USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > King's handbook of Springfield, Massachusetts : a series of monographs, historical and descriptive > Part 21
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? Sketches in the Water Shops.
i
Copeland ap).
WELDING AND ROLLING GUN-BARRELS, AND DRAWING RAMRODS.
In Water-shops,
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
would carry a leaden ball when backed by powder, were in use by the sol- diers of the North. The 1873 "breech-loader" is- with perhaps slight modification -the model breech-loader of the day. Thomas Blanchard's machine for turning irregular forms was introduced into the Armory in 1820, during Col. Roswell Lee's administration. An "old Armorer" distinctly remembers the following circumstance, he being at the time a fellow-boarder with Mr. Blanchard: "One Sunday we particularly noticed Mr. Blanchard, for he had in his hands a musket which he seemed to be meditating upon. This meditation was nothing new ; for he was a man who said but few words, a man who communed with himself, or, rather, did a great deal of head or brain work in a quiet way. But now he had something in his hands upon which his thoughts seemed to rest, and this was uncommon. The gun was turned over and over; it was looked at from tip to breech ; evidently he was thinking hard; after a long time thought became words, 'I believe that I can turn a stock like this,' and eventually he did." The first machine made to turn irregular forms was constructed and put into operation at the Upper Water-shops : shoe-lasts were the things produced. The next machine was made for the purpose of turning the stock for a musket, and proved to be just what was to be expected from the first experiment, and just what was wanted for that time, and also- what was not then thought of -the fore- runner of all machines, models, or forms which are now used to make every component part of a gun "interchangeable."
The whole number of arms made at the close of the year 1854 was 629,660; whole number made at the end of 1878, 1,751,341. The grand total, including rifles, pistols, musketoons, carbines, cadet arms, etc., is now not far from 2,000,000. In 1795 there were from 40 to 50 men employed, and 245 muskets made. In 1817 there were 14,000 muskets manufactured ; and- what is significant in these days of steam - it was said, " The water- privileges already owned by the United-States Government will warrant the extension to 30,000 stands annually ;" the privileges alluded to being what were then, and for almost a half-century after, called "the Upper, Middle, and Lower Water-shops." In 1836 there were 260 men employed, and 13,500 guns made; and at the close of the year there were 170,000 on hand stored in the arsenals. In 1864 there were 3,400 men employed, and 276,200 arms manufactured. It was this year that the production was brought to 1,000 per day, twenty hours of the twenty-four being the hours of labor: day and night the "works" were running, and some months of this year the pay-roll amounted to the sum of $200,000. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, about 1,000 guns per month was the production; three months after, the number was increased to 3,000 per month; and gradually the number was increased till, as before noticed, in 1864 the product for a day's work was 1,000 ; and many days the same number were boxed and shipped to the
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
quartermasters of the army in different parts of the country; each box con- taining 20 muskets complete, that is, with bayonets, ramrods, screw-drivers, tompions, spring vises, etc.
A large amount of money has been expended by the Government, from 1795 till the present time, for land-improvements, buildings, machinery for the manufacturing of machinery, tools, small-arms, and their necessary ap- pendages, accoutrements, repairs, etc. The whole amount will exceed $32,- 500,000, of which probably $26,225,000 was for manufacturing purposes ; the balance, $6,225,000, being expended for land, buildings, improvements, etc.
Superintendents. - David Ames, the first superintendent, was a resident, but not a native, of Springfield; a distinguished man in many respects ; a pioneer in paper-manufacturing, and for many years far in the lead in this industry. Benjamin Prescott was appointed from civil life, and stood high in the estimation of the employees : he was a man of fair executive ability, a good citizen, and of sturdy honesty. Col. Roswell Lee was appointed from the army, 1812-1815. More than six feet in height, erect, dignified, "he was every inch a soldier; and I used to look up at him, and think that he was about equal to Gen. Washington," was the remark of an old Armorer only a few days ago. Loved by all, employees and citizens, Col. Lee's name is and will be oftener in the thoughts, and spoken by men's lips, than that of any superintendent, living or dead. Roswell Lee Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons derived its name from him, and he was also the first worshipful master of Hampden Lodge. Andrew Jackson had fairly com- menced his second term of office, when it became necessary to select a suitable successor to Col. Lee. There were many aspirants : politics ruled, favoritism ruled, the army ruled, the navy ruled, etc. But Old Hickory was equal to the occasion : "I will appoint a man to that position whom I know, - a man above reproach ; a man of integrity; a man I respect; a man that is capable, and just the one for that situation;" and he appointed John Robb, a Methodist minister, who proved to be all that Gen. Jackson had asserted of him. It is said that he was a chaplain in the army, and was at the battle of New Orleans. Lieut .- Col. James W. Ripley was a thorough, practical, energetic officer, under whose administration the Armory, as regards its efficiency, received an impetus so wholesome and judicious, that its results will be perceived as long as fire-arms are manufactured. The Main Arse- nal, the superintendent's house, and the long storehouse were erected, the iron fence around the grounds commenced, the grounds beautified and other- wise improved, during his administration. E. S. Allin, acting superin- tendent, was a native of Springfield, a good citizen, well known in the community, and master armorer for more than a quarter of a century. Gen. James S. Whitney was a genial, social man, who had a pleasant face, and a kind word for every person. Under his administration the imposing
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
iron fence commenced by Col. Ripley was finished, and the Water-shops improved at the expense of many hundreds of thousands of dollars. Capt, George Dwight was a native of Springfield; a man who had a host of
Viaduct over Mill River, at the Water-shops.
