USA > Maine > History of the Seventh Maine Light Battery, volunteers in the great rebellion also, personal sketches of a large number of members, portraits, illustrations and poems > Part 6
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Corp. JOSEPH T. MERRILL.
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CORP. JOSEPH T. MERRILL.
Was born in Falmouth, Me., March 8, 1832, and enlisted in the Battery from Portland, Me., Dec. 4, 1863. He was at that time a pattern maker and married. He was made a Corporal at the organization of the Battery, in which capacity he served faithfully, until mustered out at Augusta, June 21, 1865. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania. North Anna River, Green Oaks, Cold Harbor, Petersburgh (June 18 and July 30, 1864).
He married, first Miss Mary E. Brown, in March, 1857; second, Mrs. Ellen M. Bean, in July, 1887. Has two children, viz. : Nellie T. York, aged 31, and Harriet W. Merrill. aged 21. His residence since the war has been at Portland, Me., Boston, Mass., Sherman Mills, Me., and Reading, Mass., the latter place being his present home. He receives a pension of $10.00 per month fos nervous exhaustion and vertigo, the results of sun- stroke and injury to back. In politics he is a Republican, and of the Protestant faith.
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CORP. ALFRED H. BRIGGS.
Was born in Dummer, N. II., in 1844, and first enlisted from Woodstock, Me .. Sept. 10, 1861. in the Tenth Maine Regiment, Vet. Vols., from which organization he was discharged May 8, 1863. Re-enlisted, in the Seventh Maine Battery, Dec. 22, 1863, serving until the close of the war He was promoted while in the Battery from a private to a Corporal, and served in all the Battery engagements, and Cedar Mountain and Culpepper Court House in his former service. While in the Tenth Maine he was taken sick in the old court house where John Brown had his trial, from which place he was removed to Harper's Ferry and had a severe run of pneumonia and typhoid fever; and he was at one time in the hospital at Frederick City, MId.
He married Amanda Cotton, at Woodstock, Me., Jan. 26, 1861, and has two children : Alvernon H .. aged 25 years ; and Frank E .. aged 22 years. He went to Nebraska in 1873, but returned to Mechanic Falls. Me., in 1875; moved to Bradford, Mass .. in 1884 and in 1887 returned again to Mechanic Falls, where he now resides. His occupation has been farming and paper making. In polities he is a Prohibitionist, and in his religious belief a Methodist.
CORP. FERDINAND ATWOOD SMITH.
Was born in Bridgton, Me, Nov. 23, 1846, and enlisted in the Battery from Portland, Me., Sept. 30, 1863, as a private. Was promoted to a Corporal April 23, 1864. He took part in every battle in which the Battery was engaged, and was mustered out at Augusta, June 21, 1865. May 12, at Spottsylvania, he received a slight wound in the instep, being hit by a shell.
He married Florence Von Kunze at Philadelphia, June 8, 1879, and has one child, Isabel W., now aged 3 years. Since the war he has been a great traveller, having been pretty much all over the world, but has now settled down at Haverhill, Mass., where he proposes to remain among his people. In politics he is Independent, and in his religious belief a Baptist. He was formerly a member of Bosworth Post No. 2. G. A. R., Portland, Me., of which he was at one time Senior Vice-Commander. .
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Corp. HARVEY B. SIMMONS.
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CORP. HARVEY B. SIMMONS.
Was born in Union, Me, Sept. 22, 1828, and first en- listed in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry in September, 1861, as a drummer, serving thus until the band was discharged. He was then living in Illinois: but after his discharge he returned to Maine, where his family had come to live after his enlistment, and enlisted in the Battery Dec. 28, 1863.
He contracted catarrh while in the army, from which he suffered so badly that in March, 1876, he went to Florida, hoping that the climate there would help him; here he was joined by his wife in October following. as he had failed very much in hearing and eyesight. On the 28th day of November, about one month after she joined him, he was killed on the railroad by a train, and his sufferings were thus suddenly ended. In politics he was a Republican, and a Baptist in his religious belief.
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CORP. WILLIAM C. HUTCHINSON.
