Historical Record of the Field and Non-Commissioned Staff Officers of the Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. FIELD AND STAFF.Col. Silas P. Richmond. Silas Peirce Richmond, son of Isaac and Lucinda (Peirce) Richmond, was born in Freetown, June 19, 1831, on the Richmond homestead, which has been owned in the family continuously since 1775. His grandfather, Samuel Richmond, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and his father, Isaac Richmond, was a soldier in the War of 1812-15. Silas P. Richmond was educated in the public schools of Freetown and at Peirce Academy, Middleboro. Col. SILAS P. RICHMOND. He was engaged in farming and lumber business early in life. He was the first man to enlist in Company G, Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, in May, 1850. He was appointed corporal in April, 1851; commissioned fourth lieutenant of same company in August, 1851; third lieutenant in He engaged in the lumber and grain business in Indiana and Michigan in 1867-9, and lost a nice property by fire in Michigan in 1869. He returned to Massachusetts in 1870. Colonel Richmond has been a justice of peace for more than forty years, and is also a notary public. He was for ten years chairman of the board of selectmen of Freetown. As auditor in 1854 he prepared the first printed report ever made of the finances of Freetown. He has also served as assessor, town clerk, school committee, and overseer of the poor of Freetown. He served eighteen years as moderator at annual town meetings. He served two terms as United States census taker, and two terms as state census taker. He was chairman of the trustees of the First Christian Church in Assonet for several Years. He was a representative in the legislature from the sixth Bristol district in 1892, and served as chairman of the taxation committee. He was a delegate to the National Lieut.-Col. James Barton. Lieut.-Col. JAMES BARTON. Lieut.-Col. James Barton came from a military family. Among his ancestors was Gen. William Barton, of Revolutionary fame, who captured the English General Prescott and his aide-de-camp in the town of Portsmouth, R. I., for which act Congress presented him with a beautiful sword as an acknowledgment of his hazardous and successful achievement. In his early years Colonel Barton resided in Newport, R. I., and was a member of the Newport Artillery, which was chartered in 1741. Maj. John Morrissey. Major JOHN MORRISSEY. Major Morrissey was forty-five years of age when he entered the service of his country in the Third Regiment. He was a native of Plymouth, Adj’t. Lucian L. Perkins. Adj’t. LUCIAN L. PERKINS. Adjutant Perkins was born in Plympton, Mass., July 1, 1835. At the age of eighteen he joined Company H, Third Regiment of Plympton Rifles. He served in different positions in this company, and at the time of President Lincoln’s call for seventy-five thousand troops he was first lieutenant. He went to Fortress Monroe in command of his company, and was there elected captain. He served through the three months’ service and was discharged at the expiration of enlistment. He served as adjutant of the Third Regiment After the close of the war, he, with his brother Charles A. S. Perkins, went to Newbern, N. C., purchased several acres of land there, and was engaged successfully in the cotton business at the corner of Broad and Middle Streets. He died in Newbern, N. C., in October, 1864, of yellow fever, and his remains were afterwards brought to Plympton for burial. Quartermaster Bethuel Penniman. Bethuel Penniman was commissioned Oct. 10, 1862, being forty-three years old and a resident of New Bedford. He was a successful business man, and because he was such was commissioned to look after and care for the supplies of the regiment. He remained with the regiment and was mustered June 26, 1863. After the war he was active in mining, manufactures, and real estate business. Of his own life he says, “There has been nothing eventful in my life,” and yet at eighty-six, we find him hale and hearty and ready to beat the boys in a good, profitable, straight bargain. His welcome was always cordial, especially to any member of the Third Regiment. He represented New Bedford in the legislature, and served one term on the Board of Aldermen in 1862. He was also a member of the New Bedford Protecting Society, and of the organization of firemen, and was for five years attached to the old hand engine, Veteran, No. 1. He was an attendant and member of the Unitarian Church and belonged to the Wamsutta Club. He was a charter member of Post No. 190 G. A. R., and a member of the Loyal Legion. He visited Washington, D. C, and witnessed the inaugural ceremonies of President Roosevelt. On returning to his home in New Bedford he was taken sick and died April 15, 1905, being eighty-seven years old. Surgeon Alfred Augustus Stocker. Surgeon ALFRED A. STOCKER. Alfred Stocker was forty-three years of age when commissioned and a resident of Cambridge. He graduated at Harvard University with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1853. In 1861 he assisted in raising the Twelfth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. He was nominated by Colonel Webster major-surgeon, but unavoidable circumstances compelled him to decline. By request of Governor Andrew in May, 1862, he went to the front in Virginia, and joined the “Army of the Potomac.” Arriving at the White House on the Pamunkey River he