USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Our county and its people : A history of Hampden County, Massachusetts. Volume 1 > Part 17
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The next good fishing ground above Black point was at Pe- cowsic hollow, between the mouth of Pecowsic brook and the South End bridge. Here the land was owned by a Mr. Combs, who sold the "fishing rights"1 to Mr. Converse and Mr. Lom- bard. Opposite Pecowsic hollow, on the Agawam side of the river, was an excellent ground known as "sucker point." This place was fished by the owner, Mr. Wolcott, and his help. A
1Fishing rights were sold and not given to whomsoever might come. The owner of the land had the first and absolute right to fish in the river opposite his premises, but in case he saw fit he might sell that right to the best customer. Usually the rights were sold to two companies (five men were necessary to haul a seine properly), and while one company was drawing in its net with the "catch," the other would swing its seine into the water. Fishing rights cost from $300 to $400 each, according to the quality of the fishing ground. Mr. Converse paid for his two rights about $700. The fishing season began about April 15, and closed June 1. After paying help and all other expenses a fair season would yield the owner of a fishing right about $500. .
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little further up, still on the west side and about opposite the foot of York street, was a reasonably fair fishing ground known locally as "Redgill's," where Isaac Converse owned the fishing right. Just above the "toll bridge" (the old covered bridge at the foot of Bridge street, in Springfield), on the city side of the river, was "Beebe's" fishing grounds, good only for the early part of the season. It was a part of the Stebbins property and was fished by the owner. Just below the North End bridge, on the West Springfield side, was the "Beebe fish- ing place," a fair producer in a good season. Above Beebe's, "under the hill," as locally described, was another good fishing place, owned and carried on by Mr. White (probably Daniel White). On the east side of the river, about opposite River- dale, was the once famous "double ditch," where extensive fish- ing operations were carried on by Ruell Cooley and Francis Brewer and brothers. This was an exceptionally good ground, and in one day Cooley caught 1,800 shad, which then was re- garded as an unusual yield. A little farther up, on the west side, in a bend in the river, about a mile and one-half below Wil- limansett, was a fishing place owned by one Day (probably Syl- vester), a man eighty years old, but a famous waterman three- quarters of a century ago. Above this point there was no fish- ing ground of any consequence, except at South Hadley Falls, on the east side of the river, where the fish gathered in immense numbers vainly striving to pass over the dam. The largest single haul made at this place was 2,000 shad.
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CHAPTER XV
HAMPDEN COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65
BY JAMES L. BOWEN
The record of Massachusetts in the war for the preservation of the Union, from 1861 to 1865, was in keeping with its proud prestige among the states composing the nation, and one of which all who love its good name may justly feel proud. In the field as in legislative halls, in conflict on land and sea, as in coun- cil chambers, the sons of the old Bay State were leaders; while in the blessed offices of mercy which sought to alleviate the suf- ferings of those dreadful years, and so far as possible to rob war of its horrors, in whatever way the purpose might be advanced, the whole people, irrespective of age, sex, or social condition, joined with an exemplary energy.
Before the inauguration of Governor Andrew, January 5, 1861, the war cloud grew threatening, and thoughtful men be- gan to despair of averting an appeal to arms. Yet so dreadful seemed that alternative that, while nerving themselves for the struggle should it come, the people of the state neglected no opportunity to urge conciliation and concession, and late in the month a petition bearing 15,000 prominent names was sent to the Massachusetts delegation in congress, urging conciliatory measures. The people were ready to sanction any reasonable sacrifice for the sake of peace, but they were not ready to see the nation, in the building of which their fathers had borne so honor- able a part, fall in ruins about them. If that were to be the alternative, they would prove that the sons were ready to sacri- fice for the preservation as much as the ancestors for the crea- tion. In his inaugural Governor Andrew spoke for the whole
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state when he said, "The people will forever stand by the coun- try." And Adjutant-General William Schouler, in responding to a toast in honor of Major Anderson, while the latter was be- sieged in Fort Sumter, comprehensively and eloquently said : "We have no boasts to make. History tells what the men of Massachusetts have done, and they will never disgrace that his- tory." These calm utterances of earnest men were typical of the invincible purposes of the loyal people of the commonwealth ; they put into modest, candid words that patriotic determination which led the soldiers of the old Bay State, hopeful and un- shrinking, through every disaster and discouragement to final consummation.
