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Subject: Chelmsford in the Civil War - Water's Hist. of Chelmsford - Part II p.375
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:45:51 EDT


Source: History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts
by Rev. Wilson Waters, M.A., B.D., 1917 - Lowell, Mass.

Part II.
Chelmsford in the Civil War.
p.375

Troop F Cavalry, M.V.M.

In the year 1864, when raids on the Canadian border were being made by those
in sympathy
with the Southern Confederacy, Christopher Roby of Chelmsford, who at one
time was a
member of the Governor's Horse Guards of New Hampshire, made application to
Adjutant-
General Schouler of Massachusetts for permission to raise a troop of cavalry
that would
be in readiness for any call that might be made to suppress the depredations
referred to.

The permission was granted, provided a troop of 100 men could be recruited.
This, the
energetic Roby speedily accomplished and at Chelmsford Centre, Sept. 5,
1864, the troop
was organized. The election for officers resulted in the choice of
Christopher Roby, Captain;
Edgar S. Parkhurst, 1st Lieutenant and Warren C. Hamblet,

p.376

2nd Lieutenant, all residents of Chelmsford, the rank and file being made up
by men from
Chelmsford, Carlisle, Billerica, Dracut and Westford.

Its organization complete, the troop became a portion of the Massachusetts
Volunteer
Militia. The troop held its first encampment at Westford in 1865. While in
camp the troop
was presented with a stand of colors by Colonel Charles H. Dalton, a
grandson of Capt. Noah
Spalding of Chelmsford, who in olden times commanded a company of troopers
in Chelmsford.

The troop adopted the name of "The Spalding Light Cavalry." The town of
Chelmsford previous
to this organization supported two mounted bodies - one antedating the war
of the Revolution,
and the other during the War of 1812. Soon after the troop was organized,
it was designated
as "Company F - Unattached Cavalry."

While the troop, in the performance of its annual tour of duty, had been
attached, as a rule,
to the First Brigade until May 19, 1906, at which time it was assigned to
the First Squadron
of Cavalry, nevertheless, during a brief portion of its existence it was
attached to the
Second Brigade and in a few instances also performed service with the Third
Brigade. For the
purpose of further instruction and drills, the troop was divided into squads
and squads have
at various times been established at Ayer, Billerica, Carlisle, Chelmsford
Centre, Dracut,
Groton, Lowell, North Chelmsford, Pepperell, West Chelmsford and Westford.

On July 24, 1866, H. Herbert Emerson of Chelmsford was appointed adjutant
with the rank of
1st Lieutenant, which office he held until 1874, when Elijah D. Bearce of
Chelmsford
succeeded him and held that office until it was abolished in 1878.

On July 24, 1866, Levi Howard of Chelmsford was appointed Assistant Surgeon
with the rank
of 1st Lieutenant. Capt. Roby continued in command until 1877, a period of
thirteen years,
when he was succeeded by Capt. Sherman H. Fletcher of Westford. The troop
was disbanded
July 1, 1907.

The following list of officers of the troop, with the residences on the date
of their
election or appointment will clearly indicate that Chelmsford had furnished
her full quota.

NAME RESIDENCE TERM OF SERVICE.
Christopher Roby Chelmsford 1864-1877.
Sherman H. Fletcher Westford 1877-1888.
Horace W. Wilson Carlisle 1888-1893.
Elisha H. Shaw Chelmsford 1893-1898.
Amos R. Leighton Westford 1899-1900.
John J. Monahan Chelmsford 1900-1906.
Edward H. Keyes Chelmsford 1905-1907.

p.377 The Civil War, 1861-1865.

Adjutant with rank of 1st Lieutenant.
H. Herbert Emerson Chelmsford 1866-1874.
Elijah D. Bearse Chelmsford 1874-1878.
Assistant Surgeon with rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Levi Howard Chelmsford 1866-1878.
Joseph B. Heald Westford 1878-1883.
Walter H. Leighton Lowell 1883-1886.
Joseph D. Heald Westford 1886-1888.
Amasa Howard Chelmsford 1889-1900.
Arthur G. Scoboria Chelmsford 1900-1907.
First Lieutenants
Edgar S. Parkhurst Chelmsford 1864-1866.
Warren C. Hamblett Chelmsford 1866-1867.
Allen Cameron Westford 1867-1872.
Arthur M. Clement Dracut 1872-1873.
Nathan B. Lapham Chelmsford 1874-1878.
Arthur M. Clement Boston 1878-1883.
William L. Kittredge Westford 1883-1885.
Horace W. Wilson Carlisle 1885-1888.
Elisha H. Shaw Chelmsford 1889-1893.
Amos R. Leighton Westford 1893-1898.
John J. Monahan Chelmsford 1899-1900.
Edward H. Keyes Chelmsford 1900-1905.
Edward Fisher Westford 1905-1907.
Second Lieutenants
Warren C. Hamblett Chelmsford 1864-1866.
Allen Cameron Westford 1866-1867.
James A. Davis Dunstable 1867-1871.
Benjamin F. Day Chelmsford 1871-1874.
Sherman H. Fletcher Westford 1874-1877.
Arthur M. Clement Boston 1877-1878.
William L. Kittredge Westford 1878-1883.
Horace W. Wilson Carlisle 1883-1885.
Everett C. Williams Groton 1885-1888.
Elisha H. Shaw Chelmsford 1888
Amos R. Leighton Westford 1888-1893.
William J. Quigley Chelmsford 1893-1899.
Edward H. Keyes Chelmsford 1899-1900.
Elisha H. Shaw Chelmsford 1900-1903.
Edward Fisher Westford 1903-1905.
Edward S. Ricker Carlisle 1905-1907.

