Foxcroft in The Civil War
By Hon. Wainwright Cushing.
Foxcroft was
ever a loyal and patriotic town, and when repeated calls came
from President Lincoln for men to go southward to aid in
surprising the rebellion it sent forward its bravest and best.
The total
number of men that were furnished to these repeated calls was
135, and in addition to which at least twelve residents of
Foxcroft served on the quotas of other states. In all
probability there were other residents of the town temporarily
absent who entered the Union service of whom no record can be
found. When President Lincoln issued his first call for 75,000
men there was a general uprising all over the loyal North. I can
give no better illustration of the patriotic fervor that
animated the boys of '61 in the Piscataquis valley than by
quoting from Col. Charles A. Clark's admirable paper entitled
"Campaigning with the Sixth Maine" read before the Iowa
Commandery Loyal Legion of the United States. "On the 24th of
April, 1861, I piled up my Greek and Latin books and enlisted.
My fellow students very generally did the same. The classes in
the old Foxcroft Academy were broken up. For ten days our
recitations were a farce. When the news of the firing on Fort
Sumpter came we went to Col. Paul's woods by night and felled
two of his tallest pines. We hauled them by hand to the Academy
grounds and all night long we wrought to splice and raise them.
This made a liberty pole for that town for the war, and with the
first gleam of dawn in the east we run up the stars and stripes
with hurrahs which awakened the sober citizens. On that very
spot now stands a beautiful monument surmounted by a granite
statue of an American soldier with arms at parade rest, forever
telling of my comrades of that night who sealed with death their
devotion to the cause for which our hearts then throbbed so
hotly. I tossed a coin with Gray my chum and roommate to
determine who should have the honor of placing his name at the
head of the first enlistment roll of Piscataquis County in that
mighty war, and I won first place. His name followed mine and as
Captain of Co. A, he died like a hero in our charge upon Mayre's
Heights at Fredericksburg, Va., in May. 1863."
First Company Raised
The first
company raised in Dover and Foxcroft was recruited by Charles H.
Chandler, Addison P. Buck and Charles Kimball. This company
later was merged with the Brownville Rifles and became Co. A,
6th Me. Volunteers. The 6th Me. Regt. was mustered into the U.
S. service July, 1861, and formed a part of the Army of the
Potomac and was in nearly every battle in which that grand army
had a part. Recruits from Foxcroft who served in the 6th Maine
Volunteers:
Charles H.
Chandler, mustered as 1st Lieut. Co. A., promoted to Capt. and
Lieut. Col. Died in Seattle, Wash.
Addison P
Buck, mustered as 2nd Lieut, promoted to 1st Lieut, and
Quartermaster. Served on the staff of Maj. Gen. Sedgwick of the
6th Corps, as Chief Forage Master, was serving his second term
as Postmaster of Foxcroft when he was finally mustered out.
Edward L.
Emery, Sergt. Co. A was a resident of Foxcroft at the time of
his decease.
Oliver L.
Brown, Corporal Co. A. afterwards served as Sergeant in the 13th
Maine. Died in Auburn, Maine.
James S.
Holmes, Corporal Co. A, promoted to Principal Musician. He was a
son of James Holmes the leading legal light in Foxcroft before
the war, and has joined the silent majority.
Wellington
Besse, Private. Discharged for disability. Deceased.
Newton
Blanchard, private, was severely wounded and discharged. A
resident of Abbot at the time of decease.
Otis
Chamberlain, private, discharged for disability. At the time of
his decease was Ass't Engineer in the U. S. Navy.
Franklin H.
Daggett, private, discharged for disability, deceased.
Geo. W.
Dawes, private, was killed at Spottsylvania, C. H., May 10th,
1864.
Charles E.
Edes, Corporal, was transferred to the Navy. Comrade Edes had
the honor of having served under Commodore Perry in Japan prior
to the war. At his decease was living with his brother, S. D.
Edes.
Hiram F.
Lebroke, private, was wounded at Mayre's Heights and died from
the effects of his wounds.
