History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

E. Franklin Hannaford was believed to liavc been
killed. They returned home July 21, leaving
comrade W. Frank Moore sick in the hospital at
Washington, where he died July 31.
May 25, the Capitol being in danger, the gov-
ernor ordered the State Militia to assemble on Bos-
ton Common, and the Somerville Light Infantry
again came forward under command of Captain
Kobinson. But the troops proffered by the state
were tliought by the President not to be needed,
and they returned to their homes. This check to
the enthusiasm of the volunteers operated unfavor-
ably in future calls. Time was given for the first
ardor of patriotism to cool, and a calculating and
somewhat mercenary spirit to enter into a con-
sideration of the subject. Prices had advanced,
all branches of industry were in full operation,
making a counter-demand upon the services of able-
bodied men. Consequently, when on June 28 a
call was made for 300,000 men for a three years'
service, recruiting was carried on with a greater
and gradually increasing difficulty. The quota of
Somerville in this call was ninety-two, but the town
voted, July 19, to raise a full company, and pay
a bounty to each man. A citizens' committee of
sixty was chosen to co-operate with the selectmen
in filling the quota. Mass-meetings were held, and
a bounty of $12.5 was ofi'ered. Finally, a complement
of men was enlisted, and the company
styled the "Somerville Guard." August 12, it
was mustered into service, and attached to the
39th Regiment as Company E. It was allowed
the privilege of remaining on Prospect Hill for
three weeks, when it joined the camp at Boxford,
and was assigned the right of tlie regiment. Here
it remained two days, and on September 6 took
the cars for W^ashington ; it proceeded to Arlington
Heights, and, later, went iuto winter-quarters at
Poolesville, Maryland. The season was spent in
doing guard and picket duty upon the Potomac.
Here the company suffered its first loss in the death
of S. P. EoUins." In April, 1863, the regiment
was ordered to Washington, and did guard and
escort duty till midsummer, when, on July 9, it
joined the army of the Potomac, with M^hich it re-
mained till the close of the war. It was assigned
to the first army corps, and took part in the marches
and engagements of the corps at Bristoe and Eappahannock
stations, and ]\Iine Run. In one of the
movements of the army, the pickets — of Avhom
there were thirteen from Company E —were left
SOMEBTILLE. 321
captured, of whom two alone ever returned. J. W.
Oliver was paroled at Richmond, and G. W. Bean
survived the privations of Andersonville. F. J.
Oliver, Washington Lovett, Joseph W. Whitmore,
Henry E. Howe, and Richard J. Hyde died from
starvation and exposure. AVhen the corps went into
winter-quarters at Mitchell's Station, Company E
had already lost sixty men by sickness, death, and
transfers. The regiment having been assigned the
extreme right, the picket duties were very severe,
and the company was under arms most of the time.
It participated with its regiment in the battle of
the Wilderness, and those following in quick suc-
cession. In eaigagements between May 7 and ^lay
19, Sergeant Palmer, Corporal Felker, Robert
Powers, J. H. Roberts, W. M. Hcrbon, and Cor-
poral Harburn were killed, and February 6, 186.5,
E. B. Hadley. At Gravelly Run, March 30, Cap-
tain Willard C. Kinsley and Corporal Moran were
mortally wounded. The former entered the service
as second lieutenant of the Somerville Guard, but
was afterwards promoted to the command of another
company. He was deeply beloved by all who
knew him, not only for his courage and manly
qualities, but for his kindness, sympathy', and for-
getfulness of self on all occasions of trial and suf-
fering. The organization of the Grand Army of
the Republic in Somerville has named its post for
this gallant young soldier and martyr. The Somer-
ville Guard suffered no further losses in battle; but
of those taken prisoners, Glines, Allen, Jones, Gorham,
Horton, Hatch, and Kenrick fell victims to
disease brought on by the inhumanity of Southern
prisons.
Quickly succeeding the last call was another for
300,000 troops, and the Somerville Light Infantry,
with B. F. Parker captain, and W. C. Bailey and
John Harrington lieutenants, again entered the
service for nine months.
August 27, a bounty of $125 had been voted
by the town, which was increased to §200 Septem-
ber 24. The company went into camp on Pros-
pect Hill after the departure of the Somerville
Guard, remaining till September 16, when it de-
parted to Wenham. Leaving camp in October, it
was ordered to North Carolma, and remained in
the vicinity of Newbern, without participating hi
any considerable battle, till the expiration of its
service.
In July, 1863, one hundred and eighty-six men
were taken by draft from Somerville. As a result
exposed by their fires at the front; seven were of this levy, $3,000 in commutation money was