USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 54
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And here it may be said that the pulpit of Lancaster spoke with no uncertain sound from the outbreak of the rebellion till it was subdued. Rev. Mr. Bartol, of the First church, and Rev. Mr. Lawrence, of the Evangelical church, not only preached repeatedly on the duty of upholding the govern- ment, and abolishing slavery, but they in common with resi- dent ministers in the town, on many occasions, addressed the citizens in public meetings, and in all ways gave encour- agement and sympathy for the soldiers in the field.
On the eighth of October a public meeting was held, over which Mr. Henry C. Kimball presided. Remarks were made by Col. Fay, Rev. Bradford K. Peirce and Rev. Milo C. Stebbins. A town committee was chosen as follows. Fran- cis B. Fay, George W. Howe, Henry C. Kimball, Stowell Bancroft, John W. Barnes, Jonathan Buttrick and William J. Knight.
688
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
At the annual election, in November, the town went for Gov. Andrew by an overwhelming vote.
When the news came of the disaster at Ball's Bluff, on the twenty-first of October, the feelings of the people were deeply moved. Several of our men belonging to the fifteenth regiment were in the battle, and some of them lost their lives. while in the fight, or in the endeavor to swim the turbulent Potomac.
₺
At a meeting held November 14, presided over by Solon Whiting, Esq., the committee on military outfit made the; following report.
Paid for drilling volunteers,
. $357.00
drill-master,
20.00
" E. Ballard, for printing,
2.50
for swords, 60.00
committee of ladies, .
31.42
for towels,
7.74
F. B. Fay for cash advanced,
250.00
Balance at expiration of ninety days, . . 241.50
Total,
. $970.16
In November a military company was formed, with one hundred names enrolled. They voted to supply themselves. with guns. Col. Fay was chosen captain, and Solon Whiting, Esq., lieutenant. They declined, probably on account of" age, when Dr. W. Barron was elected captain, and Lyman Moore, lieutenant. A. B. Collins was clerk of the company ..
The Lancaster Independent Phalanx drilled, December 9, carrying seventy guns. These facts are given because they evince the spirit of the times. The martial spirit animated all, both young and old.
On the ninth of December, a meeting of citizens, called by Dr. Thompson and others, was held, to concert action in relation to " sending supplies of winter clothing to our sol- diers." G. Frederick Chandler was, elected chairman, and.
689
BIRTHDAY OF WASHINGTON.
J. P. Wilder, secretary. A committee consisting of Dr. Thompson, and the selectmen, - Messrs. James Childs, Jeremiah Moore and Warren Davis - was raised to "as- certain the number of men in the service, and what they needed."
Another committee, four ladies and five gentlemen, was chosen "to canvass the town, and solicit subscriptions of money and articles of clothing." The committee were Miss Mary G. Chandler, Mrs. George Dodge, Mrs. C. F. McIntyre, Mrs. Joseph H. Dudley, Dr. J. L. S. Thompson, George Dodge, G. F. Chandler and Spencer R. Merrick. Mrs. Dodge and Mrs. McIntyre declining, Mrs. Emily Leighton and Miss Mary Humphrey were substituted.
It was found that thirty men were, or had been in the ser- vice. Those still in the field needed blankets, boots, towels, bedticks, etc. Most of the articles needed were purchased with money given by the citizens, amounting to $166, in sums from a half dollar to ten dollars.
The first public event in Lancaster which marked the year 1862, was the celebration of the birthday of Washington. The town hall was filled with citizens who revered the " father of his country," and who were resolved to preserve the free institutions for which he labored. Col. F. B. Fay presided, and Dr. Thompson acted as secretary. Prayer was offered by Rev. Amos E. Lawrence. The Farewell Address of Washington was read by Prof. William Russell, with all the effect which that consummate master of expression could give to it. Those who beheld his tall, dignified and com- manding form, and the majesty of his noble countenance, , almost felt as if they were in the very presence of Washing- ton himself. The reading of the address was followed by patriotic and eloquent remarks from Revs. Jonathan E. Ed- wards, Quincy Whitney, Bradford K. Peirce and Amos E. Lawrence.
The month of July was a time of great activity in matters pertaining to the war. The army of the Potomac was near
44
690
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Richmond, with alternating fortunes, one day beating the rebels, and the next giving way before them, but finally with- drawing from the Peninsula. The whole country was greatly agitated, and Lancaster shared in the excitement. Many meetings were held, and much was done to encourage the sol- diers and sustain the cause of union and freedom.
