Dedham, Massachusetts in the American Civil War facts for kids

The town of Dedham, Massachusetts, played an important part in the American Civil War. About 630 men from Dedham joined the United States Armed Forces. Sadly, 46 of these men died during the war. They died in battles, from diseases, from wounds, or in prisoner of war camps. The people of Dedham supported their soldiers and their families. They used tax money and also sent donations and supplies to the soldiers on the front lines.

Dedham Prepares for War

Getting Ready to Fight

After the Battle of Fort Sumter in 1861, a big meeting was held in Dedham's Temperance Hall. An American flag was shown, and 47 men immediately signed up to serve. This was Dedham's first military group since 1846. More men joined in the following days, and the first company was formed in early May.

At first, the new soldiers only practiced sometimes. But when it became clear the war would last a long time, they started training full-time. They were paid $1.50 a day. They stayed at the old cattle-show building of the Norfolk Agricultural Society. Each soldier received a gray uniform with blue trim. They used old rifles borrowed from the nearby town of Canton, Massachusetts.

The soldiers would march and practice through the streets of Dedham. Townspeople would come out to watch, and young boys often followed along. Once, during training, a recruit opened an umbrella when it started to rain. His captain told him he couldn't march with an umbrella. The man, a barber, chose to leave. Days later, a dummy of the "man with the umbrella" was found hanging from a rope. The young man quickly left town.

Joining the 18th Massachusetts Regiment

In June 1861, the Dedham Company became Company F of the 18th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. All 56 men and their officers were from Dedham. They moved to Camp Brigham and received new blue uniforms. Their old rifles from the War of 1812 were replaced with newer ones. Two months later, on August 23, they were sent to the front lines near Washington, D.C. Nine more Dedham men joined Company H.

The regiment arrived in Washington on September 3, 1861. They trained and helped build defenses around the city. The 18th Regiment even won a prize for their excellent training and discipline. They received new uniforms and camp gear from France. That winter, three Dedham men died and were brought home for burial.

Battles of 1862

Fighting at Gaines' Mill

On March 10, 1862, the 18th Regiment moved to Hampton Roads. They joined the Peninsular Campaign, a major Union army movement. They were at Yorktown for 24 days, often under enemy fire. They then moved up the York River.

Private Joseph Jordan of Company H was 18 years old. His regiment was ordered to rest and missed the Battle of Gaines' Mill. Wanting to fight, he joined another regiment, the Ninth Massachusetts. He charged into battle with them and was killed. In this battle, Thomas Sherwin of the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry was wounded. He was later promoted to Major for his brave actions.

The Second Battle of Bull Run

On August 20, the regiment left Hampton Roads and moved to Falmouth. After several days of marching, Dedham's soldiers arrived near Bull Run. On August 30, at the Second Battle of Bull Run, the 18th Regiment was ordered to attack the Confederate position. The 18th was the first to advance and the last to leave the battlefield. They were highly praised for their bravery. Seven Dedham men died in this battle or soon after. Five were badly wounded, and only 14 of the 40 Dedham soldiers were not wounded at all.

Charles Whiting Carroll was a leader in the regiment. As he was leaving the battlefield, he was shot near his shoulder. He was left behind in the confusion. Two days later, a friend found him. Carroll was suffering but had been cared for by the enemy. A carriage was sent to bring him back, but he died two hours before it arrived. He was buried on the field, but his body was later brought home.

Forming the 35th Massachusetts Regiment

The war was lasting longer than expected, and more soldiers were needed. In July 1862, President Lincoln asked for 300,000 more men. Dedham's goal was to find 69 volunteers. The town offered a $100 bonus to each volunteer and help for their families. They set aside $6,900 for these bonuses.

A large public meeting was held on July 10. Men were eager to serve their country. The first man to sign up was the father of Joseph Jordan, who had been killed at Gaines' Mill. Another was a young university graduate. A third man, who would later be severely wounded and held in four rebel prisons, also signed up. The town quickly met its goal.

These new recruits joined men from Needham and Weston to form Company I of the 35th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. They left Massachusetts on August 22, 1862, without much training. They immediately started building defenses and doing guard duty around Washington.

