USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Amherst > History of the town of Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (first known as Narraganset township number three, and subsequently as Souhegan West) > Part 30
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401
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
XIX.]
seminaries & means of education ; to cause pure religion and virtue to flourish ; to give peace to all Nations & to fill the world with his. glory.
Done by the United States in Congress Assembled. Witness his Excellency Elias Boudinot our President, this eighteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty-three, & of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America the eighth.
ELIAS BOUDINOT.
Cha's. Thomson, Sec'y.
24 November, 1783. A convention of delegates from some of the towns in the State had recently met to consider certain grievances, and petition to the General Court for their redress, after which they adjourned to the last Tuesday of this month, and a copy of their proceedings being laid before the town, with a request that they would appoint delegates to meet with them at their adjourned meeting, Ensign William Peabody and John Eaton were appointed delegates for that purpose.
7 September, 1784. Thomas Burns, Joshua Atherton, Esq., and Maj. Blanchard, were appointed a committee to settle with Capt. Josiah Munroe (if a reasonable settlement can be obtained), for a claim he says he has to a sum of money he paid to John Grout, in consequence of a special agreement made with him by the town's committee for hir- ing soldiers, and if a reasonable settlement can not be ob- tained, to defend the town against any action he may bring against it.
13 April, 1785. The town of Merrimack having been served with an extent for one deficient soldier in the Con- tinental army, which soldier they say was wrongfully cred ited to Amherst, served a notice upon the selectmen of Am- herst to show cause, if any they had, why the extent should not issue against Amherst rather than Merrimack. The town chose Maj. Blanchard, Mr. Atherton, and Samuel Dana, Esq., to be assisted by Mr. Robert Means, their representative, a 26
402
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
committee to show cause why the petition of Merrimack should not be granted.
28 April, 1785. The town granted fifty dollars to Stephen Abbot for one year's service in the Continental army.
12 October, 1785. Voted nine pounds to Daniel Kidder for one year's service in the army, for which he had not been paid.
BOUNTIES.
Bounties paid soldiers in the war for Independence by the town of Amherst, which were repaid by the State.
4 Sept., 1776. Paid 15 men in Wyman's regiment, £150
5 66 22 " Baldwin's 132
7 May, 1777.
27 Continental soldiers, 809, 13s. 10d.
19 JJuly, 1777. 55 men in Stark's brigade, 2 mo., 220
11 1779. 66
9 Continental soldiers, beside, £6,13s. d., good money, 215 2s. 9d.
21 1780. 12 men in Nichols's reg't, 3 mo., 72
31 66 1781.
9 Continental soldiers, new levies, 6 months, 108
15
66
5 Continental soldiers, 3 years, 360
17
1782. 66
14 Continental soldiers, 3 years, 1008
£3206, 16s. 7d.
Bounties, cte, paid by the town that were not re- paid by the State, or the United States, as reported by the selectmen 9 September, 1791.
Paid Col. Nichols's regiment, at West Point, £180
An average made in 1777, for soldiers that had served, 480
Soldiers that served in Capt. Walker's Co., Gilman's reg't, 1776, 39 Soldiers in Col. Peabody's regiment, at Rhode Island, 105 Soldiers in Col. Baldwin's regiment, at New York, 1776, 72 10 Continental soldiers, from 1781, 3 years' men, 600
20 soldiers in Capt. Barron's Co., Wyman's reg't, 1776, 200
11 66 served at Charlestown, 1781,
132
. 9 1781, new levies, six months' men, 270
11 1780, 330 44
5 at Coos. 1780, Capt. Stone's company. 150
.
XIX.]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. 403
Paid 9 soldiers in Col. Mooney's regiment,
£108
13 from 1783, 3 years' men, 845
£3511
LIST OF SOLDIERS.
Alphabetical list of soldiers and sailors from Amherst, in the war for Independence.
Joshua Abbot,
Joshua Burnam,
Nathan Abbot,
Robert Campbell.
Nathaniel Abbot,
Ebenezer Carlton,
Peter Abbot,
Enoch Carlton,
Stephen Abbot,
John Carlton,
James Alld,
David Chandler,
Daniel Averill.
Primus Chandler.
David Averill,
George Christopher,
Elijah Averill,
Benjamin Clark,
John Averill,
James Clark,
Moses Averill,
Samuel Clark,
Nahum Baldwin,
Thomas Clark.