On the eighth of July a citizens' meeting was held to take measures for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers. George W. Howe was placed in the chair, and Dr. Thompson chosen secretary. Spirited remarks were made by several gentle- men. A committee was appointed to raise money to be ex- pended by the Sanitary Commission. The committee were Caleb T. Symmes, G. F. Chandler and George A. Johnson. Dea. George Cummings gave fifty dollars, and Mr. Nathaniel Thayer gave an equal sum.
The meeting was adjourned to the fourteenth, when many ladies were present, though it was a stormy evening. Sev- enty-five ladies had in the meantime been working upon ar- ticles which were needed by the suffering soldiers. Mr. Howe was chairman of the meeting. Mr. Symmes, from the committee, reported that the sum of $360.73 had been raised. Of this sum, $200 had been sent to the Sanitary Commission and the balance had been paid for two hundred and forty-seven yards of cloth. Spirited remarks were made by Rev. Milo C. Stebbins, Rev. J. E. Edwards, Col. Fay and Rev. Mr. Lawrence. Dea. Cummings urged the encour- agement of enlistments, and offered $100. Col. Fay made the same offer.
During this month came the call of Pres. Lincoln for a large addition to the army. The quota of Lancaster was , seventeen. The citizens held a meeting, July 23, and under- took to raise $1,700, and give each volunteer $100 as bounty. The committee, in addition to the selectmen, for raising re- cruits, were Messrs. Lawrence, Stebbins, Burbank and John- son. At a citizens' meeting held on the twenty-third, the committee reported that they had canvassed the town, and
.
691
ENLISTMENTS AND BOUNTIES.
raised the money. Four men had already enlisted. Speech- es were made by Messrs. Edwards, Thompson, Stebbins, and Edmund C. Whitney, a young man who soon after went in- to the service.
A legal town meeting was held the same day, George W. Howe, presiding, when it was voted to assume the $1,700 subscription, and pay the bounty to the volunteers ; for each man, $100. The sum of $2,000 was raised for paying to fam- ilies of volunteers the sums granted as "state aid." The recruits already at Camp Wool who should be accepted as a part of the quota were to have the bounty. A committee was chosen to act with the selectmen in procuring recruits. The men were speedily mustered into the service, and many of them joined the thirty-fourth regiment, Col. Wells.
At a meeting of citizens, July 24, a committee was cho- sen to provide for the wants of absent soldiers; and also to see that necessary work on their farms should be done at proper times. The committee to look after this service were Messrs. Howe, Thompson and C. A. Pollard. The hay of T. A. G. Hunting, a soldier, was cut and put in by B. B. Otis and J. Moore. Other citizens- names not recorded except in the "book of remembrance,"-in all parts of the town, volunteered to perform similar service.
Public meetings were held, July 26 and 28, and there was much enthusiasm, until the quota was filled.
On the ninth of August, there was a call for nine months men. In consequence a town meeting was held, August 25, when Mr. Whiting presided. It was voted to offer a bounty of $100 for each man, provided the full quota of twenty-one was filled. The bounty was to be paid as soon as the men were mustered into the service. In the words of Dr. Thomp- son, written in a Diary at the time : "Some of our best young men, in the receipt of handsome salaries, -$1,000 or more per year-relinquished their business, left their families and friends, and nobly gave their services to their country ; and the news of their noble bravery came in due time-1863- from Port Hudson."
692
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
In the meantime the ladies had not been idle, but in their own graceful way had shown their ready sympathy with the men who had left home, and perilled all in their country's service. Under their direction, Shakespeare readings were given in the town hall, August 21, by Prof. Russell, Rev. Mr. Bartol, Mr. Henry C. Kimball, Mr. S. Hathaway, Miss Anna U. Russell and Mrs. Dr. Ware. The entertainment was varied with vocal and instrumental music under the care of Dr. Thompson,
In the month of September two war meetings were held by the citizens. One of these was addressed by Rev. Merrill Richardson, of Worcester ; the other by Rev. Dr. Rufus Put- nam, of Roxbury, and Mr. J. M. Washburn. These gentlemen spoke with great power, and did much towards filling the quota of the town. Relief for the sick and wounded was one of the objects of these meetings. The selectmen were requested to raise a relief fund by subscription, for the bene- fit of the soldiers and their families. One person gave $300 ; and the sum was increased specdily to $500. Weekly meet- ings were held,-Mr. Howe and Dr. Thompson acting as president and secretary, until the amount of $1,300 was rais- ed. There were more volunteers than the town was required to furnish by the call in September, but all in excess of the quota were credited to the town.
On the second of October the volunteers were presented with a copy of the Scriptures by the generosity of a lady.
At a legal meeting held October 15, Col. Fay was chosen moderator, and the town voted to give a bounty of $100 to " those men who have enlisted, and who shall be mustered in and accepted by the United States service."
