USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > Centennial history of Norway, Oxford County, Maine, 1786-1886, including an account of the early grants and purchases, sketches of the grantees, early settlers, and prominent residents, etc., with genealogical registers, and an appendix > Part 23
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This list of Revolutionary soldiers who came to Norway, may not be complete. It is almost certain that George Leslie was in the service, but the compiler of this work has been unable to obtain conclusive evi- dence of the fact. Those who lived until the passage of the laws which gave them a pension, are easily traceable, while of those who deceased before the enactment of the pension laws, no evidence of service can be found except upon the original pension rolls which are not easily accessible, and by the aid of these rolls persons cannot be identified with absolute certainty. The fathers of many of Norway's early residents are known to have served in the Revolutionary War, but it was thought best to limit our list to those who became residents of the town.
NORWAY IN THE WAR OF 1812.
The causes which led to the last war with Great Britain, known as the War of 1812, and the issues that were settled thereby, belong to the domain of general history. The impressment of our seamen and the depredations upon our commerce were among the causes, and upon the general question as to the necessity or advisability of the war the country was divided. In every State and in every town were persons who disapproved of the course of the national administration in declaring war. But after the war was begun, the voice of Maine was very strong in favor of its vigorous prosecution until we could win an honorable peace. The people of Oxford County, or a majority of them, sustained the administration, and Norway, in common with other towns, was ready to respond to the call for troops. Captain Bailey
237
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
Bodwell, who was then in command of one of the militia companies of this town, at once proceeded to recruit a company for active service. The men were enlisted for one year, and the company was assigned to the Forty-fifth Regiment of United States Infantry, under command of Colonel Denny McCobb. This company was raised principally in Norway, though a few men enlisted from Paris, Waterford, and Green- wood. It was recruited in the months of September and October, 1812, mustered in in November, and served until January, 1813. The following is a full list of the rank and file :-
Bailey Bodwell, Captain. William Twombly, Lieutenant. William Reed, Ensign.
SERGEANTS.
Alvan Boyden, Thomas George,
1
John Pike.
CORPORALS.
Count de Grass Bonney, Lewis Stowell,
Paul Simpson, John Valentine.
MUSICIANS.
George W. Cummings,
1 PRIVATES.
Jabez Young.
Atherton, Crombie, Bennett, Isaac,
Knight, John B.,
Lovejoy, Frye,
Barnes, Abisha,
Latham, Stephen,
Barrows, James,
Lebroke, Jacob,
Barrows, Asa,
Morgan, Samuel D.,
Bennett, John,
Malloy, Daniel,
Bodwell, Nathaniel,
Pike, Samuel,
Cummings, Moses,
Pool, Melvin,
Cobb, Ebenezer,
Pike, William,
Churchill, William,
Pike, Dudley,
Dale, Joseph, Dudley, David,
Pratt, Nathan,
Dunham, Asa,
Packard, James,
Everett, John,
Pike, Seth, Royal, Moddes,
Grant, Isaac W.,
Richardson, Samuel,
Shackley, Joseph,
Smith, Antepas,
Greenleaf, Stephen, Hall, Charles, Hearsay, Reuben, Hassom, James, Hicks, Asa,
Sprague, Elbridge,
Tubbs, Jacob,
Twombly, John,
Thurston, John, Twombly, Nathaniel, Witt, John, Weeks, Samuel P.
Hamlin, Poladore, Hill, Thomas, Jackson, Nathaniel, Jones, Sılas,
Pratt, Benjamin,
Farnum, Jeremiah,
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
In early winter the regiment marched to Burlington. In the follow- ing spring, or early in the summer, Captain Bodwell returned home, but the company served out the term of their enlistment. Seth Pike, Asa Dunham, and Jacob Tubbs Jr. died at, or near, Burlington. Joseph Dale came home sick, and died soon after. Many others came home broken down in health, and died within a few years.
