USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 23
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In the Virginia campaign, he was killed outright, during the terrible scenes of 16 May. At that time he had succeeded Capt. Ayer in command of Co. H (Ayer killed) and had only been with the company a short time (some say less than an hour) when he met his fate. (The writer succeeded Button in temporary command of Co. IJ that day.)
When Button went to war he left a wife (Sarah J.) and infant daughter (Cora L., born 20 May 1860). The widow yet survives, residing at 10 St. Charles street, Boston, Mass. The daughter, an invalid all her life, died 12 May 1880. (See main story, August, 1864, for resolutions on death of Ayer, Ela and Button.)
CHARLES S. BURNHAM.
Ile was the original 1st Lieutenant of Co. F (the Nashua company), with Capt. Randlett and Lient. Marsh. He served with credit at James Island, 16 June 1862. About the middle of July, when Cos. E and I were doing provost duty at Hilton Head, he was sent to take command of the last- named company (Capt. Carlton killed; I'st Lieut. Thompson, Commissary ; 2d Lient. Il. S. Dow being alone). Later, Lieut. Dow was ordered home on recruiting service. Burnham continued in command of Co. I till his commission arrived, say 16 Oet. ; and luckily it was as Captain of Co. I : so he did not have to be shifted about. (No muster then required. ) Ile con- tinned as Captain of Co. I, and served with no other company during his service. Hle went with the expedition to Pocotaligo, 21 Oct. 1862, and also with the lumber expedition to Florida, in January, 1863. In March we find his company on outpost duty at Pope's Plantation (not Dr. Pope's), on HIil- ton Head; and the quartermaster and commissary stores were there. In May we find his company (with E) at Bay Point, under Maj. Plimpton. (Balance of regiment at Botany Bay Island.) He was detailed 1 July for general court-martial, to assemble the 3d, at St. Helena ; but as the troops left the 4th, it is presumable the general court-martial didn't assemble at all.
Capt. Burnham was lucky enough to obtain a sick leave about this time, and left us & July for home, on the atrago. (Gen. Hunter and ex-Capt. Wilbur on board. , In this way he escaped the fighting on Morris Island and the siege of Wagner. He arrived back 6 Sept., the very day when the final preparations were made for the forlorn hope of next morning; but his health was such he was not able to go in the line for the expected assault, luckily averted by evacuation.
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THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
He resigned soon after this event (say 10 Sept.), though it was not accepted until December ; and data shows he received his discharge 6 Dec., per S. O. 633, D. S. . ITis departure from the regiment was regretted by all ; for he was popular with officers and men. He has since the war located at Waltham, Mass., and holds an important position in the watch factory there. Capt. Burnham (as Lieutenant) commanded Co. D in the James Is- land fight (Capt. Dunbar sick), and he thinks he served with Co. F at Dau- fuskie, Bluffton and Pocotaligo.
CHARLES A. BURNIIAM. .
Dr. Burnham was an addition to our regiment and to its medical department. He was appointed from without the regiment, and under the W. D. order authorizing two assistant surgeons. We find he was a medi- cal student at Harvard Medical College for two years prior to 1861. He was mustered 5 Nov. 1861, in the Second New Hampshire, as a recruit, and was assigned to Co. C; but was detailed at once for duty in the regimental hospital, where he served till latter part of December, 1862 (after battle of Fredericksburg, 13 Dec.) He was discharged from the Second soon after his appointment in the Third. His appointment dates Is Nov. ; and he was mustered as Assistant Surgeon, Third New Hampshire, 9 Jan. 1863, as of 6 Jan.
