USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > The Melrose memorial : the annals of Melrose, county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, in the great rebellion of 1861-'65 > Part 8
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3 Was discharged Dec. 30, 1862, from the Thirteenth Regiment on account of disability.
4 Enlisted in Third Heavy Artillery, July 15, 1863, two days after the draft.
5 Enlisted in Third Heavy Artillery, July 25, 1863, twelve days after the draft.
115
OUR DRAFT CELEBRATION.
There were three Shelton families in our town at the time of the draft, in one of which were five brothers ; three of these brothers were drafted, one of whom had been in the service. The other two brothers were then in the service.
The Boston Journal of July 14th, - the next day after the draft, - contained the following item :
MELROSE.
CELEBRATING THE DRAFT.
The drafted men of this quiet village had a jolly time of it last evening. A party of them arrayed in fantastic uniforms, and with strange weapons, with an American flag, a drum, horns, tin pans, and other musical instruments, made a tour of the town, calling on all their fortunate compatriots, and some- what in this way : The procession halts in front of a residence where the lights are low, and a passer-by would know that some- body there had been drafted. The commander shouts in a stentorian voice, "Conscript So-and-so, you're wanted ! Ten days is played out ; five minutes is the word. Conscript, come forth !"
A provost guard forthwith wait upon the honored personage, and he is placed, with cheers and congratulations, in the pro- cession, which, amid the clamor of unheard of music, moves on to the residence of the next fortunate man. There was no es- caping this conscription. Every man had to take his place, and everybody seemed to enjoy the fun. Ai a late hour the melan- choly horns were moaning in the suburbs ; and there was a gen- eral impression with the citizens, as they retired to rest, that it was rather a jolly thing, than otherwise, to be drafted. .
1864.
Calls for five hundred thousand (500,000) men were
116
THE MELROSE MEMORIAL.
made Oct. 17, 1863, and Feb. 1, 1864, and our quota assigned by Provost-Marshal Herrick.1
The second draft was made, under the call of March 14th, 1864, and resulted as follows :
The whole number of persons drawn throughout the United States, during this draft, was I13,446
Failed to report
27,193
Discharged for various causes
1,296
28,489
84,957
Whole number exempted
39,952
45,005
Held to personal service
3,416
Furnished substitutes
8,91I
Paid commutation
.
32,678
45,005
1 PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE, 6TH DISTRICT, MASS., LAWRENCE, Feb. 16, 1864.
Col. J. H. Clark, Melrose, Mass. :
Dear Sir : - The quota of Melrose, exclusive of any deductions, under the " call for 500,000 men, and to make up deficiencies," is 50.
From this is to be deducted the number of men enlisted and mustered, not heretofore credited, and also 4 men drafted and commuted for, and 3 fur- nished substitutes.
You will be credited for all men who shall have enlisted from your town, and who shall have been duly mustered, up to and including Feb. 29.
Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
H. G. HERRICK, Capt. and Pro .- Mar. 6th Dist. Mass.
117
THE SECOND DRAFT.
The whole number of persons drawn in Massachusetts during this draft was
9,505
Failed to report
2,287
Discharged for various causes
44
2,331
7,174
Whole number exempted
4,71I
2,463
Held to personal service
IO5
Furnished substitutes
743
Paid commutation
1,615
2,463
The whole number of persons drawn in this District,1 during this draft, was
350
Whole number exempted
273
77
Held to personal service .
2
Furnished substitutes
. 19
Paid commutation
. 56
77
The draft in this District commenced on the 14th of May, and, on the 17th, the following names were drawn
1 Our quota was as follows :
PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE, 6TH DIST. MASS., LAWRENCE, March 25, 1864.
Sir : - The Quota of your Town, under the President's call of March 14, 1864, for 200,000 men, will be as follows : Sub-Dist. No. 9, 19 men. By order of Board of Enrollment, 6th Dist. Mass.,
S. W. HOPKINSON, Commissioner.
CHAIRMAN SELECTMEN OF MELROSE.
