USA > New Hampshire > History of the Twelfth regiment, New Hampshire volunteers in the war of the rebellion > Part 62
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WILLIAM U. SHAW.
Son of Erastus and Elizabeth (Holmes) Underwood, and adopted son of William Shaw ; born in Concord, May 18, 1836.
Married Mary E., daughter of Ilon. Samuel Berry, of Barnstead, February 24, 1858 ; and their children, Florence E. and Harry T., are both living.
In Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and although his comrades were wounded and killed on both sides and in front of him in these battles, he escaped unhurt. During the fall and winter of 1863-4, he was sick in hospital at Washington and Philadelphia. From the spring following, to the end of the war, was in charge of Commissary Department, at Edward's Island, N. Y.
Ile left his home at Pittsfield, a few years after the war, while engaged as shoe-freighter between that place and Lynn, and has never been seen or heard of since. As no sufficient reason is known for his sudden disappearance, it was thought by mauy that he was mur- dered. He was a good soldier, and always considered an honest, kind-hearted man.
SERGT. JOIIN D. SHERBURNE.
The son of George W. and Mary J. (Young) Sherburne. Born in Gilmanton, May 14, 1846, and married Hannah J., daughter of Joseph Rollins, of Gilmanton, August 30, 1866, and has one son, Luman A. Sherburne.
This soldier. as seen by his birth, was one of the very youngest of the regiment, a mere boy, who scarcely weighed a hundred pounds when he enlisted, but who to-day tips the scales at two hundred and forty-five.
Ile joined the regiment at Point Lookout, Md., and was with it through everything, except the battle of Cemetery Hill, till the end of the war, and proved himself to be one of its best soldiers. His brother, George M., was a soldier of the Sixth Regiment and badly wounded at Antietam, and his grandfather was in the War of 1812.
Shoemaker by trade both before and since the war. A good citizen as he was soldier.
HORACE H. SMITH.
Ilere is one of whom it can truthfully be said, God made him as a living, personal illustration of His own goodness. Though claiming no saving grace, yet in the highest and broadest sense his life was a pattern of true Christianity, and his death a patriotic benediction.
His old comrades and former acquaintances all unite in praising him for his noble and unselfish qualities of heart and in expressing the thought that, as a boy, schoolmate, con- rade, and neighbor, nothing too eulogistic can be said of him. In native goodness, he had few, if any, in the company as replete as he ; and Company B was by no means lacking in this respect.
Sergt. S. J. Gale says : " I can say personally of him, that no better soldier ever shoul- dered a gun. I stood near him when he was killed at Chancellorsville. A ball struck him near his temple ; he fell and died without a murmur or a struggle, and his body was left in the hands of the enemy."
Ile was born in Barnstead in 1835, and his mother's name was Mezibah Smith. She survived her son many years.
SERGT. JOSEPH F. STOCKBRIDGE.
We introduce here the youthful picture of as true and brave a soldier as ever faced an enemy on the field of battle.
Youngest of the six children (four boys) of John D. and Keziah (Evans) Stockbridge, and born in Alton, October 12, 1842. Married January 11, 1869, to Emma, daughter of Richard Ilutchinson, of Orange.
In every battle, skirmish, and march, of the regiment, except the march from Berlin, Md., to Falmouth, Va., when he was sick iu hospital, rejoining his company two days before the battle of Fredericksburg. Wounded slightly at Gettysburg, and quite severely in head
535
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. B. L. 6-0. WILLIAM U. SHAW.
B. B. L. 5-6.
SERGT. JOHN D. SHERBURNE.
B. B. L. 6-0.
HORACE H. SMITH.
5,36
History of the Twelfth Regiment
at Cold Harbor, where he was left senseless on the field. At Chancellorsville he had eight bullet holes made in his clothes and two bullets lodged in his knapsack while retreating, the extra rations of hard-tack therein saving his life. Taken prisoner at Gettysburg, but in a few minutes, favored by the turning tide of battle, he was enabled to capture his captors - a sergeant and three men -and marched them to the rear. lle afterward saw and talked with them at Point Lookout. Hle never went to hospital, except as above, even when wounded, and never excused from duty, except for one day in front of Petersburg. It is said, that he caught up an unexploded shell, that struck near him, in the trenches one day, and threw it over the breastworks while the fuse was still burning ; and this story seems to be a true one, except that neither he, nor those who saw him, knew certain that the fuse was on fire, when he did the brave act.