Nahum Baldwin, jr.,
James Cochran,
Nathaniel Barrett,
John Cochran,
Moses Barron,
Jonathan Cochran,
JJacob Blodgett,
Robert Cochran,
Joshua Blodgett,
Henry Codman,
Aaron Boutell,
John Cole.
Amos Boutell,
John Cole, 2 ..
Joseph Boutell, jr.,
Nathan Cole,
Reuben Boutell,
William Cook,
Thomas Bontell,
Silas Cooledge,
Richard Boynton,
William Cowen.
Andrew Bradford,
Alpheus Crosby,
Enos Bradford,
Ezekiel Crosby,
John Bradford,
Josiah Crosby,
Joseph Bradford,
Josiah Crosby, jr.,
William Bradford, jr.,
Nathaniel Crosby,
Peter Brewer,
l'aul Crosby,
Alexander Brown,
Stephen Crosby,
William Brown,
William Crosby, Silas Cummings,
David Burnam,
Israel Burnam,
Robert Cunningham,
Jonathan Burnam,
Robert Cunningham, jr.,
404
HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Ebenezer Curtice,
Daniel Green,
Isaac Palmer Curtice,
Francis Grimes,
Jacob Curtice, Lemuel Curtice,
John Grimes,
John Grout,
Stephen Curtice,
Jude Hall,
Luther Dana,
Henry Handley,
Charles Davenport,
Henry Harris,
Benjamin Davis,
Samuel Harris,
Ezekiel Davis,
Edward Hartshorn,
Joseph Davis,
James Hartshorn, jr.,
Benjamin Dike,
John Hartshorn,
Stephen Dike,
Nathaniel Hazeltine,
John Door,
Joshua Haywood,
William Haywood,
Jacob Doyen, JJohn Dutton, Jonathan Dutton,
David Hildreth,
Roger Dutton,
William Hogg,
James Ellinwood,
Abiel Holt,
Jedidiah Ellinwood,
Jabez IIolt,
Joseph Ellinwood,
Obadiah Holt,
Amos Elliot,
Calvin Honey, Joel Howe, Richard Hughes,
John Everden, Asa Farnum, John Farnum,
Henry Hunt,
Joseph Farnum,
Nathan Hutchinson,
Stephen Farnum, John Fields,
Joseph Jewett,
David Fiske, Thaddeus Fitch, Amos Flint,
Caleb Jones, William Jones,
Joshua Kendall,
Ephraim French,
Nathan Kendall, jr.,
Laraford Gilbert,
Archelaus Kenney,
Daniel Kenney,
Michael Keef,
Thomas Giles, James Gilmore, Richard Goodman Allen Goodridge, Ephraim Goss, John Abbot Goss,
Daniel Kidder, Eli Kimball, Henry Kimball,
Eleazer W. Kingsbury,
Peter Goss,
Solomon Kittredge,
Silas Gould, Stephen Gould,
Zepheniah Kittredge,
William Lakin,
John Ellsworth,
~Caleb Hunt,
Ebenezer Hutchinson,
Solomon Hutchinson,
Andrew Elliot,
Stephen Hill,
405
XIX.]
THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
Jeremiah Lamson,
Isaac Peabody,
Jonathan Lamson,
John Peabody, Moses Peabody,
Joshua Lancaster,
Stephen Peabody,
Andrew Leavitt,
Thomas Peabody,
Joseph Leavitt,
Asa Lewis,
Joseph Pedrick, Moses Pearson,
Joseph Lewis,
Abraham Littlehale,
Francis Lovejoy,
Joseph Perkins, jr., Joshua Pettingill. Moses Pettingill.
Hezekiah Lovejoy,
Samuel Phelps, Thomas Powell,
Joseph Lovejoy,
William Low,
< Abel Prince, David Ramsay, Ebenezer Ray, James Ray, William Read,
Andrew MacIntire,
Daniel McGrath,
Peter Robertson,
James McGraw,
Samuel Robertson,
Hugh MacKean,
Joseph Rollings,
James MacKean,
Alexander Runnels,
John MacKean,
Benjamin Sawyer, Josiah Sawyer,
Thompson Maxwell,
Nourse Sawyer,
Thomas Melendy,
Robert Scammell,
Robert Melory,
Thomas Scott,
David Melvin,
William Shaddock,
Benjamin Merrill,
Samuel Shepard, Andrew Shannon,
Farrar Miller, John Mills,
James Simpson,
John Mitchel, Josiah Munroe,
William Small, jr.,
Reuben D. Muzzey,
Benjamin Smith,
Aaron Nichols,
Daniel Smith,
Joseph Nichols,
Isaac Smith,
Moses Nichols,
Jacob Stanley,
Timothy Nichols, jr.,
Samuel Stanley,
Ebenezer Odell, John Odell,
Isaac Stearns,
Robert Parker,
John Stearns,
William Parker, Adam Patterson, John Patterson,
Jotham Stearns, Samuel Stearns,
Bimsley Stevens,
John Lovejoy,
Edward Lyon,
Jonathan Lyon,
Timothy Martin,
Jonathan Small,
Benjamin Stearns,
Samuel Lamson,
406
HISTORY OF AMHERST. [Chap.
