Worcester City (part 20 of 58)

Several substantial and, at that time, commodious and ornamental brick blocks had been built in town previous to 1850, among which may be mentioned the Torrey & Wood, Heywood, Comee, Town & Piper, Snow & Wood (now called Central Block) and Rollstone Blocks. The Universalist Church was built in 1847 and had in the lower story three good stores. The Fitchburg Hotel Block was erected about 1850 and furnished four good stores. It is quite evident, therefore, that Fitchburg was at that time well provided with stores and accommodations for oflices, etc. The American House was built in 1845 by David Boutelle; but the easterly wing, under which the stores are located, was not erected until 1858. All of these blocks still stand, though a few have been remodeled somewhat.

Since 1850 the advance in all directions has been so rapid, and there has been such a multiplicity of events, that no attempt will be made in this portion of t' e sketch to speak of anything but matters per- taining directly to town affsiirs, which cannot be taken up elsewhere. The progress in education, church affairs, manufacturing, etc., will be given in detail in special chapters hereafter.

In 1851 appeared the second map of Fitohburg. It was a large, full and accurate map, and when compared with its predecessor of 1830 showed what an immense advance the town had made in the twentyone years.

March 31, 1851, the Legislature passed an act to authorize a Fire Department in the town of Fitchburg, which was accepted and approved by the town May 26, 1851.

About this time the people began to think seriously of building a new town-house. The old one was manifestly too small to accommodate the great increase of voters, and it was necessary that something be done about the matter in the near future. But, as was the case with everything of that kind, there was contention as to where a new town-hall, if built, should be located. The " Old City " people had secured the stone railroad depot and were anxious to have the town-house, too. On the other hand, the town-house had previously been up-town and the people there were bound to have it remain in that vicinity. Fortunately, before much time was wasted, an amicable conclusion was reached, as is shown by the following extract from the Fitchburg News of January 28, 1852 (Vol. I., No. 2).

On Monday, the 2Gth, the citizens of Fitchburg Toted to bnild a Town House, GO by 100 feet, two stories high, with a basement for a uiiii'Ivet or other purposes. The probable coat, according to Mr. Wood's statement, will be S2i),000.

The Hall is to be in the second story, according to the plan proposed, aild the first floor reserved for courts, scliools, or otlier purposes, according to the judgment of the building committee, or future instruction of tlio Town.

Tile site most liltely to be selected is next below Central Block, where Dr. Blood now resides. The meeting was large and at one time conaideraldo warmtli was manifested both pro and con., but tlie feeling soon subsided and the plan submitted by tlio committee was unanimously adopted, as was also tlie report nominating a building committee. This committee consists of Messrs. N. Wood, J. P. Putnam, I. Phillips, C. Marshall, N. Cowdin, A. J. Town and Col. Upton.

It is truly a matter of congratulation, not only that we are at last swreofsoon having a good House, but also that such harmony ijrevaila in regard to it.

New Town House. - .\ handsome and substantial town-house is soon to be erected in Fitchburg. An appropriation for this purpose, of 5^6,000, was made at tiie last March meeting, and the new building is to be located on Main street, just south of Central Block. The foundation is to be laid immediately and the building completed during the

The land upon which it was built cost four thousand dollars, and the building and its furnishing cost about eighteen thousand dollars. It was a handsome and substantial brick edifice, and, with some alterations and enlargements, has served as town-house and city-hall for the past thirty-five years, besides affording accommodations for the Fitchburg Public Library from 1859 to 1885, and the Fitchburg Post-Office from 1853 to 1872.

During this decade the people of Fitchburg took much interest in the subject of slavery, which, a few years later, became a question of vital importance. Many public meetings were held with regard to the "Fugitive Slave Law,'' and the people here boldly denounced it.

An important step in the progre-s of the town was taken in theestablishmentof the Fitchburg Athenteum in 1852 ; and a still more important one in the founding of the Fitchburg Public Library in 1859. The Fitchburg Gas Company was organized in 1852, and soon after began to furnish light for the streets. A wellequipped Fire Department had been established, substantial bridges and good streets constructed, more business blocks built, a musical organization, known as the Fitchburg Cornet Band, was established in 1851, and existed for some years - in a word, the promises of previous years were fast being fulfilled. The population of the town had increased to six thousand four hundred and forty-two in 1855 and seven thousand eight hundred and fifty-four in 1860.

The few years following 1860 were almost entirely taken up by the events connected with the Civil War. Fitchburg, as usual, did her full share as regards the furnishing of men and money and the performance of good work for the preservation of the Union, and a condensed account of what the citizens of this town did and suffered during those eventful years will be given in a special chapter hereafter. There was, however, during the war period, one very interesting and important event in the town's history that should be chronicled in this portion of the sketch, viz.:

The Centennial Celebration of the Incoe- POEATION OF THE TowN. - At the annual townmeeting, in April, 1863, a committee of fifteen was chosen to make arrangements for and take charge of a 'fitting observance of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town. The committee of arrangements consisted of the following gentlemen : Hon, Alvah Crocker, chairman, and Ebenezer Torrey, Dr. Jonas A. Marshall, John T. Farwell, Abel F. Adams, Joseph Upton, Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle, Lewis H. Bradford, Thornton K. Ware, Nathaniel Wood, Abel Simonds, Moses Wood, James P. Putnam, Amasa Norcross and Henry A. Willis.

The incorporators, in their zeal to have their work quickly accomplished, had caused the anniversary to come in February, an inclement season at which no public demonstration could be held with any degree of comfort. The committee of arrangements accordingly very wisely decided to postpone the festive day to a more comfortable time of the year, and fixed upon Thursday, June 30, 1864, as the date of the celebration.

Though the hearts and thoughts of the people of Fitchburg at that period were with the absent ones who were fighting the battles of our country - for the Union, whose fate seemed then to be trembling in the balance - yet preparations that were elaborate.

considering the circumstances, were made for this noteworthy event in the history of the town. The committee, ably seconded by the hidies of Fitchburg, did all in their power to make the celebration a success ; and the day, when past, gave ample proof that their labors had accomplished all that their hearts could wish.

To many natives of the town who had removed to distant States, to those who, at a former period, had been for a time identified with the progress of the town and to many prominent State officials, invitations were sent by the committee, asking them to honor the day with their presence. Many accepted, and many who could not be present sent letters congratulating the town on the completion of its first century of prosperity.

The 30th of June at last arrived. The weather was delightful and the town early astir. People hegan to pour in from neighboring towns, and the streets of Fitchburg were crowded as they never were before. It was a holiday with the schools, and all the stores closed at 10 a.m. On the arrival of the morning train from Boston, about 10 o'clock, the procession was formed on the park near the depots under command of Chief Marshal Col. Edwin "Upton, assisted by Marshals Eugene T. Miles, Charles Burleigh, Robert L. Goddard, John Burney, Alpheus P. Kimball, Lucius Aldrich, Edmund B. Hayward and Henry A. Spooner, in the following order:

The procession, when formed, moved through the principal streets of the town and then by Circle Street to the field owned by,the late Walter Heywood, nearly opposite what was then the chair shop of the late Hon. Alonzo Davis. Here Yale's mammoth tent was spread. After the vast assembly had entered this pavilion and been seated, the centennial exercises were begun with music by the band. On the platform were the members of the committee of arrangements (only three of whom are now living, viz. : Henry A. Willis, Esq., Hon. A. Norcross and Hon. T. K. Ware), officers and speakers of the day, clergymen and town officials of Fitchburg and many invited guests. Hon. Alvah Crocker presided. On the desk was an ancient Bible, once the property of Colonel Zachariah Fitch, and in front of this desk was a portrait of the same gentleman, fpr whom, it was at that time erroneously supposed, the town was named.

At the conclusion of the music by the band the Rev. E. W. Bullard, of Royalston, a former pastor of the Second Paii;-h (Orthodox) Church in Fitchburg, read the forty-sixth Psalm from the old Bible, after which prayer was offered by Rev. Calvin Lincoln, of Hingham, for so many years the beloved pastor of the First Parish (Unitarian) Church in Fitchburg. An oiiginal hymn, written for the occasion by Mrs. Caroline Atherton Mason, of Fitchburg, was then sung l)y the " Old Folks" choir, under the leadership of Mr. Eben H. Frost. The address of welcome was then delivered by Hon. Alvah Crocker, after which the choir sang a hymn of thanksgiving, written for the occasion by Mrs. Mary Caroline Lowe, of Fitchburg. The chairman then introduced Hon. Charles H. B. Snow, Esq., the orator of the day, who delivered a scholarly, polished and valuable historical address, an extract from which will be given hereafter. After the address the "Old Folks" choir, led by the veteran teacher, Cyrus Thurston, rendered some ancient pieces most admirably. George E. Towne, Esq., the poet of the day, then read an original poem, running over with wit and full of interesting allusions to days gone by. After more music by the band and singing by the choir, Charles Mason, Esq., read an original jjoem, written by Mrs. Caroline A. Mason, describing the experience of " an old Continental," returned to the scenes of his terrestrial life, and his astonishment at the immense, and to him incomprehensible, changes that time had wrought in the village of Fitchburg. This closed the exercises in the pavilion.

