USA > New Hampshire > The Third New Hampshire and all about it, pt 2 > Part 27
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GEORGE W. EMMONS.
Born at Walpole, N. II., 12 July 1833. He was the original Ist Lieu- tenant of Co. G. (Capt. Wiggin). The first special service we find him engaged in, was on board the Atlantic (Port Royal Expedition), where he was assigned the duty of looking after the cooking and serving of rations. During the temporary illness of Adjt. Hill. early in December, 1861, we find Emmons acting in his place. In March, 1862, he was sent to Co. I, to relieve Capt. Carlton (sick leave). In May, at Edisto, he was made Captain ; and although with Co. I, he belonged to Co. G, and took it later (about 15 June) from Lient. Handerson. He thereafter continued as Captain of the company to the end of his service. At James Island he was sick in quarters for several days: and it was on this island that he wa- prevented from par- tieipating in the pleasure of our first violent excursion rebel-ward, 16 .Inne, by being in the peculiar position of having no command or assignment to daty (had only partially turned over Co. I).
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Emmons was a wag, but not of the inveterate standard : i.e., he didn't wag incessantly. On one occasion it is related of him that his attention being called to a certain paragraph in the R. A. R., he at once called his company officers together for a meeting, in compliance with this particular paragraph. Having gotten them together, and the hour also having arrived, he called the mecting to order, and the record of that meeting is something like this : " Headquarters Co. G, etc. At a meeting of the officers of this company, held in compliance with Par. - , R. A. R., this-day of -, 18-, there were present Capt. Emmons. Meeting called to order; and there ap- pearing no business to be transacted, on motion, the meeting adjourned, etc."
In October, his health continuing poor, he obtained a 20 days' leave (about the 9th), by S. O. 320, Mitchel, and at onee went North on the Arago, after turning over his company and company property to Lieut. T. M. Jackson. After obtaining an extension of time, he returned by the Cosmo- politan, arriving about 24 Nov. (Quartermaster Nesmith on the same steamer). His health was never fully restored. He was with the regiment at Botany Bay, St. Helena, Folly and Morris Islands.
After the evacnation of Wagner, Capt. Emmons resigned and was honorably discharged by S. O. 533, D. S., 18 Sept. 1863. Next day, by S. O. 20 (Regimental), he turned over the company property to Lieut. Trickey, and on the 23d left Morris Island for home, taking his colored boy (servant) with him, and for whom he was obliged to certify as not being a soldier, etc. (Capt. IIanderson accompanied, also discharged.)
Capt. Emmons, like many another, went toward the setting sun, and was for several years in Illinois, and a part of the time was a conductor on the Illinois Central Railroad. Prior to that, however, and immediately following his discharge from service, he was for several months on duty in a clerical capacity at the Provost Marshal's Office, West Lebanon, N. H., under Chester A. Pike.
He has been for several years last past, and is now, a passenger con- ductor on the Old Colony Railroad at Boston (1890). He makes it a sort of duty, and pleasure as well, to attend nearly all the rennions at Weirs.
BENJAMIN F. EATON.
Dr. Eaton was our original Assistant Surgeon, the laws then only allowing one such officer to a regiment. He was a man of good physique, weighing far above the average; was skilled in his profession, and knew a Dover powder, a dose of quinine, and a sick soldier at sight, and could readily distinguish one from the other should occasion require. In his treatment of the men at sick call or on other occasions, he was gentle, but firm ; and when he had decided that John Smith of Co. - , was tit for duty, it was irrevocable.
Dr. Eaton will long be remembered for his untiring energy and his persistent efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded of our first bat- tle (16 June 1862). Surgeon Moulton, his immediate superior, was absent, and Dr. Eaton had to struggle with the fearful conditions of that day, assisted (ably. too) by his nurses and hospital attendants and the members of the band. Practically, the wounded and dead of all the regiments were gathered in one place ; and Dr. Eaton went at his work coatless and with his sleeves rolled up. Noble and efficient work he did that day ; but 't was his last, so far as duty following a battle was concerned. His duties did not end till near midnight, and then he ceased from sheer exhaustion.
When the regiment was placed on outpost duty, in July, 1862, the Doctor did his full share of visiting, professionally. the varions companies at their stations. He did not accompany the expedition to Danfuskie in March, 1862. The Doctor's health rapidly declined after the James Island campaign, and he resigned in the September following. Being accepted. he was dis- charged 1 Oct. by S. O. 308. Mitchel. He was succeeded by Dr. Buzzell.
