Middlesex County MA Archives Military Records.....Chapter 1 Civilwar - Rosters ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ma/mafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 May 6, 2010, 2:50 pm Chapter 1 I. 1861. On the twelfth of April, 1861, the bloody hand of Treason was lifted against our Nationality, by the bombardment of "Fort Sumter," at Charleston, South Carolina. The "Stars and Stripes," which had hitherto waved aloft so gloriously, and so triumphantly, were now lowered at the impious behests of Slavery, and were trailing in the dust. Great was the surprise, intense the interest, and mighty the indignation which the telegraphic announcement of the fact created throughout the length and breadth of our land. By this infamous act every loyal heart was insulted; and, at the reception of the news, every such heart was thrilled and stirred to its inmost recesses. By the insolent assertion of Jefferson Davis, on the 18th of February, 1861, - when the Confederate Government was instituted at Montgomery, Ala., two weeks previous to the inauguration of President Lincoln,[1] - by the firing upon the "Star of the West" when on its errand of mercy, three months before the assault on "Fort Sumter,"- by the boast of the Confederate Secretary of War, L. P. Walker, on the day of the bombardment,[2] - by the treasonable and rebellious utterances of the Southern press,[3] - by the seizure of arsenals, forts and other public property, to the amount of many millions of dollars, - by all these acts it became painfully evident that Slavery had determined to break up this Government, or commence a devastating civil war. "The treasonable menaces, the Ordinances of Secession, the acts of violence and incipient war, which followed the choice of Presidential Electors in 1860, and culminated into flagrant rebellion upon the accession of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency, had attracted the anxious observation of mankind. Never in the history of civilization had interests so manifold, so transcendent, been involved or threatened by the internal disputes of any nation or people. The industry of thirty millions of human beings, bond and free, the peace, happiness and welfare of every household of our continental Republic, the business of the busiest and richest people under the sun, the strength of Republican Government, the validity of Democratic ideas expressed in civil institutions, the success of Liberty, seemed trembling in the balance, where, poised against each other, were the struggling hope of continued peace, and the dismal presage of civil war. With the fortunes of the American Union were involved, by reason of the intimate complexity of all human relations in the social and political organization of modern times, the prosperity, if not the fate of many nations." [4] By the attack upon the heroic band of patriots under Major Anderson, at "Fort Sumter," all hope of a peaceful settlement of the issue was extinguished; and, by its fall the mighty energy of the North was aroused. "Like some old organ peal, Solemn and grand, The anthem of Freedom Sweeps through the land." One purpose seemed to spring into existence instantly, and animate every heart - a determination to maintain our national existence at any and all sacrifices. "Heart throbbed to heart, lip spoke to lip, with a oneness of feeling that seemed like a Divine inspiration." On the instant we saw a "noble and puissant nation rousing herself like a strong man from sleep, and shaking her invincible locks." And, when on the 15th of April, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, issued his Proclamation,[5] convening an extra session of Congress, and calling upon the States for seventy-five thousand troops to defend the capital and public property, the response was truly wonderful and glorious. "The plough, the loom, the counting-house, the bar, the pulpit, all the avocations of ordinary life were abandoned; men of all conditions and circumstances flew to arms in response to the call of the nation's Chief Magistrate."[6] Munificent offers of money were made to the Government by city corporations, banking institutions and private citizens all over the land. The whole loyal North responded in the spirit of "Our Country's Call," by William Cullen Bryant. Lay down the axe, fling by the spade: Leave in its track the toiling plough; The rifle and the bayonet-blade For arms like yours were fitter now; And let the hands that ply the pen Quit the light task, and learn to wield The horseman's crooked brand, and rein The charger on the battle-field. And, thanks to the foresight, thoughtfulness and energy of Governor Andrew, Massachusetts was ready at once to send forward her regiments to defend the flag and save Washington. The first call upon Massachusetts for troops was by a telegram from Senator Wilson, April 15th, requesting twenty companies of militia to be sent immediately to Washington, and there mustered into service. Official requisition from the Secretary of War came later in the day. Governor Andrew at once issued his orders to the commanders of the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Regiments. On the 17th the Sixth Regiment was on its way, and on and before nine o'clock of the next Sunday, the 21st, - six days only after the call was made, - the Governor was enabled to say that "the whole number of regiments demanded- from Massachusetts were already either in Washington, or in Fortress Monroe, or on their way to the defence of the capital." And Edward Everett, speaking at Roxbury a few days later, said: "Wide as the summons has gone