USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1 > Part 22
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Hillsborough, in sympathy. with the national government, and with two of her sons occupying prominent and responsible positions at the front remained loyal to her views. Among the leading spirits in town were Andrew Sargent, James Wilson, Samuel Gibson, George Dascomb, Nehemiah Jones, David Steele, Thaddeus Monroe, Benjamin Pierce, Elijah Beard and Calvin Stevens.
November 9, 1814, the town voted to pay the soldiers twelve dollar a month for their service in addition to what the govern- ment paid.
This period proved to be the darkness that preceded the dawn. If the warfare on land had proved, on the whole, dis- couraging to the Americans, that on the sea had been corres- pondingly bright. Everywhere American ships, privates as well as government war ships, had been successful and Great Britain awoke to the fact that she was no longer "mistress of the sea."*
A treaty of peace pending at Ghent was brought to a rather sudden conclusion through this result and was signed before the war was really won on the continent. But the end was in sight, for while the important document was on its way General Jackson met the enemy at New Orleans and won the most splendid victory of the war. The rejoicing over this triumph was doubled by the glad news of the signing of the peace treaty at Ghent in December, and everywhere joy reigned triumphant.
New Hampshire's sea history has never been fittingly told but
*In the war with Tripoli a few years previous, United States ships had shown their superiority over the English warships, very much to the surprise of the lordly Briton, who had for more than a hundred years considered himself master of the high seas. Encouraged by their success in the prior struggle, upon the breaking out of this second war the soldiers of the sea entered the contest with a vim and not only did the government vessels by their brilliant maneuvers sustain the national character for skill and courage, but the numerous privateers mostly putting out from New England ports hovering over every sea, added vastly to the nautical fame of the country. And so her victories won by her naval forces, crowned with Jackson's victory at New Orleans, won the respect and fear of Europe, if these were not gained by the treaty.
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THE FLORIDA WAR.
when it is we shall find a brilliant chapter of heroic service. On the sea it was equally as bright as the records of the days of '76. Hillsborough furnished her share of men in this service.
"Thus ended," says Ramsay, "the first considerable war in which the nation had been engaged since the adoption of that constitution which secured to them the blessing of a mild and comparatively efficient form of government, and promised by its impartial influence to render them a united and happy people."
List of veterans of the War of 1812 who lie buried in the cemeteries in town :
Simon Robbins, Eli Wheeler, Jonathan Danforth, David Livermore, Luke G. Hosley, Capt. Ransom Bigsbee, Captain Dickey, Stephen Richardson, William Pope, Benjamin Putney, John Adkins, David Roach, William Burrill, George Dascomb, William H. Heath, Richard Gould, Harvey Hubbard, Isaac Murdough.
A military spirit pervaded the country following the close of the war and everywhere drills and musters were of common occurrence. According to the organization of the state militia in 1820, there were thirty-eight regiments, and Solomon McNiel of Hillsborough was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the 26th. A re- organization in 1830 resulted in a promotion for Col. McNiel, when he was appointed Brigadier-General of the Third Division, Fourth Brigade. (For sketch see Volume II.)
Little of general interest, as far as the history of the town was concerned occurred until the breaking out of what was denominated in the North as the Florida War, but which was known in the South as the Seminole War, for reasons that will be obvious. That was a period when Indian troubles came thick and fast, and one of the worst Indian wars in the country raged for thirteen years, 1835 to 1848, costing many lives and the destruction of considerable property. It was against the Sem- inole Indians, and the darkest feature of the whole affair was the fact that the government was the more or less to blame for the causes which led to it.
Hillsborough is especially interested in the long-drawn out affair for the reason she had two sons belonging to prominent families in town connected with it.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
One of these was the oldest son of Governor Pierce, Major Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, of the artillery who was connected with the regular army. At the beginning of the war he had been ordered from Fort Mitchell to the command of Fort Micanopy, in the interior of Florida, in the summer of 1836.
For a year or more the army had been waging an unequal fight where military science and skill were of little account against a foe upon their own soil, and that soil producing spon- taneously for their subsistance, while every bush was covert, every hummock a natural earth work and every everglade a natural fortification. "In such a war," says one of its historians, "few laurels were to be won, yet its hardships, its labors, its risks and responsibilities, were far greater than those of the legitimate wars of civilized life."
