In the first part of 1861 war was declared and a state of great
excitement prevailed. Volunteers were sought and young men and boys
and old men who were vigorous, men filled with patriotic fire,
responded. Everybody was ready to go to the front. No one held back
services or money. Even the women began to feel they must do something
and while the recruits were drilling and women were sewing, making
comforters, havelocks, ditty bags, bandages, lint and other
necessaries required for the wounded, they formed themselves into a
Christian Commission Society and began systematically to plan ways and
means to meet the situation which needed so much attention and help
from every one, old or young. The Elders of the church gave us
permission to use the church parlors to sew in and four sewing
machines were put in and work began in earnest to help the cause. Old
ladies made lint and knitted socks and other necessary articles that
soldiers need. On the evening of May 1, 1861, we gave the first
concert in aid of the soldiers. The choir was assisted by Miss Louisa
Adams, soprano; Edwin Bruce, director; Charles Capin, organist of the
Orthodox Society. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity, the
overflow was sufficient to insure another house. Everybody was on
tiptoe to hear the choir give its first concert for the soldiers. The
sixteen ladies of the choir were dressed in white with tri-colored
scarfs over their shoulders. The men in dress suits back of them
completed the picture. Large flags were draped on either side of the
organ and festoons of evergreens fell gracefully from the front of the
choir loft and organ. Cheer after cheer rang out as the choir arose to
sing America. It was fully ten minutes before we were allowed to begin
the concert.
The praises of this first concert were so many that we were obliged to
give another in Tremont Temple in Boston. From that time we gave a
concert each month to raise funds for the volunteers during the year
1861. The treasury was always supplied from the proceeds of these
concerts and the supply of money never failed, to my knowledge, during
my sojourn in Dedham. The excitement of the hour was intense--regiments
of volunteers passed daily on their way to the front. They were
greeted and cheered by the people; garlands and bouquets were thrown
from the windows as they passed. It was a scene that never will be
forgotten, when we reflect that not two-thirds of these splendid men
ever came back. Later on the choirs visited the hospitals and we found
many brave hearts, who had fought and were wounded for their country,
lying there. To them we brought supplies of fruit, flowers and
nourishing food and sang to them. So the good work went on from week
to week until the year 1861 was nearly over. We decided to return to
California, business was demoralized and uncertainty reigned and we
had been four years from home. During that time I had become a singer
and was able to take my place with other artists of repute. I had
during my study become acquainted with the foremost artists of that
time and sang with them on many occasions.
Among the famous organists of 1858 were:
W.R. Babcock
Charles J. Capen
G.W. Harris
H.W. Edes
Adolph Baumbach
J.H.B. Thayer
Howard M. Dow
I.D. Parker
W.B. Clark
Carl Zerrahn, _Leader_.
The men and women singers of Dedham Congregational Church Choir in
1858 were:
Adams, Louisa, Miss, _prima donna_
Adams, Henrietta, Miss, _contralto_
Blake, Margaret, Mrs., _mezzo-contralto_
Bates, Helen, Miss, _soprano_
Bullard, Mary, Miss, _soprano_
Boyd, Mary, Miss, _soprano_
Bickner, Clara, Miss, _soprano_
Covell, O.M., Miss, _contralto_
Draper, M.J. Mrs., _soprano_
Daniel, Olive, Mrs. _contralto_
Everett, Hattie, Miss, _soprano_
Fisher, Mattie E., Mrs., _contralto_
Guild, Hattie, Miss, _contralto_
Guild, Mary, Miss, _soprano_
Kingsbury, Susan, Miss, _soprano_
Taft, Louisa, Miss, _soprano_
Williams, N.R., Mrs., _contralto_
Blake, Geo. H., _tenor_
Burgess, Dr. E.P., _bass_
Burgess, Edwin, _tenor_
Churchill, C.C., _bass_
Calder, Bert, _bass_
Danforth, C.B., _bass_
Eaton, J., _bass_
Everett, E., _bass_
Fisher, Alvin J., _bass_ (_former choir master_)
Hitchings, Henry, _bass_
Sherwin, Henry, _tenor_
Taft, J.G., _bass_
Wright, Geo., _tenor_
Wright, Charles, _bass_
Macbeth, G.W., _bass_
Capen, Chas. J., _organist_
Bruce, Edwin, _director_
Daniel, Ellery C., _choir master_
Thirty-five singers, men and women, composed the choir of Dr. Burgess'
church in Dedham, and as organist we had Chas. J. Capen. The director
