USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865 Pt. 1 > Part 3
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A further issue of scrip at the option of the governor was authorized by a supplemental act, not to exceed seven millions of dollars, the rate of interest not to exceed six per cent, and other de- tails of the issue and sale to be largely optional with the governor, the proceeds to be "loaned to the government of the United States, or expended in purchasing from the government of the United States its treasury notes, or other evidences of indebtedness," or it might be exchanged with the secretary of the national treasury for obligations of the United States government of like amount. This extraordinary power was conferred owing to a feeling, as set forth in the preamble to the act, that "some emergency may arise during the recess of the Legislature, in which the aid of Massachu- setts may be of service to the general government in its financial arrangements."
Another act provided for the creation of a sinking fund from the receipts of the serip above referred to, reinforced by direct taxa- tion which future Legislatures were authorized to levy, to provide for the payment of the indebtedness thus created. Banks were also authorized to invest in government securities, and both these and direct loans to the Commonwealth or the United States were exempted from the provision of the General Statutes which forbade the indebtedness due any bank exceeding twice the amount of its capital stock. All of these acts were approved on the 21st of May.
The day following authority was given for the payment of the soldiers of the state called into service from the time of their re- porting for duty till mustered into the United States service, at the rate allowed by the general government. Provision was also made,
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
by an act approved the 23d, for the establishment of a camp of in- struction, with accommodations for five regiments of infantry and a battery of artillery, to which the governor might at his discretion order for instruction and discipline such bodies of troops as had been or might be authorized in anticipation of calls from the Presi- dent of the United States. Some general regulations were added, and provision was made for the appointment of the officers neces- sary for such a camp or garrison ; but that part of the aet did not be- come operative, from the fact that the different commands as fast as organized and equipped left the state in response to the repeated calls from Washington. The same act also authorized the appoint- ment by the governor of a quartermaster general, commissary gen- eral and surgeon general, such officers being required by the vast increase of duties in the several departments of which they would have charge. The governor was further given power to appoint such officers and agents as seemed necessary. Under these provis- ions, Dr. William J. Dale of Boston was appointed surgeon general and General Ebenezer W. Stone master of ordnance, both with the rank of colonel, and Albert G. Browne, Jr., of Salem military sec- retary to the governor with the rank of lieutenant colonel, which posi- tion he held during Mr. Andrew's entire term of office. Julius H. Reed had already been appointed quartermaster general with the rank of brigadier general, this important appointment being thus specifically confirmed.
One other aet remains to be noticed,-an act not less important than any of the others to the people of the Commonwealth and illustrating markedly the disposition everywhere manifested to so far as possible rob war of its horrors. This was the act " in aid of the families of volunteers, and for other purposes," the provisions of which were that any town or city might raise money by taxation and through the constituted authorities apply the same for the aid of the wife and children under 16 years of age of any volunteer in the national service, or of parent, brother, sister or child dependent upon such volunteer for support, the same to be reimbursed by the state at the rate of one dollar per week for each dependent on proper certification, not to exceed twelve dollars per month on account of any single volunteer. Permission was also given by the same act to raise money in towns or cities to defray expenses already incur- red or contracts entered into in the raising of volunteers, but requir-
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OUGHIT THE BLACK MAN TO ENLIST?
ing the termination of all contracts within three months, and forbidding the entering into special contracts with volunteers on the part of municipalities and towns. Such communities as might be liable to attack from the sea were authorized to organize an armed police to guard against such danger and to provide for the expense by taxation, such police to have authority to act in any part of the county where organized.
This act was also approved on the 23d, and that afternoon the Legislature was prorogued. During the session of little more than a week that body had grasped the duty presented to it and made such provision as the existing necessities demanded, as well as provided for any contingencies likely to arise. In these important measures there had been a remarkable and most gratifying unanimity of pur- pose to uphold the honor of the state and the integrity of the nation. Political considerations and party spirit had almost no place, for the legislators realized that the people were behind them in hearty support of whatever should be deemed necessary ; that they de- manded. that such measures as were called for should be given to the world with an earnestness of purpose which could not be mis- understood.
