USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > A history of the town of New London, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, 1779-1899 > Part 37
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" After a thorough and protracted consideration of the whole " subject by the brethren present, two conclusions were arrived " at. One was,-that in view of the demands of education " among us, and the present emergencies, we need such an
407
NEW LONDON INSTITUTION.
"institution. The other was,-that we proceed at once to " effect such an object."
'Squire Joseph Colby of New London had been the leading Baptist layman of the state in his day, and the mantle had fallen on the not unworthy shoulders of his son, ex-Gov. Anthony Colby, whose keen, practical mind quickly grasped the possi- bilities of the situation. He realized the benefits which must accrue to his native town could such a school be located here, as well as the superior advantages which in turn the town pos- sessed for the institution.
With an able coadjutor, Rev. Ebenezer Dodge, then pastor of the New London church, Governor Colby attended the con- ference, and the claims of the town were both practically and logically presented. A most careful consideration of the special advantages afforded in each of the proposed locations for the school, was given by the council. Finally New London was selected, not only for the beauty and healthfulness of its sur- roundings, but especially for its marked freedom from evil influences.
Among other inducements offered to the council was the tender of the property owned by the corporation of New Lon- don academy, an institution which after several years of pros- perity had finally succumbed, like so many other country academies of that period, for lack of an endowment fund. Under the new dispensation the academy building erected in 1836 was thoroughly repaired and remodelled, and a commo- dious boarding-house for the accommodation of young lady students was built in the summer of 1853. The school was opened August 27 of that same year, under the original charter of New London academy. In 1854 this charter was amended to meet the increased demands of a state school, the name adopted being " New London Literary and Scientific Institute." Further amendments in 1856 changed " Institute " to " Insti- tution," and provided that three fourths of the twenty-four trustees chosen by the corporation " shall be members of Bap- " tist churches in regular standing, and shall reside in New " Hampshire and without the limits of New London."
One of the first officials connected with the new school was Prof. Ephraim Knight of New Hampton, who came to New London early in the summer of 1853 and rendered invaluable
408
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
service in the equipment and organization. Owing to his un- willingness to assume the entire responsibility, Professor Knight was made associate principal, Prof. George W. Gardner serv- ing as principal, with Miss Mary J. Prescott of Concord in charge of the young ladies. The term opened in August, 1853, with about one hundred students, and in the eight years of Professor Gardner's administration more than a thousand different pupils were connected with the school. During the school year 1855-'56 an endowment fund of $25,000 was raised through the efforts of Rev. William H. Eaton, D. D., and with this substantial basis the New London Literary and Scientific institution began a career of steadily increasing prosperity.
Those whose memories go back to the years when Anti- Slavery excitement ran high, will recall the so-called Kansas- Nebraska bill, which in effect repealed the Missouri Com- promise and permitted the inhabitants of those districts to decide whether slavery should be admitted into their respective terri- tories. This doctrine, known as " squatter sovereignty," was very unpopular in some parts of the country, and in 1853-'54, when the bill was up for discussion in congress, there were other constituencies besides New London that felt it a duty to express themselves emphatically.
The annual meeting of 1854 had just got well under way, when, on a motion made and seconded, it was voted-to quote the clerk's record of the proceedings-" to suspend action upon " the remaining articles in the warrant, at this time, to take " the sense of the voters upon the ' Nebraska bill.' Whereupon " a general discussion ensued, pending which a motion was " made to adjourn, which motion did not prevail; and after " some farther discussion, the vote was taken upon the above " bill as follows : All those in favor of the final passage of the "' Nebraska bill' by congress take the west side of the house, " and those against the final passage of the bill the east side of " the house." Accordingly the voters lined up, on the west side and on the east, and the record stands 32 in favor to 82 against. The next vote of the meeting was,-" that our repre- sentative this day elected be instructed to act in accordance with the vote just taken upon the foregoing bill."
Routine business having been resumed, among other matters of popular interest was the vote that the selectmen appraise the
409
PASSING OF THE FIRST CHURCH.
pews in the old town house, and sell the house and the fencing of the land adjoining the burying-ground at public auction. Another motion provided that the selectmen appoint an agent to take charge of the new town house, the said house, at all meetings open to the public to be heated and lighted at the expense of the town, and for private use at the rate of $2 per night. (The income from this source during the year 1854 was $15.)
