USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 44
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Military in Wenham-A military company was organized in Wen- ham at a very early date. For many years Thomas Fiske was the lead- ing military spirit. He was chosen "clerk of ye band to ye company 28; 9, 1654." In 1683 the Court ordered "that Thomas Fiske be captain of ye foot company and William Fiske his ensign." The first conflicts in New England was of course with the Indians. Wenham's most serious Indian trouble was in King Philip's War, 1675-6. Hundreds of the whites were killed and wounded, and town after town was destroyed. Finally the Massachusetts Colony sent forth an army of five hundred and fifty men. Some had volunteered in Wenham, among whom were Thomas Abby and Caleb Kimball, who joined the little army, while Mark Bachel- der, Richard Hutton, Thomas Kimball, Samuel Moulton, and Philip Welch were impressed from the Wenham company by Thomas Fiske, who was then sergeant, November, 1675. They marched through the snows of winter to the Narragansett, first of the Indians in Rhode Island, where they attacked the red-skins in a furious manner, and blood was freely shed. The Indians greatly outnumbered the whites, but the English came out victors, though they lost heavily. One of the men there from Wenham was Mark Batchelder, another was Caleb Kimball, both of whom were killed. Many more served in that battle from Wenham, but their names are lost of record today. Some from Wenham took part in the French War, in which Thomas Perkins and Thomas Pousland were killed at Island Battery, in 1745, and Israel Porter died at Cape Breton.
Again in the French and Indian War the men from Wenham were found in the ranks, and a number suffered and finally died as a result of battles and exposure. Soon after the close of this war came the Revolu- tion. June 30th, 1773, at a town meeting it was voted that the town was of the opinion "that the rights of the colonies, and of this in particular are infringed upon in many instances, therefore it is a great grievance to
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all His Majesty's subjects and has a direct tendency to the destruction of our happy constitution."
The people felt the storm coming, and put in a supply of ammunition arms, etc., as best they could. At the beginning of 1775, the town had one military company, but soon another, known as the Minute-Men, was organized. On the morning of the attack on Lexington, the two com- panies marched to the scene, but arrived too late to engage. The militia company, consisting of thirty-seven men, was in command of Capt. Thomas Kimball; the Minute-Men company was in command of Capt. "Billy" Porter, both companies' being a part of Col. John Baker's regi- ment. The former history of Wenham states that there were 137 men from the town of Wenham who served through the conflict, for a longer or shorter period. During the years preceding 1777, it had paid out in money five hundred and seventy-four pounds for supplies and sustaining their own men in the field. When all was over and Wenham was a part of a free and independent people, matters went on in quite a different manner than for eight long years before the sacrifice had been made. But the war cloud again appeared in the national sky and what is known as the War of 1812 (second war with England) came on. In this strug- gle the survivors of the Revolution, with younger men, were soon in the field and doing their part to subdue the foreign foe. Some enlisted as privateers, some in the regular United States army, and fought till the fates of nations decided that England must not undertake to control our waters and dictate the course of our trade and commerce on land or sea. Wenham has taken part in every war since the settlement of the county. When the War of 1812 ended, for a number of decades peace was ruling in our fair republic, but in 1861, the Civil War opened. From Wenham went forth "the boys in blue" to the number of 130 men. The pastor of the Congregational church served as chaplain, and Dr. John L. Robin- son was assistant surgeon in the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment. Others served in the navy, on various noted battleships, including the "Kear- sarge," that sank the famous "Alabama." Let the reader turn to the history of the Rebellion and note the scores of hard fought battles, and then remember that few if any, were not represented by men from the loyal town of Wenham. The roster of men and list of fallen heroes is all too long to spread on these pages. Hon. Edward Mudge, representative in 1868-69, generously donated his entire salary toward erecting a suit- able monument for the soldier dead in Wenham. Later the town appro- priated more and the handsome monument was built to the sacred mem- ory of the Civil War soldiers.
Whatever was demanded of the town in 1898-9, for soldiery in the Spanish-American War, was forthcoming from Wenham and the same was true in the recent World War. Lieut. Norman Prince, enlisted in the French army in 1914, and was killed October 15, 1916. In the Ameri- can army were the following:
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Oliver D. Sawyer
Hugh P. McLean
Roland H. Patch
James Ackerman
Curtland C. Brown
Michael J. Maroney
Edgar W. Sawyer
Albert E. Haskell
Jerome F. Flynn
Frank Henry Prince, Jr.