Dr. Eaton was born in 1531, at Grantham, N. Il. ; died at Hartford, Vt., 1 March, 182. He began the study of medicine about 1852, with Dr. John
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Baker of Meriden, N. H., and later with Dr. L. C. Bean of Lebanon, N. II., attending in the meantime a course of medical lectures at Woodstock, Vt. In 1844 he was a clerk in Dr. Smith's drug store at Lebanon, N. H., still keep- ing up his medical studies, then under the tutorship of Dr. Dixi Crosby. Ile graduated from Dartmouth College in 1860. He served as Musician in Co. I, First New Hampshire (three months' men).
After his return home, in 1862, he rested awhile from his labors. The next year, however, we find him practicing medicine in Barnet, Vt., and thus continued for about seven years, when he went to Hartford, Vt., re- maining there to the end of his life.
fle left a widow (no children), residing in 1891 at Meriden, N. H.
DANIEL ELDREDGE.
He was born at Chatham, Mass., 7 July 1841. His infancy was passed in that place. but his boyhood was spent in Dedham, Mass.
The breaking out of the Civil War found him -almost by accident - in New Hampshire. He enlisted at West Lebanon, 2 Aug. 1861. Nathan H. Ranlett was the recruiting officer, and secured seven in all for the Third New Hampshire. He drilled them in the Town Hall, and Recruit Eldredge assisted in the drill. Upon arrival in Concord the squad of seven was so small and insignificant that it was attached to and detached from other large squads two or three times before a fit was found. This was in the company from Dover, under Capt. Littlefield, afterward known as K. Being in a Dover company, fully officered from among themselves, the little squad had nothing to hope for, except in the distant future, in the way of pro- motion.
We find nothing in Eldredge's military career worth noticing till his sickness at James Island in June, 1862, a few days after the fight. The damp ground and the poor water there were too much for him. and he suc- cumbed, as did many another. During the latter part of June. he could do no duty whatever, and on one occasion was thought to be dying. Musters being ordered for the 30th, his services as a clerk were requested by Capt. Ela and rendered. This was the beginning of his clerical duty - the prepa- ration of the muster and pay rolls for 30 June 1862. On the return of the regiment to Hilton Head, 1 July, he was assisted to the General Hospital, where he was booked as a patient (the regiment encamped in rear). His sickness had developed into what is called bloody dysentery, of a malignant type. His comrades called almost daily. During the fore part of August, he convinced the surgeon of his ward that he onght to be sent to his com- pany, then on Pinckney Island (north end), and he was discharged (with Charles Gammon, same company, same time), and proceeded to his company, walking to Seabrook and stopping over night there with Co. G, and crossing to Pinckney Island next day. He was still unable to do duty. The company soon removed to Jenkins Island; and at that place he again " wrote for the Captain." Here, owing to the fact that he had no gun, and did no guard duty, the colored folk of the plantation (Dr. Frank Pope's) undertook to ascertain what position he held; and some facetions person, on the spur of the moment, said he was the " Doctor." From that moment the title stuck to him like a burr. This que was followed up by Eldredge, who in his spare moments visited the entire double row of negro huts almost daily. inquiring after the health of the ocenpants. If a negro wench was discovered with a red bandana tied around her head, he at once prescribed some simple remedy, and so on. He carried out the role during the pilgrimage of Co. K on that plantation. The boys enjoyed it, and the colored folk believed it; and Eldredge was not indifferent.
After the assembly of the regiment at Hilton Head (i.e., after the ont- post duty ) in Angust. 1862, he was still off duty, though assisting in all company matters where pen, ink and paper were concerned. He did not accompany the regiment to Pocotaligo in October, being left behind with the other sick and non-combatants.
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CAPT. DANIEL ELDREDGE, Historian.