When the tide of war was at low ebb Major Pierce arrived upon the scene, and soon after, learning that the dusky enemy was growing bolder and more numerous ordered an attack upon Fort Drane, about ten miles from his station. So adroitly was this campaign planned the redmen were taken by surprise, and though commanded by their astute leader, the noted Osceola, and outnumbering the whites, they were put to rout. This victory, won with small loss of life gave renewed hopes to our troops in Florida, and was received with joy throughout the country. It proved over again that an energetic and skilled commander could succeed where weaker leaders would inevitably fail. The receipt of the news of this battle brought from the commander in chief the following letter of appreciation :
"Tallahasse, Sept. 6, 1836.
"Sir,-I have received through Col. Crane a copy of your official report of the battle of Fort Drane. Your conduct and that of the officers and men in under your command, on that occasion, reflects on you and upon them the highest credit. To have beaten Powell (Osceola) with one third of his force was a proud achievement; and I take this occasion to tender my acknowledgements to you and to your command for this gallant service.
"I am, sir, very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant, R. K. Call, Commander-in-chief."
"Maj. B. K. Pierce, United States Army."
-
Photograph by MANAHAN.
FIRE STATION.
Photograph by MANAHAN.
BAKER'S BLOCK.
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CAMPAIGN OF MAJOR PIERCE.
The head-quarters of the army at Washington made this action a general order of congratulation in the following terms:
"Headquarters of the Army, Adjt .- General's Office,
"Washington, Sept. 16, 1836.
"General Order No. 61.
"I. The Major General Commanding-in-Chief has received the official account of the attack made on the 21st of August, by Maj. Pierce, of the First Regiment of Artillery, on a large body of Indians collected on the site of the old Fort Drane, in which, with the force of only 110 men, he completely surprised and routed about 300 war- riors, and killed and wounded a considerable number of them.
"II. The conduct of officers and men engaged in this enterprise, like those who attacked a superior force at Micanopy under the gallant and much-lamented Lieut .- Col. Heileman, is deserving of the highest praise.
(III. "It is with much satisfaction that the Major-General recurs to the conduct on all occasions of the troops of the regular army who have been serving in Florida against the Seminoles. Wherever they have had an opportunity of meeting the enemy, they have acted with a spirit of gallantry worthy of a nobler field; and the Major-General cannot, without deep sensibility, contemplate the sacrifices and suffer- ings which they have experienced in the arduous duties imposed on them; all which they have borne with a fortitude and submission to discipline which reflect honor on the character of the American army, and entitle them to the approbation and regard of their government and country.
"By order of
"Maj .- Gen. Macomb,
"Major-General Commanding-in-chief. " S. Cooper, Acting Adjutant-General."
Following the advantage gained at Fort Drane General Call ordered an expedition into the Indian country from the Suwanee River, and Major Pierce was appointed Quartermaster-General, with 1,400 mounted men from Tennessee and Florida. In order to undertake this expedition it was necessary certain provisions then at Battle Creek, sixty-five miles away should be brought to Fort Drane as soon as possible. This was on the fourth of October, and starting at midnight with his train of provision the task was accomplished before the eve of the sixth.
In order to make the surprise of the Indians complete a new route was taken, Major Pierce at the head of two hundred men, cutting a road through the Florida forest for fifty miles, and,
258
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
despite the fatigue of the men, surprised the Indians on the morning of the 12th and routed them. Major Pierce was made Colonel of the regiment for this feat of war.
This victory was followed by the campaign of Wahoo Swamp, where Colonel Pierce was also successful, and received great praise for his skill and bravery.
The Florida War cost Hillsborough the life of one of her most promising sons, Lieut. John W. S. McNiel, the oldest son of Gen. John McNiel, who was mortally wounded while leading an attack upon an Indian camp in Florida on the morning of September 10, 1837. He was an officer of great promise, and had he been spared would undoubtedly have risen high in military honors. With a nature susceptible to every noble and generous impulse he was a universal favorite with all who knew him.
He died September 11, 1837, from the effects of a wound received the preceding day in a skirmish with the Indians under the noted Seminole chief Euchee Billy. As Lieut. McNiel ad- vanced at the head of his men to charge the Indians, Euchee Billy levelled his rifle at him and before young McNiel could discharge his pistol, the bullet of his enemy passed through his right hand, lodging in his abdomen. But he remained upon the field during the battle and was then removed to camp on a litter.