This closes the record of public meetings, whether legal or spontaneous, during the year 1862, but no such recital can give an adequate idea of the spirit of patriotic devotion and sacrifice which animated all hearts at the time. There was a constant stream of communication between the men in the army and their friends at home. Letters went to and fro,
693 .
SYMPATHY OF CITIZENS WITH SOLDIERS.
some bringing tales of toil, danger and suffering in the field, from heat and cold, hunger and watching, marching and bat- tling, hospital and prison'; and others carrying sympathy, love and encouragement from home to dear ones in the ser- vice. Frequent visits were made to the different regiments and hospitals, where our men were to be found, by citizens who bore messages of kindness and more substantial tokens of good will from mothers, daughters, wives and children. The news of every defeat caused sadness, and the intelli- gence of every victory sent a joyful thrill through every family in the town.
There was no faltering on the part of old or young, and the conviction grew stronger that the rebellion must be sub- dued, the Union be preserved, and the cause of all the na- tion's existing trouble, slavery, be abolished.
The action of the town in the year 1863, in relation to the war, may be given in a few lines, as most of the work neces- sary to keep up the town's quota, or to supply the soldiers with comforts not provided by the government, was done through committees, and by the constant sympathy of pat- riotic women.
At a town meeting held September 19, George W. Howe was moderator. It was voted that the selectmen and treasu- rer should borrow, if expedient, such sums of money as might be necessary to pay the state tax for the reimbursement of money paid by towns to volunteers.
In October the quota for Lancaster to fill was fourteen men. In November, 23, a meeting was held to encourage the raising of volunteers, George W. Howe was in the chair, and Dr. Thompson was secretary. It was voted to invite Hon. A. H. Bullock and Col. James W. Kimball to address the citizens.
On the third of December Rev. Merrill Richardson, of Worcester, gave a thrilling address. The following rallying committee was chosen. Lieut. William L. Cobb, Dea. George Cummings, Rev. M. C. Stebbins, Col. F. B. Fay, G. F.
1
694
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Chandler, Rev. Marcus Ames, Charles J. Wilder, Jonas Goss, James Childs, C. W. Burbank, Lieut. J. C. Ayres, B. B. Otis, Thomas Laughton, Calvin Holman, Levi P. Wood, jr., Levi Farwell, Barney S. Phelps, Sewell Day, G. S. Colburn, Charles L. Wilder, Samuel Rugg and Spencer R. Merrick. The town was in hot earnest to have the quota filled.
The committee called a meeting of citizens in the town hall, December 10, when it was voted to pay each volunteer one hundred dollars, in addition to state and national boun- ties. The money was quickly raised.
When the year drew to its end, though rebellion still held up its defiant head, yet it had received stunning if not mortal blows. The year had been signalized by the capture of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and the victory of Gettysburg. The tide had turned, and the fortunes of the confederacy were ebbing. The nation no longer doubted its ultimate success. But much remained to be done before the last trai- tor should lay down his arms, and this town was called on to do its part. The duty was faithfully done.
At a town meeting held April 4, 1864, it was voted to abate the taxes of the nine months men who were in the ser- vice in the previous year. A bounty of $125 for each man required of Lancaster to fill the quota under the last call of the president was voted. Then an additional vote was pass- ed, giving a bounty of $125 for each man under the present or any future call of the president before the first of March, 1865. Then the sum of $125 was offered to any enrolled man, who should send an alien substitute, on any quota, be- tween March 1, 1864, and the same date in 1865.
This action was followed up, June 22, by a vote authoriz- ing the selectmen and treasurer to borrow the sum of $2,000 for the purpose of refunding the money contributed by in- dividuals for the purpose of filling the quotas of the town, under the calls for more troops by the president, October 17, 1863, and February 1, 1864, provided the money [contribu- ted] should be put into the hands of the recruiting commit-
695
SOLDIERS IN ACTION.
tee for the purpose of procuring more troops. This was the last municipal action taken in the town for raising soldiers, and no more was needed, as the vote passed in the April meeting provided bounties for the year ensuing, by which time the rebellion was in its death struggle.
SOLDIERS IN THE FIELD.
It is now time to follow the soldiers into the field. The action of individuals, and especially of the ladies, in fur- nishing supplies, and in rendering sympathy and comfort to those exposed to the storm of war, will not be forgotten.
Twenty-three men of Lancaster belonged to the fifteenth regiment of volunteers, under Col. Charles Devens, jr. This regiment was in the battle of Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861, and suffered fearfully in the action, and in the attempt to swim the turbulent Potomac. There was a deep personal in- terest in the fortunes of several members of company C, as they were townsmen and relatives. The narrative of the fight, and the perils of the river, brought the dread realities of war to many homes and hearts. The fate of the several soldiers will be given under their own names in the " Roll of Honor."
