USA > New Hampshire > History of the Twelfth regiment, New Hampshire volunteers in the war of the rebellion > Part 69
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* See sketch of John Merrill, page 642.
627
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. Bk. D. 6-0. CALEB BROWN.
B. S. S. 5-10. TRUE C. BROWN.
B. S. I .. 5-7. ASA O. CARR.
G. Bk. D. 5-7. CORP. BENJAMIN W. CLARKE.
628
History of the Twelfth Regiment
Three brothers in Union army : Amos K., Eighth New Hampshire Volunteers,- wounded at Port Ilndson ; Nathaniel B., Fourteenth United States Regulars, killed at Gettysburg after being in every battle of General Sykes's division ; and Luther C., in the Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers.
Rev. Mr. Runnells, in his history of Sanbornton, says : " Few families," referring to this, " can show a better war record than this, four sons and four sons-in-law being in the army, and all standing at their posts ; of whom one son was killed and two wounded, one son-in-law died from wounds, and two died in the service from disease."
Of these sons by marriage, Lyman B. Evans, Eighth Vermont Volunteers, died of wounds at Baton Rouge, La., August, 1863; Samuel W. Hoyt served in Second New Hampshire Volunteers ; Charles W. Merrill, Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, died in service ; and William II. Weeks, Second New Hampshire Volunteers, who died in Washington, D. C .. from disease contracted in the army.
Married June 16, 1878, to Mary L., daughter of Joshua R. Morrill, of Belmont, who was a soldier of the War of 1812, and his father, Levi, a soldier of the Revolution. No children, but it is a pity that they have not one son, at least, to represent the family and keep up the patriotic line in the next war with England.
Occupation since discharge, running a sawmill in London and sash and blind manu- factory in Tilton. He was also selectman and supervisor of London several years, and postmaster at Grafton Centre during Cleveland's first administration. Now a resident of Belmont.
Who will say that his life has not been " time honored and improved " ?
CORP. JOHN R. DAVIS
Was born in Eliot, Me., June 13, 1825, and is the son of John and Hannah (Parsons) Davis and the grandson of Samnel Davis, a veteran of the War of 1812.
lle was in every battle from Fredericksburg to Drury's Bluff, Va., where he was severely wounded and crippled for life by bullet through left ankle. Ile helped save the colors at Gettysburg,* and was on the color guard all the time after this until wounded.
Married to Rachel, daughter of William Luthbary, of Fairton, N. J. His children are Charles W., Ellen L., Mary B., and John C., who are all married.
Though below the army standard in feet and inches, he ranked far above the average as a brave and patriotic soldier, and few men in the regiment more faithfully served his country than did the subject of this sketch. Ile deserves to be greatly remembered, not only as a faithful and gallant soldier, but as one who deserves the credit of helping to save the regimental colors and being one of the boys in blue who helped to save the nation.
HENRY F. DAY.
Son of John E. and Hannah (Davis) Day, born October 14, 1838, in the town of Dover. Married October 4. 1859, to Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas T. Gray. His children are Nettie A., Minnie I., Rosa A., Annie B., Jennie B., Harry L., and Alice M., four of whom are living.
Fought with the musket at Fredericksburg, and at Chancellorsville had a wild jump and tumble experience in charge of horses and mules that were stampeded by Jackson's sudden attack, which for a time was quite as exciting and dangerous as in the line of battle. At Gettysburg he was again in the ranks, and so severely wounded in his right leg that amputation was soon found necessary to save his life.
This soldier comes of good patriotic stock, his great-grandfather being a veteran of 1776, and his record shows there has been no degeneracy. With just pride can his children. say, " My father lost a leg at Gettysburg."
· See page 376.
629
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. L. L. 5-83. FREDERICK E. COPP.
B. L. I .. 5-23. CORP. JOIIN R. DAVIS.
B. D. D. 5-5. HENRY F. DAY.
630
History of the Twelfth Regiment
ROBERT F. DEARBORN.