friends, and not one enemy ; who was directly or indirectly connected with almost every public improvement to the town or city; prominent in local military organizations, and especially in the fire-department. As a citizen, as a man who has filled many important offices of honor and trust, his memory will "always be green" in the hearts and minds of all who knew
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
him. Capt. A. B. Dyer was appointed from the Ordnance Department as commandant. Without doubt, no superintendent before or since came so near to the hearts of the employees, especially the subordinate civil officers. With almost unlimited power and means, his whole energy and force were directed to one object, and that was to give promptly to the armies in the field all the fire-arms they needed. He was determined, also, that the arms should be of the best model, best material, and of better workmanship than ever before. Cols. T. T. S. Laidley and James G. Benton, graduates at West Point of the class of 1842, with Rosecrans, Doubleday of "Sumter fame," Pope, Longstreet, and Johnston, were two highly accomplished ord- nance officers, whose reputation is not confined to the United States, foreign countries acknowledging their great ability in matters pertaining to small- arms and ordnance. Col. Laidley is living. Col. Benton died Aug. 23, 1881 : by his death, Springfield lost a beloved citizen, and the Ordnance Corps one of its eminent members. Col. I. H. Wright held office only ten months, and had no opportunity to show the executive or constructive ability which the Government and the public expected from one whose prestige was unexceptional. Capt. C. C. Chaffee was a young, gallant ordnance-officer, who bade fair to stand as a peer of any in the department, and whose untimely death was lamented not only by his family, relatives, and brother officers, but by a great number of personal friends and the public. The following table gives the complete list of superintendents and their terms of office : -
NAMES OF SUPERINTENDENTS.
FROM.
UNTIL.
*David Ames .
I794
Oct. 31, 1802
*Joseph Morgan
Nov.
1, 1802
Oct. 31, 1805
*Benjamin Prescott
Nov.
1, 1805
Aug. 31, 1813
*Henry Lechler
Sept.
1, 1813
Jan. 15, 1815
*Benjamin Prescott
Jan. 16, 1815
May 31, 1815
tLieut .- Col. Roswell Lee
June
1, 1815
Aug. 25, 1833
*Lieut .- Col. Talcott, Acting .
Oct. 31, 1833
*John Robb
Nov. 1, 1833
April 15, 1841
*Lieut .- Col. J. W. Ripley
April 16, 1841
Aug. 16, 1854
*E. S. Allin, Acting
Aug. 17, 1854
Oct. 18, 1854
*Gen. James S. Whitney
Oct. 19, 1854
March 1, 1860
*E. S. Allin, Acting
March 1, 1860
June 27, 1860
Col. I. H. Wright
June 27, 1860
April 25, 1861
*Capt. George Dwight
April 25, 1861
Aug. 21, 1861
*Capt. A. B. Dyer
Aug. 25, 1861
Oct. 27, 1864
Col. T. T. S. Laidley .
Oct. 27, 1864
May 14, 1866
*Capt. C. C. Chaffee, Acting
May 14, 1866
June 14, 1866
+Col. James G. Benton .
June 14, 1866
Aug. 23, 1881
Capt. J. E. Greer .
Aug. 23, 1881
Oct.
3, 1881
Lieut .- Col. A. R. Buffington
Oct.
3, 1881
* Deceased.
t Died in office.
