COMPANY H, THIRD MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
[WRITTEN BY WILLIAM H. LUTHER, MEMBER OF COMPANY H.]
[This is not claimed to be a perfect history, but it is believed
to be as perfect a record as can be secured at this late date.
When not otherwise indicated, the person is supposed to have been
mustered out with his regiment.]
The immediate cause for the raising of Company H was the call of
President Lincoln for three hundred thousand men to put down the
Rebellion, and the incentive was a bounty of two hundred dollars
offered to every man who enlisted. The formation of a company
from the towns of Rehoboth, Somerset, Dighton, and Swansea, was a
happy thought, as the quota called for from these four towns would
make a full company. Meetings were held in each of these places
and recruiting offices were opened. Nathaniel B. Horton was the
recruiting officer for Rehoboth, Noah Chase for Dighton, William
P. Hood for Somerset, and Allen Mason for Swansea. These four
officers with their towns seemed to vie with each other in raising
the required number, and so great was the enthusiasm that within a
very short time the company was full. Then came the question of a
captain and two lieutenants. Somerset having the largest number, was
supposed to have the first choice to the captaincy, and the other
three towns were to select the lieutenants and non-commissioned
officers according to their best judgment. A Mr. Davis, of Somerset,
was mentioned for captain, and it was graciously accorded to him,
while the first lieutenancy was accorded to Otis A. Baker, of
Rehoboth; but on the day of organization Mr. Davis declined his
position and the way was left clear for the election of Otis A.
Baker. No records can now be found giving the date of election of
officers. The best that can be learned is that it was held on a
very hot Saturday afternoon in the old Hornbine Church in Southeast
Rehoboth, about the last of August or the first of September, 1862.
Otis A. Baker was unanimously elected captain; Robert Crossman,
2d, of Dighton, first lieutenant; and Joseph Gibbs, of Somerset,
second lieutenant. Swansea was accorded her full share of the
non-commissioned officers.
[Illustration: CAPT. OTIS A. BAKER.]
The choice of Captain Baker was a happy one. His father, Ira S.
Baker, was one of the foremost men of Rehoboth, having held the
first offices of the town for years. He was also a member of the
House of Representatives in Boston. After graduating from the public
schools of Rehoboth Captain Baker learned the trade of a mason, in
which business he was very successful; notwithstanding, when the
war broke out he left his remunerative business in Providence, R.
I., and enlisted in Company A, First Rhode Island Detached Militia,
for three months. He served his full term, being engaged with his
regiment at the battle of Bull Run, where he received a wound in his
arm. Having been discharged and having recovered from his wound,
he re-enlisted as first sergeant in Company A, Fourth Rhode Island
Infantry, September, 1861, and was promoted to second lieutenant,
Nov. 20, 1861. He was with his regiment in the well remembered
Burnside Expedition, taking part in the capture of Roanoke Island and
the battle of Newbern, and remaining with his regiment until Aug. 11,
1862, when he resigned his commission. The cause of his resignation,
together with over half of the commissioned officers of the regiment,
was the action of Governor Sprague in taking an officer from another
regiment and giving him a place over them as one of the field
officers.
Soon after his arrival home I met Lieutenant Baker in Providence
and invited him to go with Company H as first lieutenant, it being
understood then that the captaincy was settled; his answer was that
he intended to see the war through and was ready for anything that
might offer. Lieutenant Baker at that time was twenty-four years
old; he was indeed a giant, standing six feet four in his stockings,
straight as an arrow, well versed in military tactics; and, although
the youngest of the captains in the Third Regiment, his ability
as officer was never questioned, nor had the company any reason
to regret its choice of him as their captain. Resolute by nature,
kind in heart, he was a man who did things; always doing his duty
regardless of consequences to himself. He exacted from every man
of his company a strict and impartial obedience to himself and to
all officers with whom they were to render duty. At the battle of
Kinston, N. C., as we were formed into line of battle, expecting
momentarily to be ordered to the front to take a more active part,
Captain Baker made this little speech, “In a few moments we shall be
where we shall see more active and more dangerous work, but no matter
what we may meet let not a man of you run until I run, but when you
see me run then let every man run like the devil.” Suffice it to
say, no man was seen running.
Lieutenant Crossman was highly esteemed by the whole company. His
quiet, unassuming manner caused every one to love him and to confide
in him; he was a true man and a true soldier. He demonstrated his
patriotism by re-enlisting in the Fifty-eighth Regiment, in which he
was elected captain, and was with his company at the battle of Cold
Harbor, where he was wounded terribly in the shoulder; an injury
from which he never recovered. There can be little doubt that this
shortened his life many years. He died at Taunton, July 25, 1876.