The 35th Regiment moved with General Burnside's army towards Maryland to meet General Robert E. Lee. They marched long and fast. On September 14, just three weeks after leaving home, the Dedham soldiers met the enemy at South Mountain. The 35th fought bravely, pushing back enemy sharpshooters. Private George F. Whiting was fatally wounded here. Sergeant Henry W. Tisdale and Private Clinton Bagley were also wounded.

Antietam and Shepherdstown Battles

The 18th Regiment joined the main army and supported cannons at the Battle of Antietam on September 17. The 35th Regiment played a very important role in this battle. They charged the enemy, pushed them across a bridge, and held their ground until ordered to retreat. So, within a month of leaving Dedham, the company had fought in two major battles.

At Antietam, Corporal Edward E. Hatton and Privates Charles H. Sulkoski and Joseph P. White from South Dedham were killed. Corporal Edmund Davis was severely wounded, and six others were also hurt. Private Nathan C. Treadwell died a month later from his wounds.

At the Battle of Shepherdstown on September 20, 1862, Company F of the 18th Regiment fought. Three men were killed and 11 were wounded.

Events of 1863

The 43rd Massachusetts Regiment

Soon after the call for the 35th Regiment, President Lincoln asked for more men. Dedham needed to provide 122 men for nine months of service. To avoid a draft, the town offered a $200 bonus and family aid to volunteers. Many men who couldn't commit for three years signed up for this shorter term. These men mostly formed Company D of the 43rd Regiment Massachusetts Infantry. On October 24, 1862, they were sent to North Carolina.

The regiment faced fire at Kinston and Whitehall in December. Dedham's company also did guard duty and marched to Trenton. They helped at Little Washington and fought the enemy at Blount's Creek. They spent time on guard duty and other daily tasks of a soldier's life. In June, they were ordered to Virginia and then to Baltimore.

On July 7, their service time was up. The men could choose to stay and fight after the Battle of Gettysburg or go home. About 200 men from the regiment stayed, including 13 from Dedham. The rest returned home on July 21 and were officially discharged on July 30, 1863. One Dedham soldier from this company was accidentally killed.

Battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville

At Fredericksburg, both Dedham companies fought bravely. The 18th Regiment led its corps. Two Dedham soldiers from this regiment, Privates Jonathan H. Keyes and Daniel Leahy, were killed. Several others were wounded. The 35th Regiment was also in a very dangerous position, facing heavy fire. They held their ground until they ran out of ammunition. Private George C. Bunker and Lt. William Hill were killed and buried on the battlefield. Four other Dedham soldiers from the 35th were wounded.

Private Michael Henihan of the Second Massachusetts Infantry was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Capturing Jackson, Mississippi

The 35th Regiment was then sent to a different part of the country. In March 1863, they moved to the southwest. They spent April and May in Kentucky. Then they traveled down the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, where they built defenses. They were now part of General Grant's army. After the surrender of Vicksburg, they marched into Mississippi to chase General Johnston's forces. After tough marches and skirmishes, they captured Jackson, the capital of the state. The 35th Regiment was the first to raise their flag in the city, taking down the Confederate flag and raising the American flag. During this campaign, Private David Phalen died from disease. In August, the regiment returned to Kentucky.

Gettysburg Battle

The 18th Regiment fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. One soldier died and 13 were wounded, but none were from Dedham. However, on July 3, Sergeant Edward Hutchins of the First Co Andrew's Sharpshooters was shot and died two hours later. Virgil Upham, serving in the 102nd New York Infantry Regiment, was also killed in the battle.

President Andrew Johnson later honored Thomas Sherwin for his bravery at Gettysburg and throughout the war. He was promoted to the honorary rank of Brigadier General.

Fall of 1863 Campaigns

In October 1863, the 35th Regiment marched across the mountains to Knoxville, Tennessee. They fought at Loudon Bridge and Campbell's Station, then fell back to Knoxville, which was under attack by the enemy. During this time, Private Charles Henry Ellis, the regiment's clerk, was captured and held in Belle Isle Prison. He is believed to have died in Richmond the next year. That winter, the regiment suffered from lack of food and clothing. In March, their Western campaign ended, and they moved to Annapolis, Maryland.

