RALLYING ROUND THE FLAG
Without tablet in bronze or
granite monument to war-time valor Embden
nevertheless has a record of services
fully to warrant one. More than 100 farmer
lads from the town marched off to the
terrible conflict of the ’60's. About
one-half of these were in regiments under
Butler or Banks of Massachusetts — major
generals of volunteers. From Augusta,
Portland and Boston these recruits sailed
away to Fortress Monroe. Soon again they
were voyaging to Hilton Head, S. C., Ship
Island, Miss., and adjacent points to have
part in the conquest of New Orleans and
Louisiana, the opening of the Mississippi
and, eventually, in the expedition on the
Red River.
Of about 20 Embden soldiers
who died of disease during the Civil War,
a large percentage had been on duty in the
far south. Some Embden survivors in these
regiments came north with Butler to
Bermuda Hundred. In Virginia they carried
on with about another half of the Embden
enlistments in divers regiments that had
come direct to Washington and the Army of
the Potomac. During the war years Embden
troopers there were who rode and raided
from Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah and
the James and to Richmond; Embden
artillerymen were helping serve the big
guns and Embden infantrymen were sharing
in the sanguinary charges. Some 17 Embden
soldiers were killed in action. These fell
for the most part at Fredericksburg,
Winchester, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and
Cold Harbor.
In earlier days one Embden
boy, Barzilla S. McFadden, went away to
the War with Mexico and may have lost his
life in the storming of Chapultepec. A
dozen Embden men fought in the second war
with Britain. Some were on coast guard
duty but others were on the long march
across New Hampshire ,and Ver- nont to
Plattsburg and helped in the invasion of
Canada. Most Embden pioneers were veterans
of the Revolution from Massachusetts and
New Hampshire or sons of those who had
been.
In the good militia days
Embden long had one company, at first
organized and largely officered on Seven
Mile Brook. Then there were two companies
with rival jurisdiction on either side of
the town — boundaries carefully defined by
the selectmen — as well as a company of
horse. There was a town stock of powder
and ball and two camp kettles. Annual
meetings of the town voted allowances for
rations at the musters. Cartridges were
manufactured under the business eye of
"Uncle Mose" Thompson at his tavern,
probably at the hands of persons who had
become town charges. The martial spirit of
Embden was recognized by surrounding
territory. Early and late there were three
Embden colonels of militia, besides a
native son, Elbridge Gerry Savoge, who
after he had moved to Solon became a
militia brigadier. All this one might
regard as a separate topic. It belongs,
however, by way of preface and, perhaps,
of inspiration to the town’s valiant
efforts in the Civil War.
The commissioned officers
roster in Maine volunteer regiments
carries the names of several Embden born
men. Lieut. Col. Joseph Whitman Spaulding
of the 19th Maine Regiment belonged by
birth to Caratunk but his grandfather,
Joseph Spaulding (1769-1866) originally
resided in Embden and the family in early
days had many local connections. Col.
Spaulding went out as an enlisted man from
Richmond, Me., where first and last a
considerable number of people of Embden
interest settled. This same Joseph
Spaulding of Embden was father-in- law of
Elbridge G. Savage who went to the front
as captain of Company F, Third Maine but
suffered a sunstroke in Baltimore, as
related, that terminated his army career.
The latter’s nephew, Jefferson Savage,
native of Embden, was commissioned second
lieutenant of Company F in the same
regiment on Aug. 4, 1861.
Seth T. Hutchins of North
Anson, son of Asahel and Polly (Savage)
Hutchins of Embden, was captain of Co. A,
28th Maine, a nine months regiment. He was
considered an excellent drill master,
perhaps the best in the regiment and the
higher officers regarded Company A as
particularly well trained. Often on dress
parade Maj. Bullen is quoted as having
remarked: "Capt. Hutchins, you have a
finely drilled company there." Thirteen
Embden men went out in this company, one
of the largest quotas the town furnished
to any military organization during the
war.
Lieut. Horatio Gates
Cleveland of Monroe, Wis., son of James
Young and Edith (Cragin) Cleveland of
Embden, was commissioned in Company K,
16th Wisconsin Volunteers. He was wounded
at Atlanta and resigned Nov. 17, ’64. His
brother, Roger Sherman Cleveland, served
in the Wisconsin cavalry. Jerry S.
Cleveland, an original member of the 4th
Battery, First Mounted Artillery and
Benjamin F. Cleveland of the Tenth Maine
were his first cousins. All were natives
of Embden and grandsons of Luther
Cleveland the Embden pioneer.
Among non-commissioned
officers there were several Embden men.
Jarvis Wentworth, a Vermont cavalryman;
WTilliam C. Walker, James F. Luce, Justus
B. Wilson, Stilson Wells, and Daniel K.
Williams served as sergeants. Alvin H. and
Elijah P. Burns, Jerry S. Cleveland,
Ebenezer C. Talcott, Oliver J. Moulton,
Edmond E. Gould, James H. Harlow, Cephas
Walker, Wesley Gray, William S. Hodgdon,
J. Williams Morin, Amos J. Wentworth,
Daniel Wentworth and Benjamin Young were
corporals. Five musicians enlisted from
Embden — Morrill Green, Harley F. Hicks,
George S. and Timothy C. Beal and Thomas
Delaney, who although accredited to
Embden's quota was born in Cork, Ireland,
claimed that as his residence and may have
never traveled farther up the Kennebec
than Augusta.
There were Embden soldiers
in an even score of the 32 volunteer
infantry regiments organized in the state
as well as in the two Cavalry regiments,
the first Heavy Artillery and the Mounted
Artillery. The larger groups and the
approximate number in these groups were
with the following nine regiments:
Eighteen in the 4th Battery,
Mounted Artillery. This battery was in
many hard fought battles. It first marched
up the Shenandoah, was in Gen Siegel’s
command and then with Gen. Pope and the
Artillery Brigade, Sixth Army Corps. It
served its guns three hours at Cold Harbor
and was rushed to Washington to meet
Early’s raid.
Fifteen in Company A, 28th
Maine. This nine months regiment encamped
at Chalmette, the site of the battle of
New Orleans in the War of 1812, and
displayed great gallantry at Fort Butler.
Many of its soldiers re-enlisted.
Eleven in companies B. D and
K, Thirteenth Maine. This was Col. Neal
Dow’s regiment. It sailed to Ship Island,
was at New Orleans and in the Red River
Expedition, whence it returned to Fortress
Monroe and the District of Columbia.
Ten in Companies A, F, H,
and I, Sixteenth Maine, Asa W. Wilder of
Skowhegan, Colonel. When it had been
organized only four months this regiment
participated in the Battle of
Fredericksburg. It served at
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg,
Spottsylvania Court House and in April,
’65 was part of the army that pursued Lee
to Appomattox Court House.
Nine in companies B, F, H
and I, Third Maine, whose first colonel
was Oliver 0. Howard (1830-1909)
afterwards a corps commander and also
general of the Army of The Tennessee. This
regiment was at both battles of Bull Run
and at Fredericksburg, the Wilderness and
Chancellorsville.
Nine in companies B, H and
K, Ninth Maine. This regiment landed at
Hilton Head and after service in the far
south was brought to Virginia for the
James River campaign and had part in the
battle of Cold Harbor. There was a
considerable quota of Concord men in Co.
D. of this regiment, including James E.
Shepard, sergeant; Elisha W. Vittum and
Daniel 0. Fee, corporals; Joseph Bean,
Jr., John W. Dinsmore, Oliver C. Dunton
who died on shipboard, and Abishal Town.
Seven in Company F.
