USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 21
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He went to meet his death. On 16 May 1864 he was mortally wounded, and died soon after. He had been . in the fight of the 13th, and the move- ments of the 14th and 15th; but the 16th marked the end of his existence. Lieut .- Col. Plimpton, who was in command, wrote a letter to the bereaved wife, and extracts are made from it : . an artery being cut, he died in about an hour, from loss of blood was immediately taken to the hospital, but reached there too late to save his life . . . . he is buried about six miles outside our lines, and his grave marked."
Further particulars are found in Dr. Buzzell's letter; and it is such a beautiful, though sad letter, it is given below nearly in full.
[Dr. Buzzell to Mrs. Ayer.]
You have doubtless been informed of the death of your husband, late Henry H. Ayer, Captain, of the Third Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers. On Monday, May 16th, this officer was wounded while on duty with his regiment near the first line of intrenchments near Drewry's Bluff. About 8 o'clock in the morning of this date, he received a wound in the fleshy part of the thigh (wounding the femoral artery), and walked to the rear, where temporary dressing was applied ; and he was immediately sent to the Corps Hospital in an ambulance, at which place I first saw him. I spoke to him, and he grasped me by the hand and implored me in a feeble voice to give him some opiate. I found him very weak, and ordered stimulants, but without effect, as he died about 10 o'clock A.M., less than thirty minutes after his arrival. The large number of wounded on our hands at the time of our hasty retreat forbade removing his body to the rear. Many of the wounded fell into the hands of the enemy, and the bodies of officers were left upon the ground, as we retired so hurriedly. But it gives me satisfaction to inform you that amid the hurry and confusion and excitement of the hour, I was privileged to have a grave dug, and the remains deposited beside a landmark. The respect and. love borne this truly brave officer led me, with three of my hospital attendants, to convey hastily the body of one endeared to a family far away, and rolled in a rubber blanket, consigned it to a rude grave on the sunny slope of a hill beneath the shade of youthful and thrifty forest trees. The thought of leaving the body imburied .. was intolerable; and although it might be considered at the expense of the living sufferers, the time was afforded for this sad duty.
A. J. II. BUZZELL,
Surgeon, Third New Hampshire Volunteers.
EHis body was afterward exhumed and brought North, and buried at Fisherville (now Penacook), N. HI. This service was performed by Geo. Murdough, Co. II, of Manchester, N. II., who was a nurse in our regimental hospital during his term of service.
Of Capt. Aver's services in the Mexican War, the records at Washington disclose nothing. This must not be set against him, but against the imper- fect system of records of that period. He went out on the Vandalia (say they who knew him), but in what capacity is uncertain ; and this vessel did blockade duty, probably at Vera Cruz. The writer's informaut, a thor- oughly reliable citizen of Dedham, Mass., and a relative by marriage, says he distinctly remembers that Ayer told him of going ashore many times
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after water. Whatever part he took in that particular war, no Third New Hampshire man, at least, will believe that he did a whit less than his whole duty, whatever that may have been.
Concerning his militia service, in 1847-49: Certain it is, that at that period he was distinetively military; for the writer has had the pleasure of seeing four appointments, as follows (all in New Hampshire) : -
First, 31 Aug. 1847 Ensign First Co., Eleventh Regiment State Militia.
Second, 13 Sept. 1847 . 2d Lieutenant same.
Third, 20 July 1848 . Drill Master, Third Brigade (rank of Major).
Fourth, 7 July 1849 Reappointment same.
He also appears to have been temporarily in the Second Massachusetts immediately prior to his service in Third New Hampshire.
J. WARREN AKERMAN.
He was, substantially, our first Color Bearer, and as such will be well remembered. His position in his company (D) was 5th Sergeant (original). He carried the colors till we reached Washington (September, 1861), at which place he was taken sick: and being actually unable to carry them further, he was relieved by Jonathan N. Dow of Co. D. In January, 1862, he was sent North on recruiting service, rejoining with the party 4 May. He was made 1st Sergeant 1 Aug., rice JJ. C. Dunbar, discharged. On 20 Dec., he was ordered to act as 2d Lieutenant, by S. O. 47, R. Hdqrs.
In January, 1863, when the detachment (under Capt. Maxwell) was sent to Florida after lumber, Akerman went with it, Acting 2d Lieut. Co. D. A commission as 2d Lieutenant arrived for him 30 March, at Pinckney Island. Ile went to Hilton Head 1 April, and was mustered that day as of that day, the commission being dated 7 March : cice J. J. Donohoe, pro- moted and assigned to D.
