History of the town of Keene, from 1732, when the township was granted by Massachusetts, to 1874, when it became a city, Part 45

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 45


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


1 See New Hampshire Sentinel, January 5, 1865.


509


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


of two weeks and returned to New Hampshire to perform the service of voting, a duty1 at that time as important as that of fighting, for nearly all the members voted the Union ticket.


On the 16th of March the Fourteenth again left New Hampshire, and at New York city embarked on the steamer Daniel Webster for the Department of the Gulf, and joined the Nineteenth army corps at New Orleans. In July, however, that corps was ordered north and became a part of Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah. In this transfer the regiment was divided, six companies under Col. Wilson going to the army of the James and being engaged at Deep Bottom, Va., July 27 and 28; while four companies under Major Gardner proceeded to the Shenan- doah valley and were engaged in the battle of Winchester, Aug. 17. The two battalions were reunited Aug. 18, Col. Wilson resigned, and Major Gardner commanded the regi- ment at the battle of Opequan, Sept. 19, where he was mortally wounded, and the regiment lost heavily. At Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, and at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, Capt. F. L. Tolman was in command and the regiment did good service. Adjutant Carroll D. Wright was promoted to colonel Dec. 6, and Capt. Tolman to major. After its campaign in the Shenandoah valley the Fourteenth was sent to the Department of the South, Major Tolman in command, performed provost duty in Georgia, and was mustered out of service at Hilton Head, July 7, 1865.


Following is a list of members of the regiment from Keene, being privates and residents of Keene unless other- wise stated:


Abbott, Warren. Co. B; age 28; res. Charlestown, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 15, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Allen, Calvin, Jr. Co. G; age 27; enl. Dec. 8, '63; must. out July 8, '65. Baker, Charles W. Unassigned; age 22; enl. April 4, '65, for 1 yr .; disch. May 6, '65.


Balch, Perley S. Co. C; age 37; enl. Aug. 13, '62; transf. to V. R. C. Aug. 30, '64; disch. disab. Oct. 9, '64.


1 In the elections of 1863 many of the states had gone against the adminis- tration. New Hampshire was a close state, and its annual state election, com- ing in March, was to be the first in the political campaign of 1864. Early in that year President Lincoln sent for Gen. Edward W. Hincks, a volunteer officer from Massachusetts, who was a good public speaker, and said to him: "I want you to go to New Hampshire and take part in the campaign. I regard it as more important to carry this New Hampshire state election than to whip the enemy on any battlefield where he can be reached." (Gen. E. W. Hincks, in a conversation in Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 15, 1888.)


510


HISTORY OF KEENE.


Barden, Hiram, Jr. Co. C; age 25; enl. Aug. 27, '62; transf. to V. R. C. March 15, '65; disch. June 30, 65.


Barrett, William A. Co. G; age 36; enl. Aug. 28, '62; app. wagoner Nov. 1, '63; must. out July 8, '65.


Benton, Frank G. Co. A; age 21; enl. Aug. 29, '62; disch. disab. Dec. 12, '64.


Berry, Ira, Jr. Co. C; age 25; enl. Aug. 29, '62; app. 1st lieut. Oct. 9, 62; app. capt. Co. H, Oct. 1, '63; wd. Sept. 19, '64, Opequan, Va .; must. out July 8, '65. Bvt. major U. S. V. for gallantry in the battle of Opequan.


Blodgett, Edmund. Co. C; age 41; enl. Aug. 12, '62; disch. disab. April 25, '63.


Blodgett, Sylvester. Co. G; age 40; enl. Aug. 30, '62; disch. disab. Sept. 16, '63.


Bolio, Theodore. Co. C; age 44; enl. Aug. 21, '62; disch. disab. Aug. 2, '64.


Britton, Frederick F. Co. F; age 21; res. Keene; cred. Surry; enl. Sept. 1, '62; wd. Sept. 19, '64, Opequan, Va .; disch. July 6, '65.


Britton, George H. Co. A; age 26; b. Keene; cred. Westmoreland; enl. Aug. S, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Brock, Charles E. Co. A; age 19; enl. Aug. 15, '62; app. corp. July 1, '64; must. out July 8, '65.