On one measure only was there difference of opinion and failure to act. Propositions were submitted, early in the session, in both houses to strike from the militia laws of the state the word "white," so that organizations of colored volunteers might be formed. These, however, were laid npon the table from time to time and failed to become law, the question of taking the matter from the table being under consideration in the House at the time of the prorogation. Strong arguments were adduced in favor of the proposition, and against it; the former being based on the principle of justice to the colored man, the latter considering the question of expediency under the circumstances. The latter prevailed. It was felt that in the critical state of affairs in the "border states," which it was all-important to hold for the Union, even so slight a cause as the proposed measure might operate to east their lot with the seceded states and thus further complicate national affairs.
IIon. Alexander Bullock of Worcester, a member of the House, was of those who opposed the measure on these grounds. He was willing and hoped to see the colored man freed from all his disabili- ties before the law, but that was not the time for the action. The
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
North and West and the border states were united in supporting the national government, and a firebrand cast at that time might precipitate a catastrophe which would be appalling. The Union should be the first consideration, and every measure which would endanger it should be frowned upon. On that consideration he was willing to vote against the measure, believing that he was doing the greater service to his beloved and imperiled country. This was doubtless the first consideration of the question of employing colored soldiers, and quite likely had the session continued for another day the result might have been different, as the resolve had passed the Senate and was advocated by a majority in the House. There can be little doubt, however, that the disposition made of the matter was for that time the wisest.
Undoubtedly much of the carnestness and unanimity of the Legis- lature resulted from the unmistakable voice of the people, for be- fore the meeting of the law-makers the utterances of the public had been given with no uncertain sound. On the evening of April 15, almost before the reverberations of the guns at Sumter had ceased, the Jackson club, a prominent democratic organization in Boston, held a meeting and discussed the situation. Their voice was given for an earnest support of the President and his adminis- tration by all constitutional means. Their political affiliation had been with the men who now assailed the Union, and it was not easy to break those life-long ties; but when the choice narrowed to union or disunion patriotism triumphed. They no longer met as a political party, but as loyal citizens, recognizing the fact that civil war had been forced upon the general government, despite all reasonable efforts to avoid it, and they saw the path of duty plainly.
In a similar vein, on the following evening, a large meeting of the leading Irish citizens of Boston and vicinity declared them- selves for the hearty support of the national government and the Commonwealth. Their ancestors had fought in the armies of the colonies to secure the freedom of the American people, and in the bosom of the beneficent government thus established millions of the oppressed of Ireland had found a refuge from the evils of their native land. Though almost exclusively democrats, they could not countenance any attempt at the disruption of the republic, and were . ready to offer even life itself for its perpetuity. A few days later the New England Association of the Soldiers of 1812 met at the
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THE LOYALTY OF TIIE PEOPLE.
home of their president, Colonel Thomas Aspinwall, and as may well be supposed did not separate until they had pronounced in un- mistakable phrases for the cause of the nation in whose behalf almost half a century before they had borne arms. They had long since passed the age when it was possible for them to take the field, though they might still do something for instruction and discipline; but they called earnestly upon the youth of the land, without refer- ence to party, to " give a firm support to the government, the con- stitution, the Union and the enforcement of the laws."
The public mind seemed to have little interest save in the various bearings of the one important topic. On the 24th of April ex- Governor Banks was to have lectured before the Mercantile Library Association ; but in a letter to the committee he declined to fulfill the engagement, declaring that the preservation of the government of his country should be the only subject in the mind of any citizen of the United States at that time. The aldermen of the city of Boston also unanimously adopted resolutions pledging to its fullest the moral and material support of the city to the President. The people were called on to bury all party differences and ally them- selves in vindication of the violated laws. While declaring that the rebellious states stood defenseless as assailants of the common polity of nations, they assured the loyal in the revolted states that they would be faithful to all the compacts and compromises of the constitution, and urged upon the President the pursuance of such a constitutional policy as would conciliate and harmonize.
