Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Chapter 5: Military History, 1884

Chapter 5: Military History

The first war in which the country became ena'a<'ed after Middleboro' was incorporated as a township was that familiarly known as King Philip's, although four years earlier, when Middleboro' had been incorporated but two years, war with Awashonks, squaw-sachem of the Saconet Indiana, was anticipated and prepared for, and orders issued to raise in Plymouth Colony an armed force of one hundred and two men. Of that force Middleboro' was ordered to furnish two men. Awashonks complied with the demands that the English made upon her, and so no war was waged or men raised.

In December, 1673, a war with the Dutch at New York was deemed imminent, and some preparations made to send a force against them; but this difficulty, like the other, was happily settled and adjusted without the shedding of human blood.

The next war-cloud could not be dispelled or made to pass over so harmlessly, but overshadowed and settled down upon the country, inflicting almost untold suffering and unparalleled woe.

Middleboro', at the commencement of King Philip's war, had but about sixteen families of European origin or descent, and those in these families able to bear arms were probably placed under the command of Lieut. John Thompson, who resided in that part of ancient Middleboro' now Halifax, and he for a time appears, with his sixteen men, to have garrisoned a house near what is known as the Four Corners in Middleboro'.'

Concerning that garrison maintained for a time in Middleboro', under the command of Lieut. John Thompson, traditions have preserved a few incidents in its story, but tradition alone, unsupported by concurrent and strictly reliable facts, is not generally sufficiently trustworthy to be put forth :is history, and as these traditions, in all essential particulars, do not agree, we leave them for what the same are worth, without repeating any one of them, by adding that Middleboro' ia said to have lost only one man, slain in King Philip's war, and whose name was Robert Dauson.

Kin^ William's War. - Middleboro' was refjuired to furnish, per order of Aug. 14, 1689, one soldier and one musket, and soon after to raise the sum of fourteen pounds by Uxation toward meeting the ex- penses of the war. This tax wa3 to be paid on or before the 25th day of November, 1G89, one-third in money, one-tlnrd in grain, and one-third in beef uud pork. The j^rain was to be received and credited as follows: Corn, two shil!inp:s per bushel; rye, two shillings and sixpence per bushel ; barley, two shillings, and wheat, four shillings per bushel ; beef, ten shillings per hundred; and pork, twopence per pound.

1G90, June 5. Required to furnish three soldiers for an expedition to Canada, and to raise, by taxation, toward meeting the expense, £21 IGs. 6d} ICUO, Oct. 9. Thomas Thompson and James Soule were sentenced each to pay a tine of four pounds in moue}', and be imprisoned until said fines were paid, for refusing to obey the orders to them directed requiring them, as soldiers, to go upon the expedition to Canada.

That expedition sailed from Plymouth about noon, June 27, 1G90, Two companies went from what was then Plymouth Colony, commanded by Capt. Joseph Sylvester, of Seituate, and Samuel Gallop, of Bristol, that was then the shire town of Bristol County in Plymouth Colony, but now in Rhode Island.

William Canedy, of Rliddleboro', served in this war as an ensign, and in the early part of 1723 was promoted to lieutenant, and while holding that commission was intrusted with the command of a small fort that, upon the 25th of December, 1723, was attacked by the Indians ; but the defense was conducted so meritoriously that the place was saved until reinforcements arrived and put tlie enemy to flight, and Lieut. Canedy, as an acknowledgment of his faithl'ul services, was promoted to captain. The following are tlie names of persons composing his company, and who were in service in 1724, many of whom were Indians. The places of residence of these soldiers, both wliite men and Indians, are at this time unknown :

^ Thus it appears that in ICUO the town was required to lurnisli tour soldiers, and probably did provide two, ami two le- Tudcd to go, and were punished by tine ur imprisonmeut, and perhaps by both.

The names of those men who aerveJ under Capt. William Cunedy, as <^iven above, were copied from pay-rolls still on file at the State- Hou.-se in Button.

The French and Indian War. - Capt. Bcnjmuiu Pratt, of Middleboro\ led a company to and in the field in the French and Indian war. The name.s of the officers and private soldiers of Capt. Pruti's company were as follows:

"We mett at Elijah Clapp's a Little alter Sun Rise and Drawcd up our men iuto a body and caM** the Hull, and then marched to Major Howard's, in Bridgewater, 7 miles.

"There went to dinner, and then we marched to Newcomb's, in Nurtuii, and there overtook the cart that had our ]iaoks. There we staid all night and laid up chamber.

"May the 31. We marched to Mr. Graves in Mendon, 3 miles, and there went to breakfast; and from there we marched to John llulland's, in Suttun, 16 miles; there went to supper.

This Mr. ninds, then ofl5ciating as a chaplain, was probably Ebouezer Hinds, wlio was born iu Bridgewater, July 29, 1719, and ordained pastor of the Second Calvinistic Baptist Church iu Middleboro*

"June ye 3. We Mustered our men by eight o'clock in the morning, and drew up into a tine with the Regiment, called over our roll, and then our compnny marched utf.

The regiment above referred to, of which this company formed a part, was composed of ten companies, and the names of the several captains were James Andres, Abel Keen, Benjamin Pratt, Samuel Knowles, Pliilip Walker, Gamaliel Bradford, Jonathan Kddy, Sylvanus Bourne, Josiah Thatcher, and Simeon Carey.

"June ye 4. On Sunday we two went, after our Company. We marched to Lester, 4 miles, and there went to breakfast at Mr. Sergeants, from there we went to Spencer, and there went to meeting in forenoon ; from there we marched to Robert Clafton's, in Brookfiold, 15^ miles, and there went tu i^upper and staid all night.

"June ye 5. We marched to James Nichols*, 2 miles, and there we paid off all our hillitiog money. Two of our men, viz., Jessee Curtis and Jacob Allen taken sick, and we left Jacob Tinkbam to take care of them.

" Ensign Finney and I marched after our coni|)any, and went to breakfast at Mr. Cutler's, 2 miles, and overtook them upun Coy's hill, and I went by our Company along with Capt. Hodge's Company tu Cold Spring, VZ miles from Cutler':).

About three years later Cold Spring was incorporated as a town, and named Belchertown, - date of incorporation, June i^O, 1761. The Capt. Ilodgcs was doubtless Joseph Hod«;es, of Norton, a son of Joseph Hodges, of that town, who, as a major, lost his iii'e at the taking of the fortress of Louisburj^, June, 1745. The son, Capt. Joseph Hodges, Jr., was killed in this French and Indian war.

"There I hired Jabez Doggett to go hack to git my coat, which was left where our Company staid tost night at Scut's, 9 miles back, and I staid until he came back again.

" June ye 7. We mustered our men to go over to Northampton, hut we did not go untill the afternoon ; then were all carried over and biltited out upon the Province cost in Ilaiiiptun Town, 2 mile.

