“THE CAPE”
During the train-band days, the troops of Plymouth and Bristol counties,
with the Cape and Islands, constituted the 5th Division, while Boston
militia made up the 1st. When the volunteer militia was set apart as the
principal defence of the state, both sections found themselves in the
same division. Now the Cape was the 2d Brigade while Boston was the 1st.
By the consolidation of 1878 the two were finally brought together into
the same regiment, so that the Coast Artillery not only perpetuates the
old Legionary Brigade, but also the old 2d Brigade, M. V. M., and the
older 5th Division.
There were four regiments of infantry in the 1st Brigade, 5th Division,
of the train-band. The Halifax Light Infantry, organized in 1792,
attached to the 1st of these, was the first company in the entire
district to rise from the condition of militia to that of volunteers;
and presently became the senior member of the Light Infantry Regiment.
During its long career from 1792 until 1876, the Halifax Light Infantry
was always one of the foremost military bodies in Plymouth County, and
indeed in the entire state. Capt. Asa Thompson, who commanded in 1814,
and who led his men into the 1st Division territory for the purpose of
assisting to build and garrison Boston forts, was a giant (a “Saul” in
the Scriptural language of the day), six feet, seven inches in stature.
The towering head-dress of the times brought his height up to eight
feet. As he led his men across South Boston bridge on the way to the
forts and duty, every one stopped to look and admire,--and wonder
whether the bridge could stand up beneath the load. Alas! Captain
Thompson presently fell into disgrace, and was dismissed by
court-martial.
Oct. 21, 1818, patriotic citizens of Plymouth met and organized a light
infantry company, to which they gave the name, Standish Guards, in
compliment to the great “Captain of Plymouth.” Coomer Weston was elected
Captain, James H. Holmes, Lieutenant, and William Randall, Ensign. Under
the drill regulations of the period, the captain marched at the head of
the column, the lieutenant at the rear, and the ensign in the center,
carrying the flag. The most notable early parade of the Guards occurred
on Dec. 22, 1820, when they escorted the Pilgrim Society, and Daniel
Webster as orator of the day, in commemoration of the bi-centenary of
the Fathers’ landing. To be sure, the date is now known to be one day
too late; but no error of detail could prevent the occasion from being
one long worth remembering.
As regards personnel, the Cape companies did not differ from those in
Boston; prosperous merchants and tradesmen and mechanics made up the
bulk of their membership; moreover a certain percentage of farmers were
enrolled. There was less opportunity for social interchange and less of
the stimulus arising from competition, owing to the relative smallness
of the cities and towns. But in general the constituent organizations of
the 3d Regiment passed thru the same experiences as did their sister
companies to the northward. It will therefore not be necessary to repeat
the details of events as outlined in previous chapters; we need only
speak of those matters which were distinctive of the Cape.
By 1834 the train-band was in a very bad way indeed, and was rapidly
approaching the moment of its extinction. Ambitious companies were
transferring to the light infantry, in order to distinguish themselves
from their older and inefficient companions. Marshfield and Scituate had
rifle companies and Scituate and Pembroke light infantry companies in
connection with the 2d train-band Regiment; Abington had rifles,
grenadiers and light infantry, and West Bridgewater light infantry in
the 3d Regiment; and Middleboro had grenadiers in the 4th Regiment. In
September of that year an order was issued separating the volunteer
companies from the train-band regiments, and establishing them as a
“Regiment of Light Infantry, 1st Brigade, 5th Division.” The nine
companies mentioned, with the Halifax Lt. Inf. and the Standish Guards,
constituted this new regiment. The organization is interesting because
it ultimately became the 3d Regiment, and finally was consolidated in
the Coast Artillery. The Samoset Rifles or Guards were organized in 1835
and were presently added to the regiment.
