COMPANY C, THIRD REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
[WRITTEN BY JAMES B. SMITH, MEMBER OF THE COMPANY.]
The raising of Company C was unique, and in a sense highly
sensational and dramatic. The President’s call for three hundred
thousand men made it necessary for Fall River to furnish two hundred
recruits; this in a manufacturing city of fifteen thousand with the
cotton business booming was not an easy task. The question was asked,
“How are we to persuade men to leave their lucrative employment
and become soldiers?” But the “Fathers of the City,” rising to the
occasion, called a mass meeting in City Hall, Aug. 13, 1862, where
inspiring and patriotic speeches were made by several of the leading
men of the city, among whom was Elihu Grant.
After the speech-making a call was made for volunteers. A great
silence pervaded the meeting, and no one moved until a young man
ascended the platform, and throwing his hat vehemently upon the
floor shouted, “I will volunteer to go to war.” This so electrified
the people that before the close of the meeting more than enough
for one company had put their names on the roll of volunteers. The
young man who said “I will volunteer to go to war” (according to the
best authority at hand) was William Deplitch, the first man wounded
in battle. So high ran the fever of enlistment that another company
was started and raised in a few days. These two companies are known
in local and military history as Companies C and D, Massachusetts
Volunteer Militia, Nine Months’ Men. They were attached to the Third
Regiment, and served with the same in North Carolina during its
campaign.
At the election of officers for Company C (as was anticipated) Elihu
Grant was elected captain, and, being a West Point graduate, he was
eminently fitted for that position. Benjamin A. Shaw was elected
first lieutenant, and Charles D. Copeland second lieutenant. The
choice of officers was well made, and the company were pleased with
their selection. Be it remembered that at this time the Governor of
Massachusetts, John A. Andrews, instead of appointing the officers
left it to the company to elect their own officers. Captain Grant
was a kind-hearted, considerate man, with high ideas of military
discipline; those men who obeyed the letter and spirit of the law
were treated accordingly, and those who disobeyed were punished
according to military law and usages. Captain Grant could not look
with any degree of leniency on disobedience to orders. He was the
pronounced enemy of liquor drinking in any form or by any one; so the
transgressors on these lines received condign punishment. No doubt
that the captain’s zeal like David of old, sometimes “eat him up;”
but he was a true friend to every man in his company and sought their
well being. No man of Company C could say that he did not have his
full share of rations in food and clothing.
Lieutenants Shaw and Copeland were God’s noblemen. They were true and
kind to the men, and were greatly beloved by both officers and men in
the regiment. They were always in their places with the company on
the march and in battle. They took a great interest in the company,
visiting the sick in tent and hospital.
The non-commissioned officers were a good set of fellows from the
orderly sergeant to the eighth corporal. Indeed, the whole company
was made up of good men who were ever ready to obey orders, to go
anywhere and to do anything reasonable; but, like all other men, they
liked a little fun when not on duty. I never knew one of them to
shirk duty, or fall out just before going into battle.
At a meeting for drill in Fall River on the 17th of September,
1862, an order was read for Company C to report for duty at Camp
Joe Hooker, and the following day the company went into camp at
Lakeville, Mass., as a part of the Third Regiment. The company was
assigned to a barrack on the extreme right of the regiment, and, like
all the other companies coming into camp, they did their part to make
the first night in camp memorable by songs and speech-making until
early the next morning, when tired nature asserted her right and
there was silence until reveille.
September 23d, Company C with the other companies of the regiment,
were mustered into the service of the United States for nine months.
On Saturday, the 27th, the whole company was given a furlough until
the following Monday, when it returned to camp. The men were then
uniformed and at once commenced the various duties of camp life
to prepare themselves for the more serious duties of soldiers on
Southern soil.
Company C, like all the other companies, was from time to time on
special detached service; with these exceptions the history of the
company is the history of the regiment.
At the expiration of the service Company C, with Company D, returned
to Fall River, where they received an ovation, and all were glad that
they had served their country in her time of need and were at home
again with their friends. As the corrected history will indicate,
quite a number re-enlisted for the second, and some for the third
time.
CORRECTED ROSTER OF COMPANY C.
[The first figures indicate age at enlistment: the city and
town, the place from which the recruits came, or are credited as
belonging.]
NOTE.--It should be remembered that several of the men from
Westport were citizens of Fall River credited to the quota of
Westport, the town of Westport paying them a bounty.
