handsome pistol and equipments were presented to Captain Nims by members
of the battery who were not included in the first presentation. A few
words may be quoted from a paper giving an account of this event: "It is
quite refreshing to observe the almost fatherly care and affection for
his men exhibited by Captain Nims and the respect,--we had almost said
adoration--combined with the most perfect discipline on the part of his
men for their beloved commander."
On the 10th of May the battery was transported to Carrollton, where an
outfit of light guns and horses was furnished them to be used in defense
of New Orleans. All troops quartered in New Orleans were ordered to
Carrollton because of the smallpox which was raging in the city. Private
Marsh of the 2d Battery died of this disease at the United States
Hospital on May 13. On the 18th of June, Lieutenant Snow and the other
members of the battery taken at Sabine Cross Roads arrived at New
Orleans, having been lately paroled. Two, however, had died of their
wounds, Privates Maxwell and Howarth.
During the stay a handsome guidon was presented to the members of the
battery by Massachusetts friends then residing in New Orleans. This
guidon was presented by Captain Nims to Governor Draper on June 9, 1910,
and may be seen at the State House in the Hall of Flags. It is of a
golden bronze color, and on it are the crossed cannon of the battery,
the words Second Massachusetts over the state shield and the names of
twelve battles in which the battery took part: Vicksburg, Baton Rouge,
Irish Bend, Vermillion Bayou, Port Hudson, Clinton, Carrion Crow Bayou,
Grand Coteau, Vermillionville, Indian Bend, Wilson's Farm, Sabine Cross
Roads.
As the time of enlistment of the original members was about to expire
and as new recruits were coming in, the battery was divided into two
divisions known as the Old and the New Companies. The veterans were
relieved from nearly all military service while the recruits with new
guns and equipments spent much of their time in drill.
While the men were waiting for transportation North, Captain Nims was
ordered to Boston on recruiting service, and on July 27 he started North
leaving Lieutenant Greenleaf in command of the original battery.
On July 31 they went aboard the United States Mail Steamer _Matanza_ and
started down the river, the whole company singing "Home Sweet Home." All
along the homeward route the men were greeted with public demonstrations
of esteem and appreciation. They arrived in Boston August 9, the company
consisting of 78 men and two officers, Second Lieut. J. W. Greenleaf
being the only officer present, save Captain Nims. They were met at the
station by Captain Nims and Captain Cummings of the Boston Light
Artillery, with a detachment of the company, and were taken to the
United States Hotel, where a handsome breakfast was served. They were
then escorted through the principal streets, arriving at the Armory
about one o'clock. Here a grand dinner was had, after which Mayor
Lincoln welcomed the veterans home in a few brief and cordial words.
Captain Nims responded in an appropriate manner and the men were then
furloughed until the 16th.
On that day they met at the Armory, delivered the flags to Captain Nims
to be put in the State House, and were mustered out of the United States
service August 16, 1864.
While this marks the end of the history of the original Nims' Battery,
as 23 of the original number had reënlisted and recruits had been
received from time to time, the organization of the 2d Massachusetts was
continued. Transportation was taken on the 2d of September for Morganza,
where the battery encamped for the winter. The monotony of this
encampment was varied by scouting expeditions in which the various
sections took part.
Meanwhile, Captain Nims had opened recruiting head-quarters in the North
and soon secured enlistments enough to fill existing vacancies, and in
December was on his way back to the seat of action. Lieutenant Snow, who
had been weakened by his wounds and captivity, was discharged November
30, and on the 7th of January, 1865, Captain Nims resigned his
commission. Lieutenant Marland was promoted to fill the vacancy, the
other lieutenants were advanced, and the second lieutenancies were
filled by the promotion of First Sergeant Louis W. Swan and Sergeant
Jacob M. Ellis, both of Boston.
