USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medway > The military history of Medway, Mass. 1745-1885 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
"That said sum be paid to each volunteer when he shall have been law- fully mustered into service and become also entitled to receive the bounty offered by the general government.
" That the town treasurer is authorized to borrow, upon the credit of the town, such sums of money as may be necessary to pay the bounty and such incidental expenses of recruiting as may be authorized by the selectmen, and that the faith of the town is hereby solemnly pledged to indemnify and save harmless all persons or corporations who may loan the treasurer, or in any way become liable for any sums of money loaned to the treasurer for the pur- pose aforesaid.
" That the selectmen, after having taken legal counsel, are instructed to petition the next legislature, if deemed necessary by them, to legalize the proceedings of this meeting.
" That the selectmen, clergymen, and all good citizens, are earnestly so- licited to encourage and stimulate, by public meetings and otherwise, the prompt enlistment of the requisite number of volunteers from this town, that our fellow-citizens already in the service may be cheered and sustained by accession of numbers and strength, the rebellion crushed, and peace and prosperity soon return to our common country.
" August 15, 1862. T'oted, That the sum of one hundred dollars in ad- dition to the sum already appropriated, be paid to all such as shall enlist to complete the quota of this town under the call for three hundred thousand volunteers for three years.
" That this additional bounty be paid to all such accepted volunteers as shall enlist on or before the day of draft.
" That the selectmen are authorized to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer when mustered into service for nine months, to the number that may be required of this town, under the order of the President of the United States for three hundred thousand of the militia for the several states, and dated August 4, 1862, provided that said volunteers shall enlist on or before the day of draft.
27
" That the selectmen be authorized to employ such persons as they may need to assist them in the service of recruiting the requisite number of vol- unteers.
" That the town recommend that the volunteers of this town for nine months, unite with others from adjoining towns to form an entire company, under such officers as they may elect, and to offer their services forthwith to the Governor.
" That the town treasurer is authorized to borrow money on the credit of the town to pay the aforesaid bounty, and such expenses for recruiting as may be ordered by the selectmen.
"September 13, 1862. L'oted, That the town treasurer, under the direc- tion of the selectmen, is hereby authorized to pay the bounty of one hundred dollars to each of the volunteers from this town now legally enlisted. That the volunteers for nine months be entitled to their bounty when mustered into the service of the United States.
"Novemher 4, 1862. Voted, That the selectmen are hereby authorized to make such provisions for the support of dependent families of deceased volunteers from the town of Medway, or of such as may be discharged on account of sickness contracted, or wounds received while in actual service, as in their judgment may be necessary for their comfortable support.
" November 29, 1862. Voted, That a committee consisting of Messrs. M. M. Fisher, Charles H. Deans, and William Daniels, be chosen to confer with the authorities at the State House, and to ascertain if the quota assigned to this town of volunteers for nine months is correct, and to report at some future meeting.
"December 6, 1862. The committee chosen at the last meeting made a verbal report, which was accepted. And the town
" Voted, That all votes now upon the town records whereby bounties have been offered to nine months' men under the present call for 19,080 men, be, and are hereby repealed, and, further, that the selectmen of this town be di- rected not to accept any transfer of nine months' men.
" Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to recruit the quota of twelve men for which this town is liable, to serve for three years, by offering a bounty not to exceed the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, and pay such agent as they shall find it necessary to employ, a reasonable sum as compen- sation, and, further, that they be authorized to pay the sum of two hundred dollars to all men who shall be drafted under the present call.
"July 20, 1863. T'oted, That the selectmen be authorized to aid the fam- ilies of each drafted man belonging to this town, who may, on due examina- tion by the board of enrollment, be found liable to service, by the payment of three hundred dollars to the wife, child, parent, sister, or brother of such drafted man, on the following conditions :
" Ist. That said drafted man shall actually serve, or furnish an accepted substitute, alien or non-resident.
" 2d. That he shall give satisfactory security to the selectmen that his family, dependent upon him for support, shall require no further aid during his time of service.
