USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Henniker > History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880 with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker > Part 16
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A good deal of dispute having arisen in regard to the line between the militia companies of this town, the following decision set the matter at rest :
To whom it may concern, this may certify, that the line here- after to be observed as a line betwixt the two Companeys of Militia in the town of Henniker, in the 26th Regiment of Militia, in said State (New Hampshire) is as follows : viz : That nine ranges of lots, Counting from the east line of said town, and the tenth, or Centre Range from the south line of said Town, so far North as to include the Centre lot, of sd Town, shall consti- tute the tenth Company in said twenty sixth Regiment, and the remaining part of said Town shall constitute the second Com- pany in said twenty sixth Regiment, and the officers and sol- diers belonging to said Companys are hereby Commanded to observe this as the line between said Companys.
Henniker, Nov 2ª 1818.
Hugh Moers Col. 26th Regiment.
Solomon McNeil, Lt Col. " do
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COMPANY FORMED.
The musters as yet were held at "Cork plain," in the westerly part of Deering, that being the most central point in the regimental limits, and furnishing the best ground upon which to form a regimental line, and upon which to drill the soldiers.
FIRST RIFLE COMPANY IN THE STATE.
A number of the citizens of this town, fired with military zeal after attending several musters, and particularly one at Goffstown, came to the determination to form a rifle compa- ny in this town. This was in 1818. No rifle company then existed in the state, the law making no provision for any such arm of the service. The founders of the Rifles here were not aware of that fact, however, when the matter was first broached. A company was soon formed, consisting of the following members :
Annas Campbell, captain, James Rice, lieutenant,
Hezekiah Campbell, ensign,
Harry Barnes, sergeant,
Alexander Caldwell,
David L. Cogswell, 66
Zebulon Foster, Jr., 66
Samuel Morrison,
Micah Howe, Jr., musician,
Abel Connor,
Jacob Peavey,
Nathaniel Patch.
James Gibson,
Benjamin Rice, Ira Whitcomb,
James Caldwell, Jr., 66
William Livingston, 66
Jonathan P. Darling, private,
George Ball,
John Peters,
Thomas Tucker, 66
James Childs,
Annas Goss,
Imri Woods, .6
Ira Colby,
Joel Wood,
Luther Goss, 66
Paul Ray, . .
Willard Rice,
George W. Cogswell,
Leonard Wood,
Josiah Childs,
William Hemphill,
David Smith,
Parker Smith,
David Clough, 66
David Cogswell, private, Thomas M. Davis,
Joseph B. Welch,
William Cressy,
Jacob Rice,
Elisha Wood, 66
Jonah Campbell, 66
Titus V. Wadsworth, 66
Stephen Whitney, יי
206
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Whole number, 45.
Capt. Campbell will be remembered as one of the most efficient and capable officers of the town. He had but few superiors in the state in his day.
The company immediately began to drill, and before the muster, in the fall of 1819, it had become exceedingly profi- cient. An application was soon made for commissions for the officers, when it was found there was no authority for raising riflemen. The militia then consisted of cavalry, ar- tillery, light infantry or grenadiers, and infantry. Hon. Joshua Darling interested himself much in the formation of the company ; and when the legislature assembled, in June, 1819, he caused the militia act to be amended by inserting the following :
And the Field Officers of any Regiment may, with the con- sent of the Brigadier General, organize one Company of Rifle- men, which may consist of thirty six rank and file, to be offi- cered like the Infantry, and each non commissioned officer and private shall be armed with a good Rifle, and equipped as Rifle- men usually are in actual service.
This act was approved July 19, 1819. The rank and file of infantry at that time was sixty-four. Samuel Bell was gov- ernor, Jonathan Harvey, president of the senate, and Mat- thew Harvey, speaker of the house. Imri Woods was com- missioned ensign in 1820, Hezekiah Campbell resigning.
The rifles for the company were manufactured by Messrs. Hardy & Slocum, of Shrewsbury, Mass., and were purchased by John C. Proctor, hardware dealer in Boston, and delivered here for $16 each.
Capt. Campbell soon had his riflemen drilled to an excel- lent degree of perfection, and when they mustered in the autumn of 1819, for the first time, they were well versed in the tactics of those days. When they reached "Cork plain," they found that their fame had preceded them, and that the militia of the regiment were anxious to see them. An immense concourse of spectators greeted the sturdy
207
HENNIKER RIFLES.
riflemen as they took their place on the extreme left of the line, that being the position assigned them.