Twentieth Maine, whose colonels in
succession were Adelbert Ames of Rockland,
son-in-law of Gen. Butler, United States
Senator from Mississippi and a general in
the Spanish War; Joshua L. Chamberlain,
Charles D. Gilmore and Ellis Spear. It
wras part of the Army of The Potomac that
fought the battles of Antietam,
Fredericksburg — where the 20th Maine was
first under fire — and Gettysburg. The
regiment held the extreme left of Meade’s
Gettysburg line on the second day.
Seven in companies C, H and
K, Twenty-fourth Maine, a nine months’
regiment that served in the far south but
had a pleasant steamboat trip home by way
of Cairo. Ill.
Five in companies C and F,
Tenth Maine. George L. Beal was colonel of
this regiment, which became a part of
Pope’s army, helped fight the battle of
Cedar Mountain Aug. 9, ’62 and the next
month was at Antietam.
The first enlistments from
Embden were William Harrison Holbrook
(1841-1924) and James G. Daggett
(1842-1862). They were mustered in Aug.
21, ’61 with Company B, Seventh Maine.
"Had" Holbrook was wounded at Antietam and
discharged because of disability March 12,
’63. "Jim" Daggett died in the hospital at
Washington. Others enlisted soon
afterward. A quota of five from Embden,
including John Gould, son of Elder
Benjamin, was mustered into Co. E, Eighth
Maine on Sept. 7 ’61. Silas Brown,
Benjamin F. and Lee Strickland, brothers,
and James Sullivan were the other four.
Quotas were supplied Dec. 9, ’61 for the
Thirteenth Maine and on December 21 for
the 4th Battery including several original
members. The next quota was Aug. 14, ’62
and consisted of seven men. One of these
was Lewis Carl, who was killed in his
first battle. His death made a deep
impression on the Kennebec side of the
town where he had been employed by Ozias
McFadden prior to his enlistment.
It is a matter of history
how the North, disillusioned by reverses
of the first two years, resorted to the
draft to recruit its armies and Congress
passed the so-called Conscript Act, which
became a law by Lincoln’s signature on
March 3, ’63. This law brought seven
Embden men into the ranks, all of whom,
except Joseph Orlando Moulton, were
married. Most of them also had families of
small children. The first of the drafted
men to be mustered in was Moses L.
Strickland, 34 years old. He was duly
enrolled July 21, ’63 in Co. H, Third
Maine. Within a few days came his cousin,
Daniel Strickland of New Portland but a
son of Daniel D. and Christina Strickland
of northwest Embden. During August the
other five were mustered in. One of them
was Benson Gray who had recently married
and come from Concord to settle on the
Bosworth farm. He fell at Winchester.
Another was John C. Holbrook, one of the
four Holbrook brothers all of whom went
into the army as married men. Horace W.
Holbrook and Philander H. Chick, neighbors
near the foot of Embden Pond where they
had established their young families, were
the other two Embden conscripts of this
quota. Probably no other occurrence more
seriously impressed the town with the
gravity of the Civil War.
Embden was patriotic in
voting money as well as supplying men.
Funds were provided for State aid to wives
and dependents of soldiers in the fields
in 1862 and in increasing sums from that
time on till the end of the war. Town
bounties of $100 per volunteer had been
paid readily till the call was made for
raising the Twenty-eighth Regiment.
Embden's quota of seventeen men for
Company A made extraordinary measures
necessary to raise the required bounties.
At a town meeting on
Saturday, Aug. 2, ’62, "to raise money to
aid in obtaining volunteer militia" a sum
of $1,100, or $100 for each man who
volunteered was voted and twenty-two
taxpayers of Embden signed a bond for
$1,700 to pay 17 men. These twenty-two
were: John Gray, L. H. Walker, Elisha
Purington, Ozias H. McFadden, Wm. H.
Stevens, Calvin Boyington, Warren
Getchell, T. F. Boothby, Phineas Eames,
Elam Stevens, Wm. Barron, Edwin S.
Danforth, Charles F. Caldwell, Joseph
Atkinson, Benjamin C. McKenney, Timothy C.
Spaulding, Sanford B. Stevens, Albert
Williams, Moses Thompson, Erastus Walker,
John Pierce, Michael F. Berry.
The bond named the following
to receive $100 bounty each when mustered
into the service of the United States;
Mandell Wells, William H. Grear, Archa
Mullen, John W. Foss, John Burns, 2nd, Asa
Strickland, Daniel Tripp, Daniel
Wentworth, Allen Jackson, William H.
McKenney, Stilson Wells, Daniel K.
Williams, Josiah M. Cook, Thomas J.
Mullen, Timothy C. Beal, Richard Tripp.
Not all of these enlisted in Co. A,
Twenty-eighth Maine. The Beal brothers
served in the Twenty-fourth Maine and,
although of Embden, some question arose
whether they entered the service as part
of Embden's quota or as part of Solon’s.
That made a contention over which town
should lay the bounties.
In response to Lincoln’s
call of Oct. 17, ’63, the town voted on
December 3 to increase to $325 its bounty
for "each man who shall voluntarily enlist
in the service of the United States before
the fifth day of January next." The
selectmen were authorized to make a loan
at 6 per cent to meet this requirement and
it was further agreed to pay each soldier
when mustered in. An appropriation of
$1,000 annually till all these bounties
were paid was voted. At a meeting March 7,
’64, the selectmen were instructed to
raise by loan or otherwise $1,000 to be
distributed in state aid. William G.
Bailey, David Stevens, 2nd., and Austin
Eames were chosen a committee Aug. 24,
’64, "to solicit subscriptions to aid in
payments as bounties to soldiers," and on
the same date David Stevens, 2nd., and
Phineas Eames were chosen agents "to
procure recruits."
The town bounty was
increased to $350 on Oct. 3, ’64 and the
selectmen were directed to obtain the
money by loan. At the same time the town
agreed to assume the amount of money
contributed by individuals toward
enlisting soldiers to fill the town’s
quota and town orders were issued bearing
interest from date for such sums. The same
bounty was voted to each drafted man who
voluntarily entered the service. A loan of
$2,000 was authorized Nov. 8, ’64 "to pay
money borrowed of citizens and also to
offset money subscribed to pay bounty to
soldiers on the last quota." Under
Lincoln’s call of December, 1864, Embden
voted to raise $6,000 to fill the quota of
soldiers and $500 more if needed, naming
John Gray and T. F. Boothby a committee to
fill the quota. It was voted March 6, ’65,
to assess $5,000 of money already raised
to pay bounties and the town treasurer was
directed to borrow sufficient money to pay
state aid. An additional $1,500 was raised
at that meeting "to pay state aid." In
March, ’66, the town assessed $2,100 more
of monies raised to pay bounties to
soldiers.
The above figures tell only a part of the
town’s financial sacrifice. The total
bounties to soldiers voted by Embden
amounted to $26,355 of which $1,100 was
paid to the three years men of ’62, $1,600
to nine months men of ’62, $3,900 to
volunteers of ’63 and $19,055 to
volunteers in ’64 and ’65, $500 to drafted
men who entered the service and $200 to
substitutes.
The disbursements by Embden
for state aid covered a period of four
years in the following amounts:
|
No. of families |
No. of persons |
Total $ |
1862 |
12 |
38 |
362.50 |
1863 |
18 |
54 |
957.77 |
1864 |
18 |
48 |
880.07 |
1865 |
9 |
28 |
362.63 |
|
|
|
______ |
|
Total paid |
|
2,562.97 |
The following roster has
been undertaken as a record of Embden's
Civil War soldiers. It is a complete
record of Embden's quota as preserved in
the Adjutant General’s office at Augusta
and kindly supplied by Adjutant General
James W. Hanson. In that list are a few
names of soldiers who probably never saw
the town. With the stress of obtaining
men, bounty money brought a few from
elsewhere. There are hardly more than ten
or twelve of these. On the other hand, the
Adjutant General’s record based on the
quotas that Embden supplied and obtained
credit for, is far from being a complete
record of Embden men in the Union armies.