The 18th Regiment fought at the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station on November 7, 1863, and at Mine Creek later that month. These battles ended their campaigns for 1863.

War Continues in 1864

On May 3, 1864, the 18th Regiment began marching at midnight. On May 5, they were the first to meet the enemy. The first soldier killed in this campaign was from the 18th Regiment. They faced the main attack in the Battle of the Wilderness. This battle lasted three days in thick woods, where it was hard to see. The 18th was involved in skirmishes and attacks on enemy defenses. No Dedham men died, but their leader, Col. Hayes, was badly wounded.

The 35th Regiment crossed the Rapidan River two days later. They passed through the old battlegrounds of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. They arrived in the Wilderness on the second day of the battle. Both the 18th and 35th Regiments fought fiercely at Spotsylvania. This was one of the deadliest fights of the war. The 35th participated in the battle on May 18, 1864.

On May 20, the armies met again at the North Anna River. The 18th Regiment crossed and faced heavy fire. Their leader, Lieut Col White, was wounded. The 35th crossed on the 24th and fought the enemy.

On May 23, at the Battle of North Anna, Sergeant John Finn Jr. of the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry was wounded in the arm. He died from his injuries on June 5. At the Battle of Cold Harbor, the 35th Regiment helped build defenses. Dedham's Private Albert C. Bean of the 20th Massachusetts Infantry was wounded on June 3 and died five days later.

On June 7, the 18th Regiment reached the Chickahominy River. After some skirmishes, they crossed on June 13. They passed the James River on June 16 and marched to the defenses in front of Petersburg. Here, they built earthworks while facing the enemy. On July 5, Private Cyrus D. Tewksbury, who had served since the beginning, was killed.

By the fall of 1864, almost all able-bodied men from Dedham had left to serve in the war.

The 18th Regiment Goes Home

By July 20, 1864, the 18th Regiment's three-year service was almost over. They were ordered to Washington to be discharged. Twelve Dedham men had chosen to re-enlist. These men, along with others whose terms were not finished, stayed with the 18th Battalion. This battalion later joined the 32nd Regiment.

On September 3, 1864, the 18th Regiment was officially discharged. They had fought in about 15 battles. Of the 58 men from Dedham who enlisted, 11 had died in battle. Six more had died from disease or battle wounds. Eight had been discharged due to wounds, and 13 due to other disabilities. In total, 23 men from the company had died or been killed. The regiment fought in almost all the major battles of the Army of the Potomac. When they returned home, Dedham welcomed them with special ceremonies.

Private Henry C. Everett was one of the men who re-enlisted. He died in Washington on January 19, 1865.

Battles at Petersburg

The Dedham men of the 35th Regiment took part in the Siege of Petersburg and the final campaigns. They built earthworks, batteries, and other defenses needed for an army surrounding a city. At the famous Battle of the Crater on July 30, 1864, they were ordered to advance after a mine exploded. Private Michael Colbert was killed as the regiment moved forward.

At Poplar Spring Church on September 30, John W. Fiske was killed. He had been a Sergeant in Company I and was recently promoted to First Lieutenant in the 58th Massachusetts Infantry. He was buried on the battlefield.

The 35th Regiment Returns Home

The 18th Regiment had a quiet winter in 1864-65. In March 1865, they moved to Fort Sedgwick, very close to the enemy's lines. This was a dangerous place with constant fire. On April 2, they attacked Fort Mahone, an enemy fort, and captured part of it. That same night, the enemy left Petersburg. The next morning, the men marched through Petersburg with flags flying and bands playing. They cheered as the President of the United States rode by. After Lee surrendered, the regiment marched in a review in Washington on May 23. They reached Massachusetts on June 13 and were officially discharged on June 27.

The 35th Regiment served for nearly three years. Their flags showed the names of 14 battles they fought in. They fought in Kentucky, East Tennessee, Mississippi, Maryland, and Virginia. In many battles, they were in the most dangerous positions. It was often said that the commanding officer of the 35th was always wounded in battle.

Of the 68 men from Dedham who enlisted in the 35th, six were killed in battle, and one more died soon after from his wounds. Five died from disease, eight were discharged due to wounds, and eleven due to other health problems. The town wanted to give them a big welcome home, but the soldiers politely declined. They preferred to quietly return to their lives as citizens.

