USA > Vermont > Lamoille County > Stowe > The memorial record of the soldiers from Stowe, Vermont, who fought for our government during the rebellion of 1861-5 > Part 1
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Gc 973.74 V59s 1974529
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01085 6612
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/memorialrecordof00sava
THE
MEMORIAL RECORD
OF THE
SOLDIERS
FROM
STOWE, VERMONT,
WHO FOUGHT FOR
OUR GOVERNMENT,
DURING THE REBELLION OF 1861-5.
PREPARED BY R. A. SAVAGE.
MONTPELIER : PRINTED AT THE FREEMAN STEAM PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT. 1867.
PREFACE.
· At the annual meeting held in Stowe, March 6th, 1866, the town appointed me to prepare a SOLDIERS' RECORD, in ac- cordance with an act of the Legislature, approved November 15th, 1864 ; and at the annual meeting held March 5th, 1867, the following pages were presented to the town.
On motion of Dr. N. H. THOMAS, voted to procure the printing of five hundred copies, and one copy given to each soldier who went from this town.
I hereby certify that the statements made are true, accord- ing to the best information I have been able to obtain.
R. A. SAVAGE.
1974529
MEMORIAL RECORD.
INTRODUCTION.
AMONG the events of the past, never to be forgotten, espe- cially by us of this generation, are those connected with the civil war which so lately deluged our land with blood and made us a nation of mourners. Though all did not engage in the deadly · conflict, or receive in their own persons injuries such as have brought untold sufferings to thousands of the brave defenders of our country, yet who can forget the anxiety on every countenance as men waited to hear the last news from the scene of conflict; the sleepless nights, when thoughts of loved ones far away forbade repose ; and, beside, the darkness which hung over our national affairs during all that bloody period, was a darkness which could be felt. Here the historian will pause, and the causes which operated to produce such a mighty strug- gle will be fully studied, and no work of general history will pass unnoticed the gigantic efforts put forth by the opposing parties-the one to build up a government with slavery as its corner-stone, the other to maintain the integrity of that Union for which our fathers fought, bled and died.
To those who boldly stood up in this time of peril, cheerfully exposing themselves to the sufferings and dangers of war, we, who were permitted to remain at home, owe a debt of gratitude, which we can never cancel, so long as one of these noble men, or their descendants, shall live to remind us of what they did to break the treacherous arm raised to strike our loved banner to the dust.
90.91 $
4
MEMORIAL RECORD.
In this conflict, now so happily terminated, this town has taken an honorable part. It has had representatives in fifteen regiments, two companies of sharpshooters and one battery, raised in this State; and its honor has been well upheld on many a hard-fought battle-field. A few of our soldiers have found a resting-place on the field of battle they helped to win, some returned to their homes just in time to die, and are buried among their kindred ; some have brought back the evidences of their valor in the wounds they received ; and, with thankfulness we record the fact, that so many have returned, and are now mingling with their friends in the peaceful pursuits of life.
To remind us of all these, as also that they may have a record to which they may readily refer, should circumstances make it necessary for any of them to prove what is recorded here, the following facts have been collected and arranged.
But before proceeding to give the facts required in relation to each soldier, I have thought it proper to give, briefly, a statement of the calls of the President of the United States for men, and the quotas of our town under each call, with the man- ner of raising each of the regiments in which our town was represented.
CHAPTER I.
Soon after the breaking out of the rebellion, President Lin- coln made requisition upon the Governor of Vermont, April 15, 1861, for its quota of 75,000 men, to serve for three months, which Gov. Fairbanks filled by ordering all the uniformed com- panies, organized under the then existing laws of the State, to fill their companies to the full quota, and rendezvous at Rut- land. This order was promptly obeyed, and in about two weeks the regiment was mustered into the United States service. Our town having no uniformed company, and there being none nearer
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
than Montpelier or Burlington, we were not represented in this first regiment.
The second regiment was immediately called for, and raised in the State at large by voluntary enlistment. Nine from this town enrolled their names and were mustered into the service of the United States on the 20th of June, and left the State June 24th.
The third regiment was raised in a similar manner, rendez- voused at St. Johnsbury, and was mustered into the service of the United States July 15th, with six of our citizens, and left the State July 24th.