Thomas Stevens,
Allen Stewart,
Peter Wakefield, William Wakefield,
John Stewart,
John Wallace,
Samuel Stewart,
Joseph Wallace,
Simpson Stewart,
Daniel Warner,
William Stewart, Asa Swinnerton,
Stephen Washer,
John Taggart,
Daniel Weston,
Benjamin Taylor,
Isaac Weston,
Benjamin Taylor, 2d,
Sutherick Weston,
John Taylor,
Reuben Wheeler,
Jonathan Taylor,
John Wiley, Andrew Wilkins,
Hugh Thornton,
William Talbert,
Asa Wilkins,
Archelaus Towne,
Daniel Wilkins, jr.,
Archelaus Towne, jr.,
Daniel Wilkins, 3d,
Bartholomew Towne,
Eli Wilkins,
Jonathan Towne,
Jonathan Wilkins,
Richard Towne,
Robert B. Wilkins,
Rufus Trask,
Sylvester Wilkins,
Henry Trivett,
William Henry Wilkins,
David Truel, jr.,
Ebenezer Williams,
Benjamin Tuck,
Samuel Williams,
William Tuck,
George Wilson,
Joseph Wilson,
Aaron Upton,
Jesse Woodbury,
Eleazer Usher,
Levi Woodbury,
Ebenezer Wakefield,
Eben Wincol Wright,
Joseph Wakefield,
Isaac Wright.
SOLDIERS FROM AMHERST WHO DIED IN THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. Lt. Joseph Bradford, at Medford, July, 1775.
-Peter Brewer, killed in battle at Saratoga, 7 Oct., 1777. Primus Chandler, killed by the Indians, May, 1776. James Clark, at Mount Independence, July, 1776. Jonathan Cochran, came home sick ; died at home, 24 March, 1778. Robert Cochran, died of disease, time and place not known. John Cole, killed in battle at Bunker Hill, 17 June, 1775. Ezekiel Davis, in central New York, 16 June, 1779. Joseph Davis, killed by the Indians in New York, 13 Aug., 1779. Benjamin Dike, killed in battle at Saratoga, 7 Oct., 1777. John Door, killed in battle at Saratoga, 7 Oct., 1777.
Lemuel Winchester,
Nathan Tuttle, Thomas Underwood,
Solomon Washer,
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THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
XIX.]
Richard Goodman, at Yellow Springs, Pa., 27 June, 1778.
- Calvin Honey, place not known, 15 Dec., 1781.
William Jones, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
Jeremiah Lamson, at Fort George, N. Y., Aug., 1776. Asa Lewis, killed in battle at Bennington, 16 Aug., 1777.
James McGraw, killed in battle at Bunker Hill, 17 June, 1775.
David Ramsey (brought home sick), died 2 Dec., 1775.
Nourse Sawyer, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
William Shaddock, place not known, died 30 June, 1777. Isaac Stearns, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
Capt. Benjamin Taylor, at Medford, Mass., Feb., 1776.
Capt. Archelaus Towne, at Fishkill, N. Y., Nov., 1779.
Jonathan Towne, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
William Tuck, died of disease, time and place not known.
Aaron Upton, at Worcester, Mass., Dec., 1776.
Daniel Weare, at Crown Point, July, 1776.
Capt. Daniel Wilkins, jr., at Crown Point, July, 1776.
Sylvester Wilkins, at Easton, Pa., 20 Sept., 1779.
William Henry Wilkins, at Yellow Springs, Pa., 22 June, 1778.
Levi Woodbury, a prisoner of war in England; date not known.
Eben Wincol Wright, at Winter Hill, Nov., 1775.