On April 24, 1840, the command became the 3d Regiment of Light Infantry,
2d Brigade, 1st Division. When on April 25, 1842, the companies received
distinguishing letters, the following units existed with vitality
sufficient to survive the transition: A, Halifax Light Infantry; B,
Plymouth, Standish Guards; C, Hanson Rifles (a new company); D, Abington
Light Infantry; E, Middleboro Grenadiers; F, Wareham Grenadiers (a new
company); and G, Abington Rifles. At that date the New Bedford and Fall
River companies were in the 2d Battalion of Light Infantry, as was also
the company of Taunton Rifles. Taunton subsequently fell within the
district of the 4th Regiment, a command which was by its location mainly
an overflow from the 3d, and which a quarter century later merged in the
3d.
Col. Gideon W. Young of Scituate, who had commanded the 2d Regiment in
the train-band brigade, was chosen first commander of the Light
Infantry regiment. Col. John Cushing, Jr., of Abington, succeeded Col.
Young and served from May 20, 1837, until May 13, 1839. Col. Nahum
Reynolds of North Bridgewater came next, receiving his commission Aug.
31, 1839. Col. Henry Dunham of Abington followed on March 25, 1841,
being first to receive commission as Colonel of the “3d” Regiment.
Presently Col. Dunham was chosen Brigadier General. During the
administration of Col. Albert Whitmarsh of Abington, Aug. 1, 1842, to
May 1, 1844, new companies were organized in Middleboro and Abington,
while the Wareham Grenadiers disappeared from the records. The original
New Bedford City Guards were organized in 1842, with Capt. George A.
Bourne in command; and in 1846 they became Co. K of the 3d Regiment.
During their first year, the Guards paid a visit to the Rifle Rangers of
Boston. The occasion inspired someone to compose the “Whaleman’s
Quickstep.” While we are not today interested in this as music, still it
finds place in all our bibliographies because, on the front cover, it
bears a picture of the two companies mustered on Boston Common. The
Rifle Rangers stand in line as the New Bedford Guards march past,
straight in the direction of the large refreshment tent which bounds the
vista. New Bedford’s company paraded in four platoons of eight files--a
fact indicative of a large membership. The City Guards were disbanded in
1849.
Eliab Ward of Middleboro was Colonel from July 10, 1844, until April 10,
1850, an unusually long term. Elnathan Wilbur of Middleboro was Colonel
from May 4, 1850, till Jan. 28, 1853; Col. Stephen Thomas of Middleboro
succeeded Col. Wilbur and remained in office from March 12, 1853, until
Apr. 8, 1858. While companies were disbanded in Plymouth county, the
loss was made good by the formation of new units in Bristol county. On
June 29, 1850, the Assonet Light Infantry of Freetown came into
existence--a company destined to go to war eleven years later with only
twenty-one enlisted men, equipped with ancient bullets which had been
moulded for use in suppressing Shays’ rebellion. Yet one of their
members was to have the distinction of bringing in, at Fort Monroe, the
first three escaped slaves or “contrabands.” July 22, 1852, was the
birthday of the new City Guards of New Bedford, commanded by the same
Capt. Bourne who led the former company. This organization is today the
4th Company, Mass. C. A. On Feb. 26, 1855, the regiment was redesignated
the “3d Regiment of Infantry.”
David W. Wardrop of New Bedford, June 26, 1858, John H. Jennings of New
Bedford, May 10, 1862, until Aug. 25, 1862, and Silas P. Richmond of
Freetown, Oct. 7, 1862, were the war Colonels of the 3d. Col. Wardrop
was a Philadelphian by birth, but in young manhood removed to New
Bedford. For a time he was a cadet at West Point. During a temporary
residence in Boston he had been a member of the Fusiliers. In his home
city he served in the City Guards, and was connected with the whaling
industries of the port. Following the three-months’ service with the 3d,
he became Colonel of the 99th New York Volunteers; and after the war he
was inspector of customs at Boston. Col. Richmond had been a charter
member of the Assonet Lt. Inf., and subsequently its Captain. Giving up
his farm in 1857, he spent a year with John Brown in Kansas repelling
“border ruffians.” During the three-months’ tour of duty, as we shall
see, he was captain on the brigade staff; under Col. Jennings he was
Lieutenant Colonel. At the conclusion of his nine-months’ service, he
became Colonel of the 58th Mass. and Assistant Provost Marshal General
of the Department of the South. After the war he returned to Freetown,
and continued active in business and political spheres.