Numerous records in the selectmen's accounts set the value of the pews in the old town house at an average of 34 cents, and all claimants having been satisfied, a public auction was held Saturday, March 25, 1854. William Lee secured the fencing of the burying-ground at $40.71, and ex-Gov. Anthony Colby, for the sum of $118.80, became the owner of the old town house and its underpinning. Governor Colby moved the building to the hill, thoroughly remodelled and repaired it, and tendered it to the New London institution as a dormitory for the young men. To-day the old town house, rejuvenated as Colby hall, bids fair to round out its second century of useful- ness. Youthful feet trip lightly through the old-time church, and merry voices ring out from the walls that once echoed the solemn warnings and exhortations that fell from the lips of the father of the church; but the hallowed memories that cluster around this ancient structure reared by the pioneers, can never be quite forgotten.
In 1855, by vote of the town, the selectmen purchased a hearse costing $115, and a building for housing the same was erected at an expense of $91.12. An innovation of this year was the appointment of a town liquor agent, who, with an annual compensation of $10, was permitted to dispense " spirit- " uous and intoxicating liquors, for medicinal, mechanical, and " chemical purposes, and wine for the commemoration of the " Lord's supper, and for no other purpose whatever." The agency was not a popular measure, however, and after a few years was discontinued.
From 1856 to 1860 there was little of public incident. On petition the selectmen set the bounds of the seven school districts in 1856, and the same were accepted by the town the following year. Benjamin P. Burpee, Luther McCutchins, and Stephen Davis were appointed a committee in 1857 to
410
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
report on the expediency of building a tomb. Their report at the next annual meeting was " inexpedient." In 1859 notice was served on the town that at the June session of the legisla- ture of that year certain citizens of Springfield would present a petition asking for annexation of that part of the town in which their farms lay, to New London. An increase in population and territory does not seemed to have been greatly desired, as the representative for that year was instructed to use all his influence against the passage of the bill.
" In time of peace prepare for war," runs the old proverb. The warrant for 1859 contained an article relative to pay- ing the militia; also, to see if the town would permit the McCutchins Guards to finish off the attic of the town house as an armory, at their own expense; both measures receiving favorable consideration. Under the old law every able-bodied citizen did duty in the state militia, unless exempted for special reasons. About the time of Governor Colby's administration this law was repealed, and the New Hampshire National Guard recruited on a new basis. Cities and towns were per- mitted to organize independent companies, and could grant pay, not exceeding $2 per year to each soldier. Arms and equipments were furnished by the state, but each company provided their own uniforms-if they had any.
It was under these conditions that in 1858 Andrew J. Sargent and Joseph M. Clough, both of whom were " up " in military tactics and experience, set themselves the task of organizing a New London company. The McCutchins Guards, named in honor of Gen. Luther McCutchins, was the result ; and stanch and loyal supporters of the state and government they proved themselves. The first officers were Andrew J. Sargent captain, Joseph M. Clough first lieutenant, Milton G. Everett second lieutenant. Other names enrolled during the early years of the organization were,-Lieut. Sam- uel M. Carr ; Sergts. Charles Woodward, Austin W. Messer, Alexander Lane ; Musicians R. F. Sargent, Sanford Fisher, E. P. Burpee ; Privates Robert McConnell, Reuben Ray, B. G. Everett, J. L. Loverin, Norman B. Adams, Arthur Morgan, Byron K. Baker, Jacob Dole, Dura P. Morgan, Hiram Sargent, John Hemphill, William Haynes, Nathaniel Messer, F. P. Messer, Marvin Page, Walter Pingree, George
4II
THE MESSER RIFLES.
Messer, Adelbert Messer, John M. Messer, George E. Lane, George Woodward, Rufus Clement.
After Captain Sargent and Lieutenant Clough reported for duty at Concord in April, 1861, Lieut. Samuel M. Carr was in charge of the company for a year. In August, 1862, when the Eleventh N. H. V. was recruiting, by far the greater part of the McCutchins Guards enlisted, and during the remaining years of the war there was little attempt at keeping up an organization. But the veterans quickly took up the matter on their return, and during the winter of 1865-'66 the company was re-organ- ized as the Messer Rifles, in honor of Hon. Richard H. Mes- ser, Captain Sargent again serving as first officer. On the town records, for the years 1866 and 1869, there is a list of those serving in the militia. That of 1866 is nearly identical with the McCutchins Guards of 1858, but in 1869, when the company numbered sixty-four men, there were many new names enrolled. Many of these are living to-day, gray-haired and bent with years of toil ; and not a few have answered the last roll-call, and are numbered with the silent host of the dead. The roll for 1869 is :
Joseph Russell, Amos Hastings, George M. Jewett, Daniel M. George, Henry Davis, Charles Pike, Claude Goings, Aus- tin Goings, Nathaniel Knowlton, Belden Morgan, Herbert Morgan, Newton Manahan, George S. Ellis, Nathaniel Todd, 2d, Frank O. Dow, Albert W. Preston, Augustus Preston, Samuel Bagley, George Woodward, Sanford R. Fisher, Charles N. Macy, George Sholes, Harrison Williams, John Roby, Horace Sargent, Benton Stanley, Dura Morgan, Edwin Messer, Baxter Gay, Albert Hunting, Sargent Putney, George McFarland, Henry Putney, Moses Haskins, Henry Longley, Charles Whitney, Charles Hayden, Michael Martin, Timothy Quirk, Irwin G. Cate, James H. Burpee, Lorenzo Nichols, Henry Hall, Charles C. Phillips, Sherman Phillips, Albert Knight, Edwin A. Jones, Timothy Crowley, Leonard Gould, James E. Shepard, Thomas S. Chase, Augustus Messer, Hor- ace Andrews, Sylvander French, Charles Wyman, Henry Davis, 2d, Martin Sargent, Alvin Messer, Charles Woodward, Charles Everett, Hiram A. Stratton, Stephen D. Messer, Carl Knight.
