USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 26
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 26
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In Maine, Israel Washburn, Jr., was nominated for Governor by the Republicans, while the Democratic standard bearer was a citizen of Camden, Hon. Ephraim K. Smart. The Whig party revived this year and for the last time in Maine nominated a gubernatorial candidate, Phineas Barnes. One of the candidates being a Knox County man naturally added to the interest in this section, and the new county became a seething political cauldron and started upon its political career keyed up to a high pitch, which, however, it has been able to pretty well sustain during its forty-six years of existence. In August great rallies were held in Rockport and Camden. The one held in Camden in the interest of the Republican party was attended by an immense crowd, with " Wideawakes " from Rockland, Thomaston, Bangor, Hampden, Frankfort and Belfast. Speeches were made in the afternoon and evening by Hon. John P. Hale, Hon. Lot M. Morrill, Governor, Hon. Israel Washburn, candidate for Governor, Hon. Samuel C. Fessenden, candidate for Congressman, and Thaddeus R. Simon- ton, Esq. In the evening there was a torchlight parade of over 600 "Wideawakes."
The Democrats, too, held large meetings - mostly in the open air, as most political meetings were held in those days. One of these meetings in the interest of Douglass and Johnson, and particularly of Col. Smart for Governor, was held in front of the Congregational church, where a large crowd assembled to listen to the orators and the Democratic campaign quartet, who sang among other songs, the refrain then popular, ending with the
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A LITTLE CLOUD
chorus :
" We'll take a start and go for Smart, Because he's the best looking man-man-man, Because he's the best looking man."
Mr. Douglass himself took part in the Maine campaign and spoke in the larger places on Penobscot bay and river, but did not visit Camden. A large crowd assembled at the boat wharf here early one morning to see Mr. Douglass, when on his way from Rockland to Bangor, and was rewarded by seeing the "Little Giant," who lifted his hat in response to the acclamations of the people, but did not speak.
In the election that followed, Mr. Washburn was elected by a large majority and became Maine's first "war governor." · Not- withstanding that the Democratic candidate was a resident of Camden, the town was strongly Republican, the vote standing as follows : Washburn, 433 ; Smart, 366 ; Barnes, 10. Mr. Smart, however, had the satisfaction of carrying the county, which he did by about 125 majority. Thus Knox County started upon its career by going Democratic, a thing it has done so often since that day. At this election Camden elected as its Representative, Ephraim M. Wood, who had 431 votes to 376 for his opponent, Sidney A. Jones. The other Camden men who were candidates at this election were Thaddeus R. Simonton for County Attorney, and John D. Rust for Sheriff, Republicans, and Horatio Alden for Judge of Probate, Democrat. The two former were defeated, although they both ran well ahead of their ticket in Camden. Mr.
Simonton had 459 votes, and his opponent, John A. Meserve, of Rockland, 349. Mr. Rust had 446 votes, and his opponent, Edward Hills, 351. Mr. Alden, who was elected the first Judge of Probate for Knox County, received 364 votes, and his oppon- ent, Beder Fales, 433. Thus Camden then proved to be a strong factor in the politics of Knox County, as Camden and Rockport are today.
At the Presidential election in November, Camden went
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
strongly for Lincoln and Hamlin, their electors receiving 411 votes, while the Democratic candidates received 171. Knox County, too, went for Lincoln and Hamlin by nearly 600 majority.
The election returns from all the states showed that Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin, had been elected President and Vice-President of the United States, and on December 20, South Carolina seceded from the Union.
Joseph Jones, a leading business man and citizen of the town and head of one of the principal families of the Camden village of that day, died about this time at the age of about 62 years. Mr. Jones was born in Warren, Mass., Oct. 14, 1797, but when he was three years of age his parents moved to St. Albans, Vt., where his early life was passed. When about 21 years of age, in 1818, Mr. Jones came to Camden with hardly any resources, except those of a resolute will and determined heart, and entered the employ of Nathaniel Martin, who then traded in the Hunt building. After remaining with Mr. Martin for about three years, he went into business for himself. About the year 1824, in company with Dr. Joseph Huse, he built the "Sherman building " as it was afterwards called, which stood on Main street where Sylvester L. Arau's block now is, where he traded for a number of years, and then, about the year 1833, built the brick block now occupied by the J. W. Bowers Co. Mr. Jones was pre-eminently a man of business, and was one of the most enterprising men of his day in Camden. He had no taste for public positions, and with the exception of being Adju- tant of the Militia and President of Megunticook Bank, he held no offices. In 1851, on account of ill health, Mr. Jones retired from active business. He was a kind and benevolent man, possessing a practical Christian character, practicing his acts of benevolence without ostentation. Mr. Jones married Mary A., daughter of Nathan Brown, by whom he had nine children, viz .: Elizabeth E., (who married John Rhynas) Nathaniel B., Joseph H., Fannie L., (who married Charles B. Hazeltine) Sidney A.,
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Mariana, Oscar R., Susan F., (who married Jose de Casanova) and Sophia M. None of his family has lived in town for many years.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE STORM BURSTS.
