Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 8: Taunton in the World War, 1924

Chapter 8: Taunton in the World War

The narrative of Taunton's enduring place and her fulfilled pledge in the World War has for its inspiration and accompaniment the greatest unity of effort for any cause in which the city was ever concerned, and the noblest consecration of its every faculty and resource. 'Taunton's share in that war was whole-hearted; it was not circumscribed for any reason nor at any time. The volunteers and the drafted men, close upon sixteen hundred of them, went away to their various service; those who might not go to frontier or field, toiled in scores of ways to maintain and to urge forward a realization of the principle of democracy. All their drives, of whatever name or aim, eventually became the one great drive, in the culmination, to that date, of all wars. :

When the country was ready to enter the war in behalf of the Allies, Taunton was ready, preparedness being one of her safeguards for just such an emergency. At the word, the city lined up, and got into marching order, and while her sons went out to the encounter, Taunton did far better than to mark time until their return, the mobilization of every possible organization ensuing, for the upbuilding of that hope for world liberty that the nations were striving for. There was no withholding the enthusiasm of all classes of citizens, native or foreign-born. In mass meetings at public halls; in parades through the streets under an array of banners of all nations; in pageantry and tableaux - the Portuguese, the Jew, the French - all were Americans. The women were patriotic and were prepared, with the Special Aid Society for Preparedness launched by Mrs. Walter C. Baylies, under the general direction of Mrs. Barrett Wendell, of Boston. It is recalled that the first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Nathan Newbury; that Miss Flora L. Mason was president; Mrs. Nathan Newbury, acting president; Miss Susan Lovering, secretary; and Mrs. Albert Field, treasurer. The large public meetings at Historical Hall, the noteworthy systems of work begun, and the practical sowing of seed for the Red Cross field - these things are now part of history here.

In March, 1917, the Taunton Committee of Public Safety was under way, with Frederick M. Atwood as secretary, and Arthur R. Crandell, M. D., Nathan Newbury and James H. Murphy, as co-workers, the municipal council being represented in their plans and deliberations by Mayor J. William Flood, James E. Walsh, John Irvine and John W. Robertson; the police by Chief Fred P. Conefy; home defence by Major Norris O. Danforth; public works by Hon. Willis K. Hodgman; industries by Hon. Thomas J. Morton; conservation by Merle T. Barker, and relief by Albert Fuller. Of the woman's branch of this work, Mrs. Madeleine Brabrook was the chairman, and Mrs. Arthur R. Crandell the secretary.

It was on April 6, 1917, that the United States, on our own part, declared war upon Germany, and on April 9 mail service was suspended between this country and Germany. But already service flags had been unfurled here, and many men had gone forth to battle. The members of the - old Ninth Company were at their post of duty, and, with a clear eye to all future contingencies, a permanent committee with Hon. Richard E. Warner as the chairman, Dr. Edwin N. Clark, secretary, and Albert H. Tetlow, treasurer, and known as the Taunton Patriotic Committee, was organized to prepare for the probable wants of the Ninth Company and all subsequent quotas of men in service from this locality. Forthwith, on Tuesday, April 10, eighty-nine men enrolled in the local company of the Massachusetts State Guard at the State Armory.

Incident followed incident, like hot shot on the battle-front, until on June 5th 3,375 men, between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-one years, registered for enlistment. It was on that same day that the frst long series of Liberty Loan campaigns was launched, with Alfred B. Williams as chairman of the local committee; Chester A. Reid, secretary; Harrison W. George, treasurer, - Taunton's allotment in the first drive being $1,200,000. The Taunton Chapter of the Red Cross, also, having settled down to active work on April 14, opened its own campaign on June 18 to raise the sum of $50,000, closing with the total of $62,866. The home folks were then shoulder-to-shoulder in their home fight to exceed quotas. In both Liberty Loan campaigns, the city subscribed over $3,000,000, while contributing over $100,000 to the Red Cross, the Knights of Columbus, the Red Triangle, and the United War Fund drives, as well as thousands of dollars for other funds.