Joseph E. Batchelder
George H. Cook
James W. Kinsella
Leonidas C. Whiting John W. Barnes William F. Glavin Jesse E. Wilson
Joseph Scannell
Leverett W. Campbell
John B. Cannon
Henry A. Bragdon
Randolph P. Dodge
John M. Perkins
Herbert F. Jaquith
Frank E. Nelson (deceased)
John J. Kinsella
John C. Phillips
Raymond P. Trott
Elwyn L. Cannon Alonzo Young, Jr. Daniel J. Lucy Agostino Smigiano Guiseppe Marini
Arthur J. Landers
Charles E. Lamont
Charles T. Quimby
Albert W. Pembroke
Frank W. Welch
George A. Williams
Henry R. Mckean, Jr.
Gelean G. Campbell
Samuel Johnson
Albert W. Dodge, Jr.
F. Blake Wilkins
John E. Lucy
Furber M. Libby
Albert W. Jones
Ralph S. Putnam
Alva W. Hilyard
Hammond H. Homan
Walter R. Reed
Lawrence H. Hatch
Lyman B. Preston
William Taylor
Douglas Smith
George F. B. Johnson
James A. McLeod
David A. Barnie
John D. McLean
This town was not one whit behind her sister towns in giving mate- rial aid in this great war for a world-wide peace. Government bond and Red Cross campaigns were successfully carried out and great good resulted. The list of those who did well their part is not at hand, but the community knows who did the war work, and the reward will not be overlooked in the far-away home of the soul.
Groveland .- The Revolutionary career of Bradford, in which the East Parish was prominent, should not be forgotten in the military an- nals of Essex county. In 1773, Capt. Daniel Thurston was representa- tive from Bradford in the General court. At that time the special grievances of taxation and the salaries of the judges had created an ex- citement which was spreading through the entire province of Massachu- setts Bay. A town meeting was called January 17, 1773, to see what instructions should be given to their representative in view of impend- ing troubles. The committee appointed to investigate the affairs con- sisted of Dudley Carelton, William Greenough, Benjamin Gage, Jr., Thomas Webster and Amos Mullekin. Captain Daniel Thurston was also a member of the Provincial Congress. The body convened at Salem
and John Hancock was its president. The town laid in a store of am- munition before hostilities began, and appropriated thirty pounds ster- ling for its purchase. Minute-men were equipped and drilled, and after the battle of Lexington, Captain Nathaniel Gage marched to Cambridge with forty men, and was engaged in the battle of Bunkers Hill.
At the very opening of the Civil War in April, 1861, this town, on April 30th, held a meeting and voted to "choose a committee, consisting of E. B. George, Elijah Clark, John C. Foot, Nathaniel H. Griffith, and D. H. Stickney, who shall furnish all persons who are called into active service for this town, with all necessary articles, and to provide for their families during their absence at the expense of the town." It was also
B. Hammond Tracy, Jr. Olin H. Young
Samuel S. Conary Fred M. Cutler
George W. Cummings Roger E. Knowlton Robert C. Jones
Harry Carveth Raymond K. Tarr
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MILITARY HISTORY
voted "that all volunteers from this town in regular organized com- panies, holding themselves liable to instant call to the service of their country, and in constant drill to prepare themselves for service, to be paid the sum of ten dollars per month by the town while so employed."
July 19, 1862, the town voted to pay a bounty of $100 to each sol- dier enlisting before August 5th, for three years, to fill the quota of twenty-one then required of the town. On July 26 the bounty was in- creased to $150. August 13, 1862, a bounty of $150 was offered for enlistments for nine months to the extent of the required quota. De- cember, 1862, it was voted to pay no more bounties to nine-months men, and to authorize the selectmen to fill the quota of the town with three- year's men on the best possible terms. April 8, 1864, the selectmen were authorized to pay $125 for each enlistment, to fill the quota then. required of the town. In all, this town furnished 185 soldiers, of which number seven were commissioned as officers. The total amount of money expended was $27,812.57. In 1866 a marble monument was erected on the commons as a perpetual reminded to the passerby of the sacrifice made by the citizens of this town in the Rebellion.
The town sent her full quota of men to the World War, and from the number the following lost their lives: Charles J. Cook (on a boat), George A. Roberts, Nathan M. Webster (died in France), William A. McAuley and William Wallace Myers.
