USA > Maine > Franklin County > Industry > A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine > Part 28
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Print, per yd., 40
Nails, cut, per lb.,
12
Salt Pork, per lb.,
21
Indigo, per oz.,
20
Glass, 7x9, per light,
IO
Kerosene oil, per gal., I 20
Men's boots, (thick) pair,
5 50
The drafted men of 1863 who hired substitutes, for many years made persistent and repeated efforts to recover from the town the sum such substitutes had cost them. For more than half a dozen different times the town was asked to grant this request, and on one occasion those who had paid commutation money joined in the demand. These propositions were per- emptorily dismissed without action, however, and only ceased to be made when the parties removed from town.
Although large sums of money were raised, and tempting bounties offered for enlistments, the town's quota of 1865 re- mained unfilled, and again a draft became necessary. Under the President's call of March -, 1865, the town's deficiency was nine men. To secure these, sometime during the month of March, 1865, eighteen names were drawn from the enrolled militia, as follows :
Augustus H. Swift.
Ira Emery, Jr.
W'm. M. Bryant.
Wm. L. Metcalf.
Francis R. Merry. John Gilman. Alvin S. Gray.
John S. Fassett.
Eli N. Rackliff.
John W. Perkins.
Wm. Cornforth, Jr. Daniel Gilman.
Caleb W. Gilmore.
Alonzo Frost.
323
EVENTS FROM 1860 TO 1866.
Warren Cornforth.
Daniel Brown.
Jeremy Bean. Charles H. B. True.
The drafted men were never mustered into the service, for on the 9th of April, 1865, Lee's army surrendered, which vir- tually brought the war to a close .* Great was the rejoicing everywhere at the cessation of hostilities. Everyone's cup of joy seemed full to the brim. Day after day, as additional and more detailed reports of the closing-up of this long and sanguin- ary struggle were received, the church bell at West's Mills was rung, and in other ways was the joy of the people manifested. t
FLAG-RAISINGS AT ALLEN'S AND WEST'S MILLS.
The long and bloody war was near its close. Already the people, who had long and anxiously watched while the destiny of their beloved Union seemed poised and trembling in the bal- ance, began to feel that buoyancy of spirit which is but the natural reaction of the mind after any prolonged period of deep suspense. The glad tidings spread from house to house, and rejoicing was heard on every hand. An event of so great mag- nittide must necessarily be commemorated by some public dem- onstration. Consequently the citizens of Allen's Mills and vicinity decided to raise a flag in honor of the event. A paper was drawn up and subscriptions solicited by Mary G. Luce, daughter of Moses M. Luce, Esq., and in an incredibly short time a sum sufficient to purchase a beautiful banner was raised. While awaiting the arrival of their flag from Bath, Maine, where it was purchased, a large number of men and boys went to the point of land extending into Clear Water Pond, felled a tree suitable for a staff, and triumphantly dragged it across the pond on the ice to the village, where it was erected in the most
* The voters of Industry seem to have had a premonition that the war was near its close, for on the day previous to Lee's surrender they had voted to pass by the article whereby money was to be raised to pay drafted men and hire substitutes.
t At Farmington the joy was turned to sadness by a fatal accident, the result of bursting a cannon while engaged in firing a salute in honor of the close of the war. At the same time several others were more or less injured.
324
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
commanding locality to be found. At 10 o'clock A. M., on Friday, April 14, 1865, the new banner was for the first time hoisted to its proud position, by Misses Mary G. Luce and Josephine Hinkley, amid the loud cheers of the assembled multitude.
Rev. A. R. Plumer, of Industry, then delivered an able address, after which a procession was formed which marched to a large hall in the starch-factory, where a sumptuous repast had been prepared by the ladies. After dinner, toasts were proposed, and responded to by Gen. Nathan Goodridge, Moses M. Luce, Esq., Isaac Webster, Edwin A. R. Rackliff and others. The exercises were enlivened by vocal music furnished by a choir consisting of some of the best talent in Franklin County, such as Charles S. and Lizzie ( Allen ) Prince, Orlando T. Good- ridge, Eliphalet Miller and others.
But alas, how changed the scene in a few short hours! How strikingly true are the following lines :
" "Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draught of breath, From the blossom of health to the paleness of death. From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud, Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" *
Ilardly had those who participated in the festivities just mentioned, returned to their homes, when President Lincoln received his death wound, at the hand of an assassin. The second time their beautiful flag was raised it was placed at half-mast, and draped with black, in honor to the martyred President.