118
THE MELROSE MEMORIAL.
for Melrose ; but as there was no deficiency at this time, all the quotas of our town having been filled, the drafted persons were not required to appear for examination.1
Four of the citizens that were drafted in 1863 were also drafted at this time.
John Thompson,
William Donalavy,
Samuel A. Robinson,
Joseph Goodwin,
Alonzo Patterson,
William F. Paul,
William A. Fuller,2
George W. Farnsworth,
William Clark,
Augustus Ripley,
Lyell T. Terwillager,
Jarvis P. Hudson,
James Biffin,
John Perkins, Jr.,
Fernando C. Taylor,
Timothy Upham,
David A. Alden,
John H. L. Anderson,
Gardner Wheeler,
I PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE, 6TH DISTRICT, MASS., LAWRENCE, May 31, 1864.
Col. J. HI. Clark, Melrose, Mass. :
The deficiency of Melrose is full, as appears from a list of Supplemen- tary Credits furnished this morning by Major Clarke. The drafted men need not appear. You are authorized to so notify them. Very respectfully, H. G. HERRICK. Capt. and Pro .- Mar., 6th Dist. Mass.
? Was then in the navy, Acting Third Assistant Engineer.
119
THIRD AND FOURTH DRAFTS.
Sylvanus Magoon,
Joseph Holbrook,
Edward B. Newhall, Thomas Hawkins, Daniel R. Woodward
On the third and fourth drafts, there were no names drawn in Massachusetts, her quotas being more than full.
The following is the general result of those drafts : Whole number of persons drawn under the call of July
18, 1864, was
231,918
Failed to report
66,159
Discharged for various causes .
27,223
93,382
138,536
Whole number of exemptions . .
82,531
56,005
Held to personal service
26,205
Furnished substitutes
28,502
Paid commutation .
1,298
56,005
Whole number of persons drawn under the call of Dec.
19, 1864, was .
I 39,024
Failed to report
28,477
Discharged for various causes
.
64,419
92,896
46,128
Whole number exempted
28,631
17,497
Held to personal service
6,845
Furnished substitutes
10,192
Paid commutation
460
17,497
120
THE MELROSE MEMORIAL.
SUBSTITUTES
FOR
ENROLLED MEN.
During the year 1864, an arrangement was made, by which any person liable to do military duty could, in anticipation of the draft then pending, furnish a substi- tute. Four of our citizens availed themselves of this privilege, paying for their substitutes sums ranging from five hundred and seventy-five to seven hundred dollars.1 In this manner men were added to our forces in the field, and our quota was reduced to an equal extent.
The following are the names of those who thus fur- nished substitutes, and also the names and reputed resi- dence of their respective substitutes :
Enrolled Men.
Substitutes.
Residence.
George Emerson, 2d,
Samuel Wilson,
Nova Scotia.2 66
George W. Heath, William Beamen,
James O. Lynde, John H. Reynard, Canada.
Daniel W. Wilcox,
Andrew Tyrill,
Nova Scotia.
1 The prices demanded for substitutes during the rebellion differed some- what from those paid in former wars, as will be seen by the following receipts, - the original of which are now in possession of our townsman, Mr. Artemas Barrett. The substitutes in each case were for citizens of North Malden, -now Melrose, - and one of these citizens was the grand- father of Mr. Barrett.
January 13, 1761. Received of Phinehas Sprague june'r. eight Pounds lawful money it being for my going a Solger to forte cumberland and 1 had a promes not of Six Pounds be fore.
Pr, me JOHN BATTS.
CAMBRIDGE, August 17, 1781.
Rec'd of Mr. Joseph Barrett the sum of Twelve Pounds Solid Coine in full of all accounts Debts Dues and Demands against Mr. Joseph Lyonde (Lynde) or Mr. Joseph Barreits. Class for Procuring a man for three years service in the Army. Recd by me BENJ PERKINS.
2 For form of certificates given in such cases, see appendix F.
121
REPRESENTATIVE RECRUITS.
REPRESENTATIVE RECRUITS.
During the latter part of the year 1864, Massachusetts and some of the other loyal States sent recruiting agents into the rebellious States, at points occupied by our forces, for the purpose of enlisting colored volunteers, under the Act of Congress approved July 4th, 1864.