These and multitudes of kindred expressions of patriotism were nobly supported by the financial power of the state. On the 18th of April, when it became evident that the demands upon the state treasury were to be much greater than had been provided for, the banks of Boston offered to the governor ten per cent of their capital stock of $36,000,000 as a voluntary loan, to be furnished as re- quired, relying for its repayment upon the good faith of the Legis- lature when it should again meet. Nor was this or any other patriotic action confined to the city of Boston. Throughout the state the banks and moneyed institutions joined in pledging gener- ous sums as loans to the Commonwealth, as well as in moral and material support of every nature. The Boston Board of Trade, meeting on the same day, after the usual expression of devotion to the cause of the nation, called upon the President to take the most
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MASSACHUSETTS IN TIIE WAR.
vigorous measures to restore authority, and especially to protect the commerce of the nation from the piratical cruisers recently author- ized by the president of the Confederacy.
The anxiety in the latter respect may have had a tinge of selfish interest, since the coast of Massachusetts, including Boston Har- bor, was absolutely defenseless. In the harbor, in fact, there were three forts, but they were without garrisons or any adequate arma- ment. Fort Winthrop had not a single gun ; Fort Warren had but one ; and while Fort Independence had some 20, most of them were trained upon the city and not one on all the coast was properly placed for defense. The interior of the forts was filled with wooden buildings and rubbish, the condition of all being a menace rather than a protection to the city, while the casemates were unfit for human occupation. The governor had already urgently represented this state of affairs to the authorities at Washington, but without result, though finally permission was obtained to garrison Fort In- dependenec, and the New England Guards, or Fourth Battalion, were given the privilege which they had solicited of forming the garrison, the order being issued to them on the 24th of April. Large sums had already been subscribed by the business men of the city to meet the expense of such coast defense as it was possible to make. On the 1st of May Major General Andrews of the First Division, Massachusetts Militia, was assigned to the command of Forts Warren and Independence, and directed to prepare them for the reception of some of the regiments then in process of forma- tion for three years' service.
Some excitement was occasioned on the 24th of April by the arrival in the harbor of the United States steam frigate Niagara and the rumor that her officers and crew were in sympathy with secession and would turn the vessel over to the rebels. Under the circumstances, Governor Andrew directed the oath of allegiance to the United States to be administered anew to all on board, which 12 of the officers, whose homes were in southern states, refused to take. One of them, Lieutenant Brown, was by direction of the governor arrested for uttering treasonable sentiments, but later was discharged and allowed to depart with his disloyal associates. On the same day orders were received at the Charlestown Navy Yard to put every vessel available for service in readiness for sea, and in consequence work was at once pushed on the eight vessels which
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CARING FOR TIIE VOLUNTEERS.
were there awaiting repairs, requiring the employment of a large additional force of men in the yard.
These and other events occurring in such rapid succession brought the public pulse to fever heat. Before the last of the troops from the state had been sent forward, and while the 19th of April was being observed by celebrations of the first event in the war of the Revolution, intelligence came back that the day had been consecrated afresh by the martyrdom of Massachusetts men in the streets of . Baltimore while on their way to protect the capital of their country, and the realization that war had opened in fact came home to the people. Three days later a large meeting of the women of Charles- town was held, presided over by the wife of Mayor Hutchins, at which was organized "The Soldiers' Relief Society," the first of the myriad list which throughout the state and the country did so much to mitigate the hardships of war. The object of this organi- zation was declared to be to " hold communication with the families of the soldiers, and tender them sympathy, counsel and aid." At the meeting it was stated that the city government had appropriated $10,000 for the relief of families of volunteers, that private dona- tions for the same purpose had been made, and that ten physicians of the city had tendered their professional services for the same object free of charge. Like action was taken by the Massachusetts Homeopathic Medical Society on the evening of the same day, and subsequently by many other physicians and societies.