Instead of the feeling which pervailed at Washington when the rebellion first broke out, that 75,000 men would restore order in three months, the first Bull Run battle had been fought and other developments made it certain that the full energies of the nation must be called forth ; and Congress, July 22d, au- thorized the calling out of 500,000 mnen to serve three years. The quota of this town, under this call, was 61, and the men already raised in the second and third regiments were credited on this number. Recruiting for other regiments was immedi- ately commenced, and the fourth regiment was mustered at Brattleboro, with one of our citizens, and left the State the same day, September 21st.
The fifth regiment was mustered at St. Albans, the 16th of September, with sixteen from our town, and left the State Sep- tember 23d.
The sixth regiment left the State about the 20th of October, with only one from our town.
We were also represented by one of our citizens in the first company of sharpshooters; by six in the second company, and by five in the first regiment of cavalry-all of whom were mustered into the service of the United States before the 20th of November, 1861.
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
The manner of raising men by recruiting from the State at large, was seen to be defective, and our State still being behind on its quota of 500,000 men, two more regiments were called for, and one recruiting officer for each company appointed. Samuel Morgan, of Johnson, was appointed for this county. He engaged Daniel Landon of this town to help him, and by their united exertions the company was organized January, 9th, 1862, and Daniel Landon chosen captain. The regiment was mustered into the United States service February 12th, at Rut- land, with seven men from Stowe.
The eighth regiment was mustered into the United States service at Brattleboro, February 18th, containing a company originally enlisted for the sixth regiment, but assigned to this, having six of our citizens. One man also enlisted in the first battery which was temporarily attached to this regiment.
May 21st, 1862, an order was issued by Gen. Washburn, ordering the immediate raising of the ninth regiment, in con- sequence of the enemy in great force making an advance on Washington. Charles Dutton, of Hydepark, was appointed recruiting officer for this county, and, assisted by Abial H. Slayton, a company for this regiment was recruited and organ- ized June 27th, and Mr. Slayton chosen captain. Twelve men from this town were in this company.
July 1st, 1862, the President issued his call for 300,000 volunteers to serve for three years, and men were enlisted for the tenth and eleventh regiments. Our quota under this call was twenty-nine.
While these regiments were being raised, the President made another call for 300,000 men to serve nine months, and the Secretary of War at the same time declared if any state did not fill its quota of three years men before the 15th of August, there should be a special draft from the militia. Be- fore this time, our quota was made up, one man enlisting for the
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
tenth, and eleven for the eleventh regiment. Both these regi- ments were mustered into the United States service September 1st, 1862, making eighty-three men who had been mustered with the regiments already named, as volunteers from this town, and nine who had joined these same regiments as re- cruits, ninety-two in all. Two of these, Luther Merriam and Samuel C. Boynton, reckoned among this number, were not credited to this town, but were put down as credits to the State at large, leaving our quotas even, except for nine months men, which was not yet designated.
August 11th, 1862, an order was issued by Gen. Washburn, requiring the listers to make an enrollment of all liable to do military duty, to be returned to his office by the 25th of the same month, preparatory to a draft for nine months men. This ser- vice was performed by George Raymond and Ahijah Thomas.
Angust 13th another general order was sent out, permitting the selectmen to fill our quota by obtaining a sufficient number of able-bodied men to sign a contract of enlistment, in form specified ; which contract returned to the Adjutant General in due season would be accepted when the men were taken to the place designated. There seemed to be a very general desire, on the part of our citizens, to avoid a draft ; yet it seemed im- possible to obtain the men by the ordinary method of procuring enlistments. C. F. Douglass, S. A. Fuller and R. C. Hodge, the selectmen for that year, wishing for instruction from the town, issued the following call for a town meeting, to be held August 14th : " Let every citizen who desires the restoration of the Union, and wishes the town of Stowe to be first and foremost in filling her quota by volunteering instead of drafting, come up and have a voice in the decision to be made in this time of our country's peril." A large number came out in answer to this call, yet opinions differed widely in relation to what should be done. Some thought the men who would enlist
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
should receive a bounty from the town ; some thought individ- uals should make up a bounty, while others still thought to pay a town bounty, would be unjust and oppress many of the poor among us, and also be destructive to that spirit of patriotism which should fire the soul and control the action of every American citizen. But the enthusiasm which had hitherto filled the ranks of the Union army, was somewhat abated ; the rebellion had assumed such gigantic proportions that it seemed probable all who enlisted would be compelled to serve the full term of enlistment, whilst the failure of the Peninsula cam- paign had discouraged many hitherto brave men. After a free discussion of the various ideas, it was voted, unanimously, to instruct the selectmen to pay the sum of fifty dollars to each volunteer who should enlist to fill our quota. An opportunity being given for volunteers to come forward, and not being re- sponded to, the moderator, in behalf of Mr. Wm. Burt, pre- sented five dollars, saying it should belong to the first man who would enlist. This was quickly followed by propositions of a like nature, giving a like sum to the second, third, and so on. This called out quite a number who signed the contract before the meeting adjourned ; and before the thirteenth regiment went into camp at Brattleboro, September 29th, forty-three men had enlisted and were credited to this town. These were mustered in Co. E, with J. J. Boynton as captain. Our quota under this call was decided to be equal to nine three years men, or thirty-six nine months men; and by enlisting seven more men we gained a credit of two ; and at this time there was also given to our town a credit of three men, being our proportionate share of men enlisted in the State at large, mak- ing a credit for the town of five men. During the remainder of 1862, and the first of 1863, no enlistments were made in this town.