Col. Wardrop’s regiment received orders to mobilize at Boston on the
evening of Monday, Apr. 15, 1861. As the headquarters of the 3d were
more remote from Boston than those of any other regiment called out, a
severe handicap rested upon the command. Its members were mostly busy
farmers or mechanics. Furthermore a cold, spring northeaster was raging
and roads were almost impassable because of mud. Yet the energy of the
colonel and his staff officers and the loyalty of the men overcame these
difficulties, and enabled the regiment to report in Boston on the
16th--as early as any of those residing nearer. Credit must be given to
Pres. Horace Scott of the Fairhaven Railroad for free use of a special
train on the night of April 15, by which alone the prompt circulation of
the order became possible; but the real praise belongs to the officers
and men of the companies, whose patriotism produced the magnificent
response. The six companies of the regiment, together with a Cambridge
company which was attached, embarked on the steamer, “S. R. Spalding,”
April 17, and lay in the harbor that night awaiting supplies. When on
the following morning final drafts of men had arrived, bringing the
total up to more than five hundred, the steamer sailed under sealed
orders; and found, when nine miles out, that her destination was Fort
Monroe. As communication with Washington was temporarily interrupted,
these orders emanated from Gov. Andrew and are a mark of his patriotic
sagacity; Gen. John E. Wool, in command of Fort Monroe, had sent a
messenger by water requesting help. The officers of the regiment were,
besides Col. Wardrop; Lieutenant Colonel Charles Raymond, a former
captain of the Standish Guards; Major John H. Jennings of New Bedford;
Captains, Co. A, Joseph S. Harlow, who, like his predecessor of 1814,
was well over six feet in height; B, Charles C. Doten of Plymouth
(afterwards Captain of Co. G, in the 38th Mass., and today Secretary of
the Pilgrim Society); C, the Cambridge company, Capt. James P.
Richardson; G, John W. Marble of Assonet; H, Lucien L. Perkins of
Plympton; K, William S. McFarlin of South Carver (subsequently Captain
of Co. C, 18th Mass. Vol. Inf.); and L, Timothy Ingraham of New Bedford.
Four new companies were later added to the regiment; and after the
expiration of the three-months’ service, these became the nucleus of the
29th Regiment. Companies from the 4th Regiment also joined the 29th. As
the 4th Regiment was included in the expedition to Fort Monroe, going by
boat from New York, and thus both units of the 2d Brigade, 1st Division,
M. V. M., were involved, Gen. Ebenezer W. Peirce, of Freetown, went as
brigade commander; and on his staff was Capt. Silas P. Richmond. The 3d
Regiment had worn gray uniforms since 1845, and after the war were to
continue the color until 1874. So we may picture them as clad in that
dressy yet serviceable garb.
Fort Monroe, often called “Fortress” Monroe to indicate that it consists
of a fort within a fort, is known as the “Gibraltar of America.”
Certainly it is a tribute to the political power of the dominant “House
of Virginia” in the early days of our Republic, that the largest and
strongest fortification of all should be erected for the defence of
Norfolk and the James river. Incidentally it affords some protection to
Washington and Baltimore; but that was not a controlling consideration
in 1819, when construction began, nor in 1830, when the work was
completed. Monroe is a five-bastioned fort of masonry work, and
accordingly might be roughly described as a huge pentagon. The walls
surrounding it extend for the almost incredible distance of two miles,
while the enclosed area is eighty acres in extent. Two picturesque
features are the clumps of live oaks growing on the parade, which are
not found anywhere farther north, and the sea-water moat in which
tide-gates hold the water at a constant depth of six feet.