During the war period the state of Massachusetts furnished for all periods of service 159,254 soldiers and sailors-a surplus over all calls of 13,492, while at least 3,000 enlisted in organiza- tions of other states, for which the Bay state received no credit. Of the officers and men serving on the Massachusetts quota, 3,543 were killed in action, 1,986 died of wounds, 5,672 of disease, 1,843 in confederate prisons, while 1,026 were missing and never ac- counted for-nearly all of whom no doubt lost their lives. In this connection it is but simple justice to say that the men of Massachusetts received from all quarters the highest commenda- tion for the manliness, courage, and intelligence with which they bore the sufferings incidental to soldier life, especially in hos- pital; the cheerfulness and strong rallying power manifested, their prompt return to duty on recovery, their christian heroism in meeting death when that became the sad alternative. Of those who returned to their homes, it is equally gratifying to know that their after lives gave no indication of general demoral- ization from the associations met during their soldier days. Where the early life gave good promise, it was generally broad- ened and strengthened by the experience, and if there were cases of evil habits contracted, so on the other hand there were unquestionably genuine cases of reformation of character, quite as marked as the reverse.
At the beginning of the year 1861 the militia force of the state consisted of about 5,600 officers and men, comprised in nine
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regiments, seven battalions, and thirteen unattached companies. Of this force only one company-Co. F, 10th Infantry, of Springfield-was located in Hampden county, which had thus less than one per cent. of the militia force of the state-a most inadequate proportion for a county having approximately fif- teen per cent. of the population. But the way for improvement was opened by action taken during the early months of the year, looking to putting the state forces in better condition to respond to any calls which might be made by the national government.
On the 16th of January a general order was issued by au- thority of the governor, directing that every company be put into efficient condition for active service if called upon. Those who from age, physical defect, or other cause, were unable or unwilling to serve, were to be honorably discharged, the com- panies were to be recruited to the maximum number, and held in readiness to answer any calls which might be made upon
them. In the early part of February an act passed the state legislature authorizing the organization of "companies of artil- lery" and "other companies," on approval of the governor and council, all of which were to be disbanded whenever the governor or the legislature might decide that their services were no longer required. Under this provision some progress had been made previous to the firing on Fort Sumter, April 12, and that event, with the call for 75,000 militia from the loyal states for three months' service, proved the signal for the opening of recruiting offices in every section of the state. Hampden county was not called upon to help in filling the militia quota, but its opportu- nity came with the organization for the first of the three-years regiments, and thereafter it performed nobly its part, every town in the county furnishing men in excess of its quota.
The Tenth Infantry .- On the 3d of May, 1861, President Lincoln called for some 40,000 volunteers for three years' ser- vice, and on the 22d of the month tardy permission was given for Massachusetts to furnish six regiments under that call. The 10th regiment of militia was selected as the basis for one of these volunteer regiments, and Springfield was designated as its place of rendezvous: so that this organization, the first to leave the
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county for the theatre of war, may properly be regarded as a Hampden county command, although but four of its ten com- panies were organized within the county limits. Three com- panies came from Berkshire county, two from Franklin, and one from Hampshire, and all had assembled at the camping ground on Hampden park by the 16th of June. The Hampden county companies consisted of E, recruited at Springfield; F, the old company of that designation, but better known as the Spring- field city guard; I, composed of recruits from West Springfield and Holyoke, each of which towns had undertaken to raise a company ; and K, recruited at Westfield. A company recruited on Hampden park, Springfield, by Oliver Edwards, was dis- banded, the men being assigned to other companies not filled to the standard of ninety-eight enlisted men each, and Captain Edwards was given the position of adjutant of the 10th. The regiment was mustered into the United States service June 21, with the following roster of officers :
Field and Staff .- Colonel, Henry S. Briggs of Pittsfield; lieutenant-colonel, Jefford M. Decker of Lawrence; major, Wil- liam R. Marsh of Northampton ; surgeon, Cyrus N. Chamberlain of Northampton; assistant surgeon, William Holbrook of Palmer ; chaplain, Frederick A. Barton of Springfield ; adjutant, Oliver Edwards of Springfield ; quartermaster, John W. How- land of North Adams; sergeant-major, Edward K. Wilcox of Springfield; quartermaster-sergeant, Elihu B. Whittlesey of Pittsfield ; hospital steward, Charles C. Wells of Northampton ; leader of band, William D. Hodge of North Adams; principal musician, John L. Gaffney of Chicopee.