Colonel Barker, first captain of his company, writes of him: " An A No. 1; always clean, tidy, and on hand ; brave, faithful, and true ; an ideal soldier in camp, on the march, and on the field of battle." In addition to his bringing home the colors, it should be said that he had previously carried them a few days at Point Lookout.
Quiet and unobtrusive, like most all truly brave men, he manifests to a casual observer but little of that tremendous nerve energy that lies in reserve, and that he has so often exhibited when duty and danger made urgent demand. As a citizen, his life has in no way detracted from his brilliant record as a soldier, and he has long been recognized among his neighbors and townsmen as an honest-hearted and practical-minded man.
Although he has no children, to bear his name, and is the last one living of his father's family, posterity will cherish and preserve it in the honored list of our country's noblest defenders .*
WILLIAM SWEATT.
Here you can look upon the ambrotypic wood print of one of the strongest and stoutest sons of old Gilmanton, a well developed manhood of forty-one years' existence upon her rough and rugged soil, yet, like most of his size, among the first to yield to the hardships of the march and go down, while the comparatively weak and slender struggled on. He was one of a family of eleven children of Jeremiah and Sarah (French) Sweatt, of Gil- manton. Maria II., daughter of Caleb Page, of the same town, became his wife, April 25, 1854. Ile died (see roster) at Potomac Creek, Va., leaving his widow with two small children, Lnra M. and John W., both of whom are still living to comfort and assist their mother in her declining years.
While he died in the service of his country, she bravely lived on, under the heavy burden of her sorrow, in the divine service of a mother's duty. llis was the sacrifice, but the larger share of the credit and reward belongs to her.
SERGT. JONATHAN M. TASKER.
This brave old color sergeant, then stalwart and sturdy, was born in Barnstead, Novem- ber 19, 1831, and is the son of Ira and Lydia S. (Edgerly) Tasker.
Married Betsey M., daughter of Arthur N. Bickford, of the same town, October 24, 1852, and their only child's name is Frank. His wife's brother, Arthur L., was a member of the same company.
He carried the national flag in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, t and was so severely wounded in the last battle named, by a musket ball penetrating his right thigh and inflicting a dangerous wound, as to unfit him for any further service in the army. He rejoined the regiment while at Point Lookout, Md.
Solid in mind, as well as body, now weighing about 350 pounds, he has represented his native town in the general court, and has held several town offices, being moderator for several years in succession, and could call every man in town by name at sight. Worked. at his trade, shoemaking, most of the time since boyhood. Moved to Lynn, Mass., about twenty years ago, where he still resides, respected by all who know him for his sterling qualities of head and heart. He died since the above was written, May 24, 1897.
+ See History of Colors, page 374.
* See page 411.
537
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. B. D. 5-6. SERGT. JOSEPH F. STOCKBRIDGE.
B. B. D. 6-0.
WILLIAM SWEATT.
B. B. D. 6-0. SERGT. JONATHAN M. TASKER.
538
History of the Twelfth Regiment
JOHN WATSON.
Here we show the reader a rather poor picture of a very good soldier, and in writing this we do not use the adverb in any ambiguous or doubtful sense, for he was good both in will and ability, to meet most any " reb " single or double handed.
Son of Joseph and Mary (Spencer) Watson, and born in Alton, May 23, 1825, and a brother of Jonas (see roster). Married before the war to Abby A., daughter of Simon Foss, of Alton, who was a veteran of 1812. Children, Martha J., Abbie A., John D., and Silvia A.
In the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Wapping Heights. At Point Lookout he was detailed as company cook, and acted as such most of the time to the end. He was constantly at his post of duty, never being excused therefrom by the sur- geon but once, and then for only two or three days. Wounded slightly at Chancellorsville, where Horace Smith fell dead by his side, and Nickerson (see roster), another good soldier, shrieked and hallooed frightfully, as he fell, mortally wounded through the body. At Chancellorsville a bullet struck him directly between the letters " U. S. " on his belt plate, with sufficient force to bed into and break the plate, which saved his life.
WOODBURY P. YORK.
This rather eccentric, but good man and soldier, was born in Gilmanton, July 12, 1828. His parents, Jonathan and Betsey Yorke, had eleven children, and of the nine boys, five were soldiers in the Union army ; John, in a Massachusetts regiment ; Daniel P., in Twelfth Maine; Albert, in a Vermont regiment; and Wells C. and Woodbury P., in Twelfth New Hampshire.
Married Lydia B., daughter of Ralph Twombly, of Gilmanton, April 29, 1830. Children, Melissa J., Fanny J., Mary L., Morrill S., Nettie B., Anna A., and Willie II., of whom the first, second, and sixth are dead.