The Ninth Company mobilized at the Armory on Tuesday, July 24; there it remained four days; and on Saturday, July 28, occurred the one memorable incident of all, when the entire city turned out to say farewell to ""Taunton's Own," the Ninth, that departed that day for Fort Heath. No one remained at home that day, when the gallant company of 112 men under command of Captain Frank A. D. Bullard and Lieutenants Edwin G. Hopkins and Leo H. Coughlin (the latter to become the city's future mayor), marched through the city in notable parade. Upon arrival at the Central Station, the company heard the inspired utterances of Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle, D.D.: "Soldiers of the Ninth; may the gentle Christ shield and watch over you and return you to us, flushed with glorious, decisive victory, the only guarantee of lasting and honorable peace. *Tis au revoir, and not farewell, dear soldier lads; for, please God, we shall meet again."

The Ninth was formally mustered into the federal service at Fort Heath, August 5, and on August 20 its ranks were serried, when Lieutenant Edwin G. Hopkins with nineteen men went to Westfield, to form a part of the 101st Ammunition Train of the Twenty-Sixth Division. Most of the old company then remaining became part of the Twenty-fourth Company, Coast Artillery Corps. Seventy of the members of the organization became affiliated with Battery D, Fifty-fifth Heavy Field Artillery, at Fort Banks; thence they went to Camp Merritt, and thence across to England. Lieutenant Leo H. Coughlin was of those who went across, and he was there detached to another command. Thus the Ninth was merged with other companies, and from that time lost its former identity.

The city proceeded to its accumulating tasks of planning for the comfort of the men then at the front and those about to go. On September lst the names of the first five per cent. who were to depart for Camp Devens were announced, and accordingly they left here on September 4, when heartfelt farewell was accorded the twelve thus sent on their way, the speakers upon that occasion being Hon. Richard E. Warner, Right Rev. Monsignor James Coyle and Rev. F. Raymond Sturtevant. Again, on September 17, Taunton's first forty per cent. were given a banquet, and on the 21st ninetytwo men left for Camp Devens - the second forty per cent. men, eighty-one in number, leaving on October 5.

Keeping pace with every patriotic offering was the money gift, the second Liberty Loan campaign starting October 15 and closing October 27, the Taunton District's total subscription amounting to $1,832,550 - the sum exceeding the minimum allotted to the city by over $600,000, and it being but $200,000 behind the minimum amount of bonds that Taunton could buy.

The campaign had for its committee: William R. Park, Jr., chairman; Hon. Richard E. Warner, Joseph K. Milliken, Henry A. Dickerman, Albert H. Tetlow, Mrs. Harry Carlow, James J. Donovan, William M. Lovering, Nathan Newbury. The fervor of having a share of some kind, in rank and file, and at all calls, increased with the hours. Campaigns there were innumerable. Dr. Sheppard, of the War Community movement, came down from Boston at the outset, and opened the campaign for that purpose on November 2. On the 10th, when some of our soldier boys came home from Camp Devens, in command of Captain Wheeler, the city again came forward with whole-hearted greetings. Only two days afterwards, the Y. M. C. A. Red Triangle campaign began business to secure the sum of $25,000, and obtained approximately $22,000.

There was no mistaking the ardor of the Knights of Columbus campaign, the concentration of effort and the speedy and certain work throughout. Their committee began bright and early on Monday morning, December 3, and as a result of their week's work they were enabled to raise the sum of $7,594.60. On December 17, the Red Cross campaign was under way; and it was only seven days later that twenty-four men, comprising the last fifteen per cent. of Taunton's quota in the first draft, had entrained for Fort Greble. It was such frequently recurring incidents as these that kept the local scene in a constant state of activity.

The year 1918 was one of renewal of endeavor, determined advance and drive at the war demand. In America's third drive for liberty, that called for three billions of dollars, this district's quota was $756,300, and the entire city, Dighton, Berkley and Raynham, more than rose to the occasion, with the munificent sum of $1,361,000. William R. Park, Jr., was the chairman of the general committee; Henry A. Dickerman led the merchants' team; Mrs. Harry Carlow was head of the woman's Liberty Loan committee; and Henry F. Bassett of the manufacturers' committee. Others of this committee were Hon. Richard E. Warner, Albert H. Tetlow, James J. Donovan, William M. Lovering, W. R. Mitchell, William J. Davison. Straightway there ensued the procession of donors and helpers, the four-minute men leading the way as they began their programme in unison with that of all other cities in the commonwealth with talking up the subject of giving, and of being of service in one way and another. Frederick M. Atwood was the chairman of their meetings; Lieutenant A. W. Reese was the captain; and the speakers of April 12 were Charles A. Govan of New York City; E. F. Brady, William H. Reed, and Charles C. Cain, Jr.