The battery was next ordered to report to General Steele for active
service, and accordingly arrived at New Orleans on March 7, where it
took transport for Barrancas, Fla., arriving there on the 10th. After
waiting about a week it began its march through the woods and swamps of
Florida toward Mobile. Rain fell most of the time and the mud was
unfathomable. Fighting its way from point to point wherever troops could
fight, the battery finally reached Fort Blakely on April 2. It was
necessary to take this point before proceeding to Mobile, and after
waiting a few days the place was finally taken by assault on April 9,
1865. After the fall of Fort Blakely the battery started with a column
of infantry and cavalry toward Claiborne, Ala. Its last serious conflict
was at Daniel's Landing on the 11th.
For the next seven weeks the battery was almost constantly on the march
until men, horses, and mules were completely worn out. Late in May,
Columbus, Miss., was reached. The men were sent to Mobile and then on to
Vicksburg, which they reached on June 4. Since landing in Florida they
had traveled over 1600 miles.
The company encamped at Vicksburg till July 22, when it turned its
equipment over to the United States authorities and set out for home.
Boston was reached on the 4th of August, the men encamping on Galloupes
Island till the 11th, when they were paid and discharged.
[Illustration: Old Nims Homestead at Deerfield, Mass.]
NIMS' BATTERY ASSOCIATION
After over three years of association in camp and field the ties of
comradeship among the members of the battery were too strong to be
ignored and the mustering out of the original members had hardly severed
the official bond than preparations were begun for the formation of an
organization to be known as Nims' Battery Association. On December 10,
1864, a meeting was called at the Webster House, at which time this
association was organized and officers elected.
The preamble to the constitution as given in the first secretary's book
is as follows:
"Associated as we have been together for the past three years both in
camp and on the field of battle, bound together by more than brotherly
ties, we should feel grateful for our safe return and proud to know that
we once constituted a battery that knew no superior in style or action.
"Therefore we the undersigned do organize an association for our mutual
benefit and do hereby adopt the following rules and regulations to
secure good order and to determine our rights, duties and privileges as
members of said association."
The officers chosen at this time were: President, Henry E. Brown;
Vice-President, George E. Ham; Secretary, P. J. Mayer; Treasurer,
William D. Butts.
As the vice-president and secretary declined to serve, these offices
were filled at a subsequent meeting by the election of C. B. Maxwell,
Vice-President; J. S. Knowlton, Secretary.
It was voted that regular meetings should be held monthly and the place
of meeting was to be at Evans Hall, Tremont Row.
The early records of the association give only a hint of the life of the
organization, but we will indicate a few incidents that may be of
interest to the surviving members.
On March 27, 1865, we find that the battery attended as a body the grand
mass meeting of the Veterans' Union held in Tremont Temple, while on
June 1 at a grand procession in Boston it appeared on parade with badges
and drum corps and bearing the colors carried by them during the war. A
letter from Captain Nims, who was then in New Orleans, in reply to a
request for the colors is incorporated in the records and may well be
quoted here.
"Your note dated April 4 came to hand yesterday morning requesting
the loan of the company colors on all important occasions, once the
colors borne by the noble old 2d Massachusetts Battery which I am
ever proud to call mine. In answer I will say that it gives me great
pleasure through the representative of the association to tender the
use of the colors on all important occasions. Knowing well the past
conduct of the members of the association, I have no fear for the
care and protection of the colors while under their charge. Wishing
all prosperity and happiness I subscribe myself
"Respectfully your humble servant,
"O. F. NIMS."
Although few fatalities occurred on the field or in camp among the
members of the battery, the first year at home brought death to some of
the number, among whom were Comrade J. C. Tate, who died on April 16,
1865, and Comrade Charles W. Green, who died on June 25 of the same
year. In both instances the battery paid the last sad honors to its
former comrades and in one case gave material aid as well. We also find
under the date August 6, 1866 resolutions on the death of A. Barsantee,
another one of the boys.
The first social event in the history of the association was a grand
ball held about the first of March, 1865. Other balls followed, and
indeed they seem to have become annual affairs kept up for some time;
for in a newspaper clipping we read: "The seventh annual ball of Nims'
Battery Association took place last evening at Boylston Hall. As the
members of this association bear an enviable reputation in matters of
this kind the hall was filled with a very good humored and sociable
company.... These balls always afford a good opportunity for old
comrades to meet and enjoy social intercourse and pleasant
reminiscences."