Brown, Boardwin. Co. F; age 44; enl. Sept. 1, '62; disch. disab. Jan. 30, '64.


Brown, Charles H. Co. B; age 21; res. Walpole, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 10, '62; app. corp. May 1, '65; must. out July 8, '65.


Burbank, Franklin. Co. C; age 44; res. Keene; cred. Swanzey; enl. Sept. 15, '62; disch. May 6, '65.


Burns, Patrick. Co. G; age 38; enl. Aug. 31, '62; must. out July 8, '65. Burns, Thomas. Co. G; age 18; enl. Dec. 8, '63; must. out July 8, '65. Byam, Benjamin W. Co. C; age 36; enl. Aug. 16, '62; disch. disab. Feb. 28, '63.


Carroll, George Henry. Co. C; age 27; enl. Aug. 13, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Carter, Solon A. Co. G; age 25; app. capt. Oct. 9, '62 ;ยท disch. April 17, '65, to accept promotion. See miscel. org.


Casey, John. Co. G; age 26; enl. Aug. 31, '62; must. out July 8, '65. Chapin, Charles A. Co. D; age 21; b. Westmoreland; cred. Keene; enl. March 9, '65, for 1 yr; must. out July 8, '65.


Coates, Darwin C. Co. C; age 36; enl. Aug. 26, '62; transf. to V. R. C. Sept. 30, '64; retransf. to company Dec. 22, '64; must. out July 8, '65.


Cooper, Albert. Co. G; age 18; enl. Aug. 30, '62; must. out July 8, '65. Craig, Allen A. Co. G; age 43; enl. Dec. 26, '63: wd. Sept. 19, '64, Opequan, Va .; must. out July 8, '65. See Second N. H. V.


Cummings, Joseph W. Co. C; age 24; enl. Aug. 27, '62; wd. Sept. 19, - '64, Opequan, Va .; must. out July 8, '65.


Davis, Asa W. Co. G; age 36; enl. Aug. 28, '62; app. corp. Oct. 6, '62; reduced to ranks April 21, '64; must. out July 8, '65.


Day, Calvin K. Co. G; age 28; enl. Aug. 27, '62; app. corp. Oct. 6, '62; reduced to ranks July 2, '63; must. out July 8, '65.


Day, George A. Co. F; age 42; enl. Sept. 1, '62; app. principal musc. March 1, '65; must. out July 8, '65.


511


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


Doolittle, Joseph S. Co. G; age 27; enl. Aug. 28, '62; wd. Sept. 19, '64, Opequan, Va .; transf. to V. R. C. Jan. 28, '65; disch. wds. July 27, '65.


Drake, William S. Co. G; age 29; enl. Aug. 27, '62; disch. disab. Nov. 23, '63.


Dunn, Noble T. Co. A; age 27; enl. Aug. 16, '62; died, dis., Sept. 8, '64, Keene.


Dyer, Lewis S. D. Co. C; age 43; enl. Dec. 18, '63; deserted.


Ellis, Lyman. Co. G; age 31; enl. Oct. 2, '62; disch. May 26, '65.


Evans, Frank, Jr. Co. G; age 18; enl. Aug. 30, '62; died, dis. March 30, '63, Poolesville, Md.


Gallagher, Francis. Co. C; age 26; enl. Aug. 16, '62; wd. Sept. 19, '64, Opequan, Va .; must. out July 8, '65.


Gilmore, Charles G. Co. C; age 23; res. Swanzey, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 14, '62; app. corp. Jan. 17, '64; must. out July 8, '65.


Gorman, Michael. Co. C; age 26; enl. Sept. 1, '62; disch. disab. Oct. 17, '64, Washington, D. C. See First N. A. V.


Gowen, George M. Co. B; age 21; res. Marlow, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 22, '62; disch. disab. Oct. 8, '63, Washington, D. C.


Graves, Frank B. Co. B; age 18; res. Walpole, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 23, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Hastings, Emery. Co. C; age 44; enl. Aug. 29, '62; disch. disab. July 18, '63, Washington, D. C.