Military History of Andover-During the French and Indian War, Andover furnished her quota of men, and lost lives by battle or exposure and disease. The successful expedition against Louisburg brought grief to many an Andover home. The following soldiers from Andover were killed or died from sickness or wounds received while in the King's. service at Louisburg: Benjamin Frye, Samuel Farnham, Jr., Ephraim Barker, Andrew Johnson, Jonathan Chandler, David Johnson, Isaac Abbott, Francis Dane, Andrew Allen, Benjamin Carlton, Joseph Marble, Philip Abbott, Isaac Chandler, Jonathan Darlin, Timothy Johnson, Jr., Jacob Martin. Of these sixteen Andover men nearly all fell by sick- ness. Finally the war ended, and Louisburg was given back to France. Peace then returned to the colonies for a season and the people returned to their ordinary vocations.
The following Andover men held commissions from 1745 to 1763: Col. Joseph Frye, Lieut-Col. James Frye, Adjt .- Col. Moody Bridges, Sur- geon Ward Noyes, Surgeon Abiel Abbot, Capt. John Farnham, Capt. Thomas Farrington, Capt. Abiel Frye, Capt. Asa Foster, Capt. Henry Ingalls, Capt. Peter Parker, Capt. James Parker, Capt. Thomas Poor, Capt. Jonathan Poor, Capt. Asa Stevens, Capt. James Stevens, Capt. John Wright, Capt. Isaac Osgood, Lieut. John Peabody, Lieut. Nathan Chandler, Lieut. Jacob Farrington, Lieut. Nicholas Colt, Ensign Na -- thaniel Lovejoy, Ensign George Abbot, Ensign John Foster, Ensign. William Russ.
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When it became fully known that a resort to arms must eventually settle the difficulty between England and her American colonies, the town of Andover voted "that one-quarter of all the training men of the town enlist themselves, and for their encouragement they were prom- ised pay for every half day they shall be exercising themselves in the art of military." A Committee of Safety and a Committee of Inspection were formed, the duty of the latter being to see to it that the non-con- sumption agreement be strictly lived up to; that every species of ex- travagance and dissipation be discontinued. They were to recommend a reduction in the articles and expense of mourning material, to inspect the traders of the town, and if they had violated the rules of the town and its association, to publish their names. They were to further en- courage the people to improve the breed of sheep, and to increase their number, at the same time to promote agriculture, arts and manufactures.
That there was fighting going on in Charlestown, and that the An- dover companies were engaged in it, was known in Andover in the early part of the day. The booming of cannons from the ships and from Copp's Hill was heard in the homes of the soldiers in the trenches. The people left their work, gathered in the streets and on the hill-tops. Many hastened to the place of conflict with provisions and other sup- plies, women brought out their old linens for bandages and their choice cordials for the use of the wounded, and many a parent's, sister's or wife's heart beat anxiously for the loved one exposed to death, possibly wounded, possibly dead. The next day brought tidings of the battle
and its disasters.
There is no full record of the casualties in the An-
dover companies. It is known that Capt. Farnum was badly wounded, that Capt. Fuebush was disabled, and that his lieutenant, Samuel Bailey, Jr., was killed. Of Capt. Ames' company, it is known that Joseph Chandler, Philip Abbot and William Haggit were killed, and that Lieut. Isaac Abbot, Lieut. Joshua Lovejoy, James Turner, Jeremiah Wardwell, Stephen Chandler and Israel Holt were wounded.
The thoughts of all were turned towards Cambridge. All who could go, hastened thither. The sanctuary was forsaken, the Rev. French of the South Church, who in early life had been a soldier and af- terward a military surgeon, seizing his Bible and surgical instruments, hastening to the succor of his wounded and bereaved parishioners in camp.
In an obituary of Col. Johnson, published in 1796, the following is found: "In 1777, he commanded a regiment detached from the county of Essex, and led them to victory and glory in the memorable action on the 7th of October, where his firmness and courage were particularly distinguished. His regiment was a part of that highly respectable yeo- manry, whom Gen. Burgoyne honored as the owners of the soil-men determined to conquer or to die."
In the decisive battle on the 7th of October, which Burgoyne had challenged, it is said by historian Bancroft, "that during all the fight,
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neither Gates nor Lincoln appeared on the field." "That the action was the battle of the husbandmen," and "the victory was due to the enthusi- asm of the soldiers." The regiment of Col. Johnson must have taken a hand in this "Battle of the Husbandmen," composed as it was of the yeo- manry of Andover and other farming towns in Essex county.
February 16, 1778, it was voted by Andover "to procure for each soldier in the Continental army doing duty for this town, one pair of shirts, two pairs of stockings, one pair of shoes and a blanket." This was brought about by the destitution reported at Valley Forge, where Andover had many soldiers during that never-to-be-forgotten winter.