An arrangement was also made by which any person not liable to be drafted into the military service of the United States, by reason of age or disability, could de- posit with the Treasurer of the State in which such per- son resided, the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dol- lars ($125), and be assigned one of the volunteers thus enlisted, such volunteer to be called a "Representative Recruit." The recruits thus obtained, and not assigned as "Representative Recruits," were apportioned among the various towns and cities of the Commonwealth for which the enlistments were made.
The whole number of volunteers secured by these agents was two thousand four hundred. and eighteen (2,418) ; of which number Massachusetts enlisted twelve hundred and fifty-seven (1,257).
The whole number of " Representative Recruits" as- signed to different individuals in all the States was twelve hundred ninety-two (1,292), of which number Massachu- setts furnished five hundred and fifty-three (553).
Three citizens of our town availed themselves of this privilege of putting into the service a " Representative Recruit," receiving from the State a certificate signed by the Governor, John A. Andrew, and the Provost-Marshal of the State, Joseph M. Day, giving the names of the " sable volunteers" thus assigned them.1
1 For form of receipt and certificate given, see appendix G.
16
122
THE MELROSE MEMORIAL.
The names of these three gentlemen were :
David Fairbanks, Daniel Russell, Dexter Bryant.
The names of their representatives were, respectively :
Samuel Harris, enlisted at Natchez, Mississippi, in the Seventy-First United States Colored Infantry ; Davis Jones, enlisted at Washington, Louisiana, in the Fifty- Eighth United States Colored Infantry ; William Parsons enlisted in Tennessee, in the Fiftieth United States Col- ored Infantry.
It was afterwards ascertained that the cost of these " Representative Recruits " was only about one hundred dollars ($100) ; and by permission of the depositors, the balance of the sum deposited, twenty-five dollars ($25), was transferred to the hands of Surgeon-General Dale, to be appropriated for the benefit of discharged disabled Mas- sachusetts soldiers, or their families. An acknowledg- ment of the receipt of this sum was given by the Surgeon- General to each depositor. In this manner the sum of ten thousand six hundred and ninety dollars ($10,690) was added to the fund for the relief of sick and disabled soldiers.
XI.
1861-5.
Our native land ! to thee, In one united vow, To keep thee strong and free, And glorious as now - We pledge each heart and hand ;
By the blood our fathers shed, By the ashes of our dead, By the sacred soil we tread ! God for our native land !
George WV. Bethune.
The whole number of men furnished by the State of Massachusetts during the war, for the service of the United States, for the several terms of service, of all arms, and including both army and navy, was one hundred and fifty-nine thousand, one hundred and sixty-five (159,165). The following table, from the Report of the Adjutant- General for the year 1865, gives the number of men thus furnished more in detail :
Organizations, Terms, etc. Number. Aggregate.
THREE MONTHS' SERVICE, 1861.
Four (4) Regiments, Infantry,
One (1) Battalion, Riflemen, One (1) Battery, Light Artillery, 3,736
THREE YEARS' MEN IN THE ARMY.
Forty (40) Regiments, Infantry, Five (5) Regiments, Cavalry,
124
THE MELROSE MEMORIAL.
Three (3) Regiments, Heavy Artillery,
One (1) Battalion, Heavy Artillery,
Two (2) Companies, Sharpshooters,
Sixteen (16) Batteries, Light Artillery, 54,IS7
Recruits, including drafted men, for above organizations, 26,091
Men for Regular Army, Veteran Reserve Corps, and other organizations, 9,790
Re-enlistments in the State organizations, 6,202
96,270
ONE YEAR'S MEN IN THE ARMY.
Two (2) Regiments, Infantry,
Two (2) Unattached Companies, Infantry,
One (1) Regiment, Heavy Artillery,
Eight (8) Un. Companies, Heavy Artillery,
Seven (7) Companies, Cavalry, 4,728
NINE MONTHS' MEN.
Seventeen (17) Regiments, Infantry, 16,685
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' MEN.