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On the scattering of the companies again, in the Spring of 1863 (seven companies to Pinckney Island), he was with his company, but still unfit for duty. On the discharge of Capt. Butterfield ( Eldredge wrote for him, too), he very considerately mentioned Eldredge's case to Col. Jackson, who chanced to be about making a change in his office. He sent for Eldredge at once, and after obtaining from him a sample of his chirography and com- position a lo militaire, engaged him as his clerk (tenure of office and com- pensation unfixed). Thereafter, until he severed the clerkship tie, in July 1863, he was very near Col. Jackson. Was there a night alarm, the Colonel and Eldredge were very early on the spot-and simultaneously : for the latter was obliged to write up the particulars next morning, to be sent to Gen. Terry. Eldredge's comrades here honored him with the title, "Chief of Staff." This service did not require special muster or any change on the pay rolls, and was continued (his health improving, too) at Botany Bay Island (where Col. Jackson was commanding post ), at St. Helena. Folly and Morris Islands, at which latter place it terminated. At Botany Bay Island the changes in his company made Eldredge anxious to be placed on an equal footing with his comrades. He requested to be relieved, and was seconded in his efforts by Capt. Handerson, commanding Co. K. Repeated efforts did not produce the desired result. Finally, at Botany Bay, Eldredge was made Corporal, 3 May 1863. Presumably it was expected that the Colonel would then relieve him; but he didn't. At St. Helena Island the efforts were renewed by Eldredge and his Captain, looking to his relief; but in vain. Again he was promoted, and to Sergeant, 1 July.
Soon after arrival at Folly Island, in July, it became evident to Eldredge that active operations were about to begin - in fact that battle would soon take place. The placing of the strip of white cloth on the left arms of the men, the ordering of them away, etc., all betokened something serious. Much adverse criticism had been going on in the company, because of his stay with the Colonel, particularly after his promotion. Eldredge consulted the Colonel, and consulted his Captain ; for here was an emergency or, rather, a dilemma. The Colonel said : "Certainly, stay right here with my tent, desk, etc .; but I will interpose no objection if you decide to go with us tonight." And the Captain argued thus : " If you go, and get hurt, they'll surely call you a fool ; and if you stay, they may look on you as a coward." The Captain and Eldredge thought alike ; and being a majority, the case was then decided and on the " fool " basis. . Eldredge had no gun or equipments, and borrowed those articles of a siek comrade. He accompanied the regi- ment in the boats both nights, -8 and 9 July, and participated in the action of 10 July. Was also in the action of the morning of 11 July, the first attack on Wagner (the regiment in reserve).
This practically broke connections with the Colonel; for thereafter it was only at intervals that he did anything in the clerking line, and only by special request for some temporary service. Eldredge was with his company and regiment in the charge on Wagner ( 18 Inly, evening ), and was slightly wounded in the left foot. This was at a time between two for- ward movements, while everybody was temporarily at a standstill. Asking Sergt. Smith of his company to examine the wounded foot, and agreeing with him that 'twas unwise to remain (the leg being perfectly beumbed and useless). Sergt. Eldredge took a hasty leave of Capt. Handerson and such as stood near (he didn't really expect to see them again ) and crawled away to the rear, passing down by the beach and thenee along the same till the retreat, when some of his comrades came along and helped him on his rearward journey to camp.
In a few days thereafter, when Gen. Gillmore directed that details be sent North for the conscripts to be raised by an impending draft, and had directed that those slightly wounded be selected, Sergt. Eldredge was one of the fortunate ones. The party left Morris Island about 22 July. Next morning (on the _frago) a blockade runner was chased aud caught. Sergt. Eldredge was one of the boarding party, of which he has a complete list. The party arrived at Concord about 2s July. He was again taken siek with his old trouble and other complications, resulting in typho-malarial fever. The facilities in the camp were not especially adapted to sick persons, and
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Sergt. Eldredge was permitted to be sick at the house of a friend (James M. Otis), on State Street, not far from the camp, and was attended daily by Surgeons Gale and Trask of Fifth New Hampshire, being reported, by courtesy . as " present, sick."
On recovering sufficiently to go to camp daily, he was appointed Orderly Sergeant of (really to do the writing for) Garrison Co. D, Capt. Clark, Third New Hampshire, in command. This was an improvised com- pany, made up from the details from the several New Hampshire regiments in the field, abont 80 in all. He reported daily, doing what writing was re- quired, and by permission, coupled with the advice of the Surgeon, sleeping outside of camp.
Meantime, several of the other members of the detail from the Third New Hampshire had gone back to regiment. Some time during the latter part of November, Col. Jackson became commander of the camp; and he at once insisted on having the services of Serut. Eldredge as chief clerk. Though Capt. Clark had returned to the regiment, Sergt. Eldredge still retained his position as Orderly Sergeant of Garrison Co. D (see Duties at Camp, Concord, N. If.)