A procession was then formed of invited guests and those having tickets to the dinner, and marched to the town hall, wliere plates had been laid for five hundred guests. The hall was handsomely decorated with flags, flowers and streamers, and tlie walls were adorned with portraits and photographs of various persons notable in the history of the town. Mr. Henry W. Haskell supervised the decorations, and Landlord Day, of the Fitchburg Hotel, provided the excellent dinner. After ample justice had been done to the dinner the toast-master, George E. Towne, Esq., proposed many toasts, which were happily responded to by prominent individuals. The day concluded with a concert in the town hall in the evening, given by the " Old Folks," assisted by Miss Julia Houston, which was largely attended. Thus pa,ssed off a day that will ever be memorable in the annals of Fitchburg.

The condition of the town at this time, the rapid and substantial progress it had made, cannot be better described than it is in the following eloquent passage from Mr. Snow's Centennial address:

Today, as we look around us .and see the Nashua, for miles studded with its workshops and manufactories, its valleys and the neighboring hillsides adol'nod witli the neat and comfortable homes with which New p^nghind labor rewards its votaries, as we wituess on every hand the evidences of happiness and prosperity, and then recall the untamed and wilful Nashua, tlie bleak and barren steeps, the tangled, SMampy valley and the secluded and infrequent farm-houae of one hundred years ago, may, in a measure, appreciate the results of a century of wonderful mechanical ingenuity and invention, and also of a century of steady New England enterprise and labor. More than fifty different varieties of manufacture are at present successfully carried on within our limits. Our paper-mills supply the market with over five million pounds of paper annually, and the Keio York Herald, whose daily issues fly, as if, on the wings of the wind, to every point of the compass, we might almost say whitening the laud like snowflakes, draws a large portion of its vast supplies of paper from one Fitchburg mill. Our manufactories largely supply the South American and Cuban markets witli chairs. The ingenuity and admirable workmanship of our great machine company have been rewarded with extensive orders from the most distant parts of the globe. Our scythes, our cutlery, our clt>tbs, our shoes and our hats have been scattered broadcast over the States and, within the last eventful year, - sad change from the arts of peace to those of war ! - cannon cast in our foundries, monsters of modern destructive art, frown from our harbor and coast defences, while others, whose beautiful symmetry, lightness and strength half beguile usfi'om the thought of tlieir terrible uses, have helped swell the thunder of the l)lood.v battle-fields of the South. May we not almost appropriate the language of the classic poet and ask, "Quae regiv in terris non i^eiKt ytostri luhoris f"

The years immediately following Ihe close of the war were very prosperous, and the high pressure continued until the natural result came in the busines-s panic of 1873. Fitchburg came in for her full share of prosperity. Many new and important manufacturing establishments were located here during the last five years of this decade, and in 1870 there were nearly one hundred lai;ge manufacturing concerns iu town and the population had increased to 11,260. During this period, also, many public improvements were begun which, as well as the new manufacturing establishments, will be spoken of later.

The year 1871 was a busy one in Fitchburg. Building was bri.ik, and among the many edifices erected that year were two which were by far the most costly, elegant and substantial that have been built in Fitchburg. One was the Fitchburg iSavings Bank block on Main Street, not far from the Common ; the other was the County Court-house, located in the rear of what is now known as Monument Park. It was during the summer of 1871, also, that the water mains of the new water-works were laid through the principal streets of the town.

Another important event of this year was the action taken in regard to casting off the town form of government and becoming a city. As soon as the town attained to the required twelve thousand inhabitants, the question of applying for a city charter began to be agitated, and at a town-meeting held Tuesday, November 7, 1871, the matter was formally brought before the town for consideration. Article 14 of the warrant for this meeting was as follows: " To see if the town will take the necessary steps for obtaining the Franchise of a City Charter, at the coming session of the Legislature, by the choice of a committee for that purpose, or act anything thereon they may - deem expedient."

The town chose as such a committee Alvah Crocker, Eugene T. Miles, Thornton K. Ware, Dr. Alfred Hitchcock and George Robbins. This committee attended promptly to their duty, and during the following winter the " Act to Incorporate the city of Fitchburg " passed through both branches of the Legislature, and was, on March 8, 1872, approved by the Governor.

At the last annual town-meeting, April 8, 1872, the citizens of Fitchburg, by a vote of nine hundred and sixty-eight to fifty-six, decided in favor of accepting the charter. The vote on the question was very light, as it was known that very little, if any, opposition to the charter existed. At the same meeting the citizens also voted in regard to accepting Sees. 30 and 31 of the charter, which provided that at the first city election one-half of the Aldermen and Common Councilmeu should be elected for one year and the other half for two years, and that at each annual election thereafter one-half of each board should be elected for the term of two municipal years. These two sections the town rejected by a vote of six hundred aud seventy-five to two hundred and eight, thus making the election of all the members of both branches annual. September 18, 1872, the selectmen announced the division of the city into six wards, and defined their respective boundary lines. During November of the same year numerous ward caucuses were held for the purpose of electing the various ward officers, committees, «&c., and of getting things into running order. On Tuesday, December 3, 1872, the first city election was held in Fitchburg, and a heavier vote was polled than ever had been in any town election. The result was the election of Hon. Amasa Norcrosa as the first mayor of the city, he receiving eleven hundred and eleven votes to eight hundred and fiftythree for Eugene T. Miles.

There is little more to be recorded before we close the history of Fitchburg as a town. One event in the year 1872 should be mentioned. This was the detith, on February 23d, of Salmon W. Putnam, one of the pioneers of Fitchburg's great machine manufacturing interests, and largely concerned in the founding of the Putnam Machine Company. He was highly esteemed for his worth and ability, and on the day of his funeral business was generally suspended in Fitchburg. Another circumstance that is deserving of mention in this chapter is the substantial and practical expression of good will and generosity given by the town at the time of the disastrous fire in Chicago in October, 1871, and the serious forest fires in Michigan, about the same time. Besides a large amount of clothing, etc., the citizens of Fitchburg sent to the sufferers by these fires the sum of nearly six thousand dollars in money. At the time of the great Boston fire, in November, 1872, their generosity was again shown.

Much more might have been written about Fitchburg as a town, had space allowed, but here we must conclude this section. Since the beginning of 1873 the city form of government has been in force ; and the main points in Fitchburg's history as a city, for the past sixteen years, will be briefly outlined in the few following pages, after which her history in the Civil War, her progress in educational, ecclesiastical, industrial matters, etc., - in fact, whatever of importance has been done by her citizens to make Fitchburg what she is to-day, - will be given in detail under their appropriate and respective headings.

Chapter Xxxix

On January 6, 1873, occurred the inauguration of the first city government at the city hall. The Inaugural Address of Mayor Norcross was carefully prepared and contained much of interest to the inhabitants of the infant city. It was a critical time in business affairs, and the mayor clearly and forcibly showed the necessity of the exercise of prudence, sagacity and, as far as compatible with the best interests of the city, economy on the part of those whom the people had chosen to conduct municipal affairs during the coming year.

The construction of the water-works and other public improvements had brought a debt of over six hundred thousand dollars upon the city at its start, and there was still much to be done in completing and maintaining these improvements. Nearly all the water debt was satisfactorily funded and about half the city debt proper. Early in 1873 a special act, authorizing the city of Fitchburg to fund its floating debt and issue additional scrip, passed the Legislature and was approved March 29, 1873. In conformity with this act, bonds of the denomination of one thousand dollars each, with coupons representing accruing interest at six per cent., payable semi-annually, for twenty years, from July 1, 1873, were obtained, and during the balance of the year sixty-three thousand dollars of the floating debt were funded by the sale of these bonds.

The fiscal year of the city ends November 30th, and on that date, in 1873, the net debt of the city was $650,775.50. However, in spite of the hard times and necessarily large outlay, Fitchburg's first year as a city was by no means a discouraging one. The good effect of these public improvements was beginning to be felt; population and valuation had increased, and more business blocks had been erected. The people were well satisfied with the administration of I\Iayor Norcross, and at the city election in December, 1873, he was reelected.

The year 1874 was not quite so prosperous, and during the following five years, or so, there was a small but steady annual decrease in the population and valuation of the city. One cause of this decrease was the removal from town of two large and prosperous manufacturing concerns, - the American Rattan Company and the Whitman & Miles Manufacturing Company.

In 1874 occurred an event of great interest, which will be spoken of more fully hereafter. This was the dedication of the Soldiers' Monument, June 24th. The city appropriated two thousand dollars for the dedication, and the oration was delivered by Major- General Nathaniel P. Banks.

November 30, 1874, the net debt of the city was $728,873.84, an increase of nearly $78,000 for the year, due wholly to discount on bonds, extension of the water-works and payment of the balance of the Soldiers' Monument contracts.

During 1874 death removed two of Fitchburg's prominent citizens, - Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, the beloved physician, eminent in his profession, and noted for his good qualities of mind and heart, and Hon. Alvah Crocker who, above all other men, brought prosperity to Fitchburg, and was ever ready to inaugurate and carry forward any project conducive to the advancement of the interests of the town.

The year 1875 was quite an active one in Fitchburg, in spite of the fact that the city felt severely the depression in business, the result, as it were, of the recoil of the preceding financial crisis. Another bank - the Wachusett National - was established here, mainly through the efforts of Hiram A. Blood, Esq. Several substantial brick business blocks were erected, among which were Crocker block and the Wachusett Bank block. The large and commodious machine-shop occupied by C. H. Brown & Co. was completed this year, as was al.so the fine business block built by James F. Stiles.