In June of 1863, an enrollment of all liable to do military
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
duty was made in accordance with an act of Congress of March 3d, 1863, and in July a draft was made of twenty-two men. Seven of these paid commutation, viz: Thomas F. Barnes. Philo F. Leavens, Richard O. Moore, Henry C. Raymond, A. H, Slayton, Leonard S. Thompson and George R. Watts. Aggre- gate sum paid was $2100. Seven procured substitutes, viz : C. R. Churchill hired Bradbury H. Turner and paid him $305. C. F. Douglass hired James Ryan for $250. D. F. Hale hired Alva A. Lord for $325. Henry J. Harris hired Albert Gale for $300. Pember Sargeant hired George W. Pike for $325. Benjamin F. Sutton hired Ira Allen for $300. Levi Hodge hired Aaron Colburn for $315, who it is supposed immediately deserted. The first six substitutes entered the service, and their names will appear on the record. Eight of the drafted men entered the service.
The draft not accomplishing the object of furnishing men to carry on the war, the President, on the 17th of October, 1863, again called for 300,000 men. The quota assigned to this town under the call was twenty-nine men ; deducting the credit of five men. previously given, left twenty-four men to raise. C. F. Douglass, R. C. Hodge and A. C. Slayton, selectmen of the town, were appointed recruiting officers.
It had now become generally understood that the men could not be obtained without paying bounties. The selectmen, there- fore, called a town meeting to be held December 1st, at which it was voted to pay the sum of $300 to each new recruit, when mustered into the United States service for three years. Also voted to raise the sum of one hundred and twenty-five cents on the dollar of the grand list of the town. The quota was filled previous to December 20th.
At this time our Government especially encouraged the re- enlistment of men in the field, and the men were told by their officers that the towns would pay them the same bounties which
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
men at home were receiving. Under these considerations, and feeling as some, at least, did, that they did not wish to leave the field so long as the rebels were unsubdued, fourteen men volunteered for a further term of three years, and gave their names to the credit of this town. But, like many other towns, not being compelled at the time to pay bounties, having just filled our quota, the men were not paid as they had been assured.
The names of the men are George E. Bicknell, Carlos S. Clark, Harrison Goodell, John Hall, Edwin E. Houston, Aldrich C. Marshall, Almon A. Marshall, Joshua W. Merritt, Asa J. Sanborn, Jackson Sargeant, Jonathan Sargeant, John R. Smith, James Warden and Arthur E. Stockwell. In relation to this class of men, Gen. Washburn says : " Their loyalty and pa- triotismn are beyond question. They are veterans in every sense, inured to hardship, thoroughly acquainted with their duties, men of iron, prepared to laugh at the perils of disease and battle, and to endure hardships which would send fresh recruits to the hospital or the grave."
February 1st, 1864, a new call was made for 500,000 men, which included the call of October 17th, 1863, and was made for the purpose of equalizing the states under that call and the draft. Our quota was given as eighteen men, and we were allowed the credit of the draft which was twenty-two men. But enlistments were urged, and another town meeting was called February 22d, at which, on motion of M. H. Cady, voted to pay $300 to each of the five men who had enlisted in the Seventeenth Regiment, when mustered into the United States service. On motion of J. B. Slayton, voted to instruct the select- men to enlist fifteen more men before March Ist, and pay them $300 each, when mustered into the service of the United States. Under these instructions six inen only were enlisted, and soon after John Warden, who, by a special vote of the town some
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
time after, was also paid $300, thus making a farther credit of twelve men.