As the necessity for women's aid in the military hospitals be- came apparent, the medical commission issued a call for volunteer nurses, to be instructed if not already qualified, and at the same time announced that the services of Miss Dorothea L. Dix had been accepted by the secretary of war for the organizing of hospitals and instruction of nurses. To this call, as to all others on the patriot- ism of the state, the response was ample, and the required number were soon in training or on duty.
With the outbreak of the war, Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis, a woman of most generous impulses, conceived the idea of a donation com- mittee, whose purpose it should be to receive and distribute the thousands of articles designed for the comfort and convenience of the soldiers, and for this purpose she at first opened her own house. Soon afterward the proprietor of the Evans House on Tremont street offered free head-quarters at his hotel, and there, under the
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
able superintendence of Mrs. Gray, the business of receiving the supplies and distributing them to the volunteers grew to immense proportions. Another organization with head-quarters at Boston but embracing the entire state in its scope was originated by the business men of that city and other parts of the Commonwealth, known as the " Soldiers' Fund Society," the object of which was to secure a fund to be held for the future needs of soldiers and their families, in case the war should be so prolonged as to make this care a tax upon the generous charity at that time so freely poured forth.
" The Ladies' Industrial Aid Association " may also be mentioned among the beneficent institutions of the time, its object being to assist those women who performed the sewing and like manual work for the contractors under the urgent calls for military cloth- ing and supplies. This association, of which Mrs. Charles Russell Lowell was president, received the articles from the contractors, superintended their distribution among the needlewomen, and by means of contributions from benevolent persons were able to pay the laborers about twice the amount allowed by the contractors, thus materially helping many poor and needy families.
Later an auxiliary branch of the United States Sanitary Com- mission was organized, rendering efficient aid in the great work of that noble institution. While these greater and central measures were being put into operation in and about Boston, other portions of the state were equally patriotic and doing, equally efficient work in similar lines. Without regard to age, sex or social condition, all were ready and anxious to do whatever might be done for their country and its defenders. Even convicts in the state-prison labored day and night without complaint in the preparation of the supplies required for the out-going volunteers.
Thus while the dreadful enginery of war was being prepared and its " sinews" furnished in the most unstinted measure, the messen- gers of gentleness and mercy were equally busy in putting into operation agencies of humanity, that so far as possible the horrors might be soothed and the hardships averted.
CHAPTER III.
THE STATE AND THE UNITED STATES -BUYING MUSKETS IN ENGLAND - GARRISONING THE HARBOR FORTS - THE THREE-YEARS' TROOPS-RECORD FOR THE YEAR 1861-MARYLAND'S REPARATION.
A FTER the departure of the three-months' regiments, official communication between the authorities of Massachusetts and those of the United States became so dilatory and unsatisfactory that Governor Andrew appointed a commission of four distinguished citizens to proceed to Washington and directly represent the state. This commission consisted of ex-Governor George S. Boutwell, Attorney General Foster, Judge E. Rockwood Hoar and William L. Burt. In addition to their general representa- tive capacity, these persons were to give special attention to the condition of the forts in Boston Harbor, making arrangements for their armament and garrisoning; they were also to investigate gen- erally the needs of the Massachusetts troops in the service, and to urge the acceptance of more regiments and for longer terms of ser- vice. Mr. Boutwell left Boston, April 23, and on reaching the head-quarters of General Wool, commanding the Department of the East, at New York, held an important interview with that offi- cer, the result being a dispatch back to Governor Andrew to send immediately a cargo of provisions by steamer to General Butler's command at Annapolis; and instructions were more formally sent that the governor should take the responsibility of garrisoning the forts in Boston Harbor and fitting out three armed steamers as a coast guard and for other duty which might be required. Permis- sion was also granted for the state to draw 4,000 Windsor rifles with sword bayonets from the government arsenal at Watertown. While Mr. Burt returned to Massachusetts with the official communi- cations relating to these matters, his associates proceeded to Wash- ington, where but little was accomplished in the way of definite
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MASSACHUSETTS INN THIE WAR.