Full of life and vigor, the men were departing; but on January 19 of this year had come the sad news of the death of Herbert E. Barney, the first Taunton boy to die of gunshot wounds in France; and on January 12 there had come the announcement of the death of Henry A. Cummings, from pneumonia, at Camp Devens.

In April of 1918, Taunton Chapter of Red Cross made its triumph with its "Katcha Koo" production at Park Theatre, raising nearly $3,000 thereby. Their various campaigns were now being pushed along by the Portuguese, French, Italian, Jewish and Slavonic peoples, to swell the big funds. Then in rotation came the sending of Taunton's portion of selected men on their way to Camp Devens; the recruiting for the British and Canadian recruiting mission; the brief welcome home on May 4 of "Taunton's Own" - the soldiers of Company F, 302nd, from Camp Devens. Now it was that Taunton, first among the cities of Bristol county, went over the top to attain the mark set for it in the purchase of Liberty bonds in the third issue, as we have shown. New relays of soldiers were on their way to Camp Devens; patriotic minstrels were given by the Catholic Total Abstinence and Aid Troupe, which organization had sent many of its members to the front; Carnation Day folk were on the street with their tokens for the Red Cross; the city was subscribing over sixty per cent. to its Red Cross fund, in the sum of $88,875; the War Savings Stamp drive was launched May 31, with Miss Susan A. Bassett as chairman.

In June, Taunton announced its new draft registry of men who had arrived at their twenty-first year since June 1 of the preceding year, - 282 in number; and in the same month, Taunton's registrants for special military training in technical schools were inducted into the army. In succession then followed along such incidents as that of Taunton's quota of 9,800 pledges to thrift before June 28, going over the top weeks beforehand; Victory Cottage being provided for in the appropriation of $1,200; more than fifty men going to camps the latter part of July in class one, and fifty more Taunton boys arriving safely overseas; the Fourth of July parade proving the biggest in history here. Like an incessant reveille to the duties of the hour, rolled along the vital occurrences of the time, when on July 23 fifty of the last quota departed for Camp Devens under Captain Joseph A. Lincoln; and at about that time the 101lst Ammunition Train went overseas; in July, too, the "work or fight" law was put into effect; enrollment in the Student Nurse course reserve was opened at Red Cross headquarters in August; and on the twenty-fourth of that month, sixty Taunton boys who had reached the age of twenty-one years were enrolled in the draft.

Once the young soldiers got started for service, there was no holding them back; and so, on September 6, sixteen limited service men, Taunton's share, went to Syracuse. And it was so with the generous givers who stayed at home, for this month, also, it was announced that Taunton's total for the fighting Fourth Liberty Loan went over the allotment by $284,000, the quota for this city being $2,915,000. William R. Park, Jr., was the chairman of the general committee, whose membership consisted of Hon. Richard E. Warner, Nathan Newbury, Henry F. Bassett, Randall Dean, Mrs. Harry Carlow, James J. Donovan, William M. Lovering, William J. Davison. Again, too, how was the city proven as to its courage, its sympathies, and its brotherhood, when the influenza epidemic appeared, and summoned up all those qualities, and more. The war against the ravages of disease was waged within the city with remarkable fortitude and steadiness, and by men and women of all professions and callings. Hospitals were improvised, brave men and women gave of their time, and some, of their lives, in the care of the sick. It was then that the Committee of Public Safety became instrumental in service, when Fred U. Ward and Rev. F. Raymond Sturtevant organized their clerical force of sixteen, over two hundred automobiles were enrolled for the new emergency, and hospitals were opened at the Broadway church and St. Thomas parish house. .

In its turn came the United War campaign, William J. Davison, Esq., chairman, Francis P. Callahan, vice-chairman, for the raising in.'Taunton of $65,000, the city pledging therefor, with its usual generosity, the sum of

$88,040. Very soon afterwards the city again gave of her men, for 165 soldiers were forwarded in the drafts to various cantonments. And then - Armistice Day, November 11, day of relief and harbinger of hope, when the people gathered in their churches to join in prayers and thanks.