His health was none of the best. He was granted a leave of absence in April, returning therefrom in June. Later we find him sick on Folly Island. 7 and $ July. He was discharged for disability, 28 July 1863, by S. O. 442, D. S.
Born in Kensington, N. H., 12 Nov. 1840; died 4 July 1892, at Haver- hill, Mass., aged 51 years. 8 months. Left a widow, residing at 5 Elm Place, Haverhill, but no children. Buried 7 July, at Hampton, N. II. Ser- vices at Congregational Church. Among the comrades present were nine members of Third New Hampshire, including the writer.
ROBERT H. ALLEN.
Comrade Allen took an active part in the formation of Co. C, and was its original 1st Lieutenant, finally becoming its Captain. Ilis commission was actually written "2 Lieutenant," and Cody's " Ist Lieutenant"; but these were reversed because of dissatisfaction, the commissions themselves being actually amended. He never served with any other company than his own. He was wounded at the battle of Secessionville (16 June 1862), in the right hand, while engaged with his company. This troubles him somewhat to this day (1890). In consequence of this wound, he was sent with others to the General Hospital at Hilton Head, and while there was given leave of absence to go North. During this leave, at Manchester, N. H., he, without orders, but nder general authority, recruited eight or nine men, all for his own company. Ilis original leave was probably for 20 or 30 days; but he obtained the usual extensions and remained for 60 days.
On his return trip he was, as a matter of military convenience, placed in charge of squads of recruits for the Third, Fourth and Seventh New Hampshire regiments. all in the Department of the Sonth. On arrival at New York, there was no steamer about to sail; and the reernits were sent to Fort Ilamilton, in the harbor, to wait. A small squad of recruits also arrived for the Third New Hampshire, and joined the squads at Fort
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Hamilton. The lack of transportation was said to have been caused by McClellan's movements on the l'eninsula. The Third New Hampshire squads finally got off on the steamer Geo. C. Collins, arriving at Hilton Head on the night of 11 Sept. 1862. Allen had, prior to leaving New Hampshire, received a captain's commission, rice Donohoe, same company. During the voyage to Hilton Ilead, one of the recruits died, and was taken ashore in North Carolina and buried. An account of this will be found elsewhere.
While at Pinckney Island, Capt. Allen accidentally shot himself in the left leg with his own revolver. This was 2 April 1863. The bullet was removed by Dr. Bnzzell about two months later. Capt. Allen was at this time at Hilton Head, occupying his own tent, on the old camp-ground in rear of the General Hospital. He had not sufficiently recovered to be able to be with his company, but visited it while it was at Botany Bay Island, and joined it on the reassembling of the regiment (eight companies from Botany Bay, and two from Bay Point) at St. Helena Island. He accom- panied to Folly Island, and ventured to go with his company and participate in the capture of Morris Island, 10 July, though this, apparently, was more than his condition warranted. He did not participate in the assault on Wagner (18 July), but viewed the beautiful sight from the sand hills. being on crutches at the time. immediately following this he obtained a leave of absence and went home, returning therefrom about I Oct., to Morris Island, after the evacuation of Wagner and Gregg.
When Cos. A, C and K were sent to Broad Island in December, 1863, to cut fire-wood for the troops, Capt. Allen, by virtue of his rank, commanded the Post, and Ist Lieut. Kirwin the company. The three companies, after cutting all the available wood on Broad Island, removed to Small Island, on same duty, Capt. Allen remaining in command. This service ended 29 Feb. 1864 (see main story). At Jacksonville, Fla., Capt. Allen was on the drum- head court-martial (Miller case : executed).
In Virginia, he participated in the various engagements creditably. He was appointed Chief of the Ambulance Corps of the Tenth Army Corps (Gen. Brooks) 29 June 1864, but did not accept, as he had tendered his resignation, by advice of Dr. Buzzell. He was discharged as of that date, for disability, by S. O. 176, D. Va. and N. C.