Five (5) Regiments, Infantry,
Nine (9) Un. Companies, Infantry, 5,461
NINETY DAYS' MEN.
Thirteen (13) Un. Companies, Infantry,
1,209
MEN IN THE NAVY.
Number for One Year,
8,074
Number for Two Years,
3,204
Number for Three Years,
13,929
Number, term not given, 956
26,163
Number enlisted from Dec. 1, 1864, up to and including August, 1865, viz :
White Volunteers,
2,74I
Colored Volunteers,
1,308
Regulars,
432
Seamen,
I54
Marines,
I2
Veteran Reserve Corps,
266
4,913
Total,
159,165
125
NUMBER OF MEN FURNISHED.
Of the enlisted men, of whom muster-out rolls have been received at the Adjutant-General's office, twelve thousand, eight hundred and twenty-six (12,826) were killed, or died in service. Three thousand two hundred and seventy-eight (3,278) were killed on the battlefield, eighteen hundred and twenty-two (1,822) died of wounds, fifty-five hundred and ninety-four (5,594) died of disease, and twenty-one hundred and thirty-two (2,132) died in rebel prisons.
The whole number of commissioned officers furnished by Massachusetts during the war was fifty-eight hundred and sixty-nine (5,869), four hundred and thirty-two (432) of whom laid down their lives for their country, most of them on the field of battle. Two hundred and sixty (260) were killed, one hundred and four (104) died of wounds, seventy-five (75) died of disease, and three (3) died in rebel prisons. The above figures show that two thousand three hundred and forty (2,340) more men died of disease and in rebel prisons than were killed or died of wounds.
Of the thirty-five (35) general officers furnished by Massachusetts, nine (9) have been killed or fatally wound- ed in action, and sixteen (16) who have fallen in battle survive their wounds. Only ten (10) have escaped injury.
The whole number of men furnished by Melrose for the war, for the several terms of service, of all arms, including both army and navy, and including the eight (8) citizens that enlisted on other quotas, was four hundred and fifty- four (454). Of these, twenty-one (21) enlisted men lost their lives ; five (5) were killed on the battle-field, one (1) was accidentally shot, thirteen (13) died of disease con- tracted in the service, and two (2) died in rebel prisons.
The number of commissioned officers furnished by Melrose was eighteen (18); two (2) of whom lost their
1
*
.
126
THE MELROSE MEMORIAL.
lives, one (1) on the field of battle, and one (I) died of dis- ease contracted in the service.
The whole number of men apportioned to Massachu- setts, under the several calls for troops during the war, was one hundred and seventeen thousand, six hundred and twenty-four (117,624). The number furnished, reduc- ing all the different times of service to the standard of three years, was one hundred thirty-one thousand, one hundred and sixteen (131,116) men, which shows a sur- plus of thirteen thousand, four hundred ninety-two (13,- 492.)
All of the three hundred and thirty-five cities and towns in the Commonwealth, with the exception of twelve small towns, furnished a surplus of men ; and it is a source of great satisfaction to be able to say, that when the rebel- lion closed, Melrose, one of the youngest towns in the State,1 had a surplus, according to a communication from
1 Melrose was incorporated May 3d, 1850. It was formerly the northern part of Malden, one of the oldest towns in the State, having been set off as a town in 1649. Captain Edward Johnson, of Woburn, in his " Wonder- Working Providence of Sions Saviour in New England," published in Lon- don in 1654, - and recently re-printed in very fine style, with a learned historical Introduction and an Index by our townsman, Mr. William F. Poole, - says that Malden was settled " by certain persons, who issued out of Charles Town, and indeed had her whole structure within the bounds of this more elder Town, being severed by the broad spreading river of Mistick the one from the other, whose troublesome passage caused the people on the North side of the river to plead for Town-priviledges within themselves, which accordingly was granted them ; the soyl is very fertile, but they are much straitened in their bounds, yet their neerness to the chief Market Towns, makes it the more comfortable for habitation; the people gathered into a Church some distance of time before they could attain to any Church- Officer to administer the Seals unto them, yet in the mean time at their Sab- bath assemblies they had a godly Christian named M. Sarjant, who did preach the Word unto them, and afterwards they were supplied at times with
-
127
SURPLUS OF MELROSE.
the District Provost-Marshal, H. G. Herrick, of seventy- four (74) men 1 over and above all the different quotas
1 PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE, 6TH DISTRICT, MASS., LAWRENCE, December 31, 1864.
This is to certify that, as appears by the records of this office, the surplus of the Town of Melrose, over all calls, is seventy-four (74) men.