During this year the city expended upwards of $60,000 more on the water-works in the construction of Scott reservoir, extension of water-mains to West Fitchburg and extensions in the city proper. In consequence of this large necessary expenditure, the net debt of the city November 30, 1875, reached highwater mark, viz: $790,149.66. Since that time the city has had to make no very large expenditure for extraordinary improvements, and almost every year since 1875 has witnessed a considerable decrease in the net debt.

The year 1875 did not pass without taking from our midst a bright and shining light in the person of Hon. Charles H. B. Snow, the orator at the centennial celebration, who, on September 18, 1875, was called away from a busy and useful life. He was a man of great talent, and in the prime of life, and his death was a sad blow to this community, where he had always lived, and for which he was ever ready and willing to expend his best efforts.

Miles from the city during the last two months of his terra, the office of mayor was declared vacant on November 2, 1875. The Board of Aldermen and the Common Council elected Hon. Hiram A. Blood to fill out the unexpired period. At the annual city election, the following December, he was elected mayor for the ensuing year.

The three years following 1875 were years of gi'eat business depression in Fitchburg. Our mills, factories and machine-shops were, in most cases, obliged to curtail both the number of employes and the number of working-hours, because of the meagre amount of orders for their products. The manufacturing establishments of Fitchburg were put to a severe test during these three years, and the fact that, with a very few exceptions, they all withstood the strain, shows their financial stability, and reflects great credit upon the ability and sagacity of the men who superintended the affairs of these various heavy manufacturing concerns during these trying times.

As a natural consequence of this stagnation in business, the city retrograded, as regards both population and valuation. During this period it was unwise and, fortunately, unnecessary, to enter upon any new work. That which had been done in the years immediately preceding sufficed to tide the city over, and only an amount of money sufficient to keep the public works and institutions in statu quo was needed.

In 1876 death continued its ravages among our prominent citizen?, removing on June 2(5th ex-Mayor Eugene T. Miles, a man widely known and esteemed for his integrity and benevolence, and who for manv years had been prominent in the business interests and public affairs of Fitchburg ; and August 3d Hon- Nathaniel Wood, for over half a century one of our most prominent and active citizens. It was he who collated and preserved much of the early history of Fitchburg, which otherwise would probably have been irretrievably lost.

David H. Merriam was mayor during the years 1877-78. These two years were probably the darkest the city ever experienced, but public affairs were well cared for during Mayor Merriam's administration. The debt was reduced by something over twenty-five thousand dollars ; and in spite of the decrease in population, the tax rate during both years was kept at a lower figure than it was in the few years preceding - in fact, the rate was the lowest in 1877-78 that it has been from the incorporation of the city to the present time.

In 1878 the handsome and commodious Union Passenger Station was completed ; but aside from that, very little building was going on at that time.

In December, 1878, William H. Vose was elected mayor and served one year, declining a unanimous renomination. His valuable business experience and strict fidelity to the best interests of the city proved of great service to Fitchburg during the year 1879. The city was just beginning to see the glimmer of better times ahead, and a steady hand, guided by business tact, was necessary to keep the people from presuming too much on the "good time coming." During his administration the debt was reduced by nearly twenty-five thousand dollars.

Until this year no direct appropriation had ever been made for water-works construction and extension ; but in 1879 such an appropriation was made (four thousand dollars), and an annual appropriation for that purpose has been made since then.

In December, 1879, Eli Culley was elected mayor, and served the city in that capacity for two years. The appropriation bills for these two years (1880-81) were the smallest since our incorporation as a city ; and at the same time the accounts show that the debt November 30, 1881, was 1704,516.58, making a reduction of nearly $33,000 since the same date in 1879.

Population and valuation began to increase gradually in the course of these two years. In 1880 the population was 12,405. Business, too, began to take on a more healthy tone, and the city started on the up- grade.

In the fall of 1879 a company was formed here which marked the beginning of a new era in the industries of Fitchburg. This was the Parkhill Manufacturing Company. The company began business in February, 1880, and since that time has prospered, and is to-day one of the heaviest concerns in town. During this period there were other signs of business prosperity in town, prominent among which were the starting of the Fitchburg Worsted Company in 1880 and the erection of E. M. Dickinson & Co.'s large shoe factory in 1881.

In 1880 death again entered the ranks of our prominent citizens; JanuaryjlSth of that year died Stephen Shepley, for over forty-five years an active business man of Fitchburg and much interested in the early history of the town. In 1876 he wrote a paper of value in regard to John Fitch. August 1, 1880, died Walter Heywood, the founder of the extensive chair manufacturing company here.

During 1881 the city expended over thirteen thousand dollars in the construction of sewers, but this sum was more than counterbalanced by money received from sewer assessments, etc.

George Bobbins was the next mayor and served during the year 1882. Mr. Robbins was a member of the committee to procure the city charter, and has always taken considerable interest in public affairs. During his year of service matters went on satisfactorily. The debt was decreased by about thirty-two thousand dollars; over ten thousand dollars were expended on sewers, necessitating an appropriation of six thousand dollars by the City Council for that purpose.

new enterprises of special note were started that year. The owners of buildings on the lower part of Main Street were beginning to put new fronts to the business blocks and to furnish them with large plate-glass windows, thereby greatly improving the appearance of the street. Notable among the improvements of this kind was the brown-stone front put on to the L. J. Brown Block that year.

In 1882 the city purchased the "Upper Common," previously the property of the First Parish iu Fitchburg. Since that time the city has spent considerable for stone-work, grading and laying out paths, etc., and now the Common is a much more attractive spot than it was ten years ago. Moreover, through the gen erosity of certain citizens in the vicinity, a handsome bandstand has been erected near its lower extremity and makes a striking addition to the beauty of the park.

At the city election in December, 1882, Alonzo Davis was elected mayor, and so acceptable was his administration that he was re-elected to the office the two following years, and is the only man thus far in our history as a city wlio has held the office of mayor for three successive years.

In 18S3 it became necessary to build a fourth reservoir, and Falulah Reservoir was accordingly constructed that year at an expense of a little over fiftytwo thousand dollars. As the City Council made no appropriation for this expenditure, it became a part of the city debt, which, November 30, 1883, was $686,- 430.70, an increase of about fourteen thousand dollars over the debt a year previous, showing that had it not been for this extraordinary expense there would have been a very material decrease in the city debt that year.

In 1883 the Wachusett Electric Light Company was incorpoi'ated, and since the fall of that year has furnished most of the principal streets of the city with brilliant and satisfactory illumination.

The year 1884 will long be remembered by the citizens of Fitchburg as the year when the Hon. Eodney Wallace made and proceeded to carry out his generous proposition to provide the city with an elegant and commodious public library building, together with a site for the same. July 1, 1885, witnessed the completion of his noble project, the dedication of the costly and substantial structure and its formal presentation to the city by the donor. The Wallace Library and Art Building will be spoken of at greater length under the head of Libraries and Lectures, in the section on the educational history and progress of Fitchburg.

In his third inaugural address, in January, 1885, Mayor Davis recommended the construction of a system of sewers of larger capacity than tlieu existed in the city, and, in accordance with his suggestion, plans were drawn and the work of construction entered upon the following spring. During 1885 one and a quarter miles of sewer were built, of which seven hundred and twenty-five feet consisted of a

The net debt, November 30, 1885, was $635,124.11, a gratifying decrease of over $51,000 during the two previous years. The city was in a prosperous condition, and in 1885 had a population of 15,375 and a valuation of about $12,000,000. Building was brisk during the three years from 1883 to 1885 inclusive, and some new concerns were put into operation, notably the Cleghorn Mills in 1885.

Several prominent citizens died in the course of these three years. Charles Burleigh, one of Fitchburg'a most ingenious mechanics and competent business men and a prominent member of the Putnam Machine Company, died May 28, 1883. Of his many valuable inventions the most prominent are the Burleigh Rock-Drill and the Patent Air-Compressor, which have made his name familiar wherever great engineering feats have been accomplished.

March 12, 1884, died Cyrus Thurston - " Uncle Cy," as he was for many years familiarly called - prominent in musical circles in Fitchburg since the early years of this century, and noted for his long and valuable service on the Board of Overseers of the Poor of the town and city of Fitchburg. Only a few days after his decease our citizens were called upon to mourn the loss of a much younger, but more noted musician, AVarren S. Russell, leader of the Fitchburg Military Band.

In the autumn of 1885 the temperance people of Fitchburg made a strong effort to carry the city for " no license." They nominated Frederick Fosdick, president of the Fitchburg Steam-Engine Company, as their candidate for mayor, and at the election, in December, he was triumph.antly elected, and no license was established by a decided majority. Mr. Fosdick served the city two years as mayor, and made a good record for himself and the city in every way ; and his efibrts to carry out the principles of the temperance party, and the good success that rewarded these efforts, are deserving of tlie highest praise.

During 1886 and 1887 a number of changes were effected in the city affairs, which have proved to be advantageous. Mayor Fosdick, in his first inaugural address, recommended that Fitchburg follow the example of some other cities, and pay the Water Department for water used by it each year. This plan was adopted in 1886, and resulted satisfactorily, and has since been continued. By this me.ans some $15,000 per year is paid to the Water Department, which helps materially in extinguishing the water debt without making any perceptible increase in the rate of taxation. He also recommended the appropriation of $20,000 to the sinking fund, instead of $10,000, as heretofore, which was done.