In the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and also in Gettysburg, where a minie ball split the butt of his musket, and slightly wounded him in his leg. lle was with the regiment all the time at Point Lookout, where he was taken sick and sent to hospital at Manchester, and never with it afterward.
Ile was one of the independent, away-by-himself kind, who never asked favor nor gave, for mere compliment sake, to please friend or foe, and woe to the man who tried to " run his beat" when on duty.
CORP. OLIVER II. P. YOUNG.
Son of Jonathan and Susan P. (Pitman) Young, and Barnstead, March 21, 1824, is his place and date of birth. Emily Jane, daughter of John J. Tuttle, of Barnstead, became his wife, May 20, 1849 ; and their children are, Leander J. and Ursula S.
He carried a musket in the battle of Fredericksburg, but was soon after detailed as musician in a brigade band. He was present at the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Wapping Heights, and was slightly wounded in neck at Gettysburg while carrying off the wounded. He enlisted in the hay-field.
HIe was the youngest of seven children, and the patriotic blood of two grandsires, who served in the War of 1812, runs in his veins. A good musician, soldier, and man, should be his epitaph, for though short and simple, it is true, and comprehends all that is needful to his honor .* Ile is still living, though in feeble health.
* See anecdote, page 411.
539
New Hampshire Volunteers.
0
B. B. S. 6-0. JOHN WATSON.
B. DB. L. 5-S3. WOODBURY P. YORK.
B. S. S. 5-7. CORP. OLIVER H. P. YOUNG.
540
History of the Twelfth Regiment
In addition to the sketches of Lewis and Melvin J. Jenkins it should have been written of the former that he is and has been quite a prominent politician, being elected for two sessions of the New Hampshire House of Representatives as door keeper, and was for three years sergeant-at-arms.
lle had previously represented the town of Gilmanton in that body for two years.
He is always as ready to expouse the action of his party as he was to defend and pro- tect his country on the field.
Of Melvin J. it ought to be mentioned that he was, when able, one of the best sol- diers in his regiment. Ile stood ahead of all others at some of the regimental, brigade, and division competitive inspections at Chapin's Farm,* for which he was several times excused from duty and given a thirty days' furlough home.
Ile was in the battle of Fredericksburg, where the gun of his brother, Everett, was bent not "over his shoulder," but as it lay across his arm, throwing him several feet into the air (see sketch).
After this he (Melvin J.) was sick for a long time, not rejoining his regiment for active service for many months.
It is thought that he participated in other battles, but of this the author is not certain.
* See page 258 et seq.
54I
New Hampshire Volunteers.
COMPANY C.
This company was raised mostly in Alexandria and Bristol, with a few from each of the towns of Danbury, Hebron, Bridgewater, Grafton, and New Hampton.
The men were enlisted mainly by Blake Fowler, James T. Smith, and Hosea Q. Sargent, who were afterwards selected by the men to command them, ranking as above named.
The meeting for the choice of the above and subordinate officers was holden at Bristol village, and the non-commissioned were as follows : Sergeants, Henrie A. Randolph, James W. Saunders, Frank Darling, Russell Moore, and John H. Ingalls; corporals, James C. Nelson, Thomas E. Osgood, John W. Hoyt, Timothy Tilton, Gustavus Emmons, Aaron Clark, Samuel Blaisdell, and Howard Taylor. After the captains of the regiment were all commissioned, they drew lots to decide their order of rank, and Capt. Blake Fowler thus became the ranking captain of the regiment, and his company consequently became the right of the regiment and were armed with Springfield rifles instead of the smooth- bore musket like all the rest of the regiment, except Company F, as hereafter mentioned.
Town and war meetings were held as in other companies, money and men were raised to answer the president's call, and especially to raise the Twelfth Regiment within the time requested by the governor as a condition of having its choice of officers, as the reader has, we trust, read earlier in this history.
This company was mustered into the United States service and became a part of the great army of the loyal North, September 5, 1862.
It narrowly escaped capture at Fredericksburg, as seen in the history of that battle, when the regiment retreated with the whole army across the Rappahannock.
1
542
History of the Twelfth Regiment
LUIS DE L. BALLOU
This soldier is a descendent of Maturin Ballou, who fled from France on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and with other French Protestants came to this country and joined Roger Williams' colony in Rhode Island. Ilis father, Hosea, was a second cousin of the eminent divine of that name, and a relative of President Garfield's wife. His mother, whose maiden name was Cynthia P. Sanborn, gave him birth at Bristol, December 4, 1842, he being one of seven children.