1861. No one who did not live in those days can have an adequate conception of the excitement that prevailed throughout the country at the beginning of the year 1861. In January and February, South Carolina's overt act of secession was followed by six more of the southern states, and during the spring the four remaining rebellious states also seceded. Lincoln was success- fully inaugurated in March and on April 12 the storm of rebellion burst upon the nation when the first gun of the greatest civil war of modern times was fired by Beauregard upon Fort Sumpter in Charleston harbor. Three days later President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling out the militia of the country for three months service to suppress the rising rebellion, and on May 3 he issued another call for men, this time to serve "during the war." At once the whole north was astir. Legislatures were convened, meetings were held, men and money were voted and offered by loyal communities and citizens for the defense of the Union, and during the weeks that followed, patriotism pervaded the atmosphere, martial music filled the air and the tramp of myriads of feet shook the earth as the brave boys marched in from the villages and hillsides to the recruiting stations, and the regi- ments marched away to the seat of war ..
Maine was among the very foremost to act. The day after the President's call, Gov. Washburn sent out a proclamation call-
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THE STORM BURSTS
ing the Legislature to hold a special session on April 22, at which an act was at once passed, providing for the raising of ten regi- ments of volunteers and authorizing a loan of a million dollars. No time was lost. The First Maine Regiment of infantry was organized at Portland, April 28, and was mustered into the ser- vice of the United States, May . 3; the Second Regiment was organized at Bangor, May 14, and mustered into the service May 28; and the Third Regiment was organized at Augusta,. June 4, and left the following day for Washington.
In the meantime, this section was ablaze with the war enthu- siasm. A recruiting office was opened in Rockland on the last Wednesday in April, and in a week four companies were filled and a fifth immediately followed, resulting in the mustering in on June 15 of the gallant old Fourth Maine Regiment at Rockland. The Regiment had encamped at Rockland on May 7, previous to which, Hiram G. Berry had been elected Colonel. The name of the encampment was "Camp Knox," a name that the regiment took with it to the south. To this noble regiment Camden con- tributed the following : Ivory W. Baird, Corporal ; Geo. L. Ames, Fisher Ames, Geo. W. Anderson, H. D. Calderwood, William J. Collins, Hollis Farnsworth, Geo. G. Gardiner, Alanson Gardiner, Otis Heald, George F. Knowlton, F. M. Leach, Henry F. Leach, J. S. Meservey, Samuel J. Needham, A. Mark Ober, John A. Quinn, George Sheldon, Joseph A. Simmons, Joseph Trim.
On June 17 the regiment left for Portland on the steamer Daniel Webster, en route for Washington. It marched to the wharf bearing a large white banner upon which were inscribed the words, "FROM THE HOME OF KNOX." At the wharf a large concourse of people had assembled to bid the brave volunteers a hearty "God speed," and there the scenes, so many times afterwards enacted throughout the north, on the departure of beloved sons, brothers and husbands to war, were enacted for the first time in Knox Connty. The Rockland Gazette three days later had an eloquent editorial upon the departure of the regiment,
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
closing as follows : "And so our brave volunteers have left us. May the God of our fathers have them in His care, make them true, patriot soldiers, return them again to their homes and loved ones, and make those they leave behind ready, when duty calls, to follow them in defense of our flag and country."
The regiment reached Washington, June 20, and later went into camp near Alexandria, and on July 21 engaged in the dis- astrous battle of Bull Run, where it lost 23 men killed, 3 officers and 24 men wounded and 3 officers and 24 men missing. Very few of the regiments on that fatal battle field suffered more fatal- ities than the Fourth Maine, which was one of the last to leave the field, retreating not in a panic, but in good order under its own officers. No Camden soldier was killed in this battle, but one, Jos. A. Simmons, was wounded. After the battle, the regi- ment as a portion of Sedgwick's brigade, remained near Wash- ington until the following March.