The year 1919 throughout was incessant with just such activities as those enumerated for the preceding months, and because of their frequency and great variety necessarily appear diary-like in their narration. On February 7, thirty members of the old Ninth arrived home, and were cordially welcomed, among the arrivals being the gallant Captain Father Charles Conaty, Lieutenant Roger E. White, and others. On the twenty-sixth, the final number of men composing Taunton's quota in the first draft were on their way to Camp Devens; while on March 29, nineteen men departed for that camp as part of the city's contribution to the second draft. And this month, the Red Cross dedicated a tablet to Janie Flynn, valiant nurse.

Some of the Ninth Company men were returning from overseas, as on April 23, when Sergeants Henry Burt and John Anthony, with former Ninth men in the 101lst Ammunition Train of the Twenty-Sixth Division, arrived in Boston. "We never lost a man," was their proud boast. On April 24, John A. Owens, in charge of twelve other Knights of Columbus secretaries, sailed for Havre, France, on the "Carmania,' Mr. Owens being the only Taunton man in the party. At home here, a banquet was given by Company D of the Massachusetts State Guard to former members of the Ninth Company, at Taunton Inn, when Captain Richard Wastcoat was the chairman of the committee.

A triumph of the year was the result of the Victory Loan campaign this month, when it was announced that the local subscriptions to the Victory bonds had reached the total of $1,532,050, the city exceeding her quota by more than $20,000. The committee consisted of William R. Park, Jr., chairman; Nathan Newbury, Hon. Richard EF. Warner, Henry F. Bassett, Albert H. Tetlow, Mrs. Harry Carlow, James J. Donovan, William M. Lovering, William J. Davison, Louis J. Antine, Henry A. Dickerman, Francis P. Callahan.

The Peace Treaty was signed June 28. Yet Taunton did not withdraw her means of help while reconstruction and readjustment were everywhere being undertaken in Europe. Her part in the work of relief has proceeded to this day. Was Taunton's share in the conflict for liberty worth while? All her sons who went forth to war are unanimous in affirming it. Those who gave and shared at home are of like patriotic belief.

On a bronze tablet at the entrance to Taunton City Hall are these names - those of Taunton World War soldiers who died during the years 1917-1921:

The Firing Squad and Drum and Bugle Corps originated by A. Loring Swasey, commander of Taunton Post, No. 103, of the American Legion, in 1921, was formed as a permanent organization and during and at the close of the war its duties were those of performing the last honors for the men who fell in the service and were brought here for interment. The squad came at call, and their service though a voluntary one was that of the soldier for his comrade, and carried through with devotion and impressiveness. The firing squad was in charge of Francis A. Moran, and the drum and bugle corps led by Manton W. Chambers. Commander Swasey was designer of the famous '110-footers," the submarine chasers, over one hundred of which were sent overseas, and did much towards bringing the wartoaclose. He was called to Washington in February, 1917, before war was declared, and immediately went into the service for the government. He at first was given the rank of lieutenant-commander, and later supervised the work of more than one hundred men in New York, where these war vessels were being made, and was promoted to commander.

The State Guard was formed in the fall of 1917, taking the place of the Home Guard, Company D having been mustered-in in June, its officers then being Captain Norris O. Danforth; First Lieutenant Alonzo K. Crowell; Second Lieutenant Richard Wastcoat. The Guard becoming reorganized as a brigade, Company D of the Fourteenth Massachusetts Infantry then had for its captain, Richard Wastcoat, Norris Danforth being appointed major, and Alonzo K. Crowell a lieutenant-colonel. George W. Levasseur was made first lieutenant, and Charles C. Cain, Jr., second lieutenant. Company D went twice to Quincy on occasion of strikes; it participated in all patriotic events and parades; its members shared in taking care of the influenza cases at the Broadway Church hospital, and were detailed to the military hospital in Brockton.

Captain Richard Wastcoat tells in brief the story of the protection afforded the public by Company D at the time of the police strike in Boston. A message was received here September 10, 1919, from Colonel Kincaide, commanding the Fourteenth Regiment, to the effect that the situation in Boston, owing to the police strike there, was a very dangerous one. The company had been organized shortly after the members of the former Coast Artillery Corps had been mustered into the national service, and was subject to call during the war. Captain Wastcoat, with about seventy men, the local State Guard outfit, immediately left here for the South Armory in Boston, and Captain Arthur R. Crandell, attached to the Medical Corps of the State Guard, was also ordered on duty, while Sergeant Abiathar White remained here at the State Armory for recruiting work. On September 19 Lieutenant Charles C. Cain Jr., and thirty-nine men of Company D, were detached to duty at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir section in Brookline. After five months of duty in Boston, the company was given charge of the Brighton district. This was the third time that a company of Massachusetts troops had been called out in the history of the State for State service, first during the Shays Rebellion, second during the Fall River strikes of 1878, third for the Boston police strike duty.