'-June 11, Sundiiy. We marched till about noon through mud and water, over hilla and mountains, the worst way that ever was, and about 2 o'clock in the ulternoun came up a thunder shower and wet us ad wet as we could be

" June yc l*i. 1 made a Ileturu to our Adjutant, and then we marched to another fort and staid there a little while, and then we marched until night, and encamped with C;ipt. Hodges and Capt. Gary, and took 15 men for Guard that night.

"June 28. We struck our tents about sunrise, and marclicd to Lake George. Got there about 12 o'clock, 7 miles. There we htard Capo Breton was taken. Wo pitched our tents in order. I bought a quarter of mutton and gave one dollar for it.

"June 2iJ. 1 made Ueturn of all the men that had been in Sei^e, and all Carpenters and Masons. Took 4 men and a Serg' for the main Guard, and a Corp' and 3 men to Guard the provoo.

"July 1. We took out 7 men to work uii the Furt, and 3 for Guard, and received orders if uiiy man was fuund a Gaming he should receive 300 LhbIios Imcdintely.

"July 2"^. Got my <iun mended, which coat me half a dollar. Took out two of our men, vii., (.)badiiih Sampson and Simeon Fuller, which were sick, anil >eiit them down to Fort Edward in a waggon. Corp"' Billingtun was taken very ;ici;.

" Uiawed out all thuse that would gu in whale Luats, and alt of them received Cartouch Boxes and Tomh^uvUs, :iud diitwed allowance for 5 days in pork and Hour and one of froh l>ci-f.

"July !'-». The whale Boat men drawed up into a bi"ly, liied off all their pieces, then drawed 30 rounds a peice i>f powder and ball, then received orders to bo ready to murch next iiiurning at day-break.

"July 5. We Got into our wiiale buats before sunrise, and rowed otf about a mile, and staid until (Jol* Bnid^treet gave us orders to go forward.

" Each boat carried about 10 men, the battoes and the re=t of our army followed with ail our stores, and we went down tlie Lake as far as where Coll. Parker, liail his light hi.-L ycai. There we landed upon that point. See several men'? bones lay there. Some of our men found a gun and several other things that was tost in the fight. From thence wc rowed about a mile and stopped and eat sunte victual.-), and staid lill about sc\ en o'clock at night, then wo got out again and rowed all night.

"July G. We stoped about a mile below the Advancc-l Guard, and staid until! the battoes catnc up, and then we in oui' whale boats was ordered to row up and hmd, whit-li wc did, a Utile below the Guard without damage, although wc was lired upon.

" After the battoes wore all landed, several Uigf of Ueguiarand Uangora, and some of our ProvinciaN, marched tovvarda the Narrows, and met a patty of French and Indi.in-, and liad .i light.

"Thence we returned back to our breaatwork, and about the middle of the afternoon we marched within a mile of the Narrows, where the Regulars and some otlier Big'" liad encamped by a saw-mill.

" lu the mean time Col. Johnson with a party ot Indian^ upon the west side of ye lake, marched up to the top of a hill, whore he with his Indians lired upon the fort, with the hideoiia yelling of the Indians, the worst noise 1 ever heard, and drove a party of Frenob into the lake.

''About elevea o'clock the Regulars marohed up, and all tLo Rhode Inlanders, tind a Httle past 12 o'clock they began to tire upon thi* French at the hreastwurk, which \v;is niudc of heaped tiuiber and a trench around it, very strong, whiih was built after we drove the advnnced guard off.

" We had nothing to cat, the allowance we had before we set out from Lake Georgo was not enough fur one day, and we got no uiure untill we got back. ** Jabez Doggett was wounded.

"July 13. We bad orders to remove our tents beyond tho old Fort, but before wo had done pitching thorn we bad orders to remove them back again. '*JuIy 14. Nothing to do.

"July 16. We went out a hunting. John Barker killed a bear, and there w;i3 .1 French Prisoners taken upon the lake by a party sent down to the Island to stay there as spies.

"July 17. Struck our tents and marched to Saratoga, and there drawed two days allowance, and then marched about a mile and a half and pitched our tents in the Long field.

"July is. We struck our tents about sunrise and marched fur Stillwater. Got there about 10 o'clock. We had 2 carts to our company to carry our pucks.

" From there we marched to the half-way house between Stillwater and the half-moon and there pitched our tents. "There was two killed and scalped at Scattercuok. "July I'J. We marched down to the half-moon and pitched our tents.

"July 22. We were ordered to load up our tents and packs. Our tents we loaded, but they would not load their packs, und when we were ordered to March, Capt. Keen's men clubbed their tire-locks and followed Serg' Rogers and several from other companya.

"July 2.'i. We brought the prisoners out and, after tlie Cul. had reproved them, released them, and we marched up to Lowden's ferry, and went over and encamped in tents and barracks.

"July 2y. Our Rig' marched for tho Gorman tlats j they mostly went in battoes. 3 staid behind, being not well, and so did a great many of our company.

" August 2QJ. Coll. Doty set out after his Ucgt. Wo that were left behind, which were 23 in number, bud nothing to do. At night Sergt. Cole and I drawed a good mess of squashes out of the Dutch stores.

"August 6. Sunday I went to meeting iu the forenoon, but I did not understand one word that was said. AVe beard that Cape Breton was taken, and at night Ensign Johnson made a bonfire for the good news.

"August 7. I and Sergi. Cole went a hunting. I killed a raven tlying. As a Dutchman was taking down his gun to go a bunting his gun went otf by accident and shot his wife dead on ye spot. I received a letter from home.

" August 10. I and 4 more of our company set out to go to German tlatts, under command of Lt. Uezekiah Hulioes, who had 140 under hja command. That night we encamped.

"The Governor' still haj no apprehension of even a Aug'. IS. We made tbe best of our way up tlio river. ' wish in the body of the people of the Province to

" Aug'. 19. We went up the river about 2 uiilea and had a Court martial upon Micah Collins for swearing and gitting drunli, and condemned hiui to have 50 lashes, but his execution i ... . , . , . ,

'"^' Aug'. 22. We 2 waggons to cany over our loading. t Officers commissioned in 1773, because of their "Aug'. 23. AVe staid waiting for our loading and hattoes to , supposed Toryism, would not be those mo^t likely to and Lieut. Holmes and Williams' 25 was stationed at the little province remained passive spectators or came out carrying place, under Lieut. Robinson 25 went down to fort : l^^^ldly and defiantly On the side of the king and Palliament, and botli by words and deeds opposed the sons

The Revolutionary War. - From in or near the '. of liberty in their efforts to break the shackles of year 1755 to 1775 the local militia of the town of j bondage.

