History of the town of Keene, from 1732, when the township was granted by Massachusetts, to 1874, when it became a city, Part 42

Author: Griffin, Simon Goodell, 1824-1902
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Keene, N.H., Sentinel Print. Co.
Number of Pages: 921


USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Keene > History of the town of Keene, from 1732, when the township was granted by Massachusetts, to 1874, when it became a city > Part 42


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71


479


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


while the First and Eleventh corps were holding the enemy in check at Gettysburg, twelve miles distant. Gen. Sickles moved forward with a part of his corps that afternoon. The remainder, with which was the Second New Hamp- shire, started for the battlefield at 3 o'clock on the morn- ing of the 2d, without waiting for coffee, but halted on the road to make it, and joined the advance column at 9 o'clock. There was quiet for about three hours, and the tired troops rested. Lee, under cover of woods along the Emmettsburg road, was massing a heavy column against the Union left, now held by Sickles's corps. After some changes of position the Second was placed in Sherfey's famous peach orchard, supporting Ames's battery, an exposed position where it did gallant service and lost heavily in killed and wounded. The Compte de Paris, in his "Histoire de la Guerre Civile en Amerique," character- izes the fight in that peach orchard as "murderous." Out of 354 officers and men of the Second who went into the battle the loss officially reported was 193, or more than one-half. Three commissioned officers were killed, eighteen wounded-four mortally-and but three out of twenty-four escaped unhurt. Seventeen enlisted men were killed, 119 wounded and thirty-six missing. Of the men from Keene, Capt. Henry N. Metcalf, and Private William H. Spring were killed; Sergeants Samuel F. Holbrook and Albert R. Walker, and Privates John A. Blake, Cornelius Cleary and Benjamin F. Ruffle were wounded-Blake, Cleary and Walker severely-and William C. Drummer was missing, probably killed, as there is no further record of him. The regiment was not actually engaged on the 3d and last day of the battle and suffered no loss.


After the battle the Second marched with the army in pursuit, via Frederic, Antietam battlefield and Harper's Ferry to Warrenton, and thence to Washington; and spent the winter at Point Lookout, Md., with the Fifth and Twelfth New Hampshire Volunteers, guarding a camp of prisoners. Gen. Marston was in command of the camp. Early in April, 1864, the Second and Twelfth regiments, having been recruited from the drafted men and substitutes sent from New Hampshire, joined the Army of the James,


480


HISTORY OF KEENE.


were assigned to Weitzel's division of Smith's Eighteenth corps, and encamped at Bermuda Hundreds. Towards the last of May that corps was transferred to the Army of the Potomac, joined Gen. Grant at Cold Harbor and took part in the battle of the 3d of June, suffering heavy loss. The three years' term of the original members expired on the 8th, and twenty-eight commissioned officers-including all the field and staff except Adjutant John D. Cooper- and 199 enlisted men returned to New Hampshire and were mustered out. Sixty-six of the original members and thirty-two of the early recruits had reenlisted for three years or the war, and those, with the later recruits, drafted men and substitutes, with four commissioned officers, now composed the regiment of about 250 men. Of those only thirteen were from Keene.


Capt. J. N. Patterson was promoted to lieutenant colonel and took command of the regiment, with Adjutant Cooper promoted to major. The Second remained with the army during the siege of Petersburg, most of the time engaged in guard and provost duty. At the final breaking of the lines and capture of Petersburg and Richmond, April 2, 1865, it was on the north side of the James and was not actively engaged, but was among the first to enter Richmond, without opposition; and it encamped for about three months near the city. On the 21st of June, the Tenth, Twelfth and Thirteenth New Hampshire Volunteers were mustered out of service, and the men of those regi- ments whose terms had not expired were transferred to the Second, raising its numbers to about 900 men. The regiment was retained through the summer for guard and provost duty in eastern Virginia, and early in December was sent to City Point and mustered out of service. Upon arriving at Concord it received, as did all the regiments re- turning to New Hampshire, a hearty and generous reception.


Below are given the names and brief records of the men from Keene. It is to be understood that they are privates and residents of Keene unless otherwise stated.


Alexander, Lucian A. Band; age 28; enl. July 22, '61; must. Aug. 7, '61, as first class musc .; disch. April 1, '62.


Atherton, Sanford A. Co. A; age 22; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. as corp .; app. sergt .; disch. disab. Sept. 12, '62.


·


481


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


Atwood, Rufus. Co. A; aged 31; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. as corp .; app. sergt .; died, disease, at Keene, Jan. 23, '64.


