USA > New Hampshire > History of the Twelfth regiment, New Hampshire volunteers in the war of the rebellion > Part 72
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In all battles of regiment but Cemetery Hill, Bermuda Hundred, and Capture of Rich- mond. Sick in hospital a while in summer and fall of 1864, and then serving on General Butler's flag of truce boat for exchange of prisoners until end of the war.
Occupation, farming ; but for years disabled and now almost helpless from the effects of chronic rheumatism contracted in the service. At Chancellorsville a minie ball went through his eoat sleeve and shattered his gun stock, and another musket that he picked up and fought through the battle with is still in his possession.
CAPT. ARTHUR ST. CLAIR SMITHI.
This officer. the oldest son of Joshua R. and Clarissa C. (Crockett) Smith, was born February 11, 1841, and is the great-grandson of Ilon. Ebenezer Smith, one of the first set- tlers of Meredith, and great-great-grandson of two soldiers of the Revolution.
Ebenezer, aforesaid. called and held in his house the first town meeting, being then, March 20, 1769. elected town clerk and selectman, and holding the latter office as long as he lived, or for thirty-six years. He was also representative, senator, and judge, and held many other offices of honor and trust.
Inheriting the public sprit and patriotism of his ancestors, Arthur St. Clair left the academy at New London in Is61. and went home to enlist, but his widowed mother, his father having been accidently killed in California three years before, persuaded him to return to his school, where he impatiently remained until the new call for troops in 1862, when " I could no longer study." as he says, "and went home again to enlist." Assisted by Adjutant-General Colby, he enlisted forty or fifty men for Company G, but waiving his claim to rank was elected first sergeant, instead of lieutenant, as he might have been. llis brother, Henry JJ., of the same company, was killed at Gettysburg (see sketch).
lu all the battles of the regiment to Cold Harbor, but Gettysburg and Wapping Heights, when he was still suffering from a severe wound received in arm at Chancellorsville, where his equipments were perforated with bullets. At Cold Harbor he was struck five times, being wounded twice, and having musket or grape shot through hat, haversack, and coat. lle says: "I shall never forget my ambulance ride with Captain Shackford from Cold Harbor to White House lamling.", Rejoined the regiment after the Siege of Peters- burg, was present at the battle of Bermuda Inndred, and led a provisional battalion, that he commanded for a while, into Richmond. Of Captain Smith's services at Danville, Va., see pages 302 and 310, chapter XV.
Ile was married December 10, 1868, to Harriet R. Baker, of Portland, Me. Children, Albert 11., Kate E. (deceased ), Arthur St. Clair, Perey P., and Leigh B., and one, oldest of all, who died in infancy.
After the war he received the degree of L. L. B., from the Albany Law School, N. Y., and settled in Cedar Rapids, lowa. He has been judge of the municipal court, and was elected to the legislature by several thousand plurality though a candidate of the minority.
fle died December 19, 1895.
GEORGE IL. SMITH.
This soldier, the descendent of a brave and patriotic ancestry, and the son of Joshua M. and Sally ( Durgin ) Smith, was born in the town of Sanbornton, May, 1836.
In December, 1850, he married Mary Bunker, of Tamworth, by whom he had one child, Austin. now living, who was a babe in his mother's arms, when his father went to the war.
* See page 216 et seq.
669
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. DB. D. 5-7. CLINTON A. SHAW.
B. B. I. 5-S.
CAPT. ARTIIUR ST. CLAIR SMITHI.
B. LB. L. 5-7.
GEORGE H. SMITH.
670
History of the Twelfth Regiment
Ilis brothers, Charles W. and Winthrop 11., were in the Sixth and Fifteenth New Hampshire, respectively, and both in the New Hampshire Heavy Artillery. Itis great- grandfather. Solomon. went with his seven sons to the battle of Bunker Hill ; and Stephen, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was taken prisoner; carried to England and confined for some time in a prison ship. In Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, where he fell just as the regiment arose from the brook to meet the enemy in the woods .* In a letter to his brother a short time before the battle, when he seemed to feel the chilling shade of the coming night, he writes in that spirit of devotion to his country and resigna- tion to his fate that shows him to have been. what he really was. a Christian patriot.
CORP. HENRY J. SMITH.
This hero of the battle-field, whom to conquer was to kill, was born in Meredith (now Laconia), August 8, 1843, and was the son of Joshua R. and Clarissa C. (Crockett) Smith. Brother of Capt. Arthur St. Clair (see sketch).