Dr. Burnham came to us in February, 1863, arriving at Hilton Head on the Arago on the 4th and reaching the regiment next day. (Maj. Rand- lett and the exchanged men of. Co. H on same steamer.) He did efficient service at Morris Island throughout the siege, and accompanied the regi- ment to Florida in April, 1864. In the Virginia campaign, we find him mueh broken in health, though generally on duty ; and he had plenty to do, as Dr. Buzzell was detached. He was at Chesapeake Hospital, sick, during the Drewry's Bluff battles; but was with us on 16 June. He went from camp 12 May, assisted by the Chaplain, to the landing. He had congestive chills and malarial fever. While at Chesapeake Hospital, Randlett, Copp and others arrived, wounded. On 16 June, though quite ill, he felt the importance of being with the regiment, and went; but did not go on the 9th and 25th. In the early part of July, however, he succumbed to the inevitable, and obtained a sick leave, going home on the Sth. On 15 Aug., at Dover, Dr. Burnham met Dr. Buzzell (on detached duty). and on same day started for the regiment, reaching it at midnight, 16th. after our bloody battle of that day. Dr. Burnham did all that could be done at that time, though all the more seriously wounded had been sent away to the hospitals. His health seemed broken,-at least there seemed no apparent gain in health; and though doing some duty, he was not considered on duty, but " sick in quarters." This state of things continued till the latter part of September, when the Doctor yielded to the advice of friends and requested to be discharged for disability. This was done by S. O. 261; Div. Hdqrs., 22 Sept. 1864, and came to hand next day.
The regiment lost a valuable man when Dr. Burnham left it. Though the connection was officially severed, yet the Doctor has been of great service to the boys since the war, in assisting them to obtain pensions. He has a remarkable memory, and with a few leading incidents as a basis he can recall almost every case of disease or wounds that came under his treatment or observation. This has been made use of in numberless instances; and in many cases where the evidence was supposed to be lost (i.e., beyond proof), the Doctor has readily and cheerfully furnished the requisite link in the chain of evidence desired and required by the Pension Department. Many a pensioner of the Third New Hampshire will have good cause to long remember the genial doctor and his kindly and valuable service, both during and since the war.
Dr. Burnham was born in Pembroke. N. H., 30 March 1830.
He is now a practicing physician in Boston. Mass., and attended Col. Jackson in his last sickness, against which there was no remedy.
NOTE .- When the regiment left St. Helena for Folly, 4 July 1863, Dr. Burnham remained in charge of the sick of our regiment and of other regiments, and did not rejoin till after the charge on Wagner.
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THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
GEORGE B. BINGHAM.
Was a volunteer recruit of 1862, joining the regiment in September. He was at once detached as clerk in the General Hospital at Hilton Head and there remained till October, 1863 (regiment then on Morris Island). He was a nurse for part of the time named. He seemed particularly fitted for both positions. On his return to the regiment he was again detailed, and as clerk to the Provost Marshal, Capt. J. F. Randlett, of his own company (F). He continued on this duty till January, 1864, when he went on fur- longh. On his return he was made clerk at Regimental Headquarters (Maj. Plimpton then in command), and continued same till July, 1864.
When the 1861 men were mustered out (23 Ang.), he was made Com- missary Sergeant, rice George H. Miner, though, as a matter of fact, Miner was not actually then discharged, but merely dropped from the rolls. Bingham was not long in the line of promotion ere he was commissioned, taking the place of Quartermaster Hynes. who had received an appoint- ment of Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. Though Hynes left in Septem- ber, Bingham was not mustered on his commission until 30 Nov., as of 16th, and his commission was dated 9 Nov. He continued in this position to the end.
In June, 1865, he had leave of absence by S. O. 84, D. N. C. This was probably about the middle of June, as we find that soon after the arrival of the regiment at Goldsborough (about 4 June 1865) he was appointed 1. A. Q. M. and A. C. S. of the Post of Goldsborough (Col. Bedel, Comdg. Post).
Bingham returned from his leave (Scovell with him) 13 July 1865, and was with regiment theneeforward to the end. His whereabouts since the war is unknown, though in the fall of 18CG he was in Boston, with a watch company. He was born in Dunstable (now Nashua) 29 July 1837, and died 28 Jan. 1870, at Lowell, Mass. He left a wife, since re-married to Wm. Fish and (1890) residing at Athol, Mass.