Middleboro' (including what is now Lakeville) re- To meet the exigencies of this occasion, the Revomaincd embodied and organized as four compauies, lutionary patriots at Middleboro', as eUewlicrc, set officially designated and generally known as First, about raising and organi'zing military associations Second, Third, and Fourth Foot Compauies of Mid- that were called " minute-men," from the fact that dleboio'. I each member agreed to respond to the country's call

Companies in the local militia at that date consisted at a moment's notice, and these companies of minuteof able-bodied white male citizens from the age of uien throughout Plymoutli County wore embodied as sixteen to that of sixty years, and the geographical a regiment of minute-men, armed, equipped, drilled, limits of eacli company was permanently fixed by , auJ disciplined, and being mainly coiupused of young well-defined metes and bounds as much as those of' nien, was doubtless the most effective reginieiu at that parishes and school districts. time existing in the county.

incorporation of Plymouth County, viz., June 2, raised in Middleboro', and promptly responded at the 1685, to 1775, a period of some ninety years, re- "Lexington alarm," April I'J, 1775. maincd as a part of the First Regiment in that county, The names of the officers and soldiers ol' those and at the commencement of the war of American three companies then called into actual service were Revolution the officers holding military commissions as follows : at Middleboro' were as follows :

That all holding commissions in the local militia ^^^^ ^,^^^ province, but now State of Massachusetts. The govdid not respond at the country's first cry of distress, I emor could revoke a military commission at his own pleasure,

Third Company Of Minute-Men

This force of one hundred and seventy-three men from Middleboro' that, as a part of Plymouth County regiment of minute-men, promptly responded to the couutry^s *- first call," reduced by juat that number the *^rank and file" of the four standing couipauies of local militia in the town, so that had all which still remained in those companies been agreed in the effort to resist kingly authority and mustered for the defense of liberty, their number would have been comparatively small ; but all who remained of those eompaaiea were not united in patriotic principles, thua

And yet an effort was made to bring out the local militia of Middleboro' on the ever-memorable 19th of April, 1775, and unite that body with the minutemen in resisting royalty, which effort was attended with results as follows :

Second Company in the Local Militia of Middleboro*. - To put this company in a condition to respond at the Lexington alarm wu:i attended with considerable difficulty, as neither of its commissioned officers ut that date would so far commit himself as to lead this company to fight for liberty, and hence officers had to be selected to supply their places, and in doing which the choice for a commander fell upon Capt. Abiel Peirce, a veteran officer of the Frencli and Indian war.

The Second Company, when it, with the " embattled farmers, stood and fired the shot heard round the world," was officered by and consisted of the followiug-named persons:

Rufus Howland. Daniel Jueket. Sylvanus Perrington. AusTBACT. - Captain, 1; lieuteuaut, I; ensign, I ; sergeants, 4; corporals, 4; musioiami, 2; private soldiers, 47: total, GU.

Thus it appears from strictly reliable evidence that upon that ever-memorable day when the blood of murdered freemen wet the sods of Lexington and Concord, and, like the blood of righteous Abel, cried for vengeance from the ground, the ancient town of Middleboro', then embracing the present township of Lakeville, seni five companies to the field (if bloody strife, the numbers of which the present dwellers in those towns have reason to be proud of, and that the same may hereafter be readily referred to and easily remembered, we present a condensed abstract in tabular form :

"Lexington Alarm," April 19, 1775, raised a com- i pany for Col. Siiueon Carey's regiment in the patriots' i army, auJ was put upon duty in Roxbury. The in- I spection-roll of Capt. Nathaniel Wood's company, I April 1, 1770, bore the foliowiug names:

Capt. Abiel Peirce, who led the second company of the local militia on the occasion known as the " Lexington Alarm,'* soon after raised a company for Col. Nicholas Dike's regiment in the patriot army, and Wits placed on duty near Boston.

towns of Abiugton, Bridgewater, and Waiehaui, and numbered in rank and file aixty-uine officers and rioldiers. The names of those furnished by the town of IMiddleboro' were as follows :

Upon the occasion still known as the '* Rhode Island Alarm," in December, 177G, Middlcboro' contributed toward the defense of Rhode Island by sendinf to the «iid of the patriots of that section the companies hereafter enumerated :

Fifth Company Of Infantry

CoDcerniu^ the part thut the town of MiJJlcLoro', in December^ 1776, took in the attempt to defend Rhode Island from British agj^rcssion, it is advibuble and proper liere to state that in the early part of tliat year all the local militia of the towiib of MiJdleboro', Rochester, and Warehara were fuimcd into a regiment, of which the field-officers were as follows: Ebenezer Sproutt, of Middleboro', colonel ; Ebenezer White, of Rochester, Heutenaut-colonel ; Israel Fearin;^, of Wareham, senior major, and Juhn Nelson, of Middleboro' (tliat part now Lakevillej, junior major.

Middleboro' at that time had ei;^lit cuinpanies of local militia, Rochester probably had four companies, and Wareham two, and doubtless all these fourteen companies were in December, 177G, ordered to assist temporarily in the defense of Rhode Island, but how well these responded to that call may reasonably be inferred from a letter that Senior Maj. Israel Fearing addressed to Col. Ebenezer Sproutt, of which the following is a copy :*

1 Junior Major John Nelson mode a copy of this letter that Senior Major Israel Fearing, from the rej^imental hcudquarters at Fogland Ferry, addreasett to Col. Ebt-nezer SprouLt, in his safe quarters at home, whieU copy Maj. Nelson attested us bein;^ true. That attested copy ia in the possession of the writer of this historic sketch, as also some other but ori>;inal writin;;s ofhcially rendered in that camp at Foglaiid Ferry, severely criticising the conduct of some of those stay-at-liomo field ollicers ; and in one return from Lieut. Jonah ^Vashburn concerning "missing men," he said that be did not know \vhc(hcr tlicso were dead, or had deserted, or gone home to add to the scare of the colonel.

*' Sin, - Inconseiiuence of your orders the Towns of Rochester and Warcliam have mustered the whole of their militiiry and marched them accordingly to the place required by you.

" ilul what is still more surprising to me, I found myself obliged tu take the cmiimaud of the Regiment, which, considering my abilities, is anluuus and disagreeable, and wliich I determinc to avail of if you or Col. White do not appear to take the command of.

' ** We are amazingly in waut of men to guard this coast, therefore most seriously desire you to send your whole military force froiu Middleborough immediately.

Maj. Fearing did not say that the " one whole company that had quitted their post without paying any regard to Col. Cook, the commander," were Middleboro' men, but the intimation that tliey were is certainly strong, and even if so only live of the then eight companies of the local militia of Middleboro' reported for duty, and but four of those five remained j to perform that duty. I

The [>ay-ro!ls at the State-House in Boston show | that tlie only field-ofEcers of this Fourth Regiment I present and doing duty in Rhode Island upon the occasion known as the " Rhode Island alarm" in De- I cember, 1776, were Senior Maj. Israel Fearing, of | Wareham, and Junior Maj. John Nelson, of what was then Middleboro*, but now Lakeville.