Hastings, John G. Co. E; age 32; enl. Feb. 15, '65, for 1 yr .; must. out July 8, '65.


Healey, Daniel K. Co. C; age 21; res. Swanzey, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 12, '62; app. sergt. Sept. 22, '62; disch. Aug. 31, '63, to accept promotion. See U. S. colored troops.


Hill, Charles H. Co. C; age 31; enl. Sept. 1, '62; disch. disab. Sept. 26, '64, Concord.


Hill, Horace J. Co. G; age 21; enl. Dec. 8, '63; must. out July 8, '65. Holman, Ira B. Co. C; age 31; enl. Aug. 27, '62; must. out July 8, '65. Houghton, Adelbert A. Co. C; age 18; enl. Aug. 12, '62; must. as musc .; must. out July 8, '65.


Houston, J. Augustine. Co. G; age 27; enl. Aug. 27, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Howard, Ambrose W. Co. C; age 23; enl. Aug. 27, '62 ; must. out July 8, '65.


Howard, George A. Co. D; age 20; b. Nelson; cred. Keene; enl. March 9, '65, for 1 yr .; must. out July 8, '65.


Hurd, Cyrus. Co. G; age 41; enl. Dec. 12, '63; disch. disab. Sept. 20, '64, Concord.


Jenks, J. Henry. Co. C; age 39; enl. Aug. 28, '62; app. sergt. Sept. 22, '62; app. sergt. major Jan. 12, '64; killed Oct. 19, '64, Cedar Creek, Va.


Johnston, Sydney E. Co. C; age 19; enl. Aug. 15, '62; disch. disab. July 20, '63, Washington, D. C.


Jones, Sylvester. Co. D; age 44; enl. Aug. 12, '62; died, dis. March 13, '64, Washington, D. C.


Kehue, George. Co. G; age 38; enl. Aug. 30, '62; app. corp .; must. out June 8, '65.


Keith, Fay. Co. A; age 44; b. Keene; res. Westmoreland; enl. Aug. 13, '62; died, dis. Sept. 9, '64.


512


HISTORY OF KEENE.


Kelleher, Timothy. Co. G; age 33; enl. Dec. 8, '63; wd. and captd. Sept. 19, '64, Opequan, Va .; paroled Oct. 2, '64; must. out July 8, '65. Kenion, David Y. Co. B; age 26; res. Walpole, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 27, '62; wd. Sept. 19, '64, Opequan, Va .; must. out July 8, '65.


Kingsbury, Henry. Co. C; age 37; enl. Feb. 16, '65, for 1 yr .; must. out July 8, '65.


Kinson, John Q. Co. G; age 18; res. Stoddard, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 14, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Knowlton, Charles. Co. A; age 24; enl. Sept. 1, '62; died, dis., Jan. 20, '63, Poolesville, Md.


Leach, James. Co. C; age 27; enl. Aug. 18, '62; must. out July 8, '65. Leonard, Henry O. Co. E; age 26; enl. Feb. 16, '65, for 1 yr .; must. out July 8, '65.


Lettenmayer, Otto. Co. G; age 30; enl. Aug. 30, '62; disch. disab. Oct. 13, '63, Washington, D. C.


Levoy, Henry E. Co. G; age 18; enl. Dec. 12, '63; disch. July 8, 65.


Lewis, William H. Co. G; age 29; enl. Aug. 29, '62; disch. May 12, '65. Lyford, Jeremiah, Jr. Co. C; age 36; enl. Aug. 26, '62; must. in as 1st sergt .; reduced to ranks and app. sergt. same day, May 1, '64; must. out July 8, '65.


Mangan, Dennis. Co. H; age 23; enl. July 28, '64; must. out July 8, '65. Marvin, Edwin. Co. G; age 21; enl. Sept. 3, '62; died, dis., Dec. 15, '62, Offutt's Cross Roads, Md.


Mitchell, John E. Co. A; age 34; enl. Dec. 8, '63; must. out July 8, '65. See Sixth N. H. V.