[Illustration: CAPT. ELIHU GRANT.]
ELIHU GRANT, Captain; 42; Fall River. The preacher; the soldier; the
man of affairs. A Westerner by birth, an Easterner by practice. He
was first known in Fall River as a popular preacher, where he ably
served several churches. Later he became one of the firm of Flint,
Grant & Nichols. Tin, Crockery and Furniture Dealers. He graduated
from West Point and also from one of the Western colleges. He was
a bookkeeper, agent for soldiers and sailors, probation officer
for the Second District Court, a member of the School Board, and a
member of the G. A. R. He was a Free Mason and belonged to several
other mystic orders. He married Amanda Gifford, of Westport, for his
first wife, and Mary Read, of the same town, for his second wife.
His death occurred at New Bedford, March 13, 1897, at the ripe age
of seventy-five years, and was caused by his being thrown from his
carriage at Westport Harbor, Mass. One daughter and three sons,
fifteen grand and eight great grandchildren survive him.
BENJAMIN A. SHAW, First Lieutenant; 30; Fall River. He served his
full term of enlistment and was mustered out with the regiment. He
was commissioned in the Second Heavy Artillery, went with the company
to Portsmouth, Va., and died there July 26, 1864. His grandfather was
in the Revolutionary War, and his father was a soldier in the War of
1812.
CHARLES D. COPELAND, Second Lieutenant; 33; Fall River. A patriotic
soldier; a model officer. His son is a doctor of medicine and resides
in Bridgewater, Mass. He has one son and two daughters living.
ALPHONSO BORDEN, First Sergeant; 30; Fall River. He was discharged
for disability March 27, 1863. He died in Fall River, being run over
by a fire engine. A widow survives him, living on Rock Street, Fall
River.
CHARLES G. REMINGTON, Sergeant; 25; Fall River. He was mustered out
with the regiment, came home, and after a while went West. Nothing
can be learned of his present residence. He is supposed to be living
in the West.
ISAAC L. HART, Sergeant; 41; Fall River. He was for years a prominent
manufacturer. He was superintendent of Seaconnet Mills for many
years. He died Dec. 20, 1886. Two sons survive him.
J. E. CUNNEENE, Sergeant; 30; Fall River. A prominent manufacturer;
superintendent of cotton mills in Fall River; a good soldier; a good
citizen, and a good friend.
LESTER LAMSON, Sergeant; 22; Fall River. He resides in Paris,
France, where he acts as an artist in portrait painting and practices
medicine as occasion may require.
E. F. MANCHESTER, Sergeant; 20; Westport. A soldier, a patriot, a
true man in everything and everywhere. He was engaged in business in
Fall River several years. He moved to Portsmouth, R. I., where he
died after a lingering sickness. A widow and several children survive
him.
THOMAS WISEMAN, Corporal; 25; Fall River. He re-enlisted in Fifth
Unattached Company, Heavy Artillery. He resides in Fall River and is
janitor of the post office and custom house in that city.
NATHANIEL FORD, Corporal; 23; Fall River. A contractor and builder.
Resides in Fall River.
ROBERT C. NEGUS, Corporal; 32; Fall River. Both before the War and
after he followed a seafaring life in a whaling ship. He died in Fall
River several years ago.
ROBERT FIELDEN, Corporal; 26; Fall River. For several years he was
engaged in the mill business. He retired from active business and
lives in Swansea.
FREDERICK A. NORTON, Corporal; 18; Fall River. He resides in Fall
River and is clerk in the city office, street department.
SAMUEL F. DURFEE, Corporal; 28; Fall River. He resides in Fall River.
He carries on the teaming business and is janitor of the G. A. R.
Hall.
JAMES MCGUIRE, Corporal; 31; Fall River. Died several years ago.
GEORGE G. GRUSH, Corporal; 20; Fall River. In the employ of the Bell
Telephone Company (long distance). A very busy man when on duty; a
genial companion when off duty. He resides in Fall River.
CHARLES S. WEAVER, Wagoner; 20; Fall River. He went West; since then
nothing has been heard of him.
_Privates._
ALTHAN, GEORGE; 18; Fall River. Dead.
ANDREWS, THOMAS; 44; Westport. Dead.