MEETING OF REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS, AT AMHERST,
4 JULY, 1820.
We find the following account of this meeting in the Farmers' Cabinet :
" A special session of the Court of Common Pleas was held in this town, 4 July, 1820, to receive the applications of the surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution, for pensions under the law then re- cently passed by Congress.
About one hundred and forty of the veterans appeared, some of them pinched with poverty and worn out with the labors of life; others were bowed to the earth with age and infirmities, and their claims to the nation's gratitude seemed to be stamped upon their wasted forms.
Many who had been companions in camp met, whose faces the fur- rows left by time had so greatly altered that they did not recognize one another, and, after their acquaintance was renewed, spent the time during the session of the court, in rehearsing their adventures during the times that tried men's souls.
At twelve o'clock they assembled on the common, at the roll of the drum, and formed a line of about one hundred persons, the one on the
408
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
right ninty-nine years old, marching with the precision of a man of fifty years.
Capt. Zaccheus Wilson, of New Ipswich, acted as commander. After marching round the common, to the music of the fife and drum, played by some of their number, they arrived at the residence of Hon. Clifton Claggett, where they halted, and sent a committee of their number to request his attendance.
On his appearance Mr. Nathaniel Martin, in behalf of himself and his fellow-soldiers, thanked the Judge for his efforts in Congress to secure the pittance which had finally been awarded to them.
To this address Judge Claggett made an appropriate reply, and con- cluded by inviting them to partake of some refreshments he had caused to be prepared for them.
At the conclusion of the repast the veterans retired, the forty-fourth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence having been to thein truly a red-letter day."
About seventy of the surviving soldiers of the Revolution met in this place, 18 Nov., 1825, for the purpose of petition- ing Congress to grant them some further compensation for their services in the war of Independence.
Thirty-four Revolutionary soldiers attended the celebra- tion of the Declaration of Independence at Nashua, 4 July, 1835. Of these, Joseph Crosby, aged 82, Hugh Moore, aged 69, and Ephraim Goss, aged 69, were from Amherst.
Pensions were finally granted to the surviving widows of Revolutionary soldiers, and the following is a list of the persons returned in the census of 1840, residing in Am- herst, who were at that time receiving pensions for services rendered by themselves or others, in the war of the Rev- olution, with the age of each :
Mrs. Hannah Bills, 73 years; for her husband, Ebenezer Bills.
Joseph Crosby, 87. Benjamin Damon, 79. David Fisk, 83. Ephraim Goss, 74. Mary Howard, 72. Nathan Kendall, 85.
Mrs. Mary Leavitt, 75; for her husband, Joseph Leavitt. Thomas Melendy, 91. John Purple, 97.
409
FRONTIER WAR, 1794.
XX.]
CHAPTER XX. FRONTIER WAR, 1794. ANTICIPATED WAR WITH FRANCE, 1798. WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812.
PROVISION MADE BY CONGRESS FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE COUN- TRY, 1794 .- ACTION OF THE TOWN IN REGARD TO FILLING THE QUOTA OF SOLDIERS CALLED FOR .- A RECRUITING OFFICE OPENED IN 1798 .- BOUNTY OFFERED TO VOLUNTEERS. -THE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812-15 .- SOLDIERS FROM AMHERST .- MILITIA MEN AT PORTSMOUTH, 1814 .- OFFICERS OF THE HOME GUARDS, OCTOBER, 1814.
In view of the unsettled state of affairs at home and abroad, an act was passed by Congress, in April, 1794, pro- viding for the raising of a regiment of artillery, and for de- tailing 80,000 men from the militia, in case their services were required for the defence of the country.
In the warrant for a town meeting, 8 Dec. 1794, is found the following article :
" Whereas there is a certain number of men requested from the town of Amherst, to be enlisted and in readiness to march at a mo- ment's notice, in the defence of their country, if needed. And as the encouragement given by Congress is thought by some to be insuffi- cient for the purpose, therefore to see if the town will make any addition thereto, or grant them such a bounty as may be sufficient for the purpose."
On this the town voted to make up to the soldiers who enlisted as minute men, seven dollars per month, with the pay given by Congress, while they were in actual service, and two dollars as a bounty, one of which should be paid
410
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
when they enlisted, and the other when they passed mus- ter.
A probable war with Great Britain, the " whiskey insur- rection " in western Pennsylvania, and the war then raging in Ohio with the western Indians, were the causes of these warlike preparations.