Lieutenant Gibbs was a whole-hearted, first-class man, against whom
there was never heard a word of censure, nor was there one spot on
his splendid character. Being detached early for signal service, he
was with us but a short time, almost all of his term of nine months
being spent in Charleston Harbor, S. C., where he rendered very
satisfactory service to his commanding officer.
But a few days elapsed after our organization before we were ordered
to go into camp at Lakeville, Mass. We were to meet at Somerset
village, from which place we were to be conveyed across the river
in rowboats to take the cars for camp. Arriving there late in the
afternoon, we found the most of the regiment in barracks, and were
assigned our place among the other companies for the night. Such a
night. The boys were full of sport and determined to have a good
time, which they did to their heart’s content. It is safe to say no
one slept that night within a radius of a quarter of a mile. There
was every kind of a noise imaginable, and some that were never heard
before nor since. Speeches were made, songs sung, hens cackling,
roosters crowing, turkeys gobbling, ducks quacking, pigs squealing
and bulls bellowing; but all this was due to leaving home, and still
having home with us. What could be expected of a hundred men just
leaving home, and as yet having no military restraint put on them?
The following night some of us were put on guard, with a four-foot
cord stick as our weapon of defense; what great things we declared
we would do should the Rebs come down on us suddenly; but we were
getting ready for the hard and dangerous work before us, upon which
we were soon to enter.
In a few days the mustering officer came and we were inspected and
mustered into the service of Uncle Sam. Some of our men were beyond
the forty-five year limit, but all passed except one, Samuel H. Vial,
who had in the company a son George, and who upon being asked his age
gave it honestly as forty-nine. Of course he was rejected. The oldest
man in the company was Peleg Swift of Somerset, a giant in size and
strength, but gray-haired. Upon being asked his age, he replied,
“Forty-four.” “Is that all?” asked the mustering officer. “That is
what my good mother called me,” replied Peleg. He was accepted,
although fourteen years beyond the law limit. No better soldier ever
carried a musket, and no one ever knew of his dropping out on the
tiresome marches. He was killed at Petersburg by a rebel shell.
The material composing Company H were worthy, steady farmers’ boys,
with the addition of several iron workers from Somerset and Dighton.
Many of the men were old neighbors at home, several of them being
from the same families. For instance, there were four pairs of
brothers, and when one heard from home all the others were interested
to hear the news. No more rugged or better men than Company H ever
enlisted. Accustomed from early life to hard work, plain, and good
fare, and the best of health, they were already fitted for the
hardships of the march and the privations of soldier life. They were
an honest set of men, and anything left in their tents was sure to be
found where it was left.
Of the military experiences of Company H I will say nothing, as the
history of the company is the history of the regiment. It was never
on detached or detailed duty, and wherever the regiment went there
went Company H. There are no tragic events to record. The company has
the unique distinction of bringing home every man that went out with
it. It is the only company of which I have any knowledge that served
so long a period in the war and never lost a man, either by sickness
or by bullet. I believe this is due largely to the early life and
temperate habits of the men of this company; but we cannot close our
eyes to the fact that since the close of the war more than fifty-two
per cent. have answered the last call.
In conclusion, let me extend my thanks to those comrades who so ably
assisted me in gathering facts, especially to Captain Baker, Comrade
Walker, of Dighton, and Samuel L. Buffington of Swansea. Those men,
together with the record of the company in 1862, and notes and facts
preserved in diaries, has made it possible at this late date to write
such a correct history of the company. We are growing old, our ranks
are fast thinning, our roll calls are growing shorter and shorter,
it behooves us to quit ourselves like men. Like all other men I have
done many things for which I am sorry, and some things for which I am
ashamed, but there is one incident in my life of which I am neither
sorry nor ashamed, and that is the fact that I enlisted and served in
Company H, Third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
CORRECTED ROSTER OF COMPANY H, THIRD REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS
VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
[The first figures indicate age at enlistment: the city and town,
the place of enlistment.]
OTIS A. BAKER, Captain; 24; Rehoboth. Enlisted as a private in
Company A, First Rhode Island Detached Militia, April 16, 1861.
Wounded at battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. Discharged. Re-enlisted
in September, 1861, first sergeant of Company A, Fourth Rhode Island
Infantry. Promoted second lieutenant, Nov. 20, 1861. Resigned, Aug.