Nearly simultaneously with the movement at Allen's Mills, the people at West's Mills made preparation for the erection of a fine " liberty pole." This pole, which was of pine, was con- structed on the most modern principles, and measured seventy- two feet from its base to the truck of the top-mast. It was probably raised on the same day as the one at Allen's Mills, at which time a large concourse of people assembled at the village
* The poem from which this extract is made was a great favorite with President Lincoln.
ETENTS FROM 1860 TO 1866. 325
to witness and assist in its erection. * The raising of a pole of this height was no small task, and notwithstanding the assistance of the many willing hands, it was near sunset when the stars and stripes were raised to their lofty position.
Intelligence of the assassination and death of President Lincoln reached West's Mills Saturday evening, April 15, 1865, and all day Sunday following, flags floated at half-mast and the solemn tones of the tolling church-bell were heard. Among all classes, irrespective of party affiliations, the deepest sorrow and respect for the martyred President was manifested. On the day of his burial, memorial services were held in the Union Church at West's Mills, in which many participated. The address was delivered by Rev. Charles E. Blake, pastor of the Free Will Baptist Church in Farmington. The house was well filled and the exercises solemn and impressive.
The close of the war afforded the citizens of Industry an opportunity to take a retrospective view of the part the town had taken in suppressing the rebellion. This view was not altogether unpleasant. With a population of 827 in 1860, the town had furnished sixty-one men for the service under the various calls. These had invariably merited the esteem of their superiors by patriotism and valor, as well as by a faithful dis- charge of their soldierly duties. Ever mindful of its obligations to these brave men, the town had always been liberal in its bounties for enlistments and also made generous provisions for the soldiers' families. The subjoined table shows the amount paid in bounties to soldiers, under the various calls :
To 3 years' men of 1862, $1,000 00
9 months' men of 1862. 1,950 00
Volunteers of 1863, 3,300 00
1864 and 5, 10,800 00
Drafted men entering the service, 1,200 00
Am't Contributed by individuals toward bounties, 481 00
$18,731 00
* Since the above was written it has been definitely learned that the raising occurred on Friday, April 14, 1865. Also that the village choir was present on that occasion, and rendered several appropriate selections, greatly to the enjoyment of all present.
41
320
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
Contributed supplies for the relief of soldiers, 950 00 Aid to sokliers' families. 2,682 49
$22.363 49
Though reimbursed for aid to soldiers' families by the State, the expense of enlisting men, paying commutations and hiring substitutes, must have swelled the expense of the war to the citizens of Industry to fully $25,000, this sum being nearly one- seventh of its valuation in 1860.
CHAPTER XVHL
THE BOYS IN BLUE.
Francis (). Bean .- Nelson O. Bean .- George W. Boyden .- Charles E. Burce .- James (. Burce .- John C. Burce .- William S. Burce .- George H. Butler .- John P. Butler .- Addison II. Chase .- Addison F. Collins .- Daniel S. Collins .- James W. Collins .- Daniel A. Conant .- John F. Daggett .- Hicam P. Durrell .-- William H. Edwards .- John D. Elder .- Carlton P. Emery .- George C. Emery .- Zebulon M. Emery .- Calvin B. Fish .- Eben Fish .- Benjamin Follett .- William (. Folsom. -William H. Frost .- John F. Gerry .- Bradford Gilmore .- Almore Haskell .- John M. Howes .- Adriance R. Johnson .- William G. Lewis .- Fifield A. Luce. -John T. Luce -Ilenry S. Maines .- Gilbert R. Merry .- Elias Miller .- Henry G. Mitchell .- Atwood Morse .- John M. Nash .- David M. Norton .- Oliver D. Norton .- James Pinkham .- Samuel Pinkham .- Wellington Pinkham .- Wilder Pratt .- Charles S. Prince .- Albanus D. Quint .- William L. Quint .- Edwin A. R. Rackliff .- Elbridge HI. Rackliff .- John (). Rackliff .- Samuel Rackliff .- William J. Rackliff .- Reuel HI. Rogers .- Lyman M. Shorey .- Andrew J. Spinney .- John (. Spinney .- Benjamin Tibbetts .- Benjamin F. Tibbetts .- Clinton B. Webster .- David C. Whitney .- Aaron E. Williams .- George F. Williams .- O. L. Young.
FRANCIS O. BEAN.