Austin, Charles F. Co. A; aged 21; enl. Sept. 12, '61; wd. June 9, '64, at Cold Harbor; disch. Sept. 14, '64. See First N. H. Vols.


Beliveau, Frank A. Band; age 23; enl. Sept. 4, '61; must. as second class musc .; disch. Aug. 8, '62, near Harrison's Landing, Va.


Blake, Charles H. Co. A; age 30; enl. May 22, '61 ; disch. disab. Nov. 17, '62.


Blake, John A. Co. A; age 20; res. Gilsum (b., and ret. to live in Keene) ; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; captd. June 30, '62, at White Oak Swamp, Va .; wd. severely July 2, '63, Gettys- burg; disch. disab. June 7, '64.


Bolster, Almon. Band; age 34; enl. July 22, '61; must. Aug. 7, '61, as leader; reduced to first class, then to third class musc .; disch., ser- vices not needed, Jan. 20, '62.


Bowen, Frederick A. Band; age 26; enl. July 22, '61, as second class musc .; must. out, Aug. 8, '62, near Harrison's Landing, Va.


Bridge, Stary W. Co. I; age 21; b. Keene; res. Gilsum; enl. Sept. 5, '61; disch. Sept. 14, '64, term exp.


Califf, Jonathan. Co. A; age 44; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; wd. accidentally by sentinel; died of wds. Aug. 14, '61, Washington, D. C.


Califf, William W. Co. A; age 18; enl. April 30, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61; disch. disab. Jan. 27, '63.


Capron, J. Foster, Co. A; age 24; b. Keene; res. Troy ; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; disch. disab. Oct. 22, '61, Washington, D. C.


Carroll, Philip S. Co. H; age 23; enl. Sept. 3, '61; disch. disab. May 16, '63.


Clark, Milton W. Co. A; age 41; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. as sergt., May 31, '61; disch. disab. May 31, '63.


Cleary, Cornelius. Co. H; age 35; enl. Aug. 27, '61; wd. sev. July 2, '63, at Gettysburg; died of wds. Aug. 1, '63, Washington, D. C.


Cobb, Fred W. Co. A; age 23; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. as 1st sergt .; app. 2d lieut. Sept. 1, '61; prom. 1st lieut. July 1, '62; resign. Aug. 31, '62.


Converse, Granville S. Co. I; age 18; enl. April 28, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 21, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. out June 21, '64.


Craig, Allen A. Co. A; b. Canada; cred. Keene; age 41; enl. Aug. 16, '62; disch. disab. May 30, '63. See Fourteenth N. H. V.


Darling, John G. Co. A; age 21; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; wd. May 5, '62, Williamsburg, Va .; disch. wds. July 25, '62; died Keene, 1864.


Davis, James. Co. A; age 19; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; died, disease, Jan. 9, '63, Philadelphia.


Davis, Nathaniel D. Co. A; b. Keene; res. Winchester; age 29; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; disch. disab. Feb. 4, '63; died June 4, '63, Winchester.


Drummer, John A. Co. A; age 20; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; died, disease, Dec. 9, '61, in Maryland.


Drummer, William C. Co. F; age 17; enl. Sept. 6, '61; wd. and miss. July 2, '63, Gettysburg; no further record,


482


HISTORY OF KEENE.


Dunlap, Whitney. Co. K; age 31; enl. Aug. 31, '61; disch. disab. July 9, '63. See V. R. C.


Eastman, William. Co. H; age 43; enl. Sept. 12, '61; disch. disab. Sept. 20, '62; after service in V. R. C.


Eaton, Orleans S. Co. A; age 28; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; disch. disab. April 27, '63.


Ellis, David C. Co. H; b. Richmond; age 33; res. Keene; enl. Sept. 14, '61; desert. Feb. 1, '63; returned June 15, '64; disch. April 4, '65, at Richmond, Va.


Emerson, Albert A. Co. H; b. Keene; age 23; res. Somersworth; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 27, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. as sergt .; disch. disab. Aug. 1, '61.


Fiske, Frank S. Field and staff; age 35; app. lt. col. April 30, '61; must. in June 10, '61; resign. Oct. 23, '62; bvt. col. and brig. gen. U. S. V., to date March 13, '65, for gallant and meritorious service. Gilbert, Charles N. Co. H; age 29; enl. Sept. 14, '61; disch. disab. March 15, '62.