The twenty men contributed to the Fourth Maine Regiment were not, by any means, a large part of Camden's contribution to the country's defense. In all, Camden sent 468 men to the war, a small army in themselves and a magnificent tribute paid to the cause of union and liberty. But eighteen cities and towns in the state furnished more men for the service than this town. But com- paratively few of these men rose to high military rank. They were mostly privates, of the fearless and tireless men who carried the knapsack, the "men behind the guns," whose unswerving devotion, magnificent valor, and intelligent service, at last ham- mered to death the tenacious spirit of slavery and rebellion. Life is sweet to all men and especially dear to young men, as our soldiers all were then, who are full of health and vigor, and are looking forward to a long and happy existence in an irridescent future. The bravest of us shrink from taking risks that may result in the loss of our lives, and it is hard to realize what our feelings would be should we be forced to face the cannon's mouth. Yet the brave men who composed the grand volunteer
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THE STORM BURSTS
regiments of the great rebellion, eagerly offered their services in defense of their native land. They did not know, it is true, those who first marched away, through what awful scenes of carnage they were to pass, but when the stern truth became evident, as it soon did, that years of war and bloodshed must elapse before the rebellion could be crushed, and the horrors of the war were rea- lized by all, it did not deter those left at home from stepping forth to the sacrifice when their turn came to enlist, and for four years the heroes marched away, knowing that the fate of their dead brothers who had gone before, was likely to be their own. Let us not in the hurly-burly of today, forget that we cannot honor too much the memory of these fallen heroes, nor the hoary heads and bent forms of the remnant of those red-cheeked, beardless boy soldiers of the civil war, that we still have with us.
Camden men also enlisted in other regiments. When the Seventh Maine Regiment left Augusta, Aug. 23, David B. Hall of Camden marched with it, and in the Eighth which left our capital Sept. 10, were Michael Keirons, Oliver Metcalf, Levi Weed and John D. Rust, who held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In the Thirteenth Regiment organized at Augusta in December, we find the names of Richard Grinnell and William Barr of Cam- den, and in the Fifteenth, organized at the same place during the same month, were Lewis B. Briggs, Corporal, and Albert P. Tolman of this town. Also in the First Maine Cavalry Regiment organized at Augusta in November, were Franklin A. Oxton and William L. Davis, Camden men.
Another large contribution made by Camden during the first year of the war, was to the Second Battery of the First Maine Regiment, Mounted Artillery, of which Davis Tillson of Rockland was Lieut .- Colonel. This battery was organized at Augusta, Nov. 30, and the following Camden men were members : Wm. P. Simon- ton, Orderly Sergeant, Wm. Russell, Artificer, Elbridge A. Annis, Geo. E. Barnes, Leland Blackington, Cornelius Corharden, Samuel J. Harding, E. G. S. Ingraham, Samuel E. Jones, Moses J. Keller,
·
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
James A. Lothrop, Hartwell Melvin, Joseph A. Melvin, Geo. C. Miller, Wm. Orbeton, Wm. H. Ott, Augustus Peabody, Myron Ray, Charles L. Fletcher, Thomas F. Simpson, Richard U. Thorn- dike, Given B. Thorndike and Wm. H. Gregory, In the Fifth Battery of this same Regiment, organized at Augusta, Dec. 5, was Wm. J. Knight of Camden.
During the year while these Regiments were being raised, flags were flying and war meetings were being held at Rockland and in the surrounding towns. After the battle of Bull Run in which a son of Knox County, Mr. S. H. Chapman, of Rockland, was one of the first to fall, a monster union meeting was held at Camden (Aug. 23) a large crowd coming up from Rockland to attend. The arrival of the steamer from Rockland was greeted by the firing of cannon and music by the Camden band, and the visiting delegation was welcomed by a stirring patriotic speech by Thaddeus R. Simonton, Esq., after which the meeting was held near the Congregational church. Dr. J. A. Estabrook presided, and ringing speeches were made by Maj. F. S. Nickerson of the Fourth Maine Regiment, Hon. A. P. Gould of Thomaston, Hon. N. A. Farwell, Davis Tillson and C. A. Miller of Rockland, D. A. Boody of Rockport, and Hon. E. K. Smart and T. R. Simon- ton, Esq., of Camden. Three days later a grand war meeting was held in the square at Rockland, which was addressed, among others by Mr. Boody, and Col. Smart.