ENSIGN REED'S LETTER.
Interesting in this connection, is the letter of Ensign William Reed of Captain Bodwell's company, written from the seat of war to his friend, Ichabod Bartlett, of Norway : --
DEAR FRIEND :-
CAMP AT PLATTSBURG, 22, Sept., 1814.
We arrived at this place on Wednesday, the 7th instant, found it surrounded on the land side by about fifteen thousand of Lord Wellington's veterans. A partial cannonading was kept up between our forts and the enemy until the IIth instant, when we had a general action by land and water, the result of which was truly glorious, and reflects the highest honor on the brave troops under General Macomb, likewise the brave volunteers and militia whose services were of the highest importance at that time. A bright ornament is added to our naval victories, superseded by none since the commencement of the present war. I had a fair view of the whole action on the lake, which was the highest gratification to me, though the same was awfully sublime. On the Tuesday following, I visited the fleet throughout. I perceived the enemy vastly superior to ours in metal, as well as men. When the action com- menced, the enemy was said by every one on shore, to have the weather gage. Must there not have been superior management? I leave it for others to judge. Be that as it may, it has had a glorious result on the water. All classes of men are united in the common cause. Many of the most noted smugglers were found in the front of the action. The army is treated by the citizens with due respect. Large quantities of vegetables are sent from the citizens of Vermont to the soldiers. Greater far did such noble deeds appear to be from the citizens last year. A few days since the village of Plattsburg was but little else than a heap of ruins; it now begins to look a little more flourishing, and considerable trade is carried on. I, this day, have command of the Provost Guard, and deserters have been sent to me who appear to be well-informed men in things relating to an army. They have been in service eight years. They say great dissatisfaction prevails in their ranks. Fifteen came in yester- day, three of whom were light dragoons. Time fails; I must conclude. My duty has been such that I have not had an opportunity of writing before. Have the goodness to write to me as soon as you receive this. Give my respects to all friends. My health, thank God, has been extremely good since my arrival here. Let me know all the particulars respecting the enemy in Maine, as great advancements are made by them I understand.
In haste; very respectfully, Your friend, WM. REED Jr.
MR. ICHABOD BARTLETT.
P. S. The number of deserters amounts to between four and five hundred. I stood the test of action as well as I expected, but the tremendous singing of bombs, congreve rockets
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
and cannon balls around my ears, over my head, is something less delightful than the singing of a fair maid.
W. REED Jr.
Toward the latter part of the summer of 1814, a British fleet was discovered off Portland, and great fears were entertained that an attack of the city was intended. Troops were at once ordered to the sea- board, and the interior of the State responded nobly to the call. Several companies were organized in Oxford County, two of which were in Norway. As in the case of the company that went to Burlington, these companies were made up in part by men from the adjoining towns. Many of the veterans who returned from Burlington, re-enlisted in the companies called to the defence of Portland. The first company was in the service at Portland, from the 14th to the 24th of September, 1814, three days additional being allowed for travel, and was officered as follows : -
Bailey Bodwell, Captain.
SERGEANTS.
John Pike Jr., Enoch Knight,
1
William Frost, Moses Houghton.
CORPORALS.
William Corson,
Samuel Pike.
MUSICIANS.
John Quinby,
1 PRIVATES.
Nathaniel Young.
Atwood, Job, Bodwell, Nathaniel,
Frost, Robert, Gorham, Benjamin, Gould, Andrew,
Bartlett, Lemuel,
Gould, Noah,
Bartlett, Lemuel 2d,
Greenleaf, Stephen,
Bartlett, Malachi,
Greenwood, Thaddeus,
Bartlett, Rufus Jr.,
Hill, Consider,
Bennett, Isaac,
Jordan, Elijah,
Bonney, Marshal, Buck, Daniel,
Jordan, Samuel,
Cleaves, Charles,
Marston, James M.,
Cleaves, Humphrey,
Monroe, James, Noble, David, Perry, John,
Clifford, John, Cobb, Churchill, Coy, Cyrus, Crockett, Ephraim,
Perry, Joshua Jr., Pierson, John Jr.,
Crockett, Samuel, Davis, Samuel, Delano, Ezekiel,
Dolly, Joseph, Everett, John B., Frost, Peter,
Pike, Nathaniel, Rowe, Solomon, Sawyer, James D., Tubbs, Samuel, Watson, Ebenezer, Witt, Daniel, Young, William.