About this time bursts were frequently occurring in the cement-lined water mains, and Maj'or FoscHck advocated replacing them with iron mains. This work was begun in the spring of 188G. The cementlined pipe in Main Street was replaced by a 16-inch iron main, and the pipe in several other streets was replaced by iron pipe of suitable size, during the summer, at a cost of a little over $34,000, which was covered by the issue of scrip to the amount of $35,000. This, of course, increased the debt somewhat, but the increase was comparatively small (about $8,000), the net debt, November 30, 1886, being $643,369.16. About $1.5,000 were expended in the same way in 1887, and the debt increased about $2,500, being $646,012.27 November 30, 1S87. It has been found that no repairs, or only very trifling ones, are necessary to keej> the iron mains and pipe in good condition, which causes an annual saving of several thousand dollars that would simply have been wasted on repairs of the old cement-lined pipe.

The rapid growth of the city during 1886-87 caused a great demand for new streets and sidewalks, and large sums were expended for these purposes. A brick trunk sewer, 36x29 inches, was built through Laurel Street, and smaller sewers through connecting streets, during the summer of 1887, at a cost of over $31,000; a substantial brick city stable was built in 1886, at an expense of about .$5,000. Thus it will be seen, that though the city spent a very large sura of money during these two years, yet it was wisely expended, and we are now in good condition to meet our constantly and rapidly-increasing prosperity.

In 1886 the Fitchburg Street Railway was incorporated, and began to lay their track in the early summer. The track-layers immediately followed the workmen engaged in replacing thecement pipe, so that Main Street was pretty thoroughly torn up during the greater part of the summer of 1886.

At the city election in December, 1887, Hon. Eli Culley, who was mayor in 1880-81, was elected by the people as their chief executive for the year 1888.

Early in 1888 the Fitchburg Railroad Company made a long contemplated move and one most advantageous to Fitchburg, by purchasing a large tract of land in what is now called East Fitchburg, about a mile east of Union Passenger Station, and announcing their intention of using it as a location for their extensive car-shops, heretofore established and maintained at the Boston end of the road. Work was soon begun on the necessary buildings, a description of which will be given in another section. When these shops ai'e completed and in full operation they will cause a very material increase in the population and add much to the prosperity of the city.

credit of getting up this celebration, and the city and our citizens generally helped to make it a success by liberal gifts of money. The principal feature was a very large trades' procession in the morning. The other exercises of the day were at the Fitchburg Park, and included a dinner, addresses, sports and a balloon ascension in the afternoon, and a fine display of fire-works in the evening.

During the portion of 1888 now past death has been busy here, and up to this time (autumn) has taken from us five men who have for a long time been prominent in the history of Fitchburg. February 7th died Gardner S. Burbank, since 1851 an influential citizen, and for fifteen years a member of the firm of Crocker, Burbank & Co. He accumulated a large property, the most of which he left in the hands of trustees, the income to be paid to Mrs. Burbank during her life, and at her death the whole amount is to be paid over to the city of Fitchburg and devoted to the building of a city hospital.

September 3d died Hon. Ebenezer Torrey, for over sixty years a prominent citizen of Fitchburg. A brief sketch of Mr. Torrey appears in the Professional chapter.

We will close this portion of the history of Fitchburg with a table showing statistics relative to the growth of the town since its incorporation. The population in 1888 is estimated from the number of polls, May 1st.

Chapter Xl History During The War Of The Rebelwon

War of the Rebellion." To Henry A. Willis, Esq., the author of this valuable memorial of what Fitchburg did to preserve the Uuion, the writer takes this occasion to render grateful acknowledgment for permission to take from it many facts essential to this portion of the history, and which cannot be easily obtained elsewhere.

Before entering upon our condensed history of Fitchburg's part in the Civil War, it may be well to give a brief account of the military companies in the town prior to the breaking out of the war.

The Fitchburg Fusiliers. - This company was formed from the " Old South " Company of the Fourth Regiment, Second Brigade, Seventh Division, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and a charter was granted it under its present name of Fitchburg Funliers, December 14, 1816. The organization of the company was perfected at a meeting held February 3, 1817, at which time John Upton was elected captain, Alpheus Kimball, lieutenant, and Walter Johnson, ensign. The uniform adopted was " a blue coat, trimmed with bell buttons and lace, pantaloons of the same color as the coat, made to button over the boots and trimmed with bell buttons from the bottoms to the hips, and the caps were bound with red morocco and varnished and otherwise ' ornamenttd as a committee chosen might think proi)er.' "

The Fusiliers first appeared publicly in their new uniforms on the Fourth of July, 1817, on which occasion the ladies of Fitchburg presented the company with a handsome banner. A standard was also presented to the company by the ladies in September, 1841.

The Fusiliers were always on hand to attend " muster," and, according to all accounts, used to have very enjoyable times at the old-fashioned muster, which was essentially different from the modern variety.

At the present time this company forms a part of the Sixth Regiment Infantry, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and is designated as Company B.

The Washington Guards. - It was organized in July, 1855, on petition of Charles H. Foss and fiftynine others, and on the 19th of the same month otiicers were chosen as follows: John B. Proctor, Captain ; Hiram P. Minot, First Lieutenant ; Charles H. Foss, Second Lieutenant ; Oscar A. Battles, Third Lieutenant ; Varius Stearns, Fourth Lieutenant. At a meeting a week later the name of .Washington Guards was adopted by vote of the company. The uniform consisted of " a cloth cap, smaller at the top than at the base, and surmounted by a blue pompon ; dark blue pants and coat with epaulettes ; patentleather body belts and webbing cross-belts." In February, 1859, the company purchased seventy of the well-remembered bear-skin caps.

During the war the Guards formed the nucleus of six Fitchburg companies and its name and organization were given up ; but August 23, 1866, a company was formed, chiefly through the efforts of Richard Tucker, in which were many of the old Guards. This company took the name of UnionVeterans and Hiram P. Minot was chosen captain. Sept. 11, 1868, the company voted to change the name to Washington Guards. This is the present existing organization, and it forms a part of the Sixth Regiment Infantry, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, being designated as Company D. The headquarters of the Sixth Regiment have for some years been at Fitchburg, Henry G. Greene, of this city, holding the position of colonel.

At the time of the breaking out of the war Fitchburg had a population of about eight thousand, and during the whole course of the war the town was ever ready to furnish her full share of men and money to aid the Union. Mr. Willis indeed said truly in the introduction to his book, "A community which has sent nine companies into the field during the war, which has promptly filled its quotas under all calls and has now to its credit seventy-five men surplus above all demands upon it, has certainly a record of which it may well be proud and one well worth preserving."

It is gratifying to note that Fitchburg's zeal and activity were also officially recognized by a man, and in a manner that left no doubt as to the sincerity of the tribute to the loyalty of the town. The occasion on which these words were uttered was the funeral of Lieutenant-Colonel George E. Marshall, of the Fortieth Regiment, at the town hall in Fitchburg, and the one who spoke them was Hon. Alexander H. Bullock, then Governor of Massachusetts. Colonel Marshall, a son of Abel Marshall, of Fitchburg, was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864. He was buried on the field, and his remains were not recovered until the spring of 1866. The town voted to give his remains a public funeral on the 19th of April of that year. It was an imposing funeral, and was attended by His Excellency, Governor Bullock, and his staff and other oflBcials. During the course of the solemn ceremonies Governor Bullock made a brief and eloquent address, in which he spoke feelingly of the glorious career of young Marshall through the twenty-four battles he was engaged in, of his well-deserved prometions, and of his gallant conduct in that disastrous charge at Cold Harbor, where he "fought and died in obedience to orders, and for the sake of his example." He then paid the following tribute to Fitchburg : forces upon me, tliat this ancient and beautiful town of ritcliburg - to which by neiglihorhood ties of birtli and youthful residence my heart ever draws me and ever M ill- disliuguif bed herself by the iiromptneiia, by tlie alacrity, by the prodigality of means and of nun with which she entered u])on the opening, solemn di-ama in the early days of the war. Not many towns iu the State matched her record, and few, if any, surpassed her.

On Saturday, April 13, 18C1, news reached the town of the attack on Fort Sumter, and Major Anderson's gallant defence. The next day came the news of its surrender. Then, fast following, came President Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand volunteers. Captain John W. Kimball, of the Fusiliers, and Captain Edwin Upton, of the Guards, reported their companies ready to march at once if wanted. But already enough whole regiments had been offered, and Governor Andrew hurriedly despatched the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Eegiments for Washington, and the old Ninth Regiment, to which both the Fitchburg companies then belonged was obliged to wait.

During the next few days anxiety possessed the hearts of the people, and little business was done. Then came the 10th of April, a day twice memorable in the annals of our country and especially of Massachusetts. Late in the afternoon of that day the wires brought us the following: " The Sixth Massachusetts Regiment is now fighting its way through Baltimore ; four men have been killed, many wounded, and the fighting still going on."

The shock produced by this message was terrific. Massachusetts blood had been spilt and must be avenged. A citizens' meeting was hastily called, which was held on the afternoon of Saturday, April 20th. Alvah Crocker, Esq., presided. Mr. Crocker and various other citizens spoke patriotically and eloquently upon the all-engrossing subject, after which the following resolutions were presented and unanimously adopted :

Ecsolved, That wo respond cordially to the Proclamation of the President of the United States ; that we declare our unflinching resolution to support our Government in its struggle to maintain its honor, integrity and existence.

lieaolved, That we will use our utmost endeavors to secure a vote of the town whereby the sum often thousand dollars shall be raised by direct tax, which sum of money shall be appropriated to provide for the support of the families of any of the soldiers who may be called out during the present war, and for fitting out and equipping such men.