At this time John D. Rust of Rockport was raising a com- pany of Infantry for the Eighth Regiment, and was being assisted in Camden village by Mr. Simonton. 1
In the midst of their excitement at the approach of civil war, their consternation at the early disasters to the Union arms and enthusiasm for the Union and its ultimate succcess, the citi- zens of Camden did not neglect their home duties. The annual town meeting was held March 18, at which Benj. J. Porter was elected Town Clerk ; E. G. Knight, Wm. H. Washburn and 1. See Eastern Maine and the Rebellion. Chap. XXIII.
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THE STORM BURSTS
Edwin S. Crandon, Selectmen; and Christopher Young, Jr., Treasurer.
On May 4 a town meeting was called to act upon the ques- tion of raising money to assist those who should volunteer as soldiers of the state and the United States, and to see what further provisions the town would make "for the present exigency,"
Main Street, Camden Village, About 1861.
when it was "Voted that the treasurer of the town of Camden borrow three thousand dollars, on five years, as may be necessary for the families of Volunteers of officers and soldiers of this town of Camden, and to borrow the same as soon as a Company is raised in this town and shall be mustered into the service of the United States." It was also voted that "E. M. Wood, A. S.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
Eells and John C. Cleveland, Selectmen of last year, and E. G. Knight, W. H. Washburn and E. S. Crandon, Selectmen of this year," be a committee to have charge of paying out the money when borrowed by the treasurer.
The political campaign of this year was naturally an exciting one. The great mass of the voters of both parties were loyal to the Union, but there were here, as in all parts of the North, a few "States Rights" men who believed that the southern states had a right to secede and should be allowed to withdraw from the Union if they chose. As the war progressed, many who held this belief afterwards became true patriots, but some adhered to this principle throughout the war and continued to give their support through the dark days of the war to those who sought to destroy the Republic. These men were generally designated as "Cop- perheads."
Gov. Washburn was re-nominated by the Republicans, while the Democratic party was rent into two factions. One faction known as the "War Democrats," nominated C. D. Jameson, while the other faction nominated ex-Governor John W. Dana. The "War Democrats" cast over two thousand more votes in the state than the other wing of the party, but Gov. Washburn was re-elected by a large majority over both of his opponents.
In Knox County the union sentiment was so strong that the two political parties were, to a great degree, harmonized, and a Union party was formed by which the Hon. E. K. Smart of Cam- den, a prominent Democrat, and the Hon. N. A. Farwell of Rockland, a prominent Republican, were nominated on the same ticket for Senators, and both were triumphantly elected.
In Camden the vote for Governor resulted as follows: Wash- burn, 398 ; Jameson, 274; Dana, 36. For Senators, Mr. Smart received 392 votes ; Mr. Farwell, 474; while their opponents, Edwin Smith and Alvin Dunton, received 292 and 190 respective- ly. D. H. Bisbee was elected Representative, receiving 456 votes to 272 for Christopher Young, Jr.
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A NAVAL HERO
CHAPTER XL.
A NAVAL HERO.
1861. During the first year of the war Camden's patriotism was not wholly confined to its soldiers, for the Camden sailors were equally patriotic and one of them performed an act that will make his name immortal. William Conway, son of Richard, when a youth entered the United States navy and served therein for a period of forty-five years. He served under Commodore Hull when a young man. Later he was promoted to the rank of gunner and afterwards to that of quartermaster and with that rank he was stationed at the Pensacola navy yard in January, 1861.
Traitors high in power were conspiring to surrender the navy yard to the nation's enemy. Commodore Armstrong, who was in command of the navy yard, was an old and infirm man, a veteran of the war of 1812. He was betrayed and bullied into surrender- ing the navy yard by the traitorous Commander Farrand and Lieutenant Renshaw, the former of New Jersey and the latter of Pennsylvania. Farrand, who was executive officer of the yard, was in constant communication with the secessionists at Pensa- cola nine miles above, and had arranged to surrender to the rebel force of Victor M. Randolph when he should appear to demand the same. Whatever orders Armstrong gave for the protection of the yard were countermanded without his knowledge by Farrand, who directed all the details of the surrender. When the rebel force appeared, Lieut. Renshaw ordered Quartermaster Conway to
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
the flagstaff, which order he obeyed. He was then ordered to haul down the flag in capitulation, that the Confederate flag might be raised in its place. This was too much for the unswerving patriotism of the Camden sailor. Not even the long fastened habit of unquestioning obedience to the commands of his supe- rior officers, fixed by many long years of naval service, caused him to forget for a moment his loyalty to his country and love for the old flag under which he had served. Peremptorily refus- ing to execute the dastardly order, he turned away from the halliards of the flagstaff and said : "I won't do it, sir; that is the flag of my country ; I have served under it many years; I won't dishonor it now." 1 Renshaw was then obliged to do the traitorous work with his own hands, while Farrand ordered the punishment of the loyal old salt for his fidelity to the flag.