Taken sick from exposure ou the " Mud March," he was not again in active service until after the Gettysburg campaign, rejoining the regiment at Point Lookout, Va. In the battles of Fredericksburg, Swift Creek, and Drury's Bluff, and severely wounded in the last named, while shouting and swinging his hat. Transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, in the winter 1864-5, where he served to the end of the war. Ile was a good soldier ; and of his valor and patriotism, it is sufficient to say that when lying and dying, as supposed, on the field, to the question of Sergeant Gordon about sending some word to his mother, he re- plied : " Tell her I died in a good cause."
He is a farmer, and is as highly honored as his calling. The worst thing that can be said against him is the solemn fact that he has long lived and will, it is feared, die an "old bach."
CORP. HENRY A. BLANCHARD.
Ilere is another of the tall grenadeers of Company C, and there were few as tall and none taller in the regiment. Ilis father's given name was Artemus, and his mother's maiden name was Cyrena L. Buckman. He was orderly for General Whipple at Fal- mouth and Fredericksburg, Va.
In all battles and marches to Drury's Bluff, where he was severely wounded in left arm above the elbow, having the bone shattered, by a minie ball, so that several pieces came out before his wound healed. Ile was brave and cool in battle. (See Captain Saunders's sketch.)
Ile lived in Charlestown, Mass., and worked for the Old Colony Railroad for most of the time since the war, being yard master for several years.
Married in 1871, to Mary Wheeler, of Concord ; died in Charlestown, now Boston, Mass., in 189-, and buried in Plainfield.
IIe is seen here in the regalia of one of the two or three orders to which he belonged.
CAPT. DANIEL W. BOHIONON.
This namesake of a great statesman had something far above the average as a distin- guishing characteristic of his own mentality.
From early youth he manifested a love for learning and after he learned to read, books were his constant companions.
After his mother's death, at the age of nine, he lived with his sister, Mrs. Moses A. Emmons, of Bristol, who was both a sister and mother to him during the years of his minority. With her assistance and his own earnings. he attended school for several terms at New Ilampton academy : and, when he enlisted. had a much larger fund of information than possessed by many students in college. Though unassuming, his intellectual merits could not long remain hidden ; and, without any special love or desire for military honors, he was promoted (see roster) until he more honored than he was honored by a captain's commission.
As a soldier, his record is equalled by few, being in every battle of the regiment and wounded by minie ball through thigh at Gettysburg. When the regiment was discharged he was appointed to the command of a company of the Second New Hampshire, and was again mustered into the service of his country, serving as captain in that regiment until December 19, 1865.
After the war he was appointed a government revenue officer, at Richmond, Va., where he continued to live until his death.
543
New Hampshire Volunteers.
G. I.P. L. 6-0.
LUIS DE L. BALLOU.
B. B. L. 6-2.
CORP. HENRY A. BLANCHARD.
Bk. D. L. 5-11. CAPT. DANIEL W. BOHONON.
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History of the Twelfth Regiment
With new opportunities his natural thirst for knowledge was renewed, and his time, not officially occupied, was employed in increasing his fund of information, preparatory to an honorable discharge of higher and more responsible positions that he hoped to be called upon to fill. About this time he had the unexpected pleasure of making quite an extended trip through Europe, with little expense to himself, and after his return he gave a course of lectures upon his travels, whereby heextended his reputation as a scholar and increased the esteem and admiration of his acquaintances and friends, who had but just begun to appreciate his abilities.
Ilis untimely death was greatly mourned by all who knew him, and his memory will long remain as green in the hearts of his surviving comrades as the evergreen branches that some of them spread over his grave in Oakwood cemetery, Richmond, Va., on their visit there a few years ago .*
ALBION W. BRALEY.
A native of Danbury, born January 25, 1843, and the third of seven children (two sous) of William and Clarrissa II. (Smith) Braley.
In the battles of Fredericksburg and also Chancellorsville, where he was wounded by minie ball in right leg and, after being in hospital and convalescent camp for several months, was discharged on account of his wound (see roster).
Married September 25, 1864, to Rebecca A., daughter of John B. Annis, of Dorchester, and the widow of D. C. Washburn, who was a member of the Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers, and died soon after his discharge. Fred B. is their only child.
The picture represents this brave soldier as he looked when he first went into camp at Concord.
CHARLES S. BROWN.
Oldest son of Dexter and Deborah (Smith) Brown, born in Bristol, January 22, 1825, and died in Bristol, March 8, 1886. He had four brothers and two sisters.