Ile was in and through all that his regiment was, until he was ent down by a minie ball through both thighs on the field of Gettysburg. Sergeant Clark says : " Wounded in thigh and back." Both the Union and Confederate lines of battle passed over him after he fell, and one of the officers horses trod upon him. He lay on the field all night before he was removed to hospital. At Chancellorsville he was wounded by a minie ball that struck his jackknife in his pants' pocket, knocking out or back the blades, bedding itself between the two outside casings, and producing a severe and dangerous contusion in his groin. Ile was sent to hospital, but would not stay because, as he told his brother, who met him the next day on his way to the front again to find his regiment, he was ashamed to be seen there with so slight a wound. though it was looking badly and much swollen. In this battle he not only used up all his own ammunition but supplied himself with more from the cartridge boxes of the dead and wounded even after he was himself wounded. All of his comrades speak of him in high terms of praise, and one of them in writing of him says : " He was young and of slight build, but a company such as he would be the pride of any commander." He lived some time after wounded (see roster). His body was sent home and buried in the family cemetery at Laconia.
SERGT. EDMUND TEBBETTS.
Here is the picture of a man who should have his name written in letters of gold as being the only volunteer from the state of New Hampshire, if not from any state of the north, who went through nearly three years of the Rebellion in a regiment that saw as much field service as the Twelfth, without being absent from any cause, for one single day and only one night except when on picket.t Yet he was nearly up to the age of exemption when he enlisted, being born in Farmington, March 1, 1818. His father's name was the same as that of his brave-hearted son ; and his mother's name, before marriage, was Sarah Colomy.
Though in every battle and skirmish, he was never more severely wounded than to have his cheek peeled by a minie ball at Chancellorsville, and part of his whiskers shaved off by piece of shell at Cold Harbor.
Married to Saphronia, daughter of John Blake, of Ossipee, November 20, 1846, and his two children, Ella F. and Clarence E., are still living ; another child, Frank, died young.
Sergeant Clarke wrote opposite his name on the muster roll : " Always on hand and does his duty ;" and Lieutenant Lane says : " You cannot speak too highly of ' Old Tib,' as the boys used to call him, for he was always present and ready to obey orders without grunting, growling, or grumbling." And the same sense of duty that bore him so hero- ically into and through all the dangers and hardships of his regiment here and now impels the pen to write this brief sketch in justice to his memory, and say in conclusion thereof, that whether it was on the march, the camp guard, the picket line, or the battle-field, he was the same resolute and reliable hero of the rank and file. He was one of the bravest of men.
* See page 78 et seq.
t See page 439.
671
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. B. L. 5-7. CORP. HENRY J. SMITH.
B. G. L. 5-6.
SERGT. EDMUND TEBBETTS.
B. Bk. L. 5-10. BUT. CAPT. JOHN S. VEASEY.
672
History of the Twelfth Regiment
BVT. CAPT. JOHN S. VEASEY.
This officer was born in Tunbridge, Vt., in 1830, and was the youngest of three boys and six girls, all children of Jeremiah and Sally (Woodman) Veasey, and the grandchil- dren of Jeremiah Woodman, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
He went out as second lieutenant of the company, and was in the battles of Freder- icksburg. Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg.
Married Maria Howe, of Manchester, by whom he had two children, Laura (deceased) and Willie.
He was killed on the railroad, May 15, 1864.
CORP. DANIEL H. WEBBER.
This corporal died at Point of Rocks, Va., by reason of wounds received August 16, 1864. He was the son of John and Mahala (Hopkins) Webber, and born in Bath, Me., in 1836.
In all the engagements until mortally wounded in front of Petersburg. While flank- ing the enemy's works, a ball from a rebel sharpshooter's rifle passed through his bowels and lodged in the back bone, causing his death in about twenty-four hours. This was early in the morning of the 15th of August. He was buried in City Point cemetery.
Married July 16, 1862, to Mary J. Davis, who afterwards became the wife of George B. Lane. His children are Clara, Belle, and Eldora, who died November 25, 1863.
Although his ashes rest in southern soil, his memory still survives him for he was true blue and a plucky soklier.
EBEN S. WELCH.
Light first came to him at Gilford, JJanuary 9, 1811. His father's and mother's names were Sammel and Harriet ( Hunt) Welch.
In Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Wounded in left forearm severely. in last named battle, which so far disabled him that he was discharged a few months afterward (see roster). His brother, George D., served during the war in the Sixty-fourth Regiment, United States Regulars.
Married December 24, 1865, to Celista Buzzell, and the names of their children are Clarence E., George D .. Harriet A., and Lottie M.
After the war he removed to Uhl, Kansas, where he now resides. Occupation before the war, dyer.