Born in Canterbury in 1836.
At Gettysburg he was wounded through left groin, and received a slight shell wound at Chancellorsville in his left arm where his knapsack was knocked off his back by solid shot or shell.
He was a good soldier, and it is to be regretted that more is not known of his history.
JONATHAN C. DRAKE.
Son of James S. and Susan F. (Young) Drake ; born in Northwood, January 26, 1814, being the oldest of six children, the boys all serving in the Union army - Justice C., in Troop B, First New Hampshire Cavalry, captured and died in Andersonville prison, and James B. was also in the service.
Soon after the battle of Fredericksburg, in which he participated, he was taken sick and gradually grew worse until he became so reduced in flesh and strength, that, but for the intercession of one of his comrades, who made known his condition to the colonel, he, probably, would long since have been sleeping beneath the soil of Virginia instead of culti- vating, as he has for many years, the soil of the young but great and fast growing state of Nebraska, where in " single blessedness " he now resides, trusted and respected by all who know him. From a letter just received from him it appears that fire and flood have made sad havoe of his earthly possessions, but that he is still happy in the Christian's faith that " whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth."
Ile did what he conld, and who can do more ?
CORP. CHARLES O. DERGIN.
Ilere is a good picture of a good soldier, but taken of him when wearing a heavier beard than earlier years could give him while in the army. Though slow and sober in his motions and looks, neither was from hesitancy nor fear of meeting the foe.
lle is the son of Levi and Susan O. (Keniston) Durgin, and was born March 11, 1844.
Ile was in every engagement of the regiment except Gettysburg, when he was in hospital sick with fever. Rejoined his command at Point Lookout, and was one of the number who made a raid across the river into Virginia .*
On the morning of the battle of Relay House, while hastening from picket to rejoin his comrades already in line of battle, his cap was blown from his head by the wind of a cannon ball, which was the closest solid-shot shave he ever had, though many spiteful and swift-winged minies have of course put him in greater jeopardy of life, and he was wounded severely by one in the battle of Cold Harbor.
lle married Lucy Shorey. of South Berwick, and has no children.
lle was a brave and faithful soldier.
BUT. LIEUT. CHARLES S. EMERY.
Lieutenant Emery was born in Stewartstown, July 22, 1830. His father's name was Enoch and his mother's, Abigail Pickard.
His boyhood was passed on a farm, but at nineteen, feeling the need of an education, he commenced an academic course at Smithville Seminary, Rhode Island, where he remained two or three years, and then entered college at Spring Arbor, Mich., where he experienced religion and commenced studying for the ministry. His health failing, he was obliged to give up his studies and return to his native hills.
April 5, 1855, he married Sarah A. Garland, of Canterbury, where he resided at the time of his enlistment. From this time until the battle of Cold Harbor, where he received his mortal wounds, he was always with his regiment through all the battles and marches .. never being absent or excused from duty for a single day.
· See page 158.
631
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. D. I .. 5-103. ROBERT I, DEARBORN.
B. L. L. 5-5. JONATHAN C. DRAKE.
B. P. D. 5-7. CORP. CHARLES O, DURGIN.
632
History of the Twelfth Regiment
At Gettysburg he and Corporal Davis, of the same company, were the first ones, after the color sergeants and guard had been shot down. to grasp the flags and carry them off just in time to save them from capture .* He was wounded in left arm and hip at Cold Ilarbor, and remained all day on the field exposed to the enemy's fire. Removed by his comrades t at night while the field was still swept by the fire of the enemy's pickets, who had an excellent mark in the piece of white tent used instead of a stretcher. Ile asked them to leave him and not expose themselves to what seemed to be certain death, thus manifesting the highest exhibition of Christian fortitude and tender solicitude for the welfare of others. Ile was sent to Carver Hospital, District of Columbia, when, after his arm was amputated and ball extracted from his back, hopes were entertained of his recovery ; but his earthly mission, so faithfully performed, was ended, and he died, as he had lived, a noble example and type of honest manhood and Christian patriotism.#
CORP. JOHN A. EMERSON.
llere is the picture of one who, with the parental aid and early advantages of some young men, might have become famous in literature. He first opened his eyes to the light in the town of Northwood, and then and there became the living son of Daniel E. and Keziah ( Elkins) Emerson.