In this connection, perhaps, an incidental reference may best
412
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
be made to the preceding historical period. A recently discov- ered company roll, covering the years from 1825 to 1831 inclu- sive, shows the New London militiamen to have formed the second company of infantry in the Thirtieth regiment, which was assigned to the fourth brigade and third division of the state militia. In 1825 the enrolment was as follows : Captain, Jacob Harvey ; lieutenants, Samuel Burpee, John Trussell ; ser- geants, Jedediah P. Sabin, Stephen Davis, Levi H. Morgan, Ezekiel K. Bunker; musicians, Abial Burpee, Aaron L. Sar- gent, Sylvanus T. Sargent, Moses Burpee, Asa Gile ; privates, Mighill Nutting, Hills Chase, Joel Fletcher, Jacob Worthen, Samuel Fales, Stephen Herrick, John Page, Jr., Jacob Sargent, Daniel Sargent, Matthew H. Sargent, Amos Page, Samuel S. Knowlton, John Wither- spoon, David Jewett, John Currier, William Morgan, Jacob Morgan, Joseph Morgan, John L. Harvey, Matthew Har- vey, Ithamar Eaton, Obediah Morgan, Perley Ayer, Tim- othy Messer, Abial Messer, Wesley P. Burpee, Richard Everett, Hezekiah Messer, Frederick Messer, Enoch Messer, Horatio Fales, Hugh Rogers, Lowell Fisher, Reuben Fellows, James Woodward, Joseph Putney, James Morgan, William Messer, Samuel Messer, Asa Pingree, James Colby, Marcus Sargent, Moses H. Pingree, John J. Sargent, Jr., Stephen Sar- gent, Jr., Manning Seamans, Joseph Colby, Jr., Lyman Ever- ett, Leonard Everett, Joseph Brown, George W. Messer, Luther Trussell, Ezekiel Trussell, Levi Everett, Jr., John Hutchins, James Hayes, John Hayes, Asa Gay, Ija Gay, David Gay, Jeremiah Shepard, Caleb Harriman, Perley Muz- zey, Abraham Adams, John Morgan, Jr., Job Seamans, Jr., Jonathan Dearborn, Jonathan Gage, Jedediah Jewett, Ed- mund Davis, Jr., Asa Gage, Thomas Burpee, Jr., John Bunker, Robert Rogers, John Brown, Benoni Robertson, Jeremiah Adams, Scribner Huntoon, Joseph Messer, 2d, Samuel Shepard, Daniel W. Shepard, Stoddard Nutting, Thomas Messer, Jefferson Keneston, Jedediah Abbot, Ira Smith, John Chase, Perley Messer, Hiram Davis, Jacob Dole, William Blanchard, Samuel Gove. In four of the seven years covered by this roll Jacob Harvey was captain, John Trussell two, and Stephen Davis one.
It was about this same time, too, that an independent organ-
413
THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR.
ization known as the Washington Blues was kept up, in oppo- sition to the regular company. There were from forty to fifty members enrolled, and in their bright blue uniforms and tow- ering shakos of black enamelled leather the Washingtonians made a very dashing appearance at the annual " trainings," which were held on the public common near the first church ; while marvellous tales of their prowess are still extant. Once when the rivalry between the " Regulars" and the " Blues "" was at its height, the companies met for the usual training. All went well until, as Capt. William Whittier of the Blues was crossing the common with a bowl of punch, just brewed at a neighboring " tavern" for his men, a mischievous Regular fired at his heels. No harm resulted, except the spilling of the punch ; but the Blues rose in their wrath, led by the doughty "Cap'n Bill," and in the mimic battle that followed the Regu- lars were routed. Baruch Chase Clement, Samuel Carr, and Jonathan Everett are other well-remembered commanders.