CORP. JOSEPH F. WENTWORTH.
Hle was one of a family of nine children. four boys and five girls, and was born in Moultonborough, June 18. 1841, being the third son of Clarke and Harriet (Kaime) Went- worth. He worked on a farm and attended the district school until he went to Dover, where he learned the painter's trade. While there he was united in marriage to Ida Mills in the spring of 1861.
Returning to his native town, he remained there until he enlisted.
He was in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, receiving a slight wound in the first and instantly killed in the last named battle.
comrade says : " He was a kind and affectionate brother, a steady young man, and a constant reader of his Bible. He had many friends."
ANDREW H. WHITTIER.
Killed and buried on the field of Chancellorsville, but his name and memory will sur- vive for the trustful muse of history will keep her jewels safe.
"He lives, who dies to win a lasting name."
llis mortal life began October 4, 1835, and his parents, Andrew and Marian (Hunt) Whittier.
673
New Hampshire Volunteers.
DB. BK. L. 5-7. CORP. DANIEL H. WEBBER.
R. Bk. I .. 5-113. EBEN S, WELCH.
0
Bk. Bk. D. 5-8. CORP. JOSEPH F. WENTWORTH.
43
674
History of the Twelfth Regiment
Ile was killed almost instantly by minie ball through his breast and his blood spurted out on to the musket of Newell Davidson, who stood next to him, or close by.
When he enlisted he was attending school at Northfield, to prepare for college, and was one of the most promising Christian young men of the regiment, and had his life bech spared would doubtless attained distinction as a minister of the gospel. Ile seems to have been the only one who, at that time. seriously considered the importance of a full and cor- rect history of the regiment. lIe took along with him, when going to the front, quite a large blank book in which he kept a daily record of all facts and incidents necessary to the writing of such a Instory after the war was over. The immense valne of such a record intelligently and conscientiously kept, as his would have been, no one can half appreciate who has never tried to write a regimental history without anything of the kind but the meagre and contradicting statements of a few personal diaries.
LIEUT. JOSEPH K. WHITTIER.
This brave, and brilliant young officer, son of Benjamin Il. and Sarah (Weymouth) Whittier, was born in Meredith, July 1, 1843.
Receiving an academic education, his design of going through college was changed by his country's call, and he enlisted in Company G, as private, being chosen and appointed fifth sergeant in the organization of the company. Serving with credit and distinction, he rose from rank to rank, becoming more efficient as his responsibilities increased, until recognized as one of the noblest and best he fell by a grape shot at Cold Harbor and gave to freedom's cause a life as pure, bright, and promising as a June morning upon his native hills. In one of his letters home, many of which were written for and published in differ- ent papers, and abound with sentiments of Christian faith and patriotism, he writes : " I came out here to fight for my country ; and while doing so, I am willing to be guided by the powers that be, trusting in God for final success." In another we read : " Let shame and confusion be the lot of him who at this crisis shall lift his hand, or voice. to stay the onward march of victory. Blasting infamy shall be his reward through this and coming generations. May God prosper the right is the prayer of one who loves liberty and free institutions." Richly endowed both by nature and grace. with a mind to command and a heart to win, had his life been spared until the full development of his manhood, he would doubtless have realized the ardent wish of his early years, to become great and good.
Ile was wounded slightly in the battle of Gettysburg and was in all the other battles of the regiment to Cold Harbor, where he was killed by a grape shot through the body. Tall and commanding in person, be bore his insignia of rank with becoming pride, that won respect without exciting jealousy, and while ambitious to rise. desired to wear no laurels that he had not nobly earned.
WILLIAM B. WORTH.
There are several contradictory accounts from as many different comrades of this brave and plucky soldier, but the facts appear as follows : Wounded in bowels by minie ball, while lying by brook at Chancellorsville. He was next seen by Eben S. Welch (see sketch), who was wounded about the same time, who in a letter to the author, writes : "After we were wounded we both went off in a field together and came to a log house, near by Hooker's headquarters. There the poor fellow gave out and stopped. I insisted he should try aud go a little farther so as to get out of danger. But he could not, and said as he went into the house, '] am going in here to die.' I was unable to help him for I was badly off myself, and with a sad heart I had to part with him." Entering the house he sat down upon a stair step, leaned against the wall and died. Captain Lang, seeing him enter and finding his lifeless body in that position soon after, and not knowing that he was wounded before, naturally supposed, as he has often related, that he was killed by a ball entering the door, or passing through a erevice between the logs.
Parents, Ayers and Julia A. (Balch) Worth.