"3d. That a sum equivalent to one hundred dollars for each man, whose family shall thus be aided, be raised by subscription among the drafted men and others, and paid into the town treasury.
28
" Voted, That the families of all drafted men entering the service person- ally, not provided for in the above conditions, shall receive such aid as the State allows.
" Voted, That the town treasurer be authorized to borrow such sums of money as may be required to carry the provisions of the above votes into effect.
"July 27, 1863. Voted, That the selectmen be authorized in accordance with Chapter 176 of the General Laws of 1863, to aid the dependent families of such persons as may be drafted, or become the substitutes of those drafted, to supply the quota of this town under the act of Congress, approved March 3, 1863, by an allowance of one dollar and fifty cents per week to each member of said families, not exceeding three. And the selectmen are fur- ther authorized to advance upon said allowance to such of said families as desire it, the sum of one hundred dollars whenever the aforesaid drafted men, or their legal substitutes, shall be duly mustered into service, and said advances shall be deducted from said weekly allowances in such a manner as the selectmen may deem best.
"November 28, 1863. A committee of seven to secure the enlistment of volunteers was chosen, viz. : Messrs. William Daniels, Simeon Fisher, Clark Partridge, D. J. Hastings, George L. Richardson, Jason Smith, and William B. Boyd. Voted, That the committee be authorized to expend such sums of money as they may deem necessary to fill the quota of this town, and that the committee be empowered to fill vacancies.
" February 29, 1864. Voted, That the selectmen, whenever they shall deem it lawful and expedient so to do, are hereby authorized to pay a bounty, not exceeding one hundred dollars, to any volunteer who has enlisted or may enlist as part of this town's quota under the last two calls of the President for five hundred thousand men, provided said volunteers receive no other than a state or national bounty. And they are also authorized as aforesaid to refund to George L. Richardson, treasurer of the citizens' bounty fund, such sums as may have been paid by him in behalf of any citizens as boun- ties to any volunteers as aforesaid, provided the sums so paid shall not in either case exceed a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer.
" And the selectmen are further authorized to pay the amount of state aid to the families of all volunteers or drafted men.
" March 7, 1864. Voted, That the selectmen be authorized to grant such aid to the families of discharged volunteers as in their judgment the ex- igency of the case may require.
" April 4, 1864. Voted, To grant the sum of $5,000 toward the debt in- curred on account of military expenses and interest thereon, and for recruit- ing purposes.
" April 25, 1864. Voted, To grant the sum of $2,000 for the purpose of filling the quota for the last call of the President, or any deficiency under the calls for 700,000 men, the amount not to exceed $125 per volunteer, and if there should be a balance remaining after filling such quotas, the same is to be applied to the payment of the town debt.
"June 7, 1864. Voted, To authorize the selectmen to pay the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each man who shall volunteer to fill the quota of this town. A committee of three was chosen to act with the
29
selectmen, viz., Messrs. George L. Richardson, James M. Daniels, and Sumner Robbins.
" November 8, 1864, Voted, To abate the poll taxes of all soldiers who are or have been in the United States service the current year. The select- men were also authorized to pay the sum of $125 to every person who enters the United States service and is accredited to this town on a future and expected call.
" April 3, 1865. £ Granted, The sum of $7,000 for paying state aid the current year.
" June 9, 1865. Voted, To pay and refund all sums of money con- tributed by individuals and expended by the selectmen for the purpose of obtaining volunteers to fill the quotas of this town in the year 1864, and that the whole amount be assessed and collected this year; and $6,700 was granted for this purpose.
"November 7, 1865. Voted, To abate the poll taxes of all soldiers from this town who have been in the United States service the present year."