Nims, George H. Co. F; age 24; res. Winchester, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 13, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


O'Brien, William D. Co. G; age 20; enl. Dec. 8, '63; must. out July 8, '65.


Parker, John A. Co. C; age 36; enl. Aug. 28, '62; disch. June 21, '65.


Parker, Luther M. Co. C; age 41; enl. Aug. 7, '62; app. sergt. Nov. 1, '64; died, dis., June 30, '65, Savannah, Ga.


Parker, William H. Co. G; age 18; enl. Sept. 4, '62; transf. to V. R. C. July 1, '64; disch. April 28, '65, to accept promotion. See Second N. H. V. and miscel. org.


Putnam, Edwin F. Co. G; age 31; enl. Aug. 28, '62; transf. to V. R. C. Jan. 1, 65; disch. June 30, '65, Washington, D. C.


Reynolds, Eli W. Co. C; age 44; res. Swanzey, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 15, '62; must. in as wagoner; disch. disab. Aug. 12, '63, Washington, D. C.


Richardson, David L. Co. A; age 28; enl. Sept. 13, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Richardson, George D. Non-com. staff; age 21; enl. Oct. 1, '62; must. in as hosp. steward; app. 1st lieut. Co. B Jan. 4, '65; must. out July 8, '65.


Riley, Martin. Co. G; age 23; enl. Aug. 31, '62; disch. June 8, '65.


Riley, Michael. Co. G; age 35; enl. Aug. 31, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Roundy, Franklin W. Co. B; age 18; res. Walpole, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 30, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Rugg, Sewall F. Co. E; age 26; enl. Feb. 17, '65, for 1 yr .; must. out July 8, '65.


513


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


Russell, James W. Co. G; age 27; enl. Aug. 28, '62; must. in as sergt .; app. com. sergt. Nov. 30, '64, 2d lieut. Co. E, Jan. 4, '65; app. 1st lieut. Co. I, Feb. 17, '65, not must .; must. out July 8, '65.


Ryan, John. Co. G; age 25; enl. Aug. 12, '62; must. out July 8, '65. Ryan, William. Unassigned; age 21; b. Keene; cred. Gilmanton; enl. Jan. 19, '64; reported as sent to regt; no farther record.


Sebastian, William, Jr. Co. C; age 25; res. Swanzey, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 12, '62; must. in as corp .; reduced to the ranks March 1, '65; must. out July 8, '65.


Slyfield, Daniel. Co. C; age 20; enl. Aug. 26, '62; must. out July 8, '65. Slyfield, Franklin. Co. C; age 34; enl. Aug. 18, '62; disch. July 8, '65. Smith, Marcus M. Co. G; age 22; enl. Aug. 29, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Smith, Royal W. Co. G; age 26; enl. Aug. 29, '62; disch. disab. June 5, '65, Concord.


Smith, Samuel M. Co. G; age 29; enl. Dec. 18, '63; disch. March 10, '64, to accept promotion. See Third N. H. V., and U. S. colored troops. Smith, William. Co. C; age 22; enl. Aug. 26, '62; must. out July 8, '65. Spaulding, Dauphin, 2d. Co. C; age 35; enl. Aug. 18, '62; died, dis. Feb. 7, '64, Washington, D. C.


Staples, Henry M. Co. A; age 19; enl. Aug. 14, '62; must. as musc .; app. principal musc. Oct. 30, '64; must. out July 8, '65.


Steck, Friedrick. Co. G; age 30; enl. Aug. 11, '62; disch. to date July 8, '65, Savannah, Ga. See First N. H. V.


Stone, William W. Co. C; age 26; b. Keene; res. Swanzey, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 18, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Sturtevant, John W. Co. G; age 22; enl. Aug. 31, '62; must. as sergt .; app. 1st sergt. May 1, '63, 2d lieut. Oct. 17, '63, 1st lieut. Jan. 1, '64; wd. twice Sept. 19, '64, Opequan, Va .; app. capt. Jan. 4, '65; disch. disab. Jan. 18, '65, before being must. as capt .; restored to command and must. as capt. to date Feb. 18, '65; must. out July 8, '65.