It is 1861, a year fraught with destiny to the nation,-devel- oping events before which merely municipal affairs paled into insignificance. The attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, the gallant yet futile resistance of a hundred men against five thou- sand, and the inevitable surrender on the following day, stirred every loyal heart. The whole North was in a blaze of excite- ment, and even in the far-away villages nestling among the boulder-strewn hills of the Granite state, the farmer forgot his plow, the mechanic his tools, the scholar his books, in the supreme interest of the hour.
A civil war, that most terrible of all strifes, had been inaug- urated, but few had any proper realization of how severe or protracted this internecine contest would be. The president's first call for troops, issued April 15, was for only 75,000 men, to serve three months; and with what wonderful promptness the response came from all over the North, is written on histo- ry's page.
What had New London, a town whose total population at this time was only 950, so far distant from the scene of action, so peaceful and contented in its daily round of toil, to do with the horrors of war! Yet even here there were men in whose hearts the fires of patriotism burned too fiercely to allow of inac- tion when the nation's honor stood imperilled. The second
414
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
day after the president's call Capt. Andrew J. Sargent of the McCutchins Guards offered his services to the state, and was at once ordered to recruiting duty for the First regiment.
It was under Captain Sargent that George R. McFarland, the first volunteer from New London, was enrolled on April 19. McFarland was but 18 years of age, and was mustered in as a private of Company D, First New Hampshire Volunteers, on May 2. In the organization of the First regiment the efficient service performed by Captain Sargent was recognized by the tender of an officer's commission, and he was mustered in as captain of Company G, April 26. Lieut. Joseph M. Clough of the McCutchins Guards, who had also reported for duty, was mustered in the same day as first lieutenant of Company H. Another volunteer credited to New London in the pioneer regiment was Henry H. Dewey, who enlisted May 22 in Cap- tain Sargent's company.
In appreciative recognition of the valor and self-sacrifice of these volunteers, stands this record of the town's action on May 25 : " Voted, to raise two hundred dollars, to be paid equally to " those who have enlisted, residents of New London, including "George McFarland." Nor was a touch of romance lacking, for even under the pressure of hurried preparation for depar- ture Captain Sargent and Private McFarland obtained leave of absence, and were married, one on April 29, the other on May 9. Henry Dewey mentioned above was the gallant captain's newly-acquired brother-in-law, who, visiting in camp, eagerly embraced an opportunity to fill a chance vacancy in the ranks.
For a brief while but few people grasped the full import of the struggle between the North and South. The battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, opened their eyes. It became apparent to all that a great war was inevitable. No " ninety-days cam- paign" would settle so bitter a conflict. At this crisis there were several enlistments from New London, in most instances of men whose connection with the town was not resumed at the close of the war, so that their after career may be briefly re- ferred to here :
Matthew Adams of the Fourth N. H. V. enlisted August 20, 1861 ; won a captaincy by gallant conduct ; was wounded in the mine explosion at Petersburg, Va., but served till mustered
415
THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR.
out ; lives in Denver, Colorado. Julius M. Sargent enlisted in the Fourth, August 28 ; was discharged disabled July 12, 1863 ; re-enlisted Veteran Reserve Corps, May 25, 1864, and was mustered out ; lives in Stoneham, Mass. James Ellis enlisted September 14, and was assigned to the Fourth ; wounded at Morris Island, South Carolina ; re-enlisted February 17, 1864, and was mustered out ; resides in Concord. George A. Mes- ser enlisted in the Fifth N. H. V., September 23, 1861, serving three years from date of muster-in ; resides near Potter Place. Jonathan H. Harvey, 18 years of age, enlisted in the Fifth, September 28, and died of disease February 5, 1862, near Al- exandria, Va. William H. Strickland enlisted October 28, and was assigned to Second U. S. V. Sharpshooters ; re- enlisted March 22, 1864, assigned to Fifth N. H. V., and was mustered out.
Two of the youngest volunteers who went out from New London during the war were sons of John and Lydia (Hart- ford) Stinson. Edward, the older, was a native of the town, and enlisted in the Fifth N. H. V., September 21, 1861, before reaching his sixteenth birthday, serving as private in Company I. He was wounded in the battles at Fair Oaks and Antietam, and at Gettysburg received injuries from which he died Au- gust 1, 1863, a brief but glorious career for the brave young soldier. His brother Henry enlisted at fifteen in the Eleventh N. H. V., and served till the close of the war, being mustered out as corporal.