The next day was Sunday - the first in war-time - and the services in all the churches in town were of a patriotic nature. During the day the ladies of Fitchburg were not idle. It was expected that on the morrow our companies would be called upon, and their kind hearts, anticipating what might be the needs of the near future, prompted them to busily engage themselves in the preparation of lint, bandages and clothing for the brave men who, like the "minutemen " of the last century, stood ready to go to the front at a moment's notice.

The following week was one of feverish anxiety. Our companies were not called upon, and many of the soldiers assisted the ladies in their preparation of bandages, etc., at the armories. The zeal of the citizens suggested many measures, some of which were not very practical. One of these was that each soldier from Fitchburg should have a revolver and a bowie knife, and one hundred and fifty revolvers were actually bought for this purpose, and Whitman & Miles, with characteristic liberality, offered to manufacture the same number of bowie knives. This scheme was abandoned before the time came to march.

On April 27th a town-meeting was held, at which it was unanimously voted to raise ten thousand dollars for the soldiers and their families, and a committee of seven (Ebenezer Torrey, Moses Wood, Chedorlaomer Marshall, William Woodbury, Levi Downs, Alpheus P. Kimball and Timothy S. Wilson) was chosen to take charge of the appropriation. A committee was also chosen to see what reduction could he made in town expenses for the current year.

By this time the Fusiliers and Guards had recruited their companies, and on the day of this town-meeting a grand parade was held, in which the company from Leominster joined.

On May 4th an adjourned town-meeting was held to hear the report of the committee on retrenchment. This committee made a report recommending a reduction of five thousand dollars in the town appropriations for the year, - two thousand dollars each from schools and highways and the remaining one thousand dollars from other departments. Their report was accepted and the recommendations adopted, though all regretted the reduction in the school appropriation. During the other years of the war, it is but just to say, the school appropriation was not diminished for war expenses. At this same meeting the chairman of the committee having charge of the ten thousand dollars voted for the soldiers and their families, read the following note, which is self-explanatory and an honor to the medical profession :

Tn the MUUartj Belief Commatee, - GenlIemen : The undersigned physicians of Fitchburg members of the Slassachusctts Medical Society, through you hereby tender gratuitous professional services, when do Bired, to the families of the soldiers of this town while engaged in the war to defend the Government of the United States against the present Southern Eebellion.

These physicians faithfully fulfilled the promise contained in the above note until the close of the war. Only two of the signers are now living, - Drs. Jewett and Colony.

children with their teachers and all the citizens joined in a grand patriotic demonstration. In the evening there was a presentation, at the town hall, of two handsome silk flags, procured by the ladies at an expense of eighty dollars. The hall was crowded, and after the opening of the meeting by the presiding officer, Hon. J. W. Mansur, Miss Emma Twitchell presented one of the flags to the Fusiliers. Captain Kimball made a fitting acknowledgment of the beautiful gift and caused his men to swear that " it should never trail in the dust while a single arm was left to uphold it." Miss Eliza Trask then presented the other flag to the Guards, whose commander. Captain Upton, accepted it on behalf of his company with appropriate remarks.

An account, necessarily very brief, will now be given of the companies sent out from the town, and of the work, both public and private, done by the citizens who remained at home during the war period.

Company D, Second Regiment. - Soon after President Lincoln issued his call for three years' troops, James Savage, Jr., of Boston, opened a recruiting office in Fitchburg. A company was raised in about a week and was attached to the Second Regiment and designated Company D. Most of the men in this company were from neighboring towns, because there were then in town two full companies, and, as the chances of their being called into service soon seemed to be good, the young men did not care to leave them in order to join Captain Savage's company. But, notwithstanding the fact that only a few of our own citizens enlisted in it, it was always known as the " Fitchburg Company."

The Second Regiment was mustered into service May 11, 1861, and served the entire three years; and a large number re-enlisted at the end of this time. July 14, 18G5, it was mustered out of the service and started for Boston, receiving a fine reception in New York as it passed through the city. On July 26th, it was finally discharged, after having served four years, two months and fifteen days. During this long period it made a brilliant recard and participated in numerous battles, among which may be noted the following: It was in the thickest of the fight in the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 6, 1861, and lost heavily; at Antietam, September 17,1862, it served gallantly, capturing a flag from the enemy and losing about seventy of its members; at Chancellorsville it was hotly engaged for an hour and a half and lost one hundred and twenty-eight in killed and wounded; onthe2dand3d of July, 1863, it made a most honorable record at Gettysburg ; it accompanied General Sherman on his " grand march to the sea " in the latter part of 18G4. On the 24th of May, 1865, it took part in the grand review of the whole arm}', after which it performed provost duty near Washington until it was mustered out of the service.

Fusiliers). - As has been before stated, the Fusiliers and Guards belonged to the old Ninth Regiment, and it was expected that this regiment would be filled up and accepted as the old Ninth ; but instead of that, its number was assigned to a regiment of foreigners recruited in Boston. This left both of our companies out in the cold, so to speak. On the 11th of May, 1861, the Fusiliers voted to volunteer for the war, and finally the company was ordered into camp at Worcester, and became Company B of the Fifteenth Regiment.

It was on the 28th day of June, 1861, that the Fusiliers left for camp. In the morning of that day the citizens gathered at the town hall to bid them good-bye and God-speed. Remarks were made by prominent citizens, among them Dr. Jonas A. Marshall, captain of the "Old Fusiliers," who exhorted the soldiers to sustainthehonorof the" Old Fusiliers'' and their native town on all occasions. Captain Kimball responded on behalf of the company. Each soldier was then presented with a New Testament from the clergymen of the town, and a note was read, signed by the clergymen, asking their acceptance of this gift and expressing the hope that the little book might be of priceless value to them in the trying scenes of the future.

After the soldiers had been gratuitously vaccinated by Drs. Hitchcock and Jewett, the company was escorted to the Fitchburg Hotel to partake of a dinner provided by the citizens. After the dinner the " Old Fusiliers," under command of Captain Marshall and the " Second Edition '' of the Fusiliers, composed of younger men, under command of Capt. Eugene T. Miles, escorted the company to the depot. Thus left our first company of Fitchburg men, many of them never to return to their friends and native town.

The Fifteenth Regiment was mustered into service July 12, 1861, and left the State August 8th, arriving in Washington three days later. On August 1st Capt. Kimball was promoted to major and Lieut. Clark S. Simonds to captain.

The first engagement of the Fifteenth was at Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861, in which its loss amounted to upward of three hundred men in killed, wounded and prisoners.

April 29, 1862, Major Kimball was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and assumed command of the regiment, as its colonel was absent on account of wounds received at Ball's Blufl". Under Lieut.-Col. Kimball's command the Fifteenth took part in the siege of Yorktown and in a number of battles, the two most notable being Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, and Antietam, September 17, 1862. In the first-mentioned battle the regiment behaved gallantly, and the bayonet charges by it at several critical periods during the battle won the admiration of Gen. Gorman, who commanded the brigade of which it was a part. In a private letter to Governor Andrew he asked "that the history of the ' Fifteenth Massachusetts Volunteers may be made a

At Antietam the Fifteenth also distinguished itself, though at the great cost of three hundred and fortythree men, killed, wounded and missing. Lieutenant- Colonel Kimball was recommended for promotion for his gallantry and good management of his command during this terrible battle.

After this the regiment was engaged in a campaign in the Shenandoah Valley and at Fredericksburg, December 12, 1862. Nothing of note occurred until June 25, 1863, when it began a forced march from the Rappahannock to Gettysburg. It was a hard march, but that the members of the regiment performed it well is shown by the following order read to them June 27th :

General Orders^ No. 105. - The Fifteenth and Nineteenth Massachusetts Volunteers for niarcliing in the best and most compact order, and with the least straggling from their ranks, are excused from all picket duty and outside duty for four days.

The record of the Fifteenth at Gettysburg July 2-4, 1863, was very brilliant. "The regiment went into action with eighteen officers and two hundred and twenty-one enlisted men. During the three days it lost three officers (Col. Ward, Capt. Murkland, of Fitchburg, and Lieut. Jorgensen) killed, eight officers wounded, nineteen enlisted men killed, eighty-flve wounded, many of them mortally."

In the spring of 1864 there were about three hundred officers and men in the regintent, and nearly half of this number were killed and wounded in the battle of the ^Vilderness early in May of that year. During the next few weeks it took part in all the marches and battles in which the Second Corps was engaged, from the Rapidan to Petersburg, and on the 22d of the following June, reduced to five nfficers and uvruhj men, it confronted a large force of the enemy "near the Jerusalem plank road before Petersburg." Here, by a hidden manoeuvre of the enemy, it was flanked, and all, except one officer and four men, were taken prisoners. This officer was wounded the same day, and the four men placed in another command until more of the officers and men came from the hospitals. Its three years' term of service having expired, the regiment was, on July 12, 1864, ordered to proceed to Worcester, where it arrived on the 21st, about one hundred and fifty strong. The State and city officials gave it a rousing reception, and on the same evening all that were left of the Fusiliers and were able to travel (about twenty men) arrived in Fitchburg and were given a public reception.

