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. c: OuJ^ 6 Qi e \ ^ \ ZT "V€vr\ ' U)VA'._:V'e Rvv^m (i'i>^4er- S>o\ a^^-SaN\6<"^ 0 ^ ^ S> r\) \ v\ tx vx ^^VW) V^vv-\:0\r C o> vx \ ^ \ l>-^ » <0 Xo ^ d Dv-r^ pV\ (X ^ 0 X c C c4, 'fx VxxVVc^r^ '(S.eCcP’^di (Xrx<;^. Cv SVxO^'A- 0 (Xv Ick. ^ f »r ^ / lA £(X^ e«^Vs A^-e6-^u^s l0 ^ '• - ( • / f k':: i Brimfield Soldiers AND Sailors War Serving the American in Civil Compiled from official town RECORDS AND OTHER SOURCES Part One: war Eighteen memorialized deaths Part Two; All those memorialized on tablets Town at the Hall Digitized by the Internet Archive 2015 in https://archive.org/details/brimfieldsoldier00unse_0 The Brimfield Men of the Civil War Male population ofBrimfield, aged 18-45, in 1864: 184 Served in the war, 1862-1864: 114 (63% of the males aged 18-45) Died in the war: 18 (20% ofthose who served) Wounded or disabled and discharged: about 20% ofthose who served In many respects, this was an extraordinarily personal war effort. Not only did a very high proportion ofthe young adult men serve in the war, many families had multiple service members: brothers, cousins, uncles, nephews. Brimfield was a very small town, with many family connections among those who served. Sumner Parker was a selectmen from 1860 to 1864, responsible for the raising of companies joined by four of his relatives. Two nephews and a cousin died in the war. Also, the town voters had to call to arms its young men and pay for their service. Selectmen were responsible for meeting the quotas, a face-to-face responsibility for the soldiers they sent to war. Despite buy-out provisions which a few families could afford, Brimfield always met or exceeded the troop requirements asked ofit. When town funds were insufficient to attract recruits, as happened in 1864, citizens raisedjust over $4500 to supplement the offering ofthe town, thereby avoiding the embarrassment of not meeting the staggering quotas set by the President of the United Stated. 46th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry The largest single call up for volunteers in Brimfield was in August 1862 when 28 young men entered service with the 46 Massachusetts Infantry, Company G, enticed perhaps by the shorter commitment required at this point in the war, being only nine months, compared to the three years required earlier. This unit was dispatched to the North Carolina front and engaged in expeditions there with little loss. The regiment volunteered for service with the Army of the Potomac during Lee’s invasion ofPennsylvania. Two Brimfielders from this company died: Charles Alexander and Lyman P. Parker died at New Bern, North Carolina. 27th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Twenty-three young men answered the call up in September 1861 and entered the 27^^ Massachusetts, Company I. This unit was engaged at Roanoke Island and Newbem, NC in 1862. At Port Walthall Junction and Arrowfield Church, the regiment suffered losses and at Drury’s Bluff 17 were killed and 259 taken i prisoner. In the four weeks ending June 3, 1864 the regiment suffered 488 casualties, 62 being officers and men killed or mortally wounded. Five Brimfielders from this company died: Silas Phelps and James Crosby at Millen Prison; Henry Robinson at New Bern, Marcus Smith at Roanoke Island, and George Dimick at Andersonville Prison. 34th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry In the call for troops in July 1862, 16 Brimfield men entered the service with the 34^^ Massachusetts, most in Company G. This unit was engaged at Harpers Ferry and later in 1864 at New Market, where 39 officer and soldiers were killed or mortally wounded. It’s service was largely in the Shenandoah, as part ofthe Army ofthe Shenandoah. Three Brimfielders from this company died: Edgar Manning in battle at Piedmont, Patrick Barry in battle at Skinner’s Ford, and William Kenney at Alexandria. # i