forth, it has been obeyed with an alacrity and unanimity that knew no parallel in our history; and the volunteers of Massachusetts have been the first in the field." To show with what willing obedience and cheerfulness our troops entered the service, it will be necessary only to specify a few facts connected with the Sixth Regiment, which was the "first to offer its services; first to reach its State's capital; first to reach the nation's capital; first to inflict suffering on traitors; first to attest its sincerity with its blood." The official call was as follows: COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, BOSTON, APRIL 15, 1861. Col. Jones: - Sir, - I am directed by his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, to order you to muster your regiment on Boston Common, forthwith, in compliance with a requisition made by the President of the United States. The troops are to go to Washington. By order of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief. WILLIAM SCHOULER, Adjutant General. Telegrams and expresses flew to all parts of the command, notifying members of the regiment, which were scattered over four different counties, - Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, and Worcester, - and in thirty or more cities and towns. Some of the officers, Colonel Jones among them, rode all night in this duty. "Up the hill-side, down the glen, Rouse the sleeping citizen: Summon out the might of men!" "The 'Middlesex villages and farms' then heard the pounding of hoofs and the alarum cry of danger, as in the olden time they had listened to the midnight ride of Paul Revere." Most of the men assembled on Boston Common early on the morning of the 16th; the rest within a few hours after. Captain John H. Dike,[7] of the Stoneham Company, was aroused by a messenger at two o'clock on the morning of the 16th, and the order given him. After reading it, he said, "Tell the Adjutant General that I shall be at the State House with my full command, by eleven o'clock." Captain Dike was there, with his company at the appointed hour. Captain Harrison W. Pratt, of Worcester, received the order to join the Sixth Regiment, with his company, late in the afternoon of the 16th, and was in Boston with his full command on the morning of the 17th. The Major of the Sixth - Benjamin F. Watson, of Lawrence- had but two hours' notice; but he locked the door of his law office, leaving a large docket to look out for itself, and important business interests, and for four months saw and knew nothing of them. A member of one of the companies, living at Concord, said, "when the order came for me to join my company, sir, I was ploughing in the same field in Concord where my grandfather was ploughing when the British fired on the Massachusetts men at Lexington. He did not wait a minute; and I did not, sir." Many other interesting instances might be mentioned, not only of this, but of all the regiments that then went forth, where lucrative positions and professional pursuits were given up and abandoned cheerfully by our citizens in order that they might go forth and defend their beloved country. The Sixth Regiment left Boston on the 17th, previous to which it was drawn up in front of the State House, to receive the regimental colors, and Governor Andrew's parting words. Soldiers, summoned suddenly, without a moment for preparation, we have done all that lay in the power of men to do, -all that rested in the power of your State Government to do, - to prepare the citizen soldiers of Massachusetts for this service. We shall follow you with our benedictions, our benefactions, and prayers. Those whom you leave behind you we shall cherish in our heart of hearts. You carry with you our utmost faith and confidence. We know that you never will return until you can bring the assurances that the utmost duty has been performed, which brave and patriotic men can accomplish. This flag, sir, take and bear with you. It will be an emblem on which all eyes will rest, reminding you always of that which you are bound to hold most clear. In reply, Col. Jones said: - Your Excellency, you have given to me this flag, which is the emblem of all that stands before you. It represents my whole command; and, so help me God, I will never disgrace it. Two days later, - on the ever memorable 19th of April, - the telegraph flashed the news over the land that the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment was fighting its way through the streets of Baltimore; that four men had been killed and many more wounded. Still deeper was the shock! More intense the feeling! Massachusetts men the first martyrs to this terrible Rebellion! Massachusetts blood the first to flow, and on this anniversary of Concord's opening scene in days of yore! The excitement increased; business was neglected; our Country's wrongs and our Country's danger was the most important and all absorbing topic of conversation. Like all the cities and towns throughout the loyal North, Melrose realized the excitement and felt the danger as thoroughly as any of them; but being a small town, and having no military organizations, there was no immediate stir in our streets, - no sound of fife and drum, - nor the hurry and bustle consequent upon the gathering of military companies, that was experienced in larger communities; yet its citizens were aroused, and we had several patriotic young men that at once buckled on the armor and moved to the scene of conflict. Our neighboring town, South Reading, - now Wakefield - possessed a militia company, commanded by Captain John W. Locke, and which belonged to