Such is a brief account of the brilliant, though sad, record of one of the best regiments Massachusttts sent out; and Fitchburg has every rea.'ion to be proud of the prominent part which the officers and men furnished by the town took in the making of its glorious history.

Company D, Twenty-first Regiment (Washington Guards). - For some cause or other the Guards were not allowed to go with the Fusiliers, though desirous of so doing ; and it was not until July 19. 1801, that the company was ordered into camp at Worcester and became Company D of the Twenty-first Regiment. Their departure was the occasion of another public demonstration by the citizens, consisting of a meeting in the town hall, a dinner at the American House and a grand parade.

The Twenty-first Regiment left Worcester August 23, 1801. It was first under fire at the battle of Roanoke Island, February 8, 1802, when it acquitted itself nobly and was the first to plant a Union flag inside the enemy's works. It lost fifty-seven men, killed and wounded, in this battle. Our own Company D was honored after the battle by the presentation to its captain, Theodore S. Foster, of a flag by Lieutenant-Colonel A. C. Maggi, commanding the Twentyfirst. Accompanying the flag was a note which concluded thus : " You may inscribe on the flag these words : The Officers of the Twenty first Regiment, M. v., to the brave Captain T. S. Foster, of Co. D." The flag and note were sent by Captain Foster to the Fitchburg Public Library, to be there preserved.

March 14, 1802, the regiment took part in the battle of Kewbern, and was highly commended in the official report for its bravery. General Burnside, after the battle, presented to it the first gun (a brass field-piece) which it captured from the enemy. Its loss in this action was three officers and fifty-four men, killed and wounded.

July 9th it arrived at Newport News and became part of the Army of the Potomac, and, during the rest of 1802, it was almost constautly on the move. It took part in General Pope's campaign, and, in the disastrous retreat that followed, it suffered great hardships. It also participated in the following battles, with great credit to itself, during the latter part of 1862 : Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam and Fredericksburg. The regiment's losses in these four battles were two hundred and sixly-six officers and men killed, wounded and taken prisoners.

During most of 1863 the regiment did picket duty in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was a part of the besieged force that was shut up in Knoxville for some weeks in November, and was on duty constantly and made several brilliant charges during the siege ; and when the siege was finally raised, December 5,^ 1803, the Twenty-first was one of the regiments ordered to pursue the enemy. " From that time the regiment saw weary marches and constant exposure, and was reduced to such an extremity that tioo ears of raw corn per day Were issued to each man as his ration. Thus situated, in the woods of East Tennessee, on the 29th of December, 18G3, the proposal was made to the regiment to re-enlist for the new term of three years, and in thirty-six hours all but twenty-four of the regiment had re-enlisted."

January 8, 18G4, the Twenty-first started for home on a "veteran furlough," and received a public reception on its arrival in Worcester. At the expiration of the furlough it returned to the scene of operations, and was in season to take a prominent part in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, but was fortunate enough to suffer a comparatively light loss, - three officers and twelve men.

June 16th the regiment arrived before Petersburg, having been almost constantly engaged in skirmishes and battles wiih the enemy during their entire march, and having lost upwards of one hundred officers and men within the five weeks preceding. On the following day it participated in a brilliant charge on the enemy's works; and from that date to July 30th was constantly in the rifle-pits at the front.

V On the 30th occurred the explosion of the mine, and this regiment was in the division which rushed into the ' crater,' only to be repulsed with severe loss."

This was the last engagement in which the Twentyfirst participated, as soon afterward " it was decided that the Regiment was not a 'veteran regiment,' because of the Ihree-fourths that had re-enlisted, fiftysix had been rejected for various reasons, and it was ordered that the Regiment be broken up, and the officers and non-enlisted men proceed home to be mustered out."

On August 30, 1864, the regiment was accordingly mustered out at Worcester. This breaking up of the organization was a great disappointment to all who had ever been connected with it, and certainly its history during the three years of its existence reflects much honor and credit on both officers and men. It is gratifying to state here that Captain Foster, who went out as the commander of Company D, was promoted to major May 17, 1862, and to lieutenant-colonel September 2, 1862.

Company F, Twenty-fifth Regiment. - In the autumn of 1861 authority was granted to raise the Twenty-fifth Regiment, and Edwin Upton, of this town, was appointed its colonel. The old Guards formed the nucleus of the company raised in Fitchburg, of which Charles H. Fo^s was appointed captain.

Recruits came in rather slowly, and September 23, 1861, a large meeting of the citizens was held at the town hall to help recruiting in town. David H. Merriam, Esq., presided, and Hon. Goldsmith F. Bailey made an eloquent address. This meeting had good results, and Capt. Foss had Company F filled in less than a month after he began to raise it.

Fitchburg a parade was held, after which the company enjoyed a dinner provided for its members at the American House, through the liberality of Charles T. Crocker, Esq. After the dinner remarks were made by Mr. Crocker, Amasa Norcross, Esq., and Rev. George Trask, and later in the afternoon Company F left us amid great enthusiasm and hearty God-speeds.

On the 10th of October some of the friends of Col. Upton united in the presentation to him of a fine horse and set of equipments as a token of their esteem and regard. The presentation speech was made by Amasa Norcross, Esq., and Col. Upton feelingly returned thanks to his fellow-citizens for their splendid gift, after which he invited them to partake of a collation at the American House. Earnest remarks were made by Hon. Moses Wood, Hon. J. W. Mansur and other gentlemen present.

October 31, 1861, the Twenty-fifth left Worcester and went to Annapolis, where the next two months were spent in drilling, during which time it acquired such proficiency that it was complimented officially as one of the best of the large number of regiments gathered there.

As in the case of the Twenty-first Regiment, the Twenty-fifth's first baptism of fire was at Roanoke Island. At this battle it did good service, fighting in the front ranks for three hours, when, their ammunition being exhausted, the regiment was ordered to the rear. Its loss in this battle was forty-eight killed and wounded. A month later the regiment was engaged at the battle of Newbern. Here it made a gallant charge on the breast-works of the enemy, and was the first to plant the State colors on the work. It was also the first regiment that entered the city of Newbern. Its loss was miraculously small, - twenty killed and wounded.

From this time until about December 1, 1863, the regiment was in the vicinity of Newbern, doing picket duty and having occasional skirmishes with the enemy.

On account of poor health Col. Upton was obliged to resign his command of the Twenty-fifth, much to the regret of his men ; and at ihe time of his retiring he was presented by tfce enlisted men of the regiment with a beautiful sword, belt and .sash, costing one thousand dollars. Col. Josiah Pickett succeeded him in the command.

Early in 1864 a furlough was granted, and the Twenty-fifth returned to Massachusetts, receiving a most hearty welcome in Boston and Worcester. It left Boston for the field March 21, 1864, and early in May was engaged in several sharp conflicts not far from Richmond. In one of these engagements, by a singular coincidence, the Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiments were directly opposed to the Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh South Carolina Regiments. On this occasion Massachusetts got the better of South

Carolina. It was a sharp struggrle, and among the killed was First Lieut. Charles E. Upton, of Fitchburg. A week later, while moving towards Richmond, the regiment was attacked by the Rebels, and came near being captured. The official report of this action says :

" The Twenty-fifth fought splendidly, holding their ground with the utmost tenacity, inflicting on the charging columns of the enemy the most terrible slaughter until surrounded, and with their ammunition exhausted, they were ordered to face by the rear rank and charge the Rebel line in the rear, thereby throwing the enemy into such confusion as to enable the regiment to extricate itself from one of the most perilous positions troops were ever placed in, and completely checking the advance of the enemy.''

The losses of the regiment in all these contests during the month of May, 18G4, amounted to twentysix killed and one hundred and fifteen wounded.

On the 3d of the following June the Twenty-fifth underwent its most terrible experience of the war in tlie battle of Cold Harbor. During the day this regiment made a most heroic assault upon the Rebel lines, and held the position they attained, though at a terrible expense of life. The total loss of the regiment in this battle was as follows : 4 officers and 23 men killed; 11 officers and 128 men wounded ; 2 officers and 47 men missing. Among the killed were - James Graham, Jr., of Fitchburg, second lieutenant of Company F, and Lieut. -Col. George E. Marshall, of the Fortieth Massachusetts Regiment, who was also a Fitchburg boy.

This was the last regular battle in which the Twentyfifth participated. June 13th it went to the "Point of Rocks," on the Appomattox River, and two days later made an assault on the enemy's works, carrying the position and capturing two cannon, and on the 18th made another charge which was unsuccessful. The loss in these two assaults was seven killed and thirty-one wounded.

October 5, 18(34, the portion of the regiment whose term of service had expired was ordered to Worcester ami mustered out October 20th. The remainder, consolidated into a battalion of four companies, remained in North Carolina, taking part in only one engagement (Wise's Forks) during the period of its stay. July 13, 1865, it was ordered to Massachusetts to be mustered out, thus closing the record of the gallant Twenty-fifth.

Company A, Thirty-sixth Regiment. - In July, 1862, President Lincoln issued a call for three hundred thousand men, and authority was given to raise the Thirty-sixth Regiment. Fitchburg's proportion was found to be ninety-seven and Captain Thaddeus L. Barker, of the ''Old Guards," was appointed to raise a company.

