Biography of Charles W. Watson :Pittsfield, Merrimack Co., New Hampshire

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Submitted by: Jody Goodson  kestrell@prodigy.net
Date: May 14, 2001
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From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893

Page 174 & 175

CHARLES W. WATSON,
     a well known comic singer before the war, was born in Pittsfield, March
3, 1836. His father was Timothy Watson, who built many houses in the
village, and for whom Watson street is named.
     Charles enlisted in Company F, Twelfth New Hampshire volunteers,
September 5, 1862. He cared more for dancing and singing than for military
duties. On the march to Gettysburg he fell out, and wandered from hospital
to hospital playing his guitar, and did not rejoin his regiment for some
time. He was transferred to the Second New Hampshire volunteers March 3,
1865, to serve out the time thus lost. He died in Pittsfield, August 9,
1884.
     When brought before a court-martial he was asked why he fell out of the
ranks on the march to Gettysburg. He promptly replied that he did so to
guard the rear of the army from surprise. The next question was, "You are
charged with leaving the ranks at Chancellorsville; what have you to say to
that?" He replied, "Some of the boys were wounded and I went back to look
after them; surely you would not condemn a man for taking care of wounded
men." The very audacity of his replies undoubtedly saved him from a worse
punishment.
     He wanted to get a discharge, so he stole a lot of dried apples and
after eating them went to the surgeon's tent, said he was sick, told his
symptoms, and said he thought he had dropsy and wanted his discharge, but
this the "major" failed to get.
     After Watson failed to get a discharge for dropsy, he complained of
having rheumatism in his shoulder. Of course his comrades were disgusted
with him, and one of them got a bottle of Spalding's glue, an article highly
advertised at that time, and, telling him it was a liniment that was a sure
cure for his complaint, bathed his back and shoulder with the liquid, which
caused his shirt to stick to his skin, and it was weeks before he could get
the garment removed, and then only in small pieces, for it stuck closer than
a brother. But it cured the rheumatic trouble in his case, at least he never
complained of it again.