Line Officers .- Co. A, Great Barrington-Captain, Ralph O. Ives; first lieutenant, James L. Bacon; second lieutenant, Henry L. Wilcox. Co. B, Johnson Grays of Adams-Captain, Elisha Smart; first lieutenant, Samuel C. Traver; second lieu- tenant, Lewis W. Goddard. Co. C, Northampton-Captain, Joseph B. Parsons ; first lieutenant, James H. Wetherell ; second lieutenant, Flavel Shurtleff. Co. D, Pollock Guard of Pittsfield- Captain, Thomas W. Clapp; first lieutenant, Charles Wheeler ; second lieutenant, Dwight Hubbard. Co. E-Captain, Fred
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Barton of Westfield ; first lieutenant, Byron Porter of Westfield; second lieutenant, Wallace A. Putnam of Danvers. Co. F, Springfield City Guard-Captain, Hosea C. Lombard ; first lieu- tenant, Hiram A. Keith ; second lieutenant, George W. Bigelow. Co. G, Greenfield Guards-Captain, Edwin E. Day; first lieu- tenant, George Pierce; second lieutenant, Lorenzo M. Reming-
ton. Co. H, Shelburne Falls-Captain, Ozro Miller; first lieu- tenant, Chandler J. Woodward ; second lieutenant, Benjamin F. Leland. Co. I-Captain, John H. Clifford of Holyoke; first lieutenant, Joseph K. Newell of Springfield ; second lieutenant, Joseph H. Bennett of West Springfield. Co. K, Westfield- Captain, Lucius B. Walkley ; first lieutenant, David M. Chase ; second lieutenant, Edwin T. Johnson.
The regiment was reviewed by the governor on the 10th of July, received state and national colors on the 16th, presented by the ladies of Springfield, and on the 16th went to Medford, where it encamped for a few days. It started for Washington on the 25th, reached that city three days later, and was incorporated in the army of the Potomac. It remained in camp at Brightwood, a few miles north of Washington, during the long months which preceded the Peninsula campaign of General McClellan, in the spring of 1862, being engaged in building fortifications and rou- tine camp duties.
Its first serious engagement occurred at the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, where the regiment lost twenty-seven officers and men killed and ninety-five wounded, six of the latter fatally. Fighting most gallantly during all of the afternoon, the regiment won high praise for its heroic conduct, which was further demon- strated at the battle of Malvern Hill, on the 1st of July, when out of 400 men taken into action it lost ten killed and over sev- enty wounded. The regiment participated in all the campaigns of the army of the Potomac which followed, until the expiration of its term of service, rendering especially valuable service at the battle of Salem Church, May 3, 1863, and the battle of the Angle, May 12, 1864. It was relieved from duty in front of Peters- burg June 19, 1864, the re-enlisted men and recruits being trans- ferred to the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts (q. v.), the original
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members of the regiment returning to Springfield, which they reached on the 25th, and being mustered out of service a few days later.
From a total enrollment of 1,255, the reigment lost 10 offi- cers and 124 men killed in action or died from wounds, and one officer and 55 men died from disease, accidents, etc., making a total of 190 deaths. It participated in the following battles and engagements, not including minor skirmishes :
Siege of Yorktown, April 4-May 4, 1862; Williamsburg, May 5, 1862; Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862; Oak Grove, June 25, 1862 ; Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862; Marye's Heights, May 3, 1863; Salem Church, May 3-4, 1863; Franklin's Crossing, June, 1863; Gettysburg, July 2-3, 1863; Rappahannock Station, November 7, 1863; Wilderness, May 5-6, 1864; Operations at Mine Run, No- vember 26-28, 1863; Laurel Hill, May 8, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864 ; Spottsylvania Court House, May 18, 1864; North Anna, May 24, 1864; Hanover Town, May 28, 1864; Peake's Station, May 30, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 1-12, 1864; Peters- burg, June 17-19, 1864.
The Eighteenth Infantry .- The Eighteenth regiment had as an organization no connection with Hampden county, being en- camped at Dedham and leaving the state, only partially organ- ized, August 20, 1861. But its colonel and several other offi- cers, as well as forty-three of the enlisted men, were from Hamp- den county, entitling the regiment to more than casual mention in these pages. The officers from Hampden county were as fol- lows :
Colonel, James Barnes of Springfield ; surgeons, David P. Smith, of Springfield, promoted to brigade surgeon; and Wil- liam Holbrook of Palmer ; assistant surgeon, Edwin F. Silcox of Springfield ; second lieutenant, James D. Orne of Springfield, promoted to first lieutenant and to captain; second lieutenant, John D. Isbell of Springfield, promoted from quartermaster- sergeant.
The regiment served with distinction in the army of the Potomac, Fifth corps, and of a total enrollment of 1,365 lost 9 officers and 114 men killed or mortally wounded in battle, while 2
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officers and 127 men died from disease, etc., making a total death loss of 252.