was placed in charge of a division of the great field hospital then established there. On the breaking up of the hospital he was assigned to the Thirty-first Pennsylvania as acting surgeon, July 20th to October 1st, passing through the whole Peninsula campaign. He was at South Mountain and Antietam. He was commissioned surgeon of the Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Oct. 16, 1862, serving in North Carolina until mustered out with the regiment, and during the winter of 1863-4 he was at Readville on the staff of General Pierce, serving as special inspector of recruits. Oct. 16, Asst. Surgeon Woodbridge R. Howes. Woodbridge R. Howes was commissioned Oct. 21, 1862, being forty-five years old and residing in Mattapoisett. He was in the service of the United States from Nov. 13, 1862, and with the regiment until it was mustered out. He practiced professionally in Hanover until his death, and served on the school committee of Hanover. He was a member of the Joseph Wilder Post, No. 83, G. A. R., and at one time commander; member of North River Lodge, I. O. of O. F., holding various offices, and censor for several years of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He died in Hanover, Feb. 4, 1898, and was buried in the cemetery of that town. He left one son, Clar Chaplain Charles Andrew Snow. Chaplain Rev. CHARLES A. SNOW. Chaplain Snow was thirty-three years of age when commissioned, and resided in Fall River. He was appointed chaplain Oct. 10, 1862; commissioned October 16th, and sworn into the United States service October 22d. He was on duty with the regiment until it was mustered out. Since that time he had been in professional service as pastor of churches in Fall River, Providence, R. I., South Abington (now Whitman), New Bedford, and West Harwich. In 1898 he retired from full ministerial service on account of ill-health. He is the author of many miscellaneous papers, essays, sermons, important historical sketches, etc. He was a life member of the Old Colony Historical Society. He died in Taunton, Nov. 28, 1903. NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.Sergt.-Maj. Joseph E. Nye. Joseph E. Nye was commissioned at the age of twenty-four, while residing in New Bedford. He was promoted from Company E, May 29, 1863, vice Robbins having been discharged to enable him to accept a lieutenancy in the Heavy Artillery. Sergeant-Major Nye was a most faithful officer, and performed his duty to the entire satisfaction of his superior officers. He was always on time and always kept good time when on dress parade and when marching in review. After the war he was engaged in the livery business in Fall River, and died there about twelve years ago. Quartermaster Sergt. Theodore A. Barton. Quartermaster Sergeant Barton was twenty-one years old when commissioned and a resident of New Bedford. He was the youngest son of Lieut.-Col. James and Mary Barton, and came from a renowned military family. He was born in 1842 and received a private and public school education. His parents moved from Newport to New Bedford when Soon after the war he took up his residence in Providence and engaged in the hardware business with Freeman P. Little, forming the firm of Little & Barton. The governor of Rhode Island selected him as one of the staff officers with the rank of colonel, in which office he served with honor, and was distinguished for his soldierly bearing. Subsequently he removed to Ashton and became bookkeeper in one of the Goddard’s mills. In 1868 he entered the employ of the Gorham Company and was their confidential clerk and bookkeeper, remaining in that position until failing health compelled Commissary Sergt. Arthur Hooper. Commissary Sergt. Arthur Hooper was born in Bridgewater, May 18, 1843, and was nineteen years old when he enlisted in Company K, Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, for nine months. He was promoted to regimental commissary sergeant, Oct. 28, 1862, and discharged with the regiment June 26, 1863. He re-enlisted Dec. 11, 1863, in Company A, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Third Veteran Regiment for three years, and was He lived in Bridgewater until June, 1882, when he went to work as salesman for Carter & Company, paper dealers in Boston. He was elected to the legislature from the districts of Bridgewater and East Bridgewater in 1880. He has been secretary of the Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regimental Association since 1888. He joined the G. A. R. in 1868, and for the past four years has been quartermaster of E. W. Kinsley Post, Boston. He was the compiler of a history of Bridgewater during the Rebellion, which was published in 1880, a work that reflects honor on the author and is of great value to the town. His place of business is No. 100 Federal Street, Boston, Hospital Steward Eugene Whittemore. Hospital Steward Eugene Whittemore was commissioned at the age of twenty and resided in Boston. He served with the regiment and was mustered out with the same. He is now letter carrier in South Boston. Sergt.-Maj. Edward L. Robbins. Sergt.-Maj. Edward L. Robbins was twenty-seven years of age when commissioned, and a resident of Plymouth. He was discharged May 29, 1863, to enable him to accept a lieutenancy in the heavy artillery. He was a good, faithful officer, and enjoyed the good-will of all the officers and men in the regiment. He now resides in Wollaston, Mass. (Lincoln Avenue). |