The finest company of the regiment, and one of the best drilled companies in the state heretofore, was the Frances- town Light Infantry. They had been praised and petted so much, that they looked with disdain upon common infantry. Previous to the muster of this year, they had heard much of the Henniker Rifles, and they determined to insult, and, if possible, to humiliate them. With this determination, they met the rifles for the first time on that muster morning in 1819. After the line was formed, and while waiting for the appearance of the field officers for inspection and re- view, the light infantry, thinking it would be a good time to insult the riflemen, wheeled by platoons out of their posi- tion, which was on the extreme right, next to the cavalry, marched down the line past the riflemen, thence up in the rear. As soon as they had uncovered the riflemen, Capt. Campbell gave the command to follow them. When the light infantry reached their place in the line, they wheeled into position. Capt. Campbell marched around the right of the line, and came down in front. Just before he reached the light infantry, they again wheeled out, and offered the riflemen the greatest insult possible. When half way down the line, they were ordered to halt and about face, thus stand- ing directly in the riflemen's way. No sooner was this com- mand executed, than "Form square!" came from Capt. Camp- bell, and before the light infantry had time to think, they were surrounded by the riflemen, and the two commanders were brought face to face, within two feet of each other. Standing thus eying each other for a moment, but without a word spo- ken, "Form company!" rang out the clear voice of Capt. Camp- bell, and, deploying, he marched his company back to their position in the line, amidst the cheers of the entire regiment (save the light infantry) and of the immense throng of spec- tators. The fifes of Messrs. Howe and Gibson could be heard screaming over the entire plain; and the drums of Jo-
208
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
nah Campbell and Jacob Peavey sounded like scores of them. Jonah, with one stick in the air most of the time, made more music with the other than was ever heard to rattle from a drum before; and the ponderous blows of Mr. Caldwell upon the bass drum harmonized with the pride with which the riflemen resumed their position, while the light infantry marched back to their position, wondering what sort of a movement that was by which the riflemen surrounded them.
The riflemen soon became the crack company of the reg- iment. Between them and the light infantry there was a pleasant rivalry, and a friendship that was never broken. It is doubtful if the state had any finer companies at that time than the Henniker Riflemen and the Francestown Light Infantry. The rifle company maintained its organization upwards of thirty years, and until trainings and musters were done away with. The captains of the company were
Annas Campbell, Imri Woods,
Luther Goss,
Harry Barnes,
Harris Campbell,
William K. Plummer,
J. Proctor Darling,
Hazen K. Plummer,
Zebulon Foster, Jr.,
Rufus Sawyer,
Alexander Caldwell,
William H. Sawyer,
George W. Cogswell, John L. Colby,
Jeremiah Foster, William Adams.
July 1, 1819, the law was so modified that all persons be- tween the ages of eighteen and forty-five were ordered to be enrolled : to have a parade of each company on the first Tuesday of May, and upon two other days besides muster. This law was modified in 1820, companies being called out only once besides the parade in May. Alterations and amendments were often made in and to the law, but it re- mained substantially the same until the militia system was abolished, July 5, 1851.
December 18, 1824, the militia of this town, Warner, and Hopkinton were formed into a regiment, and were numbered as the fortieth.
209
MUSTER.
The first muster held in this town was on September 12, 1826, on the plain easterly from the village known as the "Dea. Connor plain." Dea. Connor, who then lived in the " Black house," was licensed to sell spirituous liquors for one week at that time, as were also Capt. R. M. Wallace and Thomas Kirk, who resided where Moody Tucker now lives. The muster was held here every third year, on that plain and on the plain north of the village known as "Bell's plain." The last one was held on Bell's plain in September, 1848.
In 1840 a company was formed, called the Henniker Gren- adiers, which consisted of forty-eight rank and file. Capt. Jeremiah Foster, who had passed through all the promotions in the rifle company, was chosen commander, Joseph F. Andrews, lieutenant, and Worcester Harthorn, ensign. Capt. Foster served for several years, and brought the company to a high state of perfection in the drill of the tactics used in those days. Among the commanding officers of the grenadiers were Hiram A. Campbell, George W. Rice, John Smith, and Washington C. Cogswell.
