USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Salisbury > The history of Salisbury, New Hampshire, from date of settlement to the present time > Part 22
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During this year, 1779, Gen. Sullivan invaded the Indian country. John Bean, of Salisbury, was wounded at Newton, N. Y., and afterwards received half-pay from the State in con- sequence of his disability.
SALISBURY MEN AT WEST POINT.
In 1780, Capt. Ebenezer Webster commanded the fourth company in Col. Moses Nichols's regiment, raised for the defence of West Point, and stationed there for eight months. Winthrop Carter, of Boscawen, was the first Lieutenant. This company was made up from the enlistments in the towns that constituted Col. Stickney's regiment of militia. From Salisbury we recog- nize the names of Robert Wise, Stephen Bohonon, Jethro Bar- ber, Joseph Hoyt, Benj. Eastman, S. Fifield, Winthrop Fifield, Benj. Ingalls aud Thomas Welch.
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264
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
The late Stephen Bohonon is authority for the following incident, which occurred at West Point during his sevice at that place :
In the month of September, after the treachery of Arnold had been discovered, being the night after he had escaped and joined the enemy, Washington called Capt. Webster into his tent, and requested him to order his company on guard before it during that night, observing, " If I cannot trust you, I cannot trust any man." Capt. Webster answered, "You may rely on me and my men." Bohonon remarked that Washington was much excited and that he spent the night without sleep, writing in his tent. It was a time of great distrust ; but Washington's confidence in the men of New Hampshire was not misplaced, and was justly claimed by Capt. Webster and his company as a mark of high distinction and honor. When Washington was first elected President, Col. Webster was an elector for this State and had the privilege of voting for him.
A BOUNTY PAID IN COWS.
In the year 1780 the term of service of the three years con- tinental men expired, and it became necessary to re-enlist some fifteen men, to take the places of those who were discharged. In addition to the four men who took the places of those who died at Valley Forge, the following men were secured, most of them for three years, others for less time. The bounty de- manded and paid was chiefly in cows, at the rate of four cows at $ 12.00 each, for each year of service, or about $50.00 in sil- ver or gold per year. Continental currency was then reduced to a standard of about fifteen dollars for every hundred.
The following men were enlisted to serve as above stated for three years, for Salisbury, from the spring of 1780: Joshua Snow, John Smith, Moses Fellows, John Fellows, Jr., John Ash, Geo. Nichols, Josiah Mason, Benj. Howard, Wm. Lufkin, Ananiah Bohonon, Josiah Smith, and Thomas Cross.
For Col. Geo. Reed's regiment, the following men were ob- tained : Samuel Sanders, Ed. Scribner, Jethro Barber, Joseph Meloon, and S. Fifield.
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REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY.
Geo. Nichols was enlisted in Exeter, for the quota of Salis- bury, by Hon. Josiah Bartlett, and was not from this region. He subsequently deserted, was imprisoned, and finally returned to his regiment.
We give the form and substance of the contract the town made with the soldiers during the last three years of the war, who engaged to serve in the continental ranks, as to bounties, showing that the cow was preferable to continental money. Here is the contract with John Fellows, Jr. :
Dec. 12th, 1782.
We the subscribers do promise and engage, for and in behalf of the Town of Salisbury, to pay or cause to be paid unto John Fellows, Jun., twelve heifers three years old, with a calf by their side, or fair with calf, to calf in good season for a dairy, to he delivered to him or his order, on, or before the first day of May, 1784, at the House of Matthew Pettengill, in said Salisbury, provided the Said Fellows serve in the Continental Army, for and during the space of three years, from about the middle of February, 17SI, if not, the same to be paid in proportion to his service for said Town.
Signed,
JOHN COLLINS, { Selectmen PHINEAS BEAN, Y of Salisbury.
SNOW'S RECEIPT.
Nov. 16th, 1784.
Rec'd of the Selectmen of Salisbury, nine middling cows to the amount of IOS Spanish Milled Dollars, agreeably to a Note of the Town of Salisbury, the same being a gratuity by Said Town for service done by me in the Continential Army. JOSHUA SNOW.