11, 1862. Re-enlisted Sept. 18, 1862. Chosen captain of Company
H, Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Mustered out
June 26, 1863. Re-enlisted Aug. 1, 1864; captain of the Eighteenth
Unattached Company. Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Discharged Nov.
14, 1864. Re-enlisted Dec. 10, 1864; captain of Eighteenth Unattached
Company for one year, or until the close of the war. Mustered out May
12, 1865. Resides in Rehoboth, Mass.
ROBERT CROSSMAN, 2d, First Lieutenant; 34; Dighton. Mustered out
with regiment, June 26, 1863. Re-enlisted and was chosen captain in
the Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Infantry. Wounded at battle of Cold
Harbor. Discharged for disability, Oct. 11, 1864. For many years one
of the State Constabulary. Died in Taunton, July 25, 1876.
JOSEPH GIBBS, Second Lieutenant; 35; Somerset. Detached Nov. 21,
1862, for signal corps service. On duty at Port Royal and at
Charleston Harbor, during the bombardment of Charleston. Died Apr. 7,
1863.
ARNOLD D. BROWN, First Sergeant; 24; Rehoboth. Enlisted May 26, 1862,
as a private in Co. B, Tenth Rhode Island Infantry. Discharged Sept.
1, 1862. Re-enlisted in Company H, Third Massachusetts Volunteers.
Discharged June 26, 1863. Re-enlisted sergeant-major Third Rhode
Island Cavalry, Aug. 7, 1863. Promoted second lieutenant Feb. 6,
1864. Discharged 1865. Died Oct. 26, 1874.
GEORGE F. M. FORRESTER, Sergeant; 38; Somerset. Farmer; for many
years a resident of Somerset. Dead.
EDWIN HASKINS, Sergeant; 24; Dighton. Moulder. Resides in North
Dighton.
JONATHAN W. THURBER, Sergeant; 23; Swansea. Re-enlisted. Sergeant of
Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Aug.
1, 1864. Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Died in Seekonk, January, 1904.
SAMUEL W. GIBBS, Sergeant; 23; Somerset. Farmer. Resides in Somerset.
HENRY H. LOTHROP, Corporal; 24; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted in navy. Lost
at sea from a United States Transport in 1865.
SYLVANUS D. JONES, Corporal; 34; Dighton. Re-enlisted Dec. 10, 1864;
corporal in Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer
Militia. Discharged May 12, 1865. Dead.
JAMES MCNEIL, Corporal; 34; Swansea. Detailed corporal of Pioneer
Corps. Dead.
ISAIAH B. CASE, Corporal; 20; Seekonk. Lives in Philadelphia, Penn.
Proprietor of a restaurant.
JOSIAH L. HORTON, Corporal; 21; Dighton. Died Dec. 28, 1890.
CHARLES B. PECKHAM, Corporal; 36; Somerset. Dead.
DANIEL BRIGGS, Corporal; 21; Dighton. Dead.
HORACE L. HORTON, Corporal; 19; Swansea. Farmer. Resides in Rehoboth.
JAMES M. EVANS, Musician; 25; Dighton. For many years a grain dealer
in Taunton; also connected with the Nickel Plate Works. Dead.
ALLEN B. LUTHER, Musician; 20; Rehoboth. Died Oct. 13, 1864.
MARK P. CHASE, Wagoner; 19; Somerset. Unknown.
JASON W. FULLER, Wagoner; 37; Rehoboth. Discharged for disability,
Nov. 27, 1863. Died May 30, 1896.
_Privates._
BLISS, JOSHUA S.; 21; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted as first sergeant in
Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia,
Aug. 1, 1864. Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Re-enlisted in Eighteenth
Unattached Company, Dec. 10, 1864. Discharged May 12, 1865. A lumber
dealer in Buffington, N. Y.
BUFFINGTON, SAMUEL L.; 18; Swansea. Mustered out with regiment.
Supposed to be living in Swansea.
BUFFINGTON, GEORGE O.; 18; Swansea. Re-enlisted in Eighteenth
Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Aug. 10, 1864.
Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Farmer. Resides in Swansea.
BABBITT, NATHANIEL M.; 39; Dighton. Farmer. Resides in Dighton.
BRIGGS, OLIVER H.; 28; Dighton. Re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1864, in
Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Re-enlisted Dec. 10, 1864. Discharged May
12, 1865. Sutler. Resides in Washington, D. C.
BELDEN, WILLIAM H.; 22; Dighton. Re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1864, and made
a corporal. Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Resides in Fall River.
BULLOCK, GILBERT D.; 34; Rehoboth. Farmer. Died in Hebronville,
Mass., Dec. 25, 1904.