First might be mentioned young men of
established Embden families, who were
residing, more or less permanently, in
other towns and enlisted from those towns.
A notable example of this sort is Cephas
Walker.
He was temporarily in
Madison when he enlisted but after the War
resided many years in Embden. He is said
to be the only survivor today of all the
Embden Civil War soldiers. He is now
living at Madison, devoted to the memory
of his family and proud of his several
grandchildren, among whom Philip Young of
Woodsfords is one of his favorites. There
were many instances like this of Embden
men residing in other towns and states.
The list here includes many of these but
by no means all of them.
Several of the outsiders who enlisted
under Embden's quota were originally from
the Canadian provinces. John B. Allen, who
heads the list of this contingent,
however, was a native of Beddington, near
Machias. William Clough came from Digby,
N. S.; John Condon from Milltown, N. B.,
and John Day from St. John, N. B. Thomas
Delaney from Cork and John Madigan from
Limerick were two Irishmen among these
recruits, while John McDonald was from
Liverpool, Peter Luey from Quebec and
Matthew Noland from Montreal. Richard T.
Logue was from Boston and George M.
Desmazes was from Chelsea, Mass. Some of
these men may have resided temporarily in
Embden but their names do not appear on
the tax lists.
Following each Embden
soldier’s name below is the date of his
birth and as far as obtainable, the date
of his death. The name of a town, after
that date, means an Embden man enlisted
from that town and was not a part of
Embden's quota. The dates after the names
of the organization in which he served
spell the time of his service. An asterisk
(*) before a name indicates that this
soldier lost his life in battle or died
from wounds received in action and the
name of a place at the end of the line
indicates where he fell. Similarly the
mark (+) before a soldier’s name indicates
that he died of disease and the place of
his death is sometimes indicated at the
end of the line. The mark (§) before a
soldier's name means discharged for
disability. Embden soldiers in the Civil
War were:
§Allen, John B. (1831),
Marshfield, Co. D, 2d Sharpshooters, Nov.
1, ’61, to June 2, ’64.
Ball, Joel (1845), Co. F,
20th Me., Dec. 29, ’63, to June 4, ’65.
+Beal, Andrew F. (1841), 4th
Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., Dec. 20, ’61, to
March 8, ’63. Harpers Ferry.
+Beal, George S. (1844),
Solon, Co. H, 24th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to
Apr. 18, ’63. Bonnet Carre.
Beal, Timothy C. (1837), Solon, Co. H,
24th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to Aug. 25, ’63.
+Berry, Alphonso (1846), Co.
K, 9th Me., Sept. 20, ’64, to May 2, ’65.
Berry, Alvah (1818-1882),
Bingham, Co. K, 13th Me., Dec. 13, ’61, to
Feb. 17, ’64.
Berry, James (1846), Co. I,
16th Me., Oct. 4, ’64, to Dec. 8, ’64.
Berry, Levi (1822), Co. A
and Co. F, 16th Me., Aug. 14, ’62, to June
5, ’65
§Berry, William P. (1826),
4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., Dec. 28, ’63,
to April 5, ’64. Wounds.
§Blagden, William D.
(1835-1902), Anson, Co. B, 13th Me., Nov.
28, ’61, to April 21, ’62.
§Brown, George W. E. (1817),
Bingham, 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., Dec.
21, ’61, to March 5, ’63.
Brown, Jonathan E. (1843),
Bingham, 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., Jan.
14, ’62, to July 12, ’62, and Co. M., 31st
Me., Oct. 18, ’64 to July 15, ’65.
§Brown, Silas R. (1835), Co.
E, 8th Me., Sept. 7, ’61, to Sept. 16,
’64. Wounds.
Burns, Alvin H (1833-1887),
Fort Snelling, Min., Co. A, 10th Minn.,
Aug. 14, ’62, to Aug. 19 ’65.
Burns, Benjamin (1834), Co.
G, 12th Me., Nov. 15, ’61, to June 6, ’62.
Burns, Elijah P. (1841-1915), Sanbornton,
N. H., Co. F, 8th N. H., Dec. 20, ’61, to
Jan. 19, ’65.
Burns, Franklin S.
(1837-1913), Co. D, 13th Me., Dec. 9, ’61,
to Jan. 6, ’65.
+Burns, George (1845-1865),
Co. K, 9th Me., Sept. 22, ’64, to Feb. 1,
’65.
+Burns, George W.
(1841-1863), Pittsfield, Co. C, 24th Me.,
Oct. 13, ’62, to March 27, ’63.
§Burns, Jesse (1818),
Fairfield, Co. B, 13th Me., Dec. 28, ’61,
to June 25, ’63.
Burns, John S. (1861), Co.
C, 1st Me. Cav., Nov. 1, ’61, to Nov. 25,
’64. Burns, William (1829), Lexington, Co.
C, 1st Me. Cav., Oct. 20, ’61, to March 8,
’62.
+Burns, Wilson (1840-1864),
Lexington, Co. D, 13th Me., Dec. 9, ’61,
to Jan. 4, ’62. Augusta.
*Carle, Lewis (1841-1864),
Co. F, 20th Me., Aug. 29, ’62, to Oct. 12,
’64. Chadwick, William F. (1846),
Falmouth, Co. M, 31st Me., Oct. 18, ’64,
to Nov. 7, ’64.
Chapin, Arthur T. (1842),
4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., Jan. 14, ’62,
to Jan. 13, ’65.
Chapin, Henry D. (1844), 4th
Battery, 1st Mtd Art., Jan. 14, ’62, till
discharge at Augusta, no date given.
+Chase, Wellington
(1846-1864), Bingham, Co. B, 29th Me.,
Dec. 30, ’63, to May 31, ’64.
§Chick, Philander H.
(1842-1915), Co. I, 3rd Me., and Co. B,
1st Heavy Art., Aug. 19, ’63, to April 21,
’65.
Clark, William B.
(1823-1871), Anson, 4th Battery, 1st Mtd.
Art., Dec. 29, ’63 to June 17, ’65.
Cleveland, Alonzo H.
(1838-1907), Camden, Co. H, 9th Me., Feb.
12, ’62, to Feb. 15, ’65.
Cleveland, Benjamin F.
(1828), Anson, Co. F, 10th Me., May 3,
’61, to May 7, ’63.
Cleveland, Horatio G.
(1829-1890), Monroe, Wis., Co. K, 16th
Wis., Dec. 2, ’63, to Nov. 17, ’64.
Cleveland, Jeremiah S.
(1834), 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., Dec.
21, ’61, and reenlisted Jan. 2, ’64.
Cleveland, Roger S. (1843),
Jordan, Wis., Co. B, 1st Wis. Cav., Oct.
15, ’63, to July 19, ’65.
Clough, William (1829), Co.
K, 19th. Me., Oct. 5, ’64, to Oct. 7, ’64.
Condon, John (1844), Co. B,
1st Battalion, March 30, ’65, to April 5,
’65.
§Cook, John A. (1834), Co.
E, 12th Me., Nov. 15, ’61, to July 15,
’62, and Co. F, 7th Me., and Co. F, 1st.
Vet. Reg., April 6, ’63, to Aug. 28, ’63.
Cook, Josiah M. (1822), Co.
A, 28th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to Aug. 31,
’63.
+Copp, Calvin F.
(1841-1862), Co. F, 14th Me., Dec. 11,
’61, to July 25, ’62. Baton Rouge.
+Crymble, Caldo F.