As time went on and other duties and interests became more imperative,
the monthly meeting at Evans Hall was no longer deemed advisable and
Colonel Nims kindly tendered the use of a room at 80 Cambridge Street,
where the association property could be kept and meetings held. This
offer was accepted and the change made on July 15, 1867.
We have no records as to where and when the first annual banquet took
place. We find, however, an interesting account of the fourth annual
banquet taken from the Boston _Journal_, undated, which is as follows:
"The fourth annual reunion of the Nims' Battery Association was held
last evening in the parlors of the American House. About 40 members were
present, most of them men who went out at the first and stayed at the
post till the battery was mustered out of service. General William
Schouler was the invited guest on this occasion.
"After an hour's social intercourse the meeting was called to order by
the President, Col. O. F. Nims.
"The committee appointed to consider the matter of the preparation of
the history of the battery reported that little progress had been made.
Some material had been collected but more funds were needed. The matter
was discussed quite freely, with the prevailing opinion that the work
should be completed and published.... After dinner was served, General
Schouler was called upon and said he was glad to meet Colonel Nims and
his old command and would only say what was said of them when at the
front that this battery was one of the best, if not the best, that went
from Massachusetts.... The regular toasts were then announced."
Our Country--response by Mr. Thomas Knights who sang America.
Massachusetts--response by Captain Marland.
Nims' Battery--response letter from Col. H. E. Paine, etc.
Another interesting meeting was held on December 12, 1879. "It was the
first gathering of the old organization which had occurred for five
years and fully 40 members were present accompanied by several of the
13th Battery. The early part of the evening was spent in social
intercourse, singing of songs, and the election of officers. The after
dinner exercises included speeches, reminiscences of camp life and
interesting facts concerning the association since the close of the war.
Letters of regret were received from many prominent members of the old
battery and from Col. H. E. Paine of the 4th Wisconsin Regiment."
Other notable occasions were the reunion at the home of Comrade John G.
Dimick, Worcester, where the hospitality of the host and his wife made
the meeting especially delightful, and the 25th anniversary in 1890 when
nearly fifty of the boys together with Generals Dudley and Kimball and
Past Deputy Commander Billings as guests gathered at the call of the
bugler to a feast of good things and an evening of fellowship and army
stories.
In 1888 the Nims' Battery Ladies' Social Club was organized and since
that date has held its meetings annually at the time of the battery
reunion. Its members are the mothers, wives, and daughters or indeed any
relative of the men of the battery and its purpose is not solely social
but mutually helpful as well. It aims to visit the sick among the
members, to give material aid if necessary and in any way possible
assist the organization to which it is auxiliary.
The annual reunions were at first held on February 22, but in recent
years this date has been changed to April 19.
As the years have passed the grim reaper Death has appeared more and
more often and the ranks have gradually thinned until in 1912 only 14 of
the regular members were present at the annual reunion.
To those who remain, however, the memories and associations of more than
a half century ago are still precious, and form a bond which will be
broken only when life itself shall cease.
LIFE OF COL. ORMAND F. NIMS
A history of the 2d Massachusetts Light Artillery will hardly be
regarded as complete unless it contains a sketch of the life of its
commander, Capt. Ormand F. Nims.[18]
Footnote 18:
The facts concerning the early history of the Nims family have been
taken from addresses given by Rev. J. L. Seward, D.D., Keene, N. H.
From the time of the early settlement of America down to the last war in
which the United States has been engaged, the Nims family has
participated in the offensive and defensive campaigns of the country
save only in the war with Mexico. Indeed it may truly be said that the
commander of Nims' Battery came of good fighting stock. The family of
Nims is descended from the old Huguenots of France, coming from that
part of the country where is situated the city Nismes, from which is
derived the family name de Nismes, or as it is now written Nims.