CHACE, GEORGE F.; 18; Somerset. Dead.
CHACE, GEORGE A.; 18; Somerset. Treasurer of Chace Corporation.
CHACE, BENJAMIN F.; 28; Somerset. Dead.
CHACE, WILLIAM P.; 32; Swansea. Resided in Somerset for years. Dead.
CHACE, EDWIN; 19; Dighton. Resided in Dighton for years. Dead.
CHACE, BAYLIES R.; 20; Somerset. On detached duty at Plymouth, N. C.
Originally a member of the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts. Discharged for
disability. Inspector in Providence.
CHACE, HERBERT A.; 20; Dighton. Discharged for disability Mar. 27,
1863. Re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1864, in Eighteenth Unattached Company,
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Died June, 30, 1879.
CARMICHAEL, JOHN B.; 19; Somerset. Residence, unknown.
CURTIS, GEORGE E.; 23; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted Dec. 10, 1864, in
Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Discharged May 12, 1865. Resides in East Providence.
CARROLL, MICHAEL; 26; Somerset. Dead.
DAVIS, NATHAN S.; 33; Somerset. Dead.
FARRELL, DOMINICK; 45; Rehoboth. Resided in Somerset. Dead.
FRANCIS, DARIUS P.; 22; Rehoboth. Died in Attleboro, Apr. 12, 1891.
FRANCIS, DAVID W.; 21; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1864.
Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Farmer. Resides in Rehoboth.
GOFF, HENRY N.; 39; Dighton. Detailed in Pioneer Corps. Re-enlisted
Aug. 10, 1864, in Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts
Volunteer Militia. Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Died in Dighton, Mar. 8,
1889.
GOFF, ANDREW J.; 22; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1864. Discharged
Nov. 14, 1864. Died Nov. 25, 1899.
GREEN, GEORGE; 36; Rehoboth. Died in East Providence, Jan. 7, 1900.
HOOD, DAVID B.; 18; Somerset. Unknown.
HARRINGTON, DANIEL; 33; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted in Company C, Third
Rhode Island Cavalry, Oct. 13, 1863. Discharged Nov. 29, 1865. Died
in Warren, R. I., Apr. 12, 1891.
HATHAWAY, GEORGE W.; 39; Somerset. Detailed in Pioneer Corps. Unknown.
HATTEN, JOHN R.; 25; Somerset. Dead.
HOLTEN, MICHAEL; 29; Somerset. Dead.
HORTON, ALFRED A.; 20; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1864, in
Eighteenth Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Discharged Nov.
14, 1864. Farmer. Resides in Dighton.
HICKS, JOHN F.; 24; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1864, in
Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Resides in East Providence.
HARDY, SAMUEL; 39; Dighton. Died Aug. 31, 1881.
HALL, WILLIAM H.; 22; Somerset. Residence unknown.
HILL, THOMAS; 44; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted Dec. 10, 1864, in Eighteenth
Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Discharged May
10, 1865. Died Nov. 10, 1897.
HANDLEY, EDWARD; 19; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted in Eighteenth Unattached
Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Aug. 10, 1864. Discharged
Nov. 14, 1864. Farmer. Resides in East Providence.
HANDLEY, ANDREW A.; 18; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted in Third Rhode Island
Cavalry, Sept. 15, 1863. Discharged Nov. 29, 1865. Died Apr. 21, 1892.
KINGSLEY, AMOS N.; 18; Swansea. Re-enlisted. Unknown.
KENT, ALVA B.; 19; Rehoboth. Died in Providence, August, 1871.
LUTHER, WILLIAM H.; 22; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted as corporal of
Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia,
Aug. 10, 1864. Discharged Nov. 10, 1864. Re-enlisted as sergeant
of Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia,
Dec. 10, 1864. Discharged May 12, 1865. Town Clerk of Rehoboth for
eighteen years. Bookkeeper in Pawtucket. Resides at 132 Grove Ave.,
East Providence.
LUTHER, HALE S.; 32; Rehoboth. Detached in Signal Corps, Nov. 14
1862, with Lieutenant Gibbs. One of the selectmen of Rehoboth.
Elected to General Court, 1875. Died Apr. 22, 1895.
LINCOLN, ALVIN C.; 20; Dighton. In Alaska when last heard from.
LAHNE, PETER F.; 23; Somerset. Lived and died in Somerset.
LAMPSON, JOHN R.; 20; Somerset. Resides in Maine.
MARBLE, GEORGE W.; 24; Somerset. Dead.
MARBLE, ALEXANDER H.; 21; Somerset. Oysterman. Resides in Somerset.
