Bristol County, Massachusetts - Chapter 4: Fall River in Civil and Spanish-American Wars, 1924

Chapter 4: Fall River in Civil and Spanish-American Wars

We follow on in their turn through the consecutive periods of the war-travail of the nation, at length to recount how the city of Fall River rose to the occasion and answered the call in 1861. The struggle for an independent State, and against tyranny of whatever name and kind - that is war ethics, whether of the stone age or our own. Therein is seen the reason of the war story taking precedence of any other in our histories, from the beginning of things down to the very times in which we are living - the outcome of wars dictating what all our institutions, our govern- ment, our manner of living shall be like. Yet war is a monster, and except in the Middle Ages of castellated towns, few communities have ever found themselves absolutely prepared for its approach. We think we prepare sufficiently today, but every war is furnishing elements of destruction that we had not foreseen. But, loyalty of high degree and patriotism of approved standard furnishing means for preparedness, Fall River was as ready as any of her sister cities and towns to send forth her sons to battle in the Civil War.

The Civil War. - The Boys in Blue and the Boys in Gray, who long since have forgiven one another, began to be out-and-out foes with the firing upon Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861. There was no more actual readiness for a prolonged fight here than anywhere else, and no one was able to foretell, except in the manner of warm-hearted boasting of making a short affair of it, how long the trouble would last. But the call to arms was heard and answered in Fall River; and the war meeting that was convened at City Hall April 19, 1861, was the most inclusive and provident of any that was being held in New England at that hour. For by acclamation, the assemblage adopted resolutions as reported by Dr. Foster Hooper, to the effect, broadly, that the "government of the Union shall be maintained"; specifically, that "the city government be requested to appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars, in aid of those who might volunteer, and for the support of their families; and that each volunteer be paid the sum of twenty dollars per month from the city treasury, in addition to what he is paid by the government."

Hon. James Buffinton, the city's first mayor, and unwavering friend of the soldier and sailor, was present, as he was at all similar gatherings; and Hon. Nathaniel B. Borden, no less staunch a friend to the enlisted men, read the call for the meeting, and was elected its chairman. He inaugurated the activities of the day in his opening address, and he was ably seconded by Hon. James Buffinton, Dr. Foster Hooper, David Anthony, John Westall, Robert T. Davis and Walter C. Durfee, members of the city government and merchants of the community. The Common Council committee, to whom the resolutions of the meeting were reported, were on the alert, and the following order was adopted by the city government:

That to each of our citizens who may join a military company of our city, organized according to law, pledged to render military service whenever and wherever required, whether by authority of the State or the United States government, there be paid from the city treasury the sum of fifteen dollars for outfit when such company shall be mustered into service; and thereafter, for a term not exceeding three months, fifteen dollars a month, the latter to be applied for the support of the family or dependents, as the soldier may direct; and if, at the expiration of the service, a balance, or the whole, shall remain unpaid, then payment to be made to the soldier in person, or his

The city appropriated the sum called for - ten thousand dollars - and immediately, there was organized every means and enterprise to promote the progress of the enlistment of Fall River young men for the Civil War service. Recruiting offices were opened day after day; officers detailed for the purpose urged, through harangue and public address, enrollment into the ranks; while societies of women combined their various forces to work for the one cause.

Governor John A. Andrew was applied to from Fall River, this being the third request in the State of that kind, that the city might form military companies for systematic procedure to the front, though the city did not delay an hour while awaiting legal leave to supply men and munitions of war. Lieutenant John Cushing, Mexican War veteran, was one of the most active in the enlistment project, and through his efforts a company was soon in process of formation; while no less energetic in the movement to raise troops was Captain Chester W. Green, later to be made a lieutenant-colonel, who organized a rifle company. Shortly, the two companies were ready, and Mayor E. P. Buffinton made application to the State to furnish for the companies two hundred muskets. On June 11, 1861, therefore, there were mustered into the service the two local companies, A and B of the Second Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers, the regiment being in command of Colonel Darius N. Couch of Taunton, afterwards a brigadiergeneral, and Lieutenant-Colonel Chester W. Green of Fall River. At about that date, also, a third company was formed whose services for the time being were not required, and disbandment followed. In September, another company was in process of formation, and this organization was afterwards mustered into active service, a bounty of fifteen dollars being authorized to be paid to each of its volunteers.