FRANCIS O. BEAN, son of John C. and Olive ( Berry ) Bean, came to Industry in the winter of 1862 and settled on the Ad- dison II. Chase farm. He enlisted with others, his brother among the number, the following summer, as a member of the 17th Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the U. S. service at Portland, August 14th, and assigned to Co. G, Capt. Edward I. Merrill. Soon after going South he was de- tailed as teamster and was with the wagon train about eighteen months. After this he was at the division headquarters in the mail department. Mr. Bean was with General Burnside during his famous mud march, and reached Gettysburg with the wagon train on the morning following the last day's battle. He
328
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
continued in the service until finally mustered out, June 4, 1865.
NELSON O. BEAN.
Nelson (). Bean, a brother of the forenamed Francis, had resided in Industry for some years prior to the breaking out of the Civil War, in the family of an elder brother. He enlisted in the 17th Maine Regiment and was mustered into the U. S. service August 18, 1862, at Portland, and assigned to Co. G. They left Portland for Washington, D. C., August 21st, where they remained doing garrison duty until the 7th of Octo- ber. Mr. Bean participated in the battle of Fredericksburg on the 13th of December. His regiment re-crossed the Rappahan- nock River on the 15th, and remained encamped at Falmouth, Va., until May 1, 1863. The regiment was also present at the battle of Chancellorsville, engaging the enemy May 2d and 3d. On the 2d day of July they arrived at Gettysburg and engaged the enemy on that and the following day. On the 27th of No- vember Mr. Bean's regiment took a prominent part in the battle of " Orange Grove." Returning to Brandy Station on the Ist day of December, the regiment remained encamped there until the 25th of March, 1864. He also took an active part, with his regiment, in the battle of the Wilderness, on the 5th and 6th of May. From this time to the 21st his regiment was almost con- tinually under fire. On the 23rd of May Mr. Bean's regiment joined the 5th Army Corps near North Anna River and partici- pated in a charge which resulted in driving the enemy across the river and gaining possession of the bridge. During this charge, when near the river, Mr. Bean was wounded in the left side by a minnie ball, which fractured the lower rib in two places. He was sent first to the hospital at Washington, D. C., and afterwards to Centre Street Hospital, Newark, New Jersey. His wound was of an extremely painful nature and very slow to heal. After a time he was removed to the U. S. General Hospital at Augusta, Maine, where, finding that the aggra- vating nature of his wound would incapacitate him for active service for a long time, he was discharged. Ile is now a mill operative and resides in Suncook, N. H.
329
THIE BOYS IN BLUE.
GEORGE W. BOYDEN .*
George Wyatt Boyden, son of Asaph and Susan ( Butler ) Boyden, was born in Industry, April 10, 1833. When a young man he went to the State of New Hampshire, where he married and was living when the war broke out. Here he sub- sequently enlisted as a member of Co. F, 9th N. H. Volunteer Infantry. Near the expiration of his term of enlistment, he re-enlisted and faithfully served his country until the close of the war. The following extracts from his letters give the reader some vivid pen pictures of the ups and downs of army life :
FORT ALEXANDER HAYES, VA., Dec. 23, 1864.
Dear Father and Mother:
The box you sent me arrived here to-day, after being twenty-three days on the road. Everything in it was good and in good order except the pie, which was a little mouldy on the under side, but not enough to hurt it for army eating. The cake is first rate, as good as I ever ate, so are the doughnuts and dried apple, sausages and butter. I shall have some good apple-sauce as soon as I can stew the apple. Bread, butter and apple-sauce on a private soldier's plate in this army, well I never ! never !! The towel was very acceptable, and I will try and keep it as long as I can. I hardly know how to thank you for your kindness in sending me so much good food. I told my three tent- mates, when the box came, I did not deserve it but mother would no doubt sleep better if she knew I had received it, and that I would write as soon as my day's work was done and let her know it had come. You can hardly conceive the satisfaction of us poor soldiers when we get anything from home. Men who would take no notice of such matters at home will flock around and say : " Did you get a box? Did you get a box?" I tell you they always bring with them memories sweet of " childhood's sunny hours," of a time when we had no fears of war taking us away from the homes we so dearly love. My boyhood home and its scenes, among the hills of Maine, are still as fresh in my memory as if I had only just left it, but time tells me it is nearly fifteen years. "Thus with the year seasons return," and each brings its hopes and fears, its joys and sorrows, sunshine and shade. I had a pleasant
* Though this name does not properly belong to the list of Industry soldiers, the writer has inserted it in order to afford his readers the opportunity of perusing some very interesting war correspondence.