(1838-1864), 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art.,
Dec. 28, ’63, to Apr. 9, ’64.
Crymble, Charles, Jr.,
(1833-1921), 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art.,
Jan. 14, ’62, and reenlisted Feb. 5, ’64,
to June 17, ’65.
Crymble, John H. (1830),
Janesville, Wis., Co. G, 8th Wis., Aug.
13, ’61, to Sept. 16, ’61.
+Daggett, James G.
(1842-1862), Co. B, 7th Me., Aug. 21, ’61,
to Nov. 15, ’62. Washington.
§Daggett, Obed W. (1835),
Anson, CO'. F, 10th Me., Oct. 16, ’61, to
June 28, ’62.
Dawes, Rufus (1818), Anson,
Co. A, 28th. Me., Oct. 13, ’62 to Aug. 31
’63. Moved to Embden after the war.
Dawes, Seldon (1828), Anson,
Co. A, 28th. Me., Oct. 13, ’62 to Aug. 31
’63. Moved to Embden after the war.
Day, John (1847), Co. B, 1st Battalion,
March 30, ’65, to muster out of battalion.
Delaney, Thomas (1840), Co.
I, 16th Me., and Co. I, 20th Me., Oct. 4,
’64, to July 16, ’65.
Desmazes, George M. (1847),
Co. B, 1st Battalion, March 30, ’65, to
April 5, ’66.
Donley, Frank (1812-1868),
Anson, 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., Dec.
21, ’61, to Dec. 20, ’64.
+Eames, Martin (1843-1863),
Co. F, 10th Me., and Co. E, 8th Me., Oct.
4, ’61, to March 15, ’63.
*Foss, Elfin J. (1840-1863),
Co. F, 20th Me., Aug. 29, ’62, to July 2,
’63. Gettysburg.
+Foss, John W. (1843-1862),
Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to Nov. 20,
’62. Gordon, Oliver P. (1842), Co. D, 13th
Me., Dec. 10, ’61, to Jan. 5, ’65. Gould,
Edmond E. (1844-1919), Norridgewock, Co.
K, 21st Me., Oct. 14, ’62, to Aug. 25,
’63, and Co. I, 31st Me., April 14, ’64,
to July 15, ’65.
Gould, John (1837), Co. E,
8th Me., Sept. 7, ’61, to Sept. 15, ’64.
*Gray, Benson S.,
(1842-1864), Co. I, 3rd Me., and Co. B,
17th Me., July 21, ’63, to Sept. 19, ’64.
Winchester.
Gray, J. Wesley (1841-1928),
Co. F, 10th Me., Oct. 4, ’61, to May 7,
’63, and Co. D, 1st D. C. Cav., Feb. 29,
’64, to Aug. 1, ’65.
+Grear, William H.
(1843-1862), Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13,
’62, to Dec. 18, ’62.
+Green, Morrill (1848-1865),
Co. K, 9th Me., Sept. 20, ’64, to Feb. 5,
’65.
+Greene, Albert S.
(1843-1864), Skowhegan, Co. D, 2nd Me.
Cav., Jan. 14, ’64, to Jan. 26, ’64.
Harlow, James H. (1835), Co.
H. 1st Me. Cav., Sept. 28, ’61, reenisted
to June 20, ’65.
Hatch, John B. (1838), Co.
B, 9th Me., Sept. 22, ’64, to July 13,
’65.
*Hewey, Charles G.
(1840-1864), Co. G, 12th Me., Nov. 15,
’61, to Sept. 19, ’64. Winchester.
Hicks, Harley F. (1836), 4th
Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., Jan. 14, ’62, to -
’62.
*Hodgdon, William S.
(1844-1863), Co. F, 20th Me., Aug. 29,
’62, to July 2, ’63. Gettysburg.
Holbrook, Abel C. (1829),
Co. A, 16th Me., Aug. 4, ’62, to June 5,
’65.
Holbrook, Horace W. (1838),
Co. B, 3rd Me., and Co. - , 17th Me., Aug.
21, ’63, to Feb. 12, ’64.
*Holbrook, John C.
(1836-1864), Co. I, 3rd Me., and Co. F,
17th Me., Aug. 7, ’63, to June 18, ’64.
§Holbrook, William H.
(1841-1924), Co. B, 7th Me., Aug. 21, ’61,
to March 12, ’63.
Hutchins, Seth T.
(1827-1894), North Anson, Co. A, 28th Me.,
Oct. 13, ’62, to Aug. 31, ’63.
§Ireland, Fifield (1839),
Canaan, Co. B, 13th Me., Nov. 28, ’61,
reenlisted, to Feb. 20, ’65. Moved to
Embden after the war.
§Ireland, Temple
(1807-1890), Canaan, Co. B, 13th Me., Nov.
28, ’61, to Oct. 27, ’62. Moved to Embden
after the war.
Jackson, Allen (1842-1917),
Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13, 62, to Aug. 31,
63.
Logue, Richard T. (1844),
Co. M, 31st Me., Oct. 18, ’64, to Oct. 20,
64.
Lowell, William H. (1842),
Concord, 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art., and
Invalid Corps, Jan. 14, ’62, to Oct. 30,
’63.
*Luce, James F. (1824-1864),
Tremont, Co. E, 31st Me., March 11, ’64,
to Sept. 30, ’64.
*Luey (Lucy), Peter
(1824-1864), Co. F, 29th Me., Nov. 13,
’63, to Oct. 19, ’64. Winchester.
McDonald, John (1841), Co I,
16th Me., and Co. I, 20th Me., Oct. 4,
’64, to June 5, ’65.
McKenney, George W.
(1833-1911), 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art.,
Dec. 21, ’61, reenlisted Jan. 2, ’64, to
June 17, ’65.
McKenney, William H.
(1845-1924), Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13,
’62, to Aug. 31, ’63.
Madigan, John (1836), Co. E,
1st Heavy Art., Oct. 5, ’64, to Sept. 11,
’65.
Morin, John W. (1840-1915),
Co. F, 20th Me., Aug. 29, ’62, to Dec. 16,
’63, and in the Signal Corps three years.
Morse, Atwood (1833),
Industry, Co. A, 18th Me., Sept. 9, ’62,
to Aug. 31, ’63, and Co. F, 9th Me., Sept.
26, ’64, to June 30, ’65.
*Moulton, B. Randall
(1842-1862), Co. A, 16th Me., Aug. 14,
’62, to Dec. 14, ’62. Fredericksburg.
Moulton, Joseph O. (1842),
Co. I, 3rd Me., Co. F, 17th Me., and Co.
F, 1st Heavy Art., Aug. 14, ’63, to June
6, ’65 Moulton Nathaniel B. (1845-1896),
Lexington, Co. K, 24th Me., Oct. 13, ’62,
to Aug. 25, ’63.
Moulton, Oliver J.
(1834-1917), 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art.,
Dec. 28, ’63, to June 17, ’65.
Mullin, Archa (1886), Co. A,
28th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to Aug. 31, ’63,
and Co. K, 9th Me., Sept. 20, ’64, to June
30, ’65.
Mullin, Ozias (1827), Co. C,
10th Me., Nov. 27, ’61, to May 8, ’63,
and' served with 29th Me. till Nov. 3,
’64.
Mullin, Thomas J.
(1842-1912), Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13,
’62, to Aug. 31, 63, and Co. K, 9th Me.,
Sept. 20, ’64, to June 30, ’65.
Noland, Matthew (1845), Co.
I, 16th Me., Oct. 4, ’64, to Dec. 13, ’64.
Pooler, George (1845),
Waterville, Companies H and K, 29th Me.,
Nov. 13, ’63, to Aug. 22, ’65.
§Redmond, George K. (1843),
Co. F, 20th Me., Aug. 29, ’62, to March 1,
’65.