October 5, 1853, he married Hannah Day, of Northwood, sister of William H. Day. who served in the same company, and had by her three daughters, Ella A., Ida F., and Mary J., all married. Ida F. died recently.
He fought with his regiment in all its engagements except Cemetery Hill, when he was suffering from a wound received July 4, 1864, in front of Petersburg, losing a finger of his left hand.
lle was the wit of his company and one of its bravest and best soldiers, being as quick and pointed with his gun as his tongue. | He was himself, and at home on the battle-field ; and at Chancellorsville he fought hard and long, giving the rebels full four score or more of leaden pills to cure them of " secession." Of his death see roster.
LIEUT. HENRY A. L. FRENCH.
This brave officer was born in Gilmanton, January 6. 1833, and was the son of Hiram and Lydia W. (Bachelder) French, and the twin brother of Charles G. B. French, who died in infancy. His father was a prosperous merchant and farmer, and gave his son a liberal education ; he died on the old French homestead in London, where he then resided, just nineteen days before his sou fell on the field of Gettysburg.
After becoming of age Henry, who during the years of his adolescence had assisted his father on the farm, sought and found employment for several years in Boston, Mass., becom- ing, in the meantime, a member of Park Street Church, where his name is now engraved on a tablet record of those who died for their country.
After a few years in the West. he returned to Pittsfield, where his marriage to Sarah G., daughter of Thomas Clough. of Canterbury, occurred February 14, 1861. Seven months later he enlisted, and the spring following his wife died.
Ile was in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, preceding the prolonged and terrible struggle of Gettysburg, where he fell on the second day in the very vortex of battle. just as the Third Corps, broken at the fatal angle in the Peach Orchard, was being driven back from its advanced position on the Emmettsburg road by the overpowering onslaught of General Longstreet's massed legions upon both frout and flank. He was a brave and faithful officer, ambitious to win the good-will of his superiors by strict devotion to duty in the camp and on the field. In the battle of Chancellorsville where his regiment was almost annihilated, he was one of the three out of twenty-six othicers who was neither killed nor wounded, and who with a small remmant of the regiment rallied around the flag and retreated just in time to escape capture.
* See page 376.
t See page 212. # Sce page 346, et seq.
Il See page 428.
633
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. B. L. 5-S. BYT. LIEUT. CHARLES S. EMERY.
Bk. B. D. 5-103.
CORP. JOHN A. EMERSON.
B. D. L. 5-103. LIEUT. HENRY A. L. FRENCHI.
634
History of the Twelfth Regiment
llis daughter. a fit representative of her heroic father, is now a leading physician of her sex in the city of New York, and also a professor of surgery in the Woman's Medical College in that city. Iler name, Sarah Angie French, written by her father's hand in the family bible the only time he was permitted to see her, may fade and grow dim ; but his, written by the recording angel in the book of life, for those who die for Christian freedom and the rights of men, shall grow brighter and brighter while the centuries come and go.
CORP. FRANK M. GAY.
A good picture of a good man and brave soldier is here given to posterity.
Son of James M. and Margaret A. (Cross) Gay, and born in Wilmot in 1842. His grandfather was a major-general in the New Hampshire militia, and his brother, George E., served in Company C, First New Hampshire Heavy Artillery.
In most of the battles of the regiment to Cold Harbor, where he was severely wounded in arm (see roster), and never with the regiment afterward.
Died in Concord, February 11, 1865, and buried at Wilmot. He was a mechanic by trade and was never married.