COMPANIES OF 1781 AND 1782.
The following men were raised from Salisbury to reinforce the army in New York, and served in various companies in the regiment commanded by Col. D. Reynolds, of Londonderry :
Moses Webster, Thomas Challis,
Peter W'hittemore, J. Fifield,
J. Judkins,
Benj. Sanborn,
Peter Severance, Abel Morrill,
Edward Eastman,
Jacob Morrill,
Henry Elkins, Sam'l Meloon, S. French.
In November, 1781, the following soldiers enlisted for three months and were returned to Col. Stickney, viz: Moses Fel- lows, Matthew Greeley, Benj. Sanborn, Elisha Shepard.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
Levi Lufkin enlisted April 9, 1781 ; discharged December 31, 1781. John Smith enlisted March 31, 1781; discharged December 31, 1781. Samuel Sanders enlisted in March, and was discharged in December, 1781.
In 1782, Capt. Ebenezer Webster performed a six months service in the north part of this State. His Lieutenant was James Ladd, of Haverhill. Jeremiah Bowen was the only priv- ate from Salisbury. Josiah Haines, of Andover, and Edward Dyer, of Northfield, were also soldiers in his company. An entry against the name of Jonathan Pike, of Haverhill, shows that he was taken prisoner June 13, 1782. Most of the soldiers of this company resided in the north part of the State. It was known as the "Ranger Service," and was the last in which Capt. Webster was engaged in this war.
THE WAR OF 1812.
Our means of reporting the achievements of the men and the events of the war of 1812 are very inadequate, in consequence of our inability to have access to the army rolls, which are presumed to be at Washington.
One of our active officers in the army of the United States during the war, and in the campaign against the western In- dians antecedent to this war, was Captain John Smith. He was a member of Dartmouth College, and in the class with Ezekiel Webster and Thomas Hale Pettengill, but did not graduate.
He was the son of Capt. Robert Smith, who served often and bravely in the Revolutionary War.
After he left college he enlisted in the army and had com- mand of a company in the battle of Tippecanoe, in 1811, fought by Gen. Harrison. We heard him give a graphic account of that battle.
His brother, Jabez Smith, had the rank of Major in the first Regiment of the United States Volunteers, mustered in this State on the 28th of November, 1812, serving one year under
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THE WAR OF 1812.
Col. Aquilla Davis, of Warner, and Lt. Col. John Carter, of Concord. He was stationed on our northern frontier. At the end of this year Congress broke up the volunteers, and Major Smith returned to his farm, then in Salisbury, now Franklin. He was a good citizen, distinguished for his good sense and sound judgment, and was elected to the office of selectmen and representative of Salisbury. He died in Frank- lin
In the year 1814, our seaport, Portsmouth, was threatened by the British navy, and our militia were called upon more than once to defend this port. We believe the quota required from this town volunteered their services, no draft being re- quired. Those who were mustered for three months, from the IIth day of September, 1814, were the following named men, viz : Capt. Jona. Bean, and his son, Phineas Bean, as waiter ; Privates Benj. Fifield, Moses Fifield, Enoch Fifield, Samuel Fifield, Jonathan P. Sanborn, Nehemiah Lowell, Matthew T. Hunt, Wm. Johnson, John Johnson, Nathaniel Stevens, John Webster, Jesse Wardwell, Moses Osgood, Jun., enlisted in the United States service, October 1, 1814. Of the sixty days men who enlisted October 2, 1814, in the company commanded by Capt. Silas Call, of Boscawen, we find the following men : Lt. Samuel Quimby, Ord. Sergt. Timothy Hoit, Corp. Thomas Chase, A. B. Bohonon, musician; Privates Nathan Tucker, Jabez True, Theodore George, Samuel Webster, Jona. Morrill, Isaac Proctor, Joseph Fifield, Joseph Adams.
In Col. Davis's Regiment, in the company commanded by Capt. Thomas Currier, we recognize the following soldiers, who served one year, as belonging to Salisbury: Daniel Woodward, Serg. Jere. Bean ; Privates Samuel Fifield, Wm. Frazier, Amos George, Jeremiah Gove.