Godefroi de Nismes, or as known here, Godfrey Nims came to this country
in the 17th century, the first mention of his name being found in the
records of Northampton under the date September 4, 1667. He was in
Turner's Fight, May 18, 1676 and was a soldier in King Philip's War. He
was twice married. His first wife was Mary, daughter of William Miller
and widow of Zebadiah Williams. His second wife was Mehitabel, daughter
of William Smead and widow of Jeremiah Hall. He had six children by his
first wife and five by the second. Rebecca (died young), Rebecca, John,
Henry, Thankful, Ebenezer, Thomas, Mehitabel, Mary, Mercy and Abigail.
The family of Godfrey Nims were victims of that terrible Indian tragedy
which resulted in the destruction of Deerfield, Mass., to which place
Mr. Nims had moved in 1686. This calamity occurred February 29, 1704. On
that fatal day, Mrs. Nims was captured and was slain on the way to
Canada. Her dwelling was destroyed by fire. The eldest surviving
daughter, then Mrs. Mattoon, was slain, together with an only child,
Henry; the eldest son was captured and slain. Ebenezer, the second son,
was captured and carried to Canada. Mehitabel, Mary and Mercy were
burned with the house. Abigail, the youngest was captured at the age of
four years and carried to Canada, where she married another captive,
Josiah Rising, then christened Ignace Raizeune, received a permanent
home, and a large domain.
It does not appear that Godfrey Nims was captured at this time. The
suggestion has been made that he was with a military company elsewhere.
An inventory of his estate was taken at Deerfield, March 12, 1704, or 5,
the presumption being that he had died there just previously.
Ebenezer and John were the two surviving sons of Godfrey. John has many
descendants in Michigan and other parts of the West. Ebenezer was
carried to Canada as was also another captive, Sarah Hoyt. These two
were married in Canada and had there one son also named Ebenezer. They
were redeemed by Stoddard and Williams with difficulty in 1814 and
returned to Deerfield, where four more sons were born, David, Moses,
Elisha, Amasa. David, son of Ebenezer, was born at Deerfield, March 30,
1716 and died in Keene, July 21, 1803. He came to Keene while a boy and
was appointed scribe by the proprietors July 25, 1737. At the first town
meeting after the town was chartered by New Hampshire which was held May
2, 1753, he was elected first town clerk and after that held some town
office nearly every year till 1776. In 1740, he was granted 10 acres of
upland in Keene, for hazarding his life and estate by living in the
place to promote the settlement of the township. Still later he was
granted 104 acres in that part of Keene, which is now in the town of
Roxbury. This estate is at present occupied by David Brigham Nims, his
great great-grandson. He had ten children one of whom Asahel fell at the
battle of Bunker Hill. "On the morning when Captain Wyman and his men
left Keene for Massachusetts, Asahel came into town from his home on the
Sullivan Hills where he was clearing land and getting ready to settle
with one whom he hoped soon to marry. He saw the military movement and
was fired with that spirit of military and patriotic fervor which has
been such a characteristic of the Nims family. One fellow who had
enlisted did not have the courage to start. Asahel consented to take
that fellow's place and lost his life in his first battle. He was buried
on the battlefield and his name is recorded on one of the gates of
Bunker Hill Park."
Zadok, another son and the grandfather of Col. Ormand Nims fought at
Lake Champlain, and it is a tradition concerning him that at this time
he became so exhausted that his commander and comrades believed him
dead. They were preparing his body for burial, when to their delighted
surprise he came to his senses and afterward fully recovered.
Col. Ormand F. Nims was born in Sullivan, N. H., August 30, 1819, his
father, Philander Nims, being a farmer in that vicinity and his mother,
the daughter of Col. Solomon White of Uxbridge, Mass.
Colonel White served seven years in the War for Independence and later
commanded a Massachusetts regiment at the head of which he marched to
Worcester at the time of Shay's Rebellion. An uncle, Frederick Nims,
served during the War of 1812 performing creditable military service.
Ormand Nims was twenty-three years old when he left the farm in Sullivan
and came to Boston, where in 1854 he bought a drug store on Cambridge
Street and set up in business for himself. His first taste of a military
career had been when, a boy of fifteen, he had joined the Sullivan
Militia commanded by his brother. In 1853 he with his two brothers
joined the Lancers and this branch of the militia of Massachusetts had
no more ardent members than these three young men from New Hampshire.