In a company raised by Capt. Levi Rounseville, of Freetown, for the Ninth Regiment, in what was then probably denominated the Massachusetts army, Middleboro' furnished the followiug-named officers and soldiers :

In the early part of 1777 a company from Middleboro' was sent into service at Rhode Island, of which the names of officers and soldiers were as follows :

In what was called the '* Secret FiXpedition'* to Rhode Island, in 1777, Capt. Job Peirce led a company of Middleboro' men that numbered, in officers and soldiers, ninety-two ; but as these have beeu given, both their names, ranks, and relative stations, in tl»e history of Lakeville, the reader is referred thereto for the more minute particulars.

The fortgoing commenced service Aug. 25, 1778. William Squire and Andrew Perry reported for duty Aug. 27, 1778, and each served seven days. William Peirce, James Sproutt, Judah Hall, and Simeon Coombs each served nine days.

At the second " Rhode Island ahirm/' in August, 1780, Middlcboro' sent to the field the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Companies in the local militia of the town.

The Third Company was commanded by Capt. William Tupper, and the names of those of the Third Company who participated in that service were as follows :

The regiment of which the Second, Tliird, Fourth, and Fiitli Companies of the local militia of Middleboro' formed a part, and participated in the stirring event^i at Rhode Island in August, 1780, was led to and in the field of bloody .strife by Lieut.-Col. Ebeuezer White, of Rochester.'

"RoeiiE.siEn, March S'l-, 17SI. "SiK, - This day orders is received from Brig'^ Gushing in conser,uence uC a order from Governor Hancock, the purport of which ,s that a hundred men be detached from this Ilegiment, properly i aequipt, with three days' provisions, 1 march immediately to Tivertown, A from thence to Newport, for the term not exceeding forty days, to be under the command of Major-Goal J^»ln; the Town of Middleboro' proportion,

' He conducted bravely, and thus relieved himself of the odium occasioned by his not accompanying the regiment to the field 01 the Rhode Island alarm of December, 1776. A part of his sword was shot off by an enemy's bullet while he held that weapon in his hand. He lived honored and died lamented.

whereof is fifty-nine men, which you are ordered to cause to be raised immediately, i. form them into one company, A appoint one captain A two Lieutenants to command them ; .t see that they march without Lose of time to the place of .lestinatiun. Should any thing turn up so that it is not convenient for said town of Middleboro' to form a company I shall take care to advise you of it.

The term " tiiia Regiment," as used in the order, meant the Fourth Regiment of the local militia of Plymouth County, which regiment then embraced the local militia of the then towns of Middleboro', Rochester, and Wareham. That Fourth Regiment was formed in 1776, and disbanded by legislative enactment April 24, 1840.

The " Brigadier" Cushing was Gen. Joseph Gushing, of Hanover. He was commissioned a brigadiergeneral in the early part of 1776. His brigade consisted of all the local militia of Plymouth County except that of the town of Hingham. I.-^rael Fearing, of Wareham, was at the date of the order holding the office of senior major of tlie Fourth Regiment, and John Nelson, of Middleboro', was junior major, having held those positions from 1876.-

The local militia of the State of Ma.ssachusetts was entirely reorganized in 1781, and all officers commissioned anew. Many of the old officeis were reeoiiimissioned to their former positions, and some promoted to a higher rank. Middleboro', Rochester, and Wareham were made to continue as beluie, the militia of these towns forming the Fourth Regiment of the Plymouth County brigade.

The field officers of the Fourth Regiment, oummissioned in 1781, were John Nelson, of Middleboro' (that part now Lakeville), colonel; William Tupper, of Middleboro', lieutenant-colonel ; and Kdward Sparrow, of Middleboro', major.

2 The general and field officers of the Plymuiuli County brigade at that time were as follows: Joseph Cushing, of Hanover, brigadier-general.

with these new organizations and appointments of new officers, it was iotenJed and confidently expected that a new and improved order of things would be realized, initiating better drill and better discipline. One of the first steps toward efiecting these desirable objects in the Fourth Regiment was to cause a ri<:id inspection of both men and arms, ef|uipments and ammunition.

Here is the evidence that in the latter part of 1781, or beginning of 1782, those persons residing iu the town of Middleboro' liable to perform military duty in case of invasion or alarm were five hundred and sisty-nioe, beside those embraced in the fifth company, of which the inspection-roll and official return is lost, and which doubtless swelled this force to something over six hundred persons.^

Last War with England, sometimes called the War of 1812. - The militia of Massachusetts were officially notified that this war had been declared by an order from the Governor, of which the following is a true copy :

" War havin;^ been declared by the government o( the United States against Great Britain und Ireland and the dependencies thereof, tlic Couimander-in Chief ualU upon the Militia of Mass. duly to notieu tho Bolcmn and intcresliii-^ erisia, and. cxhurts them to meet the oceasiou with constaney and tirmness.

* The general and held otUcers of the Plymouth County brigade, commiysioned at the reorganization, July 1, 1781, were Joaepli Cashing, of Hanover, brigadier-general.

Fuurth llegiiuetit. - John Nelson, of Middleboro' (now LaUeville), eolonui, William Tupper, of Middleboro', lieutenant-colonel, and Edward Sparrow, major.

" When war is comuneDced, no human fore^ight can diacei n the time of iU* termination or the course of events that must follow in its train, but the path of duty is tho puth of safety. Providence seldom abandons to ruin those who to a just reliance on the superintending influence of lU-aven add their own vigilant and strenuous exertions to preserve themselves. At the present moment, therefore, the Commander-in-Chief earne-^tly recommends to theotfioera of every grade a close and persevering attention to the duties resulting from tlieir >evcral >tation?, particularly that they acquire and maintain a perfect I^dowIedge of the condition of their re>pi-ctive comuumd:;!, and seu as far as is iu their power that their men are duly armed and equipped ; that the time allotted to truinings be devoted to the instruction of the non-couiiiiissioncd ulliucrs and .-^uKliers in tho evcreiso of iirms and in the practice of the evolutions as prescribed in tho established regulatinus, :ind tliat the pn<vi.-^ion.s and intentions of the laws being in every rer^fii-ct fullilled, they may be ready with alacrity and effect to defeml their country, their coostitutional rights, and those liberties which are not only our birthiight, but which at the expense of so much blood and tre:isure were purchased in the late revolutiou.

"From the docility, from the good sense and patriotism of the non-commissioned olGcers and soldiers, the Couniiaader-iti- Chief is led to expect a patient submission to the inatructioiLS of their olficora, prompt obedience to orders, and the practice of all thobe military and masculine virtues which adoru tho soldier and exalt the man.