Ronco, John, Jr. (1844),
Solon, Co. F, 29th Me., Nov. 13, ’63, to
Aug. 14, ’65.
§Rowe, John (1834),
Skowhegan, 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art.,
Feb. 12, ’62, to May 5, ’62.
Rowe, Leander H. (1847),
Pleasant Rid'ge, Co. E, 12th Me., Feb. 8,
’65, to Oct. 20, ’65.
§Rowe, Lyman (1837-1908),
Co. F, 20th Me., Aug. 29, ’62, to March
12, ’63.
§Savage, Elbridge G.
(1812-1887), Solon, Co. F, 3rd Me., June
4, ’61, to Sept. 11, ’61.
Savage, Jefferson
(1838-1916), Solon, Co. F, 3rd Me., June
4, ’61, to Aug. 19, ’62.
Spaulding, Joseph W. (1841),
Richmond, Co. A, 19th Me., Aug. 25, ’62,
to May 31, ’65.
+Stetson, Ephraim H.
(1841-1863), Co. H, 16th Me., Aug. 4, ’62,
to May 26, ’63.
Strickland, Asa (1825-1895),
Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to Aug. 31,
’63.
Strickland, Benjamin F.
(1840), Co. E, 8th Me., Sept. 7, ’61, and
reenlisted Jan. 1, ’65, to Jan. 18, ’66.
Strickland, Daniel (1830)
New Portland, Co. H, 3rd Me., and Co. H,
17th Me., Aug. 20, ’63, to June 4, ’64.
*Strickland, Lee
(1843-1864), Co. E, 8th Me., Sept. 7, ’61,
reenlisted Feb. 29, ’64, to June 13, ’64.
§Strickland, Moses L.
(1830), Co. H, 3rd Me., and Co. H, 17th
Me., 1st Heavy Art., July 21, ’63, to May
15, ’65.
f Sullivan, James C.
(1837-1864), Co. E, 8th Me., Sept. 7, ’61,
to Aug. 13, ’62, and 4th Battery, 1st Mtd.
Art., Jan. 4, ’64, to Dec. 22, ’64.
Discharged for disability from first
enlistment.
+Talcott, Ebenezer C.
(1825-1863), 4th Battery, 1st Mtd. Art.,
Dec. 21, ’61, to July 30, ’63.
*Tripp, Byron (1836-1862),
Menominie, Wis., Co. K, 5th Wis., Oct. 4,
’62, to Dec. 16, ’62. Fredericksburg.
Tripp, Ephraim C.
(1845-1918), Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13,
’62, to Aug. 31, ’63, and Co. M, 1st Heavy
Art., Jan. 5, ’64, to Aug. 28, ’65.
+Tripp, Simeon (1835-1864),
New Portland, Co. A, 16th Me., Aug. 14,
’62, to Dec. — , ’64.
Walker, Adrian V. E. (1843),
Anson, Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to
Aug. 31, ’63.
Walker, Cephas (1840),
Madison, Co. H, 24th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to
Aug.
+Walker, Eben J.
(1822-1863), Co. F, 16th Me., Aug. 7, ’62,
to Oct. 18, ’62, Washington.
Walker, Samuel A.
(1819-1909), Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13,
’62, to Aug. 31, ’63.
Walker, William C.
(1825-1894), Levant, Co. C, 2nd Me., May
28, ’61, to Feb. 3, ’63; and Co. H, 31st
Me., April 4, ’64 to July 15, ’65.
*Watson, George W.
(1845-1865), Co. D, 11th Me., Sept. 19,
’64, to March 3, ’65.
Wells, Mandel (1844), Co. A,
28th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to Aug. 31, ’63.
Wells, Stilson (1839), Co.
E, 14th Me., Dec. 11, ’61 to June 8, ’62;
and Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13, ’62, to Aug.
31, ’63. Discharged for disability from
first enlistment.
+Wentworth, Amos J.
(1842-1863), Solon, Co. H, 24th Me., Oct.
13, ’62, to Sept. 22, ’63.
Wentworth, Daniel
(1839-1908), Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13,
’62, to Aug. 31, ’63.
Wentworth, Janies L.
(1842-1905), Co. D, 13th Me., Dec. 10,
’61, to Jan. 6, ’65.
*Wentworth, Jarvis
(1816-1863), Tunbridge, Vt., Co. E, 1st
Vt. Cav., Sept. 18, ’61, to July 17, ’63.
Fredericksburg.
Wentworth, Jefferson
(1838-1915), Co. D, 13th Me., Dec. 10,
’61, to Jan. 6, ’65.
*Wentworth, Mark A.
(1844-1864), Co. F, 20th Me., Aug. 29,
’62, to June 8, ’64. Cold Harbor.
Wescott, Willis (1846), Co.
B, 19th Me., Oct. 6, ’64, to Aug. 5, ’65.
*Williams, Albert T.
(1842-1863), Co. K, 9th Me., Feb. 12, ’62,
to July 24, ’63.
Williams, John. Coast
Guards. No other records given.
Williams, Daniel K.
(1840-1918), Co. A, 28th Me., Oct. 13,
’62, to Aug. 31, ’63.
*Williams, Thaddeus A.
(1844-1863), Co. K, 9th Me., Feb. 12, ’62,
to Nov. 17, ’63.
Wilson, John Lee
(1846-1925), Solon, Co. K, 2nd Me. Cav.,
Dec. 24, ’63, to Dec. 6, ’65.
*Wilson, Joseph Harrison
(1840-1864), Lowell, Mass., Co. A, 26th
Mass., Oct. 4, ’61, reenlisted Jan. 1,
’64, to Sept. 19, ’64. Winchester.
Wilson, Justus B.
(1843-1911), Lowell, Mass., Co. A, 26th
Mass., Oct.
18, ’61, reenlisted Jan. 1,
’64, to Aug. 26, ’65.
Young, Benjamin (1817),
Pittston, Co. H, 19th Me., Aug. 25, ’62,
to July 3, ’63. Then transferred to
Invalid corps.
No comment is required to
indicate that these Embden soldiers
returned from the war with numbers greatly
reduced. In general terms, there were 140
men, of whom 40 died in battle or from
disease. Those who resumed their farming
tasks in the town were considerably less
than 100. They rapidly took their l places
in the community and, as elsewhere
throughout the land, became even more
useful citizens because of larger
experiences in defense of the flag. Quite
a percentage of Embden veterans went west
to establish homesteads in newer states.
In this, they followed the example of
others of their townspeople during the
previous twenty years. Several settled in
Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Oregon
and California.
Many a war-time story was told, of course,
out of the experience of these Embden men.
Will McKenney, one of the youngest
volunteers from the town, used to narrate
an incident regarding an old boxing master
and ex-prize-fighter, who was in the 28th.
Maine from a coast town. "This soldier"
the story ran, "used to enjoy punching his
fellows around. He was a drinker and no
more a favorite with the officers than
with enlisted comrades. Not infrequently
with an engagement in prospect, he was
drunk, making necessary his arrest as well
as confinement in the guard house under a
one-man detail.
"On a certain occasion
Ephraim C. Tripp was given such a detail.
There was an opening high up in the guard
house for light and air. A prisoner could
jump up on the inside and grasp the window
sill, which was what the ex-prize-fighter
proceeded to do. Tripp ordered him back
but with oaths and threats was informed by
the prisoner that he was coming out any
way. He was already head and shoulders
through the opening, when Guard Tripp
drove the bayonet through his arm and into
the wall. There he held the screaming
prisoner till an officer arrived. Tripp
was commended for doing his duty."