D. ARTHUR BROWN.
Comrade Brown was born in Attleboro', Mass., 14 May 1839. Very early in life he evinced a decided love of music. At the time of his enlist- ment was Leader of the Fisherville Cornet Band, and with his band fur- nished the music at several war meetings. At an unusually enthusiastic meeting, addressed by the late Hon. A. S. Marshall, Brown decided to enlist, and did so next day. He was closely followed by six others of his band : H. F. Brown, S. F. Brown, J. C. Linehan (now Insurance Commissioner of New Hampshire), J. C. Mitchell, G. E. Flanders and Carl Krebs. These all became part and parcel of the Third New Hampshire Band.
In the formation of the band for the regiment, he was selected as the Second Leader, the commission reading: ". . . . appoint you, the said David Arthur Brown, Second Leader of the Band in the Third Regiment of Volunteers." The commission was dated 2 Oct. 1861 (see note). He per- formed excellent service and was very popular.
After the discharge of the band, 1 Sept. 1862. he became the Leader of Brown's Band, and continued in that position for about fifteen years. This band was the finest in the State. and furnished music for New Hampshire Day at the Centennial (Phila., 1876), and for the Governor and Legislature of New Hampshire at the Bennington celebration, in 1877, and on other notable occasions.
In 1864 Brown became a partner in the firm of A. B. Winn & Co., iron founders and machinists. This was changed in 1865 to " D. Arthur Brown & Co.," and continued under that name to 1880, when a corporation was formed under the style of " The Concord Axle Co." Brown was made treasurer. and has so remained to the present time. The office held embraced the general management of the business. The "Concord Axle" is known all over the world. Brown travels among the purchasers of axles all over the United States, and is personally known to the trade from Maine to California. Ile is a member of the Carriage Builders' National Association.
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From 1885 to the present time, Brown has faithfully served the veterans of the old Third Regiment as their secretary and treasurer at the Weirs. He is also the secretary of the First Veteran Band Association (since 1883). When the time seemed ripe for the erection of a building at the Weirs wherein the boys could gather comfortably year by year ( instead of in tents), Brown was at the fore-front. acting as secretary and treasurer of the Building Committee. He not only induced others to contribute, but con- tributed liberally of his own substance. The building, of which Brown is also custodian, was dedicated 26 Ang. 1885. He has faithfully served the veterans; and a reunion without Brown's genial face would cause much comment. He resides in Penacook, formerly Fisherville.
NOTE. -- His commission was not issued till after the issue of corres- ponding ones.
MICHAEL J. CONNOLLY.
He was the original 2d Sergeant of Co. C (Capt. Donohoe's company, Manchester). He was promoted to Ist Sergeant in August,. 1863, when Sergt. John Kirwin was promoted to 2d Lieutenant. Early in Angust, 1863, we find him acting as 2d Lieutenant. He was an active participant through- out the siege of Wagner. In February. 1864, he received a 2d Lieutenant's commission, and was mustered into that grade on the 3d, as of 20 Jan. 1864, and to Co. B. In March, 1864, we find him with Co. C, thongh reported in B. This continued apparently through April (Florida campaign). At end of May he still appears on the rolls of B. He was in the Drewry's Bluff battles. At the end of July, we find him commanding Co. C, and near the close of August he is reported sick in quarters.
The probability is that the fight of 16 Aug., and the attending expos- ures, had been too much for his health, though we find him on duty again in and at end of September was commanding Co. C. Apparently he was not engaged in the Laurel Hill fight of 7 Oct.
He was discharged 19 Oct., at his own request, as of 16th, for expiration of (original) term by S. O. 153, C. Ildqrs., and started for home 20th (with Dodge). His failing healthi would not warrant his continuing in the service. He died at Manchester, N. H., 17 May 1876. He received a Gill- inore Medal.
