Hampden Co, MA - Civil War

Hampden County, MA

in the War of 1861 - 65
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by James L. Bowen
Note: This material is extracted from A History of Hampden County Massachusetts, edited by Alfred Minot Copeland, Vol I, II, & III;  The Century Memorial Publishing Company, 1902.  It resides in the Public Domain. The file may be downloaded by private individuals only, for personal non-commerical use only. Transcribed and submitted by Ellen Pack  
Pre-War
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10th Infantry
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18th Infantry
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21St Infantry
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27th Infantry
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31st Infantry
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34th Infantry
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36th Infantry
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37th Infantry
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46th Infantry
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8th Regiment Infantry
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42nd Infntry
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3rd Heavy Artillery
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30th Unattached Company Heavy Artillery
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Miscellaneous Service in other Counties
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General Officers
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Return to Hampden County, MAGenWeb Home Page
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Ellen Pack
Hampden County, MAGenWeb Project
Copyright 1997 - All Rights Reserved
Pre-War

The record of Massachusetts in the war for the preservation of the Union, from 1861 to 1865, was in keeping with its proud prestige among the states composing the nation, and on of which all who love its good name may justly feel proud.  In the field as in legislative halls, in conflict on land and sea, as in council chambers, the sons of the old Bay State were leaders;  while in the blessed offices of mercy which sought to alleviate the sufferings of those dreadful years, and so far as possible to rob war of its horrors, in whatever way the purpose might be advanced, the whole people, irrespective of age, sex, or social condition, joined with an exemplary energy.

Before the inauguration of Governor Andrew, January 5, 1861, the war cloud grew threatening, and thoughtful men began to despair of averting an appeal to arms.  Yet so dreadful seemed that alternative that, while nerving themselves for the struggle should it come, the people of the state neglected no opportunity to urge counciliation and concession, and late in the month a petition bearing 15,000 prominent names was sent to the Massachusetts delegation in congress, urging conciliatory measures.  the people were read to sanction any reaasonable sacrifice for the sake of peace, but they were not ready to see the nation, in the building of which their fathers had borne so honorable a part, fall in ruins about them.  If that were to be the alternative, they would prove that the sons were ready to sacrifice for the preservation as much as the ancestors for the creation. In his inaugural, Governor Andrew spoke for the whole state when he said, "The people will forever stand by the country."  And Adjutant-General William Schouler, in responding to a toast in honor of Major Anderson, while the latter was besieged in Fort Sumter, comprehensively and eloquently said, "We have no boasts to make.  History tells what the men of Massachusetts have done, and they will never disgrace that history."  These calm utterances of earnest men were typical of the invincible purposes of the loyal people of the commonwealth;  they put into modest, candid words that patriotic determination which led the soldiers of the old Bay State, hopeful and unshrinking, through every disaster and discouragement to final consummation.

During the war period, the state of Massachusetts furnished for all periods of service 159,254 soldiers and sailors - a surplus over all calls of 13,492, while at least 3,000 enlisted in organizations of other states, for which the Bay state received no credit.  Of the offices and men serviing on the Massachusetts quota, 3,543 were killed in action, 1,986 died of wounds, 5,672 of disease, 1,848 in confederate prisons, while 1,026 were missing and never accounted for - nearly all of whom no doubt lost their lives.  In this connection it is but simple justice to say that the men of Massachusetts received form all quarters the highest commendation for the manliness, courage, and intelligence with which they bore the sufferings incidental to soldier life, especially in hospital;  the cheerfulness and strong rallying power manifested their prompt return to duty on recovery, their christian heroism in meeting death when tht became the sad alternative.  Of those who returned to their homes, it is equally gratifying to know that their after lives gave no indication of general demoralization from the associations met during their solider days.  Where the early life gave good promise, it was generally broadened and strengthened by the experience, and if there were cases of evil habits contracted, so on the other hand there were unquestionably genuine cases of reformation of character, quite as marked as the reverse.