Early in January. 1864, he was commissioned as 2d Lientenant; and some one was found to take his place as " Orderly Sergeant of Garrison Co. 1)." About 15 Jan. the entire residue of the Third New Hampshire de- tail (except Lord of B) left Concord for the regiment. ric Long Island, Boston Harbor and New York. A large squad of recruits was escorted to the Department of the South. Corpl. J. W. Brown of K (left over from recruiting service) accompanied the party. They reached the regiment, 19 Jan. 1864; and Eldredge was mustered as 2d Lieutenant 3 Feb., as of 2 Jan. In the interim he was retained at the headquarters of the regiment, being in an embarrassing position, having all the appearance of an officer, yet not an officer ; and it was a serious question as to whether it was well for him to go on duty as such. It was finally decided that during the interim he should act as 2d Lieutenant and do duty near headquarters of regi- ment. lle was thus ordered. and among other duties went on board the Commodore McDonough in Light-House Inlet, on night picket duty. After muster-in, he at once went to his company (K) on Broad Island, cutting wood (A and C there, too), and found Capt. Stearns in command of the company, and alone.
Upon the re-enlisted men going home (March, 1864), Capt. Stearns accompanied, and thus left Lieut. Eldredge sole officer with the company. It thus devolved on him to not only command his company (K) and be re- sponsible for the company property, but to drill it in the new tactics (as cavalry). Thus it will be seen that about one month only had elapsed ere circumstances placed him in command of a company. When the regiment was ordered to Jacksonville, Ist Lient. Lamprey was assigned to the company (1 April), and continned in command, to equalize the officers. It being under- stood that it was a temporary matter, Lient. Eldredge did not turn over the company property to Lient. Lamprey at all, though the latter continued with the company till Virginia was reached, when Capt. Stearns rejoined and assumed command. At Florida, Lieut. Eldredge was with his company and the three others (A. D) and Il) which went to Palatka (see separate account of this trip).
Lient. Eldredge was in all the four days' fight at Drewry's Bluff, 13- 16 May. On the day after the falling back ( first time - i.e., after the fog lifted ), and after Capt. Ayer and Lient. Button had been killed while suc- cessively commanding Co. H. and while the regiment (and brigade ) was re- forming for charge, Lient. Eldredge was directed by Lient .- Col. Plimpton to take command of Co. H. it having no officer. Why he, the youngest officer in rank, should be thus chosen, at such a time and under such eir- cumstances, and to command a company in what was evidently a forlorn hope. was beyond his comprehension. He did not argue the matter, but proceeded to his post by the most direct route, and took change without a speceh. It was not the time to talk. The rebels were rapidly advancing upon this re-formed line, and in open field. "Charge! " and away went the regiment ; and ditto the rebels, though the latter stood their ground well till
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our men had nearly reached them, when they broke and ran (see main story). On return to camp (miles away ), Lient. Eldredge turned over the company to Lieut. Davis (ill in camp).
In the latter part of May, Lieut. Eldredge was sick and off duty about a week. On 2 June, when a portion of the regiment retook certain rifle- pits, Lieut. Eldredge was at work with a fatigue detail in one of the redans, and very near the fight. His men had to cease work and lie low during the contest. He accompanied the regiment on 9 June, to the vicinity of Petersburg: 16 June, was with it when it went to the front, after the rebels evacuated their line. and was in the action following. He also went with the regiment down the James River, on 25 June, to cover Sheridan's crossing.
On 12 July he was again promoted, and was mustered that day as Ist Lieutenant and assigned to Co. E, with Capt. Wadlia. His commission was dated 7 July 1864; but his muster did not date backward, and his promo- tion was rice Ist Lient. Trickey to Captain.
He was in the movements of 14-15 and in the action of 16 Ang. 1864. In the latter, he was shot throught the left fore-arm, while in the act of waving his handkerchief to warn the Seventh Connecticut (on the right of the Third New Hampshire) of the approach of the rebels. Though severely wounded, he did not at once leave the field, for certain reasons, chief among which was the fact that the firing was so heavy it was safer to stay. Lient .- Col. Plimpton tied a handkerchief about the arm, above the wound ; and then Lieut. Eldredge moved along the rear of the line (his com- pany was the right company) to the left, where he halted. near Lieut. Edgerly and others. till the fire should slacken. After a few minutes, a man near by was slightly wounded, and he assisted Lient. Eldredge off the field, to the woods directly in rear, and in the edge of which were Dr. Kim- ball and Hospital Steward Perry Kittredge, ready to receive and entertain (? ) the wounded. Here Lient. Eldredge, being very faint from loss of blood, was given, and did not refuse. the first and only dose of whiskey which passed his lips in the army. A temporary dressing was given : i.e., a wad of cloth was stuffed into each aperture, and a strip of cloth tied around the whole. Only this and nothing more. After a little delay he was placed in a blanket and carried further to the rear, through the woods, his aching arın, and body too, frequently striking a tree. Ere long. two men with a stretcher were espied going frontwards : and at the mere suggestion, they went rear- ward with the Lieutenant on the stretcher. He was then carried, say half a mile further, to where the wounded were congregated (see main story ). From thence to a field hospital, by ambulance, over a rough road, consist- ing principally, as he then thought, of roots and stumps, to the bank of the James River at or near Deep Bottom.