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
The Present Officers are : Lieut .- Col. A. R. Buffington, commanding ; Capt. Frank Heath, Capt. James C. Ayres, Lieut. W. M. Medcalfe, assistants. Col. Buffington has the reputation of being an efficient officer, a rigid disci- plinarian, and of excellent executive ability. He is assisted by three mem- bers of the Ordnance-corps.
Reminiscences, Facts, and Anecdotes. - After the Armory was estab- lished, for a number of years the parts of arms which were to be carried to and from the Water-shops were conveyed in a wheelbarrow. The wheeler, an employee of Government, lived on public ground, so as to be near at hand when required for service. Walnut Street, now one of the main avenues of the city, was in those days merely a lane. The "Old Armorers " made for themselves beautiful homes on Walnut, State, Main, and other streets in the town; and in the records of the town, of the churches, of benevolent and educational institutions, appear the names of many of them, whose memory will be always dear to their descendants, and to the institu- tions of the city in which they were the first in good works, deeds, and counsel. It is not surprising that these men became attached to the town, the Armory, and to the homes they had made for themselves. Many of them commenced working in and about the Armory when only 13 years of age; and they not only made homes in and about Springfield for them- selves, but induced others, either relatives or acquaintances, to come here, and take up their residence. Whilst digging for the foundations of the long storehouse which stands upon the terrace overlooking Pearl and Worth- ington Streets, the remains of 12 or more soldiers dressed in regimentals were uncovered. During the 1812 war, the United-States Armory being a Government post, the United-States soldiers were often quartered in the barracks and in the dwelling-houses which were on "public ground." The houses were commonly occupied by Armorers; but, at a short notice that soldiers were coming, they moved out, and the soldiers moved in, and they remained in these comfortable quarters a longer or shorter time, "according to orders." A portion of the ground now occupied by the storehouse was then used as a graveyard ; and soldiers were often buried there, and buried, too, in their uniforms. "In the last war of 1812, a part of a regiment of infantry which had been quartered in the barracks was ordered away: and they left in the hospital one of their comrades, a drummer, very sick with typhus-fever ; the man had a young son who staid with him. The drummer died, and the Armorers left their work to go with his body to the grave ; and all wept as they saw the poor drummer covered with earth, and his young son sobbing over his father's grave." The first quarter of this cen- tury witnessed many exciting, curious, and laughable scenes and incidents between the superintendent and the employees, among the workmen them- selves, and between the workmen and the townspeople. According to the
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
fashions of those days, there arose many quarrels; for intoxicating drink was used by every one, high and low, rich and poor, -all drank. The workmen were allowed to carry their bottles or jugs of rum into the shops, where, properly labelled, they stood on a ledge or shelf just above the washing-place, which was a long sink or trough ; and often officials, coming
The Machine, Milling, and Polishing Shops.
into the workshop upon business, would walk up to the array of jugs, select their favorite " rum," take a good respectable drink, de- Geland del. posit a pistareen or a Spanish quarter by the side of the jug, and then go about their busi- ness. Benjamin Prescott, the third superintendent, was capable of managing any number and all kinds of men; but as he had some "rough-and-ready " ones to deal with, he drew the reins of discipline very close at times. In 1812-1815 the usual license was restricted : Government was at war with England; the State militia as well as the regulars wanted muskets ; the men must be ready at their working-hours; boys, even the workmen's sons, must not enter the shops. At this time military enthusiasm was high: the
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
boys caught the spirit ; and the Hill boys formed a company of artillery, and paraded with wooden guns and a battery of a dozen lead cannon. One day as Superintendent Prescott was on his way to the Water-shops, driving his horse as was his habit, the boys were having a parade in the street; and, seeing " Old Prescott" driving towards them, one of the elder boys cried out, "Here comes Old Prescott : let's fire at him." A line was formed on each side of the street, and a half-dozen loaded lead cannon were placed in front of each rank; the cannon were about five inches long, by three- quarters of an inch diameter. Mr. Prescott, intent upon his business, gave no heed to the hostile display, and rode through the open ranks, and was saluted from right and left with "twelve guns ; " he turned, feeling obliged to return the compliment, which he did by saying, " Well done, well done, boys." It was probably during his administration that the following incident occurred. The United-States Congress had made appropriations for erecting a suitable dwelling for the Armory superintendent, who personally saw that the work should be done according to his wishes, and, what was of more consequence to see, that the appropriation should not be exceeded. The sides as well as the top of the house were to be shingled; and when it was near completion, the carpenter notified the superintendent that there were not enough shingles to finish : " It is all done but part of one side of the house, and that needs about a half of a bundle more of shingles." Uncle Sam was rather penurious in those days, and no one knew it better than the superintendent. For him there was no more money except by an appropria- tion, no appropriation until Congress convened. There was a short whispered conference with the carpenter. A few days after, the house was completed : a lumber-dealer in the town was "out" a bundle of shingles, Uncle Sam " in " the same, said bundle of shingles disappearing from the lumber-dealer's yard one uncommonly dark night.