On July 12, 1862, a large citizens' meeting was held in the town hall, at which resolutions, presented by Thornton K. Ware, Esq., were adopted, recommending the calling of a town-meeting at an early date to take measures for offering a bounty of seventy-five dollars to every recruit. A committee was also chosen to canvass the town for recruits.

A town-meeting was held just a week later at which it was voted to "authorize and instruct our selectmen to appropriate and pay one hundred dollars, as a bounty, to each and every acceptable recruit, when he shall have been mustered into the United States service and shall have joined the Volunteer Company now forming in this town, or either of the three companies from this town, now at the seat of war; not to exceed in all the sum of ten thousand and one hundred dollars."

Lieut.-Col. John W. Kimball, of the Fifteenth, was designated as colonel of the Thirty-sixth, but being unable to obtain his discharge from the Fifteenth, Major Bowman, of the Thirty-fourth, was apijointed its colonel.

The regiment arrived in Washington September 7, 1862, and on the 20th joined Gen. Burnside's army at Sharpsburg, Md., arriving a little too late to take part at Antietam. For some time it was in various parts of Virginia and witnessed its first battle at Fredericksburg, but was not actively engaged, being held in reserve, and having only two men wounded.

During the following winter nothing of note occurred. Early in April, 1863, the Thirty-sixth was sent to Cincinnati to guard the polls at the election of the mayor of that city. After the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, this regiment, with others, pursued the enemy and lost eight men in skirmishes. Then followed their trying campaign in Mississippi, in which the regiment lost one hundred and fifty men by death and discharge on account of disease and exhaustion.

During the autumn it was engaged in several minor battles, losing about thirty men. It was present at the siege of Knoxville and suffi^red with the rest from lack of food. After the siege was raised the Thirtysixth joined in the pursuit of the enemy, and during the winter of 1863-64 suffered very severely from lack of food and clothing. At one period the rations were " si.c spoonfuls of flour a day for seven days and what corn could be picked up from under the feet of mules and horses."

On the 6th of April, 1864, the regiment arrived at Annapolis, where the men received new clothing and good food and enjoyed a much-needed, though short, rest. A month later it took part in the battle of the Wilderness, where "the regiment acquitted itself nobly, charging the enemy three times with a loss of two officers and sixty-two men killed and wounded.'' The battles of Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor followed soon after, and the regiment was engaged in both and lost heavily, - one hundred and twenty-six officers and men killed and wounded.

June 16, 1864, the Thirty-sixth arrived before Petersburg and on the following day made a gallant charge on the enemy's works, capturing four cannon and four hundred and fifty prisoners; and for the next four weeks it was in the rifle-pits, at the front, and lost some twenty men, picked oft" by the rebel sharpshooters. It remained in the vicinity of Petersburg until April 1, 18G5.

The regiment was mustered out of the service June 8, 1865, and arrived in Worcester two days later, where it received a hearty public reception by the citizens.

Captain Thaddeus L. Barker, of Company A, was promoted to major, May 6,1864; lieutenant-colonel, October 12, 1864, and to colonel, November 13, 1864.

Companies A and B, Fifty-third Regiment. - In August, 1862, a call was issued for troops to serve nine months. Fitchburg's citizens took hold in earnest, and in a few days two entire companies were enrolled. After the ranks were filled, the town voted, August 30th, to give each of the nine months' volunteers from this town one hundred dollars bounty. Euo'ene T. Miles was commissioned captain of Company A, and Jonas Corey captain of Company B, both companies being attached to the Fifty-third Regiment.

Lieutenant-Colonel John W. Kimball, of the Fifteenth, was designated colonel of the Fifty-third, and assumed his command of it November 29, 1862. On that date he received a fine horse and set of equipments from a few of his many friends in Fitchburg.

The Fifty-third started for New York November 29th, to join General Banks' expedition. On account of the prevalence of a mild form of scarlet fever among the men, the regiment did not leave for the South until January 17, 1863. It then went by steamer from New York to New Orleans, and thence to Baton Rouge.

The regiment was first under fire Ap:il 12, 1863, at Fort Bisland, and was actively engaged on the following day. During the next night the enemy evacuated the works, and at daybreak on the 14th, Fort Bisland was in possession of the Union army, and the flag of the Fifty-third was the first to be planted on its ramparts. In this battle Lieutenant Nutting, of this town, in command of Company A, was killed, as were also thirteen privates.

The regiment participated in the pursuit of the enemy, capturing many prisoners and driving in a lot of cattle. It accompanied the army to Opelousas and Alexandria, and arrived at Port Hudson May 22, 1863, where it remained until July lllh, much of the time being actively engaged with the enemy. The first general attack on the works at Port Hudson took place May 27th, and during that day and the next the Fifty-third was at the front, in hot conflict a large portion of the time. Its loss was thirty killed and wounded. From the 1st to the 4th of June the regiment was in the rifle-pits to the front, and from the 5th to the 8th joined in an expedition to Clinton. It was a severe march, and several men in the regiment were sunstruck. The enemy retired from Clinton without giving battle. The Fifty-third returned to Port Hudson on the evening of the 8th, and remained in comparative quiet until the 13th ; on the evening of the 13th orders were given for it to join in an assault on the works of the rebels at three o'clock the next morning. Four regiments were designated to make this assault - the Fourth Wisconsin, Eighth New Hampshire, Thirty-eighth and Fifty-third Massachusetts - and at the appointed time they myved upon the enemy's works. The rebels opened a murderous fire upon the heroic men, but their line did not waver. It advanced on the double-quick close to the works, but was not strong enough to carry them, and no supports came to its aid. It was a gallant, but most disastrous, charge. The Fifty-third lost eighty-six men killed and wounded. One of the killed was Captain Taft, of Fitchburg, the third commander lost by Company A in two months. The bravery of the Fiftythird in this charge was highly commended, and Colonel Kimball, for special gallantry, was recommended for promotion.

Just previous to the first general attack on Port Hudson a most deplorable accident befell the Fiftythird. It happened thus : On the night of May 25, 1863, it was ordered to do picket duty, General Paine, who gave the order, honoring the regiment by saying " he wanted this Regiment, because he knew he could depend upon it to hold the position during the night." Soon after taking their position for the night, the rebels at their front opened fire, which was unwittingly returned by two New Yoik regiments in the rear, thus placing the Fifty-third between two fires. Fortunately the firing was stopped before much damage was done ; but it was at this time that Captain George H. Bailey, of Fitchburg, was killed. He was in command of Company A, having received his appointment only one week previous to his death.

Port Hudson surrendered July 9, 1863, and the Fifty-third, after doing picket duty for two days, started for Baton Rouge, and on the 15lh went to Donaldsonville, where it was in camp, and engaged in drill and picket duty till August 2d, when it returned to Baton Rouge. Its nine months' term of service having expired, it was ordered to Massachusetts.

A grand public reception was given it at Fitchburg August 24th, on which day fully eight thousand people from surrounding towns were present to witness the return of the brave soldiers. An address of welcome was delivered by Amasa Norcross, Esq., to which Colonel Kimball responded for the regiment. A procession was then formed and marched to the upper Common, where a bountiful collation, prepared by the ladies, was e/ijoyed by all.

The Fifty-third was in service for only a comparatively short time, but it made for itself a most brilliant record, and, in the wcrds of the various generals it served under, " it ought to have been a three years' regiment."

Considering the short time it was in service, its loss from disease was something fearful, as the following statement, given by Mr. Willis, in his book, shows :

Many of the members of the regiment who returned home had disease fastened upon them, from which they never recovered ; some twenty dying within a few days after reaching home.

Company F, Fifty-seventh Regiment. - October 17, 1863, President Lincoln issued a call for three hundred thousand more men. Fitchburg's quota was found to be one hundred and twenty, and Captain Levi Lawrence was authorized to raise a company in town.

It took a long time to fill the ranks, and many meetings were held and strenuous efforts made by the citizens before the company was ready to start. Finally, on February 6, 18(34, it left for camp at Worcester, under command of Captain Lawrence, and became Company F, of the Fifty-seventh Regiment.

The Fifty-seventh left Massachusetts April 18th and arrived at Annapolis two days later, whence it proceeded to Washington and was immediately ordered to the front.

Its first battle was at the Wilderness, where it was hotly engaged for one hour, in which time its loss was two hun<lred and fifty-one officers and men killed, wounded and missing.

May 12th it took part at Spottsylvauia and lest seventy-two officers and men, and on the 18ih, in a reconnoisance, lost seventeen more. On the 24th it was ordered to cross the North Anna River to test the strength of the rebels, was attacked on both flanks and lost its lieutenant-colonel and thirty-six men.

The regiment then went to Cold Harbor, and was engaged in that vicinity for a lew days and then marched to Petersburg, where itarrived June 16, 1864, and remained for several months. Ou the 30th of July it participated in the assault at the explosion of the mine, and lost six officers and forty-five men in the disastrous attempt.

During the following two months the Fifty-seventh was engaged in picket duty near Petersburg, and on September 30th was in the battle of Poplar Grove

During the next three months the regiment, or rather what there was left of it, was engaged in reconnoitering and skirmishing, losing, during the period, some twenty men.

In a movement on the Weldon Railroad in December, 1864, the men suffered extremely from cold. For some time afterward it lay in the lines before Petersburg, with the exception of a short period when it joined in a reconnoi.sance towards Weldon about the middle of Februaiy, 1865. The intense cold during much of the winter caused severe suffering.