Such a fort is impregnable when adequately garrisoned--Monroe requires
at least fifteen hundred men to render her secure. A Secretary of War
with southern sympathies had stripped the fort of soldiers, until little
more than a caretakers’ party remained. This tiny regular garrison was
compelled to keep all its members under arms continually in order to man
the guard-posts. Part of the moat had become an oyster-bed and was so
filled up as to be fordable.
Sailing from Boston on the 18th, the men of the 3d experienced rough
weather rounding Cape Cod. The last meal the soldiers had eaten before
leaving Boston harbor did them no permanent good. Just as in a rambling
conversation, so with landsmen on the ocean--one thing brings up
another. On the historic 19th of April, while the 6th was fighting its
way thru Baltimore and the N. Y. 7th was receiving an ovation along
Broadway, the 3d and 4th were enjoying (?) life on the ocean wave. All
things, however, have an end; and the 20th found both transports off
Monroe, at the entrance of the Chesapeake bay. At first they were
uncertain whether the fort remained in loyal hands or not; but the
morning gun fired as a salute, and “old glory” ascending the staff, soon
reassured them. No troops were ever more heartily welcomed than were the
Massachusetts militiamen by the regulars of the garrison. First the 4th
and then the 3d marched thru the sally-port, and bivouacked beneath the
live oaks; America’s most important fort was manned by loyal troops.
After barely time to snatch a luncheon and reassure themselves that such
a thing as solid ground existed, the 3d was ordered under arms.
Commodore Paulding had just arrived from Washington in the S. S.
“Pawnee,” with orders to secure soldiers, and proceed to Norfolk for the
purpose of destroying the Gosport Navy Yard. Norfolk lay far within the
newly established Confederate lines. Across Hampton Roads, up the
Elizabeth river, past Sewell’s Point where the exposition of 1907 was to
stand and where in 1861 the Confederates were erecting an earthwork,
past Fort Norfolk, which was then held by Confederates, the “Pawnee”
proceeded in cool disregard of threatened shot and shell. It was nine P.
M. when the Navy Yard was reached, and here another peril became
imminent. The tiny crew and garrison of the Yard were at their guns, not
knowing whether the “Pawnee” were an attacking Confederate or a Union
reinforcement. Presently, however, identity was cleared up, and the
principal business of the night was allowed to proceed.
A Secretary of the Navy, a southern sympathizer, had accumulated ships
and material at Gosport worth not less than $10,000,000, for the express
purpose of allowing them to fall into Confederate hands. It was the duty
of Commodore Paulding and Col. Wardrop to prevent such a disastrous
consummation. Both officers felt that the Yard could be held against
hostile attack; but their orders were explicit--to destroy and abandon.
History has decided that the destruction might have been avoided. As,
however, the leaders of the expedition had no choice, they endeavored to
make the destruction complete. The “Merrimac” was set afire and sunk.
Everything that would not burn was thrown overboard. At 3 A. M. Sunday,
the men of the 3d, tired and smoke-begrimed, reembarked on the “Pawnee”;
and towing the “Cumberland,” with the Navy Yard garrison on board,
started down the Elizabeth river, leaving a raging hell of flames behind
them. While the regiment had not been permitted to remain and hold
Gosport as they desired, they had been the first northern troops to
engage actively in military operations within hostile territory.