Since the war, Capt. Allen was for several years (and is now, 1890) at Rockford, Ill. From 1864 to 1870 he was engaged in the clothing business. From that time and up to within a few years he was a large manufacturer of churns. Ile attended the reunions at Weirs in 1889 and 1890. Capt. (then Lient. ) Allen advertised in the Manchester Mirror in August, 1861, when he was assisting in getting up Co. C, that " $100 in money and 160 acres of land at discharge" (in large typc, too) awaited the patriot who would enlist in his company. This has not been fulfilled; but it is not probable that any survivor of Co. C (original) will ever begin suit for obtaining recruits under false pretenees.
Allen's dog " Ned" deserves notice, as they were almost inseparable. He was with the regiment from its organization to his demise. Everybody knew him. Those of us who were able to be on deck during the great storm of November, 1861, will not soon forget that Ned was sick, like unto us. He was a remarkable dog, and his owner was not obtuse in this direc- tion. It was his delight to place Ned on exhibition, just to show how much he knew, you know. It is related that on one occasion, when Ned's master was entertaining several ladies and gentlemen at his quarters at Hilton Head, he directed Ned to go for his slippers. Ned went. Ned returned. But what was it he was dragging along so majestically, but with apparent effort? It was no less than the conventional demijohn ; and its ragged han- dle showed how frequently it had been thus dragged on prior occasions. Ned's master, mastering himself with a masterly effort - surrendered to the occasion : and before the guests departed, the demijohn had become so lightened that Ned returned it to its accustomed repository with great ease. Ned was among the honorably wounded 16 June, 1862, though he was not in the forefront of the battle, but hovering around the outskirts of it with Allen's orderly. A cruel bullet hit his fore-leg. This noble canine departed this life in June, 1863, at St. Helena Island, and was buried without cere- mony in the middle of the company street.
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ARLON S. ATHERTON.
He enlisted in the usual way and went into the service as a private in Co. I, under Capt. Carlton. In JJune, 1862, soon after the battle of James Island, S. C., he was promoted to Corporal ; and in September, 1863, directly after evacuation of Wagner, was made a Sergeant. The casualties were so numerous that on 21 Nov. 1863 we find him ordered to act as Ist Sergeant. He became infected, early in 1864, with the re-enlistment fever, and suc- cumbed, going home in March with the veterans, on furlough. By the death of Robinson, 2 June 1864, of wounds, Atherton was made Ist Sergeant, serving as such a short time only. During the following month he received a 2d Lieutenant's commission, dated 7 JJuly, and was mastered 16 July, as of 12th, and attached to Co. E. Was promoted to Ist Lieutenant in November, 1864, but not mustered till 30 April 1865, as of 1 April.
In the terrible conflict of 16 Aug. 1864, he was by many thought to have been mortally wounded, and by some said to have been left dead on the field. Both these statements proved false. Letters were written home, giving particulars of his decease. It is related of one who was thus writ- ing, and another who was assisting to furnish the harrowing details, that the former hesitated slightly as he was about closing the letter, and said to the latter : " You are quite sure about it?" The latter at once inferred that his veracity was in question, and, instantly rising to his feet, said : " Good lieavens ! do you wish me to hold up my right hand and swear, before you believe me?" This is related to show a certain phase not often met. The letters from the regiment and from Lient. Atherton himself reached home almost simultaneously, so that the suffering caused was of short duration, and was suddenly changed to rejoicing.
His own story is as follows : " I was shot through the right hing, and left for dead [this was a little after mid-day. - D.E.] After lying on the ground till evening of the 18th, I was taken as prisoner to Libby Prison, but had nothing done for my wound, as I was told I could not live till morning. I so far recovered, however, as to be able to be paroled on the morning of 12 Sept .. with 33 other officers from the same hospital ward. Steamed down the James River, picking our way through the many obstruc- tions, and arrived at the place of exchange about noon, and were soon transferred to our own steamer. There we found the agents of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions ready to receive us, with food in abundance, which had a very tempting look, but of which we were only allowed to eat very sparingly. They told us 'twas sure death to eat all we desired .. Arriv- ing at Annapolis on the morning of 14 Sept., we were at once conveyed to the hospital in the Naval Academy buildings." (The writer was there and saw him same day.)