and teacher of vocal music was Edwin Bruce. Ellery C. Daniel was choir
master. In addition to this choir, Mr. Bruce controlled three other
quartette and chorus choirs that could be called upon to aid us in
any entertainment we chose to give, consequently when the war broke
out it was not many weeks before we were in demand and continued to
successfully and constantly add new laurels to our large galaxy of
singers of repute. Carl Zerrahn was leader of the Handel and Haydn
Society, of which we were all members. The soloists were many of the
best on this continent. What magnificent music we gave. I lived just
in a world of song and associated with the best of them and was
accepted and acknowledged by them all. I remember well when we gave
the oratorio, David, April 3, 1859, the forty-third season. I never
had sung with so many singers before and I was in a maze of
excitement. I was ready also to enjoy every note, for it was the
largest aggregation of solo singers I had ever heard. The soloists
were:
Mrs. J.H. Long, _dramatic soprano_
Miss Louisa Adams, _coloratura soprano_
J.P. Draper, _tenor_
P.H. Powers, _bass_
Edward Hamilton, _bass_
C.R. Adams, _tenor_
George Wright, Jr., _bass_
Carl Zerrahn, _conductor_
J.C.D. Parker, _organist_
With all these artists and 500 in the chorus to round out the society,
we gave a great performance. The Boston Music Hall was crowded to the
doors and the oratorio was as perfectly given as could be asked by the
most exacting critic. This was but one of the beautiful oratorios that
were given during my stay in Massachusetts. Instead of church service
on the Sabbath evenings, the oratorios were given. In this way I was
able to learn the music of all the most important works on oratorio. I
was but twenty-one years old when I began this kind of singing. Church
music I sang from my infancy, consequently my voice was fully
developed in the broad church style and I had no difficulty to acquire
this, although it was more difficult music than I had ever attempted,
but with patience and weekly rehearsals and daily practice it became
familiar and a part of my life. While the rebellion was raging we laid
aside oratorio work and studied patriotic music suitable to the
concerts that we were called upon to give to raise funds for the
soldiers. All social life was put aside and we devoted our time to
help our fathers, brothers and sons who were called away to fight for
the union of states. There were no laggards in these stirring times;
young and old alike were imbued with the patriotism that possessed our
forefathers of 1776.
Here I regret to say I am afraid in our later days there is not the
same spirit of patriotism as I saw it in the year of 1861. To me of
all the flags that ever floated in any country of the universe none
appeals as the American flag does. When I see its graceful folds
unfurled to the breeze, catching the gleams of the morning's first
beam, my heart leaps with pride and patriotic fire. To my mind I never
possessed voice enough to sing the praises of the finest flag that
ever floated under the canopy of heaven. Any one less patriotic in
spirit than this is not worthy to call America his country or home. In
vision I can now see these splendid men march to their death. Regiment
after regiment passed daily and was encouraged and cheered by the
enthusiastic women and children who watched the soldiers until out of
sight. Then after they had embarked, the women returned to their
firesides and wondered who would return. Tears came unbidden, yet we
were strong in the belief and hope that our loved ones would not be
sacrificed. After a hard struggle of four years some homes were made
happy and others felt the blow. Many returned wounded. To them we gave
all care. The hospitals were visited and relief given. There were
services for the sick and burial for the dead. Our voices as well as
the work were not spared as long as we could give aid to the living
and the dead. This experience of my life has prompted me to extend any
service I can for the men who fought so bravely when the crisis came,
and as long as I have voice and can help in any capacity in aid of the
American soldier who fought in 1861 I shall give the best I have.
[Illustration:
Susan Kingsbury
Olive M. Covell
Hattie Everett
Clara Bickner
Mrs. Alvin Fisher
Louisa Adams
Mary Bullard
Mrs. Olive Daniell
Mrs. Draper
Louisa Taft
Helen Bates
Mary Boyd
Mrs. Margaret Blake-Alverson
Hattie Guild
May Guild
Mrs. Williams
Henrietta Adams