As in the case of the drives of our own times for men, service and money, the year 1862 witnessed performances in that regard that were comparatively as intense and successful. Rev. Elihu Grant, pastor of the Brayton Methodist Episcopal Church, much interested in military affairs, as at one time he had been a student at West Point Academy, gave his attention to the task of the formation of Company C of the Third Regiment. He was one of the capable clergymen of the day who here and there were leaving their pulpits, temporarily, for the war camp and field, and by unanimous consent he was made the captain of the company that he had been the means of forming. Company D was also organized at the same time, and Andrew R. Wright, no less indefatigable patriot, was appointed to its captaincy. As in all other cities and towns throughout the land, Fall River citizens were exhibiting their appreciation, in part, of the patriotism of such leaders as these by the popular method of presentation of swords; and it was at a noteworthy meeting at City Hall, September 9, 1862, that Captains Grant and Wright were thus honored. All this renewed activity, and these incidents as stated, were the direct result of the call of President Lincoln in 1862 for 100,000 more men, and therefore, a bounty of one hundred dollars for three years' enlistment was recommended at the public meeting held at Fall River City Hall, July 11, that year. "At any cost of men and money" was the expression of Fall River people at another public meeting, August 14, when impassioned speeches were made in behalf of redoubled efforts for the cause of the union of states - and money and men were to be had from now on, as the result of a popular vote at this date, the sum of one hundred dollars being raised by subscription to be added to each soldier's bounty. Again on September 1, 1862, the city government itself voted a bounty of two hundred dollars for each volunteer for service of nine months. The city also provided two memorable days for these companies - one upon their departure, when everything was done to cheer up the rank and file; another upon

As ever before and since, the drafts were expected, the first taking place at New Bedford, July 22, 1863, when the names of 405 Fall River men were drawn from a total of 1404; in the second draft, May 19, 1864, the names of 82 men were drawn; on June 13, there were 63 names; on July 6 there were 24, and on July 27 there were 20 names. City-wide was the welcome home that was given Company G, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts regiment, Captain Martin Braley, April 5, 1864, and like honors were accorded Companies A and B upon their arrival. But no greater ovation was given any event than that which took place when the news of the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee was announced, and when every section of the city vied with each other to prove the genuineness of its gratitude and satisfaction.

The .total of 1770 men were furnished by Fall River to carry on the war for the Union, the city's population in 1861 being 14,026, and of the number of enlistments there were 497 for the navy. The different regiments in which the men from this city served were as follows: In the three years' regiments of Massachusetts Volunteers there were: A and B of the Seventh, G of the Twenty-sixth; many from F and G, of the Fiftyeighth; groups of men for the Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-second, Twentyfourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-second, Thirtythird, Thirty-seventh, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Fifty-fourth, and Fifty-seventh regiments of infantry; Fifth and Sixth batteries of light artillery; Second and Third regiments and First Battalion of Heavy Artillery; First, Second, Fourth and Fifth regiments of cavalry; as well as in the regular army, general and signal service, and in regiments from Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and Illinois. In the short terms service, too, there were Fall River men in Companies C and D, Third regiment (nine months) ; in the Eighth, Forty-third, Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth (nine months); the Sixty-first (one year); Company D, Sixteenth, (100 days); Fifth Unattached (90 days); Twenty-first (100 days); also men for the Fifth, Fifteenth, Eighteenth and Twenty-fourth Unattached companies (100 days). The first Fall River soldier to die in the war was Nathaniel S. Gerry, a private in Company A, Seventh Regiment of Volunteers; and the first commissioned officer to die during the war was Lieutenant Jesse D. Bullock, who succumbed June 25, 1862, to wounds received at the Battle of Fair Oaks. The Soldiers' monument at Oak Grove cemetery bears the names of 163 men who died in the service.

Liberal was the appropriation of money, liberal for those times, indeed. The city itself appropriated and expended on the war's account, exclusive of the State aid, $107,828.03; and the total amount raised and expended by the city during the war for State aid for soldiers' families, and repaid by the State, was $127,510.02.

The word and work of the members of the city government, from the mayor onwards, and from all who could not go away to the war, indeed, were part of the mainstay of the soldier. The big-hearted mayor, Hon. E. P. Buffinton, was the spirit of Fall River personified, directing affairs as he did, and typical war mayor as he was throughout the conflict.

A staunch supporter of the Union, and friend to people in all walks of life, his influence wrought for the advancement and success of every home movement for the men in all branches of the service. And he had such true and tried men to stand by him as George H. Eddy, Nathaniel B. Borden, Asa Pettey, Jr., John Mason, Jr., James Ford, Job B. Ashley, Joseph Borden, Samuel Hathaway, Benjamin Covel, Charles O. Shove, Walter Paine (3rd), Weaver Osborn, Joshua Remington, Daniel Stillwell, Philip D. Borden. There were men in Congress, too, and in all the professions, who were dependable for whatever requests were made to them for aid in emergencies or in the ordinary calls for help. Such a man was Hon. James Buffinton, who enlisted as a private in Company A, and would never accept office, marching in its ranks and sharing the soldiers' fare. He was unbounded in his sympathies for the ordinary enlisted man. He had sprung from Quaker stock, but there was no more gigantic fighter in the Union cause than he.