"To all the militia, both oflicers and soldier-, the Cummander-in-Cbief would superadd an earnest exhortation, as they are citizens as well ns soldiers, to cultivate a spirit uf candor, of friendship, and mutual forbearance, and un ardent love of country that shall elevate them above all sinister views, and. eventually secure to them and their children the blessings of peace, of liberty, and good government.

"The Commander-in-Chief requires that particular attention be paid to tho Town Magazines, that they are lully provided with the ammunition, military stores, and utensils which tho law directs, and the brigade quartermiistcrs are required to perform their duty with promptitude and exactness.

"In such divisions as have not completed the detuchments of ten thousand men called for by the (jlencral Orders of the twenty-fifth day of April last, the Major-GencruU or eomniaiiding olficers of those divisions are enjoined to attend to that service without delay, and to make and complete the detachments from their respective eouip?, of their several quotas of tho said ten thousand men, and to make return of the same as speedily :ts may bo to the Adjutant-ticneral ; the said Uenerals and other ollicers will take care that the militia ::0 detached are duly provided with the etlicient arms and accoutrements necessary for actual service.

"The militia detached by the orders above alluded to, after they are formed eonforuiably to said orders, will hold themaehcs in readiness to march on the shortest notice, pur.-^iianl to the orders to be given by thoCommaniler-iu-Chief, un!c:^> in caac uf actual invasion or immineut danger thereof, in which c.itc, without waiting for such orders, they will march without delay to the defense of auy part or jtarts uf this coiuiuonweiillh that ahall be so invaded or iu imminent danger of inva.-ion, and when in the actual service of the United States will be under the command of the President, agreeably to the Constitution of the United States.

-* And wliereas the quota of ten ihousaud militia required as aforesaid, being to be raised from tbeseveral divisions aiid corps throughout the commonwealth, cannot be assembled in time to repel a sudden invasion, and to embody them )>reviousIy and keep them iu contttant service would be extremely burdensome^ mid even if assembled would not be adequate to the defense ot tlie numerous points on a coast of several hundred miles in extent, tlie Coiumauder-in-Ohicf further orders au.l directs that the generals nnd other officers of tlio whole militia of the eomnionwcallh, hearing io mind the [lossibility of sudden invasion, hold themtelvos and the corps of militia under their respective commands in constant readiness to assemble nnd march to the defense of any part or parts of the commonwealth, pursuant to the orders to he given by him, hut as (hat waiting for such orders in case of actual invasion or such imminent danger thereof .is will not admit of delay.

-- By the gen' orders above mentioned, of the 25th of April last, three niajor-geuerals and sii brigadier-generals were assigned tci uouiiiiand in detaehuienti without being regularly detailed from the Roster.

The Coiuiuauder-in-Chief therefore orders that the following gen' officers being detailed from the lloster, as the law directs, be appoiuted to command in the said detachments in lieu of the gen' officers named in the gen' orders afor*" :

Pursuant to these orders detachments were made of ofEcuis and soldiers who were required to hold tlieuLselves in readiness to march at the sliortest notice, but comparatively few of whom were called into actual service.

But by division orders, bearing date of Sept. 17, 1814, a part of the force held io readiness by the town of iMiddleboro' was sent to the field. Capt. Peter II. Peirce, with liis company, being ordered to form a part of the coast guard for the defense of the port of Plymouth and that vicinity.

31aj. Levi Peirce had previously entered upon the duties uf a battalion commander at and near New ! Bedford, and Capt. Peter H. Peirce marched his ' company to and entered upon the service of defending the coast at and near Plymouth. The names of the officers and soldiers then furnished by the town of iMiddleboro', to con.stitute a part of the coast guard stationed at Plymouth, and who repaired to the place required and performed a tour of duty, were as follows :

Beside these, Samuel Morton and Allen Reed were reported absent, sick, and Elias Richmond recorded as a deserter. Benjamin Haffords was reported absent, but no cause given for his absence, and James Bump was discharged after serving one day.

The coast-guard, stationed at and near New Bedford, was commanded by Lieut.-Col, Commandant Benjamin Lincoln, of that place. Senior Major Levi Peirce, of Middleboro', ranking as second in command, and performing such duties as now devolve upon a lieutenant-colonel.

These three companies were commanded by Capts, Nathaniel Wilder, Jr,, Joseph Cushman, and Gaius Shaw, and composed of officers and soldiers as follows :

*<Sin, - You will consider yourself discharf^ed IVoiii the present detachment, tojjether with the otlicers and soldiers recently under your command, and those otficers and f-uMiurs recently under the command of Capt. .loseph Cu^lmi.m, \vllu^e absence from service has caused his oflicers and soldiers to do duty under your command.

"You will accept my thanks, and also those of .Major Levi Peirce, and through you to the OlHcers and .Suidicrs under your command, for your and their good conduct and prompt attention to orders. Bknjn. Li.sroi.N, CoL"

Beside the company of Capt. Peter II. Peirce, stationed at or near Plymoutli as a part uf the coastguard, in the last war with England, and the three companies just enumerated as stationed at or near New Bedford, Middleboro' also furnished anotiier company in that coast-guard at or near Plymouth, which company was commanded by Capt. Gieenleal" Pratt, but the roll of which company the writer of this historic sketch has not been fortunate enough to find. Brigade orders of Sept, 17, 1814, caused Maj. Ephraim Ward, of Middleboro*, to be detailed and sent to Plymoutli, where he served as a fieldofficer in the coast-guard.

'I'lie local uiiiitiii of Plymouth County in tlie time | of tlie last war with England continued to be as from the war of the Revolution it had been organized as ' one brignde, wliich brigade was composed of four reginienta of infantry, a battalion of artillery, and a : battalion of cavalry. That was before the days of steam-engines and railroad-curs and telegraphs, and, as a means of bringing plainly to mind tiie modes then available in transmitting information or conveying orders, the following true copy of a brigade order is presented, and which order was addressed to the , captain ol' one of the companies of cavalry:

A private soldier in a company of ^Massachusetts cavahy was called a " dragoon," and a private soldier iu a company of artillery a " matross."

In each company of cavalry was required to be one captain, two lieutenants, one cornet or colorbearer, four sergeants, four corporals, one or more trumpeters, and a certain number of dragoons.

In each company of artillery was required one captain, one lieutenant, two second lieutenants, four seragents, four corporals, two musicians, two bombardiers, and a certain number of raatrosses.

The War of the Great Rebellion. - Coming events cast their shadows before, as will readily be seen in the following true copies of general orders :

"Events which have recently occurred, and are now in progress, require that Massachusetts should be at all times ready to furnish her quota of troops upon auy requisition of the I'residcKt of the United States, to aid in the uiaiutcnance of the laws and the peace of the Union.