the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment, Colonel Samuel C. Lawrence; and into this company - B - most of our men that went into the field at this time enlisted. They were as follows: Batehelder, George W., [8] McKay, Gurdon, [9] Smith, Thomas, [10] Wyman, William. [11] The Fifth Regiment performed its duties well, and was in the first "Battle of Bull Run," July 21, 1861, [12] and sustained itself in this fiery ordeal with great credit. It returned to Massachusetts immediately after this battle, and was mustered out of the service on the 31st of July. None of our men were wounded. In the Fourth Regiment, Colonel Abner B. Packard, Melrose had one man, in Co. F, viz: Morrison, Seth. This Regiment was stationed at "Fortress Monroe" during its three months' service. It returned to Massachusetts, and was mustered out July 22d, 1861. The whole number of troops sent forward by Massachusetts, under this demand for three months' men, was three thousand seven hundred and thirty-six (3,736). [13] They were in five different regiments; and of these regiments it has been well said by Adjutant General Schouler, in his Report to the Governor, for 1861: - They were the first to respond to the call of the President; first to march through Baltimore to the defence of the capital; the first to shed their blood for the maintenance of our government; the first to open the new route to Washington by the way of Annapolis; the first to land on the soil of Virginia and hold possession of the most important fortress in the Union; the first to make the voyage of the Potomac and approach the Federal city by water, as they had been the first to reach it by land. They upheld the good name of the State during their entire term of service, as well by their good conduct and gentlemanly bearing, as by their courage and devotion to duty in the hour of peril. They proved the sterling worth of our volunteer militia. Their record is one which will ever redound to the honor of Massachusetts, and will be prized among her richest historic treasures. These men have added new splendor to our revolutionary annals; and the brave sons who were shot down in the streets of Baltimore on the 19th of April, have rendered doubly sacred the day when the greensward of Lexington Common was drenched with the blood of their fathers. Governor Andrew closes his address to the extra session of the Legislature, which was convened on the 14th of May, in the following words: - But how shall I record the great and sublime uprising of the people, devoting themselves, their lives, their all ? No creative art has ever woven into song a story more tender in its pathos, or more stirring to the martial blood, than the scenes just enacted, passing before our eyes in the villages and towns of our dear old Commonwealth. Henceforth be silent, ye cavillers at New England thrift, economy, and peaceful toil! Henceforth let no one dare accuse our Northern sky, our icy winters, or our granite hills! "Oh, what a glorious morning!" was the exulting cry of Samuel Adams, as he, excluded from royal grace, heard the sharp musketry, which, on the dawn of the 19th of April, 1775, announced the beginning of the war of Independence. The yeomanry who in 1775, on Lexington Common, and on the banks of Concord River, first made that day immortal in our annals, have found their lineal representatives in the historic regiment, which, on the 19th of April, 1861, in the streets of Baltimore, baptized our flag anew in heroic blood, when Massachusetts marched once more "in the sacred cause of liberty and the rights of mankind." Endnotes 1861 [1] "The day of compromise is past, and those who now resist us shall smell Southern gunpowder and feel Southern steel." [2] "No man can tell when the war this day commenced will end; but I will prophecy that the flag which now flaunts the breeze here, will float over the dome of the old Capitol at Washington before the first of May. Let them try Southern chivalry and test the extent of Southern resources, and it may float eventually over Faneuil Hall in Boston." [3] The Richmond Whig, with others, reiterated the threats of the Secession leaders, saying, "From the mountain tops and valleys to the shore of the sea, there is one wild shout of firm resolve to capture Washington City at all and every human effort." [4] Oration at the Dedication of the "Ladd and Whitney Monument," by Gov. Andrew, at Lowell, June 17, 1865. [5] This Proclamation was received by the Confederate conclave assembled at Montgomery, Ala., with "derisive laughter." [6] History of the Old Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers during its three Campaigns; by John W. Hanson, chaplain. [7] Severely wounded in the thigh during the passage of the "Sixth" through Baltimore. [8] Afterwards re-enlisted in the Twenty-Second Regiment, see chap. III. [9] Afterwards commissioned 2d Lieutenant in the Twenty-Second Regiment, see chap. III. [10] Afterwards re-enlisted in the Fourth Battery, see chap. III. [11] Afterwards re-enlisted in the Twenty-Fourth Regiment, see chap. III. [12] Union loss in this battle in killed, wounded and missing, 2,992. Rebels lost about 2,500. [13] Of this number old Middlesex County bore off the palm, sending 882 privates and 57 commissioned officers. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE MELROSE MEMORIAL THE ANNALS OF MELROSE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS IN THE GREAT REBELLION OF 1861 - 65 BY ELBRIDGE H. GOSS PRIVATELY PRINTED BY SUBSCRIPTION 1868 ALFRED MUDGE & SON, PRINTERS, 34 SCHOOL STREET, BOSTON. 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