AUSTIN, FRANCIS S.; 30; Fall River. He resides in Fall River, where
for many years he was boss machinist. He retired from business in
good circumstances. He has two sons and three daughters living.
BORDEN, STEPHEN B.; 23; Fall River. Dead.
BUTLER, JAMES; 32; Fall River. Died at Soldiers Home, Togus, Maine,
July 10, 1904.
BAKER, ABRAM H.; 18; Westport. He went to California and is supposed
to be living.
BUCKLIN, GEORGE W.; 37; Fall River. Dead.
BRAYTON, STEPHEN F.; 21; Fall River. Resides in Fall River.
BOWERS, JOSEPH; 21; Fall River. A machinist for M. C. D. Borden.
BOHAN, JAMES; 22; Fall River. Resides in Providence, R. I.
BORDEN, JOHN A.; 21; Fall River. Nothing known of him since the war.
BRADBURY, WILLIAM; 18; Fall River. Resides in Providence, R. I. He is
an efficient member of the police force of that city. Is a comrade of
Slocum Post, No. 10, G. A. R., and past grand of Westminster Lodge,
No. 27, I. O. O. F. A fluent speaker and earnest worker in the Order.
BROW, FRANK E.; 16; Fall River. He went to Los Angeles, Cal., where
he is supposed to be living.
CLARK, HENRY; 36; Fall River. Died a long time ago.
CLARKSON, EDWIN; 18; Fall River. Resides in Central Falls, R. I.
COGGESHALL, EDWARD D.; 25; Fall River. A blacksmith, Jamestown, N. Y.
CASWELL, THOMAS N.; 32; Fall River. Dead.
COOK, CHARLES H.; 25; Fall River. He resides in Fall River and is
janitor of the Veteran Firemen’s Building.
CHASE, GEORGE N.; 23; Fall River. Dead.
CRAPO, FRANCIS H.; 22; Fall River. Died in Chicago years ago.
CALDWELL, WILLIAM; 30; Fall River. A farmer, living just out of Fall
River.
CAMERON, JOHN A.; 18; Fall River. Resides in Fall River.
CASH, WILLIAM; 35; Fall River. Resides in Fall River. He was company
bugler.
CROWLEY, PATRICK; 40; Westport. Resides in Fall River.
CRIGHTON, THOMAS J.; 18. He re-enlisted Aug. 17, 1864, and was
discharged July 27, 1865. He was on detached service as aid to
surgeon-general. He resides in Fall River and is foreman of a brass
foundry there.
DAVOL, JOHN; 40; Fall River. Fife major of regiment. Died in Taunton,
April 20, 1904.
DAVOL, JOHN N.; 18; Fall River. Drum major of regiment. John N. was
the son of John Davol. There is a story current that one day there
was a little difference between father and son, the son saying that
being drum major, he outranked him (the father), whereupon the father
retorted that he was his father and would give him (the son) a sound
licking, which he did, after which harmony reigned between father and
son.
For many years after the war John Davol was in the clothing business
in Fall River and John N., his son, was in company with him. The last
named died in the Soldiers Home, Togus, Maine, Oct. 24, 1904.
DELMAGE, JAMES L.; 29; Fall River. He lives on a farm in Swansea,
where he is spending his remaining days in the quiet of a well-earned
rest.
DIXON, JAMES; 30; Fall River. Dead.
DOLMAN, JOSEPH; 43; Fall River. Dead.
DARLING, JOHN A.; 29; Fall River. He was for years a sailor on a
coasting vessel, then a carpenter, and later a grocer. He was a
member of the G. A. R. He died in January, 1896, leaving a widow,
one daughter and three sons.
DAVIS, JOHN R.; 19; Fall River. Resides in Fall River.
DEPLITCH, WILLIAM; 35; Fall River. He was discharged May 27, 1863, on
account of wounds received in the Battle of Goldsboro, N. C., Dec.
17, 1862. For years he held a good position in Washington in one of
the Government Buildings, receiving a good salary. He died in Fall
River, Nov. 14, 1882.
EATON, JOSIAH J.; 24; Westport. He died in 1902 or 3, leaving a widow
and one daughter.
FISKE, BENJAMIN S.; 21; Fall River. Nothing known of him since he was
mustered out.
FITZGIBBONS, THOMAS; 43; Fall River. Dead.
GRAHAM, WILLIAM; 26; Fall River. Dead.