His E.xcellency the Commander-in-Chief therefore orders : "That the commanding oOicers of each company of Volunteer Militia examine with care the Koll of bis company, and cause the name of each member, together with his rank and place of residence, to be properly reoorded, and a copy of the same to be forwarded to the Adjutant-General. Previous to which coiumunders of couipaoics shall make inquiry whether there are men in their commands who from age, physical detect, bu:^iness or fauiily cares, may be unable or indisposed to Hi respond atouco to the orders of tbo Coinmander-in-chicr, made in response to the call of the President of the United Stales, that they may be forthwith discharged, so that their places may be tilled by men ready for any public exigency which may ari.-e whenever called upon. After the above orders have been fullillcd, no discharge either of oflicer or private ?liall be granted unless for cause, satisfactory to the Comiuandcr-iu-Chief.

" If any companies have not the uiimber of men allowed by law, the commanders of the satue shall make proper exertions to have the vacancies tilled, and the men piopeily diilled and uniformed, aud their names and places of le^ideoce furwuriied to Headquarter.s.

"To promote the objects etubraced in this order, ibe Ljenerai, Field- anil Stalf-Ollicers, ami the Adjutant and acting Quartermaster-General will give all the aid and assistance iu their power.

" Brigadier-Generals Peirce and Bullock and Lieut. -Colonel Holmes will transmit to their respective irouimands General Orders No. 4, from the Commander-in-Chief {herewith transmitted), aud cause the same to be carried iuto elfect.

The names of officers and soldiers that the town of Middleboro' furnished to the Union service in the hite war of the great Rebellion, their rank, station^ aud corps in which that service was rendered, was a.s follows :

I The second brigiulo then embraced all the active militia of the oounties of Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth, and the regimeDtd of Cols. Packard aud Wardro wore aiiioug the tir:>t that left Massachusetts for the seat uf war, in April, IS5I.

Twenty-Fourth Regiment Of Infantry Fifty-Eighth Regiment Of Infantry

Roll of Honor. - Names of MiJdlcboio' men wlio^o lives were sacriliceJ for the uause of tlie Uuioii in thu late war of the great llebellion :

'^ The gallant man, though slain in li^hl he be, Yot leaves his country snfc, liis nation free, Entails a debt on all the t^nittful >talc ; His own brave friends shall ^lory in his fate, Jlis wife live honored, and his laee succeed. And late postelity enjoy the deed." - l*ol'i;*s

at New Orleans June 21, ISo;:. Daniel Handy, died at Centralia, 111., Sei^t. lu. ISii;;. Levi Hathaway, died at Indianapolis, Ind., .\ug. 2U. Ibii^;. Henry L, Shaw, of wounds received at l*orl Hudson, died U*-iober, 1803. Ei»bruim Siuiinons, died at Urasbe.ir L'it) M.iy 21, ISil;;. Andrew K. Thomas, died at or near Ijrashear City, l.u., Junu

ISliS. Alva C. Tinkham, die.l at Brashear City, l.a., July Isri.:. Joseph Thomas, died at Port Ilud^un, La., Au_:^. I, I sii;:. Corp. Francis S. Thomas, died at Carrollton llo.-pital, l..i., battle of Bull Bun. Martin V. Haymond, killed ai Bull Uun An-;;. Kstl'j. Frederick E. Attwood, killc.l in battle Au^-. -'li, I8G2. Francis B. Cuuhuian, died .May lo, 1&B2. John K. Martin, died in hospital Jan. 27, 1811... Corp. Georgo 11. Swilt, liied in IStiS, from wound- received at

William B. Brigbtmun, died in Libby Prison Sept. 2.^, 18ti2. Charles E. Hunt, killed at battle of I'uld Harbor June 1, 18iil. Sergt. Henry M. Warren, died Dec. 211, I 8152, from wounds received in battle of Fredericksburg. James H. Wade, died in hospital at Philadelphia Aug. 7, 1S62.

Cyru^ Hall, died iuMiospital at Wasliinj^'ton, D. C, Oct. I'J, 1862. Samuel .Mullen, died at Hall's lUIl Jan. 10, 1862. Cbarlcti W. Wiluiartli, died in Aiider.sonville prison July 18,

Fifty-Ninth Regiment Of Infantry General Officers

GENERAL OFFICERS. AbicI Washburn, brigadier-general, from .St-pt. 4, 1316, to 1824. Ephraiu) Ward, brigadier-general, from Jan. 27, 1825, to IS31. Darius Miller, brigadier-general, from July 20, IS3I, to 1833. Eliab Ward, brigadier-general, from April 8, IS5(), to 1355.

Field Officers

FIELD OFFICERS. First Reqihent op I.vfantuv. Elkaoali Leonard, major, from 1741-1745. Ebone^er Sproutt, major, from 17 - to 1776. lienjauiin Drew, Jr., major, from Feb, 14, 1836, to .\pril 24,

Third Regiment ok Light Infantuv. Eliab Ward, colonel, from July 10, 1844, to April 8, 1850. Eluathan W. Wilbur, colonel, from May 4, 1850, to 1853. Stephen Thomas, colonel, from March 12, 1853, to 1858. Lothrop Thomas, lieutenant-colonel, from Aug. 2.!, 1834, to

22, 1800. Ephraim Ward, lieutenant-colonel, from 18I-, to April 25, IS17. Peter II. Peirce, lieutenant-colonel, from April 25, 1317, to 1823. Benjamin P. Wood, lieutenant-colonel, from Out. 10, 1823, to

Compaiiy Officers. - From 1(J69 to 1727, or about fift3'-ein;lu years, all tlie local militia within the bounds of what are now the townships of MiJdleboro' and Lakeville were euibruced in one company. This company was, in or about 1727, divided into two companies known as First and Second Companies, and a few years later subdivided into three companies, and in or before 1755 made to constitute four companies, as it continued to do until the war of American Revolution, when further divided and organized as eight companies.

First Company

Ebcnezcr Sproutt, captain, from 1702 to 177-. Natiiaoiel Wood, captain, from 1776 to July 1, 17S1. Williiim Sliaw, captain, from July 1, I7SI. John Thuiupson, lieutenant, from 1075. Joseph Vaughn, licutuiiaut, from 17 - to March, 1716. Ichahoil Southworth, lieutenant, from March, 1716, to 1727. Samuel Suiiih, lieulenunt, from 1702 to Sept. 19, 1775. Junah Washburn, Jr., lieutenant, from 177B to July 1, 17S1.

Second Company

This company was dibbautleJ by a general order from the Governor Feb. 25, 1818. For i'uiLher particulars, see account of companied of liglit inlaniry in Middleboro*.