The next to volunteer under the starry flag were three brothers, Claude, Austin, and Charles Goings, who enlisted No- vember 1, 1861, and were mustered in,-Claude as corporal, the others as privates-Company F, Eighth N. H. V. Enoch C. Gillingham, who enlisted November 19, was also assigned to Company F of the Eighth ; served till the mustering-out of the regiment, January 18, 1865, and is now living in San Fran- cisco, Cal. Levi P. Dodge enlisted the same day as Gilling- ham, and served in Company G of the Sixth regiment ; was appointed hospital steward, and discharged disabled December 31, 1862 ; is living in Farmington, Minnesota.
By this time New London had quite a respectable represen- tation at the front, and several of the men who had so bravely gone forth to the defence of the nation had families or parents
416
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON.
dependent on them for support. Their fellow-citizens, at a special meeting held November 23, 1861, voted,-" that such " sums of money be appropriated from the treasury of the town " as are necessary to provide for the support of the families " of United States volunteers, agreeable to the law of New " Hampshire. And if there is not a sum sufficient for such " purpose, that the selectmen be authorized to raise the same, " and pledge the credit of the town for the sum raised."
There was one man in particular for whom New London had special reason to be proud at this juncture. To her belongs the honor of furnishing a no less important official than the state adjutant-general, in the person of the beloved and venerated ex-Gov. Anthony Colby. Though nearing his sixty-ninth birthday, after more than a half-century of incessant activity and public usefulness he assumed this duty with the same spirit that had characterized his whole life, cheerfully and with all his heart. Judge Sargent says,-" he was appointed by Gov- " ernor Berry at a time when the best man in the state was " needed for that responsible position, made so responsible by " the great importance of the struggle in which the country " was then engaged." Governor Colby's able assistants in the arduous duties belonging to this office were his son, Daniel E. Colby, and Nahum T. Greenwood, the son of his trusted friend Samuel Greenwood.
Contrary to popular expectation throughout the North, the summer of 1862, the second year of the war, found the Confed- erate strongholds still unsubdued. The failure of the Penin- sular campaign in June was disheartening. Evidently stronger measures were needed to crush the Rebellion, and in July came President Lincoln's call for " three hundred thousand more." There was no question then but that men were needed, and the true-hearted sons of New London responded nobly to the call. Not less than forty-two enlisted from this town during the month of August, 1862. George W. Everett, who had been solicitor of Merrimack county from 1856 to 1861, and was a close friend of Adjt. George H. Chandler of the Ninth N. H. V., then organizing at Concord, accepted the commission of major in that regiment. With him went Sylvester W. Phil- brick and James H. Burpee, both in Company K. The re- maining thirty-nine were mustered into Company F, Eleventh
417
THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR.
N. H. V., with the exception of Charles Morrill, who was as- signed to Company I. The Eleventh men, as shown by Adju- tant-General Ayling's Register of New Hampshire Soldiers, were,-
Abbot, Thomas B.
Messer, Hamilton M.
Annis, Daniel M.
Messer, John M.
Baker, Byron K.
Messer, William A.
Bean, Alfred J.
Mills, William A.
Bunker, David W.
Morgan, Dura P.
Carr, Samuel F. Morrill, Charles H.
Chase, Thomas S.
Philbrick, George H.
Chase, Walter F.
Philbrick, Samuel B.
Derby, Francis E.
Pike, Charles C.
Ellis, John H.
Pingree, Walter E.
Everett, Newton C.
Ray, Reuben
Jewett, George M.
Roby, John B.
Lane, Alexander
Sargent, Benjamin F.
Lewis, John
Sargent, Ransom F.
Lorden, John
Saunders, George H.
McConnell, Robert
Stinson, Henry C.
McFarland, George R.
Williams, Alvin B.
Messer, Austin W.
Williams, Oscar L.
Messer, Francis P.
Woodward, Charles
Wright, William P.
Of the above forty-two men, Maj. George W. Everett, Ham- ilton M. Messer, William A. Mills, George H. Philbrick, Sam- uel B. Philbrick, Sylvester W. Philbrick, Benjamin F. Sar- gent, Alvin B. Williams, Oscar L. Williams, died of disease or were killed in battle; of the remainder, thirteen were wounded on the battle-field, eight were discharged disabled. Eleven came out unscathed save by the seeds of disease ; and of these four have since died, while others have been rendered more or less infirm.
John Hemphill of Sutton and George F. Wiley of Newbury are also credited to this town on the rolls of the Eleventh regi- ment. Hemphill was mustered in as corporal of Company F, was wounded at Spottsylvania, May 16, 1864, and died nine days later. Wiley was a private in Company F, and rose to be sergeant ; was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, May 28
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