Sullivan, Kerry. Co. G; age 18; enl. Dec. 8, '63; app. 2d lieut. Co. H, Sept. 24, '64; not must .; disch. as private Aug. 19, '65.


Sumner, David. Co. G; age 44; enl. Aug. 30, '62; disch. disab. July 20, '63, Washington, D. C. See Second N. H. V.


Thayer, William H. Field and staff; age 40; app. surg. Sept. 19, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Thompson, Cyrus H. Co. C; age 42; enl. Aug. 28, '62; disch. May 12, '63, Washington, D. C.


Totten, James. Co. C; age 33; res. Marlboro; cred. Keene; enl. Aug. 30, '62; must. out July 8, '65. See First N. H. V.


Wardwell, George O. Co. A; age 18; res. Sullivan, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 16, '62; app. corp. Jan. 1, '65; must. out July 8, '65.


Warn, William W. Co. B; age 28; enl. Dec. 8, '63; must. out July 8, '65.


Webster, Charles F. Co. G; age 26; res. Jaffrey, after the war, Keene; app. 1st lieut. Oct. 9, '62; app. Q. M. Oct. 16, '63; must. out July 8, '65.


Wetherbee, Edward H. Co. B; age 18; enl. Dec. 8, '63; must. out July 8, '65.


Wheeler, Charles W. Co. F; age 18; enl. Sept. 1, '62; transf. to Co. C, Nov. 1, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


514


HISTORY OF KEENE.


Whitney, Leonard F. Co. D; age 18; b. Nelson, cred. Keene; enl. March 9, '65, for 1 yr .; must. out July 8, '65.


Whittemore, Curtis A. Co. A; age 18; res. Keene; cred. Troy; enl. Aug. 15, '62; must. out July 8, '65.


Willard, Lucius S. Co. G; age 19; enl. Aug. 28, '62; disch. June 28, '65.


Wilson, Jesse. Co. F; age 44; res. Stoddard, cred. Keene; enl. Sept. 1, '62; disch. disab. Oct. 20, '63, Washington, D. C. See Eighth N. H. V. and V. R. C.


Wilson, Robert. Field and staff; age 51; app. col. Sept. 19, '62; disch. Sept. 6, '64.


Wood, Henry A. Co. F; age 18; res. Winchester, after the war, Keene; enl. Aug. 12, '62; app. corp. Oct. 1, '64; must. out July 8, '65.


Woodward, John A. Co. G; age 21; res. Surry, cred. Keene; enl. Aug. 27, '62; must. as corp .; died, dis., Aug. 18, '64, New York city.


Wright, Daniel. Co. G; age 33; enl. Dec. 26, '63; must. out July 8, '65. See Second N. H. V.


FIFTEENTH, SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH REGIMENTS.


The Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth New Hamp- shire Volunteers were nine months regiments, organized in the fall of 1862, but no citizen of Keene enlisted in either of them except Stephen H. French, who was mustered into the Sixteenth Nov. 13, '62; mustered out Aug. 20, '63, and enlisted in the Ninth New Hampshire Volunteers.


TOWN AFFAIRS.


At the annual meeting in 1863 the town voted to appropriate $5,500 to aid the families of volunteers. It was also:


(Art. 21) "Voted. To advise the Selectmen to sell the timber suitable for sale on the ministerial lot in Keene, and add the proceeds thereof to the Ministerial Fund."


(Art. 22) "Voted. To instruct the Selectmen to pre- vent the cutting of wood on said lot until the same is of suitable size for use."


(Art. 23) "Voted. To advise the Selectmen to divide and pay over in equal sums to the several clergymen residing and officiating in town, the interest and annual income of the Ministerial Fund during the time they sus- pend the cutting of wood on said lot."