For distinctive service in the great enterprises for relief, particularly during the World War; for promptitude in ameliorating the hard conditions superimposed upon the soldiers in camp and field, and upon homes wherever found, it is conceded that the Taunton Chapter of the Red Cross had not its peer among societies for special helpfulness. The Chapter made its presence known by its active drives in behalf of the calls of the war time; and it was both the depot and the distributing agency for supplies innumerable for the men in camp, both in this country and abroad. Citizens in all walks of life gave their time, attention and money to further the purposes of a cause that proved one of the great angels of mercy in time of great need. Its story can never be told in full, the following being but little besides an outline of the course of its unflagging labors. 'Taunton became a branch of the Bristol County Chapter of the American Red Cross, February 10, 1917. A meeting of a number interested in the project of forming a chapter here was held on March 30, with John L. Saltonstall as the speaker, and the following-named were appointed to confer with him in regard to the matter: Mrs. Charles H. Washburn, Miss Rachel Morse, Albert Fuller, George F. Seibel, A. R. Crandell, M.D., and Miss Susan L. Lovering.

At the preliminary meeting Mr. Fuller was chosen chairman, and Miss Lovering secretary. On April 6, Taunton Chapter was formed, with the following-named officers: Chairman, Albert Fuller; vice-chairman, Mrs. Charles T. Hubbard; treasurer, Harry P. Thomas; secretary, Miss Susan L. Lovering; executive committee: Mrs. Charles H. Washburn, Mrs. George W. Read, Mrs. John W. Robertson, Mrs. Louis Swig, George F. Seibel, Gad Robinson, Nathan Newbury, James P. Galligan, Jeremiah Dorgan, A. R. Crandell, M. D. The chapter thus formed included the city of Taunton, and the adjoining towns of Berkley, Dighton, Myricks, Raynham and Rehoboth, auxiliaries being formed in each of the small towns. In December, 1917, the town of Bridgewater was added to this territory of Red Cross work, and became an auxiliary of the chapter. The membership committee was among the first to start interest in the plans and prospects of the chapter. At the beginning the effort was launched with a membership of 113; but at the close of the Christmas drive of 1918 it was 12,742.

In the drives for funds to carry forward the project, there never failed to be an abundance of helpers, particularly from well-to-do families, though rich and poor met together heart and hand. The then popular phrase "over the top" was fitly applied to the result of the chapter's efforts, the collections sometimes nearly doubling the amount of the quota. In the war fund drive for 1917, for example, the quota for the chapter was $50,000, and the amount collected was $63,340.90; while the war fund drive for 1918 was for $54,000, and the amount collected was $97,033. The Work Committee held their first meetings at the residence of Mrs. Charles H. Washburn, on Cedar street, Mrs. Washburn giving up the entire front of her house for the purpose. The increase of the work and the helpers necessitated a removal, later on, to Historical Hall, and then to the Woman's Club, where the committee continued in their beneficent labors. Throughout the war, this committee made more than 30,000 garments, and nearly 200,000 surgical dressings. The Home Service was an indispensable part of the chapter equipment, the sum of more than $6,000 being expended in relief of families of soldiers and sailors; ninety families were aided finan- cially and hundreds of soldiers and their families were given needed information. A class in First Aid was formed under the direction of Charles A. Atwood, M.D. Five courses were given, which were attended by eightyeight persons; and home nursing courses were attended by thirty-two persons; while eleven persons attended a seventy-two hour course of training given by Morton Hospital. During the epidemic of influenza in October, 1918, the chapter furnished about sixty volunteer aids and workers in hospitals, as well as a very large number of gauze masks, children's clothing and convalescent gowns, slippers, and so forth. A motor corps, men and women, were on duty both night and day, to transport doctors, nurses, patients, helpers and food.