JAMES M. CHASE.
Chase was an original private in Co. B (Capt. Wilbur's company). Was afterward promoted to Corporal and as such re-enlisted for another three years, receiving the usual furlough. On the muster-out of the 1861 men he was made Sergeant.
He was fortunate in receiving a commission as 2d Lieutenant late in the war; but unfortunate as to time; for musters had ceased, the war being over. The commission was dated 15 May. in Co. I. He was discharged 7 July, at Goldsborough, N. C., for disability (epilepsy). He received a Gillmore Medal.
At this writing (1890) he is a resident of Manchester, N. H. He was born in New London, N. H., 19 Feb. 1837.
ELBRIDGE J. COPP.
Was an original private in Co. F, and was apparently one of the youngest in the regiment. In fact his face indicated less years than the registry of his birth. This peculiarity - a happy one. by the way -- still fol- lows him. We find him clerking for Adjt. Hill, from Concord to the pro- motion of Sergt .- Maj. Jackson to 2d Lieutenant, when he was made Sergeant- Major, having learned the duties while elerking. This was in the latter part of January, 1862. In January, 1863, he was promoted to 2d Lieutenant
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of B, Dodge of D taking his place. In May we find him Acting Adjutant under Lieut .- Col. Bedel, at Botany Bay Island (Col. Jackson being in com- mand of the Post, and Adjt. Libby, l'ost Adjutant). On the reuniting of the regiment at St. Helena, he was again Acting Adjutant, rice Libby, on Gen. Strong's Statt.
On 2 July 1863 he appears as attached to Co. HI, but Acting Adjutant of the regiment; and he continued as such until Angust, when he was com- missioned Adjutant (rice Libby, killed 18 July), except at such times as he was too ill to attend to his duties. These were more or less frequent, as his health seemed at this time (i.e., during the summer) almost broken. He was with the regiment, 10 July, at capture of Morris Island, and also on the day of the charge on Fort Wagner, 18 July. On this latter occasion, how- ever, he ought to have been in his tent or at the hospital. He decided to go as long as his legs did not refuse ; and he stayed with the regiment that day, behind the sand hills, up to about the middle or latter part of the afternoon, and an hour or two prior to the order to " forward." At this time he " gave out " entirely, and by leave of Col. Jackson returned to the camp, assisted by Woodbury Berry of Co. B; and the regiment, so far as is known, went into this remarkable fight without an adjutant or one acting in that capacity, except that it may be said that Sergt .- Maj. Dodge filled the bill. Copp was brave, plucky and iron-willed ; but he had to succumb. He did the very best that any man could do, and got as near the fight of that night as his condi- tion would admit. It may be well to here insert that no one casts the slightest reflection on Copp for that night; for his fighting qualities had been previously determined. Copp continued sick, but did not go to hospital or leave the island all through July.
He got his commission as Adjutant about 21 Ang., and was mustered as of 20 July. He still continned sick : and on 1 Oct. obtained a 20 days' leave, within the Department, and went to St. Augustine, Fla., whither all officers and soldiers were then to go for health. From this leave he returned 19 Oct., reassuming his duties the 21st.
When the re-enlisted meu went North on their furloughs, Adjt. Copp was one of the lucky officers to be ordered North with them. From this duty ( ! ) he rejoined at Gloucester Point, Va., 28 April 1864, just prior to the inauguration of the Virginia campaign. At Alexandria, Va., on the way back with the re-enlisted men, Copp was made Acting Assistant Adjutant- General on Col. Lonis Bell's Provisional Brigade Staff, temporarily formed there. Copp got hurt the very first day (13 May) of the Drewry's Bluff fights, and was conveyed from the field (Maj. Randlett with him) in an ambulance, driven by a colored man (see Randlett's Personal). He reached Chesapeake Hospital on the 15th, and arrived back 24 June, having had leave of absence 30 days from hospital. He was, apparently. not wholly recovered from his wounds; for at the end of July he was again reported sick in quarters. Copp was again wounded at Finssel's Mills, 16 Aug. (when so many officers were wounded ), and was again conveyed to Chesapeake Hospital (Capt. Wadlia, Lient. White and the writer were there). From the hospital he was granted leave of absence, and while at home received his discharge, for expiration of (original) term, 21 Nov., by S. O. 409, W. D., as of 16 Oct.