Happily these troubles were all soon adjusted, and the ser- vices of the volunteers were not called for. No record now remains of their names.
Volunteers were called for to serve in the anticipated war with France, in 1798, and the town, at a meeting 26 March of that year, voted to give such soldiers as enlisted, in this town's quota of eighty thousand men, one dollar each when they enlisted, and to make up their wages to ten dollars per month while they were in actual service.
A recruiting office was opened here 15 August, 1798, and the company enlisted in this and the adjoining towns formed a part of the sixteenth regiment, of which Rufus Graves was colonel. The difficulties withi France were set- tled by negotiation, and the services of the volunteers were not required. The record of their names can not now be given.
THE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812-1815.
The long series of outrages against the citizens and gov- ernment of the United States, committed by the agents of the British government ; the insults to the national flag and the national ships ; the seizure and impressment of American citizens into the British navy ; the seizure and condemnation of American merchant vessels ; the encouragement secretly or openly given the savage tribes in the west in their at- tacks upon the settlers on the American frontiers, led to the enactment of laws, by the Congress of the United States, for the preservation of the peace between the countries, and these failing of the desired effect, to the Declaration reluc- tantly passed by Congress, 18 June, 1812, that " War exists
411
WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812-15.
XX.]
between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof, and the United States and their territories."
The record of the enlistments in the regular army for the war of 1812 are in the possession of the War Depart- ment, at Washington, and not accessible to the public. The names of some who enlisted from Amherst are, however, remembered.
Capt. Turner Crooker, at that time a resident in this town, opened a recruiting office on the Plain, 26 Sept., 1812. He was at that time a captain of the 9th regiment U. S. in- fantry. After the elose of the war he was retained on the peace establishment, with the brevet rank of major.
Jolın Dodge, jr., enlisted and returned at the elose of his term of service. He afterward removed to Vermont.
John Dutton enlisted and served on the northern fron- tier.
Samuel Dutton served on the northern frontier.
Timothy Dutton also served on the northern frontier. He died at French's Mills in 1813.
David Hartshorn served one year on the northern fron- tier.
Joseph Hartshorn served one year in Vermont and New York, in the 29th infantry. He is now (1882) living, the last survivor, so far as known, of the Amherst men who served in the war of 1812.
Joseph Low was 2d lieutenant in the 1st regiment N. H. Vols. On the reorganization of the regiment he was ap- pointed paymaster of the 45th regiment U. S. Vols.
Peter Melendy enlisted in 1813, served a short time in northern Vermont, as lieutenant in a regiment of infantry. This commission he resigned, and was shortly after ap- pointed a lieutenant in the artillery service, and ordered to Fort Constitution, where he remained until near the time of his death, 15 May, 1823.
412
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
Jacob Pike had enlisted in 1809, and served through the war.
John Purple served through the war as a drummer.
Robert Purple, his brother, enlisted and died in the service.
John Stewart, and his son John Stewart, jr., also enlisted. The latter served as a drummer-boy.
John Warner was sergeant in a company of infantry, and died at Saekett's Harbor in 1814. He was son of Colonel Daniel Warner.
Others doubtless enlisted in the regular army, of whom we have at present no account.
At a meeting, 11 Oct., 1814, the town voted to raise two hundred dollars to be appropriated for ammunition for the militia, and other inhabitants of the town of Amherst, and the selectmen were constituted a committee to purchase the same.
7 Sept., 1814, detachments from twenty-three regiments of the state militia were ordered to hold themselves in readi- ness to march for the defence of Portsmouth, then threat- ened with an attack from a British fleet, cruising near by, and on the ninth they were ordered to march. The quota furnished by the town of Amherst was a part of the regi- ment commanded by Col. Nat Fisk, of Westmoreland and, consisted of
Josiah Converse, captain.
Samuel Leonard,
Luther Elliott, sergeants.
Stephen B. French,
John M. Kuhn,
Joseph Hartshorn, corporals.
Samuel M. Livingston,
David Elliott,
Benjamin Peak, jr., privates.
David Fisk, 3d,
Daniel Gilman,
Jonathan Howard,
Benjamin Jewell, jr.,
They were mustered into service 16 Sept., 1814, and served three months.
Another detachment of the militia was drafted for the defence of Portsmouth, which was mustered in, 27 Sept .. 1814, and served sixty days. The following soldiers from
413
WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 1812-15.
XX.]