The twenty-first regiment, Col. Edwin Upton, left for the seat of war on the last day of October. Fourteen men from Lancaster were in different companies of this regiment. The . destination was Roanoke Island, under Gen. Burnside. The regiment partook of the dangers of the voyage and landing, and of the battle which immediately followed.
On the fifteenth of August, 1862, the thirty-fourth regi- ment, Col. George D. Wells, left Worcester for the field of conflict, having eighteen soldiers from this town, in com- pany H.
The fifty-third regiment, Massachusetts volunteers, was formed in the autumn of 1863, and contained twenty-six men of Lancaster in company I. Col. John W. Kimball was commander, and Edward R. Washburn was captain of
696
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
company I. On the twenty-ninth of November the regi- ment started for New York. The men suffered much the first week, being in camp with shelter tents only. They were then transferred to Franklin barracks, where they awaited transportation to the South.
These four regiments contained eighty-one men who form- ed part of the quota of this town. The remainder were scat- tered through various regiments and batteries, to the number of one, two, three or four in each. Some were in the in- fantry, and some in the artillery, the cavalry, or the naval branches of the service.
Returning to the four regiments already mentioned, we find that they all made an honorable record. The fifteenth, after the baptism of blood at Ball's Bluff, and of water in the cold and swollen river, was stationed at Harper's Ferry. In the early part of 1862 it was engaged at Yorktown, and in the summer, took part in the battle of Fair Oaks and the fight at Savage Station. Later it was in the service near Washington, and bore itself bravely in the battle of Antie- tam. In 1863, the regiment was in the struggle near Fred- erieksburg, and was hotly engaged in the second and third days of the great battle of Gettysburg. With the army, the fifteenth followed the rebels to Virginia, and endured all the hardships of the winter of 1863-4. In the spring it went through the successive struggles in the Wilderness, and was reduced to a platoon. Our men endured its hardships and enjoyed its glory.
Meantime the twenty-first regiment had not been idle. In 1862 it was in the battles of Newbern, Bull Run No. 2, Chantilly, Antietam and Fredericksburg, where its losses were heavy. Marches, eamp duties and battles filled the long season with severe toils, and reduced greatly the num- ber of men in the ranks. The spring of 1863 found the regiment in Kentucky, and engaged in the action at Blue Springs. Transferred to Tennessee, it fought bravely at the siege of Knoxville, and performed brilliant service during
697
SPOTTSYLVANIA .- WINCHESTER .- PORT HUDSON.
the campaign. In 1864 the twenty-first was moved to Vir- ginia, where it fought at Spottsylvania, passed the James river, and was in the "Mine." Twenty-three battles were fought under its flag.
Not less arduous was the service of the thirty-fourth regi- ment, Col. Wells. It proceeded to Alexandria in the fall of 1862, where it was engaged in the duties of the camp, and became eminent in drill. It was afterwards stationed at Harper's Ferry, in 1863, was engaged in a " smart fight " near Berryville, and escaped from the clutches of Early. In 1864 the regiment was in nine battles, including New Market, Piedmont, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and the two conflicts at Cedar Creek. It was also at Battery Gregg, fighting to the last, and returned home with a high reputation for all soldierly qualities.
The fifty-third was a nine months regiment, but consider- ing the brevity of its term, did much hard work, and was exposed to danger. It performed long marches in Louisiana, in extremely hot weather, and was engaged in frequent skir- mishes and combats, as at Bayou Sara and Brashear City. The long contest before Port Hudson till the place surren- dered, July 9, witnessed the heroic devotion, and the fearful losses of the regiment. In one assault, in the month of June, the loss was very heavy. "Of the three hundred officers and men who went in, seven officers and seventy-nine men were killed and wounded." It was here that Capt. Edward R. Washburn received the wound that finally cost him his life.
During all this time constant communication was kept up between the soldiers and their friends at home. Some were wounded, and returned to tell of the scenes in which they had been engaged. Some were killed, or died in the hospi- tal, and their remains were brought back to receive the hon- ors of sepulture in the family lot. These cases awakened universal sympathy. Letters were going back and forth by every opportunity. Frequent visits were made to the army
698
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
by relatives of the men, or by citizens deputed for the pur- pose. Boxes, barrels and packages, filled with clothing, food and delicacies for the well and the sick, were sent to the front, or the hospital, or wherever the soldiers might be found.