Crockett, Lewis,
Lord, Samuel,
Bartlett, Isaac.
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
The second company from Norway was in service at the same time as the first, and covered the same period. The following is a roll of this company : -
Amos Town, Captain. William Pearson, First Lieutenant. Cadwallader F. Jones, Second Lieutenant.
SERGEANTS.
Thompson Hall, John Whitmarsh,
Isaac Lovejoy, John Needham.
CORPORALS.
Joseph Stevens,
Joshua Crockett,
MUSICIANS.
Daniel Leighton,
I PRIVATES.
Jonathan Stevens.
Bancroft, Jacob,
Millett, Israel,
Bradbury, Adam,
Noble, Nathan Jr., Needham, Evi,
Casco, John,
Pingree, Samuel,
Flint, Elijah,
Pingree, Hoyt,
Foster, Amos,
Pingree, Stephen Jr.,
Foster, Nathan Jr.,
Pingree, Hezekiah,
French, Benjamin,
Pool, Asa,
Hobbs, Jeremiah,
Pingree, William,
Hill, Josiah, Hall, David,
Pierce, Joseph,
Hobbs, Robinson,
Shed, Silas,
Hobbs, Jeremiah Jr.,
Small, James,
Jordan, Abraham,
Staples, Jeremiah,
Jordan, John,
Stevens, Joel Jr.,
Judkins, Thomas,
Upton, Francis,
Lovejoy, Isaac F.,
Upton, Micah,
Merrill, John,
White, Hosea,
Merrill, William,
Wilkins, Darius,
Merrill, Edmund,
Watson, Stephen P.
Merrill, Enoch,
Samuel Ames was Quartermaster's Sergeant of Lieutenant-Colonel Ryerson's regiment to which the two Norway companies were attached, and Henry Rust was Sergeant-Major. In Captain Blake's Paris com- pany were the following Norway men: George W. Cummings and Daniel Cummings Jr., musicians : Tilden Bartlett, private, was in Captain Ripley's Paris company. In Captain Blake's company were also Ichabod and Sylvanus Bartlett, John Needham, Daniel Noble, Jonathan Swift, and Moses Twitchell, either then or soon after Norway citizens. John Bird was in Captain Bemis' company.
Prentiss, Henry,
Bartlett, Clement,
Simeon Noble, Bela Noyes.
241
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
Early in 1815, the war closed, and peace was restored between the United States and Great Britain. An account of how the news was received in Norway, is shown in the Annals. In October of 1815, a court-martial convened at Paris for the trial of Captain Bailey Bodwell on charges preferred by Enoch Knight and several others for certain irregularities while he was in the service. * He had some trouble while in the Forty-fifth Regiment at Burlington, and came home long before his company did. The court brought the Captain in guilty, and sen- tenced him to removal from office, and disqualification for holding any military office for one year.
THE BOUNDARY TROUBLE.