SERGT. WILLIAM S. GRAY.
The engraving of Sergeant Gray, although a true copy of his photograph, is not a very good picture of the living original. for the camera like the pen is unable to do him justice.
Ile was born in Strafford, June 29, 1836, being the oldest son of six children, two boys and four girls, of Thomas F. and Olive F. (Davis) Gray, and the great-grandson of John Gray, who served through the Revolution. His grandfather, John Davis, was a pensioner of 1812. Thus from both sides he inherited the courage and patriotism that have so greatly honored and distinguished him.
In all the engagements that the regiment was, and also in the battles of Chapin's Farin, Capture of Petersburg, and High Bridge, while on detached service as sharpshooter. lle aud Farrar, of Company Il (see sketch), were two of the very few sharpshooters who did so much towards capturing Fort Harrison, and they were together in the chase after General Lee, both being severely wounded -Sergeant Gray in the left thigh, a few days before Lee's surrender. Ile was also wounded slightly in head at Chancellorsville, and again at Chapin's Farm by minie balls, which took off the sight of his ritle and badly wounded him in left thumb, while engaged in silencing a gun in one of the rebel forts.
Married Nancy J. Pender (deceased), of Northwood, October 19, 1856. Two children, Frank (died young) and Charles S. Second marriage to Annie M. George, widow of Samuel W. George (see sketch), of Company 1, April 2, 1866.
Sergeant Gray has a record equaled by few in the regiment, and was one of the most reliable and brave of the "Old Guard." lle is, moreover, a true type of Christian manhood.
CORP. LYMAN A. HAMBLET.
Here is another of the many of every company who never hesitated to go forward because the enemy was in front, and received a mortal wound bravely fighting at Cold llarbor (see roster).
Son of Carmi G. and Elizabeth (Nason) Hamblet, and born in Dracut, Mass., May 3, 1836. Shoemaker by trade when he enlisted.
lle was an orphan boy, his father dying when he was thirteen years old. and his mother died when he was only six.
lle was in every battle except Gettysburg, and then he was a prisoner, being captured at Chancellorsville. Rejoined regiment September 23, 1863, at Point Lookout, Md. Ile received his fatal wound in the side, but he was also wounded in the ankle at the same battle.
Irena A. Fletcher, of Loudon, became his wife, March 25, 1861. who had two children, both boys.
635
New Hampshire Volunteers.
G. B. L. 5-9. CORP. FRANK M. GAY.
B. D. D. 5-103. SERGT. WILLIAM S. GRAY.
B. D. D. 5-63. CORP. LYMAN A. HAMBLET.
636
History of the Twelfth Regiment
CAPT. ANDREW M. HEATH.
The daughter of General McCary of Revolutionary fame was the grandmother of this officer, who was the son of John M. and Abigail S. (Cate) Heath, and born in Loudon, February 23, 1836, and died in Epsom, July 18, 1875. He had grown up a rugged farmer's boy of more than average proportions, and received a liberal education; and from that until he enlisted he lived with his father on a farm, teaching school winters.
Hle enlisted several for Company F, in his native town, and for this and his natural fitness he was made first sergeant. He was rapidly promoted until made adjutant of the regiment, which place he filled for a long time. lle was in most. if not all, of the battles of the regiment, being wounded and taken prisoner in the battle of Chancellorsville. and wounded slightly in the Siege of Petersburg. He was brigade staff officer for a while near the end of the war, and was always a brave and efficient officer wherever and whenever called upon.
After the war, in the winter of 1866, he married Lucy R., daughter of Oliver Green, of Pittsfield, by whom he had three children, Minnie L., Willie C., and Adeline F. His wife survived him but a few years, dying August 26, 1879.
llis occupation after discharge was the same as before enlistment, farming and teaching.