To accomplish this work of patriotic kindness, money was raised by vote, contribution, subscription, fairs, entertain- ments, and the nimble needles of the ladies, who were un- failing in their efforts to cheer and sustain the defenders of the Union and the cause of freedom.
Whenever the enlisted men left home for the field, if they went in squads, the occasion was one of marked interest ; but less, certainly, than if they had gone in whole compa- nies. Quite a number belonged to different companies of the fifteenth regiment, most of whom enlisted in the summer of 1861. Others joined at later dates. The names of those - belonging to the fifteenth are as follows.
Alexander, Nathaniel, Balcom, Charles H.,
Copeland, Joseph, Cutler, George W., Cutler, Isaac N., Davidson, Thomas H., Ellis, Warren,
Farnsworth, Frank H., | Kittredge, Solomon,
Gray, James N., Green, Gilbert H., Horan, Fordyce, Hosley, Henry H., Johnson, A. W., Kilburn, Sumner R., Kingsbury, Joseph W.,
Lawrence, Willard R., Mann, George C., Moses, Robert R., Rugg, Henry H., Shean, George C., Turner, Luther G.,
Warner, James, Willard, Edwin.
Four of our men enlisted in the sixteenth regiment, as fol- lows :
Frank W. Barnes, George A. Barnes, George K. Richards and William Thompson.
In the twenty-first regiment were the following men, the larger part of whom belonged to company E.
Bigelow, William, Burke, James, Field, Edward, Fox, William L., Hardy, George H.,
Mahan, Dennis, McQuillen, Charles E., Ollis, Luke, Peirce, Frank E., Richards, Eben W.,
Robbins, William H., Sawyer, Oliver B., Sinclair, Charles H., Whittemore, Woodbury
699
ENLISTED MEN .- LADIES' AID.
The thirty-fourth regiment had twenty-one Lancaster men, nearly all of whom were in company H. Many of these en- listed on the last day of July, 1862 ; others in the following months. They were soon engaged in active warfare. These are the names.
Blood, Charles E.,
Brown, Jonas H.,
Burbank, Levi B.,
Chaplin, Solon W.,
Farnsworth, John A.,
Cobb, William L.,
Farnsworth, John E.,
Coburn, George,
Flagg, Charles B., . Fuller, Edward M.,
Fury, Michael, Gray, Stephen W., Hunting, T. A. G., Matthews, D. W.,
Mellor, William H., Wise, John P.
Here follow the names of those who enlisted in the fifty- third regiment, (nine months, ) in the autumn of 1862.
Albee, John G.,
Ayres, John C.,
Brooks, Walter A.,
Chaffee, George E.,
Chandler Frank W.,
Cutler, Henry A.,
Fisher, William H.,
Flagg, Albert,
Frary, Oscar,
Harriman, Harris C., Hills, Thomas A., Jackson, David W., James, John, Keyes, Stephen A., Moore, Joseph B., Nourse, Byron H., Nourse, Roscoe H., Patrick, G. Henry,
Rice, Walter C., Rugg, Henry H., Rugg, James, Sawtell, Edwin, Turner, Walter S. H., Washburn, Edward R.,
Whitney, Edmund C., Wilder, Charles H.
The soldiers who went singly, or by two or three at a time, will be remembered in the Roll, with their term of service.
The following persons were drafted, but furnished substi- tutes, by paying $300 each.
Brewer, Miron H.,
Carter, O. W.,
Cutting, H. C.,
Dodge, George E. P., -
Harris, Frank, Hosmer, E. W., Howe, Eli E.,
Humphrey, Horatio D., Stowe, Henry, Wilder, Charles L., jr.
WORK FOR THE SOLDIERS BY LANCASTER WOMEN.
Under this head will be arranged a brief account of the aid rendered by the women of this town, to the soldiers who went out from their homes, some of them never to return.
Matthews, George W.,
Daley, James,
Damon, Daniel W., Dillon, James, Fairbank, Francis H.,
700
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
At first there was no formal organization for this work, but the Ladies' Benevolent Society of the first parish sent, pre- vious to September, 1862, the sum of $30 in money to sup- ply the soldiers of Lancaster with Bibles, and $53.67 cash to buy clothing and hospital supplies. In addition they sent two boxes of quilts, blankets, clothing, etc.
The ladies of the Sewing Society connected with the Evan- gelical church sent two boxes of clothing, etc. Both socie- ties united in sending supplies of which there is no record.
On the twenty-seventh of August, 1862, a Soldiers' Relief Association was formed by the ladies with the following officers.
President, MRS. HARRIET W. WASHBURN.
Vice-Presidents, MISS MARY ANDERSON, MISS MARY A. THAYER, MISS MARY WHITNEY.
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