Maine displayed slight
interest in the Mexican War. Seven men,
however, were recruited in Starks,
Norridgewock, Canaan, Skowhegan and
Bloomfield by Maj. Thompson Crosby. They
served with the Ninth U. S. Infantry and
were part of Gen Scott’s 12,000 men who
landed March 9, 1847, at Vera Cruz. Crosby
went out as a second lieutenant but was
brevetted Sept. 13, 1847, for gallant and
meritorious conduct at the storming of
Chapultepec. Family tradition runs that
Barzilla S. McFadden, (1818) son of
Thomas, who once lived on the Dunbar farm
in Embden, went to the Mexican War but
never returned. Some of the McFaddens
resided temporarily in Starks and Barzilla
presumably would have enlisted with Maj.
Crosby but War Department rosters of the
9th. Regiment do not have his name. His
brother, Sebastian S. McFadden (1826)
married in Kentucky and Barzilla's
military record in Mexico might be from
that state and with Gen. Zachary Taylor’s
army.
Embden's militia activities
date back to about the time Maine became a
separate state. As early as 1809 a company
of militia artillery was formed at
Norridgewock, Calvin Selden captain, and
about the same time Canaan had a company
of light infantry, David Kidder captain.
The Third Regiment, first brigade, 8th
division, taking in militia from numerous
towns up and down that part of the
Kennebec had been organized March 27,
1805. But it seems to have been April 4,
1822, when Embden organized a militia
company with Benjamin Cleveland as captain
under a commission of April 18. Benjamin
Gould, Jr., was made a lieutenant the same
day and served for nine years, while
Deacon Joseph Walker, likewise
commissioned April 8, 1822, served only 5
days. Capt. Benjamin Cleveland was
succeeded May 6, 1823, by Capt. Lemuel
Witham over by Ayer Hill, who became major
June 15, 1825, and on Sept. 17, 1828, was
promoted to be colonel of the Third
Regiment.
Cyrus Boothby, after having
been a lieutenant in this Embden company
for over two years became its captain on
Aug. 10, 1825, and served nearly three
years when he resigned. After him in
command was Capt. John Walker, Jr., of
northeast Embden, who had been ensign of
the company in 1823, and lieutenant in
1825. His service as captain was from July
14, 1828, to January 20, 1831. Reuben
Wilson was ensign of the company and then
lieutenant, following promotions to John
Walker, Jr., and Hartley Colby, veteran of
the war of 1812, followed Wilson as an
ensign becoming a lieutenant Sept. 14,
1830. On that date Seth Ayer began as an
ensign. A few months after Lemuel Witham
had become colonel of the Third, Joseph
Gray — on June 15, 1829 — was named as
adjutant, a commission he held till his
death.
Eastern Embden was plainly
dominating the militia company. Lieut.
Benjamin Goulcl (the Freewill Baptist
preacher of after years) was the only
company officer from Seven Mile Brook but
held the oldest commission in the town.
Agitation for a separate company in West
Embden soon resulted in such an
organization and on May 20, 1832,
Selectmen Christopher Thompson, himself
then captain of Company B, of Cavalry, 1st
brigade, 8th division, and James Y.
Cleveland recorded directions to each
captain defining company boundaries. This
was done quite pompously, each
communication beginning: "The outlines of
the Company of infantry in the town of
Embden under your command is as follows to
wit." The jurisdiction on the east
belonged to D Company, Capt. Hartley
Colby, which meant all Embden people on
that side of the inlet of Embden Pond, of
its east shore and of its outlet stream.
The other jurisdiction under Capt.
Nathaniel Moulton meant the remainder of
the town, or the west half. This was H
Company.
Capt. Colby was commissioned
July 2, 1831, to command Company D. Seth
Ayer was advanced from the grade of ensign
to lieutenant and Luther P. Gray became
ensign. Capt. Nathaniel Moulton got his
commission to Company H two days later.
James Holbrook, who had been living on
Foss hill and had been made a lieutenant
Aug. 20, 1829, continued in the new
company with the same rank and William W.
Gould was made ensign. Thus were the two
militia companies organized and officered.
The new company H on the
west side of the town endured for about
five years. A few days before the
"outlines" were announced in 1832 Lieut.
James Holbrook resigned his commission.
This was on April 19, anniversary of
Lexington, and in the following June,
Ensign William W. Gould advanced to
lieutenant and Isaac Knowlton (1808) was
made ensign. He was a son of Capt. Joseph
over on the modern Granville Lisherness
place. Capt. Nathaniel Moulton terminated
his militia service Feb. 4, 1834, probably
about the date he moved from Embden over
into Concord. Samuel A. Campbell, formerly
of Strong who had bought in 1830, jointly
with Given Campbell, Lot 129 on Foss hill
for $600, was made captain in his stead.
After two more 1 years Company H had so
dwindled that it was disbanded by "Order
in Council, No. 22" and on April 23, 1836,
Capt. Campbell, Lieut. Gould and Ensign
Knowlton were discharged.
There were several years of
service left in Company D, although Capt.
Colby had been discharged on the same date
that Capt. Moulton yielded command, and on
May 3, 1834, Lieut. Seth Ayer was promoted
to captain; Ensign Luther P. Gray, son of
John, Jr., was made lieutenant and
Chandler Williams was commissioned ensign.
The death of Lieut. Gray Oct. 7, 1834, and
the discharge of Capt. Seth Ayer May 12,
1835, while D company was in winter
quarters, made two vacancies so that on
May 23, 1835 a new roster was commissioned
wherein Ensign Williams stood forth as a
lieutenant and Thomas Jefferson Savage, a
neighbor, as ensign. Then on July 9, 1835,
Lieut. Chandler Williams became Capt.
Williams, Thomas Savage was advanced to
lieutenant and Isaac W. Adams was made
ensign.
For two years thereafter
Company D pursued the even tenor of its
way till July 27, 1837 when Capt. Chandler
Williams was made colonel of the Third
Regiment and on April 14, 1838, Thomas
Savage was given command with Zachariah
Williams as lieutenant. Capt. Savage
resigned Feb. 24, 1841, Isaac W. Adams,
who had been serving in the meantime as
ensign, was made captain. Ozias H.
McFadden succeeded as company ensign. Col.
Chandler Williams headed the Third
Regiment for two years till April 15,
1839, but his old company not long
afterward began to wane. Capt. Adams and
Ensign McFadden resigned in March, 1843;
Lieut. Zachariah Williams held his
commission till June 29, 1846, when it
expired. This was apparently D Company’s
dying gasp. Militia interest in Maine was
at low ebb in the early 1840's.
There were two other militia
organizations in Embden. Christopher
Thompson had been active in forming B
Company of Cavalry, was commissioned
lieutenant there in April 12, 1827,
advanced to captain Sept. 23, 1831, and
made colonel of the regiment Sept. 6,
1834. Freeman Stevens, captain of this
company of horse from Sept. 11, 1841, to
March 28, 1851, was the only other
commissioned officer accredited to Embden.
Franklin Gray on Sept. 12, 1853, was
commissioned as quartermaster of the 1st.
Regiment of Riflemen and served till July
22, 1856, when the "regiment" was
disbanded. De Lafayette Thompson
(1829-1876) was made Captain of F Company
Sept. 23, 1851, and continued till the
company was disbanded on July 22, 1856.
Prior to the Civil War, or about that
time, there was another military company
in Embden. Its officers were: Capt. Jotham
G. Witham, 1st Lieut. Phineas Eames, 2nd
Lieut. Benjamin McKenney, 3rd. Lieut.
Michael F. Berry, 4th. Lieut. Cyrus
Cleaveland and Orderly Sergt. John Pierce.
There were several Embden
fields where these militiamen marched
boldly forth for training on muster days.