Gleason, Aaron R. Co. F; res. Gilsum, after the war, Keene; age 27; enl. Sept. 9, '61; transf. to Co. 101, 2d battal. I. C., Jan. 5, '64; prom. to act. asst. surg. U. S. A .; app. asst. surg. Fourteenth N. H. Vols., May 11, '64; declined appt .; served by contract as act. asst. surg. U. S. A. (civil appt.) from May 18, '64, to July 22, '65.


Gregory, William H. Co. A; age 39; enl. Sept. 2, '61; disch. disab. Sept. 25, '61.


Griffin, Simon G. Co. B; age 37; volunteered as private in April '61; recruiting officer, May '61; app. capt. June 4, '61, must. to date June 1, '61; resigned to accept promotion. See Sixth N. H. V. and miscel. org.


Hadley, Ethan. Band; age 33; enl. July 22, '61; must. as first class musc .; must. out second class musc. Aug. 8, '62, near Harrison's Landing, Va.


Heaton, George S. Co. A; age 20; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; captd. July 21, '61, first Bull Run, Va .; par- oled Jan. 17, '62; disch. disab. Aug. 15, '62. See V. R. C.


Hodgkins, William H. Co. A; age 28; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; died, dis. July 21, '62, Harrison's Landing, Va.


Holbrook, Samuel F. Co. A; age 21; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; app. corp. Jan. 1, '63; wd. July 2, '63, Gettysburg; app. sergt. July 2, '63; reenl. Jan. 1, '64, as private, cred. to Walpole; app. lieut. June 24, '64; app. capt. Co. G, April 1, '65; must. out Dec. 19, '65.


Holden, Jonathan M. Co. A; age 25; enl. April 25 ,'61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; disch. disab. Aug. 19, '61, Washington, D. C.


Holton, Henry. Co. A; age 27; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. May 31, '61, as musc .; died, dis. March 19, '63, at Keene.


Howe, Lucius T. Co. A; age 22; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; app. corp .; disch. disab. May 31, '62, White Oak Swamp, Va.


Hurd, Warren H. Co. A; age 18; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; captd. June 30, '62, White Oak Swamp, Va .; exchanged; app. corp. Jan. 1, '63; disch. Dec. 22, '63, to accept promotion; afterwards lieut. and capt. U. S. colored troops.


483


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


Jackson, George A. Co. C; b. Keene; res. Windham; age 21; enl. for 9 mos .; transf. from Seventeenth N. H. April 16, '63; must. out Oct. 9, '63.


Johnson, Henry H. Co. A; age 22; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; app. corp. May 31, '61; disch. disab. July 29, '61, at Washington, D. C.


Lane, Nathaniel F. Co. A; age 22; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; killed May 5, '62, at Williamsburg, Va.


Lanphere, Orlando M. Co. A; age 20; enl. Aug. 19, '61; disch. Aug. 24, '64, at Concord.


Marsh, Henry H. Co. A; age 20; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. out June 21, '64.


Metcalf, Henry N. Co. A; age 28; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. in as 1st It .; transf. to Co. F. Nov. 1, '61; app. capt. Aug. 13, '62; killed, July 2, '63, Gettysburg.


Nash, Frank. Co. A; age 19; enl. April 29, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; disch. disab. Feb. 7, '63, Falmouth, Va.


Noyes, Samuel L. Band; age 24; enl. July 25, '61; must. as third class musc .; must. out Aug. 8, '62, near Harrison's Landing, Va.


O'Brien, Cornelius. Co. A; age 16; enl. Aug. 28, '61; disch. Aug. 24, '64, near Petersburg, Va., term exp.


Parker, Henry E. Field and staff; b. in Keene; res. Concord; age 40; app. chaplain, June 10, '61; disch. Aug. 5, '62.


Parker, William H. Co. H; age 16; enl. June 19, '61; must. as musc .; disch. Aug. 28, '61, Bladensburg, Md. See Fourteenth N. H. Vols. and miscel. org.


Phelps, George W. Co. E; enl. Sept. 4, '61; app. corp. Nov. 1, '61; wd. Aug. 29, '62, second Bull Run; disch. disab. June 4, '63, at Concord. Pratt, Edwin P. Band; age 21; enl. July 22, '61; must. as third class musc .; must. out Aug. 8, '62, near Harrison's Landing, Va. See First N. H. Cav.


Preckle, William H. Co. A; age 21; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; wd. sev. Aug. 29, '62, at second Bull Run; disch. wds. Feb. 3, '63, Washington, D. C.


