2011 marks the beginning of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. In preparation for this anniversary Westport Historical Society is undertaking research into Westporters who were involved with the Civil War as soldiers, medical officers and other roles. The historical society seeks photographs, objects, any personal papers, accounts, correspondence and biographical information on Civil War veterans from Westport. Much of this research will build upon the publication “Westporters and the Civil War” by Richard Wertz and Andrew Macomber. The historical society welcomes suggestions from the community on ways to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
For towns in Northern states such as Westport, the impact of the Civil War was felt most keenly through the personal experiences of soldiers and the human cost of lives lost or disabilities sustained by those who survived. The fate of many of Westport’s soldiers is recorded in a resolution at the town meeting in 1866:
“resolved that we still cherish the memory of such brave men who have laid aside their armour and have passed through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Some have fallen on the field and sleep in rebel soil. Some have sickened and died in the camp. Some have returned to their families only to die among their friends. Others have lingered famished in loathsome rebel prisons away from home and friends, denied even a cup of cold water to cool their fevered lips and aching heads.”
One of the grandest testaments to the individual experience of Westporters in the Civil War can be found in Linden Grove cemetery. A verse on the tombstone of Frederick Allen describes his fate:
“Brave soldier who nobly gave himself to the service of his country in the great Southern Rebellion of 1861. Enlisted in the 20th Regt. of MASS. Vol. July 12, 1861, was taken prisoner at the battle of Ball's Bluff Oct. 21 and exchanged Feb. 19, 1862, was wounded and again taken prisoner at the battle of Malvern Hill July 1, 1862 and exchanged Aug. 28. Fought in the sanguinary battle of Antietam Sept. 17, was again wounded from the effects of which he died Oct. 20, 1862. Aged 18 yrs and 10 days.”
As noted in “Westporters and the Civil War”, the grave does not contain all his remains. Allen’s arm was amputated on Oct 12 1862 and was collected by the Army Surgical Corps in an effort to learn how to prevent death from infection. Today this collection is held by the Smithsonian and includes bones identified as the remains of Frederick Allen.
A list of Civil War veterans from Westport is provided below. The historical society welcomes suggestions from the community on ways to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Anyone with an interest in assisting with research projects and other Civil War related events, should contact Jenny O’Neill at 508 636 6011 or westporthistory@charterinternet.com
Albert M. Allen, Cornelius T. Allen
Frederick S. Allen
Pardon S. Allen
Thomas Andrews
Nicholas B. Anthony
Albert Babbitt
Henry Clay Baker
Jehiel Baker
Adam G. Borden
Isaac S. Borden
Peleg S. Borden
Thomas L. Borden
George E. Bradley
Alexander S. Brightman
John H. Brightman
Nicholas W. Brightman
Jireh F. Brownell
Charles Burt
James E Childs
Solomon Cornell
John P. Dean
Stephen E. Demoranville
George R. Devol
Henry S. Devol
Isaac Dunham
Stephen Dyer
Andrew R. Earl
George H. Enos
William T. Freelove
John Fuller
John G. Gammons
Lemuel T. Gammons
Abram Gifford
Eli M. Gifford
George A. Gifford
Gideon D. Gifford
Isaac Gifford, Junior
James B. Gifford
Thomas J. Gifford
Sidney N. Gray
Dr. James Hervy Handy
Lemuel Mortimer Hedge
John J. Holmes
Daniel Howard
Albert Franklyn Howland
Stephen S. King
George Frederick Lawton
Peleg P. Lawton
James Leary
Thomas Lee
David Macomber
George P. Macomber
Leonard W. Macomber
Richmond Macomber
William R. Macomber
Borden Manchester
Edwin F. Manchester
Allen G. Mayhew
Charles F. Mead
Andrew J. Mosher
Augustus M. Mosher
Benjamin F. Mosher
Edward J. Mosher
Willard B. Mosher
Abner D. Palmer
Israel Peckham
Jacob Peckham
Daniel A. Petty
George A. Petty
Hiram S. Petty
James H. Petty
Pardon Z. Petty
George F. Pierce
Edwin R. Pool
Peleg W.P. Read
Robert S. Reed
Alexander Sanford
Barnabas B. Sanford
Daniel Sanford
John G. Sanford
Uriah Gifford Sanford
Edward Shannon
Charles H. Sherman
Charles Short
Martin Frederick Simpson
Edward Smith
John Smith
William W. Smith
Asa Snider
James H. Soule
Robert F. Soule
Alden W. Tripp
Allen H. Tripp
Almanza Tripp
Augustus G. Tripp
Charles F. Tripp
Charles M. Tripp
Daniel H. Tripp
David R. Tripp
Edwin C. Tripp
Ephraim T. Tripp
James A Tripp
Joseph H. Tripp
Theodore J. Tripp
Eli Wordell
George P. Wood