Ile was calm and collected in battle, and. though while fully sensible of his danger, not being foolishily daring, he was always np to the demand of duty wherever that might call him. Colonel Barker, than whom none knew his worth better, often spoke of him in the highest terms, and in one of his letters to his wife wrote of him as being " good as gold."
The picture of him here shown was taken soon after his promotion to captain, and is a very good one.
ZARA V. HILLIARD.
Abram B. and Dorothy B. (Towle) Hilliard were the parents of eight children, all boys but one, and in 1836 resided in Pittsfield, where on the 10th of May of that year was born the subject of this sketch. Ilis uncle, David B., was a soldier of 1812, and his brother, Rosewell M. C .- youngest of the family - was a member of Company E. Third New Hampshire Regiment, and severely wounded through left lung. After the war he was purposely or accidently shot at Shelburne, Ala.
Zara was wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville and never with the regiment after- ward. Though soon recovering, he remained on service in the hospital until his death from typhoid fever at Webster Hospital, Manchester, May 5, 1865.
Thus his life ended with the war, but he lived long enough to know that his country was saved, and that he had not fought and bled on one of her great battle fields in vain.
CAPT. JOHN W. JJOHNSTON.
Son of John and Lydia C. (Pickering) Johnston, and born in Pittsfield, February 10, 1841.
At the commencement of raising the Twelfth Captain Johnston was a traveling sales- man, which vocation was exchanged for a place in the ranks as corporal.
Ile was in the battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Swift Creek, Cold Harbor. Cemetery Hill, Petersburg, and Capture of Richmond. At Cold Harbor he had command of a division consisting of Companies F and D. Ile was never wounded in any of the above engagements, and never went to hospital for sickness during his term of service.
lle married. first, Susan A. Philbrick, February 6, 1866, who died October 30, 1868; one child. Susan M. Second. to Clara A. Philbrick, March 3, 1875, by whom he has four children, Robert P' .. Edith B., Belle P .. and Christine ; and his third wife is Laura C. Hood, and has no children by her.
637
New Hampshire Volunteers.
H. B. I .. 6-0. CAPT. ANDREW M. HEATH.
B. B. D. 5-7. ZARA V. HILLIARD.
G. D. L. 5-9. CAPT. JOHN W. JOHNSTON.
638
History of the Twelfth Regiment
During the summer and fall of 1864 he acted on the staff of Brig. Gen. J. II. Potter as provost-marshal. lle was for a while acting assistant ordinance officer on the staff of Gen. B. F. Butler, and acted in a similar capacity under General Ord after the capture of Rich- mond, where he had charge of the captured ammunition, and overseered the shipping of it to Washington.
Captain Johnston possesses good and solid qualities that can be relied upon, both in military and civil life, and few can show a better record in either. For most of the time since the war he has been engaged in the mercantile business, and is at present a member of the firm of Stratton & Co .. flour and grain dealers, of Concord, but he lives in Manches- ter, where he has the good will and confidence of all who know him.
MAJ. JOHN F. LANGLEY.
Son of Joseph and Mary (Gerrish) Langley, and born in Nottingham, August 14, 1831. Ilis grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution.
Ile enlisted first from Manchester in the Third New Hampshire Volunteers as second lieutenant, for one year, resigning at the expiration of his term. He was commissioned captain in Company F, of this regiment, September 8, 1862.
Ile was in the battle of Fredericksburg, on General Bowman's stall at Chancellorsville, and was for a while in command of the regiment at Gettysburg.
His marriage to Nancy Austin occurred October 28, 1852, and his children are Estelle L., Carrie F., and Samuel G.
Ile is now a resident of Amherst, where he has long been an invalid.
REUBEN T. LEAVITT, JR.
This soldier first joined the cadet infantry of Pittsfieldl, November 11, 1839, and was mustered into service for life under the name of his father, who a few years before married Nancy K. Brown.
He was married to Emma A. Watson, September 4, ISTI, at North Berwick, by whom he had the following children : Lila M. (deceased), Harry E., and Inez M. His ancestors were Scotch and settled in Hampton.