In Capt. Mason's company, Joel Judkins, Jonathan Johnson, John Sanborn, J. Quimby, Edward West, Ebenezer Webster Bohonon, also served for one year or more, but we are not able to state their company or regiment. Ithamar Watson was a Captain of Minute Men.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
The following named soldiers are also credited to Salisbury : James Currier, Joseph Stevens, Moses Morse, Abel Wardwell, Samuel Kezer, Matthew Sanborn, Paul Greeley, and Richard Greeley.
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
In 1845, the vast territory known as Texas, to which Mexico laid a claim of possession, was annexed to the United States, which led to war. At the meeting of Congress, in December, two millions of dollars was voted, and the President issued a call for fifty thousand soldiers.
The regular army and volunteers met the demand without creating a necessity for State governments to furnish a given quota. Recruiting offices were opened in the cities and at other points, and men enlisted freely. We have no evidence that Salisbury furnished any soldiers.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
"Through quiet valleys sounded clear the war drum's rolling beat, And soon was heard, in prompt reply, the tramp of many feet, And breaking rudely from the clasp of peace and love of home, Brave souls rushed on, where battle's surge was crowned with crimson foam."
PREPARING FOR THE STRUGGLE.
For years there had been a growing discontent in the south- ern section of the Union. Though the area of slavery had been increased, the desire for still broader fields in which it might flourish was constantly strengthened. Threats were uttered that the Union would be sundered, if the liberal policy which had been exercised toward the institution of slavery was modi- fied, and there were men, even in the free states, ready to acqui- esce in an act of secession.
A change of administration, by the election of 1860, involv- ing a probable radical political change in governmental policy, was accepted as a sufficient cause for secession by most of the southern States, and the forming of an independent confed- eration.
This was in anticipation of any action by the government, for the new administration could exercise no authority for months to come.
On the 27th day of December, 1860, the confederates seized Forts Moultrie and Pickens. On the 9th day of January, 1861, they fired their first shot, from Fort Moultrie and Morris Island, into a government vessel carrying troops and supplies to Major Anderson, who had transferred his entire force to Fort Sumpter.
270
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
Treason had now disclosed itself; overt acts had been com- mitted, rebellion was inaugurated, and nothing remained for the government to do but to put forth its strong arm to crush a rebellion which threatened the life of the republic. Men were called into the field at first by thousands, and then by tens of thousands, and money was voted by millions to carry on a fra- ternal strife that could not be averted.
But it is not for us here to discuss the causes, the prosecution, or the results of the war, but to record the acts of the people, in furnishing money and men to meet the demand of the govern- ment.
On the day following the evacuation of Fort Sumpter, Presi- dent Lincoln issued a call for seventy-five thousand volunteers for three months' service. On the call, New Hampshire furnish- ed one regiment of infantry, which was placed under command of Mason W. Tappan. We do not find a record of any Salis- bury men in this regiment.
In accordance with the requirements of law, the selectmen for 1861 transmitted to the Secretary of State a list of the names of men liable to do military duty, numbering one hun- dred and two. Some of these men could have obtained cer- tificates of exemption had they submitted to an examination, and thus reduced the quota for the town. Accepting this basis, Salisbury furnished not only the required number, but a small surplus.
There was not on the first call many citizens coming forward for the service, nor was the quota finally filled from our own citizens. In this respect, Salisbury was not unlike many other towns. But when bounties were offered and a draft was ordered, the ranks were filled by residents and substitutes as fast as requisitions were made. A record of the action of the town in relation to this matter is given in the municipal history on preceding pages, but additional votes were afterwards passed.
June 16, 1864. Voted, "To authorize the selectmen of this town to borrow a sum of money not to exceed six thousand dollars, to purchase ten volunteers or substitutes, to fill the quota of this town."
271
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Voted, "To authorize the selectmen of this town to borrow such sums of money from time to time, as may be necessary to purchase volunteers or substitutes, to fill the quota of the town, as they may be called for by the President of the United States, such sums of money not to exceed fifty thousand dollars."