Statements are not altogether in agreement
as to where these fields were. One
authority says the Joe Boyington farm,
next to Zachariah Williams, had a training
field, that another field was on the Isaac
Savage (Ai Moulton) farm and a third on
the John Pierce farm, when John Pierce was
militia officer. This was probably during
the service just noted. It is also claimed
there was a training field on the Squire
John Gray farm. Concord corner had a
muster ground, as did North Anson.
The town records have only
slight mention of the militia companies.
That there was militia service prior to
1820, however, in compliance with the
general requirements of the time is shown
by town orders, several of which were
issued to Moses Thompson. As early as Aug.
4, 1814, he was given a town order for
powder in the amount of $26.92, while on
April 30, 1817 he received $11.13 for
making cartridges and for other services.
This was probably an annual payment to him
for on May 15, 1819 a town order was made
out to Moses Thompson for $20.92 "for
powder and ball and one camp kettle and
services as town treasurer 1817, 1818."
Subsequent items of similar character
comprised one in 1821 for $17.54 "for
supporting a pauper family and making
cartridges." "The situation of Embden,
Town Stock, 1815" is thus described:
"Powder, 55 pounds; balls, 84 pounds and
flint 160 pounds" summarized as 299 pounds
and two camp kettles. A few years later
items for rationing the militiamen began
to appear at entervals." Supplying the
soldiers on muster day with rations" in
1827 cost $11 according to the town
treasurer and in 1828 Jonathan Stevens,
Jr., was paid $13.20 on the same account.
During the War of 1812 six
Embden men were soldiers in the Canada
campaign. While these have been mentioned
in previous chapters, they are summarized
here with further details of their service
as follows:
David Albee in Capt. Silas
Purlin's Co., 34th U. S. Inf., from Dee.
19, 1812, to Nov. 18, 1813.
Hartley Colby in Capt.
Benjamin Adams’ Co., 33rd U. S. Inf., from
May 28, 1813, to May 28, 1814.
Nimrod Hinds, Jr., in Capt.
Robert Douglas’ Co., 34th U. S. Inf., from
Apr. 28, 1813, to Apr. 27, 1814.
Nathaniel Martin, Jr., in
Capt. Benjamin Adams’ Co., 33rd U. S.
Inf., from May 3, 1813, to March 12, 1814.
Richard Nutter in - Co.,
33rd U. S. Inf., who died Nov. 15, 1813, a
few months after his enlistment.
John Skillings in Capt. Benjamin Adams’
Co., 33rd U. S. Inf., from May 4, 1813, to
May 4, 1814.
Both these infantry
regiments were organized for the war under
an act of Congress dated Jan. 29, 1813.
Capt. Adams who recruited a company of the
33rd Regiment at Anson and surrounding
towns was commissioned at Saco, April 30,
1814. He had been at Anson in 1810 as
assistant marshal taking the third census.
He was an officer till June 15, 1815, when
the army was disbanded, and became a
resident of Peoria, Ill. He received in
1851 a grant of government land. The 33rd
Regiment was stationed at Kittery, then at
Concord, N. H., and Burlington, Vt., and
then at Plattsburg, N. Y. The Embden
soldiers years of service covered the
period of Commodore Perry’s decisive
battle of Lake Erie but was the year
before Lundy’s Lane. Capt. Douglas
assembled his company of the 34th Inf. at
Augusta. After a month there it was
marched away to Portland for detached duty
at Fort Preble but in August, 1813,
proceeded across country to Cumberland
Head near Plattsburg. Both regiments
belonged to the army of Gen. Wade Hampton
of South Carolina, owner of 3,000 slaves
and reputed to have been the wealthiest
planter in the United States. They were in
battles of Chauteaugay Woods and Stone
Mill and in the skirmish at Odell Town in
Canada.
These soldiers or their
widows received the usual land grants or
pensions or both. David Albee (1788-1825)
resided just over the line in Anson when
lie went to Boston, shortly before his
death. His service was several months in
advance of the other Embden men. Hartley
Colby (1793-1864) son of Benjamin, Sr.,
had lived on Colby island in the Kennebec
and his army service was the beginning of
a venturesome career. Nimrod Hinds, Jr.
(1796) was probably born after his father
had left the Embden farm on Seven Mile
Brook. He married Lydia Whitney at Fair-
field and they lived at Dover. He received
both a land grant and a pension. Nathaniel
Martin, Jr., (1793-1852) born near the
Solon ferry, had a gunshot wound in his
hip and from this he suffered for many
years. He died at Belfast and his widow,
Violet ^Martin,, drew a pension. Richard
Nutter’s service is certified to in Embden
town records with a list of his six
daughters, headed by Mary Nutter (1801),
and one son, Richard (1813). It was
entered by his widow, Betsey, probably at
the time of her marriage to Joseph Hilton.
He was a considerably older man than his
Embden comrades. John Skillings
(1793-1879), who was many years in Embden,
lies with his wife in Sunset cemetery. He
was the last survivor of Embden men in
that war.
Four others of the town had
militia service on the coast of Maine and
New Hampshire, all of them for brief
periods. The four were:
Levi Berry (1787-1858) in
Capt. Paul Montgomery’s Co. of New
Hampshire Militia for 17 days in
September, 1812.
John Hilton (1788-1874) in
Capt. John Greenleaf’s Co., Lt. Col.
Sherwin’s regiment of Massachusetts
Militia from Sept. 13, 1814, to Nov. 7,
1814.
Job S. Hodgdon (1786-1877)
for service at Portsmouth in New Hampshire
Militia in 1814.
Humphrey Purington
(1785-1868) service as lieutenant of a
company of Massachusetts militia from
Bowdoin, Me., on the Maine Coast.
1 The name of Moses Ayer,
Jr., (1781-1849) probably belongs in the
above list for he is said to have served
on an American vessel. Hosea Washburn
(1793-1893), the Freewill Baptist preacher
of Madison who came much to Embden, was a
militiaman of 1812 and served 45 days in
Capt. Greenleaf’s company along with John
Hilton of Embden. Rev. Hosea went as a
substitute for Charles Pease. He engaged
in business in New York, after he returned
from the war, but later resumed farming
and preaching at Madison.
Soldiers of the Revolution
who settled at Embden have also been
mentioned in various preceding chapters
but their names are assembled here in one
list also with more details of their
services. The list probably is not
complete. Similarity of names and omission
of identification items are obstacles to
compiling rosters of Revolution veterans.
The Embden list is as follows:
Benjamin Berry (1762-1860),
Barrington, N. H., enlisted July 15, 1780,
and served till the following October in
Capt. Moses Leavitt’s Company, Col. Thomas
Bartlett’s Regiment, which was part of
Benedict Arnold’s command.
Charles Blagdon, a private
in Lieut. Andrew Gilman’s Company, who
enlisted Oct. 19, 1776, was discharged May
1, 1777 with a service of six months and
15 days at station on the Penobscot River.
He seems to be the Charles Blagdon
residing near the head of Embden Pond in
1817. Tradition runs that one of the
Embden Blagdons was a Revolutionary
soldier and was buried on the Joseph
Greene farm.
Jeremiah Chamberlain
(1760-1831), Pepperell, Mass. Enlisted
June 1, 1780, at Suffield, Conn, in Capt.
Well’s Company, Col. Samuel B. Webb’s
Regiment for the period of the war. He
joined the patriot army in New Jersey,
served first in the 2nd. Connecticut
Regiment, then in the Third Connecticut
Regiment and for about a year in the
French Regiment commanded by Col. De Motte
of Gen. Lafayette’s army. His leg was
bruised by a rolling cask and because of
lameness he was transferred back to the
3rd. Connecticut in Capt. William’s
Company, and honorably discharged July 1,
1782. He was at Yorktown when Cornwallis
surrendered and received a pension of $96
a year under the act of March 18, 1818.