Amherst served in Col. Steel's regiment, in the company commanded by Capt. James T. Treavitt, of Mont Vernon :
Robert Read, lieutenant. Israel Farnum,
James H. Grater,
Samuel Stevens,
Leonard T. Nichols, sergeants. Timothy Hartshorn,
John Annis, Mansfield King, privates.
Samuel Converse, jr.,
About fifty citizens of the town, who were exempted from the performance of military duty, by the militia law, met at the house of Capt. Theophilus Page, 10 Oct., 1814, and formed a company of "Home Guards." The officers of this organi- zation were
Jedediah K. Smitlı, captain. John Secombe, 2d lieutenant. Timothy Danforth, 1st lieutenant.
A committee was chosen at this meeting to draft regula- tions for the government of the company, who reported at a subsequent meeting, and the company met several times for drill. The close of the war, shortly after, obviated the necessity for the continuance of the organization, and the company was disbanded.
The war was brought to a close by a treaty signed at Ghent by the representatives of the contending powers, 23 Dec., 1814. Before the news of its conclusion had reached this country, the battle of New Orleans was fought, 8 Jan., 1815, where the lesson taught the British regulars, nearly fifty years before, by the descendants of the Massachusetts Puritans, and Scotch-Irish settlers, of Londonderry, from the fort and behind the rail fence, on Bunker Hill, was re- peated by the Kentucky riflemen from behind the cotton bales on the field of Chalmette.
414
HISTORY OF AMHERST.
[Chap.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES SUBSEQUENT TO THE ELECTION OF MR. LINCOLN .- THE CAPTURE OF FORT SUMTER. -MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OF AMHERST AND ITS PROCEED- INGS .- A SOLDIERS' AID AND HOME RELIEF SOCIETY FORMED. -NAMES OF YOUNG MEN WHO FIRST ENLISTED FOR SERVICE .- PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN .- A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO FURNISH ASSISTANCE TO THE FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS .- THE SELECTMEN DIRECTED TO ASSIST THE FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS. -BOUNTIES OFFERED VOLUNTEERS .- MILITARY EXPENSES OF THE TOWN DURING THE WAR .- PROCEEDINGS IN REGARD TO BUILDING A SOLDIERS' MONUMENT .- INSCRIPTION UPON THE MONUMENT .- NAMES OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS FROM AM- HERST WHO WERE ENGAGED IN THE WAR .- NAMES OF VETER- ANS WHO RE-ENLISTED .- NAMES OF SUBSTITUTES.
The election of Mr. Lincoln to the presidency was fol- lowed by the formal secession of several of the Southern States from the Union, and the withdrawal of their senators and most of their representatives from the National Con- gress.
President Buchanan, a state's rights man, "knew of no power in the General Government to coerce a sov- ereign State," and took no effectual measures to protect the national property in the scceding States.
A National Government was formed by the seceded States in February, 1861, under the name of the " Confed- erate States of America."
415
THE CIVIL WAR.
XXI.]
Acting under the instructions of the Secretary of War of this government, the surrender of Fort Sumter, a for- tress of the United States, commanding the entrance to the city of Charleston, South Carolina, was demanded of the officer in command. Compliance with the demand being refused, an armed force of South Carolinians fired upon the fort, and, after a short siege, captured it.
The power of the General Government being thus defied, . its flag insulted, and its property taken by force, President Lincoln called for a force of 75,000 volunteers to aid in putting down the rebellion and enforcing the laws of the Union. Under these circumstances a public meeting of the citizens of the town was held, 22 April, 1861, to express their sentiments in regard to the events then transpiring in the country.
Barnabas B. David was called to the chair, and upon taking it announced the object of the meeting, and pledged his all in support of the national cause.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. J. G. Davis.
Remarks and patriotic speeches were then made by sev- eral prominent citizens of the town, and resolutions, pledg- ing the lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, of those present to the support of the cause of the country, were adopted.
A Finance Committee was appointed, to secure and dis- burse contributions for the support of the families of those who volunteered to fight the battles of the country, and it was voted to raise the pay of the volunteers from Amherst to eighteen dollars per month, and furnish each one with a Colt's revolver.
Fourteen young men came forward and offered their ser- vices as soldiers.
A Home Guard was formed, which met for some time for the purpose of drill.
The Amherst Soldiers' Aid and Home Relief Society was organized in 1861, and closed its work in November, 1865. During its existence, money to the amount of $817.90 had
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