Was born in Canton, N. Y., Jan. 6, 1826. At the time of his enlistment, Dee. 5, 1863, he was married and was a farmer, being also engaged a part of the time as stone cutter. He en- listed as a private in the Battery, it being his first service in the war, and was promoted to a Corporal prior to his discharge. He was injured on the field while unlimbering a cannon, near the close of the year 1864, and was an inmate of Slough U. S. General Hospital from that time until the close of the war, being mustered out June 21, 1865. Was in all the engagements of the Battery prior to his injury.
He married. Phebe M. Lufkin, Dec. 26, 1847, and resided at Rumford, Me., where he enlisted, to which place he returned after his service and where he lived until 1872, when he removed to Lebanon, Me., where he died Aug. 21, 1872. They had seven children, all of whom are now living and married. He was a Republican in politics, and in his religious belief a Methodist.
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CORP. LUTHER H. BRIGGS.
Was born in Woodstock, Me., May 26, 1846, and first enlisted Oct. 3, 1861, in Co. C, Tenth Maine Infantry. During this service he was taken prisoner at Culpepper, Va., Aug. 20, 1862; was paroled Oct. 6, 1862, and discharged May 8, 1863. He re-enlisted as a private in the Seventh Maine Battery, Jan. 22, 1864. Was with the Battery during all its service, being in the engagement at Winchester, Wil- derness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Shady Grove, Cold Harbor, Pegram Farm and Siege of Petersburgh. Was promoted to Corporal during service in the Battery, and was mustered out at Augusta, June 21, 1865.
He married Miss Dora J. Bean of Gorham, N. H., in 1866, being then engaged in railroading. Has had two children, viz. : Charles W. and Annie M. Following rail- roading as an occupation, he resided in Maine, New Hampshire, . Ohio and Indiana, and was injured while on duty as a conductor on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, from which injuries he died at Richmond, Ind., Dec. 25, 1875. In politics he was a Republican, and a Methodist in his religious belief.
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Corp. ALBERT TOWLE.
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CORP. ALBERT TOWLE.
Was born in Kenduskeag, Me., in 1835, from which place he enlisted Dec. 16, 1863, as a. private in the Battery, being at that time a farmer and married. Prior to this enlistment he had served one year in the Navy. He was in all the engagements in which the Battery was called, was promoted to Corporal, and was mustered out at Augusta, June 21, 1865.
He married L. Ellen Trask at Kenduskeag, Sept. 1, 1859. Has had three children: Frank R., aged 25 (now station agent at Berlin, Mass., on the Old Colony R. R.) ; Harry E., aged 17; and Mabel E., aged 9. Since the war he resided at Bangor, Me., where he was for many years a dealer in pressed hay and straw, and held in high esteem; but failing in health (being troubled with heart disease, for which he received a pension of $12.00 per month), he longed for his old. home at Kenduskeag, to which he returned with his family in the spring of 1889. He died there December 21 of that year, from heart trouble, which ended in dropsy. He was a good soldier, a true citizen and a faithful friend. Was a Republican in politics, and a Baptist in his religious belief.
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CORP. OMER SMITH.
Comrade Smith was born in Augusta. Me., May 17, 1840. Ile enlisted in the Navy in July, 1861, as a seaman, and served until April, 1863, being promoted during this service to Master's Mate. He was at Hatteras Inlet when Barnside's fleet came to that place, and was pilot for them over the bar, taking over half of the fleet in. He was engaged in the battles of Roanoke Island and in all the naval engagements in North Carolina, until November, 1862. Resigning from that service on account of ill health, he returned to Lewiston, Me., but re-enlisted in December, 1863, in the Seventh Maine Battery, as a private. Was soon pro- moted to a Corporal, and was engaged with the Battery in the battle of the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania. He has resided since the war at New London, Conn., being engaged as a captain and pilot of steamers, until failing by reason of bis injuries at Spottsylvania, when he went to the Soldiers' Home at Togus, where he died Oct. 21, 1889, of thoracic aneurism. In politics he was a Republican, and a Protestant in his religious belief.