Third Company Uistory Of .Middleboro'

Bunjuiuin White, lieutenant, fi-um 1762. Jolin .Munlcick, licuteimnt, from 1775 tu July 1, 1781. Sauiuul Dnton, lieutenant, from July I, 17!il. Klkan.ili Leonard, Jr., ensign, front 1762 to 17 - . Juincs AVcatoo, cn;iign, from 1776 to July 1, 1781. SyWuMua Wurren, ensign, from July 1, 1 78 1.

Eighth Company

EIGHTH COMPANY. David Vaughan, captain, from July 1, 1781. Andrew Cobb, lieutenant, from July 1, 1781. lehabod Wood, ensign, from July I, 1781.

Companies of Light Infantry. - Two hanJsoniely-uuifbrmed, fully-equipped, wellJrillcd, and thoroughly-disciplioed couipunics of lij;lit infantry have existed in Middleboru'. Tlie first of these raised in this towu was authorized by an order, of wliich the following is a true copy :

'* COMUONWEALTll OF M assachusktts, "In Council, January 20th, 1813. "The military committee to whom was referred the petition of Thomas AVood and forty-three others, privates in a company of militia in the town of Middleborough, commanded by Captain Enoch Hawkins, praying that said company may be disbanded and annexed to the company commanded by Captaia

Sylviinus AV^:irrt:n, in urJer tor (be united couipaiiicb to enlist :ind furni a Grenailicr L'Oiii|iany, ub^tcrvc that tbu Cuioiicl and Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ucj^iuicnt of wiiich iaid companies are a part, being tlie -Itb Uej;iuient of the lirst Brigade of the tiftb Div'ifiuii uf the Militia, approv^e of the petitions, and state that the Captain of the company in which they bclon;^ has no objeetions to the proposed uica^uic, and that the Lieutenant has moved out of the bounds of the Brigade, while the En=i^n expliciti}' gives bis assent; and the committee further obaui've that the measure prayed for meets tbo approbation of ilie Urigadicr aud Mujur-gcuerals ; report that His Kxcelleney be advised to direct that the company lirst above mentioned be disbanded, and that the non-commissioned otficers and privates thereof be annexed to tlie company now commanded by Cajjtain Sylvanus Warren, the limits of which shall be extended ao a^ in future to comprehend tlic district of tlie tUsbanded cuiiipan}', and to authorize Syhanus Barrows, named for the purpose in said petition, to enli?t from the said united companies j. proper number of nten to form a company of Grenadiers which bball be annexed to the fourth Uogiment aforesaid.

" llKADyuAUTKits, BosTON, Feb. 25, 1818. ** The Commander- in -Cliief having approved the above written advice of Council, directs ibe bamu to bo carried into effect. "Major-General Nathaniel Goodwin will give the necessary orders for that purpose.

" IIcAugrAitTKKS, Plvmoutq, March 7, 1813. "The Major-General directs Brigadier-General Washburn to iasue the necessary orders tor forming a company of Grenadiers in tho 4th Regiment, agreeable to advice of Council and (jen< eral Orders of the 26th ultimo.

"Tho Brigadier-General directs Colonel Ephraim Ward to issue the necessary onlers for forming a company of Grenadiers in tlie Uh Regiment, agreeable to above General and Divi^^ion orders.

"I.N Cou.Ntli,, May 14, 1818. "The military committee of Council to whom was referred the petition of Roland Peiree and otliers, inhabitants of tho town of Middluborougli, requesting that the Military Company in said town commanded by Captain Nathaniel iiall may be disbanded, the oHicers of said company iipproving the mcii-surc, and the non-comiuissioned oMicers and privates of (he same be annexed to the company now comuiaudc<l by Capt. Peiham Atwood, and that auiJ Peiree and his associates may bu permitted to form themselves into a<ircnadier Company, respectfully report that His Excellency bo advised to have the company of Militia iu tho town of Midilleborougli, ciiiamanded by Captain Nalhaniol Ilall, in the fourth Regiment, fir>t Brig:t<le, and fifth Divisiun, disbanded, and the non-commissioneil ollicers and privates of the same annexed to the adjoining cumpany now commanded by Captain Peiham ^Vtwoud, and to direct tliat the limits heretofore of said Hall's company shall bereufter be considered as forming a part of the aforesaid Captain Atwood's company, and likewise to permit tho ufore.-aid Roland Peiree, and bis associates, under the onlistmont uf Cuptain Nathaniel Hull, to form themselves into a cuinpany uf Grenadiers, together with such others as may hereafter join

Tlien followed from the adjutant-general of the State ati order of May 11, 1818, a division order of May 19lh, and a brigade order (from Brig.-Gcn. \Va^l)burn j of May 23, 1818, transmitting the aforesaid order of Council, and the oompany directed to be formed was, upon the 16tli of July, 1818, organized.

This company was disbanded by an order from the Governor bearing date of Sept. 25, 1858, having maintained an organized existence a little more than forty years.

About the close of the war of the American Revolution a militia law was passed in Ma.ssachusetts, requiring the performance of military duty, with a few exceptions, by all able-bodied white male citizens from the age of sixteen years to that of fifty. These were to be organized as companies, and drilled aud disciplined, aud denominated the train band. All able-bodied white male citizens from the age of fifty years to that of sixty-five were, with a few exceptions, to be denominated the " alarm list," aud both train band and alarm list were by law required to keep constantly and completely armed and equipped. All past officers in the militia under sixty-five years of age were also in this alarm list.

The equipment required was a good fire-arm with a steel or iron ramrod and worm, priming-wire and brush, and a bayonet fitted to his gun, a cartridge-box that would hold fifteen rounds at least, six flints, one pound of powder, forty leaden balls fitted to his gun, a haversack and blanket, and a canteen that would hold one quart.

The writer of this historic sketch is the fortunate possessor of the original returns made of the militia of Middleboro' about the beginningof the year 1782.

These lists embrace all the companies at that time existing in the town of Middleboro', save the Fifth Company, of which the return is lost.