Colonel Richard Borden, too, was to be relied upon at any demand of the hour. Great of influence, he shared liberally from beginning to end of the war, not alone with his valued counsel and direction, but his financial aid was whole-hearted. As agent of the steamboat company, he was no slacker when the government demanded the use of the boats in the service. Orators of the day here were such men as Rev. Eli Thurston and Rev. P. B. Haughwout. Rev. Father Edward Murphy, and other clergymen were champion defenders of the union cause. ;

The women of Fall River are to be accounted as among the earliest in New England to gather together and plan for the comfort and relief of the soldier in camp and field, for on April 27, 1861, they had organized a sewing society, the result of whose work cannot be totalled in any set of figures. Day and evening they worked, receiving thousands of dollars in cash which they disbursed in garments of all kinds, in uniforms, in bandages and lint, to the end that many a soldier in hospital and maimed and sick from battle received the benefits. They held fairs and donation parties, and a children's lint-making society was organized by them. Their president was Mrs. Richard Borden; their vice-president, Mrs. Avis Ames; their secretary, Miss A. C. G. Canedy. Others prominent in their work were Miss Caroline Borden, the treasurer; Mrs. William Munday, Mrs. S. Angier Chase, Mrs. Mary A. Brayton, Mrs. Mary Young, Mrs. Foster Hooper, Mrs. Mary Durfee.

The Spanish-American War. - With the succession of preponderant events, the present generation and a new régime hears only as a faint and far-off call that once popular warning, "Remember the Maine". Upon the sinking of that battleship in the harbor of Havana, the three words almost at once became a battle-cry that persisted to and long after the declaration of war. The cry lost nothing in its adoption in Fall River. It was one with the response to the summons of the President, William McKinley, when Battery M answered by land and the men of Company F by sea, their purpose being in agreement with that of the war leaders of the time - the democratization of the islands of the sea. It was on April 25, 1898, when the United States declared war against Spain. Fall River marched into line with characteristic steadiness and devotion, prepared to do service for the republic by means of her patriotic sons. Captain Sierra Leone

Braley was the man of the hour in the business of strengthening the courage of Battery M by his own ready example; and when orders were received here for the assembly of his command the reply was unanimous, as in the case of the first companies in 1861. In fact, the word was broadcasted, and hardly an hour had elapsed before every man was at his post, and answering the roll-call. The promptness with which Fall River men relinquished their civic duties to assume those of the State military, was fully equal to that reported in history of the local Revolutionary soldiers. In that regard, at least, the Spanish War occurrence and personnel in Fall River, as well as everywhere else has not been accorded sufficiency of praise.

The Spanish-American War volunteers stood ready at command, and the first thing on the morning of April 26, the men were off for Fort Warren, and with a generous send-off on the part of the city. They were on the frontier for military duty, wherever the latter might call them. On May 9, Battery M was mustered into the service of the United States for two years, forming as it did a part of the mustering-in of the first volunteer regiment in the country. Major James A. Frye, who has written a book descriptive of the part Massachusetts companies shared in the war, was the commandant at Fort Warren. There the company remained until September 19, when at the close of the war, it was mustered out of the service, their Federal duty ending November 14. Company J, one of the four companies organized at this period of the beginning of the Spanish-American War, was formed May 25, 1898, as a reserve company, just one month after the declaration of war. But as a whole, this company was not summoned into active service. The men of Company F Naval Brigade, which had been organized September 30, 1892, formed members of the crew of the "Prairie" and the "Lehigh," and a number of other vessels. The "Lehigh" was attached to the Northern Patrol fleet, and the "Prairie" was one of the blockade ships in Cuban and Porto Rican waters. The 'Prairie' men from Fall River, thirty in number, reported the day before the declaration of war at the Brooklyn navy yard, the order to do so haying been given by Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt. Lynwood French, a member of this detachment, died of disease while in the service.

Fall River In World War 323

Robinson, Alvin C. Sanford, Joseph H. M. Sharples, Ernest L. Simmons, Harry A. Skinner, Hyman Smolensky, Lester H. Smolensky, William B. Squire, Theodore F. Stevens, Edward A. Thurston, William Waterworth, William A. Wiseman, Richard Wood.