March 14th, another call came for 200,000 men, and our quota set at eighteen men. But now by taking the credit of the fourteen men enlisted in the field, a surplus credit is shown of twelve men.
May 23d, 1864, Gen. Washburn sent out a circular to the towns, earnestly urging them to commence the raising of men, in anticipation of a new call. Accordingly another town meet- ing was called, to be held June 25th, at which, on motion of J. W. Mccutcheon, voted to instruct the selectmen to enlist any number of men for three years, not exceeding fifteen, and pay them $300 each. No men were enlisted under these instructions.
However, on the 18th of July, 1864, the call came for 500,000 men, and our quota assessed as thirty-six. Although the selectmen were authorized to pay $300 each for the men to the number of fifteen, yet the men were not to be obtained. Thousands of our brave men had lately fallen in battle, and much severe fighting was still in immediate prospect, and none cared to incur the risks without receiving larger bounties than had yet been paid. Our selectmen, therefore, called another town meeting, to be held August 3d. In the meantime instruc- tions were sent to the several towns, permitting them to deposit in some bank a sum of money to hire negroes to fill two-fifths of the quota, after deducting surplus credits, and if the negroes were not obtained the money would be returned to the town, and recruiting agents were sent south to accomplish the object. In accordance with these instructions at the town meeting, on motion of O. W. Butler, the selectmen were instructed to make a deposit of $2700. Also, on motion of Joshua Luce, voted to instruct the selectmen to enlist men enough to fill our quota ; and, on motion of J. D. Wilkins, voted to pay each new recruit,
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
enlisted by them, the sum of $500, when mustered into the service of the United States for one year. Also, voted to raise two hundred cents on the dollar of the grand list of the town to be paid in by the 15th of Junuary, 1865.
The work of recruiting immediately commenced, and Septem- ber 22d, eighteen men for one year, and one man for three years, had been mustered into service.
It appears a change had been made in relation to the quota under this last call. Though the men were called for three years, I find in the final statement of credits for the town, now kept in the Adjutant General's office at Montpelier, the thirty- six men charged under this call, to be equal to thirty-six men for one year ; and the account of the calls, with the quotas and credits reduced to years.
Call of February 1st, 1864, for 18 men, equals Call of March 14th, 1864, for 18 men, equals
54 years.
54 years.
Call of July 18th, 1864, for 36 men, equals 36 years.
144 years.
The credits are :
22 drafted men, equals 66 years.
14 re-enlisted men, equals 42 years.
12 under call of February 1st, equals 36 years.
18 one year's men under call of July 18th, equals 18 years.
1 three years man under call of July 18th, equals 3 years.
Total credit 165 years.
Leaving surplus credit of 21 years.
But in the final statement, referred to, at this date we have a credit of forty-eight years instead of twenty-one, which dif- ference I suppose to be made up by allowing the town a credit (for the remaining twenty-seven years,) from enlistments made by the State at large, being our proportionate share of such enlistments. The men actually furnished by this town, have been furnished at the times and in the manner before stated. Sometime in September, 1864, at the close of the accounts of the recruiting agents sent south, in the distribution, one man, was allowed to our town at a cost of $400 85,
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
December 19th, 1864, the President made still another requisition for 300,000 men, and our quota was set to be sev- enty-five years, or equal to twenty-five three years men, and our credit of July 18th, of forty-eight years was deducted, which left twenty-seven years, equal to nine three years men, but allowed to enlist nine one year's men. A town meeting was called, and, on motion of H. D. Wood, voted to instruct the selectmen to enlist the men, if they could be obtained for a reasonable bounty. The men were soon enlisted at a bounty of $500 each.
Besides the men enlisted and credited to this town, as before narrated, in the fall of 1861, thirteen men, residents of this town, enlisted in the twelfth regiment United States regulars, and entered the service for three years ; but the town received no credit on her quotas from their enlistment. Their names were Edward Allen, Ethan Allen, Ira Allen, Joseph Churchill, Henry Drugg, Thomas Drugg, John Govero, Levi Morway, Ira Munn, Orlin Loomis, Harry Sherman, John Weeks and Otis Cole.