The grenadiers mustered in full ranks until 1851, when the militia were disbanded. Muster days were a great event. At the first muster in this town many of the officers and soldiers came into town the evening previous, quartering at the hotels and among their friends. Before daylight the soldiers began to arrive; and when the morning gun, at sunrise, was fired by the artillery connected with the regi- ment, the town was full of soldiers. The companies of this town met on the common of the meeting-house and in the square by the hotel north of the river, and marched to the muster-field to the stirring music of the fife and drum-the best music yet invented to fire the patriotism of the soldier- and took their positions in the regimental line being formed : other companies formed on the muster-field, and marched to their positions. The formation of the line was with the cav- alry or "troop" on the right, then the artillery, the light in- fantry and grenadiers, the raw militia, with the rifles on the
210
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
left. The line to be formed upon was staked out the day before, and a furrow ploughed its entire length. About ten o'clock the general with his staff appeared upon the field, riding down in front and up in the rear of the line, then gal- loping off to his head-quarters again; then the inspector- general commenced with the cavalry upon the right, and ex- amined and inspected every company in the line. At the close of inspection of each company he had a few words to say ; then, with a parting salute from the fifes and drums, he passed on to the next company.
After the inspection was over, the thunder of the artillery announced the arrival of the general and his staff again upon the field. Upon stationing himself at a central point, the entire regiment, by company front, in platoons, marched by him, presenting arms as they did so, the fifes and drums playing the proper salute. After all had passed in review, a hollow square was formed, into which rode the general and his staff, who complimented the troops upon their splendid appearance, assuring them, in eloquent words, that could England look upon their stalwart forms and witness their proficiency in drill, the British lion would forever remain silent.
Then dinner was had, provided, as has been stated, by each town, after which a "sham fight" was indulged in. This was a very faint representation of the manner in which a battle was supposed to be fought. The day's work and duty ended with the sun one hour high, and the soldiers scattered to their homes.
While this was going on as the soldiers' work, there were still other scenes shifting upon the muster-field. Innumer- able peddlers almost lined the field, selling all manner of wares, while gingerbread carts were as plenty as could well be. This was the favorite cake in those times, and hardly any one upon that day went to his home without carrying one or more sheets of gingerbread ; the boys with theirs in their hands, some of the men with theirs in their coat-pockets,
2II
PROFICIENCY IN DRILL.
and others still stowing it away in the crowns of their hats. An immense concourse of people were in attendance, and the day was enjoyed very much by all who participated in its duties and its pleasures.
What was true of this muster-day was true of the whole, save that, in later years, "brass music" began to be heard instead of the fife and drum. The militia usually assembled upon some afternoon in May for drill, and again just before the muster. Four days previous to the drill, the soldiers were "warned" to appear on parade. The uniformed com- panies took great delight in drilling, and improved every moment of the afternoon. The raw militia, as they were called, pursued a different course. Some came without coat or vest, an old hat covering their heads; some with one boot or shoe on, others with none; some with a good musket and bayonet, others with a musket without lock, and some without stock ; some with a piece of hoop- iron or a wooden stick for a bayonet ; some with cartridge- box and flints, others without any ; some with a wooden canteen, others with a small tin pail answering its pur- pose ; some trying to be men and soldiers, and some as- suming the most grotesque figures imaginable. All col- lected on the common near the town-house. The orderly sergeant formed his company, called the roll, and then de- livered the company to the command of his captain, who gave the command to "dress to the right," and form a straight line. This was simply an impossibility, and the company was often backed against the meeting-house to get the line straight. Then such evolutions as were performed ! the larger part of the men going in an opposite direction to that called for by the order, some finally bringing up in their own platoon and some in another one ; and when the line was again formed, some of the men belonging on the left were found at the right of the company, and some of the right at the left. So the afternoon wore away, and when night came, the men were no more proficient in drill than
212
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
they were at noon, but they had indulged in an immense amount of mirth and hilarity. Almost invariably one or more went to their homes disgusted, they having been the victims of the jokes and sayings that had been bandied about through the day. The custom of "treating" the sol- diers was always one of the duties of the commanding offi- cer. Having got his men into marching order, they ap- peared at one of the hotels, rested on their arms, and Major Crocker, with his uniform on, passed the drink that had been ordered. Nearly all the soldiers had a pleasant word for the good Major, who invariably showed his ivory teeth as he exclaimed to one and another, " Great doin's to-day, sir !"
Notwithstanding all that was said against these muster and training days, they were days of great interest, not only to the soldiers, but to the young people, who enjoyed them hugely ; and there have never been any gatherings where there was more real enjoyment, and pure, genial friendship and innocent mirth, than were brought forth upon those once long-wished-for but now departed days.
CAVALRY OR "TROOPERS."
The cavalry or "troop " of the 26th Regiment, that mus- tered at "Cork plain," was commanded many years by Capt. John C. Proctor, of this town. A large number of the wide- awake young men living here were members of his company. Capt. Proctor was of fine physique and commanding presence. He was a superior drill-officer, and under his command the cavalry of the 26th Regiment had no equal for fine drill in cavalry tactics in the state. Josiah Morse, Sen., was a cor- net in this company for many years. The cavalry belong- ing to the 40th Regiment, to which the militia of this town was afterwards attached, was commanded by Jonas Wallace, Josiah Morse, Thomas Kirk, Moody Tucker, and Joseph Peters.