In 1863 the government resorted to a draft to obtain the number of men needed for its service. The number enrolled for that purpose in Keene, of the first class, was 410; of the second class, 212. The draft rendezvous for the Third New Hampshire congressional district was at


1


515


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


West Lebanon, and the drawing was made under the direction of the officers of the draft, by Rev. Jacob Scales, of Plainfield, seventy-five years old, blindfolded. Four hun- dred and ten names of citizens of Keene were put in the box, and 123 were drawn out. Their names appear in the New Hampshire Sentinel of Sept. 10 of that year. Some were rejected on physical examination, and the names of those actually liable to go appear in the Sentinel of Oct. 15, 1863. A few went into the service, and their names appear in the records of their respective regiments, but most of them hired substitutes. A second call for drafted. men came in November, and Keene's quota was fifty-eight men. On the 1st of September the town voted to the drafted men or their substitutes $300 each, and to their families the same as the volunteers; and on the 26th the selectmen were authorized to borrow money for those purposes, not to exceed $25,000. A town meeting on the 25th of November :


"Voted That the town make an effort to fill the quota of the town by enlistments."


"Voted That the Selectmen of the town of Keene be authorized to fill our present town quota to the best advantage they can by advancing the State and National bounties and a Town bounty of to citizens of the town three hundred dollars, and a town bounty not exceed- ing three hundred dollars, to persons not citizens of the town."


It was also voted to authorize the selectmen to bor- row money for those purposes, not to exceed $45,000; and in February following $8,000 were added to that sum.


At the annual town meeting in 1864, the vote for the Union candidates in the state was increased in Keene by 122 over that of the preceding year. A small part of this increase was caused by the growth of population in the town. Five representatives were sent to the legislature, an increase of one in seven years. The sum of $3,000 was appropriated to aid the "wives, children and parents," of volunteers; and $5,000 were raised towards paying the town debts and interest.


On the 25th of March, the boiler in the chair manufac- tory of Osborne & Hale on Mechanic street exploded,


516


HISTORY OF KEENE.


injuring twelve persons, seven of them severely, two of whom, William H. Lang and Salmon G. Metcalf, died. Nims & Crossfield were making sash, doors and blinds in the same buildings. The damage to the property was esti- mated at $10,000 to $15,000.


In June the town voted a bounty of $400 to each vol- unteer or enrolled person who should furnish a substitute to be credited on the quota of the town; and to borrow a sum not exceeding $18,000 for that purpose. In August, under the call of President Lincoln for 500,000 men, it 'voted $300 bounty to volunteers for one year, $600 to those for two years, and $900 to those for three years; and to borrow for that purpose a sum not exceeding $18,- 000. On the 29th of the same month $600 were voted to volunteers for one year, $700 to those for two years, and $900 to those for three years, to complete the quota of the town; and $10,000 were raised and appropriated for that purpose. On the 15th of September the town voted to pay $150 to each citizen of Keene who had been in the naval service and had "been counted on the present quota for the call for five hundred thousand men;" and on the 10th of December the selectmen were authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding $30,000 to carry out the votes of the town for bounties.


At the presidential election in November, Keene cast 652 votes for the Lincoln electors to 317 for those of the opposition; and on the 17th, 350 Union men sat down to a supper at the Cheshire House in thanksgiving for the political victory.


The hopes and expectations raised by the victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg in 1863 had been seriously diminished by repeated calls for more troops, by the resort to a draft, and by the defeat at Chickamauga in Septem- ber of that year. Recruiting offices for volunteers for the regiments already in the field had been kept active in Keene, and early in 1864 Thomas C. Edwards opened one for the New Hampshire Volunteer Cavalry; and there were others for the 18th New Hampshire Volunteers and other organizations.


1


517


KEENE IN THE CIVIL WAR.


EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT.


The Eighteenth regiment of volunteers was raised in the summer of 1864 under the call of the president for volunteers for one year. In October, six companies (A to F) joined the army at City Point, Va. In February and March following, three companies (G, H and I) joined the first detachment in time to take part in the closing scenes of the war. The nine companies were present at the recapture of Fort Steadman, in March, 1865, and were stationed at that fort until April 3, when the battalion entered Petersburg with the army. It was afterwards organized as a regiment, with Thomas L. Livermore pro- moted from major of the Fifth regiment, colonel; performed provost duty at Washington and vicinity, and was mus- tered out in June and July, 1865.


