The town of Dedham, Massachusetts, participated in the American Civil War primarily through the 630 men who served in the United States Armed Forces during the war. A total of 46 men would die in the war, including in battle, from disease, from wounds sustained in battle, and in prisoner of war camps. The Town of Dedham supported the soldiers and their families both through appropriations raised by taxes, and through donations of supplies sent to the front lines.
1861 Training Several days after the fall of Fort Sumter, a mass meeting was held in Temperance Hall which opened with a dramatic presentation of the American flag. A total of 47 men signed up to serve in the war at that meeting, forming Dedham's first military unit since the Dedham militia was disbanded in 1846. More men would enlist in the coming days and the first company was formed in early May.
Initially, the recruits only drilled sporadically. After it became clear that the war would not be won quickly, the troops began drilling full time. During this time they were paid $1.50 a day and were billeted at the Norfolk Agricultural Society's old cattle-show building, which was located near the Town Common. Each soldier was a uniform of gray cloth with blue pipings and an old smooth bore rifle, which was borrowed from the neighboring community of Canton. There were five from South Dedham in Canton's Company in the Fourth Regiment and one from the village in the third regiment.
The troops would march and maneuver through the streets of the village. When they did so, townspeople would come out to watch and young boys would often tag along. During one training session on the Common, a young recruit opened an umbrella when it began to sprinkle. The man, a barber who worked on Church Street, was told by Captain Onion that he could not march with an umbrella. He chose to leave instead, listening to the jeers of the men who remained. An effigy of the "man with the umbrella" appeared hanging from a noose several days later at the corner of Church and High Streets, and the young man quickly left town.
Camps Brigham, Massasoit, and Meigs In the 19th century, Readville was a part of Dedham. Ebenezer Paul was exploring his vast acreage in the part of town one day when he discovered several men sitting under one of his long line of elms. They later came back and took the land to train Union soldiers, for which Paul received $300 a year in rent. The government also took 80 acres west of Sprague Pond owned by Isaac Tower. After the war, Tower submitted a claim to the government to pay both rent and for damages to his house and fences. The government paid the rent, but denied his claim for damages.
These tracts of land became Camp Brigham and Camp Massasoit, which were later combined to form Camp Meigs. Under the new name, it became famous for training the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.
18th Massachusetts The Dedham Company was designated as Company F of the 18th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment by the Adjunct General of Massachusetts in June 1861. All 56 men, plus their commissioned officers, were from Dedham. They were ordered into bivouac at Camp Brigham and were given new, blue uniforms. Their rifles, which were left over from the War of 1812, were exchanged for newer versions. Two months later, on August 23, they were shipped out to the front lines near Washington, D.C.
Nine men enlisted in Company H. They were led by Captain Henry Onion, a West Point graduate. On July 6, the company left Dedham to train in Readville and were preceded by a brass band, members of the Town's fire company, and dozens of residents.
The regiment arrived in Washington on September 3, 1861, and were ordered to report to Gen. Fitz John Porter and assigned to Martindale's brigade. The regiment was engaged in drill and in working upon the fortifications of Washington until the 26th when it advanced with the army and took its position at Hall's Hill, Virginia. At a grand review of the army, the 18th received one of three prizes for drill and general proficiency in discipline, winning a complete set of uniforms, camp equipage, and tents imported from France by the general government. Three Dedham men, Sergeant Damrell and Privates Guild and Stevens, died that winter; their remains were brought home for burial.
1862 Battle of Gaines' Mill On March 10, 1862, the 18th moved to Hampton Roads with the Army of the Potomac and entered upon the Peninsular campaign. They were before Yorktown during its siege for 24 days and most of the time under fire. Then, passing up the York River by transports and disembarking at West Point, they participated in the movements of the division until June 26. They missed the battle at Hanover Court House on May 27 by being ordered to rest after picket duty during a driving rain storm in the preceding night. On the day previous to the battle at Gaines Mills, June 27, the 18th was ordered to join an expedition under Gen Stoneman fitted out to repel an anticipated attack upon the right flank of the army by the enemy under Stonewall Jackson. They marched towards White House on the Pamunkey and, passing down the York and up the James by transports, they rejoined the army at Harrison's Landing after the battles of the Chickahominy and Malvern Hill. During all those battles the 18th was detached from its brigade.
Private Joseph Jordan of Company H was 18 years old when he learned his regiment was not to fight at the Battle of Gaines' Mill. Wanting to fight, he mingled with the ranks of the Ninth Massachusetts, joined in their charge, and never came out alive. Also in this battle, Thomas Sherwin of the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry was wounded and was promoted Major for gallant conduct.