From these lists a fair representation can be made of the names and number of the able-bodied white male citizens of Middleboro' between the ages of sixteen and sixty-five years, save those in the Fifth Company, one hundred and two years ago :

I Recapitulation

Thus it is made most evidently and conclusively to appear that at the be;5inniug of tlie year 1782 Middleboro' had five hundred and sixty-six persons liable to perform military duty, besides those enrolled iu the Fifth Company ; that could the number bo learned, it would doubtless swell the sum total to over seven hundred. An important change, or rather several important changes were made in the nuinbi-r and bounds of the companies in Middlcboro', pursuant to the recommendation of the military committee of the Honorable Council of the Governor of this commonwealth, under date of May 13, 1S31. That report was as follows :

Commonwealth Of Massachusetts

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. "The Committee of Council qq Military AlVairs, to whom was referred the communication of the Adjutant- General on the subject of reorganising the Militia, conforming the same to the reduced numbers which, by law, now compose the Train Hand, eti:. HEfORT, That in the Fourth Regiment the companies ot Inhintry ia the town of Middleuuuolgii, commanded by Captains Benjamin F. Wood and James Pickens, be dibbanded, and thai all persons liable to be enrolled in the militia and residing within the following limits in said Middleborough, viz., beginning at Woodward's bridge, do Taunton River, thence easterly by said river to the southwest corner of Halifax; thence southeasterly by the lino which divides Middleborough from Halifax. Plympton, and Carver, until it comes to tho road leading IVoiu William Shurtlitf'a, in Middleborougb, to Plymouth, by Rocky Meadow Saw-mill J thence easterly by said road to the brook to Tuspaquin Pond ; thence westerly by the north side of said pond, and pass brook to the road loading from Wareham to Bridgewater tlic-iiuc \ve.'>tei'ly by ibe s:iid rouJ which Iciidi lo Bridgewutcr, by rdward Sparruw'i and Luvi Tinkliaiu'd, until it couics to the road K-adilif^ frutu IMyinoutb to Tauntuu by the house uf Thuiu:iA Sprout ; theDce easterly by said Taunton road tu tlie Nenia-ket River; thence northerly by said river to the road leading; from iMiddleborouj;h Four Corners to Uridgcwater, by the hiiuaFs oltioneral Abiel Washburn and Kbcue^er Willis; thence by said road tu tlio bounds first mentioned (excluding all the inhabitants on iiaid road from the school-house uear General Washburn's to ^\'"oodward's bridjje), be enrolled in tlie coiujiiniy of Infantry coiniuuDded by Capt;*in Karl Spruat, and euuslitutc the Xottficust Compauif iutiuid MiiiJUbdi-tntt/h. And that all persons liable to be unrolled in the Militia aud rcsidin-^ within the following bounds, viz., beginning at Fall Brook Furnace, tlienee easterly by Fall Brook to the north side of Tuspiii|uia Pond tu the utouth of the brook which runs near the house of William Sliui tletl'; thence northerly by said brook to the road leading from William Shurtlell''3 to Plymouth, by Roeky Meadow Saw-mill ; thcuce easterly by the said road to Carver line; thence southeasterly by the line which divides the town of Middleborough from Carver and Wareham to Rochester; iheuee westerly by the line which tlivides Rochester from Middleborough to Eaat Quiticus Pond ; thence noitherly by East t^uiticus, upper and lower Pocksha Ponds, to the mouth of the broi>k near Elias Cushman's; thence northerly, straight to the lirst-nanied hounds, be enrolled in the Company of Infantry, eomntanded by Captain John Fuller, and constitute the

"Thai all persons, liable to be enrolled in the militia, and residing H ithin the following bounds, viz. : beginning at Taunton line at Shaw's meeting-house; thence southwesterly by the road leading from said lueeting-bousu to Sampson's Tavern, in Miildleborough, until it comes to Assawamsett Pond ; thence easterly by the west side of Assawamsett lower and upper Pucksha and East (juiticus Pond to Rochester; thence westerly and northerly by the line wliioh diviiles Middleborough from Rochester, Taunton, and Freetown to the tirst-mentioncd boumls bo enrolled in the company of infantry commanded by Cap't. Samuel Hoar, and constitute the South\vest Company in Middleborough.

" Thiit all persons liable to be enrolled in the militia, iind residing within the following limits, viz.: beginning at Woodward's bridge on Taunton River; thence southerly by the road leailing from IJridgeuater tu Middleborough Four Corners by the houses of Ebenozer Willis aud (len. Abiel Washburn to the Nemaskct Kiver, including all the inhabilauison the said road froui Woodward's bridge tu the school-house near Gen. Abiel Washburn's : tbeuce on said river to the road leading IVom T:iunton by the houses of Peter II. Peiree, George Leonard, and Samuel Miller to Taunton line ; thence north by the line which diviilcs Middleborough from Taunton to Taunton River; thence westerly by said river to the bounds lirst mentioned, be enrolled in the couipany of infantry commundedby Capt. William Murdock, and constitute the Northwest Company in ^liddleborough.

"Tliat all person? liable to bo enrolled in the militia, and residing within the following bounds, viz. : beginning at Shaw's meetiug-hou.-e; thence uortherly by the line winch divides Middleborough from Taunton to the road leading from Tauuton to Plymouth ; thence easterly by said road leading to Plyuiouth by the bouses of Samuel Miilci, George Leonard, and Peter H. Peiree to the road leading from Hridgewater to Wareham near Thomas .Sprout's; thence southeasterly by said road leading to AVarehaui by the bouses of Levi Tinkham and Edward Sparrow to I'^all Brook ; tbeiicu westerly by said brook to Fall brook Furnace; thence Southerly straight to the mouth of the brook near Elias Cushman's at lower Pocksha and Assawamsett Poods to the road leading from Sampson's Tavern in Middleborough to Shaw's meetiDg-bouse ; thence northwesterly by s;iid road tu the hrst-mentionod bounds, bo enrolled in the company of infantry commanded by Capt. Abrahaiu Bryant, aud constitute the Central Company in Middleborough."

This report wns by the Governor antl Council accepted May 13, 1831, aniJ enforced by Geiicnil Oider.s of Slay 30, 1831. The boundaries by this order fixed for tliese thenceforth five instead of seven standing companies in the local militia of Middleboro', remained unchanged until the abolition of the old militia system by an act of the Massachusetts Legislature, passed April 2-i, 1840.

The two light infantry companies in Middleboro', familiarly known as grenadiers, that for many years were flank companies to tlie Fourth Regiment of Infantry, were incorporated into and became parts of the Third Regiment of Light InAintry.

Grand Army of the Republic. - One post of the Mas.saehusetts Department of the Grand Army of the Republic exists in Middleboro', some of its members residing in the adjacent towns of Carver, Freetown, and Lakeville.

The charter of this post bears date of March 13, 1867, and the first meeting was held March 19, 1867, which was also the date of its first election of officers. This order, that has now so largely increased in this State as to be organized into nearly two hundred posts, was then in its infancy, only seven posts throughout this entire commonwealth having been previously formed, and Post 8, therefore, is the oldest in Plymouth County, and among the most " ancient and honorable" of the State. Soon after its formation and organization this post adopted its name, in com[iliment to the writer of this historic sketch, who has ever regarded that act of this body as a high honor, more especially as he at that time was not a member of the order, and the first intimation that he received of the desire or intention of the post to do so w;is a notice that the deed had already been done. This post is therefore known as E. W. Peiree Enc;tmpment, Post 8, Grand Army of the Republic.

This post is in a prosperous condition and provided with good quarters iu the Peirce Academy Building, at the Four Corners Village in Middleboro'.