Uncle Sam, - U. S., - U. S. A.,-how many minds have been mysti- fied by the cabalistic letters U.S .! Many years ago there were two ne'er-do- wells to be seen almost every pleasant day lounging along and about the streets of Springfield. One pleasant day it was noticed that Joe had lost his companion : Jake had disappeared, and Joe was alone. It was not at all Joe's mind to loaf alone, and he tried to find something to do. When it was known that he was willing to earn his daily bread, a place was found for him in the Armory, where soon he was earning $25 a month. Four or five years passed away; and one pleasant summer's evening, as Joe, well- dressed, was walking down Main Street, he saw coming towards him his old companion. "Why, Jake, is that you? Where have you been? Where did you come from? What are you?" - "Hold on, Joe; hold on ! don't you dress better than you used to? Where did you get those good clothes ?" - "Why, Jake, don't you know ? ain't you heard ? I've worked for Uncle Sam
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
for ever so long ; 25 dollars a month, Jake, 25 dollars a month." - "Uncle Sam! Uncle Sam! I didn't know that you had an Uncle Sam. Joe, Joe, for old acquaintance' sake, you just ask your Uncle Sam if he won't hire me."
Fires have been of frequent occurrence. A coal-house upon the Hill accidentally took fire, and thousands of bushels of charcoal burned for two or three days. Water thrown upon the outside of the coal served only to intensify the heat in the centre of the burning mass, and the coal was all destroyed. Some time afterwards, a coal-house at the Middle Water-shops was burned, but most of the coal was saved. The coal house was situated over the river, or dam. The ignited coal was thrown into the river, where it floated down the stream, and was afterwards drawn ashore; the partially burned coal was raked to some distance from the burning building, spread out upon the ground, water put on it, and most of it saved in fair condition.
" 1824, March 2, wind extremely high, the United-States Filing-shop took fire, and burned to the ground; loss estimated at $15,000," but afterwards found to be about $30,000. It was a raw, cold, blustering day. The cinders were carried as far as the Water-shops. There was not much snow on the ground: the heat was intense, and blankets were spread upon the ground to prevent the burning of the roots of grass. July 4, 1842, the building called the barracks was burned. In July, 1864, the polishing and a portion of the milling department buildings were burned. Major A. B. Dyer, then superintendent, acted as chief engineer, and proved himself capable of filling that office satisfactorily to the city firemen and to the public generally.
Henry Lechler, fourth superintendent, was a German, impetuous, irrita- ble, capable in small affairs, in managing a small number of men, but fail- ing in execution when great results were expected from great effort on the part of the chief. "I have seen him, his coat-tails streaming behind him straight out, riding like Jehu from the Hill to the Water-shops, -he always rode on horseback : he would enter the shop, and go to the forger, or tool-maker, as the case might be, and producing a piece of steel from one of his pockets, say six inches long by three-quarters of an inch square, would give the steel to the workman, saying, 'Cast-steel is scarce: you must be careful how you use it.' On an occasion when there was quite a demand for cast-steel, on account of tools to be made, and the supply had given out, he said, ' No cast-steel? I will take my horse and cutter, and go to Boston, and I'll bring back cast-steel enough to last one while ;' and, sure enough, Superintendent Lechler drove down to Boston, and returned with a good supply of the necessary material in his cutter." It appears that there was quite a scramble for office, even in those early days of the Union; and Benjamin Prescott, after eight years of service, was obliged to give place to Henry Lechler, who remained in office one year and three months, when Mr.
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
Prescott received his second commission from Government. He brought the news of his appointment and the requisite papers to Springfield, walked up to the Armory, entered the well-known room, -it was in the month of January, 1815, - took down Superintendent Lechler's greatcoat from its peg, hung his own in its stead, and, having lighted his cigar, drew his old familiar arm-chair to the blazing wood-fire, and waited for his predecessor's appearance. Mr. Lechler soon entered the room; and the new superintend- ent, without quitting his arm-chair, or even looking away from the fire, handed - over his shoulder- the "document" to Mr. Lechler, who, after reading it, rushed out of the office into the workshops with the words, "Men, I am no more ! men, I am no more!" However, he peaceably re- signed his powers to Mr. Prescott.