The following day the command started for St. Augustine, but McNiel died on the way at 10 o'clock on Monday night. The body was taken to St. Augustine, and buried with the honor of war.
The following letter written a short time before his untimely death possesses a pathetic interest :
Garreys ferry Florida January 16th 10 oclock at night
Dear Father
We arrived here this morning & found orders to proceed to Volusice to join the Army. We start to-morrow. I saw William, Uncle Benjamin's boy, when we landed. Col. Pierce has gone to Savannah for the benefit of his health, it is expected he will return in the course of 2 or 3 weeks. I have packed everything that I shall carry with me into a pair of saddle bags. I shall leave my trunk here or send it to Charlestown. I am in fine health. If you do not hear from me again in a month, do not feel at all alarmed for it is im- possible for us to carry any writing material with us, but I shall
259
COMMENDATION OF LIEUTENANT M'NIEL.
write every opportunity & if anything happens I shall get somebody to write immediately. As for Florida it is the last place on the face of the Globe. I had not the least conception of its being such a place as it is, & from the accounts of others, I have not seen any of it yet. You can write if you choose & direct your letters to Whitesville, but it is doubtful whether I get them. As soon as we join Gen. Jessup we shall be on the tramp all over Florida. It is thought here that the War will not be closed in less than a year if it is then. In haste. Love to all. Your aff. son
Genl. John McNiel
J. W. S. McNiel
Lieut. John W. S. McNiel was the son of Gen. John McNiel and was born on the Island of Macinaw February 17, 1817. He was educated at West Point and commenced the study of law at Hillsborough in the office of his uncle Hon. Franklin Pierce, June 8, 1836. At the breaking out of the Indian disturbances in the South that year he was appointed second lieutenant in the Second Regiment United States Dragoons, and was stationed at Carbondale, Penn., on recruiting service through the summer. In the winter he was ordered to join his regiment in Florida.
He was in several skirmishes during the summer of 1837, in command of his company.
COMMENDATION OF LIEUTENANT McNIEL.
The following letter announcing the death and commending the service of Lieutenant McNiel was received by his parents at Hillsborough.
To Gen. John McNiel : My dear Sir,
It has become my duty to communicate the painful intelligence of the death of your brave and gallant son Lieut. John W. S. McNiel.
He expired on the evening of the 11th Instant, between the hours of nine and ten. Early on the morning of the previous day, while leading a charge at the head of his company against a body of hostile Indians, he received a mortal wound from the rifle of their chief the celebrated Euchee Billy.
Lieut. McNiel with his company of Dragoons constituted a part of an attachment of about 170 men composed of regular troops and militia-the whole under the immediate command of Brig. Gen. Hernandez. This force marched from the vicinity of St. Augustine on the 7th Instant-and on the morning of the 9th succeeded without loss in capturing a body of Indians and negroes near Dun Lawton Sixty
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
miles from this city. From the captured party information was ob- tained of another body of Indians with Euchee Billy and the well known chief Philip at their head. This party was distant about ten miles, and sheltered within the covert of swamps and of a scrub almost impenetrable-These obstacles however, by the guidance of one of the captured party were passed in the course of the night, through narrow cut ways which had previously been made by the Indians for their own ingress and egress-and at the dawn of the next morning, being the 10th Instant, the attack was made in two columns, one of which was led by your son, with great success, and this whole party, with the exception of a single Indian, was also captured without loss or injury, save alone the unfortunate and fatal wound of your son- As he was advancing, he saw Euchee Billy levelling his rifle against him, and at the moment of raising his own pistol was struck by the ball of the savage, which passing through his right hand lodged in his right breast.
The wound was not supposed to be dangerous, and your son returned with the detachment to within 20 miles of this place, where all encamped for the night. At the time of encamping no one I am told anticipated danger, or at least not immediate danger from the wound-and he himself appeared to entertain no fears on account of it. His mind seemed to be occupied with care for the welfare and safety of his men, and he expressed himself anxiously in regard to them, but a very short time he ceased to breathe. It was on Sunday morning that he received the wound-and on Monday evening, the 11th Instant, at about half past nine he expired.