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The Military Committee, chosen April 29, 1861, immediately took in hand the business assigned them. At a meeting held on the evening of the same day of the town-meeting, the committee organized by the choice of Cap- tain David Daniels as chairman, and Charles H. Deans, Esq., as secretary. There were sub-committees appointed to visit adjoining towns, to learn what course was being taken by them, and to invite volunteers to unite with our own townsmen in making up one or more companies. At subsequent meet- ings other matters were decided upon, which can only be stated from memory, as the records of the committee were afterwards accidentally de- stroyed by fire. A vote was passed to pay our volunteers for time spent in military drill. Satisfactory arrangements were also made for the support of their families and dependents, while in the service of the Government. The matter of uniforms and equipment was also taken into consideration. Mean- while men were enrolling for service, and had commenced military drill under the instruction of Captain David Daniels, an experienced militia officer. There were those also, already in the service, who had enlisted under the first call of the President for troops for a three months' term. Early in May it was ascertained that by waiving their right to a choice of officers from among their own number, they could join a regiment, to be commanded by Colonel George H. Gordon. This they at once agreed to do, and at a meeting called for that purpose in the Village, they, by a unanimous vote, chose Samuel M. Quincy for Captain, William B. Williams for First Lieutenant, and O. H. Howard for Second Lieutenant, these being the men designated by Colonel Gordon. About May 11, 1861, the company, consisting of eighty men, fifty-four of whom were residents of Medway, left town for Camp Andrew, Brook Farm, in West Roxbury, and became Company E, Sec- ond Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. In this camp of instruction they remained until July 8, 1861, when they marched by rail and steamer, via New York City, and through New Jersey and Maryland, to Northern Vir-
30
ginia, and became a part of the Army of the Potomac. It is not possible, within the limits here allowed, to give a history of their three years of field service. In addition to the brief biographical sketch of each soldier, which forms a part of this record, if any would know more of the weary marches, the hard-fought battles, and all the dangers and discomforts of army experi- ence, they are referred to the History of the Second Massachusetts Vol- unteers, prepared by their Chaplain, the Rev. A. H. Quint, D. D., and also to a volume by the same anthor, entitled The Potomac and Rapidan.
But enlistments did not cease with the departure of the first company ; men continued to volunteer, joining such branches of the service as suited their preference, until about thirty more had joined the army previous to the call of the President, dated July 2, 1862, for 300,000 additional men, to serve for three years, or the war. The quota of the town under this call was barely filled, when, on the 4th of August following, another call was issued for 300,000 men, to serve for nine months. This abbreviated term of service gave an impetus to enlistments. The quota of Medway, as first assigned, was rapidly filled, and more would have enlisted, had they been called for at the time. A subsequent revision of quotas throughout the state resulted in a call upon the town, later in the season, for twelve men more, under the same call, and for three years instead of nine months.
The nine months' men from Medway, with some from Medfield, Frank- lin, Bellingham, and Holliston, and a few from other places, made up a full company. This company was organized at Medway, on the 28th of August, 1862, by the choice of Joseph Stedman, of Medfield, Captain, David A. Partridge, of Medway, First Lieutenant, and Ira B. Cook, of Bellingham, Second Lieutenant. The sergeants were Joseph C. Clifford, George W. Ballou, Benjamin C. Tinkham, of Medway, T. M. Turner, of Medfield, and Albert L. Clark, of Medway ; corporals, Fred D. Morse, of Medway, James B. Rabbit, of Wrentham, L. H. Turner, of Medfield, Edmund A. Jones, of Medway, Robert G. Lowey, of Sherborn, and Henry J. Daniels, of Medway. The company adopted the name of "The Adams Guard," in honor of the Hon. Charles Francis Adams, then United States Minister to England. On the 3d of September, 1862, they again assembled at Medway, preparatory to their departure for camp. Through the liberality of the citizens of the Village, they, with invited guests, partook of a bountiful dinner at the Quinobequin House, after which they marched to the church, where brief but stirring addresses were made by the several clergymen of this and adjoining towns, and by other distinguished citizens. Then a pro- cession was formed, consisting of nearly a thousand persons, under com- mand of the marshal of the day, A. Fairbanks, Esq., assisted by A. S. Harding and D. J. Hasting, Esqs., which escorted the " company to the station, where, amid cheers and tears, the train moved off with its precious freight." At the camp in Readville, Dedham, Mass., the company became Company B of the Seventy-second Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. The regiment remained in camp until November 21, 1862, when it left for New York, to unite with the troops under General N. P. Banks, for an expe- dition to the gulf region. Their service was mostly in Louisiana. The com- pany participated in two engagements, one at La Fourche Crossing, and the other at Brashear City. Owing to the exigencies of the service, the men
31
were retained beyond their stipulated time, and did not arrive at home until nearly the middle of August, 1863. A large proportion returned suffering with malarial disease, of which several died, and the remainder recovered very slowly. Again, in 1864, at the call of the President for volunteers for one hundred days, many of the veterans of this regiment enlisted again, the ranks being filled up by new and younger men, about one-half the members of Company B being residents of Medway. During this term of service they were stationed at Alexandria and Great Falls, Md. The appended list of quotas contains the names of all who enlisted to the credit of the town under each call, from the beginning to the end of the war, with the amount of bounty paid to each, and the amount of state and town aid paid to families or dependents. There is also given an account of all the expenses of the town on account of the war, from April, 1861, to the close of December, [865. It is certainly to the credit of the town, and worthy of mention, that at the close of the war the town had a surplus over all calls, of four men.