In March, 1918, the chapter collected for the Belgian Relief Commission about one ton of used clothing, through a committee of which Mrs. Arthur R. Crandell was the chairman. In November of that year, a second collection of the same amount was made, through a committee of which Mrs. Charles W. Davol was chairman. In March, 1919, a collection of used clothing was made for the Red Cross, by a committee of which Miss Lena P. Washburn was the chairman, about one thousand pounds being collected. The Junior Red Cross was organized in February, 1918, under a committee of which Henry W. Harrub, superintendent of schools, was the chairman. There were fifty-five schools enrolled, giving a total of 8,450 children.

Committees who contributed greatly to the success of the work of the chapter in its war fund and membership drives were made up as follows: War Fund, 1917, William R. Park, Jr., chairman; Francis P. Callahan, William M. Lovering, Ernest K. Vanderwarker, and Hon. Richard E. Warner. War Fund, 1918, William R. Park, Jr., chairman; Francis P. Callahan, William J. Davison, James P. Donovan, James P. Galligan, William M. Lovering, Ernest K. Vanderwarker, Hon. Richard E. Warner, James P. Whitters. Membership Campaigns, 1917 and 1918, William Hughes, chairman to 1922, when Captain Richard Wastcoat succeeded him. On September 30, 1919, Miss Mabel A. Paine was appointed chairman of the Home Service committee. Walter J. Clemson was elected chairman of the Taunton Chapter December 14, 1920.

The executive committee elected in 1921 consisted of Mrs. Alton T. Hoard, Mrs. C. H. Macomber, Mrs. G. Fred Rogers, Mrs. Edward Lovering, Mrs. LeForrest L. Smith, Misses Lillian Eddy and Mabel A. Paine, William H. Reed, Wallace F. Preston. The total expenditure for 1918-1919 amounted to $32,137.61, of which $9,610 was for home service; garments and sweaters made totalled 39,778.

The officers, elected at the first meeting and reélected at subsequent meetings, were as follows: Chairman, Albert Fuller, to 1920, when Walter J. Clemson was chosen; vice-chairman, Mrs. Charles T. Hubbard; treasurer, Harry P. Thomas; secretary, Miss Susan L. Lovering. Executive Committee: Arthur R. Crandell, M.D., Jeremiah C. Dorgan, James P. Galligan, Nathan Newbury, Mrs. Charles H. Washburn, Mrs. George W. Read, Mrs. John W. Robertson, Mrs. Louis Swig, Gad Robinson, George F. Seibel. The committees: Membership: Mrs. Charles T. Hubbard, chairman; William Hughes, vice-chairman; Mrs. L. E. Butler, Mrs. Harry Carlow, Mrs. Edward J. Galligan, Mrs. Margaret M. McDonough, Miss Rachel Morse,

Local pride and enthusiasm in saving for the cause was unceasingly manifested on the part of the War Savings Stamps committee and all who aided them. This group held their meetings at the Taunton "Daily Gazette" building. William H. Reed, editor and publisher of the "Gazette," was the chairman, Thomas H. Arden, Jr. was secretary, and Henry W. Harrub and Reuben W. Chase were a sub-committee for the public schools. Other members and workers with the committee were Thomas H. Arden, Henry A. Dickerman, John O'Hearne, Hyman Glickman, Richard P. McMahon, Harry T. Smith, Brenton G. Brownell, Roswell F. Brooks, Jr., James Somers, John M. Fitzgerald, Vital J. Bourgeois and William J. Campbell. Their meeting for organization took place April 3, 1918. Mrs. Nathan Newbury was the county chairman, and Miss Susan Bassett had charge of the woman's branch of the work for Taunton. The committee won the prize banner for the largest sale per capita of any city in Bristol county. The result of their sales from January 1, 1918 to December 31, 1921 follows: 1918, number of war savings stamps, 59,198, amount, $247,595.83; thrift stamps, 206,631, amount, $51,657.75; 1919, war savings stamps, 8,139, amount, $33,894.44;

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The last word has not been said, here nor anywhere else, to complete the narrative of Taunton's share in the all-nations conflict. Affirmed recollections, only, of events that led almost countless others, have been gathered and treasured, and the detailed story must ever remain of too great proportions to be encompassed wholly within the pages of a book. The praise of its heroisms, here and overseas, is best sung within the hearts and homes of Taunton.