Following are the members of this regiment from Keene, who may be understood to be privates unless other- wise stated :


Amadon, Frank E. Co. I; age 18; cred. Troy; res. after the war, Keene; enl. March 1, '65, for 1 yr .; must. out July 29, '65.


Beverstock, Daniel O. Co. F; age 22; res. Nelson, after the war, Keene; enl. Sept. 27, '64, for 1 yr .; must. as sergt .; must. out June 10, '65. See Sixteenth N. H. V.


Carroll, Joseph A. Co. A; age 19; enl. Sept. 5, '64, for 1 yr .; must. out June 10, '65.


Dodge, Fred. Co. D; age 21; enl. Sept. 1, '64, for 1 yr .; disch. June 30, '65.


Gould, Nathan. Co. A; age 44; cred. Hinsdale; res. after the war, Keene; enl. Sept. 9, '64, for 1 yr .; must. out June 10, '65.


Howard, William H. Co. A; age 20; enl. Sept. 5, '64, for 1 yr .; must. out June 10, '65.


Sawyer, Charles C. Co. A; age 18; enl. Sept. 5, '64, for 1 yr .; must. out June 10, '65.


Ward, Richard W. Co. B; age 19; res. Lebanon, after the war, Keene; enl. Sept. 13, '64, for 1 yr .; must. out June 10, '65.


FIRST CAVALRY.


New Hampshire had furnished, in 1861, four com- panies-I, K, L and M-of the First New England (Rhode Island) Volunteer Cavalry. In February, 1864, those com- panies returned to Concord to recruit for a regiment to be named the First New Hampshire Volunteer Cavalry. Companies A, B and C were soon raised and the two


518


HISTORY OF KEENE.


battalions of seven companies proceeded to Washington in April, joined the Army of the Potomac, and after partici- pating as infantry in engagements at Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor, were mounted and assigned to the Third division of the cavalry corps. After being engaged in the battle of White Oak Swamp, June 13, they went with their division on "Wilson's raid," were engaged with the enemy each day for seven days-losing seventy-one men killed, wounded and captured- and assisted in destroy- ing seventy-five miles of railroad and large quantities of cotton and tobacco. In August the two battalions were sent to the Shenandoah valley. In the meantime the other five companies-D, E, F, G and H-were recruited in New Hampshire and went to the front towards the last of August. John L. Thompson was appointed colonel of the regiment, and the First and Second battalions served through Sheridan's campaign in the valley, but the Third battalion saw very little service. The regiment was mus- tered out July 15, 1865.


Following are the records of Keene men, being privates and residents of Keene unless otherwise stated :


Bailey, George. Co. C; age 25; res. Keene; cred. Roxbury; enl. April 5, 64; app. corp .; sergt. July 1, '64; must. out July 15, '65.


Dinsmoor, George R. Field and staff; age 24; app. assist. surg. March 13, '65, not must. See miscel. org.


Draper, Frank. Co. K; age 22; enl. Feb. 23, '64; must. out July 15, '65. Edwards, Thomas C. Co. I; age 20; app. 2d lieut. March 16, '64, 1st lieut. Feb. 23, '65; must. out July 15, '65.


Ellis, Lewis. Co K; age 18; enl. March 4, '64; must. out July 15, '65. Estabrook, Aaron G. Co. D; age 37; b. Keene; res. Concord; enl. Aug. 17, '64; app. sergt .; disch. May 20, '65. See Eighth N. H. V.


Fifield, Edwin F. Co. M; age 18; enl. Feb. 23, '64; must. out July 15, '65.


Griffith, Joseph E. Co. K; age 19; enl. Feb. 23, '64; wd. Sept. 22, '64, Milford, Va .; app. corp. April 1, '65; must. out July 15, '65.


Hunt, Ferdinand K. Co. F; age 23; enl. March 7, '65, for 1 yr .; app. corp .; must. out July 15, '65.


Kimball, Samuel H. Co. C; age 18; res. Hinsdale, after the war, Keene; enl. March 31, '64; disch. June 5, '65.


Nash, Eugene P. Co. C; age 19; res. Gilsum, after the war, Keene; enl. April 9, '64; must. out July 15, '65.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.