The bloodless strife caused by encroachments of New Brunswick lumbermen upon our eastern or north eastern domain, generally called the " Aroostook War," occurred in 1839. The language of the treaty describing the line between Maine and New Brunswick was ambiguous and indefinite, and quite a broad strip of land was claimed by both sides and was called the disputed territory. The land agent of the State in the early part of 1839, reported that lumbermen in consid- erable numbers were stripping the timber, which constituted their chief value, from these disputed lands. The sheriff of Penobscot County upon whom the duty devolved, Aroostook County not then having been formed, with a posse of about two hundred men, went forward to drive the trespassers out. They retired before him, but arming themselves, they returned, captured the land agent, and Strickland finding things worse than he expected, hastened back to Augusta and laid the matter before the Governor and Council. The Legislature immediately fur- nished the sinews of war, and the Governor called for ten thousand men. A draft was ordered in February, but there being some irregularity in the proceedings, a second draft was ordered in March. The troops marched to Augusta and went into camp. A messenger was sent to Washington, and the matter was immediately laid before Congress. Ten million dollars were at once appropriated, and the President was authorized, in case no settlement could be made, to enlist fifty thousand
. It is said that one of the charges against Captain Bodwell was the fighting of a duel with some other officer, while in the service in Northern New York.
16
-
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
men for six months. This prompt action doubtless had its effect upon the Governor of New Brunswick, and paved the way for a peaceful solution of the question which soon followed. Norway promptly fur- nished her quota of men from the two militia companies, and a company was organized, which reached Augusta on the sixth day of March. This company consisted of three commissioned officers, eight non-com- missioned officers, one musician, and forty-four privates, largely from Norway, but a few from Greenwood, as follows : --
Amos F. Noyes, Captain. Alvah Hobbs, Lieutenant. Washington French, Ensign.
SERGEANTS.
Joseph Dearborn, Nathaniel Noble,
1
Isaac W. Grant, William Jordan.
CORPORALS.
Jeremiah Foster, Phineas Doble,
1
Ansel Stevens, Nathaniel Sampson.
MUSICIAN. James S. Greenleaf.
PRIVATES.
Bancroft, Daniel M.,
Holt, Dudley B.,
Bosworth, Constant D.,
Hor, Joseph,
Benson, James S.,
Linnell, Luther,
Bonney, Lucius,
Lord, Nathaniel,
Crockett, Solomon,
Lovejoy, Henry B.,
Corson, Benjamin,
Morse, Nathan Jr.,
Crockett, Ephraim S.,
Morgan, Jesse,
Cole, Cyrus,
Noble, Lorenzo H.,
Cummings, Jesse,
Pratt, Alanson S.,
Crockett, Martin,
Peabody, Benjamin Jr.,
Coburn, Greenfield D.,
Pike, Prescott L.,
Drew, Walter B.,
Pratt, Andrew,
Deering, James,
Rich, Aaron W.,
Ellis, Eleazer,
Faunce, Seth,
Richardson, Darius, Richardson, Lyman, Shaw, Cyrus,
Frost, William 3d, Frost, Henry,
Stevens, Winthrop,
Frank, Nehemiah,
Standish, Ellis Jr., Thayer, Ebenezer, Tarbox, Hanson,
Gurney, John,
Witt, William P.
Foster, Nathaniel Jr., Gurney, Isaac P.,
Hill, Benjamin,
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
No town in the county or State had a more patriotic record in the War of the Rebellion than the town of Norway. No town responded
243
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
more promptly and cheerfully to the demands for men, no town sent better material with which to build up and recruit the Union Army, and few, if any, towns sent a larger per cent of its population into the war. The amount of money raised by the town for the support of soldiers' families, was in excess of the average raised by other towns in the vicinity, while the amount raised to fill the town's quotas and prevent a draft, was considerably below. In this, as in all other towns, there was an element of opposition to the war and to the methods employed by the government in carrying it on. This feeling was much more pronounced at the beginning and during the first few months of the struggle, but it was not very demonstrative at any time, and proba- bly the cause of the South had as few real sympathizers in the town of Norway, in proportion to its population, as in any other town in Maine. Norway soldiers received more military commissions during the war than any other town of equal size in the State. Among the commis- sioned officers of this town was a full brigadier-general, the only one in the county who went into the army from civil life. This officer was also major-general by brevet. Norway also had one brevet briga- dier-general, one quartermaster, one lieutenant-colonel, two colonels, several captains, and almost enough of lieutenants and other officers to make up a respectable company.