H. G. HERRICK, Captain and Provost-Marshal, 6th Dist. Mass.
some young Students from the Colledg, * till the year 1650, one Mr. Marma- duke Mathews, coming out of Plimouth Patten, was for some space of time with a people at the Town of Hull, which is a small Port-town peopled by fishermen, and lies at the entrance of the Bays mouth, where this Mr. Mathews continued preaching, till he lost the approbation of some able understanding men, among both Magistrates and Ministers, by weak and unsafe expressions in his teaching, yet notwithstanding he was called to the office of a Pastor by the brethren of this Church of Christ at Malden, although some neighbor-churches were unsatisfied therewith, for it is the manner of all the Churches of Christ here hitherto, to have the approbation of their Sister-Churches, and the civil Government also in the proceedings of this nature, by the which means Communion of Churches is continued, peace preserved ; and the truths of Christ sincerely acknowledged." The brief record of what may be regarded as the act of incorporation by the General Court is as follows : " In answer to the petition of several inhabi- tants of Mistick side, their request is granted, viz. to be a distinct town of themselves, and the name thereof to be Maulden." The two hundredth anniversary of the settlement of Malden was celebrated May 23, 1849. An oration was delivered by Hon. James D. Green, and a poem by Rev. Gilbert Haven, Jr. A year afterward these were published, together with other his- torical matter relating to the town, and the Committee of Publication thus refer to Melrose, which was set off from Malden the same year : " The new town of 'fair Melrose,' the only daughter of Malden, goes forth to set up a separate municipal existence, with the parental consent and blessing ; and will doubtless reflect lasting credit on her parentage." Its population at this time was 1,260; and in 1860 it had increased to 2,527. In 1865, the year the war closed, our population was 2,865.
*Harvard College.
tPlymouth Colony.
128
THE MELROSE MEMORIAL.
from the many calls for troops, by the President of the United States.
And, notwithstanding the necessary outlay of money on account of this gigantic rebellion, there was no reduction in the amounts of money voted for the School, Poor, Highway, and other appropriations ; but, on the contrary, a steady increase throughout the continuance of the war.
As has been stated, Melrose furnished during the war four hundred and fifty-four (454) men for the different periods of service. Three hundred and seventy-seven (377) different names appear on the alphabetical list ; of these, five (5) were in the three months' service in 1861, all but one of whom re-enlisted. Eleven (II) of those that entered the service in 1861 and 1862 for three years re-enlisted, and counted twice in filling our quotas. Eight (8) re-en- tered the service after recovering from the wounds or sickness, on account of which they had been discharged ; and in this list is included also the names of the twenty- eight (28) men in the navy, credited to us from the State at large ; also the names of the substitutes put into the ser- vice by enrolled citizens, and the "Representative Re- cruits " furnished by our citizens not liable to draft.
QUOTAS.
The following is a statement of the number of men called for at different times during the rebellion by the President of the United States, the total quotas assigned, and the number obtained from all the States. Also the quotas of Massachusetts, with the number of men fur- nished on each, compiled from the Report of the'Provost- Marshal General, James B. Fry. Also the quotas of Mel- rose and the number of men furnished, as correctly as it is possible to state them.
129
QUOTAS.
DATE OF PROCLAMATION.
for.
Period of ser-
quotas
Number ob-
tained.
Quota of
Massachusetts.
Men furnished.
Quota of Mel-
Men furnished.
April 15, 1861 . .
75,00(
3 months.
73,391
93,326
1,560 34,868
3,736 32,177 76 .
5
May & July, 1861*
582,748
3 years.