Here he was put in a tent by himself, and next to the amputating tent, where the sounds of the battle-field were pleasant in comparison. Shrieks, groans, prayers, curses, followed one another in quick succession ; but ap- parently all to no purpose. Ile lay there, helpless, and heard all this, expect- ing his turn next. By a combination of circumstances not necessary to relate here he escaped the amputation tent, and was placed on board the waiting steamer, then being laden with the wounded as fast as they were operated upon. A square and compass engraved on the Lieutenant's belt plate (inside of) was an important factor in the escape from amputation. Singularly enough. the bullet which passed through his arm (his fore-arm horizontal at the time) also passed into his left breast-pocket and penetrated a memorandum book as far as his Masonie diploma, actually stopping against it, and carrying with it several jagged pieces of the bone of the fore-arm. This memorandum book is still retained as a valned memento of the war.
The steamer went to Fort Monroe next morning, carrying the valuable cargo of maimed human beings. They were landed at Hampton. the officers going to the Chesapeake Hospital. and the men to the Mcclellan. On the way down the river, Lienr. Eldredge discovered his clothing to be well tilled with - hold your breath. reader - maggots; and they were in no sense dead ones. With assistance. all those parts of his clothing not actually essential to his comfort were cut off with knives and permitted to drop overboard; and the surgeon in charge on board was induced to re-dress the wound. Happily, it was found to be entirely clean and in good condition.
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A full new suit awaited Lieut. Eldredge's arrival at the hospital : and that consisted of one. garment, put on after a complete bath. After a day or two, he had the courage to sit up and write his relatives and sweetheart all about it. The effort cost him considerable time of quiet repose to recover from its effects. After awhile he was placed in a room with Capt. Wadlia (see Wadlia's Personal). Adjt. Copp and Lient. White were in the hospital at same time. Nearly all the patients procured separate sponges and bowls for the bathing of their wounds. This was to prevent gangrene, so far as was possible. Nothing except cold water was ever used on the Lieutenant's wound.
Early in September Lieut. Eldredge became, as he thought, able to travel, and desired to go home. He found that " leaves " of that kind were rare; and it was said that Gen. Butler (in whose Department this hospital was) would n't give any. He noticed several " leaves " arrive, granted direct from Washington. He had no friends there. He requested Gen. Butler to order him to light duty at Camp Parole, at Annapolis, Md. Arriving there, he was ordered at once to the officers' hospital for treatment (arm in sling, wound suppurating). While there Lieut. Atherton came in (14 Sept. 1864), exchanged. On recovering sufficiently, Lieut. Eldredge was granted a 20 days' leave, going home to his relatives and friends. He procured two ex- tensions (20 days each). Ile reported early in December, at the Draft Rendezvous, Concord, N. H., and was there placed on duty by Maj. Whit- tlesey, U. S. A., in command, subject to the approval of the Secretary of War. It was approved. His arm was still in a sling and wound unhealed ; but his general health had improved. He at once entered on what may be called staff duty, being appointed Commissary of Recruits, under the Major, so long as he remained (following Spring) and with his successor, Maj. Caldwell, U. S. A., until appointed in the Veteran Reserve Corps in June, 1865.
His duty was to receive the recruits and forward them to the various regiments. In the forwarding, several rolls had to be made in each case; and the clerical work at the Rendezvous was something enormous. Lieut. Eldredge had generally a dozen clerks at work. Again, he had the recruits' ambrotypes taken; and each was registered and numbered, and mounted on the walls of his office, so that it became known as the "rogues' gallery " (over 1,800 on the walls). These ambrotypes (paid for by the sitters) were taken to assist in recognizing and identifying bounty jumpers, should they venture to come into the camp as recruits the second time. Many a man has trembled and blanched when marched up to the front of his own picture and asked semi-comically, " Do you know who that is?" Again, in sending off recruits. great care had to be exercised to prevent John Smith of Ireland going in place of John Smith of Skedunk;and Wm. Jones, colored, from going in place of Wm. Jones, white.
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