MOSHER, EDWARD F.; 28; Somerset. Believed to be dead.
MARTIN, ALBERT F.; 20; Swansea. Re-enlisted Dec. 10, 1864. Discharged
May 10, 1865. Dead.
MOULTON, JAMES F.; 22; Rehoboth. Died May 4, 1883.
MAKER, WILLIAM H.; 25; Swansea. On detached service at Plymouth, N.
C. Discharged for disability Nov. 13, 1863. Resides in Warren, R. I.
PIERCE, ABRAHAM; 31; Rehoboth. Died Dec. 1, 1890.
PIERCE, EZRA V. B.; 21; Swansea. Farmer. Resides in Rehoboth.
PIERCE, WILLIAM C.; 39; Somerset. Discharged for disability, Mar. 2,
1863. Dead.
PADELFORD, SILAS M.; 28; Somerset. Resides in Dighton.
PURINGTON, SAMUEL C.; 21; Somerset. Re-enlisted as sergeant in
Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Discharged Nov. 14, 1864. Residence unknown.
READ, JAMES O.; 18; Dighton. Re-enlisted in Eighteenth Unattached
Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Aug. 6, 1864. Discharged
June 10, 1865. Superintendent of City Asylum, Pawtucket, R. I.
REYNOLDS, WILLIAM; 30; Swansea. Re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1864. Discharged
Nov. 14, 1864. Died 1893.
ROACH, JAMES; 29; Rehoboth. Died in Coventry, R. I., 1868.
RYAN, WILLIAM; 37; Somerset. Discharged for disability, May 27, 1863.
SHOVE, CHARLES H.; 25; Swansea. Believed to be living; residence
unknown.
SLADE, ALFRED L.; 21; Swansea. Dead.
SWIFT, DANIEL E.; 18; Somerset. Dead.
SWIFT, PELEG; 44; Somerset. Re-enlisted in Eighteenth Unattached
Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Discharged Nov. 14, 1864.
Re-enlisted and was killed before Petersburg.
SMITH, STEPHEN N.; 26; Dighton. Re-enlisted in Eighteenth Unattached
Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Discharged Nov. 14, 1864.
Died Oct. 7, 1894.
SMITH, LEPRILET C; 28; Dighton. Died Nov. 25, 1893.
SULLIVAN, JEREMIAH; 18; Somerset. Unknown.
SIMMONS, OLIVER; 35; Somerset. Re-enlisted Dec. 10, 1864, in
Eighteenth Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Discharged May 12, 1865. Died.
SHERMAN, IRA M.; 35; Somerset. Dead.
THURBER, JEREMIAH; 22; Rehoboth. Farmer. Resides in Swansea.
TRIPP, JOHN E.; 19; Swansea. Re-enlisted Aug. 5, 1864, in Company G,
Second Regiment, Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. Discharged Sept. 3,
1865. Dead.
TRIPP, GEORGE A.; 32; Rehoboth. Dead.
TALBOT, CHARLES H.; 20; Dighton. Farmer. Resides in Somerset.
VIAL, GEORGE H.; 24; Rehoboth. Died in Barrington, R. I., 1890.
WALKER, NATHAN O.; 23; Dighton. Farmer. Resides in Dighton.
WALKER, GEORGE A.; 32; Dighton. Died in Dighton, July, 1863.
WINK, ADAM; 24; Dighton. Detailed in Pioneer Corps. Re-enlisted Dec.
10, 1864. Discharged May 12, 1865. Residence unknown.
WELCH, JOHN W.; 37; Somerset. Residence unknown.
WESTCOTT, HENRY N.; 29; Dighton. Detailed as corporal of carpenters,
Oct. 30, 1862. Re-enlisted in Eighteenth Unattached Company,
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and promoted to second lieutenant.
Died Sept. 13, 1888.
WILLIAMS, HENRY A.; 30; Dighton. Re-enlisted in Eighteenth Unattached
Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Aug. 10, 1864. Discharged
as sergeant Nov. 14, 1864. Selectman in Dighton for many years. Died
July 3, 1895.
WILLIAMS, CALEB; 41; Rehoboth. Re-enlisted Jan. 21, 1864, in Company
B, Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. Died May, 1903.
WILLIAMS, EDMUND; 25; Rochester. Believed to be dead.
WELDEN, SILAS H.; 23; Swansea. On detached service at Plymouth, N.
C. Discharged for disability Nov. 2, 1863. Re-enlisted in Company D,
Sixtieth Massachusetts. Farmer. Resides in Dighton.