At this time the workmen, some of them at least, were rough and law- less : they could not forget their old camp habits, and foraged in all direc- tions. One Sunday quite a number of them, about 20, started upon one of their expeditions, the "objective point " being a particular watermelon-bed in the vicinity of Longmeadow. The good people of the town were at church ; but the news was soon conveyed to the town constable, for watchful eyes had been for many days and nights upon that melon-patch. The con- stable soon had a posse at his command: the watermelon-bed was sur- rounded ; the depredators were captured, and in a short time safely impris- oned in Colton's tavern. Most, if not all, were barefoot. When meeting was done, the people by twos and threes went to the tavern "to have a look at the rascals." After the people had seen, the boys and the girls had seen, probably almost every inhabitant of Longmeadow had seen the robbers, the landlady thought that she would have a peep at them. One of the number had only four toes on one of his feet: the great toe had been lost by some accident or otherwise. The landlady, with spectacles on the end of her nose, after looking over the crowd, happened to espy Mr. B.'s foot, - the foot that had only four toes : she noticed that the great toe was missing, whereupon she walked close to him, and pointing a finger at him said, " You are a thief ! you are an arrant thief, for I've seen your tracks in our watermelon-bed more than a hundred times."
The Corner Tavern was a famous place for the workmen to frequent, where they would tell stories, drink their toddy, and pass their leisure time. In the war of 1812, a company of infantry was recruited in Boston to serve on the Lakes. Every man was tall, strong, and physically well qualified for the service. Upon arriving at headquarters, by some hocus-pocus they were drafted into the marine corps, and served through the war. When pretty well scarred, - for they had made their marks, and in return were pretty well marked by scars from gun-shot and sabre wounds, - they one by one, what there was left of the company, made their way back to Boston. As most if
1
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
not all of them walked the whole distance from Buffalo to Boston, they would naturally go through Springfield, as it was the most directly travelled route. One of these naval heroes chanced to enter the bar-room of the Corner Tavern one forenoon at just the time when quite a number of men were taking their toddy. His story was soon told, his scars shown, and then
The Commandant's Quarters.
they treated; one treated, another and another and another treated : the veteran drank his rum every time, and was happy. "How are you going to get to Boston ?" asked one. "Walk."-"What! walk all the way? it's a hundred mile, almost."-" Well, that makes no difference : folks are very good, just the same as you are; I'll get along."-" Come, boys, pass the hat for the old fellow." The hat was passed; and a little more than $2 in silver was raised, and handed to him. He was overcome. Food, drink, and lodging had been given him freely; but money, hard cash, -this was something, and demanded gratitude, in words at least. "My friends, I - I
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KING'S HANDBOOK OF SPRINGFIELD.
- thank you; and, my friends, I thank God for every thing, for all his marcies; I-I-I thank God for every thing, -for every thing, every thing. My friends, for every thing I thank God, - for every thing, my friends, - except bread - I can buy that now of the baker."
Another time, a seedy, impecunious individual walked into the bar-room, seated himself in a chair by the fire, and seemed to be occupied solely in resting. The usual time brought the workmen for their forenoon's nip of bitters, toddy, or rum. After a while they noticed the stranger, who, when he saw that their curiosity was aroused, took a newspaper from the table, - not many newspapers in those days, - and read in a distinct voice, “ Adver- tisement. Lost where it was dropped, an empty bag with a cheese in it ; never was missed till it was gone. Run away from the subscriber, a little boy about the size of a man ; he rode away a two-year-old heifer, natural pacer, easy to trot; had a white streak on her fore-shoulder behind. Who- ever will find the same boy, return him where no man will ever find him, shall receive 20 shillings out of his own pocket. Signed, John Knockem- down when I catch 'em. Springfield Hill, 1829." After reading he put the paper upon the table, and awaited developments. Soon one man, then an- other, then another, till a half-dozen or more, took the paper, and looked for the strange advertisement; but it was not found. "Finally," says our nar- rator, "I took up the newspaper, and looked it all through, and I couldn't find it; so I says to the man, ' You just tell me where that advertisement is, and I'll treat.' The stranger agreed, and took his rum; and he drank a tumbler just about full of grog. 'Now,' says I, again taking up the paper, ' where did you find it?' He took off his hat, and just tapped his head, and nodded to me, as much as to say, ' In my own head, there's where I found it.'"
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