In the battle of Fredericksburg and severely wounded at Chancellorsville, by reason of which he was disabled from active service in the field and transferred into the Veteran Reserve Corps. and which finally ended his life, the bullet remaining in his body until extracted after his death.
Two of his brothers were in the war -John D., in New Hampshire Cavalry, and Squire S., in the One Hundred Seventy-seventh Ohio, the latter being promoted to a lieutenancy.
First wife, Orinda Tilton ; children by her, Ellen F. (now wife of lliram T. Heathe, Company E) ; Frank E., who was accidently killed. and John II., now living. Second wife, Ruth P. Simonds, widow of Morrill Simouds. who died in the service. A paper maker by occupation. Ile fought for and died for his country, and was buried in his native town.
CORP. SAMUEL BROWN.
Killed on the field where the nation had a " new birth of freedom," and struck down while trying, as one of the color guard, to uphold the flag, t this soldier's name is an honor even to the " roll of honor " where it will be found.
For parentage see sketch of his brother, Charles M. Brown, Company D. Born May 17, 1842. Wounded in hip at Chancellorsville, and in bowels at Gettysburg. lle died in the evening just after reaching the field hospital, and was breathing his last when taken out of the ambulance.
ยท See page 321
t See page 125.
545
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. L. L. 5-93. ALBION W. BRALEY.
H. B. L. 5-72. CHARLES S. BROWN.
O
B. B. D. 6-3. CORP. SAMUEL BROWN.
35
546
History of the Twelfth Regiment
NATHANIEL CAYES.
Was born in Shipton, Canada, August 17, 1834, and is the son of Joseph and Ozilla (Moran) Cayes.
From the blank filled out by him it seems he was in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Siege of Petersburg, but was never wounded. Was with a First New Jersey Battery for a while.
Ile was married several years after the war to Marcia A. Elkins, of Andover. Chil- dren, Edward N., Ida M., Emma M., Charlie W., Annie L., Fredie, Lizzie, and Elsie.
CHARLES W. CHENEY.
Promoted to the roll of honor, on the field of Chancellorsville, where he gave his life for his country. He was shot through the head by a grape shot, evidently, and his brains were scattered over Captain Fowler's back.
Son of Moses and Rebecca (Colby) Cheney, born in the town of Bristol, and the oldest but one of four children, all boys.
Married Abby Spaulding, but left no children to bear his honored name.
As a schoolmate, neighbor, and friend he is spoken highly of by his old acquaintances, and as a soldier he was among the foremost, and crowning his record with his death in the cause of freedom. History should perpetuate his name.
CORP. AARON CLARK.
Son of Samuel and Betsey (Rollins) Clark, and born in Dorchester, in 1831.
Married September 23, 1855, to Mary E., daughter of David C. Marston, and has five children, viz., Emma A., Cynthia A., Hattie M., Sam S., and Jennie MI., all living.
Brother of George W., of Company E. (see sketch), and also of Henry W., who was a member of First Light Battery and First Heavy Artillery, New Hampshire Volunteers, re-enlisting and serving nearly four years. This soldier was taken sick before crossing the Potomac, at Berlin, Md., and soon after discharged.
Ile is, and has been for many years, permanently disabled, and almost entirely helpless. Ile attributes his long sickness and present condition to a dose of medicine given him in the army. Though never taking an active part with his comrades in the field. he has the honor of having his name with them upon the rolls.
CHIARLES E. CORLISS.
Was the son of Jonathan and Unice G. (Laken) Corliss, who had six children, three boys and three girls. Another son, Horace B., served faithfully in this company.
He was born in Alexandria, July 25, 1844, and was drowned while at hospital at Harper's Ferry, Md., on or about October 20, 1862, instead of as erroneously stated in roster.
He was, to the contrary, a kind, noble-hearted, and patriotic boy, and deserves all praise and not one word of censure. Ile said to his mother, while trying to get her con- sent to have him enlist : " Think, mother, what a noble thing it would be, even if I should never return, to die for my country." His father wanted to go in his stead, and let him stay at home, but he would not listen for a moment to such a suggestion.
Byron C. Hill, of the same company, says : "He was taken sick with fever at Berlin Md., and was out of his head most of the time. I watched with him two or three nights myself. One night he went out and never came back. The next morning nothing could be found of him. He was afterward found in the canal." This is undoubtedly correct as it is substantially verified by Captain Saunders and others of the company. Ilis mother still lives and deeply cherishes his memory; and for her sake. as well as for his, the author is glad of this privilege of doing him full justice.
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