The following reminiscences of his army life, written by his own hand just before his death, is given in his own lan- guage: "I was with the Battery at the battle of the Wilderness, May 12. 1861. Henry HI. Fall, who was No. 1 on my gun. was shot in the head and fell in my left arm. I laid him on the ground and took the sponge staff from his hand. ran a shot into the gun, and then gave the staff to II.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
E. Hale, who took it like a brave man ; and Hale and myself were injured in that same fight by the recoil of our gun, but we remained on duty until the battle was over. When we were at Petersburgh I was reduced to the ranks, and was then a private until mustered out with the Battery. At the final engagement at Petersburgh, I was called from a bomb proof by Lieut. Bundy to take charge of the left piece, and did so, making some very good shots, shooting the rebel flag down two or three times. Sergt. Bicknell asked me to make a shot that he could not bring his gun to bear upon, where the rebels were stationed and shooting at our men. I did
1 so, and soon cleaned them out of their positions. Gen. Griffin saw the shot and said, 'Well done, Corporal.'"
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Corp. ORRIN R. LeGROW.
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CORP. ORRIN R. LEGROW.
Was born in Windham, Me., Sept. 22, 1835, and enlisted from Mapleton, Me., as a private in the Battery, on Dec. 22, 1863. Was engaged in farming at the time of his enlistment. He was in all the battles in which the Battery was engaged, and was promoted to Corporal and mustered out as such at Augusta, June 21, 1865. In the spring of 1864, while stationed at Washington, he had typhoid malarial fever, and was admitted to Emery Hospital February 26, where he remained, however, but a short time.
Returning home, he married Lucinda E. McDonald of Windham, Me., 'Dec. 31, 1865. Had three children, viz. : Angie Bell, born Aug. 4, 1867; Flora L., born Oct. 19, 1869; and Mabel L., born Feb. 6, 1873. He has resided since the war at Portland, Me., being for many years an extensive lumber dealer in the well-known firm of LeGrow Brothers. He died there May 25, 1889. from congestion of the brain, from which he had suffered for some time. He was a promi- nent member of the Grand Army. Independent in politics, and in his religious belief a Universalist.
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CORP. CHARLES LAPHAM.
Was born in Bethel, Me., April 20, 1838, from which place he enlisted as a private in the Battery, Dec. 14, 1863, having served eighteen months prior to this enlistment in Co. G, Tenth Maine Regiment. He served until the close of the war, and was mustered out with the Battery at Augusta, June 21, 1865, having been in all its engagements except that of the South Side Rail- road.
Ile married, July 2, 1865, Catherine B. Haines. Has four children, viz. : Mark A., aged 24; Thomas L., aged 21; Perry C., aged 16; and George M., aged 13. Has resided since the war at Bethel, Rumford, Milton Plantation and Greenwood, Me., the latter place being his present home. He receives a pension of 82.00 per month for injury to his ankle. In politics he is a Republican, and in his religious belief a Baptist. He is a member of the Grand Army.
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CORP. JOSEPH HENRY ANTHOINE.
Was born in Windham. Me .. Aug. 13, 1844, from which place he enlisted as a private in the Battery, Ang. 13, 1864. having served prior to this enlistment in the Twenty-fifth Maine Infantry. He joined the Battery before Petersburgh, was in ite final battles, and was mnstered out at Augusta, June 21, 1865. He was never wounded, but was thrown from his horse at Que time, and received an injury to his back.
He married Marinda E. Story of Charlestown. Mass., Nov. 24, 1874. Hlas no children. His residence since the wer hat been in Massachusetts. Wakefield being his present home. J :. polities he is a Republican, and in his religious belief a Baptis ..
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Corp. HERBERT E. HALE.
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CORP. HERBERT E. HALE.
Was born in South Norridgewock, Me., March 16, 1846, from which place he enlisted Dec. 7, 1863, as a private in the Battery, and was afterward promoted to a Corporal. He served during the remainder of the war, and was in all the engagements into which the Battery was called except that at Pegram Farm (being in the hospital at Alexander, Va., from Oct. 1, to Dec. 1, 1864, by reason of sickness), and was discharged at Augusta, Me., June 21, 1865.