By the 24th. Lieut. Atherton was able to travel, and received a leave of absence (was entitled to it, as a paroled prisoner) for 30 days, going home to his relatives and friends. Ilis physical condition was such that by special medical examination and report he obtained extension of leave. The legal limit of such was reached, and he returned to the Naval Academy hospital on 26 Nov., and at once asked to be sent to his regiment. This was refused, on basis of inability to perform military duty. In a fortnight more he repeated his request, and this time got ordered on court-martial duty at Alexandria (near Washington). He remained on this duty from 19 Dec. till the following April, when, after repeated requests to be relieved. he was ordered to his regiment, then at Wilmington, N. C. Hle fortunately fell in with Col. Bedel, then on his way, and they proceeded to the regi- ment together, reaching it on 11 April 1865. Upon arrival, he was at once ordered on duty npon a court-martial, and also placed in charge of Co. G.
While at Alexandria, he had a ten days' leave of absence to go home to vote ( March, 1865). In June, he was appointed Assistant Provost Mar- shal of Goldsborough. N. C., and was placed in charge of the City Jail. Ile held this appointment till final muster-out. He was commissioned as Captain of Co. I ( his orignal company >late in the war, too late for muster-in ; but that injustice has been rectified since the war by a special order of the
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War Department (1888), and he stands now upon the records as Captain, dating back. In addition to the duties of Assistant Provost Marshal, he had charge of Cos. G and E.
Atherton was in every engagement of the regiment up to the time of his terrible wound, which troubles him very much to this day (1800). IIe was a genial, whole-souled fellow, who had the happy faculty of making friends. Since the war he has thrice been a member of the lower branch of the Massachusetts Legislature, one year representing the Franklin dis- triet and two years from the enterprising town of Wakefield, where he now (1890) resides and carries on a general grocery trade. The town has honored him several times with offices of various kinds.
JOSEPH ACKERMAN.
He was an original man of Co. F (Capt. Randlett's Nashua company), and at muster-in was made 4th Corporal. Promoted to Sergeant, 17 Oct. 1862. Re-eulisted (13 Feb. 1864) and went with that happy body of men called veterans on furlough. After his return to regiment at Gloucester Point, Va., 28 April. he entered upon the Virginia campaign, and continued through the whole of it. On 30 May he was mustered as 2d Lientenant, as of 6 June, rice Dodge, promoted. In July we find him with Co. F; and in August he was sent to Co. G, and commanded it till end of the month. Was slightly wounded 16 Aug., but did not leave the regiment. He remained in command of G till 17 Nov., and on the 18th returned to F. On 24, 25 and 26 Sept. he served on a Board of Survey (with Stearns and Parker). On 28 Nov. he was mustered as Ist Lieutenant, Co. B, as of 17 Nov. Though he belonged to F as a 2d Lieutenant, he was in command of G by the exigencies of the service. At the end of December we find him " sick in quarters." From 3 Jan. to 1 March 1865, he was with G, and from that date to muster- out was Captain of Co. C. During a part of January he acted as Adjutant. On 24 Feb. his commission arrived as Captain of Co. C, rice Trickey, pro- moted to Major. [In justice to himself the writer will here explain that this commission was issued in place of the one he himself declined in Janu- ary. See his Personal. ] On 3 March he was appointed Assistant Provost Marshal of Wilmington (under Lieut .- Col. Randlett), and continued on that duty till relieved in June, when he returned to regiment for muster-out. The saddest part is yet to be told. A memorandum says : " J. Ackerman of Nashua shot himself accidentally and died same day." This was at his place of business in Nashua, N. H., 21 July 1879.
WILLIAM H. BURBANK.
He was the original 7th Corporal of Co. G, Capt. Wiggin. His warrant promotions were as follows: To Sergeant, 11 Dec. 1861 : to Ist Sergeant, July, 1863. He re-eulisted in January, 1864. He was wounded at Drewry's Bluff, Va., in May, 1864, and was sent to hospital at Point Lookout. While there he was commissioned 2d Lieutenant, dating 24 May, and was mustered into that grade 4 Oct., at the hospital. Ilis muster appears to have been wholly unauthorized : i.e., it was in violation of existing orders, which for- bade the muster of any officer untit at the time for field service; and Burbank appears to have clearly come under that order. The muster was promptly revoked by the War Department. This proceeding and order may not have been poetic justice : but law and justice are not always synonymous terms. Meantime Burbank had been dropped from the company rolls ( 18 Nov.), as having been commissioned 2d Lieutenant in Co. D. Orders from the War Department compelled the commander of the company to take up Burbank on the roils, and he became again the Ist Sergeant of Co. G, and held that rank at the final muster-out of the regiment. He did not rejoin the regi- ment until its final discharge at Concord.