Joseph D.
Mansfield, private, afterwards served in the 16th Maine. Was a
resident of Worcester at the time of his death.
Ichabod
Macomber, private, discharged for disability, deceased.
Fernando G.
Pratt, private, served his full term of enlistment. Was a
resident of Foxcroft until his decease March 11, 1911.
Fred E.
Plummer, private, served his term, disappeared on his way home
and was last seen in New York City.
William G.
Sewell, private, lived in Fresno, Calif., passed away May, 1912.
Rufus G.
Chase, private Co. A. Joined regiment Dec. 4, 1861. Killed at
the charge at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 10, 1864.
Comrade Chase was a devout Christian.
Thomas M.
Chase, private, discharged for disability. When last known was
living in New Hampshire.
Dr. William
Buck, appointed Ass't Surgeon 6th Maine Volunteers. Promoted to
Surgeon. He served in the Maine Legislature and filled many
offices of trust in town. He was a faithful, conscientious
physician, and at his decease was sincerely mourned by his
townsmen.
Dr. Freeland
S. Holmes, a son of Salmon P. Holmes, Esq., one of the early
settlers of Foxcroft. He was commissioned Surgeon of the 6th
Maine. His wife was a sister of the War Governor of Maine,
Israel Washburn, Jr. Dr. Holmes died in the service, and was
succeeded by Dr. Wm. Buck.
Geo. T.
Holmes joined the 6th Maine Reg't at Hospital Steward, serving
with his brother. Dr. Holmes, and with Dr. Buck, deceased. First
Maine Cavalry.
First Maine Cavalry
The next
regiment to enter the service with members from Foxcroft was the
1st Maine Cavalry, which was mustered into service Dec. 31st,
1861. This regiment was in more battles and skirmishes than any
other regiment in the Army of the Potomac.
Charles S.
Sturgis, Sergt. Col. M, discharged for disability. He married a
daughter of Col. Samuel Pillsbury and is a resident of
Haverhill, Mass.
Alonzo B.
Briggs, private, Co. M, discharged for disability, deceased.
Henry D.
Thayer, private Co. M, discharged for disability, deceased.
Cyrus M.
Geary, private, Co. M, died from effects of wounds.
Geo. W.
Plummer, enlisted in D. C. Cavalry, transferred to 1st Maine
Cav. Now living in Dover.
7th Maine Regiment
The 7th Maine
Regt. was mustered into service Aug. 21st, 1861.
It had a
distinguished record in the Army of the Potomac. The only
citizen of Foxcroft who served in this regiment was Henry F.
Daggett, who served in this regiment as Sergt. and Q. M. Sergt.
Is now living in Milo.
The 9th Maine
Infantry was mustered into the service Sept. 22d, 1 861, and saw
active and meritorious service in South Carolina and Virginia in
the Army of the Potomac.
Justin E.
Batchelder, private. Co. D, 9th Maine, was severely wounded and
lost an arm. Died in Barnard, Maine.
Joseph
Tucker, Co. D, wounded and transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps.
No record since the war.
John A. Hoyt,
private. Co. I, discharged at close of war, deceased.
The 13th Maine Volunteers.
The 13th
Maine Volunteers was mustered into the U. S. service Dec. 4th,
1861. This regiment saw active service in the Dept. of the Gulf.
Was in the Red River Campaign and at the siege of Vicksburg was
transferred to the Army of the Potomac, where it did valiant
duty under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley.
Alfred E.
Buck was commissioned Captain of Co. C, 13th Me., and was
promoted to Colonel in a colored regiment. After the war he
settled in Georgia, and was virtually at the head of the
Republican Party in that state. Served in Congress and was U. S.
Marshal for the northern district of Georgia, and at the time of
his death was serving as U. S. Minister to Japan.
Chas. M.
Buck. Co. C. 13th Maine, served with credit, was always on duty.
Resides at Dover.
Chas. D.
Labree, Co. C. Re-enlisted, transferred to Maine Vols. No record
since the war.