CHAPTER XIV.
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
ACTION OF THE TOWN-NAMES OF SOLDIERS IN THE VARIOUS REGIMENTS-NUMBER OF MEN-EXPENSE OF THE TOWN-ROLL OF HONOR.
HE feeling of solicitude and alarm which pervaded the minds of the loyal North during the winter of 1860-'I, as state after state in the South dissolved its membership with the hitherto considered indissoluble Federal Union, became more intense as the early spring opened ; and when the attack on Fort Sumter took place, April 13, 1861, which resulted in its capture and the degradation of the national flag, the North was aroused as by an electric shock. In the shops, the stores, upon the farms, and at all public places, nothing else was spoken of, nothing else was thought of. The one great thought was, How shall this terrible calamity be averted, and the union of these states once more be con- summated? The proclamation of the President of the United States, April 15, 1861, calling for 75,000 men to put down the insurrection, was hailed with joy by the people.
Impromptu gatherings were held in all the larger towns. No meeting of the citizens of this town, as a town, was held ; but on the evening of one of the early days in May a large delegation came down by rail from Hillsborough, and were met at the depot by a large gathering of the citizens of this town, who, headed by the Henniker Cornet Band, escorted
214
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
them through the principal streets of the village, calling out several of the more prominent citizens, who made short ad- dresses, the whole affair interspersed with the firing of the cannon brought down by the delegation from Hillsborough.
New Hampshire's quota was one regiment of three months men. No one enlisted from this town, for the town, in this regiment ; but one of the first volunteers was a native of Hen- niker, who had but recently left the town. The name of this gallant soldier was Enoch W. Goss, who enlisted from Con- cord. He was commissioned second lieutenant of Company I, April 30, 1861, and was mustered out August 9, 1861. [For a further notice of him, see Roll of Honor.]
In July, 1861, the President issued his call for 300,000 three years' men : then the quotas were assigned the towns to be filled. Enlistments began to be numerous throughout the state. The Second Regiment was immediately formed (in May, before the call for three years men), in which the following men from this town enlisted :
SECOND REGIMENT.
Nelson Hurd, Co. G; mustered June 5, 1861 ; discharged for disabil- ity, Oct. 31, 1862.
Proctor Collins, Co. H ; mustered June 5, 1861 ; mustered out June 21, 1864.
Charles Wilkins, Co. B; mustered June 1, 1861. [See Roll of Hon- or.]
Charles E. Goodwin, Co. B; mustered June 1, 1861; discharged for disability, Nov. 20, 1863.
Henry Bowman, Co. H; mustered June 5, 1861 ; deserted Oct. 12, 1862.
Clarence M. Hill, Co. H ; mustered June 5, 1861 ; reënlisted Jan. I, 1864.
George L. Chase, Co. H; mustered June 5, 1861. [See Roll of Honor.]
Horace Page, Co. H; mustered June 5, 1861 ; discharged for disabil- ity Oct. 23, 1861.
The following enlisted in the Third Regiment :
Eben Adams, Co. H; mustered Aug. 21, 1861 ; captured Aug. 21, 1862, on James Island, S. C., soon afterwards exchanged ; promoted to
215
NAMES OF SOLDIERS.
corporal Nov. 1, 1863; reenlisted Jan. 31, 1864; wounded Aug. 16, 1864, and shortly after promoted to sergeant ; mustered out July 20, 1865.
SHARPSHOOTERS.
This state furnished three companies of sharpshooters for the war. The idea of raising regiments of sharpshooters was a novel one. Nothing of the kind had ever been at- tempted in the annals of warfare in this country ; and when Col. Berdan received permission to raise a force of sharp- shooters, to be armed with Sharpe's rifles, the ranks were filled with alacrity. The three companies from this state had no superiors in that arm of the service. They were sometimes used as skirmishers, but were mostly detailed in detachments, where more skilful work could be done. One of the very finest of these companies was Co. G, which par- ticipated in all the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, from the date of its muster until near the close of the war. The following enlisted as sharpshooters from this town :
Frank H. Carr, Co. G; mustered Dec. 12, 1861 ; reënlisted Dec. 21, 1863; promoted to sergeant Nov. 1, 1864; transferred to 5th N. H. Vols., Jan. 30, 1865; received a commission as second lieutenant in Co. A, May 1, 1865 ; mustered out June 28, 1865.