p.378 History of Chelmsford
Soldiers and Sailors in the Civil War.
Two hundred and eighteen men served to the credit of Chelmsford in the Army
during the
Civil War, and twenty-three in the Navy, not including three who were
rejected after be-
ing mustered in, and ten who were credited elsewhere. Of this number,
twenty-five were
killed or died in the service.

The following list was prepared with painstaking care by Mr. Henry S.
Perham, Chairman of
a committee appointed by the Town for that purpose. Residents of Chelmsford
who served to
the credit of other towns or cities are included, and the name of such town
or city is
given. This List bears the date of 1899.

Record of the Service of Chelmsford Soldiers and Sailors Who Served in the
Civil War,
1861-1865.
ARMY.
Abbott, George A. Mustered in August 11, 1862 for 3 years. Co. A., 33d
Regt. Inf., which
became Co. 1, 3d Cavalry. Deserted, Nov. or Dec. 1862. Enlisted and mustered
in Aug. 10,
1864 for 1 year. Co. C., 4th Heavy Art'y. Reported under President Lincoln's
Proclamation
of March 11, 1865, as deserted from 33d Regt., and returned to 3d Cav.
Mustered out with
Company at Alexandria, Va., June 9, 1865. Age, 20. Single, born at
Montpelier, VT. Credited
at 2d enlistment to Lawrence.

Abbott, Solomon. Enlisted June 10, 1862; mustered in, Aug. 7, 1862, for 2
years. Co. H. 33d
Inf. Mustered out, June 22, 1865. Prisoner from March 26, 1864 to May 5,
1865. Aged 23.
Single, son of Dominicus and Sally Abbott. Residence given on roll, Lowell.

Ackroyd, George H. Enl. and mustered, Aug 12, 1862 for 3 years. Co. E., 33d
Inf. Mustered
out, June 11, 1865. Age 18.

Andrews, John. Enlisted and mustered out, reported as absent sick. Age 23.
Married. Residence
Boston.

Austin, Charles O., Enlisted and mustered, Nov. 30, 1864, for 1 year. Co.
C., 1st Battalion
Heavy Artillery. Mustered out Oct. 20, 1865. Age 18. Residence, Methuen.

Baker, George E. Mustered in Dec 13, 1864 for 1 year. 6th Mass. Battery.
Mustered out,
Aug. 7, 1865. Age 21. Residence, Lowell.

Baker, John M. Enlisted and mustered in Aug 8, 1864 for 3 years. Co. I, 2d
Regt. Inf.
Admitted to 1st Div., 2d A.C. Hospital, Sept 1, 1864. Returned to duty, Sept
22, 1864. No
further record. Age 26. Married. Residence, New York City.

Balcomb, Horace A. Enlisted and mustered, April 22, 1864 for 3 years. Co. A,
26th Regt.
Inf. Mustered out, Aug 26, 1865. Age 24. Married.

Barker, Charles Alfred. Mustered in, Aug 31, 1862. Sergt. Co. K. 6th Regt.
Inf. for 9 mos.
Promoted to 1st Sergt., March 14, 1863. Mustered out June 3, 1863. Age 21.
Born, Prospect,
Maine, son of Dr. Thomas C. & Rebecca (Abbott) Barker.

Burr, John. Enlisted and mustered Nov 30, 1864 for 1 year. Co. G., 61st
Regt. Inf.
Mustered out July 16, 1865. Age 18. Residence, Boston.

Barritt, Patrick. Enlisted and mustered Oct. 9, 1861 for 3 years. Co. F.,
30th Regt. Inf.
Died Oct. 7, 1862 at Carrolton, LA aged 42. Married.

Barron, Edward H. Enlisted and mustered Nov 28, 1864 for 1 year. Co. B., 1st
Heavy Art'y.
Mustered out, Aug 16, 1865. Previous service, 3 years in the U.S. Navy on
the U.S. ship,
Minnesota, from April 10, 1861 to April 13, 1864. 2d enlistment, credit -
Chelmsford. Res.
East Boston. Age 21. Born at Halifax.

To be continued Part III - p.379 - Charles Edwin Adams Bartlett.
Chelmsford in the Civil
War.
Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth

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