In appreciation of this patriotic protest of our gallant sailor- townsman against the desecration of "Old Glory," a gold medal, bearing an appropriate inscription in his honor, was pre- sented to Mr. Conway by the New England citizens residing in San Francisco, through Commander Sherbrooke, in the presence of a naval parade on board a warship. Following is the letter accompanying the medal :
SAN FRANCISCO, September 20, 1861.
DEAR SIR : - The undersigned citizens of California from New England have read with pride and gratification, the story of your brave and patriotic refusal to haul down the flag of our country. As a mark of our appreciation of your conduct, we request you to accept the accompanying medal of California gold, together with our best wishes for your prosperity and happiness. F. W. BROOKS, W. T. REYNOLDS,
HENRY L. DODGE, HENRY F. TESCHEMASCHER,
F. A. FABENT GEORGE A. BROOKS,
H. F. CUTLER GEORGE H. FAULKNER,
[And 140 others.]
Mr. William Conway,
Quartermaster U. S. Navy.
1. See Naval Actions and History, 1799-1898, Vol. 12, Page 90.
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A NAVAL HERO
A few weeks later Flag Officer William W. McKean received at Key West the following letter from the secretary of the navy :
NAVY DEPARTMENT, November 11, 1861.
SIR :- I herewith transmit a letter from the Department to William Conway, who is on board one of the vessels of your squadron, together with a gold medal presented to him by his countrymen in California as a testimonial of their appreciation of his conduct in refusing to haul down the flag of his country at the surrender of the Navy Yard at Pensacola to the rebels on the 10th of January, 1861.
A copy of the letter addressed to William Conway by the citizens who presented the medal, and of the letter of Major- General Halleck, the bearer of it to the Department, are also transmitted.
You will be pleased to have the medal handed to William Conway on the quarter-deck of the vessel to which he belongs, and in the presence of the officers and crew thereof and the correspondence read at the same time.
I am respectfully, your obedient servant,
GIDEON WELLES.
Flag Officer William McKean,
Commanding Gulf Blockading Squadron, Key West, Fla.
The letter from the Department to Mr. Conway transmitted at this time is as follows :
NAVY DEPARTMENT, November 11, 1861.
SIR : - It gives me pleasure to cause to be delivered to you the accompanying letter and gold medal from your countrymen in California, presented as a testimonial of their high appreciation of your noble and patriotic conduct in refusing to haul down the flag of your country when others (your superiors in position) were wanting in fidelity to it. I also forward to you a copy of the letter of Major-General Halleck, who was selected as the bearer of these testimonials, and by his request I have directed them to be transmitted to you, which you will please accept with the assurance of my regards.
Very respectfully, GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.
William Conway,
U. S. Gulf Blockading Squadron.
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HISTORY OF CAMDEN AND ROCKPORT
A naval general court martial consisting of a full complement of officers of the highest rank in the service was convened for the trial of Armstrong on charges growing out of the surrender of the navy yard, and before the court separated, the members of it addressed a communication to the Navy Department as follows :
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 8, 1861.
The president and members and judge advocate of the court lately held in the City of Washington, D. C., for the trial of Commodore Armstrong, beg leave respectfully to submit to the honorable Secretary of the Navy, the propriety, justice and good policy of bestowing some appropriate mark of its approbation of the loyalty, spirit, and good conduct of William Conway, a quar- termaster of the Navy, on duty in the Navy Yard at Warrington, Fla., when the same was surrendered on the 12th of January, 1861, who, with manly pride and in a spirit of patriotic devotion, refused to obey the order to haul down the national flag on the occasion of said surrender.
The evidence of this honorable devotion to the dignity and credit of the flag of his country is found in the record of the testimony in Commodore Armstrong's case.
Respectfully submitted by order of the court.
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