Pressler, Christian. Co. A; age 30; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; app. sergt. May 31, '61; app. 1st sergt. July 1, '62: disch. disab. Dec. 13, '62, Washington, D. C. See V. R. C.


Rahn, William J. Co. I; age 33; enl. May 9, '61; app. commis. sergt. June 8, '62; must. out June 21, '64.


Richardson, James F. Co. G; age 19; b. Keene; res. Nelson; enl. Aug. 23, '61; disch. Aug. 23, '64, near Petersburg, Va .; term exp.


Richardson, Samuel C. Co. K: age 36; enl. Aug. 31, '61; disch. disab. Oct. 26, '62, Washington, D. C. Formerly in state service.


Ruffle, Benjamin F. Co. A; age 23; enl. April 26, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; wd. July 2, '63, Gettysburg; reenl. Feb. 19, '64; app. sergt. July 1, '64; must. out Dec. 19, '65.


Ruffle, Charles. Co. H; age 32; enl. Sept. 3, '61; reenl. Feb. 19, '64; app. corp. July 1, '64; must. out Dec. 19, '65.


Ruffle, George. Co. A; age 29; b. Keene; res. Stoddard; enl. Aug. 8, '61 ; wd. Aug. 29, '62, second Bull Run; disch. disab. May 30, '63, Concord.


Ruffle, Josiah. Co. A; age 19; enl. Aug. 9, '61; transf. to Co. K, Fourth U. S. Art. Nov. 1, '62; reenl. Feb. 11, '64; disch. Feb. 11, '67, Fort Delaware, term exp. See First N. H. Vols.


484


HISTORY OF KEENE.


Ruffle, Samuel. Co. H; age 32; enl. Jan. 22, '62; died, dis. Aug. 15, '62, David's Island, N. Y. harbor. See First N. H. Vols.


Salter, Antoine. Co. H; age 23; enl. Sept. 5, '61; captd. June 30, '62, White Oak Swamp, Va .; died, dis. Aug. 7, '62, near Richmond, Va.


Sherwin, Horace E. Co. A; age 20; enl. May 6, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. out June 21, '64.


Southworth, Orlin R. Co. A; age 22; enl. Aug. 19, '61; disch. Aug. "24, '64, near Petersburg, Va., term exp.


Spaulding, Milan D. Co. C; age 19; res. Sullivan; enl. Sept. 10, '61; app. sergt .; reenl. Jan. 1, '64, cred. Keene; app. 1st sergt. July 1, '64, app. 1st lieut. Nov. 4, '64; disch. May 11, 65.


Spring, Joseph W. Band; age 29; enl. July 22, '61, as first class musc .; must. out Aug. 8, '62, Harrison's Landing, Va.


Spring, William H. Co. A; age 19; enl. April 30, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; killed July 2, '63, Gettysburg.


Stevens, Edward R. Co. K; age 31; res. Concord; cred. Keene; enl. Dec. 3, '63; wd. June 1, '64, Cold Harbor; disch. disab. June 10, '65.


Streeter, Charles H. Co. C; age 18; res. Troy, after the war, Keene; enl. Sept. 5, '61; app. corp .; reenl. Jan. 1, '64; app. sergt. July 1, '64; 1st sergt. Nov. 30, '64; sergt. major, March 17, '65; 1st. lieut. Co. A, May 1, '65; disch. Aug. 16, '65. See First N. H. Vols.


Sumner, Aaron B. Co. A; age 25; res. Swanzey, after the war, Keene; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; app. corp .; app. sergt. Jan. 10, '64; must. out June 21, '64.


Sumner, Alonzo D. Co. C; age 18; enl. Sept. 3, '61; disch. disab. June 9, '63, Concord. See V. R. C.


Sumner, David. Co. C; age 44; enl. Sept. 7, '61; disch. disab. June 11, '62, Washington, D. C. See Fourteenth N. H. V.


Taft, Edward N. Co. A; age 27; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; killed May 5, '62, Williamsburg, Va.


Tallant, Charles H. Band; age 19; enl. July 22, '61, as third class musc .; disch. March 24, '62. Supposed identical with Charles H. Tallant, U. S. navy.


Thatcher, Lucius. Co. A; age 21; enl. Sept. 4, '61; disch. disab. Oct. 17, '62.


Thompson, Henry A. Co. H; age 40; enl. Sept. 2, '61; disch. disab. June 9, '63, Concord. See V. R. C.


Thorning, William H. Co. A; age 21; res. Winchester, after the war, Keene; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; disch. May 30, '64, New York city, term exp.