The Twenty-first Infantry .- The Twenty-first regiment was organized at Worcester in July and August, 1861, and in addi- tion to several commissioned officers, bore on its rolls the names of seventy-seven enlisted men from Hampden county, making its history of interest in this connection. Those from Hampden county commissioned in the regiment were as follows:
Captain, John D. Frazer of Holyoke; captain, Thomas Francis of Palmer ; first lieutenant, Wells Willard of Spring- field ; first lieutenant, Asa E. Hayward of Springfield; second lieutenant, James W. Hopkins of Springfield; second lieutenant, John Kelt of Holyoke; hospital steward, Frank G. Davis of Palmer.
This regiment was the first selected for the Burnside expedi- tion against the North Carolina coast, and it served in North Carolina until the Ninth corps was transferred to Virginia, where it fought at the Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In February, 1863, it was transferred to Burnside's command in Kentucky, serving in that state and Tennessee until the return of the Ninth corps to the army of the Potomac in the spring of 1864. In the campaign under General Grant from the Wilderness to Petersburg the dwindling regi- ment bore its full share until the 18th of August, 1864, when the original members were mustered out, leaving a battalion of three small companies which two months later was attached to the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts regiment. From an enrollment of 1,435, the Twenty-first lost 11 officers and 148 men killed or mor- tally wounded in action, and 2 officers and 89 men died from dis- ease-a total of 250.
The Twenty-seventh Infantry .- Within two months after the departure of the Tenth regiment from the rendezvous at Springfield, another regiment began to gather, the camping ground being selected just east of the city's residential portion. It covered very much the same ground, four of the companies as organized coming from Hampden county, two each from Berk- shire and Hampshire, one from Franklin, and one from north-
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western Worcester. The regiment was designated as the Twenty-seventh, and by the 25th of October, 1861, had been fully recruited, armed, equipped and mustered, with the following ros- ter of officers :
Field and Staff-Colonel, Horace G. Lee of Springfield ; lieutenant-colonel, Luke Lyman of Northampton; major, Wil- liam M. Brown of Adams; surgeon, George A. Otis of Spring- field; assistant surgeon, Samuel Camp of Great Barrington; chaplain, Miles Sanford of Adams; adjutant, George W. Bart- lett of Greenfield; quartermaster, William H. Tyler of Adams; sergeant-major, Henry C. Dwight of Northampton ; quartermas- ter-sergeant, George M. Bowler of Adams; commissary-sergeant, John J. Ellis of Lynn ; hospital steward, George E. Fuller of Palmer; principal musician, Lineus C. Skinner of Amherst; leader of band, Amos Bond of Springfield.
Line Officers-Co. A-Captain, Samuel C. Vance of Indian- apolis, Ind .; first lieutenant, Mark H. Spaulding of Northamp- ton ; second lieutenant, Edwin C. Clark of Northampton. Co. B-Captain, Adin W. Caswell of Gardner; first lieutenant, Parker W. McManus of Davenport, Ia .; second lieutenant, Lovell H. Horton of Athol. Co. C, Greenfield-Captain, Wil- liam A. Walker ; first lieutenant, Joseph H. Nutting ; second lieu- tenant, William F. Barrett. Co. D-Captain, Timothy W. Sloan of Amherst; first lieutenant, Ami R. Dennison of Am- herst ; second lieutenant, John S. Aitcheson of Chicopee. Co. E-Captain, Gustavus A. Fuller of Springfield ; first lieutenant, John W. Trafton of Springfield; second lieutenant, Luther J. Bradley of Lee. Co. F-Captain, Lucius F. Thayer of West- field ; first lieutenant, John W. Moore of Tolland; second lieu- tenant, James H. Fowler of Westfield. Co. G-Captain, R. Ripley Swift of Chicopee; first lieutenant, Peter S. Bailey of Springfield ; second lieutenant, Frederick O. Wright of North- ampton. Co. H-Captain, Walter G. Bartholomew of Spring- field ; first lieutenant, Charles D. Sanford of Adams ; second lieu- tenant, William H. H. Briggs of Adams. Co. I-Captain, Henry A. Hubbard of Ludlow ; first lieutenant, Edward K. Wil- cox of Springfield ; second lieutenant, Cyrus Goodale of Wilbra-
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ham. Co. K, Springfield-Captain, Horace K. Cooley ; first lieutenant, George Warner; second lieutenant, W. Chapman Hunt.