Charles F. Stevens, Co. G; mustered Dec. 12, 1861; discharged for disability July 30, 1863.
Chester Bailey, Co. E; enlisted for Concord, and was mustered Aug. 27, 1862; discharged for disability Oct. 22, 1862.
SEVENTH REGIMENT.
James H. Caldwell, Co. D; mustered Nov. 6, 1861. [See Roll of Honor.]
Lyman H. Cheney, Co. D; mustered Nov. 6, 1861 ; promoted to corpo- ral Nov. 6, 1861 ; promoted to sergeant Aug. 22, 1863 ; mustered out Dec. 22, 1864.
John S. Elliott, Co. E; mustered Nov. 7, 1861; mustered out Dec. 22, 1864.
George S. Elliott, Co. E; mustered Nov. 7, 1861. [See Roll of Honor.]
Lewis Seymour, Co. E; mustered Nov. 7, 1861; enlisted for Man- chester; reënlisted Feb. 28, 1864.
216
HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
Winford L. Ripley, Co. E, mustered Nov. 7, 1861. [See Roll of Honor.]
Charles Seymour, Co. E; mustered Nov. 7, 1861; discharged for dis- ability, at Hilton Head, S. C., June 5, 1863.
Alpha C. Smith, Co. E; mustered Nov. 7, 1861 ; wounded severely Oct. 7, 1864 ; mustered out Dec. 22, 1864.
William P. Dwinnels, Co. H; mustered Dec. 14, 1861 ; discharged for disability, June 20, 1862.
Frederick H. Barnes, Co. E; under 18 ; mustered Nov. 7, 1861 ; dis- charged by civil authority Dec. 11, 1861.
Lorenzo F. Connor; mustered Aug. 21, 1862. [See Roll of Honor.]
EIGHTH REGIMENT.
The following men enlisted for this town in the Eighth Regiment :
Thomas H. Rogers, Co. E; mustered Dec. 20, 1861 ; promoted to ser- geant Jan. I, 1864 ; reënlisted Jan. 4, 1864.
Thomas B. Adams, Co. E; mustered Dec. 20, 1861. [See Roll of Honor.]
These comprise the enlistments, so far as known, for the year 1861.
With the exception of the Second Regiment,-the First having been mustered out at the expiration of its three months' service,-the others (the Third, Seventh, and Eighth) were in the South. The Second belonged to the Army of the Potomac. The men in the Second partici- pated in the battle of Bull Run, Sunday, July 21, 1861, which was the first battle of any importance that had thus far taken place.
The year 1862 opened with the South still rebellious, and showing a bold front. It now became apparent that to secure peace would require a struggle of great magnitude. In July, 1862, the president issued his call for 300,000 more three years' men, and again the work of recruiting began. Public meetings were held, at which patriotic sentiments were uttered, with a view to further enlistments. Towns began to fill their quotas by offering bounties to those that
217
NINTH REGIMENT.
would enlist. At a meeting of the town, held Nov. 26, 1861, the town instructed the selectmen to assist the families of the volunteers from this town needing assistance, in a sum not exceeding the amount to be drawn from the state treas- ury, which amount had been provided for by the legislature the June previous.
At the annual meeting, held in March, 1862, the town voted to abate the poll tax of the volunteers in the service. Other than these, the town had passed no votes, nor taken any action in regard to those enlisting from this town. At a meeting held August 16, 1862, it was
Voted to pay each person who had enlisted since July 1, 1862, or who should hereafter enlist in any regiment in this state for three years, the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars.
A call having been made by the President, August 4, 1862, for 300,000 nine months men, this same meeting voted to pay any person enlisting for nine months, seventy-five dol- lars. The selectmen were instructed to borrow a sum, not exceeding ten thousand dollars, to carry these votes into effect. With this liberal encouragement, enlistments were rapidly made. Several new regiments were formed in the state.
The following men enlisted in the
NINTH REGIMENT.
Orlando Flanders, Co. F; mustered Aug. 5, 1862. [See Roll of Honor.]
Lendell A. Connor, Co. G; mustered Aug. 13, 1862 ; mustered out June 10, 1865.
Hiram H. Clark, Co. G; mustered Aug. 13, 1862; mustered out June 10, 1865; was a drummer.
George W. Gove, Co. G; mustered Aug. 13, 1862. [See Roll of Honor.]
Horace Page, Co. G; mustered Aug. 13, 1862 (second enlistment) ; promoted corporal May 5, 1864 ; captured near the Wilderness, May 5, 1864; paroled Dec., 1864; discharged, 1865.
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