He was married Feb. 1, 1872, to Miss Helen MI. Butler, who died Sept. 17, 1886. Had two children, viz. : L. Musette, aged 18; and Jennie A., aged 16. His residence has always been at South Norridgewock. He receives a pension of $6.00 per month on account of an injury to his back and kidneys by the recoil of a gun in the battle at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. In politics he is a Republican ; and he adds, in answer to the ques- tion of his religious belief, as follows : "I believe that if a man does as well as he knows how in this life he will be well fixed in the life to come. I tried to do my duty to my comrades of the Battery and to my country, and am content to leave my record in their hands." And well he may. He is a member of the Grand Army.
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Corp. LEVI D. JEWELL.
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CORP. LEVI D. JEWELL.
Was born in Troy, Vt., Sept. 18, 1841, and enlisted as a private in the Battery from Woodstock, Me., Dec. 21, 1863. Ile had served prior to this enlistment as a private in Co. F, Tenth Maine Infantry, in which he did valuable service, and during which he was wounded in the knee. He was with the Battery during its whole service, was in all its engagements, was promoted to Corporal May 1, 1865, and mustered out at Augusta, June 21. 1865, at the close of the war.
He married Miss Grace M. Robertson at Orono, Me., Oct. 8, 1865. Had one child : Mary E., born Dec. 8, 1869. He removed to Gorham, N. H., soon after his marriage, and there resided until the time of his death, which occurred July 8, 1871, the result of an injury. In his politics he was a Republican, and a Congregationalist in his religious belief.
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Bugler SAMUEL Y. REED.
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BUGLER SAMUEL Y. REED.
Was born in Damariscotta, Me., Aug. 27, 1816. At the outbreak of the war, enlisted in the Twenty-first Maine regiment, serving in the Department of the Gulf under Gen. Banks, and was engaged in the taking of Port Hudson : a volunteer of the storming party, and one of the four hundred who stormed the Port with such a loss of life. Mr. Reed was one of the first to enter Port Hudson, being then on Gen. Andrew's staff. His term of service having expired, he came home to Maine. and again enlisted, in the Seventh Maine Battery. on the 28th day of December, 1863, serving in the Army of the Potomac under Gen. Grant in his march to Petersburgh. Mr. Reed was engaged with his Battery in nearly all battles fought. from the Wilderness to the surrender of Lee's army in 1865. The Seventh Maine Battery was noted for brave and gallant work during their term of service. He was mustered out with the Battery, at Augusta, June 21, 1865.
Oct. 5, 1881, he married Ida Carrie Thurston of Union, Me. They have no children. He resides in Franklin, Mass. ; is a prominent member of Post 60, G. A. R., at. Franklin: a Democrat in politics, and a Baptist in his religious belief. His first enlistment was Sept. 10, 1862, from which he was discharged Aug. 25, 1863, the expiration of term.
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BUGLER WILLIAM HILTON.
Was born in Norridgewock, Me., Aug. 16, 1843. from which place he enlisted. Dec. 7, 1863, as a Bugler in the Battery, having formerly served in the Ninth Maine Infantry. He was with the Battery during all its service and in all its engagements, and was mustered ont at Augusta, June 22, 1865.
He married Patience Casey, Oct. 16, 1879, and his home since the war has been, and still is, at Douglass. Kansas. He reports himself without religious preference, and in politics as a Republican.
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BUGLER FRANK Q. BODWELL.
Was born in Rumford, Me .. July 5, 1843, from which place he enlisted as a Bugler in the Battery Dec. 24, 1863, being at that time a carpenter and unmarried. He was a member of the Battery during its whole service, and engaged in the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania and the Siege of Petersburgh, being wounded at Spottsylvania May 16, 1864. He was a short time in the hospital at Camp Berry in the spring of 1864, by reason of sickness, and was discharged with the Battery at Augusta, June 21, 1865.