Ile was with his regiment at Fredericksburg. also in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he was wounded so badly in the knee by minie ball that he was soon after discharged from the service, and has been in a disabled condition from lameness ever since. After he was wounded he remained in the enemy's lines for several days, when he was paroled and sent across the river with many others that the enemy were glad to get off their hands. Edwin A. Kelly, who helped carry him off the field, was shot dead before they succeeded in doing so.
Ile is a worthy citizen of his native town and a jovial, kind hearted man.
CHARLES F. MASON.
The birthplace of this soldier was Chichester and the date of his birth, February 22, 1830. Edmund and Clarissa (Ingalls) Mason were his father and mother, and Benjamin, his grandfather, was prominent in the service of his country during the Revolutionary War.
Ile was in Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville where he received his death wound.
He had a foreboding of his untimely end on the day of his enlistment, often talking of his approaching death on the field with as much certainty and composure as if it was a fixed fact in some business affair .* Ilis death was deeply felt by his comrades.
* See page 342.
639
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. B. I .. 5-73. MAJ. JOHN F. LANGLEY.
B. B. D. 5-73.
REUBEN T. LEAVITT, JR.
0
B. I .. L. 5-S2. CHARLES F. MASON.
of9
History of the Twelfth Regiment
JESSE M. MASON.
Son of Edmund and Clarissa (Ingalls) Mason, and was born in Chichester, February 22, 1830. His father was at Portsmouth in 1812, and his grandfather was a fifer in the Continental army.
Married December 30, 1849, to Mary J., daughter of Rev. Lincoln Lewis, who died during the war, leaving him four children, Walter E., Ida J .. Nellie C., and Harold L., all living but the last. Married second wife, Annie W. Collins, of East Salisbury, Mass., Jannary 1, 1880.
In battles of Swift Creek. Relay House, Drury's Bluff, Port Walthall, and Cold Harbor, where he was severely wounded by musket ball and narrowly escaped death from the explosion of a shell, tearing the clothes from his body and causing him to vomit blood.
He is by occupation a shoemaker, and has resided most of the time in Pittsfield since the war.
CORP. WILLIAM P. MASON.
Parents unknown, but Hannah P. Mason, his adopted mother, used to live in Canter- bury. Of this soldier's family record but very little is known. This is the more to be regretted, as he fought on many battle-fields of his country, and was not discharged until his country's foes had grounded their arms, and peace once more assumed her rightful sway over a land that had drank up some of the best blood of the nation.
After the war he was drowned in St. Charles, Minn., June 30, 1867.
JEREMIAH MARSTON.
Son of Orin C. and Susan M. Marston ( maiden name the same), who had two sons and six daughters. Born in Tamworth, April 10, 1843, and had worked at farming and shoe- making before enlisting.
In most of the battles with his regiment to Cold Harbor, where one of the femoral arteries was severed by musket ball and he bled to death upon the field.
Though he went through many hard battles, he received no wound until the fatal one ; but bullets pierced his clothes, and one went through the top of his cap at Chancellorsville. He was never at home on furlough, but stayed with the colors and did his duty until death released him. llis neighbors speak of him as an excellently good boy.
ALFRED W. MAXFIELD.
Son of Rufus and Trene (JJohnson) Maxfield, born in Mansfield, Vt., August 30, 1838, and killed at Chancellorsville. May 3, 1863. He was never married.
lle served faithfully with his regiment from the day of his muster-in to his final minster-out from the service of time, uever being absent or excused from duty and always faithful to every care and trust. From his countenance. as here pictured, can be read what one of his comrades wrote of him : " Open. free, and brave hearted." From the lips of his aged mother, who until the day of her recent death never ceased to mourn for him, the writer learned of his anxiety to enlist in the service of his country and of his willing- ness to die, as he did, in its defense.
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