In June, 1863, a draft was ordered by the President for one-fifth of the first class enrolled. This class embraced all men between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five. For Medway, fifty-six were drafted. A copy of the provost-marshal's record appears on a subsequent page.
The acts of the town relating to the war, from 1861 to 1865 inclusive, already given, seem worthy of some comment. At a town-meeting held September 23, 1861, resolutions, prepared and presented by the Hon. M. M. Fisher, were unanimously adopted, authorizing the committee on military affairs to aid the families of any of our citizens who may fall in battle or die in the service of their country, to recover and bring home their remains. At a legal town-meeting, January 3, 1862, on motion of the same gentleman, the town voted unanimously, directing the selectmen to cause a record to be made of all volunteers from this town, or whose nearest kindred resided here, who have or may hereafter enlist in the service of the Government in the War for the Union. This is believed to have been the first act of the kind passed by any municipality in the Commonwealth. The Legislature of 1863 passed an act, a little more than one year later, requiring such a record to be kept by every town and city in the State. In the year 1864, when towns were prohibited by law from granting above a specified sum per man as bounty, the citizens subscribed to aid in filling the quotas of the town under the several calls for men, the sum of nearly seven thousand dollars. Afterwards, in 1865, under the provisions of a statute permitting the same, the town assumed and repaid these subscriptions to the amount of $6,700.
The ladies of the town, always ready for a good work, manifested from the first their interest in the comfort and welfare of our soldiers. The first company which left town, Company E, Second Massachusetts, carried many proofs of the thoughtful care of mother, wife, and sister, in conveniences indispensable to camp-life. The same eare followed them, and Chaplain Quint, in his history of the regiment, speaks of special favors to the different companies by people of the towns from which they came ; alluding to Com- pany E as experiencing particular kindness from Medway. But it was not to our own men alone but to others also that these supplies were sent. As the war progressed the call became more imperative. The sources of gov- ernment supply had not expanded to keep pace with the necessities of such
32
a vast army raised so suddenly. To meet these great needs, there were organized by the ladies in many towns and cities, Soldiers' Aid Societies. In this town the sewing circles of the day, better known then, perhaps, as " Ladies' Benevolent Societies," took up the work. At their large and fre- quent meetings a great amount of work was done. It would be gratifying if the amount and kind of work could now be stated. But no records can be obtained giving the interesting information. Suffice it to say that count- less socks and mittens, under-flannels for soldiers' wear, clothing for hospital use, bedding, pillows for wounded limbs, lint and bandages were among the supplies. One lady says "the attic chests were ransacked, and grand- mother's linen was none too good to be given." Fruit and delicacies for the sick were also donated and forwarded with the other supplies through the United States Sanitary Commission, or sent to the Chaplains of certain regiments.
A COMPLETE RECORD OF MEN FROM MEDWAY WHO SERVED IN THE ARMY AND NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE WAR FOR THE UNION, 1861- 1865, WITH OTHER STATISTICS OF THIE TOWN RELATING TO THE WAR.