Copp is credited with " gallantry " at Bluffton, in that he was of the small party that captured the rebel pickets; and, being a little in advance of his comrades, he shouted the glad tidings of arrival in the words " Halt ! Surrender! " It appears that the rebels at first decided to fire and had brought their pieces to their shoulders. Copp was persistent, and even went so far as to aim his revolver at them; and Copp's comrades having raised their pieces, too. in a few minutes they surrendered, without firing a run. The revolver proved afterwards to have been wet and consequently worthless.
llis wound of 16 Ang. 1864 was caused by a ruthless bullet, break- ing two of his lower ribs and thence passing through the upper part of his liver and continuing through the lining of the intestines, reaching the open air quite near the back-bone. Copp lay in the hospital tent, on the bank of the James River, among the fatal cases, supposably not worth removing to
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hospital. In three days, however, at the solicitation of Capt. Randlett and others, through Gen. Terry, Copp was sent to the Chesapeake Hospital at Fort Monroe, reaching there 20 Aug.
He was born in Warren, N. HI., 22 July 1844; and so well has he re- tained his youth, that a stranger seeing him in 1890 would hardly believe it possible that he " fit in the war."
At the very close of the war, he was tendered a Ist Lientenant's com- mission in Hancock's corps of veterans, notice of the same coming to hand on the particular day that Lee surrendered. It was, of course, declined.
Since the war, Adjt. Copp has taken an active interest in the State Militia, and has been (1890) for ten years actively connected with it, being Colonel of the Second Regiment for five years. Since 1879 he has held the office of Register of Probate for Hillsboro' County, and is a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He serves in all these positions with dignity and credit.
RUFUS F. CLARK.
Was born in Dover, N. H., 23 Sept. 1831. When a young man he was attached to the Dover Artillery. There he got his first taste of military life. On removing, later, to Manchester, N. H., he joined the old City Guard, in which he was for several years a Sergeant.
The opening of the war found Clark a mechanical engineer of repute - in fact. he had just returned from China, whither he had been on a special mission. The excitement of the period had its effect, and he enlisted in the Second New Hampshire for three months and was made Ist Sergeant. He went to Portsmouth with the Manchester recruits, say about one hundred. Soon after arrival there, the Second was changed from a three months to a three years regiment; and each of the men already enlisted was given the option, either to enlist for three years or serve out the three months at Portsmouth (presumably at Fort Constitution). Clark decided not to go forward on the three years basis, because the opportunities were at hand for something a little more flattering. Through Gov. Berry, Clark and. others were discharged. and Clark returned to Manchester and proceeded to settle his business affairs and to recruit for the Third New Hampshire. On his return from Portsmouth he found the first Abbott Guards had already left for the Second New Hampshire, under Capt. Bailey : and a second Abbott Guards had been formed by John Bixby, The captaincy of the new military company was offered to Clark, and accepted by him; but on the basis, on both parts, that the company was intended for war and at once. There were about 60 in all. Capt. Clark secured a large majority of them as recruits for the Third New Hampshire; and these became Co. A.
He was a happy man when, on that bright day in August, 1861 (the 13th), he reported at the State House, to Gov. Berry, with a full company. " Here we are, Governor. What would'st thou?" said he, or words to that effect. Well might he be proud; for no other full company thus reported. The company was full then. but never afterward (i.e., in number) ; though in the vulgar sense of the word it was full many times. In this essential particular it did not differ to any appreciable degree from other companies.