His remains were brought to this city, and at 5 o'clock this after- noon interred with military honours in the Protestant Church yard. The funeral escort composed of the returned detachment and of Capt. Webster's company of U. S. Artillery formed in front of the dwelling house of Gen. Hernandez where the body was received for the purpose of yielding to it the last sad tribute of military honour.
What more, my dear friend, can I say, I have this moment re- turned from the funeral of your son and I find your letter of the 30th Ultimo upon my table filled with affectionate paternal inquiries concerning him . . . I may indeed add that which should soothe your feelings, and cause both you and Mrs. McNiel, while grieving for him, to be proud of, and to exult in his memory. All concur in hear- ing testimony in his favor-all say that he was brave and intrepid- faithful in the discharge of his military duties, and moral and correct in his conduct and deportment. He was beloved by his men, and esteemed by his fellow officers.
To lose such a son, in the very morning of his life I know must be grievous to his parents-but that he was such a son should be to them, while memory lasts, a most heartfelt consolation.
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MILITARY HONORS FOR TOWNSMEN.
Mrs. Smith unites with me, in tending both to you and to Mrs. McNiel expressions of sincere sympathy and condolence for your loss, and I need not add, that in anything in respect to the remains of your son or of his memory you may at all times command me.
I remain Dear Sir
Truly yours, Joseph L. Smith.
In 1840 there was another revision of the statutes and Hills- borough was classed with Antrim, Deering, Hancock, Frances- town, Greenfield, Bennington, and Windsor in making up the 26th regiment. Hillsborough was very much interested in this re-organization, as the town was well represented. Among the Aides to the Commander-in-Chief His Excellency Henry Hubbard was Henry Dearborn Pierce, a son of Governor Ben- jamin Pierce, ranking Colonel. He had been appointed Lieutenant of a company of cavalry in the 26th regiment January 27, 1836, and promoted to Captain December 8, 1838, Colonel Pierce rep- resented the town in legislature in 1841 and 1842, and was an- nually elected Moderator of the town for nineteen years.
Samuel Andrews was Brigadier-General of the Fourth Brigade; Benjamin Tuttle, Jr., Brigadier Inspector ; and Benja- min P. McNiel was Brigade Charter Master, all of Hillsborough.
General Andrews was born in Hillsborough October 9, 1813. He was appointed Ensign of the First Company of Infantry in the 26th Regiment, January 23, 1836; Lieutenant, January II, 1837; and Captain, March 2, 1838. He was promoted to Lieuten- ant-Colonel of the 26th Regiment June 27, 1839; Colonel, July 2, 1840. He was appointed Brigadier-General of the Fourth Brigade July 18, 1842; and Major-General June 30, 1845.
General Tuttle was born in Hillsborough April 27, 1811, and for several years he was Deputy Sheriff for Hillsborough and adjacent counties. He was Brigade Inspector on General Andrew's staff in 1842 and 1843. He represented the town in the legislature in 1856 and 1857.
Maj. Benjamin Pierce McNiel was a son of Gen. John McNiel of the United States Army, and was born at Hillsbor- ough, Jan. 20, 1825. He was appointed as Brigade Quartermaster upon General Andrew's staff, Aug. 1I, 1842; Major of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Dec. 15, 1843; and Division-Inspector
.
262
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
of Third Division, Aug. 26, 1845. He read law with George Barstow, Esq., at Hillsborough, and Hon. Ira Perley, of Concord. He was appointed Second Lieutenant of the Third United States Artillery, March 8, 1847; and First Lieutenant in same, Decem- ber 4, 1847. He died at Boston, June 19, 1853, in the twenty- ninth year of his age.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
Difficulties which had existed for several years between the American and Mexican governments reached a crisis in 1846, and war was declared between the countries in the spring of the year. Like all wars this was not popular with the people. New Hamp- shire, situated so far from the scene of strife, furnished but few troops. These belonged mainly to two companies, "C" and "H," recruited mostly from this state, and were joined to the Ninth regiment.
While Hillsborough did not furnish a man in the ranks as enlisted from this town, she was represented by one of the fore- most commanding officers. February 16, 1847, Franklin Pierce, son of Ex-governor Benjamin Pierce, was appointed Colonel of the Ninth United States Infantry, and when ten regiments had been raised he was made Brigadier-General, March 3, 1847.