Thurston, James. Co. C; age 18; b. Keene; res. Stoddard; enl. Sept. 9, '61; deserted.


Tottingham, Charles N. Band; age 34; enl. July 22, '61; must. as first class musc .; app. leader Sept. 1, '61; must. out Aug. 8, '62, near Harrison's Landing, Va. See Second Brig. band, in which he enl. Jan. 20, '63, as first class musc .; disch. disab. Nov. 17, '63.


Turner, Gardner W. Co. A; age 25; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61 for 3 yrs .; killed Aug. 29, '62, second Bull Run.


Walker, Albert R. Co. A; age 25; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; app. corp. Aug. 1, '61 ; sergt. June 1, '63; wd. sev. July 2, '63, Gettysburg; transf. to V. R. C. April 23, '64; disch. June 7, '64, Washington, D. C., term exp.


Warner, John S. Co. A; age 24; enl. Sept. 4, '61; res. Marlow, after the war, Keene; wd. May 5, '62, Williamsburg, Va .; disch. wds. Oct. 14, '62.


485


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


Watson, James. Co. K; age 18; b. Eng .; cred. Keene; enl. Dec. 3, '63; wd. June 3, '64, Cold Harbor; ent. Campbell Gen. Hospital, Wash- ington, D. C .; transf. to Philadelphia June 10, '64. No further record. Wheeler, William C. Co. A; age 33; enl. April 27, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; wd. June 25, '62, Oak Grove, Va .; disch. wds. Sept. 12, '62, Alexandria, Va.


Whipple, William. Co. A; age 20; res. Richmond, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 5, '61; disch. disab. July 9, '63, Concord.


White, Augustus C. Co. K; age 19; res. Marlboro, after the war, Keene; enl. Dec. 8, '63; disch. May 22, '65, Concord.


White, Henry. Co. A; age 20; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; died, dis. Dec. 9, '61, Charles County, Md.


White, Shubael. Co. A; age 51; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; must. as musc .; app. prin. musc. May 22, '61; disch. disab. Sept. 25, '61, Bladensburg, Md. See Sixth N. H. V. and V. R. C.


Whittemore, Daniel H. Co. A; age 25; enl. April 25, '61, for 3 mos .; reenl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs .; wd. July 21, "61, Bull Run, Va .; disch. disab. Aug. 19, '61, Concord.


Wilber, William. Co. I; age 27; enl. Aug. 31, '61; wd. June 3, '64, Cold Harbor; disch. July 28, '65, Concord.


Willard, George H. Band; age 22; enl. July 22, '61; must. as third class musc .; must. out Aug. 8, '62, near Harrison's Landing, Va. Supposed identical with George H. Willard, Co. C., Fifth N. H. V.


Wright, Daniel. Co. A; age 31; enl. Aug. 1, '61; disch. disab. Oct. 12, 62, Alexandria, Va. See Fourteenth N. H. V. Formerly in state service. .


Immediately after the first battle of Bull Run, when the first wave of depression had passed, the patriotism of the people rose to the highest pitch. Men rallied to the defence of the government with alacrity and enthusiasm, and regiment after regiment was equipped and sent into the field. Public meetings were held-frequently in the open air-and stirring speeches were made. Keene voted to instruct its selectmen to raise $2,500 by loan for imme- diate use to aid the families of its volunteers. Several recruiting offices were opened in Keene, from one of which Officer Fred A. Barker sent forward fifty-four recruits on the 21st of August for the Third regiment, then organizing at Concord. Lieut. Samuel S. Quinn from the discharged First regiment had an office here and others in other towns; Sergt. F. W. Cobb from the Second was recruiting for that regiment; Lieut. H. T. H. Pierce, also from the First regi- ment, had an office in a tent on the common and recruited a company for the Fifth regiment; and Capt. Barker, from the Second, was also in the county on recruiting service for that regiment.


486


HISTORY OF KEENE.


THIRD REGIMENT.