This Record was prepared under the direction of the Selectmen, pursu- ant of the Vote of the Town, and in accordance with the Acts of the State Legislature.
THE VOTE OF THE TOWN, PASSED JANUARY 3, 1862.
" VOTED, That the Selectmen be directed to prepare a suitable record of all volunteers, from Medway and vicinity, attached to Co. E, 2d Reg't. Mass. Vols., and all others resident in this town, or whose parents or nearest kindred reside therein, enlisted or serving, or who may enlist and serve the Government in the war with the Rebel Confederacy ; said record to give the names, ages, residence, nativity, date, and term of enlistment, term of actual service, date of their discharge, to what company and regiment attached, their rank, any action in which they may have been engaged, whether wounded, killed, or taken prisoner, also any important incidents connected with their service, together with the action of the town upon the war, votes passed, moneys expended, to whom, and for what paid, and all voluntary contributions in aid of the war, as far as practicable, said record to be made in a book provided for that purpose, and at the close of the war to be placed with other records of town in the clerk's office."
33
"THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
"AN ACT TO PRESERVE A RECORD OF OUR SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS. " APPROVED MARCH 7, 1863.
" BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Gen- eral Court assembled, and by authority of the same, as follows :
" SECTION I. It shall be the duty of the clerk of every city and town of the Commonwealth, as soon as may be after the passage of this act to make out a full and complete record of the names of all the soldiers and officers who compose his town's quota, of the troops furnished by the Commonwealth to the United States during the present rebellion, stating the place of residence, the time of enlistment of each, and the number and designation of his regi- ment and company ; also the names of all who have resigned or been dis- charged, and at what time and for what cause, and all who have died in the service, and stating when practicable, at what time and place and the cause of death, whether by disease, accident, or on the field of battle, and the pro- motions of officers and from the ranks, and the date thereof ; and the names of all absentees, if any ; and all such other facts as may relate strictly to the military career of each soldier and officer.
"SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the clerk of every city and town to pro- cure a suitable blank book in which to make said record, and to preserve it among the other records of the town, and make such addition to the same as may be necessary, from time to time, to make said record perfect and com- plete. And said clerks shall be entitled to a reasonable compensation for their services and expenses in performing the duties devolved upon them by the provisions of this act, to be paid by their respective cities or towns.
"SEC. 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage."
"AN ACT IN ADDITION TO 'AN ACT TO PRESERVE A RECORD OF OUR SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS.'
" APPROVED APRIL 29, 1863.
" BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Gen- eral Court assembled, and by authority of the same, as follows :
"SECTION I. The first section of an act, entitled ' An Act to Preserve a Record of our Soldiers and Officers,' approved March seventh in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-three, is hereby so amended that the record re- quired by the provisions of said first section, shall, as far as practicable, state the time and place of birth, names of parents, previous occupation, term of enlistment, time of entering the service, and whether married or single, of all such soldiers and officers.
"SEC. 2. The clerk of each city and town shall also keep a full and complete record of the names of all soldiers and officers residents of all such cities and towns engaged in the naval service of the United States during the present rebellion, which record, shall, as far as practicable, state the time and place of birth, names of parents, the date at which he entered such ser- vice, his previous occupation, whether he was married or single, the vessel
3
34
or vessels on which he served, the battles or kind of service in which he was engaged, whether he resigned or was discharged, or deserted, and the date of such resignation, discharge, or desertion, the cause of such discharge or resignation, his promotion and the dates, occasions and nature of the same ; and if he died in the service it shall state the date and cause of his death, and such record shall contain any and all other such facts as relate to the naval career of such seamen or officers during such rebellion.
" SEC. 3. The adjutant-general shall prepare suitable blank books in conformity with the requirements of this act, with proper blanks for mar- ginal notes, and furnish the same to the several cities and towns at cost on the application of the clerk thereof.
"SEC. 4. All the expenses incurred in making said records, with the cost of the record books, shall be paid by the several cities and towns, and the records, when completed, shall be deposited and kept in the city and town clerk's office.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.