CHAPTER II.
In the following account of each individual soldier who went from, or was furnished by this town, it is probable some inac- curacies occur, and perhaps some may think they have not received all the credit they deserve, whilst others are spoken of more favorably ; but, permit me to say, I have written the account of each according to the best information I have been able to obtain, having sent circulars, with questions proposed for them to answer, to nearly all whose places of residence I have been able to learn. The larger proportion have answered my circulars. From these, and the records contained in the office of the Adjutant General at Montpelier, I have made their
14
MEMORIAL RECORD.
accounts, endeavoring to tell no more than the truth. Where the residence of the soldier is not mentioned, he is supposed to have been a resident of this town at the time of his enlistment.
I would here tender my thanks to all those who have kindly answered my inquiries.
ETHAN A. ALLEN
Was born in Milton, enlisted in the United States regular service November 18th, 1861, at the age of nineteen years, and was mustered in Co. H, Twelfth United States Infantry. He was in the Peninsula campaign in the summer of 1862 ; but July 10th, suffering from chronic diarrhoea and bilious · fever, he was sent from Harrison's Landing to Columbia Col- lege Hospital, Washington, where he remained three months, when he was transferred to Fort Hamilton, New York, and performed duty as a convalescent for two months. He then joined his regiment at Fredericksburg and took part in that battle. January 1st, 1863, he was transferred to Co. D, and performed duty with them till May 1st, 1864, when he was detailed as mounted orderly for Lieut. Stacy, an officer on Gen. Avery's staff ; in which capacity he was actively engaged upon the lines of battle during Gen. Grant's campaign in the summer of 1864. Having served three full years he was mus- tered out of service November 18, 1864, receiving $100 bounty.
EDWIN J. ALLEN,
A younger brother of Ethan, named above, enlisted with him and served as a private in the same company and regiment till July 2d, 1863, when he was wounded twice in the left leg with musket balls, breaking it above the knee. After being cared for in hospital till December 1863, and not recovering so as to be able to perform military duty, he received his discharge. He receives a pension of eight dollars per month.
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
IRA II. ALLEN,
A younger brother of. Edwin, named above, enlisted with him in the same company and regiment, and went as far as Fort Hamilton, New York, when he was taken sick with mumps, and not recovering so as to be able to perform mil- itary duty, was discharged September 1st, 1862. He entered the army again as substitute for B. F. Sutton, August 4th, 1863, at the age of eighteen years, and was assigned to Co. A, Second Vermont Regiment. Under this enlistment it appears he performed military duty with his company till in the Wilderness, May 5th, 1864, he received one wound in the leg and one in the breast, and died May 12th, 1864, at Fredericksburg.
J
SAMUEL J. ALLEN,
Father of Ethan, Edward and Ira, was for many years a resident of this town, but before his enlistment had removed to Hydepark. He enlisted in the Seventeenth Vermont Reg- iment December 24th, 1863, at the age of forty-two years, and was mustered in Co. C, March 2d, 1864. He entered into active service in the Wilderness, and was wounded with a musket ball in the leg, and died eleven days afterward.
1
ENOS H. ATKINS
Was born in Huntington. He enlisted in the Ninth Ver- mont Regiment July 1st, 1862, at the age of twenty-nine years, and was mustered into the United States service July 9th, at Brattleboro, as a private in Co. H. He was taken prisoner with his regiment at Harper's Ferry, September 15th, 1862, paroled, and sent to Chicago, was exchanged January 10th, 1863, but remained at Chicago till April, guarding rebel prisoners. In the summer of 1863 was sick with intermittent fever, and February Sth, 1864, was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps.
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MEMORIAL RECORD.
HIAL ATKINS
Was born in Waterbury. He was enrolled in Co. E, Thir- teenth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, September 8th, 1862, at the age of forty-two years, and mustered into the United States service as a private at Brattleboro, October 10th, 1862. He was always ready for duty, and took part in the Gettysburg battle in July, 1863. He was mustered out of service with his regiment July 21st, 1863, at the expiration of his term of service. He received twenty-five dollars government bounty, fifty dollars from the town, and five dollars from individuals. Time of service, ten months and thirteen days.
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