Harvey
Judkins. Co. C. No record since the war.
Cyril N.
Walker, Co. C, deceased.
The 14th Maine Infantry
The 14th
Maine Infantry was mustered into U. S. service Dec. 11th, 1861.
Served in the Dept. of the Gulf and was transferred to the Army
of the Potomac, where it distinguished itself in the Shenandoah
Valley Campaign under Sheridan.
Chas. E.
Washburn, Co. C. Died in New Orleans, Oct. 14, 1862, Chauncey C.
Lee. Corporal Co. E, 14th Maine Since the war has resided in
Foxcroft for 37 years. Has been a school teacher. For seven
years he was an officer in the reserve militia of Maine.
18th Maine or 1st H. A.
The 18th
Maine, also known as the 1st H. A., was mustered into the U. S.
service Aug. 25th, 1862. Served in the defenses of Washington
until May, 1864. Received their baptism of fire May 18th, 1864,
where the loss in killed and wounded was heavy. In Grant's
famous campaign from the Wilderness to Petersburg the 18th Maine
lost more men killed and wounded than any other regiment in the
Army of the Potomac.
Ervin
Chamberlain, Co. E. Wounded May 18th. 1864. Lived in Lacrosse,
Wis., after the war, where he served with his cousin, Isaac H.
Moulton, Esq., as Ass't Station Agent, deceased.
Thomas O.
Eaton Sergt. Co. E. Now living in Montana.
Charles
Eaton, Corporal Co. E. Went to state of Washington after the
war. Now deceased.
Leonard H.
Washburn Co. E. was severely wounded and mustered out of the
service. Resides in Foxcroft.
Daniel V.
Plummer, Co. F, transferred from 17th Maine. Now living in
Williamsport, Penn.
Lauriston C.
Parsons, Co. E died of disease Feb. 16th, 1864.
Stacy T.
Mansfield, Co. H. Mustered as a recruit Dec. 9th, 1862. Is a
resident of Foxcroft.
Benjamin
Weaver, Co H. wounded May 18th, 1864. No record since war.
William W.
Warren, Co. H. Joined as a recruit. Discharged for disability.
Resides in Dover.
Leonard W.
Lee. Co. H, 1st H. A. Joined the regiment Dec. 4th, 1863. Killed
in action in front of Petersburg June 18, 1864. At the time of
his death was only 17 years of age.
The 20th Maine Infantry
The 20th
Maine Infantry was mustered into the V. S. Service. Aug. 29th.
1862. Fresh from their homes they saw their first service under
fire at Antietam and the record of the Army of the Potomac would
be a history of the 20th Maine. At the battle of Gettysburg on
Little Round Top they earned undying fame their thin line
withstood the attack of three lines of battle.
Phineas M.
Jeffords, Capt. Co. B, resigned in 1863, went West after the war
and settled in Illinois, where he died. His widow lives in
Genoa, Ark.
John S.
Jennison, Sergt. Co. B. Died in the service, July 24th, 1863.
Cyrus G.
Pratt, Sergt. Co. B. Discharged for disability in 1863. Resides
in Foxcroft.
Job S. Bearce,
Co. B. Wounded. Discharged at completion of service. It a
resident of Foxcroft.
William C.
Brown Corpl. Co. B. Served until the end of the war. Is now
living in the state of Arkansas.
Thomas
Daggett, Co. B. Mustered out June 15, 1865. Resides in Foxcroft.
Has been a prominent agriculturalist and for some years a member
of the Maine Cattle Commission.
Benj. R.
Field, Co. B. Served his term of enlistment. No record since the
war.
Jared F.
Millet, Co. B. Transferred to the Invalid Corps. Died in
Foxcroft.
Hudson S.
Oakes, discharged with regiment. Lived in Foxcroft up to the
time of his decease.
Alonzo Z.
Parsons, Co. B. Killed in action, May 6th, 1863.
Randall H.
Spaulding, Co. B. Mustered out at the expiration of his term of
service. Deceased.