GILBERT, THOMAS; 26; Fall River. He re-enlisted in Twenty-first
Unattached Company. He died Oct. 7, 1904.
GRANT, GEORGE A.; 20; Fall River. He re-enlisted in Company D,
Sixtieth Massachusetts. He resides in Brockton, a prominent man of
the city, chairman of the board of assessors for several years, a
man of affairs with an honorable record.
GREEN, DENNIS; 18; Westport. Dead.
HORSMAN, JOHN; 22; Fall River. Dead.
HORSMAN, FRANCIS; 44; Fall River. He was for many years a gardener
and a mill hand. He resides in Fall River and is hale and hearty at
the age of eighty-seven.
HILL, JOSEPH; 38; Fall River. Died in Bristol, R. I.
IRVING, ELI; 22; Fall River. A painter. Resides in Fall River.
JENNINGS, THOMAS J.; 21; Fall River. Dead.
JENNINGS, CORNELIUS D.; 35; Fall River. Supposed to be dead.
KENNEY, THOMAS; 27; Fall River. For many years a mill hand; now
retired.
LAWRENCE, JAMES; 27; Fall River. He re-enlisted in Twenty-first
Unattached Company Heavy Artillery. He resides in Fall River and is a
collector for the Singer Sewing Machine Company.
LAWTON, DAVID; 26; Fall River. Agent for the Providence Steamboat
Company for many years. Dead.
LEWIS, WILLIAM H.; 34; Fall River. Dead.
LORD, GEORGE; 27; Fall River. Dead.
LOCK, JOHN B.; 18; Fall River. Supposed to be living out West.
MONROE, ALBERT F.; 18; Fall River. A popular artist of Fall River.
Residence, 181 Elm St.
MCKINNON, THOMAS; 28; Fall River. Dead.
MURPHY, DENNIS B.; 36; Fall River. Resides in Fall River.
MALONE, HENRY; 21; Fall River. Resides in Fall River.
MALLISON, JOHN; 30; Fall River. Unknown.
MARTIN, GEORGE; 40; Fall River. Dead.
MARTIN, PETER; 26; Westport. Resides in Fall River.
MARS, REUBEN; 19; Fall River. Fell from a team in New York and was
killed.
NARY, JAMES; 28; Fall River. Dead.
NEWMAN, WILLIAM; 28; Fall River. Dead.
PECKHAM, WILLIAM W.; 22; Fall River. Re-enlisted and was killed in
the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia.
PECKHAM, PELEG H.; 29; Fall River. Boss painter in Fall River.
PHELAN, JOHN; 25; Fall River. Dead.
PELL, JABISH; 25; Fall River. Died in New Bedford, 1903.
PACKARD, WILLIAM H.; 26; Fall River. He carried on the blacksmithing
business in Fall River for many years. Dead.
PLATT, EDWARD; 35; Fall River. Resides in Fall River.
READ, JOHN P.; 19; Fall River. Died of typhoid fever in 1863.
REGAN, TIMOTHY; 18; Fall River. Resides in Fall River.
REGAN, MORTY; 23; Fall River. Dead.
SMITHSON, JOHN; 18; Fall River. Resides in Fall River.
SMITH, LAFAYETTE; 27; Fall River. Dead.
SHARPLES, LAWRENCE; 20; Fall River. Dead.
SIDLEY, JOHN P.; 25; Fall River. Re-enlisted in Fifty-eighth
Regiment. Resides in Fall River.
SMITH, JAMES B.; 23; Fall River. A stirring business man; writer of
history of Company C. Resides in Providence, R. I.
TERRY, EDWARD P.; 21; Fall River. Resides in Somerset, Mass.
THACKRAY, WILLIAM; 38; Fall River. Re-enlisted in Fifth Unattached
Company, Heavy Artillery. Retired from all business and resides in
Fall River.
TRACY, WILLIAM; 38; Fall River. Resides in Fall River. He believes he
can outrun any boy of his age. He is now 82 years old.
TAYLOR, JOHN; 36; Fall River. Discharged for disability, March 2,
1863. Died in Fall River.
WALKER, JAMES; 18; Fall River. Driver for Fire Engine, No. 7. Resides
in Fall River.
WALLACE, RICHARD D.; 28; Fall River. Dead.
WAITE, ISHMAEL; 36; Fall River. Painter. Resides in Fall River.