611,827
714,231
May & June, 1862
. .
3 months.
. . .
15,007
19,080
1 ,519 37
56
August 4, 1862 .
300,000
9 months.
334,835
87,588
19,080
16,685 79
79
June 15, 1863
100.000
6 months.
militia.
16,361
103 .
.
July, 1863, Draft
. . .
3 years.
467,434
374,807
26,597
21,413 50
February 1, 1864
200,000
3 years.
186,981
284,021
10,639
18,876 19 /
166
April 23, 1864 .
85,000
100 days.
113,000
83,652
4.000
6,809 .
23
July 18, 1864 . .
500,000 1, 2, 3 years.
346,746
384,882
21,965
31 739 58
December 19, 1864
300,000 1, 2, 3 years.
290,000
204,568
1,306
3,728
2,942,748
2,759,049 2,690, 401
139,095 151,785}
Citizen in the Navy (not included in above count) Allotted by Navy Commissioners .
1
28
319
446
. .
.
July 2, 1862 .
300,000
3 years.
334,835
. .
. . .
. .
7
October 17, 1863
300,000
March 14, 1864
200,000
* Congress passed acts on the 22d, 25th and 31st July, 1861, authorizing the President to accept the services of volunteers, either as cavalry, infantry or artillery, in such numbers not exceeding 1,000,000, as he might deem necessary for the purpose of repelling invasion and suppressing insurrection. t " Of the number of troops mustered into the United States' service for a less period than six months (including all three months' men), not here- tofore credited on any quota since the commencement of the Rebellion, but which would have been proper credit upon any subsequent call, in ac- cordance with provisions of section 15th of acts of March 3d, 1865, Massa- chusetts furnished 4,983 men for three months, 6,809 for one hundred days, and 121 for four months. Total, 11,913 ; equal to 3,157 years of service, or 1,052 men for three years."
17 -
*
vice.
Total
assigned.
rose.
Number called
76
431,958
XII. 1861-5.
RELIEF OF SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
In all of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, large contributions of money, clothing, and other articles, were being made during the entire period of the war. In many, in most of these cities and towns, there was one or more organized societies for the disbursement of these contributions. Melrose had no such regularly organized association, although much was done for the benefit of the soldier and his family by the Town and by individuals. Of the unnumbered private donations of money, of boxes and packages of soldiers' necessities and luxuries, sent by patriotic mothers and sisters, who can fully estimate their value, or the benefit derived therefrom ?
The generous sympathy and munificent gifts, not only of our own citizens, but of the entire people, for the soldiers and their cause, were wonderful. These gifts were " from every department of social, business and religious life ; from every age, sex and condition of our community ; by gifts, by toil, by skill and handiwork ; out of the basket and the store, and out of the full hearts of the community, - they have poured through countless channels of benev- olence." I
' As an instance of this hearty generosity, only one of many ; nine car-loads of hospital stores left Boston after battles of "Groveton," "Second Bull Run," and "Chantilly," which ended the campaign under Major-General John Pope.
131
CITIZENS' SUBSCRIPTION.
At the first regularly called Town Meeting that was held after the breaking out of the Rebellion, - May 6, 1861,-three thousand dollars ($3,000) were appropriated for the relief of volunteers and their families, according to the vote already given on a previous page, the Selectmen being appointed a Committee of disbursement.
At the annual Town Meeting in March, 1862, twenty- five hundred dollars ($2,500) were appropriated for the same purpose, to aid the families of volunteers, as pro- vided by Chap. 222, Statutes of 1861, wherein it was enacted that the State should reimburse the cities and towns, to a certain amount per family, the sums thus paid ; and regularly, at each annual Town Meeting, during the continuance of the war, a vote of similar import was unan- imously passed.
In July, 1862, at the solicitation of Mr. William F. Poole, a subscription of three hundred and forty dollars ($340) was made by the following gentlemen, for the "purpose of promoting recruiting in Melrose ; for equal- izing the bounties of those patriotic citizens who have already enlisted ; and for the benefit of the families which the quota from Melrose shall leave behind them."
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