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
home till this war took me away from it, and I have it now-"''tis home where the heart is." but the pleasing memories are all of the past, while the present is only made bearable by the good wishes and kind deeds of friends at home, sweet home. Still having faith in the future because of my good luck in the past, I hope again to be at home with wife, boy, father, mother, sisters and brother, and remember only that which is pleasant and forget that a bloody war ever called me away. But should I be among the host that is now and will be left here, only to be remembered by friends at home, if these friends can truthfully say, " He has done his duty to his country," it is all I ask. But I hope to live to see this rebellion brought to an end at no very distant day. The rebels must soon give it up entirely, come back to the Union they should never have left, and by good behavior in the future atone for their sins political of the past, so that we may sit in the shade of the outstretched arms of our worthy Uncle Samuel, and sing " Hail Colum- bia " till our children and children's children are-are-are old enough to sing it for us. " So mote it be."
Although the soldier's life was characterized by many hard- ships, and although disease and death were constantly thinning their ranks, yet, amid all these vicissitudes of war, "the boys" found some pleasantries-"Some sugar in the cane"-as the following anecdote related by Mr. Boyden goes to prove: " At one time we had to cut a great deal of cord-wood, and com- panies were detailed for that purpose. In our company was one James Carlton, who had won the sobriquet of 'Truthful Jeemes,' as he was the soul of honor and did not look like a liar. He was the fastest chopper in the whole army, and we often tried to get a bet up on the amount of wood he could chop in a day, he to cut the trees, cut, split and pile up the wood. With all our persuasion he would not consent, as he would not be a party to any gambling scheme. We urged, argued and tried to persuade, all to no purpose, except to arouse his own curiosity as to how much wood he really could cut. To put the matter to test he took his axe, slipped away out of camp one morning when we were off duty, and went to chopping by himself. He chopped until about three o'clock in the afternoon, when he looked around and decided he had as much cut as he could pile before sunset. He piled it up and
331
THE BOYS IN BLUE.
found he had only fifty-three cords, which, he said, disappointed him. He went back to where he began work in the morning, and following up his work, discovered by appearances, that his axe must have flew off of the handle about eleven o'clock in the forenoon and he had been chopping with the handle the rest of the day. This is his story just as he told it to me, and he made me promise not to add anything that would make a lie of it. He also expressed much regret that he did not yet know how much wood he could cut in a day."
CHARLES E. BURCE.
Charles Edward Burce, son of Silas and Rachel ( Oliver) Burce, enlisted as a private in Co. H, 14th Maine Regiment, Vol- unteer Infantry, and was mustered into the U. S. service Dec. 14, 1861. Re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864. Transferred to Co. A, Battalion, 14th Regiment, Infantry. Mustered out at Darien, Ga., Aug. 28, 1865. Resides at Porter's Mills, Wisconsin, where he is engaged in farming.
JAMES O. BURCE.
James Oliver Burce, son of Silas and Rachel ( Oliver ) Burce, enlisted at the age of sixteen years as a private in Co. H, 14th Maine Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the U. S. service Dec. 14, 1861. Re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864. Pro- moted to musician. Taken prisoner at the battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864. Confined in Salisbury and other rebel prisons. Discharged for disability July 8, 1865. He is a farmer and re- sides at Porter's Mills, Eau Claire Co., Wisconsin.
JOHN C. BURCE.
Among the many brave men who served their country faith- fully and well, in the war between the States, not one can lay claim to a more brilliant and honorable record than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. Enlisting near the breaking out of the war, he gave to his country nearly three and one-half of the best years of his life, and in his death left behind a record to which relatives and friends alike point with pride.
332
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
John Calvin Burce, son of Silas and Rachel ( Oliver ) Burce, was born in Stark, Maine, in 1834. He first enlisted for three months as a member of the 3d Regiment, Maine Volunteer In- fantry, and was mustered into the U. S. service June 4, 1861, as- signed to Co. F, and was immediately appointed corporal. On the 5th the regiment left Augusta for Washington, D. C., and on their arrival went into camp on Meridian Hill. Crossing the Potomac River July 6th, they entered Virginia and remained in the vicinity of Alexandria until the 15th of July, when Mr. Burce was discharged for re-enlistment and returned to Maine on a furlough. On the 22d of September, 1861, he was mustered in as a private in Co. D, 9th Regiment, Maine Veteran Infantry. The regiment started on the 24th for Fortress Monroe; here they joined a portion of General Sherman's expedition for the capture of Port Royal, S. C. The expedition sailed from Fortress Monroe October 29th, and on November 8th landed at Hilton Head. Remaining in that vicinity until Feb. 21, 1862, the regi- ment formed a part of the expedition which captured Fernan- dina, Fla., the 9th Maine being the first regiment to land from the transports on the occupation of the town by the Union forces.