Petersburg was evacuated on April 3d, and on that day the regiment entered the works and was ordered to guard the roads to Richmond and Chesterfield. Soon afterward it went to Washington and performed provost duty at various points in that vicinity until July 30th, when it was mustered out after a service of about fifteen months, during which time it made for itself a most honorable and enviable record.

Company H, Fourth Heavy Artillery. - This was the last company raised in this town, and was recruited under President Lincoln's call, issued July IS, 1864, for one year troops. As the bounty was large iS200), and the term of service short, the company was very quickly raised, a large proportion of the men in it having seen service in other Fitchburg companies. Eben T. Hayward, of this town, was uhosen captain, and the company left Fitchburg for Readville August 15th, and left the State for Washington September 13, 1864. It was then consolidated with various other unattached companies as the Fourth Heavy Artillery Regiment, and designated Company H.

This regiment was assigned the duty of garrisoning various forts on the Virginia side of the Potomac, and Company H, during most of its term of service, occupied " Fort Garasche," where there was little to do except to drill in artillery and infantry practice. It was an uneventful year for the men. They faithfully performed their allotted tasks and received mmh praise " for their good drill and soldier-like conduct."

The Call For Three Months' Troops. - Toward the end of May, 1862, when Gen. Banks' army was routed and the rebels were rapidly approaching the national capital, the President hurriedly issued a call to the Governors of all the States to send on all three months' troops that could be spared for the defence of Washington.

Gov. Andrew's call upon the Massachusetts militia reached Fitchburg early Monday morning. May 26, 1862. Both the Guards and Fusiliers had efficient organizations at that time, and were ready to respond to any sudden call. The men assembled at their armories, and at 5 o'clock in the afternoon took the train for Boston, the Fusiliers, witli sixty-six men, under Capt. Eugene T. Miles, and the Guards, with fifty-eight men, under Capt. Jonas Corey.

" Among the incidents of this exciting day may be mentioned the fact that wlien the order of Captain Miles reached the shop of Whitman & Miles (of which firm the captain was a member) fifteen men dropped their tools and stepped forward to join the ranks of the ' Fusiliers,' and the firm, not at all disturbed at this wholesale reduction of their 'available force,' at once gave another proof of their patriotism by presenting ten dollars to each of the fifteen."

Our men, together with other companies that had been hurried to Boston, were quartered for two nights in Faneuil Hall. But the alarm at Washington soon subsided and Governor Andrew received a telegram saying that the troops were not needed ; so the men were dismissed and Wednesday afternoon, May 28th, the Fusi/iers and Guards returned to Fitchburg in high feather, had a parade through the streets aud were treated to a collation by the jubilant citizens.

Though these men did not go to the " seat of war," yet it was their expectation and intention so to do, and their prompt response is worthy of record in a history of Fitchburg. The majority of them saw service and fought bravely in the companies sent out later from this town.

March 13, 1865, Colonel Kimball was made brevet brigadier-general United States Volunteers, "for gallant and distinguished services in the field and during the war."

By way of summary, it may be stated that of the citizens of this town who went to the war, one was brevet brigadier-general, two were colonels, two lieutenant-culonels, two majors, two surgeons, four brevet majors, seventeen captains, twenty first lieutenants, seven second lieutenants, three navy officers and sixteen seamen in the navy, six hundred and ninety-three non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, making a grand total of seven hundred and sixty-nine men - nearly one-tenth of Fitchburg 's population at that time. Of this number sixty were killed in battle, sixty-eight died from wounds, disease or starvation in rebel prisons, twenty-five were taken prisoners and eighty-four received wounds from which they recovered.

Much more might have been written about our brave soldiers if space would permit, and the writer would be glad also to give some history of the naval experience of the sixteen war-ships and gunboats, on board of which were citizens and natives of this town. Suffice it, however, to say that there were very few great battles in the War of the Rebellion in which Fitchburg men did not participate with credit to themselves and honor to the town.

Of the large amount of private benevolence and assistance no record has been, or ever can be, written : but of the work of the town and of various benevolent societies, a record can be given which, if elaborated, would form one of the most interesting portions of Fitchburg's history.

It will be remembered that at the very beginning of the war the town appropriated $10,000 for the equipment of our soldiers and support of their families ; and at every annual town-meeting during the war the following vote was passed : " Voted, That the Selectmen be authorized to pay for the support of the families of Volunteers such sums as they think their circumstances require."

The money thus voted was in addition to the "State Aid " authorized by the Legislature to be paid by towns. By this generous provision of the town the selectmen, aided by the hearty co-operation of the citizens, were enabled to relieve all cases of need ; and it is safe to say that no soldier's family in Fitchburg sufiered from lack of the necessaries of life during all the period of the war.

Of the two principal societies organized in this town for the relief and assistance of soldiers we propose to give a brief account, and the first to be spoken of is

The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society. - The ladies of Fitchburg, as has been stated before, began their work of preparing clothing, etc., previous to the departure of our soldiers ; and this work they unremittingly continued while the war lasted.

In order that their good work might be carried on in a methodical and efficient manner, it was thought best to organize a society, and, at a meeting held September 16, 1861, this "Soldiers' Aid Society" was formed, and Mrs. Ebenezer Torrey was chosen president, with Mrs. Amasa Norcross as secretary. The prime object of this society, as stated in its constitution, was " to furnish to the soldiers engaged in the present war of our country such aid as may be in our power." Most faithfully did the members carry out this object to the end. Any lady could become a member on p-iyment of twenty-five cents, and it is needless to say that the membership was very large. All the preparation of work, purchasing and general direction of aflairs werje vested in a board of twelve directresses, chosen, with the other officers, annually.

The funds of the society were derived from membership fees and annual assessments, but were largely increased by private donations and church contributions; and the Dramatic Club, the Musical Association and the "Relief Committee " placed goodly sums at its disposal. The "Old Folks" choir also gave concerts at various times and donated the proceeds to the society.

One of the first things done by this society was the preparation of boxes of clothing, etc., which were sent to the Twenty-first and Twenty-fifth Regiments at Annapolis, and also blankets and winter clothing sent to the Fifteenth at Poolesville; and in return the secretary of the so -iety received letters from the commanders of the Fitchburg companies conveying their sincere and lieartfelt thanks. Tiie Thirty-sixtli and Fifty-third Regiments were similarly provided for before they left the State.

At the time the Fifty-third was detained in New York, in the winter of 1862-63, under very uncomfortable circumstances, the society, on January 1, 1863, sent to the members of Companies A and B an inviting dinner of roast turkey and New England plum-pudding and pics. That the dinner "went to the right spot " was amply attested by the acknowledgments received in return.

Of course the intention of our Soldiers' Aid Society was to make the Fitchburg boys its chief care ; but its work was by no means limited to them. During the war it sent large amounts of various supplies and necessaries to the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, the Massachusetts Relief Association at Washington, the New England Soldiers' Relief Association at New York, the Worcester Relief Society and to persons known to the society who were caring for the wounded in the hospitals. From all these societies and individuals thus aided came scores of appreciative and thankful letters.

The actual amount of money received and expended for relief by this society during its existence was something over one thousand five hundred dollars ; but of the innumerable gifts of clothing, bedding, delicacies for the sick and wounded, no estimate of value can ever be made.

The society held stated meetings, but there were times in its history when sudden and imperative calls were made upon it; and lis earnest members, putting aside their household duties, worked, as we may say, day and night, for the soldiers. One such occasion as this was when, in May, 1862, tlie Fusiliers and Guards were ordered to report in Boston, ready for duty, at a few hours' notice. In I'elation to this emergency the records of the society contain the following: - " Forthwith, the ladies, Monday morning though it was, snatched sewing implements, and in rapid haste gathered at the Town Hall, to fit out our men with flannel shirts and other appropriate garments, and sewing-machines and busy fingers vied with each other to achieve the work."

And in the same way, when the wires flashed to us the news of some terrible battle raging, as at Gettysburg, the Wilderness, or other fields of carnage and suffering, the ladies flew to their work of mercy and comfort. All honor to the ladies of Fitchburg who performed this vast amount of noble work ! Many of them have long since left us and gone to their reward ; but, whether living or dead, their labors during those long, dark years are, and ever will be, remembered, and will remain as an everlasting memorial of their self sacrificing devotion to the cause of liberty and the relief of suffering.

When the Rebellion was crushed and the army disbanded, the necessity of thi< society ceased. Its last meeting was he'd June 22, 1805, " no member regretting she had been identified with its labors, but rather that it could not more truthfully be said of her, 'she hath done what she could.' "

The Soldiers' Relief Committee. - This was a large organization composed of gentlemen living in all section4 of the town, and did a vast amount of good work during the two years of its existence.

It was started at a citizens' meeting in the town hall, September 26, 1861, its object being "to organize for the more effectual aid and comfort of the soldiers in the field from this town and their families."

A sub-committee of eighteen was chosen "to raise funds to aid enlistments, to procure comforts for our soldiers and their families and take such other action in the matter as may be deemed expedient.''

This committee to raise funds, etc., went to work immediately, and collected considerable money, farm produce and clothing ; and the following-named gentlemen were appointed an executive committee to distribute the same : Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle, Alvah Crocker, Lewis H. Bradford, Hanson L. Reed and Henry A. Willis.

Tills executive committee immediately issued a circular, which was distributed among the citizens requesting that all cases of destitution in the families of volunteers be reported without delay.