 21 ;* Warren Q. Spear, 22; Horace O. Souther, 19 ;* Francis L. Sonther, 24 ;* Freeman M. Totman, 22; Henry C. Turner, 19; John B. Turner, 17; Henry G. Wildman, 27; William G. Sheen, 22 .*
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