Bio: Charles O. Durgin : Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

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Submitted by: Rick Giirtman rickman@worldpath.net
Date: March 12, 2001
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From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893



CHARLES O. DURGIN.

When Charles O. Durgin was a boy he was noted for his serious demeanor, and
was known by his playmates as "Deacon." He was born in Pittsfield, March 11,
1844, and was a son of Levi and Susan O. (Kenneston) Durgin.

He was a member of Company F, Twelfth New Hampshire volunteers, and was in
every engagement in which the regiment took part, except the Battle of
Gettysburg ; at that time he was sick with a fever, and was sent to Chestnut
Hill hospital, Philadelphia. After he rejoined the regiment he was severely
injured at Point Lookout while building a stockade in which to confine rebel
prisoners. As soon as he recovered he was in a raid that about one hundred
of the men of his regiment made into Virginia.

At the Battle of Drury's Bluff, a cannon ball came so near his head as to
knock his cap off. He, with the assistance of Edwin Kelley, helped Rueben T.
Leavitt from the field of Chancellorsville, when he was so badly wounded.

He was promoted to be corporal, May 1, 1865--a tardy recognition of a good
soldier. His home is now at North Berwick, Me.

While at Point Lookout, Durgin was one of a squad of soldiers who took out a
lot of prisoners to cut wood. Of course they wanted to escape, for as one
writer has said, " Confinement in a palace is unendurable," and these men
evidently considered confinement in a stockade in the same way. They hid
themselves under a house, so that when their companions returned to their
quarters they would be left behind. Durgin saw this movement on their part,
and reported it to the officers in charge, who detailed Durgin and a comrade
to remain behind and watch, and when these men crawled out, to fire but not
hit them. This was done, and then the two "Johnnies" begged like good fellows
for mercy, which of course was granted but with seeming reluctance.