By the middle of May the four additional companies had arrived and
joined the regiment. Gen. B. F. Butler, having completed his task of
pacifying Baltimore, came to Monroe as Major General in command of the
“Department of Virginia and North Carolina.” On May 24, Private Charles
R. Haskins of Co. G (Assonet) had the honor of bringing in the first
escaped negro slaves who reached the Union lines, Haskins being on guard
at the time in Hampton. By one of the happy flights of practical genius
for which he was distinguished, Gen. Butler decided that he could not
return the run-aways because they were “contraband of war.” The north
had been waiting in anxious suspense to know what would happen when
southern slave-owners should demand the return of their property. Very
much depended upon the decision of the question. Men certainly would
refuse to enlist in the Union armies if they were thereby to become
slave-drivers. Butler’s decision caused a sigh of relief thruout the
loyal states. It must not be forgotten that this first long step toward
ultimate emancipation was taken in connection with the activity of the
3d Regiment.
One can scarcely overestimate the importance of these early days at
Monroe. The fort has always been the coast artillery headquarters of the
United States. During the Civil War it was far more than this--it was
the gateway of Virginia. Its possession enabled McClellan and Grant to
operate against Richmond. Without it neither the Peninsular campaign nor
the siege of Petersburg could have taken place. Nearby Hampton, fanned
by the sea-breezes, became the sanitorium of the northern armies.
Burnside’s expedition, which made possible Sherman’s march, depended
upon Monroe as a base. When on July 16, five days after the 4th Regiment
had departed, the men of the 3d embarked on the S. S. “Cambridge” to
sail for Boston, they felt with reason that they had rendered priceless
service to their country.
One company of the 4th Regiment, Co. G, which served three months at
Fort Monroe, and subsequently for nine months of 1862-63 at New Orleans,
Baton Rouge and Port Hudson, became, in 1866, Co. G of the 3d; and in
1878 was consolidated in the 1st. Co. G had been organized at Taunton as
the “Light Guard” in 1855.
In the fall of 1862 a call came for nine-months troops. The companies of
the 3d had maintained their organization, and altho constantly depleted
to supply recruits for other regiments, were relatively well prepared
for service. They now determined that the 3d should reenter the U. S.
service. In order to distribute town quotas more justly, the Assonet
Light Infantry was united with the Halifax Light Infantry as Co. A,
under Capt. John W. Marble of Assonet; (Capt. Marble was subsequently to
command the 22d Unattached Company during the one-hundred-days of 1864;)
the Samoset Guards of Plympton and the Bay State Light Infantry of
Carver were consolidated with the Standish Guards as Co. B, under Capt.
Thomas B. Griffith of Carver. The New Bedford City Guards became Co. E,
under Capt. John A. Hawes. New companies were organized: C and D in Fall
River under Capts. Elihu Grant and Andrew D. Wright (Capt. Grant later
became a minister); F and G in New Bedford under Capts. George H.
Hurlburt and William S. Cobb; H in Rehoboth under Capt. Otis A. Baker,
who had a notable war record. (As private in the 1st R. I., he had been
wounded at Bull Run. Later he had served as 1st Sergeant and 2d
Lieutenant in the 44th R. I.; subsequently he was to be Captain of the
18th Unattached Company,) I in Fairhaven under Capt. Barnabas Ewer, Jr.,
who as Major of the 58th Mass. was killed at Cold Harbor in 1864; K in
Bridgewater under Capt. Samuel Bates. Co. D of Fall River continued its
existence after the war, and was active until 1876. The regiment was
commanded by Col. Richmond; the Lieutenant Colonel was James Barton of
New Bedford, who had been 1st Lieutenant during the three-months’
service; the Major was John Morrissey of Plymouth, who had been
“legislated out” of the captaincy of the Standish Guards by the recent
consolidation. Maj. Morrissey became, after the war, Sergeant-at-Arms in
the Boston State House.
The 3d were mustered into U. S. service for nine months on Sept. 23,
1862. As their numbers were too great for a single transport, two
vessels received the regiment, the “Merrimac” and the “Mississippi.” Off
Cape Cod the men experienced inconvenience similar to that of 1861; and
many communed with the great deep. Thereafter the voyage was thru calm
water, not even Cape Hatteras proving sufficient to stir up trouble.