It is impossible within the limits of this brief sketch to fol- low Mr. Burce through his long and honorable career as a soldier, or even mention all the engagements in which his regiment par- ticipated. But the part they bore in the capture of Morris Island is bright on history's page, as well as their determined bravery at Fort Wagner, where, in an assault, they only retreated when ordered so to do, after other regiments had fallen back and they alone confronted the enemy.
In December, 1863, he re-enlisted and was mustered into the service on the 12th day of that month, and later returned to Maine on a thirty-days' furlough. While at home he married (published March 2, 1864) Ada H. Andrews, daughter of Levi and Lydia ( Hurd) Andrews of Anson.
Returning to the front he rejoined his regiment on the 28th of March. They engaged the enemy at Walthall Junction May 7th, and at Drury's Bluff on the 17th of the same month. They
THE BOYS IN BLUE. 333
also fought the enemy at Bermuda Hundred and Cold Harbor, and likewise participated in the siege of Petersburg. The following October he was taken ill, and died at White Hall Hos- pital, Philadelphia, Oct. 18,* 1864, aged 30 years.
WILLIAM S. BURCE.
Willliam Stacy Burce, son of Silas and Rachel (Oliver) Burce, enlisted as a member of Co. F, 14th Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the service March 30,1 1864. Transferred to Co. B, June 18, 1864, and on muster- ing out the original members he was assigned to the 14th Battalion, Co. C. The 14th Battalion was subsequently increased to a full regiment by the addition of certain companies of unassigned infantry. Mustered out at Darien, Ga., Aug. 28, 1865. Mr. Burce was in Minnesota at last accounts.
GEORGE H. BUTLER.
George Halser Butler, son of Peter W. and Mary E. ( Rob- inson ) Butler, was born in Industry Jan. 6, 1833. He married, Jan. 21, 1858, Catherine Nichols, daughter of Aholiab and Elmeda ( Messer) Nichols, by whom he had three children. Early in the fall of 1864 he enlisted for one year in the first company Unassigned Infantry, Capt. Edward S. Butler. He was mustered into the service Sept. 16, 1864. The company immediately after its organization left for the front, and was assigned to the 29th Regiment as Co. A. Joining the regiment October 18th, he participated in the battle of Cedar Creek on the following day. During this engagement he received a severe bullet wound in the shoulder. He was conveyed to the hospital at Winchester, Va., where he died Nov. 9, 1864.
JOHN P. BUTLER.
John Perham Butler, also a son of Peter W. and Mary E (Robinson) Butler, enlisted about the same time and in the
* Adjutant General's Report. A headstone erected to his memory in the cemetery near West's Mills gives the date October 23d.
+ Another record has the date March 24th.
42
334
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
same company as his brother George. When the company went South he was left sick at Augusta, and was not able to join his regiment for some time. Nothing is definitely known respecting his service in the field. He subsequently learned the trade of a watchmaker and jeweler. Died of consumption, in Industry, April 16, 1871, aged 28 years and 6 days.
ADDISON II. CHASE.
Addison Hayes Chase, son of Thomas and Phebe ( Hatha- way) Chase, was born in Livermore, Maine, April 4, 1826. His father was a soldier in the 1812 War. His grandfather, also named Thomas, was a gunner on board the " Alliance," and participated in the fight with the English "Serapis." On the Ist day of January, 1850, he married Harriet C. Bean, daughter of Jeremy and Miriam (Currier) Bean, of Jay, and on the 13th of April, 1855, he removed with his family to Industry and settled Near Tibbetts's Corner on the farm now ( 1892) occupied by Arthur W. Hawes. Here he was living when the War of the Rebellion broke out. On Dec. 2, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. E, 13th Maine Regiment, Volim- teer Infantry, and was mustered into the service at Angusta, Me., Dec. 10, 1861. His company left Augusta, Feb. 18, 1862, and arrived in Boston on the same day. Two days later Mr. Chase and his comrades embarked for Ship Island, Miss., via Fortress Monroc. Owing to various hindrances, the company did not reach its destination till March 20th. He remained on the Island doing camp, guard and laborious fatigue duty until July LIth, when they left the Island, made a brief stop at New Orleans, and arrived at Fort St. Philip on the 15th. Here the subject of this sketch remained until he sickened and died, Oct. 28, 1862, aged 36 years, 6 months and 24 days.
ADDISON F. COLLINS.
Addison Franklin Collins, son of Eben G. and Cordelia (Howes) Collins, was born in Industry, June 4, 1847. At the age of seventeen years he enlisted in Co. A, 29th Regi- ment, Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Edward S. Butler, and was
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