Voted, "That the selectmen act as agent or agents of the town for the above purpose."
The selectmen were Isaac Sanborn, John R. Brown and Ira H. Couch.
From the above votes it will be seen that the town of Salis- bury made liberal provisions for raising and supporting its quota of soldiers for prosecuting the war.
The roth Regiment was raised under a call made in July, 1862, for three hundred thousand three years troops. Captain Michael T. Donahoe, of Manchester, of the 3d Regiment, was appointed Colonel. The camp was established at Manchester, and the men began to arrive at the rendezvous, which was named Camp Pillsbury, in honor of Hon. Oliver Pillsbury of the Governor's Council, on August 20, 1862, and were mustered in on the 5th of the following September. The regiment con- sisted of nine hundred and twenty-eight officers and men.
Company E was raised at Andover, and was commanded by Capt. Aldrich B. Cook, who resigned January 9th, 1863, and was succeeded by Capt. Thomas C. Trumbull, of Manchester, who was in turn succeeded by Capt. James A. Sanborn, of Portsmouth. The following are the names of the men who enlisted from Salisbury :
Sergt. John C. Carter, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, discharged for disability, Jan. 9, 1865. Private William C. Heath, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, discharged June 21, 1865, died in Salisbury.
Private Calvin Hoyt, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, discharged June, 14, 1865.
.. Anson W. Glines, enlisted Sept. 1, 1865, discharged for disability, Nov. 16, IS63, died in Salisbury, Oct. 15, 1883.
Private Willis W. Kenniston, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, died of the Black Measles at Newport, Penn., Feb. 18, 1863.
Private Alfred Sanborn, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, discharged June 21, 1865, resides at Penacook.
Private Harry Scott, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, died of disease at Bermuda Hundreds, Jan. 30, 1865.
272
HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
Private William Whittemore, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, discharged for disability Feb 28, 1865.
Private Nathaniel A. Hodge, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, wounded severely June 3, 1864, mustered out May 12, 1865.
Private Henry M. French, enlisted Sept. 12, died at Portsmouth, Va., Oct. 30, 1863. George Atwood, enlisted Sept. 1, 1862, promoted to Corp., wounded severely at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, mustered out July 10, 1865.
Private George W. Chase, enlisted Sept. 1, IS62, mustered out June 3, 1864.
The 16th Regiment was raised under the call of the Presi- dent for three hundred thousand nine months men, the term of service being from October 20, 1862, to August, 1863. This regiment was under the command of Col. James Pike. Com- pany E was commanded by Capt. Jonathan P. Sanborn, of Franklin. From Salisbury we find the following men in the above company, who were discharged at the close of service :
Sergt. Benjamin Gale, Corp. Alonzo D. Davenport, Corp. George F. Smith ; Privates Evan M. Heath, Harrison V. Heath, Moses Colby, William R. Dimond, Ferdinand M. Daysburg, Benjamin L. Frazier. Charles E. Heath died three days after his return to Salisbury, August 19, 1863; Albert A. G. French died at Port Hudson, La., July 1, 1863; Henry C. George died at Port Hudson, La., July 29, 1863; Charles Colby died of dis- ease at, Baton Rouge, La., July 20, 1863 ; Meshech W. Blaisdell died at Cairo, while on his way home.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In the First New England Cavalry, which after its arrival in Washington was united with the First Rhode Island Cavalry, we find the following :
Corp. Madison B. Davis, enlisted as Corporal, December 17, 1861, Troop I; promoted to Sergt. July 13, 1862; re-enlisted January 5, 1864. Cyrus C. Huntoon, bugler, enlisted Decem- ber 16, 1861, Troop I.
Private William Bagley, enlisted December 20, 1861, Co. H, 8th Regt. ; killed at Port Hudson, La., June 14, 1863.
Private Andrew J. Colby, enlisted at the same time in the same company and regiment, died of disease at Baton Rouge, La., June 27, 1863.
273
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
John Miller, enlisted in Co. F, 2d Regt.
Lieut. Joseph C. Clifford, enlisted September 6, 1864; Ist Lieut. Co. E, Ist Regt.