In his great desire to advance the cause and till up his company, he, like many another recruiting officer of that period, promised more than could be fulfilled, and more than any law warranted. The Manchester Mirror of 10 Aug. 1861 contained a flaming advertisement, to which was appended the name of Capt. Rufus F. Clark, offering . 160 acres of land and $100 in money " to recruits ! This was simply mistaken zeal, or zeal mistaken. The Captain has long since been forgiven, and also has been absolved from the promise. He was at muster-in made second in rank among the captains, gracefully giving way to Plimpton. who was his senior in years. Having been mustered in, we find the act closely followed (24 Ang. ) by the presen- tation to him of a sword, belt and sash, by his company. This was a pleas- ant surprise and duly appreciated.
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We next note Capt. Clark at Annapolis, where he was appointed Har- bor Master by Gen. Sherman in his own handwriting, 14 Oct. The trans- port fleet was assembling. and it was necessary to eoal, etc., for the voyage (duration, destination, purpose. etc., unknown to ordinary mortals). Capt. Clark was assigned one of the smaller steamers as a " flag-ship"; and he steamed hither and thither among the various transports, giving instruc- tions, etc. " This is all very well," thought some of those old salted sons of salted seas; but " we don't take orders from a land lubber." Land lub- ber, indeed! Capt. Clark's spirit was up in arms at once. Being duly ap- pointed by a real general, and the preeions document in his pocket, he did u't propose to arrange for terms. It must be a complete surrender, or nothing. The captain of the - (transport) was one of the demurrers. Capt. Clark concluded he'd see Gen. Sherman, just for a moment, to see how strong a backing could be relied on. Gen. Sherman, with several of his peculiarly arranged oaths as prefixes, said in substance: " Wait a moment, Captain : I'll scratch off a bit of a line to be shown to these sous of Neptune. and bring him [or them] ashore in irons. if they don't then surrender." Capt. Clark steamed away again ; and, presenting the letter and the dread alternative as a couplet, the desired result was reached. It appears that the Quartermaster of the Expedition, Capt. Saxton, was absent in New York for the time be- ing, and those captains didn't like to take orders from any one else, he hav- ing chartered the vessels.
We do not hear from him again till after the regiment was duly in- stalled in its new Southern camp at Hilton Head. There we find (about 16 Dec. 1861) that Co. A again presented Capt. Clark with a sword, the presen- tation being by Private H. W. Banfill, who was discharged for disability about that date.
On 2 Jan., Capt. Clark was (with others) ordered North on recruiting service, and turned over the company and its property to Ist Lient. A. H. Libby on that dlate. The party sailed next day on the Arogo. Inasinnch as it is the object of the writer to give the reader a slight insight into the vari- ous branches of service. the occasion will be made use of to give data con- cerning the Recruiting Service.
Capt. Clark and party arrived at Concord, 9 Jan. 1862, reporting to Lieut .- Col. Seth Eastman (who had mustered in the regiment), First U. S. Infantry, Superintendent of Volunteer Recruiting Service for New Hamp- shire. Capt. Clark was at once (same day) ordered to proceed to Laconia, N. H., and open a recruiting office; and Sergt. Morrill and Corpl. Goodwin were ordered to go with him. On + Feb. he was ordered to discontinue re- cruiting for other regiments, but refuse none who offered themselves. On 1 March he was ordered to break up his office at Laconia (it not proving a good field) and proceed to Manchester and open an office there. 3 March, was ordered to recruit no more under 18 years of age, not even for musicians. 3 April, ordered to discontinue enlistments and break up, turning over flag and halliards to Quartermaster at Concord, and report with party and re- cruits at Concord. 15 April. the party apparently arrived at Concord, as the flags, etc., were turned in on that day. + May, the party arrived at the regiment (at Edisto), with 16 recruits (see main story) .
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