Born May 16, 1844, in Moultonborough, and never married.
675
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. B. 1. 5-73. ANDREW H. WHITTIER.
Bk. B. L. 5-93.
LIEUT. JOSEPH K. WHITTIER.
HI. B. D. 6-11. WILLIAM B. WORTH.
676
History of the Twelfth Regiment
COMPANY H.
This company was recruited from eight towns ; the larger part were from the towns of Laconia. Gilford, and Gilmanton, which furnished in all seventy-nine men.
George B. Lane, of Laconia. opened a recruiting office before the Twelfth Regiment was talked of, and had enlisted several who were assigned to other New Hampshire regiments.
After the starting of the Twelfth he enlisted for them. Edward E. Pinkham also had an office in Laconia, and enlisted a number which he intended to keep with him in order to get a commission. But they wished to join the Twelfth. and for this reason applied to the adjutant- general, who gave them permission to join that regiment.
The officers commissioned were as follows : J. L. P. Whipple, cap- tain : Joseph S. Tilton, first lieutenant: Abraham H. Milliken, second lieutenant : Albert P. Fernald, first sergeant : Joseph A. Fellows, John P. Davis. Ajalon D. Jones, and Gorham P. Dunn. sergeants : Henry P. Randall. Charles E. Moody. Jonathan P. Ladd, Alma Milliken, Horace Prescott, Darius H. Lewis. John L. Caswell, and Nahum B. Osgood, corporals : Walter Libbey, musician.
The company went into camp at Laconia on what was then known as the old Fair Ground, but were soon ordered to join the other companies in the camp at Concord.
This company's date of muster into the United States service was September 9. 1862.
677
New Hampshire Volunteers.
ISAAC E. ALLEN.
Born in Gilmanton in 1840, and was the son of Isaac and Abby Allen.
This soldier was taken sick on the march from the Potomac to Falmouth. Va., and died the next spring. He was a brother of Jesse L ... in the same company (see roster). and was never married. Ile is highly spoken of by Charles II. Jones, of Company A. from whom the picture near here shown was obtained.
CHARLES A. CATE.
This soldier was the son of Thomas J. and Sarah ( Wiggin) Cate and born in Belmont. February 18, 1840. His sister was the wife of William Lamprey of the same company, and his mother is still living at the age of ninety years.
Ile was in the battle of Fredericksburg and was killed at Chancellorsville where he was struck by piece of shell while lying down with the rest of the regiment to avoid the enemy's fire, just before advancing into the woods. It is to be regretted that so little is known of his early life. He was never married.
CORP. JOHN S. COLLINS.
This worthy member of the Twelfth family closed his earthly career in the town of Meredith, where he had resided most of the time since the war, on the 30th day of Octo- ber, 1×93. Hle was the only child of Nathan and Nancy (Smith) Collins, and was born in Gilford. November 28, 1835.
Wherever the regiment met the enemy he connted "one and a gun," with the rest of his comrades. in the fight. At Chancellorsville he was wounded, but Gettysburg found him present for duty instead of being in hospital as many in his condition would have been. Ile was taken prisoner at Bermuda Hundred, November 17. 1864, and was confined at Salisbury prison, N. C., until February 22, following, when he was discharged on parole and sent to Annapolis. Md., where he remained to the elose of the war. Of his quick wit and shrewdness, an anecodote of him, at the time of his capture, which will be found related in the chapter of anecdotes and incidents, * is particularly illustrative.
Occupation. a farmer. See error of rank in ineident.
Ile married Annette Smith Robinson, April 19, 1866, and had the following named children, Josie, John II., Helen Il., Louis L., and Ralph J.
DANFORD COOK.
Nearly forty-two years of age when the first shell burst over Fort Sumter's walls vet he volunteered his services to his country when the call was sounded by the president in 1862.
Ile was born in the town of Plymouth. July 16. 1820, and Jacob and Relief (Merrill) Cook were his parents.
Ile fought on the Fredericksburg field with his regiment and was discharged at Fal- mouth, Va., on account of a severe cut received in his foot.
Ile was married to Hannah Southmaid in 1846, at Campton. and has three daughters. Ellen L., Clara I., and Emma S. Mary Beede, of Dudley, became his second wife in 1868, at Belmont, by whom Josephine II. and Bertha L. were added to his family.
SERGT. JOIN P. DAVIS.
This brave soldier, but unfortunate man, is the son of Josiah and Mehitable (Smith) Davis, and was born in Epping, February 15, 1831.