Jonathan J. Bagley, enlisted September 18, 1861, Co. K, 4th Regt. ; killed in action near Petersburg, Va., July 5, 1864.
M. H. Whitmore, enlisted September 17, 1862, Co. G, 5th Regt.
Clinton A. Shaw, enlisted September 9, 1862, Co. G, 12th Regt. ; mustered out June 21, 1865.
John G. Maxfield, enlisted November 7, 1861, Co. E, 7th Regt .; discharged for disability, at St. Augustine, Florida, June 6, 1863 ; returned to Salisbury and remained some four months; went to Boston and re-enlisted in the Massachusetts Cavalry ; served two years, then went to White River Junction, Vt., where he died.
Henry Sanborn, enlisted November 24, 1861, Co. F, 2d Regt. U. S. Sharpshooters ; discharged for disability March 6, 1862; re-enlisted September 12, 1862, in Co. E, 10th Regt .; dis- charged June 21, 1865. He is credited to Andover, but be- longed in Salisbury.
Frank Stevens, 18th Regt. N. H. Infantry.
The following residents of the town were also in service, but we have little knowledge concerning their record beyond the fact of enlistment :
Frank D. Kimball, Co. E, 4th Regt .; discharged January 22, 1863. John Woodward, Ebenezer Farnum, James Farnum, Charles Bruce, Caleb B. Smith, Henry Moores, Benjamin S. Heath, Joseph Ladd, Read Huntoon; James W. Gardner, en- listed July 27, 1864, in Veteran Reserve Corps; Daniel W. Shaw, enlisted February 16, 1864, in Co. E, 3d Regt., credited to Portsmouth; C. O. Wheeler, George H. Whitman, W. C. Whitman.
The following soldiers were either natives or residents of the town of Salisbury at the time of their enlistment, but enlisted out of the town or State :
Amos S. Bean, credited to and enlisted from Manchester, in Co. A, Heavy Artillery, which was raised to garrison Fort Con- IS
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
stitution, in Portsmouth, under Capt. Davidson ; transferred to Co. E, 9th Regt., August 25, 1862 ; discharged for disability, at Camp Dennison, Ohio, January 22, 1864.
George E. Bean, credited to and enlisted from Manchester, August 23, 1862, in Co. A, 10th Regt .; killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864.
Albert Kilburn, enlisted at Boston, in the 5th Mass. Regt. of three months men ; honorably discharged ; went to Minneap- olis and re-enlisted as a teamster; discharged; afterwards in the employ of the government as a carpenter; died at Vicks- burg, Miss.
Abraham S. Sanborn is credited to Manchester; enlisted September 18, 1861, in Co. G, 4th Regt .; died of disease at St. Augustine, Fla., September 3, 1862.
Samuel Sleeper, credited to Canaan; enlisted March 26, 1862, in Co. D, 4th Regt .; discharged April 15, 1865.
Rufus Emerson, Co. C, 2d Vt. Regt.
Elbridge G. Emerson, Co. C, 2d Vt. Regt.
Nathan S. Corser, 22d Mass. Infantry ; killed at Gaines's Mill.
Charles W. Corser, 6th Mass. Infantry; re-enlisted in the 22d Mass.
George (or Henry) Elkins, 2d Regt .; died in hospital at Washington.
John Shaw -record not known.
Silas Holmes, enlisted April 12, 1861, in 6th Mass.
David F. Bacon, enlisted September 6, 1861, in Co. E, 2d Vt .; discharged for disability, January 4, 1864; re-enlisted in Co. G, Veteran Reserve Corps of the same State, August, 1864; discharged October, 1865.
Charles H. Bacon, 12th Vermont.
Daniel R. Calef-(See Genealogy.)
John Alfred Calef, in the marine service.
SUBSTITUTES.
The following are the names of substitutes who performed their engagements with the town of Salisbury, and who hon- ored themselves and the cause they supported :
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WAR OF THE REBELLION.
Thomas Fleming, enlisted December 15, 1862, in Co. G, 4th Regt .; captured at Deep Run, Va., Aug. 15, 1864; escaped April 5, 1865 ; mustered out June 5, 1865.