Landing was made at Beaufort, North Carolina, whence trains conveyed the
regiment to Newbern. That town was originally settled by Swiss
colonists; as, however, it bore small trace of Helvetian thriftiness and
neatness in 1862, our men found nothing to admire. But the district was
of much military importance as a source of supplies and channel of
communication for Richmond and Lee’s army. The 3d, under Gen. Foster,
was side by side with the 43d and 44th Regiments, both of which have
place in Coast Artillery history. They participated in the “great march”
thru Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro. June 11, 1863, the regiment
embarked for home; and was mustered out June 26.
Veterans of the 4th Regiment residing in Taunton organized the Taunton
City Guard on Nov. 4, 1865, thus giving that city a competitor to its
older Light Guard. The company entered the 3d Regiment in 1866, and
today exists as the 9th Company, Mass. C. A. For a few months there was
an exciting rivalry between the two Taunton companies, as each claimed
to be the rightful owner of certain military property in the city,--camp
equipage and a fund of $800 coming down from war days. The property
would be first concealed by one company and then captured by the other.
The courts were appealed to; but finally the matter was compromised;
they divided the money, and the companies became joint owners of the
tentage and other equipment.
Orders were issued by the State authorities on Aug. 20, 1866, combining
the 4th and 3d Regiments in a new 3d Regiment, and on Aug. 31, Col.
Mason W. Burt of Taunton was elected commander. Col. Burt had been
Captain and Major in the 22d Mass. Volunteers from 1861 to 1864. The new
regiment consisted of companies in Halifax (A), Fall River (B), Scituate
(C), New Bedford (E), Taunton (F) and (G), and Quincy (H). The Halifax
Light Infantry, the New Bedford City Guards, B of Fall River, and, a
little later, the revived D of Fall River under Capt. Sierra L. Braley,
with a new Scituate company, represented the 3d Regiment; while the
Taunton Light Guard and Hancock Light Guards of Quincy came from the 4th
Regiment. The new Taunton company entered the 3d at this time; but the
Standish Guards remained aloof, as the 87th Unattached Company, until
1868. At the latter date the Plymouth company came in as Co. M. Thomas
J. Borden became Colonel June 23, 1868, and Bradford D. Davol followed
on March 9, 1871, both being residents of Fall River. When on Aug. 2,
1876, the regiment was reduced to a battalion, the “3d Battalion of
Infantry,” its only surviving companies were the New Bedford City Guards
(E), the Taunton City Guards (F), the Taunton Light Guard (G), and the
Standish Guards (now H). All others had been disbanded. Maj. Daniel A.
Butler, former Captain of the Standish Guards, commanded the 3d
Battalion. Meanwhile the Cunningham Rifles of North Bridgewater or
Brockton had been organized in 1869, and named after the Adjutant
General, James A. Cunningham. Originally Co. I of the 3d, this command
was transferred to the 1st Battalion of Infantry, Lt. Col. Wales, in
1876; and so pioneered the way for the remainder of the “Cape” companies
to follow two years later. This company exists today as the 10th
Company, Mass. C. A.
One cause contributing to the disappearance of the 3d Regiment was the
fact that it was called upon to perform two tours of duty for the
maintenance of public order in Fall River, first on Aug. 5, 1870,
continuing three days, and again Sept. 27, 1875, continuing seven days.
Such service in connection with industrial disturbance is exceedingly
painful to the feelings of the men. Coming as it did when class
sensitiveness was acute, and when the old Civil War veterans were ready
to retire permanently from active military service, it did much to break
up the command. Happily such a situation can hardly recur today.
The 3d Regiment participated in musters with the 1st Brigade from 1866
to 1871, the final one being held at Lovell’s Plain, North Weymouth. In
1872 there was a regimental encampment at their old Civil War
mobilization ground, “Camp Joe Hooker,” Lakeville.
On Dec. 3, 1878, Major Butler’s four-company battalion was consolidated
with the 1st and 4th Battalions as part of the 1st Regiment.