At the breaking out of the war, when the President issued a call for seventy-five thousand volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws, and for the protection of the national capital, George L. Beal was in command of the Norway Light Infantry. At this time, while there were sixty thousand enrolled militia in the State, not more than twelve hundred were in a condition to respond, even in State emergencies. On the 15th day of April, 1861, the President called upon Maine to furnish one regiment of infantry. Measures were at once taken by the State government at Augusta, to recruit up the skeleton companies in the State, and prepare them for service in the field. Captain Beal at once called a meeting of his company, and a vote being taken, large num- bers volunteered for active service. While the company was together, a dispatch was received by Captain Beal, from Governor Washburn, asking him if he could muster his company for immediate service, to which he responded that he could. In two days the names of eighty-
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HISTORY OF NORWAY.
one men were enrolled. The recruiting papers were received April 23d, the company was filled on the 25th, and on the 27th the company started for Portland. The company was escorted through the streets of the village by a large procession of citizens who had assembled to bid their friends good by and a God speed. The South Paris band met the company at the railway station, where patriotic airs were played, and a bountiful collation served by the citizens. This company not only represented the town of Norway, but the county of Oxford, several towns having contributed to fill up its ranks. The company was mus- tered into the United States service May 3d, as Company G, First Regiment Maine Volunteer Militia. The three commissioned officers, Captain Beal, and Lieutenants Rust and Blake, were all of Norway, though Captain Beal was the only officer of the old company to enlist. The four sergeants were from Norway, and three of the four corporals, and the musician. One corporal was from Oxford. Of the privates, sixteen were from Norway, eight from Paris, seven from Greenwood, six from Bethel, five each from Oxford and Stoneham, four from Sum- ner, and one each from several other towns.
Most of the soldiers from Norway served in five regiments, the First, Tenth, Fourteenth, Twenty-third, and Twenty-ninth. There were several in the Fifth, and small representations in the Ninth, Thirteenth, and Thirtieth, and one in the First Heavy Artillery. It is quite remark- able, considering the number of men furnished from Norway, that the town was not represented either in the cavalry or light artillery. A brief outline sketch of the services of the five regiments which contained most of the Norway soldiers, will fairly represent the part this town had in putting down the great Southern rebellion, and this followed by the name of each soldier, stating his regiment, rank, and length of service, constitutes as complete a history of Norway in the late war, as the scope of this book will allow. It constitutes a record of which the town may justly be proud, and one which will be a source of gratification to the citizens of Norway in all coming time.
FIRST MAINE REGIMENT.
The First Maine Regiment went into camp in Westbrook, near the Marine Hospital, where there was the prevalence of sickness usual in
245
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
all subsequent regiments. It was mustered on the third day of May, but did not leave for Washington and the seat of war until the first day of June. The regiment was enthusiastically greeted at Newburyport, where a salute was fired, at Boston, in New York, where it was pre- sented with a battalion camp flag by Hon. Dexter A. Hawkins, the gift of Henry T. Capen, both sons of Maine, also at Philadelphia, and in passing through Baltimore it was neither applauded nor insulted. Arrived at Washington, the regiment went into camp on Meridian Hill. Here the regiment was engaged in drilling, in target practice, and in picketing the various thoroughfares into Washington. During the engagement known as the First Battle of Bull Run, the regiment had orders to be ready to march to the front in fifteen minutes. The regiment cheerfully responded; companies were formed and supplied with forty rounds of cartridges, and two days' rations. When the regi- ment was all ready to march, the order was countermanded, and the companies were dismissed to quarters. The First Maine was regarded as one of the best drilled and efficient regiments in the service, and it was thought advisable to keep it in the defences of Washington. The regiment remained in the performance of guard duty in and about Washington until August, when, its term of enlistment having expired, it was ordered to proceed to Portland, where it was mustered out on the fifth.