The Civil War was supported loyally from the first to the final struggle in 1865, by the people of both sexes, in Andover. On the even- ing of April 18th, a meeting was called hastily, at Frye village, but de- ferred until a general town mass-meeting could be held on the following Saturday night. At that meeting Francis Cogswell was made president, and he was aided by twelve vice-presidents, and Prof. Calvin E. Stowe (husband of Harriet Beecher-Stowe) of the Theological Seminary, offer- ed a fervent prayer. Proper sets of resolutions were written by a com- mittee composed of Judge Marcus Morton, Jr., Prof. Calvin E. Stowe, Oliver H. Perry, William G. Means and Samuel Raymond.
May and June, 1861, were crowded full of sewing circles, flag-rais- ings, military music, liberal donations (one as high as $3,000 by the Smith-Dove & Co. manufactory), organizing companies of cadets at the Phillips Academy campus, and the furnishing of a beautiful song to cheer the young soldiers ere they left for the far away Southland, from the pen of that gifted and loyal writer, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, then residing at Andover, and many other needful things preparatory to the great on-coming conflict. June 24th, 1861, after two months drill- ing, the Andover Light Infantry, the first company from the town to enlist, left for Fort Warren. The same day they left for the National Capital. July 5th they were mustered into the service of the United States, and designated as "Company H, 14th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry." This was the only full company of privates and officers sent out during the Civil War from Andover. Its officers were as follows: Capt, Horace Holt, 1st Lieut. Charles H. Poor, 2d Lieut. Moses W. Clement, 1st Sergt. Samuel C. Hervey, 2nd Sergt. George T. Brown, 3rd Sergt. Orrin L. Farnham, 4th Sergt. Newton Holt, 5th Sergt. Frank B. Chapin, 1st Corp. George S. Farmer, 2nd Corp. George A. W. Vinal, 3rd Corp. Peter D. Smith, 4th Corp. John Clark, 5th Corp. Alonzo T. Berry, 6th Corp. H. W. Waedwell, 7th Corp. George F. Hatch, 8th Corp. Phineas Buckley, Jr., Musician Newton G. Frye, Musician George M. Smart.
The whole number of men furnished by Andover was 599; this was 163 more than the quota called for. These soldiers and seamen were distributed among forty-six regiments, in various departments and on
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the seas. For army purposes Andover spent (including bounties), $35,623. Private citizens of the town donated to war causes, outside the above named amount, $27,226, in paying bounties, substitutes and other ways.
As to the men who served from Andover in the Spanish-American War in 1898-9, no record has been prepared by the Commonwealth, by counties, hence no further reference can here be given, but doubtless a few found their way into the service of their country in that war.
There is being now compiled a very authentic record of the doings of the various World War boards from 1917 to 1919, in Andover, but at present no accurate account can be had of the important data this record will cover, historically, hence all that the writer of these annals can possibly add of value in this connection is the list of honored dead, and whose names are now inscribed in golden letters on a shield over- hanging the doorway to the public library in Andover. This list is as follows: William Pert, William Rae, Michael Joseph Daly, Phillip G. Morrison, Thomas W. Platt, Jr., John J. Greagan, Thomas E. Carter, John H. Baker, John Murphy, David C. S. Croall, Patrick O'Neil and Charles A. Young.
Military of Hamilton Town .- Never in the history of the town and hamlet of Hamilton has this part of Essex county been slack in military calls. In 1755, several of the young men of the hamlet of Hamilton were enlisted in the French War, and upon the eve of the expedition against Crown Point, Rev. Wigglesworth delivered a discourse to the soldiers. It was a firebrand, and roused the soldiers to daring deeds. Among those who went forth to do battle were Captain Stephen Whip- ple, Benjamin Pinder, Ebenezer Porter, Joseph Whipple, Nathaniel Adams, William Poland, Stephen Brown, Stephen Lowater, Benjamin Glasier, John Baker, John Marshall, Thomas Adams, John Boynton, Antipas Dodge, John Jones, Joseph Symonds, Amos Howard, Elijah Maxey. A number of these "boys" were seriously wounded. Robert Dodge, afterwards colonel, and Abraham Hobbs, were present at the taking of Quebec, and Hobbs heard General Wolfe say to his men, when the French were near them, "Now, boys, do your best."
At the commencement of the Revolutionary struggle, after the news reached Hamilton of the battle at Lexington, Dr. Cutler addressed the men of the hamlet of Hamilton; the minute-men who were already drill- ing, and himself rode on horseback to Cambridge, in company with Mr. Willard of Beverly, who was later president of Harvard College. He reached there in time to see the enemy retreating to Boston. As late as 1832 there were seven on the pension rolls from Hamilton.