Andrew C.
Deering, Sergt. Co. C. Re-enlisted. Discharged June, 1865. No
record since the war.
Wm. H.
Jackson, Co. B. Joined the regiment as a recruit, Oct. 2nd,
1862. Discharged for disability. No further record.
Wm. H.
Jennison, Co. B. Discharged for disability, March 13th, 1863. He
re-enlisted and served as sergeant. Discharged June, 1865. Co.
K, 31st Me. Comrade Jennison enjoys the unique distinction of
being the oldest citizen of the town, being in his 88th year,
and is in possession of the Boston Post gold headed cane.
Danville B.
Oakes, Co. B. Discharged for disability, Jan. 3rd, 1863. He was
an honored citizen and passed away at the ripe old age of 83
years.
Wm. Towne,
Co. B. Discharged for disability. Was a resident of Dover at the
time of his death.
The 22nd Maine
The 22nd
Maine was mustered into the U. S. Service, Oct. 10th, 1862, and
for nine months served in the Dept of the Gulf. Was in the Red
River campaign and at the siege of Port Hudson, where they were
commended in General Orders.
Gilman E.
Fisher, Sergt. Co. I. Graduated from Colby University after the
war; has been prominent in educational matters, and is an
authority on geography. He is now superintendent of schools in
Detroit, Mich.
Love H. Ball,
Co. I. Died in service, March 15, 1863.
Ebenezer
Earl, Co. I. Served his term of enlistment. Deceased.
Samuel R.
Gary, Co. I. No record since the war.
John H.
Gould, Co. I. Son of Lincoln Gould. Died in Louisiana.
B. F. Pratt,
Co. I. Served his full term. He was an honored citizen and
passed away in July, 1912.
Edwin N.
Pratt, Co. C. Served his term of enlistment and their
re-enlisted in the 18th Maine. Died in the service. He was the
only son of Roswell Pratt.
The 31st Maine
The 31st
Maine Infantry was mustered into the service, April 29th, 1864.
They took an active part in the Wilderness campaign and in the
final work about Petersburg, which resulted in the end of the
war. Their loss in killed and wounded was greater than some of
the three-year regiments.
Joseph S.
Harlow, Capt. Co. K. Mustered into service, April 29th, 1864.
Killed in action, Sept. 30th, 1864.
Asa F. Davis,
Sergt. Co. K. Discharged for disability, May 22d, 1865. Was a
respected citizen of Foxcroft for more than thirty years, until
his death.
Alanson
Bullard, Co. K. Mustered into service, April 29, 1864. Killed in
action, Oct. 4th, 1864.
William C.
Kenyon, Co. K. Served his term of enrollment. Deceased. Coast
Guard's Infantry.
Coast Guard's Infantry
Lyman U. Lee
went to Boston and enlisted in Co. M, 2nd Mass. H. A.; went out
as 1st Sergt. and later was commissioned as a Lieut, by Gov.
Andrew and served during the war. He was present at the Foxcroft
centennial.
Mellen G.
Prentiss, Co. B. Served from January 6th, 1865, to May 15th,
1865. Resides in Brewer.
James T.
Roberts, musician, Co. F. Served from Jan. 6th, 1865 to July
6th, 1865. Resides in Dover.
Geo. F.
Mayhew, Co. F. Served from Jan. 6th, 1865 to July 7th, 1865. No
further record.
Aid furnished
Soldiers Families from 1862 to 1865. 70 families, 209 persons
total amount $2,796.29.
Total bounties paid by the town of
Foxcroft during the war. $20,425.84.
Contributions from citizens of
Foxcroft to aid the Sanitary and Christian Commission $1200.00.
Drafted Sept. 24th, 1864
Seth Brawn, furnished substitute
Alonzo H. Chandler, furnished
substitute
Orin C. Dunham, furnished substitute
Hiram S. Davis, furnished substitute
Augustus W. Gilman, furnished
substitute
Andrew J. Hammond, furnished
substitute
Henry A. Robinson, furnished
substitute
Drafted and held for service
John S. Arnold, Co. E, 8th Maine
Chas. V. Bolton, Co. C, 8th Me.