The Third New Hampshire Volunteers were organized during the month of August and started for the front, 1,035 strong, on the 3d of September; and the Fourth also left the state two weeks later. After spending a few weeks at Washington, the Third joined the expedition of Gen. Thomas W. Sherman to Port Royal, S. C., embarked at Annapolis and landed on the island of Hilton Head early in November and remained there until April. In June, 1862, it was sent to James Island, and on the 16th was sharply engaged at Secessionville, losing 105 men killed, wounded and missing. Among the wounded was Lieut. Henry C. Handerson of Keene. Returning to Hilton Head the regiment remained there until April, 1863, when it assisted in capturing Morris Island. It was also en- gaged in the siege of Fort Wagner, and lost heavily in the charge made on the 18th of July. In February, 1864, the regiment was again sent to Hilton Head and mounted. It took the name of Third New Hampshire Mounted Infantry, and was sent to Florida and encamped near Jacksonville; but in April it was dismounted and ordered to Virginia. In the meantime many of the men had reën- listed and received furloughs and had visited their homes. Arriving in Virginia about the 1st of May, the regiment was joined by the reenlisted men and took part in the actions of May 13, 14, 15 and 16 at Drewry's Bluff, losing many officers and men. Again on May 18, and June 2 and 16, it was engaged and suffered severe loss; and on the 16th of August "the regiment was well-nigh annihila- ted." The three years' term of enlistment of the original members expired on the 23d of August, and those who had not reenlisted were sent home and mustered out. Those who remained-a small battalion-joined in the siege of Petersburg. In November the battalion was sent to New York to aid in guarding the election against the interference of rioters, but soon returned to its camp at Laurel Hill, Va. In January, 1865, it formed a part of the infantry force engaged in the capture of Fort Fisher, and was sent thence to Wilmington, and afterwards to Goldborough, where it was mustered out, July 20,


487


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


1865. Twelve men from Keene served in that regiment, as found below. It is to be understood that they were privates and residents of Keene unless otherwise stated.


Brainard, Charles F. Non-com. staff; age 33; enl. Aug. 26, '61; must. as Q. M. sergt; app. 2d lieut. Co. E, Nov. 17, '62; 1st lieut. Co. K, May 13, '63; disch. disab. Aug. 10, '63.


Corker, Henry. Co. I; age 18; enl. July 25, '61; reenl. Feb. 25, '64; deserted.


Davis, George H. Co. I; age 29; enl. Aug. 1, '61; wd. June 16, '62, Se- cessionville, S. C .; app. corp. June 4, '63; reenl. Jan. 1, '64; app. sergt. May 1, '64; wd. May 13, '64, Drewry's Bluff, Va .; wd. May 18, '64, Bermuda Hundred, Va .; must. out July 20, '65. Received Gillmore medal.


Davis, Oliver O. Co. B; age 34; enl. Feb. 10, '62; wd. May 13, '64, Drewry's Bluff, Va .; died, wds., May 22, '64, Hampton, Va.


Emerson, George W. Co. F; age 44; b. Keene, res. Claremont; enl. July 29, '61; disch. Oct. 25, '64, term exp.


Fiske, William A. Co. I; age 21; enl. Aug. 20, '61; reenl. Jan. 1, '64; must. out July 20, '65.


Handerson, Henry C. Co. G; age 33; app. 2d lieut. Aug. 22, '61; 1st lieut., April 2, '62; wd., sev. June 16, '62, Secessionville, S. C .; app. capt. Co. K, March 7, '63; resigned Sept. 18, '63.


Holt, Edward B. Co. E; age 16; res. Nelson; cred. Keene; enl. Dec. 23, '63; wd., sev., May 13, 64, Drewry's Bluff, Va .; disch. disab. May 25, '65, Wilmington, N. C.


Joslin, Horace. Co. G; age 25; enl. Feb. 18, '62; app. wagoner; reenl. Feb. 18, '64; must. out July 20, '65.


Kavan, James. Co. C; age 29; enl. March 25, '62; disch. disab. May 9, '63; Hilton Head, S. C.


Smith, Samuel M. Co. I; age 26; enl. July 25, '61; app. 2d lieut. Aug. 22, '61; 1st lieut. Co. K, June 22, '62; resigned June 13, '63. See Fourteenth N. H. V. and U. S. colored troops.


Wyman, Emery R. Co. I; age 34; enl. Aug. 19, '61; wd., sev., May 13, '64, Drewry's Bluff, Va .; died, wds. May 16, '64.


FOURTH REGIMENT.


Only one man from Keene served in the Fourth New Hampshire Volunteers :


Drummer, Charles H. Co. F; age 23; enl. Aug. 31, '61; app. 2d lieut. Sept. 20, '61; resigned March 21, '62. See First N. H. V., and U. S. navy.


The operations of that regiment during the first two years of its service were wholly in the South-in the Caro- linas and Florida. In 1864, it joined the Army of the James, afterwards that of the Potomac, and assisted in the siege of Petersburg. It was mustered out at Concord on the 23d of August, 1865.


488


HISTORY OF KEENE.




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