He married Ruth E. Howe of Rowley, Mass., in 1869. Has one son : Fred P., aged 19. Resides at Randolph, Mass., where he has lived ever since the war. He receives a pension of 88 per month for rheumatism. Is not a member of the Grand Army. In politics he is a Republican, and is of the Protes- tant faith.
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Lieut. SAMUEL FESSENDEN.
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LIEUT. SAMUEL FESSENDEN.
Was born in Rockland, Me., April 12, 1847, and prepared for college at Lewiston Academy. At the age of 16, however, he sacrihced bis college pursuits for the army, and enlisted from Rockland, as a private in the Seventh Maine Battery. March 31, 1864. Dec. 14, 1864, he was appointed to a 2d Lieutenancy in the Second United States Infantry, by President Lincoln, the promotion being recommended by General Grant. One week afterwards he was advanced to the rank of Captain in that command. But having been recommended for promotion in the artillery service, he declined the Captaincy in the Second Regulars, was promoted to Sergeant-Major, Nov. 9, 1864, and Jan. 15, 1865, was commissioned 2d Lieutenant in the First Maine Battery. At that time he was less than 18 years of age. Ile was appointed on the staff of Maj .- Gen. A. P. Howe, May 1, 1865, and remained in that position until the conclusion of the war, being mustered out July 12. 1865. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and Petersburgh, and won honorable recognition from his superiors. Returning from the war, he entered Harvard Law School, where he completed his legal course. March 4, 1869, he was admitted to the Fairfield County Bar, Connecticut, and has since resided in Stamford. In 1874, when he was 26 years of age, he was elected a member of the General Assembly from Stamford, and was appointed on the judiciary committee. In 1876, he was one of the delegates from Connecticut, in the National Republican Convention at Cincinnati, which nominated President Hayes.
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SEVENTH MAINE LIGHT BATTERY.
In 1879 he was re-elected to the General Assembly, and was the foremost Republican in that body. In 1884, Mr. Fessenden was elected Secretary of the National Republican Committee, and manifested in that capacity executive training of the highest order. He is still a member of the National Committee and Executive Committee, and one of its most trusted advisers. His eminent qualities as a lawyer led to his appointment as State's Attorney of Fairfield County, a position which he has held with marked success since 1880. His practice is large and lucrative, as he has been engaged in some of the most important civil cases which have arisen in the State during the last decade. He was one of the founders and original members of the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, and the universal favorite with veterans of the war throughout the State.
He married Miss Helen M. Davenport of Stamford, Conn., June 26, 1873. Has three children, viz. : Helen, aged 13; Gladstone, aged 11; and Content. aged 8. In politics he is a strong Republican, and in his religious belief a Congregation- alist. He is not a member of the Grand Army, but belongs to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
GUIDON JAMES S. LOWELL.
Comrade Lowell was born in Portland, Me., June 25, 1846, and at the time of his enlistment in the Battery (Nov. 18, 1863), was a clerk, residing at Portland, but being credited to the quota of Bethel, Me. He served as a private and carried the guidon of the Battery during its whole service, being in every battle in which it was engaged, and was mustered out at Augusta, June 21, 1865, with the organization.
He married Mary L. Smith, at Newburyport, Mass., Aug. 21, 1872. They have three children, viz .: Charlotte Raymond, James Brower and Margaret Ellsworth, the two latter being twins. He has resided since the war in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina, Ohio and Colorado ; is a member of the Grand Army, being quite prominent in that Order -in 1879. being S. V. Dept. Commander, Dept. of the Mountains, now Colorado. His business has been varied. On returning from the service he was engaged for awhile as a photographer ; overseer in South Carolina; clerk; telegraph operator from 1867 to 1879 ; superintendent of Telephone and Electric Light Station in Boston, Mass., to 1887, and is now superintendent of the Moses Williams' Trusts in Boston, a valuable estate in the business part of the city. He resides at Somerville, Mass., and in politics is a Republican with a big R. He is a Unitarian in his religious belief.
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Sergt .- Major AURESTUS S. PERHAM.
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SERGT .- MAJOR AURESTUS S. PERHAM.