Leonard F. Blood, 4th Co., unassigned
John P. Folsom, Co. C, 8th Maine
Isaac M. Parsons, Co. C, 8th Maine
Drafted March 25th, 1865
John J. Bailey, furnished substitute
Augustus F. Chandler, furnished
substitute
Drafted and held to service
Alfonso B. Cole. 14th Maine
Samuel H. Gower, 14th Maine
The
population of Foxcroft in 1860 was 1102. It is estimated that
one in five are liable to military duty, so that in the year
1861 there were approximately 220 citizens who could be called
upon for military duty. The town of Foxcroft furnished 135
recruits during the Civil War or about 60 per cent.
When the
great struggle was ended and the men who had fought for the
integrity of the Union returned to the pursuits of civil life,
societies were formed by the survivors to keep alive the
memories of that Great War. In 1881 C. S. Douty Post No. 23, G.
A. R. (named for that gallant cavalry leader who as Colonel of
the 1st Maine Cavalry gave up his life for his country at Aldie,
Va.) was organized in Foxcroft and had its home for some years
in the old Academy building at the end of Foxcroft Bridge. For
many years its meetings have been held in Dover, its present
headquarters being in Sampson's Hall. In 1893 while I was
serving my term as Department Commander of the Dept. of Maine,
G. A. R., Charles Peleg Chandler Post was organized, and for
many years held its meetings in the building now owned by C. S.
Douty Circle Ladies of the G. A. R. Its ranks becoming decimated
by death they surrendered their charter. Charles Peleg Chandler
for whom this Post was named was the only son of Charles Parsons
Chandler, the first Principal of Foxcroft Academy, an eminent
lawyer and foremost in his profession in the county. Charles
Peleg Chandler was born in Foxcroft, Jan. 4th, 1835, graduated
at Bowdoin in 1854 and at Harvard Law School in 1857. He was in
the law office of the War Governor of Massachusetts, John A.
Andrew, from 1875 to 1861. He was commissioned Major of the 1st
Mass. Infantry May 22d. 1861, later promoted to Lieut. Colonel
and his commission as Colonel reached the camp the day he was
killed at Malvern Hill, Va., June 30th, 1862. Comrade Chandler
was the highest type of a citizen soldier, and who filled every
station to which he was called with fidelity. His life filled
with successes that came to him as a reward for honest endeavor,
uprightness of character, and devotion to duty must serve as an
inspiration to his surviving comrades. List of Comrades who have
become residents of Foxcroft since the War:
Osgood P.
Martin, Sergt. Co. F, 20th Maine Vol. Infantry. Is now serving
as Dep't Commander of the Union Veterans Union. In politics he
is a Progressive.
James R.
Martin, Sergt. Co. F, 20th Maine Volunteers. Was a resident
nearly forty years until his death.
Isaiah B.
Davis, 1st H. A. Lives on Main Street. Has served as 1st Dep.
Commander L. V. U.
Erastus T.
Monroe. Co. E. 1st H. A. Is one of the Centennial Committee. Is
serving his fourth term as Colonel of Custer Command. U. V. U.
Elbridge T.
Crockett. Co. A, 6th Maine. Has passed to a higher life.
John H.
Herring. Sergt. Co. M, 1st Maine Cavalry, deceased.
W. Cushing.
Co. A. 6th Maine Volunteers. One of the Centennial Committee.
J. H. Manter.
Co. D. 9th Maine. Has served as Post Commander C. S. Douty Post.
Wm. M.
Hutchins, served in a California regiment. Was a resident of
Foxcroft at the time of his death.
In conclusion
I wish to thank all who have assisted in making tin's Centennial
observance such a glorious success.
Dover-Foxcroft
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Maine
Source: Sprague's Journal of Maine
History, Vol. 5 No. 7, Published by John Francis Sprague, Dover,
ME, July 1914
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