General Pierce and his troops saw some arduous marches and trying experiences, while bravely fighting the enemy in their guerilla warfare, this being no more hazardous or deadly than the combats fought out individually with the grim fiend disease that infests a tropical clime.
The campaign of the early fall in 1847 was deeply over- shadowed with gloom. It is true General Scott had won recent victories, but they had cost two thousand lives, and the enemy still retained possession of one of the keys to the situation, the city and heights of Chepultepec. In the seige of this important position the men from New Hampshire and her commander played a conspicuous part.
The bombardment began on September 12, and continued through the day with but little result to show for the action. General Pierce during this bombardment was at the head of the First and Third Brigades of the division, and gallantly held in
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HILLSBOROUGH IN THE MEXICAN WAR.
check a large body of lancers on the left. In the afternoon General Pillow rode up to where the Ninth regiment was resting from a furious attack it had met a few minutes before. Raising his right arm and pointing with his sword towards the heights they were storming, he exclaimed :
"To-morrow, if you say it, the star spangled banner floats up yonder. If New England would place her name on the bright page of history, now is the time. You of the Ninth, if you will, shall lead the charge, but none need volunteer who will not enter that castle yonder, or die in the attempt."
Few there were in the gallant Ninth who did not instantly volunteer. The order for the charge came, and in half an hour the starry flag floated in triumph over the castle walls. As soon as the castle had surrendered, finding that the enemy was making a desperate stand at the city gate, the triumphant Americans pushed forward, to carry the day after a stubborn fight. In the midst of the firing night settled upon the scene, the sentinel stars looking down upon the closing scene of one of the bloodiest battles fought in the war. The gallant Ninth had paid for the part it had done in this victory with the lives of one hundred and twenty of her men, numbering among them its commanding officer, Col. Trueman Ransom, who fell about half way up the heights shot through the head with a musket ball. On the 14th the stars and stripes floated in triumph over the national Palace. Colonel Potter in closing his account of the war says:
"And after this wise was it that the American army gained possession of the 'Venice of Mexico,' and dictated terms of peace in the 'halls of Montezuma."
If this town had no enlisted man at the front, a former citizen of hers was fighting manfully up from the ranks to become a Major in his regiment. And the record of these two officers, Gen. Franklin Pierce and Major David Steele comprises the part Hillsborough furnished in the Mexican War. Besides this couple, while not in active fighting, Ira Wilkins of Hillsborough was doing duty on a transport running between Tampico and New Orleans during the war.
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
No military history of the town would be complete without mention of the oldtime musters, and especially a particular ac- count of one of those musters held on Cork Plain, West Deering.
CORK MUSTER.
And then the musters in the fall, When all the shows assembled, When bugles blowed, when fiddles squeaked, And air with frolic trembled.
-Old Song.
The musters were an event in the local affairs of a com- munity. If a heritage of war, coming at a period when holidays were far less frequent than in these days, it readily and naturally became the one great pastime of the year.
For days, ay, for weeks before the day set for the demon- stration preparations were made to attend from far and near. Every able-bodied man between 18 and 45 years was supposed to be enrolled and liable to be called upon to do duty, unless exempted by law. Each company was required to "train" on the third Tuesday of May each year, and again for inspection and drill upon order of the Captain, "armed and equipped as the law directs." The annual regimental muster occurred in the fall, usually in September. "The call or order for these affairs declared that "each enrolled man should be armed with a flint lock, two spare flints, with steel or iron ramrod, a bayonet, scabbard and belt, a priming wire and brush, a knapsack and canteen, and a cartridge box that contains twenty-four cartridges."
The muster about to be described, the last I think ever held on Cork Plain, had awakened uncommon interest, which was shown at a preliminary meeting held at the tavern of J. M. Appleton, Esq., West Deering. Over forty persons were present, every one of them noted for their military spirit in past years. Among them were found Gen. Samuel Andrews, General Michael McCoy, Col. J. R. Dane, Col. Samuel Densmore, Col. Henry D. Pierce, Col. H. Gove, Maj. James M. Appleton, Capt. John P. Richardson, Capt. H. Chase, Francis N. Blood, and others.
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