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JOHN BEDEL.
John Bedel was said to have descended from good military stock, his grandfather and father having participated in the War of 1812. Was a private, and afterwards a Ist Sergeant, in Co. H of the Ninth United States Infantry, during the Mexican War; but (possibly fortunately for him) the climate was detrimental to his health, and he was discharged before the more important Mexican battles were fought (see Note 4). The North Bend, after a long and stormy voyage, landed the men of Co. H at Vera Cruz 21 June 1847. The troops went into camp about two miles outside the city; but the dreaded and dreadful disease known as vomito raged in the city, and extended to the troops; and though the writer has no positive informa- tion as to whether John Bedel suffered from this particular disease, it is fair to presume that he did. We may be sure that a sick man will leave an unhealthy country at first opportunity.
In 1849 he resumed his study of law and also acted as pension claim agent for Mexican War soldiers. From 1853 to 61 he was employed at Washington in one of the sub-departments of the Treasury. This brought him to the opening of the Civil War and to the birth of the Third New Hampshire, in which John Bedel performed a conspicuous part.
At the formation of the regiment, Jolm Bedel was made its Major; and though afterwards promoted, the boys all called him Major, as if no other title would fit him. He was of a peculiar temperament; and having decided to do a thing, it was next to if not quite impossible to change his mind. Of all the officers in the regiment, it may be truly said of Maj. Bedel, that he tried to make himself solid (i.e., popular) with the men ; and he succeeded tolerably well in his efforts. At Hilton Head, it was his usual custom to mount a barrel on the parade ground and read aloud to the men the latest war news. At one of those times. when the excitement consequent upon unusually good news ran very high, and the Major was about ready to fly, and his audience ready to ascend with him, an order came to fall in. This was a little too much for the Major; and withont the slightest hesitation he shouted, " Whoever that order comes from. I counter- mand it!" The andience cheered and cheered; but a little reflection on the Major's part and on the part of the men showed the futility of any attempt to subvert military discipline, and they " fell in," and so did the Major. This incident is only given for one purpose, viz. : to show the impetuosity of the man ; and " no criminality is attached thereto." At another time, " when change was very scarce in the Department, feeling that something might be done to relieve the distress, and having been employed in the Treasury Department at Washington, he conceived the idea of sending directly to the Treasury Department for a thousand gold dollars. He at once did so. probably without other thought.or desire than to do good. This letter was of such a singular character, that it was referred through vari- ous channels back to Gen. Sherman, for an explanation as to why such a state of affairs existed in his Department without information being sent the authorities at Washington. Rumor says a madder man was never seen than Gen. Sherman. He was almost beside himself; and umtil he became calmed by reflection and by the friends of Bedel, he insisted that our Major should be court-martialed forthwith. After awhile, through the efforts of Col. Fellows and Lieut .- Col. Jackson, this blew over. The thousand gold dollars didn't come, and the Department moved on as before, with the triffing exception that Gen. Sherman conceived a dislike for the Major, which time did not wholly efface. This is a good example of how an inno- cent man may suffer by his motives being misconstrued.
About 31 Dee. 1861. the Forty-seventh New York and other troops were sent to Port Royal Ferry on a reconnoissance ; and the Forty-seventh, having but one field officer on duty, Maj. Bedel was sent with that regi- ment. The skirmish they had during the few days they were away from Hilton Head was not of a serious nature.
Upon our arrival at Legareville, in June. 1862, the Major covered him- self with glory by shooting an enraged bull, which had been furiously run- ning through the village, threatening injury to the unwary.
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On James Island, the Major did efficient service, not only with the regiment on its first baptism of blood (on 16 June 1862, an account of which will be found in its proper place), but on other occasions with reconnoitring parties composed of detachments from various regiments. The resignation and discharge of Col. Fellows raised John Bedel to the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel; but the commission was not received until about the middle of Oc- tober. John Bedel served on a court-martial at Hilton Head during the winter of 1861 and early spring of 1862.
At one time, when there was a great scarcity of money, caused by the long intervals between the paymaster's appearances, he very kindly and generously provided the men with tobacco, and patiently waited till the fol- lowing pay-day for his money. Though, strictly speaking, this was in viola- tion of the Army Regulations, yet it would have been difficult to impanel a jury that would convict him further than of a technical violation of the Army Regulations.
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