At the beginning of the year 1861, the milita force of this state consisted of about 5,600 officers and men, comprised in nine regiments, seven battalions, and thirteen unattached companies.  Of this force only one company - Co. F, 10th Infantry, of Springfield - was located in Hampden County, which had less than one per cent of the militia force of the state - a most inadequate proportion for a county having approximately fifteen per cent of the population.  But the way for improvement was opened by action taken during hte early months of the year, looking to putting hte state forces in better condition to respond to any calls which might be made by the national government.

On the 16th of January a genral order was issued by authority of the governor, directing that every company be put into efficient condition for active service if called upon.  Those who from age, physical defect, or orther cause, were unable or unwilling to serve, were to be honorably discharged, the comapnies were to be recruited to the maximum number, and held in readiness to answer any calls which might be made upon them.  In the arly part of February an act passed the state legislature authorizing hte organization of "companies of artillery:" and "other companie" on approval of the governor and council, all of which were to be disbanded whenever the governor or the legislature might deside that their services were no longer required.  Under this provision some progress had been made previous to the firing on Fort Sumper, April 12, and that event, with the call for 75,000 militia from the loyal states for three months' service, proved the signal for the opening of recruiting offices in every section of the stte.  Hampden County was no called upon to help in filling the milita
quota, but its opportunity came with the organization for the first of the three-years regiments, and thereafter it performed nobly its part, every town in the county furnishing men in excess of its quota.

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The Tenth Infantry -

On the 3d of May, 1861, President Lincoln called for some 40,000 volunteers for three years' service, and on the 22d of the month tardy permission was given for Massachusetts to furnish six regiments under that call.  The 10th regiment of militia was selected as the basis for one of these volunteer regiments, and Springfield was designated as its place of rendezvous;  so that this organization, the first to leave the county for the theatre of war, may properly be regarded as a Hampden county command, although but for of its ten companies were organized within the county limits.  Three companies came from Berkshire County, two from Frnklin, and one from Hampshire, and all had assembled at the camping groundon Hampden park by the 16th of June.  The Hampden County companies consisted of E, recruited at Springfield;  F, the old company of that designation, but better known as the Springfield city guard;  I, composed of recruits from West Springfield and Holyoke, each of which towns had undertaken to raise a company; and K, recruited at Westfield.  A company recruited on Hampden park, Springfield, by Oliver Edwards, was disbanded, the men being assigned to other companies not filled to the standard of 98 enlisted men each, and Captan Edwards was given the position of adjutant of the 10th. The regiment was mustered into the United States service June 21 with the following roster of officers:
 

The regimnent was review by the governor on the 10th of July, received state and national colors on the 16th, presented by the ladies of Springfield, and on the 16th went to Medford, where it encamped for a few days.  It started for Washington on the 25th, reached that city three days later, and was incorporated in the army of the Potomac.  It remained in camp at Brightwood, a few miles north of Washington, during the long months which preceeded the Peninsula campaign of General McClellan, in the spring of 1862, being engaged in building fortifications and routein camp duties.

Its first serious engagement occurred at the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, whjere the regiment lost 27 officers and men killed, and 95 wounded, six of the latter fatally.  Fighting most gallantly during all of the afternoon, the regiment won high praise for its heroic conduct, which was further demonstrated at the battle of Malvern Hill, on the 1st of July, when out of 400 men taken into action it lost 10 killed and over 70 wounded.  The regiment participated in all the campaigns of the army of the Potomac which followed, until the expiration of its term of service, rendering especially valuable service at the battle of Salem Church, May 3, 1863, and the battle of the Angle, May 12, 1864.  It was relived from duty in front of Petersburg June 19, 1864, the re-enlisted men and recruits being transferred to the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts (q.v.), the original members of the regiment returning to Springfield, which they reached on the 25th, and being mustered out of service a few days later.

From a total enrollment of 1,225, the regiment lost 10 officers and 124 men killed in action or died from wounds, and one officer and 55 men died from disease, accidents, etc., making a total of 190 deaths.  It participated in the following battles and engagements, not including minor skirmishes:
 

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