Hamilton Carr, enlisted November 28, 1864, in Co. C, 4th Regt .; mustered out August 25, 1865.
Octave Vezina, enlisted December 25, 1863, in Co. B, 9th Regt .; wounded May 31, 1864; transferred to 6th N. H. Vols., June 1, 1865.
John Robinson, enlisted December 24, 1863, in Co. B, 9th Regt .; transferred to 6th N. H. Vols., June 1, 1865 ; mustered out July 17, 1865.
James Dolan, enlisted December 23, 1863, in Co. A, 9th Regt .; wounded July 30, 1864 ; transferred to 6th N. H. Volunteers, June 1, 1865 , discharged for disability, July 30, 1865.
Robert Brown, enlisted December 24, 1863, in Co. A, 9th Regt .; wounded July 30, 1864, and died of wounds on the 20th of August following.
James McDonald, enlisted November 29, 1864, in Co. E, (or D,) 7th Regt .; promoted to Corporal June 26, 1865 ; mustered out July 20, 1865.
Daniel P. Morrison, enlisted August 15, 1862, in Co. D, 7th Regt .; mustered out September 3, 1864; returned and was ap- pointed bugler ; mustered out June 9, 1865.
We give the following additional names of substitutes known to have been enlisted, but little or no additional information can be gathered concerning them :
James Carroll, Joseph Storms, Henry Miller, Jerry Potter, Charles Sutton, Peter Carroll, William Loverin, James Meamix, John Murphy, Co. F, 6th Regt., Warren Dinslow, Co. H, 9th Regt., Nathan Lackey, Co. C, 9th Regt., Michael Conners, James Moran, George Perry, James Durgin, Corp. Nelson Davis, promoted to Sergt. from Troop I; William B. Winship, enlisted October 12, 1861, in Co. G, 5th Regt. and discharged for disability March 19, 1863; J. F. Coburn, enlisted for three months, 1863; William Williams, three months, 1863; Robert Allen, three months, 1863; H. C. Rock, Henry McCarty.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
Twenty-two additional substitutes were enlisted in 1863 and 1864, and are recorded as deserters, having performed little or no service. Having degraded themselves as soldiers, we shall not allow them to disgrace the town that employed them, by publishing their names.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE MILITIA.
" A well-regulated militia is the right arm of the nation's defence."
"Our glad eyes awoke as day begun, When broad banners rose to meet the sun, And soldier boys went forth with fife and drum."
ITS ORIGIN.
The commission issued in 1679, by His Majesty the King, to John Cutt, as President of New Hampshire, contained the first allusion to the employment of a military force ever made by official declaration in the province. Full authority was given in the commission to appoint officers for the regulation and dis- cipline of a militia, and in case of an invasion, to "encounter, expel, repel and resist, by force of arms, any and all persons, who shall attempt the destruction, invasion, detriment or an- noyance of our subjects."
The ensuing year a militia was organized, consisting of one company of foot, in each of the four towns of Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter, and Hampton; one company of artillery at the fort, and one "troop of horse." From that time to the present, a period of more than two hundred years, some form of militia has been maintained in New Hampshire. We do not propose to follow its history, nor to discuss the military system that has been at any time sustained in this State.
The Congress of New Hampshire, at Exeter, in 1775, made provision that whenever any vacancy occurred in the general and field officers, their successors should be chosen by the Coun- cil and Assembly, and that all inferior officers should be chosen by the respective companies.
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HISTORY OF SALISBURY.
A NEW SYSTEM.
After the Declaration of Independence a new militia system became necessary. Two classes of soldiers were constituted,- "a Training Band " and "an Alarm List." (See Revolutionary History, page 254.)
The former included all able bodied male persons, from the age of sixteen years to that of fifty, with certain exceptions. The "alarm list" included those not belonging to the active band. This class was to be called into service only upon special necessity, and in any sudden emergency were to be summoned by the firing of cannon, the beating of drums, and the lighting of beacon fires on the hill tops. The beacons of Salisbury were on Searle's Hill, and were answered by similar signals from other towns.
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