John Whipple, Jr., was a captain in 1775; John Thompson was a lieutenant and Jonathan Lamson was ensign. In 1776, Joseph Lufkin, who was in the western army, was killed by the falling of a tree, which broke his neck, while the soldiers were cutting wood preparatory to go- ing into camp for the night.
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MILITARY HISTORY
In May, 1861, the first year of the Civil War, the records show that the town of Hamilton appropriated $1000 to assist the volunteers and their families. In August, 1862, the bounty was raised to $200. Dur- ing this war there were seventy-five men enlisted from here on the quota of the town; of these fifty-five were residents and the remainder non- residents. Nine of these brave men died in service: James A. Chase, at Gettysburg Hospital; Isaac K. Dodge, Thomas K. Dodge, died in Ander- sonville prison-pen; George W. Dodge, John E. Whittredge, William H. Dodge of Barryville, Elam W. Burnham, Austin Kinsman, Alvah Tib- betts, at Andersonville prison.
In the late World War the combined towns of Hamilton-Wenham (always associated together) had several hundred soldiers, and at an expense of more than $100,000 Mrs. George S. Mandell, whose son was killed by reason of that conflict, erected a handsome brick Community and Memorial Hall in his memory. On the front outer wall is an ar- tistic and permanent stone tablet affixed with the names of those who lost their lives. The inscription includes the following: Major Augus- tus P. Gardner, died Jan. 14, 1918; Lieut. Samuel P. Mandell, died Nov. 5, 1918; Lieut. Norman Price, died Oct. 15, 1916; Sergt.Major William Collins, died March 1, 1919; Corporal William L. Taylor, died Oct. 18, 1918; Corporal Frank E. Nelson, died Dec. 23, 1918; Private Lester D. Hodgson, died Dec. 23, 1918; Private Reginald Young, died July 25, 1918. The memorial hall is situated just at the edge of the village of Hamilton station, and is a befitting tribute by the bereaved mother to her brave son.
Military in North Andover .- While much of the history of North Andover is connected with the original Andover before the separation, yet it has a distinct military history of its own, in a way, that should not be mistaken. Prior to the Revolutionary struggle, there were nu-, merous animated resolutions passed in the town meetings and placed on record. These are too lengthy to reproduce here, but are excellent, as showing the spirit that was everywhere prevalent in North Andover ter- ritory, even at so early a date. June 12, 1776, just before the famous Declaration of Independence, the selectmen resolved "Whether the Hon- orable Congress should, for the safety of the colonies, declare themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, you will solemnly engage with your lives and fortunes to support them in the measure"; it passed in the affirmative without a dissenting vote.
In the French and Indian War, the prominent officers from North Andover included Capt. Joseph Frye, Col. Moody Bridges, Lieut .- Col. James Frye, Ward Noyes (surgeon), Capt. John Farnum, Capt. Thomas Farrington and Capt. Abel Frye. In 1775 there were four companies in the town, numbering a total of 400 men and officers. Two com- panies appear on the muster roll of the "Lexington Alarm," in the regi- ment of Col. James Frye. A number of very aged men rode to Cam-
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bridge with the four companies from North Andover, having the "spirit to fight," but were too aged and infirm.
The subjoined, concerning one noble character from North Andover, is recalled : "Col. Joseph Frye, conspicuous in the destruction of Arcadia, commenced in this war his long career. His house in North Andover stood near the famous elm tree planted by Captain Frye, when he de- parted for Lovewell's expedition. He had command of a small body of troops outside Fort William Henry, when the disastrous attack was made on it by Montcalm with his savages. He fought the enemy in front, opposed capitulation in the rear, and slew the savage who had led him forth, naked, to be tortured to death." Volumes of good war history center in and near the town of North Andover and Andover, proper.
The social and civil current of North Andover ran on as usual until the breaking out of the Civil War in April, 1861, when all was changed. At the town meeting May 6, 1861, it was voted to appropriate $5,000 with which to uniform soldiers and provide for their families. These men received fifty cents a day while drilling, and ten dollars a month from the date of their muster to the date of discharge. A full company was immediately organized. In 1862 the town voted to allow $200 bounty to each volunteer, and in August that year this was increased to $250. In March, 1864, it was raised $125 more. In all, this town fur- nished 250 men, fifteen more than was called for by her legal quota. Of this number of brave men thirty-three died. Space forbids the listing of these men in this connection. The whole amount of money raised and expended by this town in Civil War days was $40,795; besides this the families of soldiers were given as donations, by the citizens of the town, $12,978. Perhaps no man of those times ranked as a soldier higher than General Isaac L. Stevens, a native of the town and a cadet of West Point.
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