Benjamin Colby (1750-1843),
Wiscasset, enlisted in 1775 in Capt. John
Groves, Company, Col. Sam Hamden’s
Regiment as sergeant and was discharged at
Wiscasset after several months; in
September, 1777, in Capt. Smith’s Company
for defense of the coast against the
Milford and Rainbow, British frigates; in
July, 1m 9, as sergeant for two months in
a local company serving with Col. Samuel
McCbbb’s Regiment; Sept. 6, 1779, to Nov.
1, 1779, a service of one month and 27
days under Maj. William Lithgow guarding
the seacoast of Lincoln county, roll
endorsed " Penobscot Expedition;" August,
1780, for three months as sergeant in
Capt. Solomon Walker’s Company, Col.
Prime’s Regiment.
Simeon Cragin (1761-1832),
Temple, N. H., in October, 1780, was one
of 16 men from that town who "marched on
the alarm at Coos at ye time when
Royalston was burnt. Time of absence four
days. ’ ’ Simeon and ten others rode
horses and received an allowance of one
pound apiece. The five on foot were paid
14 shillings.
Joseph Felker (1760)
Barrington, N. H., enlisted in December,
1775, in Capt. Place’s Company, Col.
Reed’s Regiment and served till November,
1776, when he was discharged by Gen. Gates
at Ticonderoga on account of illness. He
was living in 1853.
Mike Felker, Barrington, N.
H., was a substitute one month in 1782 for
Robert Demeritt under Capt. Titus Salter,
employed on the construction of forts near
Portsmouth.
Isaiah Foss (1756-1843),
Barrington, N. H., enlisted in July, 1775,
for three months under Capt. Samuel Hays,
Col. Waldron’s Regiment and was employed
at constructing forts near Portsmouth;
August, 1777, for three months under Capt.
Moses Leavitt, Col. Bartlett’s Regiment,
discharged at Saratoga following the
capture of Gen. Burgoyne; July, 1780, for
three months under Capt. Moses Leavitt,
Col. Thomas Bartlett’s Regiment and served
at West Point with Benedict Arnold’s
command.
Nimrod Hinds (1758-1835) served from May
4, 1777, to July 4, 1777, under Maj. Gen.
Spencer in Rhode Island in Capt. Isaac
Martin’s Company, Ool. Joseph (Josiah)
Whitney’s Regiment, with allowance of 115
miles for travel; from Aug. 12, 1777, to
Dec. 31, 1777, at Rhode Island in Capt.
Francis Williams’ Company, Col. Dunforth
Keyes’ Regiment.
Samuel Hutchins (1749-1788),
Temple, N. H., enlisted May 6, 1775, in
Capt. Ezra Town’s Company, Col. James
Read’s Regiment and had command of a
company at the battle of Bunker Hill.
Thomas McFadden (1740-1840), Georgetown,
commissioned first lieutenant July 1,
1776, in Capt. John Hinkley’s (7th.)
Company, First Lincoln County Regiment,
Massachusetts Militia; also first
lieutenant Nov. 19, 1779, of 7th. Company,
Col. Samuel McOobb’s (Lincoln County)
Regiment.
Nathaniel Martin,
"Norridgewalk, " enlisted Sept. 11, 1777,
for three years in Capt. Joshua Traf ton’s
Company, Col. Henry Sherburne’s Regiment,
but was transferred Jan. 1, 1780, to Capt.
William North’s Company, Col. Henry
Jackson’s (16th.) Regiment.
Daniel Salley (1751)
Nobleborough, enlisted at Cambridge, March
1, 1776, with Lieut. Blunt into Capt.
William Tew’s Company, Col. Hitchcock’s
Regiment in the Rhode Island line for a
year's service, as it was called, but
served two months longer; was at the
Battle of Princeton, then enlisted for
three years in Capt. Benjamin Tew’s
Company, Col. Connor’s Regiment. He was
severely wounded by a musket ball and
discharged. Abram Walker of Aina was his
comrade on the march from Prospect Hill to
Rhode Island and then to New York and on
the retreat from Long Island.
Edward Savage (1766-1856),
Pownalborough, a member of the Penobscot
Expedition in June, 1779, is assumed to
have been the Embden pioneer when he was a
lad of 14.
Joseph Walker (1761-1818),
Woolwich, whose farm was in both Anson and
Embden, boy on brigantine "Rising Empire,"
Richard Whellen commander, for three
months and fourteen days from May 21,
1776, to Sept. 5, 1776.
Jacob Williams (1760-1814),
enlisted at Easton, Mass., Jan. 1, 1776,
for a year’s service in Capt. Crocker’s
Company, Col. Bailey’s Regiment. He was at
Dorchester Heights till the British left
Boston Harbor and then marched to New
York. Jonathan Bosworth served with him.
Joseph Maynard (1759) of Concord and later
of Madison and a Revolutionary veteran
made affidavit that Jacob Williams was
also drafted in the fall of 1779 for three
weeks service in Gen. Sullivan’s
expedition.
John Wilson (1761-1842),
Townsend, Mass., enlisted in June, 1778,
for six months in Capt. Hunt’s Company,
Col. Gerrish’s Regiment; in July, 1779,
for nine months in Capt. Hugh Maxwell’s
Company, Col. Bailey’s Massachusetts
Regiment and in July, 1780, for three
months in Capt. Porter’s Company, Col.
Howe’s Massachusetts Regiment.
While there were other
Revolutionary veterans among Embden
settlers, identification is uncertain from
records at hand. The Joshua Chamberlain,
who probably resided a brief time at
Embden, may have been the Joshua
Chamberlain of Pownalborough who enlisted
Jan. 13, 1777, in Capt. John Skillings’
Company, Col. Ebenezer Francis’ Regiment.
Similarly the Edward Lock, of Kensington,
N. H., who served two months in Capt.
Winthrop Rowe’s Company, who was marched
through Massachusetts to Rhode Island and
was a soldier in Sullivan’s army on its
retreat, may have been Rev. Edward Locke
(1744-1826) who went from New Hampshire to
Embden and organized the Brook meeting
house congregation. It was about ten years
after the surrender at Yorktown, when the
Embden settlements were first attracting
notice. Consequently by that time there
were many new comers of the second
generation from the soldiers. Thus it was
with Moses Ayer, Jr., Lieut. John Pierce,
the Wentworth brothers, Elder Job Hodgdon,
the Daggett brothers, Henry and Matthew;
Thomas and Joshua Hilton and others
through quite a list — all of them actual
sons of the Revolution.
In the Embden group of
sixteen and more were two company officers
(Hutchins and McFadden) and, at least, one
non-commissioned officer, Sergeant Colby.
The Wiscasset- Woolwich neighborhood in
Maine and the Barrington neighborhood of
New Hampshire, as has been seen, supplied
the greater part of this militant array.
Among them were a few who had part in
decisive campaigns of the war even from
the battle of Bunker Hill. Nathaniel
Martin, out of Norridgewock, and Daniel
Salley as three years men served under
Washington in New Jersey. Jacob Williams,
too, saw service from Dorchester Heights
and Boston Harbor and to New York. Others
were at West Point and in Rhode Island;
Jeremiah Chamberlain stood with
Lafayette’s command when the British
stacked their arms at Yorktown.
Ample warrant here for pride
in patriotic founders! The earliest men of
this old rural town were exceptionally
identified with the struggle for
independence and most of them, be it
noted, lived to a green old age. Their
services merit enduring remembrance.
Source: Embden Town of
Yore: Olden Times and Families There and
in Adjacent Towns by Ernest G.
Walker, 1929, Chapter 34, pages 587-614.
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