Bio: Charles Buzzell : Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

****************************************************************************
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical
information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research
and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all
copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format
or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or
organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of
presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his
legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with
proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb
Archives to store the file permanently for free access.
http://www.usgwarchives.net.

Submitted by: Rick Giirtman rickman@worldpath.net
Date: March 9, 2001
****************************************************************************

From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893


Charles Buzzell

In Company C, Eighteenth New Hampshire volunteers, were eleven Pittsfield
men, among whom was Charles Buzzell, a son of Gilman and Eliza (Watson)
Buzzell. He was a native of Tamworth, N. II., and came to this town with his
parents when about four years of age, and resided here until he enlisted,
September 6, 1864. He was mustered into service eight days later, and
immediately started for City Point, Va., where two of the companies of the
regiment, were already stationed.

Here these men were employed through the winter in building a stockade, in
which prisoners captured from the enemy were confined, and drilling for the
coming campaign. In February they were set to building corduroy roads in
Appomattox swamp. While thus engaged they made several raids through the
surrounding country to drive off small bands of the enemy, who were
continually annoying them.

On March 25, 1865, the rebels attacked Fort Stedman and captured it. The
Eighteenth was ordered out, and took an active part in retaking the fort.
The next day the men were put on the skirmish line in front of Fort Stednum,
and did duty here until the second of April, when Buzzell and a few others
were sent out to draw the fire of the enemy. This they did, and Buzzell says
in his quaint way, "We must have scared the enemy, for they couldn't hit a
barn door. We lay down on the field. I think I stuck my nose into the ground
about six inches-and when the order came to fall back, I concluded that it
was no place for Buzzell; so I took my old gun in one hand and my cap in the
other, and I guess that the reason the ' rebs.' didn't hit me was because I
made such a dust they couldn't see."

The next day Petersburg was evacuated, and after marching through the city,
they were sent to the South Side railroad to do picket duty, and remained
there until the surrender of Lee, when they went to Washington and stayed
until they were discharged. Here Buzzell was taken sick; so he did not come
home with his regiment, but reached his father's house July 3, 1865. He has
since removed to the West, and is now living at Smith Centre, Smith county,
Kan.