TENTH MAINE REGIMENT.
The Tenth Maine Regiment was reorganized from the First Maine, recruited up to the proper standard, and of this organization Captain Beal was made Colonel. Henry Rust Jr. became Captain of Company G in the new organization, with Jonathan Blake and William W. Whit- marsh as Lieutenants. Besides these commissioned officers, fifteen Norway men were in Company G. The regiment went into camp in Portland, where it remained nearly four weeks. It was mustered into the United States service October 4th, 1861, and on the 6th, started for the front. The regiment arrived in Baltimore on the afternoon of the 8th, and on the 9th, went into camp at Patterson Park. In about two weeks the regiment received its arms, and had a daily drill until November 4th, when it moved to the Relay House. Its duty here was
246
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
to guard the Washington branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. November 19th, the regiment was moved one mile nearer Washington, and four companies were distributed along the road to Annapolis. On the 27th, it returned to its former location, where it remained on duty guarding the railroad, until February 27th, 1862. Its duties here were exacting and arduous. It was part of the duties of the men to search the cars for contraband of war and deserters. With some changes in the roads assigned the regiment to guard, it remained in this vicinity until March 27th, when it was ordered to Harper's Ferry, and placed on duty guarding the several railways which converge at this point. The regiment continued to perform this disagreeable duty, being changed from place to place until the battle of Winchester, May 25th, when it was held in reserve. After the defeat of the Union forces, the Tenth was assigned the responsible duty of rear guard, and acted in that capacity during the retreat to Williamsport. While here, the regiment was attached to the First Brigade of the First Division, commanded by General W. S. Crawford. In the retreat from Winchester, the regiment lost three killed, several wounded, and quite a number were captured, including the Surgeon.
After this the regiment, either by itself or with the brigade, was engaged in making fatiguing and dangerous reconnoissances to Luray Court House, to Sandy Hook and Flint Hill, to Warrenton, and to other points, the weather being very hot and dry, and the air filled with dust, rendering the service very disagreeable. But the men performed the duties assigned them without murmuring, and it was rare that a member of the Tenth fell out by the way. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, which occurred on the 9th of August, the Tenth was under arms all day, and at about five o'clock, was ordered to advance. The regiment was in the fight only a short time, Colonel Beal's report says thirty minutes, but it suffered severely, losing one hundred and seventy- three men, out of four hundred and thirty-five present for duty, in killed, wounded, and missing. Company G lost one killed, ten severely wounded, and six slightly wounded. One was taken prisoner.
Then followed Pope's campaign, generally known as the Second Bull Run. The Tenth Maine was under arms most of the time during this
247
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
prolonged engagement, but was not under fire. The retreat of Pope's army brought the Tenth Maine to the vicinity of Washington. Soon afterward there was a change of commanders, McClellan succeeding Pope, and the Army of the Potomac advanced to drive the rebel hordes out of Maryland. The Tenth, much depleted by recent losses, was in this advance, and was in Mansfield's corps. The battle of Antietam soon followed, in which the Tenth Maine participated, and suffered severely. Company G numbered only some twenty-five, and as at Cedar Moun- tain, was gallantly led by Second Lieutenant Henry R. Millett. Colonel Beal was severely wounded, and had his horse shot under him. Company G lost in this battle eleven in killed and wounded. The loss in killed and wounded in the regiment, which numbered about three hundred men when taken into the fight, was seventy-one, of whom seven were commissioned officers. After the battle of Antietam, in which the Union Army was successful, the regiment marched to Maryland Heights, where they performed guard duty and such other duties as were assigned them. On the 15th of October, the regiment was assigned to the
Twelfth Army Corps. On the 10th of December, the regiment concen- trated at Harper's Ferry and marched into Loudoun County. After- ward by various marches, it reached Stafford Court House, and for their prompt and energetic efforts and prompt obedience to orders, the regi-
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