Was born in Woodstock, Me., Ang. 18, 1844, and en- listed and joined the Battery as a recruit in September, 1864, being at that time a student and residing with his father, ex-Governor Sidney Perham, at Paris, Me. This was his second service, he having formerly served in Co. F, Twenty-third Maine Regiment, from Sept. 10, 1862, until July, 1863. He was engaged with the Battery at the Siege of Petersburgh, and was promoted from a private to Sergeant- Major of Regiment in February, 1865. being discharged as such May 29, 1865.
He married' Delia E. Haskell, Dec. 3, 1868, at New Gloucester, Me. Has two children: Ernest A., aged 21 years; and Sidney H., aged 14 years. His home since the war has been at Lewiston, Me. He has held the following positions : Four years as Clerk of Pension Committee, U. S. House of Representatives; one year as Clerk of U. S. Senate Committee, District of Columbia; three years as Clerk, Lewiston, Me., Common Council; ten years as Special Examiner U. S. Pension Office, which position he still holds. In politics he is a Republican, and in his religious belief a Universalist. He is a member of the Grand Army.
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Artificer WARREN OSGOOD CARNEY.
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ARTIFICER WARREN OSGOOD CARNEY.
Was born in Alna, Me., Oct. 28. 1839, and enlisted as a private in the Battery Oct. 1, 1863, being then a · resident of Portland, Me., to which city he removed Nov. 21, 1856. He was in all the battles in which the Battery was engaged, was promoted to Artificer, and mustered out at Augusta, June 21, 1865. His only hospital service was a short time in Washington, soon after the Burnside's Mine explosion in front of Petersburgh, July 30, 1864.
He married Miss Hattie E. Griffin, Nov. 9, 1873. He has two children, viz. : Lucia May. aged 14: and Harold E., aged 4. He has resided in Portland ever since the war, and for ten years was a postal clerk in the U. S. mail service, running principally between Bangor and Boston. His other occupations have been that of ship joiner, cabinet and pattern maker. He is now Superintendent of the Masonic Hall in Portland, being a member and Tyler of all the Masonic bodies having their meetings in said hall. He has been Master of Ancient Landmark Lodge, Commander of Blank- fort Commandery, and is now Grand Tyler of the Grand Lodge, Grand Sentinel of the Grand Chapter and Grand Captain of the Guards in the Grand Commandery. He is a member of Bosworth Post No. 2, G. A. R., of Portland, Me., and receives a pension of $8.00 per month for injury to right hand. In politics he is a Republican, and of the Christian faith.
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SEVENTH MAINE LIGHT BATTERY.
He relates the following incidents of his army life : " A party on May 12, 1864, consisting of Orderly-Sergt. O. J. Pierce, Thomas S. Simms, myself and two cooks, were down by the river Ny, cooking meat for the boys, when a rebel battery came out on our left and commenced to shell us. Supposing it to be an ammunition train at first, we did not take any notice of them. Soon the shells came so thickly, we thought we had better get out of range, as some of us might be killed. We gave orders to the cooks to move the meat into the wagon and go to the rear. Just as we had mounted our horses a shell exploded near the wagon, killed two of the horses and came near killing Simms and myself. As soon as we found the horses were shot, we dismounted and assisted the teamster in unhitching the two live horses from the team. Then the boys all mounted and rode to the rear, out of the range of the shells. In the meanwhile, I had given my horse in charge of one of the cooks to take to a place of safety until I wanted him. When I went to get him, the cooks had gone to the rear and left me to get back the best way I could, which was to foot it through the mud, one foot deep; and I can assure you, Comrades, that at least twenty or thirty pounds of Virginia mud stuck to my boots, and the trip to the rear was anything but pleasant. All the boys will remember the ' Mud March,' early in May of 1864. I shall never forget that night: it was so dark that we could almost seem to touch it; and how it rained ! Not as it rains in our good old State of Maine; but it seemed to come down by the pailful. You should have seen us the next morning ! Scarcely a man had a hat on; they had used their pocket handkerchiefs for hats; and such a looking set of men were never before seen.
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