Second Battle of Bull Run On August 20, the regiment left Hampton Roads and, disembarking at Acquia Creek, proceeded to Falmouth. The army had now come within the department of General Pope and were subject to his orders. A series of movements for eight days with Porter's corps brought Dedham's soldiers to the vicinity of Bull Run. On August 30, at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Porter's corps was ordered to make a vigorous assault upon the Confederate position. The 18th was the first regiment to advance to the attack and the last to leave the field. The 18th regiment was highly and especially commended for its steadiness and gallantry. Seven Dedham men died in that battle, or shortly thereafter. Five were severely wounded, and only 14 of the 40 Dedham soldiers were not wounded at all.
Charles Whiting Carroll acted as Lt. Colonel of the regiment during the Second Battle of Bull Run. While retiring from the field and bringing up the rear of the regiment, he was struck by a ball near the shoulder blade which probably penetrated the spinal column as he was rendered helpless and, in the confusion of retreat, was left behind. His friend, Adjt Baker, two days after succeeded in passing the rebel lines under a flag of truce and found him where he had fallen. Carroll was in a state of suffering although he had not been wholly uncared for by the enemy. The next day, a carriage was sent to bring him within the Union lines but he died two hours before it reached its destination. He was decently buried on the field but the remains were subsequently brought home and buried with solemn rites.
35th Massachusetts The results of the Peninsular campaign revealed the necessity of replenishing the army. In early in July 1862, President Lincoln had called for 300,000 men for three years and assigned the quota of Massachusetts at 15,000 men. The quota of Dedham was 69 and the Selectmen, through whom thenceforward all recruiting during the war was carried on, issued their call for that number. On July 21, the town voted to pay a bounty of $100 to each volunteer with aid to families. It also appropriated $6,900 for the bounties.
One of the largest and most impressive of the public meetings during the war was held July 10, before the legal town meeting. Men were there inspired by an earnest purpose to devote themselves to the country. After the preliminary discussion as to bounties, the roll was opened and then came a pause when it seemed doubtful if any would come forward. The first man to sign that roll was the father of Joseph Jordan, the private who had been killed at Gaines Mills. Another was a young man who had been recently graduated at the university and was beginning his professional studies. A third announced his purpose in impressive and earnest words. He would later receive a severe wound in battle and then nearly a year's confinement in four rebel prisons. The quota was soon filled.
Uniting with men from Needham and Weston, the new recruits constituted Company I of the 35th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Without any opportunities for drill or organization, the regiment left the state on August 22, 1862 for the seat of war. On their arrival at Washington, they were immediately assigned to the defenses of the city in throwing up earthworks and doing picket duty.
While the 18th still remained with Porter's Corps, the 35th was in the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Corps under General Burnside. The army was then in motion towards Maryland to meet General Robert E. Lee. The necessities of those days were inexorable and called for long and rapid marches. Burnside's Corps started first and on September 14, only three weeks after they had left their homes, the Dedham soldiers met the enemy at South Mountain. The 35th on that day dislodged rebel sharpshooters from an extensive tract of forest and received a sharp attack from the enemy. Here, Private George F. Whiting was fatally wounded and died on October 7. Sergeant Henry W. Tisdale and Private Clinton Bagley were wounded, the former severely.
Antietam and Shepherdstown
Porter's Corps, which left Washington on the 12th, then joined the main army and, on the 17th, supported batteries in the Battle of Antietam. The 35th was engaged in the movements of Burnside's Corps which had a highly important part in the battle. They charged the enemy, drove him over the bridge, and held the crest of the second hill beyond until ordered to retire. Thus, within a month from their departure from Dedham, the company had been twice on hard fought fields and in the thickest of the battles.
At Antietam, Corporal Edward E. Hatton and Privates Charles H. Sulkoski and Joseph P. White of South Dedham were killed. Corporal Edmund Davis was very severely wounded and six others wounded more or less severely, of whom Private Nathan C. Treadwell died about a month after. Besides these there were two killed and several wounded of the company who belonged elsewhere.
At the Battle of Shepherdstown on September 20, 1862, Company F of the 18th were engaged with their regiment where 3 were killed and 11 were wounded.
1863 43rd Massachusetts Soon after the call under which Dedham had furnished sixty-nine men for the 35th regiment, there came yet another call from the president with an order for a draft to which Dedham was required to respond with 122 men for nine months service. In anticipation of the draft, the town offered a bounty of $200 with aid to families to volunteers. The short term of service was a great inducement for some who were unable to enlist for three years and soon the requisite number was made up almost exclusively from Dedham. These chiefly constituted Company D of the 43rd Regiment Massachusetts Infantry which, on October 24, 1862, was ordered to North Carolina where it remained during nearly the whole term of its service.