Married first to Mary E. Maloon, of Gilford ; one child. Married again to Helen M. Aldrich, of Haverhill, December 20, 1851, and his children by her are Charles C .. Ellen I .. , Mary B .. Martha E., and John C. Grandfather, Edward Smith. in the Revolution.
· See page 438.
678
History of the Twelfth Regiment
In Gettysburg where he was wounded in right arm by minie ball and also had left hip injured.
Soon after the war he lost the sight of both eyes ; one being put out by a scale from a piece of iron that he was hammering while working at his trade as blacksmith, and the other from sympathy. The loss of his eyes has been decided by the government to be caused indirectly by the wound in his right arm, disabling him from safely using it at his trade and thus injuring his sight. Ilis dog went with him to war .*
CORP. CYRUS P. DOW.
lle was born in Sanbornton, August II, 1844.
Ite was in Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hun- dred, Port Walthall, and Capture of Richmond. Wounded in right leg below knee at Gettysburg, and in hip, slightly, at Cold Harbor.
Married August 17, 1865, to Delia Estella Hayford, of Tamworth. He had six chil- dren, two of whom are living, one boy and one girl.
Machinist most of time since discharge.
LIEUT. GORHAM P. DUNN.
This lamented comrade was the son of Pierce and Credina A. (Spaulding) Dunu, of Tyngsborongh, Mass., and was born on the same month and day as his country that he died to save ; and had he lived one day longer would have been twenty-nine years old.
He was working at his trade as carpenter when he enlisted and had the esteem of all who knew him for his kind disposition and probity of character.
Married January 14, 1860, to Caroline E. Jewett, who a few years ago was still living. Their only child, Mary E., died just after the war.
He early attracted the attention of Colonel Potter by his promptness and efficiency as a sergeant, and was on this account one of the first, out of the line of a regular promotion, to receive a commission.
In every battle until killed at Cold Harbor by minie ball through his breast. Ile was first cut down while making the charge by a bullet through both legs. The fatal wound was given him by a sharpshooter, some hours after the charge, as he was seen to be alive several times during the day. Hle also talked with a wounded comrade who lay near him when all at once he said : " Oh, dear!"' and died immediately. It is supposed that he was then struck by the ball that cansed his death. Captain Fernal, who was shot at several times while getting his body from the field that night, says in a letter to Dunn's wife : " You have lost a kind, good, and brave linsband, beloved by all who knew him. * * * I thought a good deal of him. lle was a man of good principles, and free from all those vices so common among army otlicers."
Ilis sword and sash, with a picture of his wife, was taken from his body and sent to her by Captain Fernal. (See sketch of this officer.) It was remarked of him, as strangely true, that his promotion seemed to have a depressing instead of an encouraging effect upon him. But it is all accounted for to the writer now. A dark. foreboding clond came across his horoscope about this time which gave to everything a sombre hne.t Though small in stature he was great in his measure of true worth, and memory, even now, repictures his pleasant face and genial smile, and we sigh to think
"That one so worthy long to live, So quickly passed away."
* See page 458.
t See page 344.
679
New Hampshire Volunteers.
B. B. L. 5-9. ISAAC E. ALLEN.
Bk. B. D. 5-112. CHARLES A. CATE.
G. Bk. D. 5-64. CORP. JOHN S. COLLINS.
B. B. L. 5-72 . DANFORD COOK.
DB. B. D. 5-103. SERGT, JOHN P. DAVIS.
680
History of the Twelfth Regiment
HIRAM ELLIOTT.
This soldier and his father before him were both officers in the old State Militia. He was born in Loudon, November 21, 1813, and was the son of Samuel and Eunice (Sargent) Elliott who raised a family of six children.
Ile was married April 17. 1840, to Ploomy Lamprey, of Gilmanton. Children, Irena A., John R., lantha D., and Dana 11.
Ile served at Fredericksburg but was killed on the sanguinary field of Chancellorsville, the fatal ball striking him either in the head or heart, he giving one jump, as said by those who saw him, and then fell to rise no more. Ile told one of his comrades that he was going into battle but should never come out alive.
lle was hy occupation a shoemaker and farmer.
JOIN R. ELLIOTT.
Son of Hiram Elliott (see sketch above) and Ploomy Lamprey, and was born in Gil- manton. October 21, 1844.
Hle was united to Luella P. French, April 7, 1883. having been married before to Addie MI. Elliott (deceased), by whom he had one child.
Ile remained with the regiment until Warrenton where he left on account of chronic diarrhea and afterward suffered from an attack of typhoid fever.
HENRY E. EMERY.
Son of David and Mary Ann (Webster) Emery, of Gilmanton, where he was born November 15, 1840.
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