results. A Massachusetts agency was, however, established there, for the supervision of all matters pertaining to the receipt and dis- tribution of supplies sent forward by the Commonwealth, and other business transactions between the two governments. The agent in charge was at first Charles Russell Lowell, Jr .; but he being soon commissioned in the regular cavalry, the place was taken by Colonel Charles H. Dalton of Boston, who was commissioned assistant quartermaster general.
The sending forward of provisions by armed steamer, as well as the necessity for such vessels for the proposed coast guard, called for prompt action, and Governor Andrew turned to John M. Forbes, an influential citizen of Boston, for assistance in the matter. Mr. Forbes had already rendered valuable service, and it had been largely through his representations that the two regiments then safely landed at Fortress Monroe had been sent by steamer direct from Boston instead of going by rail to Annapolis, as had been contemplated in the order calling for them. Mr. Forbes, knowing well what vessels were available for the contemplated service, soon bargained for and secured two which met the requirements, -the Cambridge and the Pembroke. Half of the cost of these vessels was paid by the State and half by the Board of Underwriters. The Cambridge was at once fitted out and sailed in a few days, loaded with 30 days' rations for 4,000 men. purchased for the state by Mr. Forbes. After some delay and negotiation the vessel was sold to the navy department.
In the mean time, while the people of the loyal states were springing to the defense of the imperiled government, there were next to no effective weapons with which to arm them. The only way out of the dilemma had early been sensed by Governor Andrew, and on the 25th of April Mr. F. B. Crowninshield sailed from New York for England with a letter of credit of 50,000 pounds sterling, to purchase arms for' Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, receiving also a commission and funds from Connecticut, and later being authorized to act for other states. He was accompanied by an expert armorer, Charles McFarland, detailed by the command- ant of the national armory at Springfield for the purpose of in- specting the arms proposed to be purchased. Mr. Crowninshield reached London on the 6th of May, and found the few rifles for sale in England in great demand. The vessel by which he had crossed
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PURCHASE OF ENFIELD RIFLES.
the ocean, the Persia, had taken over many orders as well as an agent for the state of New York, while representatives of the seces- sionists were also in quest of weapons. At Birmingham one lot of 25,000 Enfield rifles, the former price of which had been 60 shillings each, was sought by a southern agent at 100 shillings each; but Mr. Crowninshield was given the preference at that price and bought 2,000, obtaining other lots for immediate delivery to a total of 5,000; in addition to which he placed contracts in behalf of his own state for upward of 14,000 rifles and 10,000 sets of equip- ments. These were valuable weapons, and did good service in the hands of Massachusetts patriots, though not considered by the soldiers as desirable as the then latest pattern of the Springfield rifled musket. Valuable service was also given in the matter of procuring arms by Lucius B. Marsh of Boston, afterward colonel of the Forty-seventh Regiment, who received the thanks of the Executive Council for his efforts.
About the same time, Dr. Samuel G. Howe, an eminent Boston physician, was sent by the governor to inspect the troops of Gen- eral Butler's brigade, and investigate complaints of suffering by the Fifth Regiment; which latter was on investigation found to be due to the loss of rations, blankets, etc., intended for the regiment, which had been mixed with United States supplies at Annapolis and distributed to other commands. The attack on the Sixth Regi- ment also brought into immediate consideration the matter of pro- viding hospital accommodations for those soldiers who should be brought back siek or wounded and through the application of Dr. William J. Dale the doors of the Massachusetts General Hospital were freely opened to all such, provision also being made for the erection of temporary buildings in connection with the main hospi- tal if needed.
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