It happened that about this time General Sherman's Battery of United
States artillery came to Boston from Newport for the purpose of giving
an exhibition in encampment, parade, and drill on Boston Common. Young
Nims saw the drill and was delighted; after this nothing would do for
him but the artillery.
Early in 1854 he enlisted in a new battery raised under command of Capt.
Moses G. Cobb, and was made first sergeant on the night of his
enlistment. After three years of service, he was made fourth lieutenant
and later received command of the battery. During his term of command he
made this battery famous for its efficiency and perfect organization.
"I resigned from my command in 1860," said Colonel Nims in an interview
some years since, "and my last appearance with it, my last parade in
fact, was on the occasion of the review on Boston Common by the Prince
of Wales, the late King Edward, who was on a visit to America."
Then came the Civil War. The battery with which Colonel Nims had been
connected was among the first to volunteer and although he was not a
member he rendered efficient aid in equipping and drilling the men,
accompanying them as far as New York when they started on active
service. Just as he took the train, a prominent official said to him,
"Nims, we will have six guns ready for you when you return."
The organization of the 2d Massachusetts and its service in the field
has already been recorded in the pages of this book and this naturally
includes the military career of its captain.
A few quotations may serve to show the more personal side of Colonel
Nims and the relations existing between the commander and his men.
The following extract is from a letter written by an officer while at
Franklin, La. "Captain Nims is the hardest working officer I ever saw,
always looking out for the interests of the battery and the men. Hardly
ever in his quarters, nothing escapes his observation. He is a man of
strict probity and has none of the minor vices, always reliable and
reminds one of the hero Garibaldi. Although proud of his battery and its
reputation, and pleased at anything written or said in its praise, he
thoroughly detests personal flattery and indeed I would not venture to
say this much to him for my commission."
A quotation from the Boston _Transcript_ at the close of the war: "It is
a remarkable fact that during the three and a half years that Captain
Nims commanded the 2d Battery, punishment was to its members almost
unknown. Splendid discipline was maintained solely by _esprit de corps_
and by the respect and affection entertained for the commander on one
hand and by the fatherly care and solicitude always exhibited by Captain
Nims for his men under all circumstances. The slight mortality by
disease in this battery is attributed by the members to the efficiency
of their leader."
Some years after the war a niece of Colonel Nims was visiting in the
South and dined at the home of a former Confederate captain. She was
told that at one time during the war, orders were given to the
Confederate officers to kill Captain Nims at any cost as his battery was
inflicting so much damage upon their forces.
After the discharge of the original Nims' Battery at the end of three
years, Captain Nims immediately secured enough enlistments for another
battery and at once returned to New Orleans. But an injury to his ankle
received while he was at home to muster out his men, and the fact that
most of his boys were no longer with him led him to resign his
commission and accept a position in the Chief Quarter-Master's
department at New Orleans, where he remained till after the close of the
war. After peace had been fully restored and the work of reconstruction
had been begun, Captain Nims returned to Boston and bought back the
little drug store he had left at the beginning of the war, where he
remained for nearly a half century until at the age of ninety he retired
from business, in 1910. After the return of peace the attention of the
government was directed to Captain Nims' services and on March 13, 1865,
by special enactment of the Senate he received the titles of "Brevet
Major--Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel--and Brevet Colonel, for gallant and
meritorious service during the war," thus explaining the title Colonel
Nims.
After leaving the army, Colonel Nims took almost no part in military or
political affairs--except in connection with Nims' Battery Association
and for a short time serving as commander of Post 7, G.A.R. He was also
a member of the Loyal Legion. He would never accept a pension. To quote
his own words on the subject, "I don't want a pension. It doesn't seem
right to me that a man should be paid by the Federal government simply
because he was in the army. I served my country to the best of my
ability and I don't want any pay for it either. If one were
incapacitated for earning a living that would be a different matter."