Leaving Springfield on the 2d of November, 1861, the regi- ment went to Annapolis, Md., where it formed part of the Burn- side expedition against North Carolina. It rendered excellent service in the operations in that state, until October 10, 1863, when it was transferred with its brigade to Virginia, being as- signed during the winter to provost duty at Portsmouth and Norfolk. At this time enough members of the regiment re- enlisted to insure the continuance of the organization after the expiration of the original three-years' term of enlistment. The Twenty-seventh entered service in the spring of 1864 as a part of General Butler's army of the James, its reports showing a membership, including recruits, of 933 officers and men. It took part in several minor engagements, and on the 16th of May at Drewry's Bluff suffered a terrible disaster, losing 65 in killed and wounded and 248, including 12 of the wounded, made pris- oners. Being detached as part of a provisional division under Gen. Charles Devens to join the army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor, the Twenty-seventh took part in the murderous assault on the Confederate lines on the morning of June 3, 1864, losing 17 killed, 65 wounded, and four taken prisoners. Of the 744 men who accompanied the colors of the regiment from Yorktown a month previous only 83 now remained for duty, and of these 14 more were lost during the subsequent days before Cold Har- bor. In the operations against Petersburg, up to the 18th of June, the Twenty-seventh lost 50 officers and men in killed and wounded, only one commissioned officer-a first lieutenant- remaining for duty.
Those original members of the regiment who had not re- enlisted were relieved from duty about the 20th of September, 1864, reached Springfield on the 28th, and were mustered out the following day. The re-enlisted men and recruits still com- posing the regiment in the field were returned to North Carolina for duty, and under Lieutenant-Colonel Walter G. Bartholomew remained in the service until the close of the war. On the 8th
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of March, 1865, the regiment was surrounded and almost anni- hilated at the battle of Southwest Creek, seven men only escap- ing death or capture, 147 being made prisoners, 40 of whom were wounded. The captured were marched to Libby prison, where they were paroled, and on reaching the union lines were given a month's furlough to Massachusetts. The nucleus remaining in the service, which by the addition of convalescents and recruits soon came to number about thirty, remained on guard duty and similar detail until the 26th of June, when it was mustered out of service, returning to Readville, Mass., where the final pay- ments were made and the Twenty-seventh regiment was for- mally disbanded on the 19th of July.
The command had a total enrollment of 1,567, of whom 9 officers and 128 men were killed or mortally wounded in action, while 3 officers and 261 men died from other causes, making a total of 401 deaths. Of this number more than 120 died in the confederate prison pen at Andersonville, Ga. The principal battles in which the regiment participated were as follows:
Roanoke Island, February 8, 1862; Newbern, March 14, 1862; Goldsboro, December 17, 1862; Siege of Washington, N. C., March 30-April 16, 1863; Dover Road, N. C., April 28, 1863; Dunn's Farm, May 6, 1864; Walthal Junction, May 7, 1864; Arrowfield Church, May 9, 1864 ; Drewry's Bluff, May 16, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 2-3, 1864; Petersburg, June 15-18, 1864; Southwest Creek, March 8, 1865.
The Thirty-first Infantry .- The organization afterward known as the Thirty-first Massachusetts infantry volunteers was raised by Gen. Benjamin F. Butler under authority direct from the war department at Washington, and was at first designated as the Western Bay State regiment. It gathered at Pittsfield, the recruits coming from all of the western portion of the state, with many from Vermont and New York. Hampden county furnished 175 enlisted men, and the following commissioned offi- cers :
Captain, Edward P. Nettleton of Chicopee, promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and to colonel, though not mustered to the lat- ter rank ; first lieutenant, Joseph L. Hallett of Springfield ; sec-
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ond lieutenant, Frank A. Cook of Springfield, promoted to first lieutenant ; second lieutenant, Alexander H. G. Lewis of Bland- ford, promoted to first lieutenant; second lieutenant, Martin M. Pulver of Springfield; second lieutenant, John Hines of Chicopee ; second lieutenant, George B. Oaks of Holyoke, not mustered and discharged as first sergeant.
Leaving the state on the 20th of February, 1862, the regi- ment went to Ship Island, where the forces for General Butler's expedition against New Orleans were being gathered, and was the first organization to land at New Orleans on the occupation of that city. Until the following spring the companies com- posing the regiment were on garrison duty at various points in and near the city. In the active operations of the spring of 1863 the regiment took some part, without being seriously engaged until the siege of Port Hudson, in which sixty-two enlisted men were killed or wounded. After the surrender of that strong- hold the regiment was engaged in various excursions through the surrounding country, but without any serious engagements.
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