Other Dedham Soldiers Who Served

While most Dedham soldiers served in the 18th or 35th regiments, some joined other units. At least one Dedham man died while serving in the 24th, 28th, 39th, and 56th Massachusetts regiments. Three Dedham men died while serving in Massachusetts cavalry regiments. Three also died as prisoners of war. One Dedham man died fighting alongside soldiers from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry at Fort Wagner. Dedham men were buried in Virginia, the Carolinas, Louisiana, and Georgia.

Support from Home

Women's Efforts

When the war began, the women of Dedham immediately started making supplies for the troops. In just 24 hours, they sewed 100 flannel shirts. They sent 60 to the state and kept 40 for Dedham soldiers. The next day, April 23, 1861, they sent the remaining shirts to Governor John Albion Andrew with a heartfelt note. They wrote that they sent the garments with their blessings and prayers for the brave patriots. They hoped the dark clouds of war would soon disappear and peace would return. They also mentioned that they had already made over $300 worth of clothing, mostly for Dedham volunteers, and their work continued.

In the next two weeks, they made 140 more shirts, 140 pairs of flannel underwear, 126 towels, 132 handkerchiefs, 24 hospital shirts, 70 pincushions, 70 bags, and many needlebooks. During the war, some Dedham residents visited soldiers in their camps. Soldiers also received permission to visit home.

For New Year's, the Dedham Company received a special dinner. It included 30 turkeys, 100 pounds of plum pudding, 100 mince pies, and many other foods, all shipped by train. After the Second Battle of Bull Run, news of the defeat reached a church on a Sunday morning. The service stopped, and churchgoers quickly formed work groups. Less than six hours later, two wagon loads of clothing, bandages, medicines, and other supplies were on their way to Boston to be loaded onto an emergency supply train.

Eliphalet Stone was a big supporter of Dedham's soldiers. People said no one cared more about the soldiers' well-being than he did. He put his own business aside to visit soldiers in the field and helped arrange support for their families. After the war, he donated land and a monument in Brookdale Cemetery to honor their sacrifice.

Town's Financial Support

On May 6, 1861, the Town of Dedham voted to "stand by the volunteers and to protect their families during the war." The town also set aside $10,000 for the cause. Over the next few years, the town made similar votes. In total, Dedham spent $136,090.81 on equipping troops, supporting families, and providing bonuses for soldiers who enlisted.

Dedham Ladies Soldiers Aid Society

The Dedham Ladies Soldiers Aid Society was formed on October 12, 1861. They held weekly meetings until the war ended. Over four years, they collected over $3,000. They raised money through yearly fees, donations, sales at a fair, church collections, concerts, plays, and lectures. The ladies made many of the items themselves. They also received and repaired used clothing to send to soldiers.

Besides making bandages, the Society re-rolled hundreds of bandages sent from the Sanitary Commission in Boston. They often received thanks for their important help. In the first year, they sent supplies to various places, including hospitals and military forts. On August 31, 1862, Dedham residents sent 15 boxes of supplies to Washington.

In the second year, most supplies went to hospitals in Philadelphia. Starting in October 1862, all contributions went to the NEWAA, except for mittens and needle cases sent to the 9th Regiment US Colored Troops. They sent a total of 7,967 items, not counting bandages, cotton, linen, flannel, wines, jellies, and other treats that were in almost every box.

A similar group also existed in South Dedham.

After the War

In the end, 630 Dedham men served in the war. The Dedham Transcript newspaper wrote that almost all the Catholic men in Dedham "answered Lincoln's call." Sadly, St. Mary's Church lost more men than any other church in Dedham, based on its size. Their bravery and sacrifices helped reduce the anti-Catholic feelings that existed in town. The war also put a great strain on their pastor, Patrick O'Beirne.

Of the 46 Dedham men who died in the war, 15 are buried in the Old Village Cemetery. Two are buried in the second parish (Norwood), and three in the third parish (Westwood). On May 30, 1868, their graves were decorated with flowers.

In 1865, the first news of Abraham Lincoln's death was posted on a tree in front of Jeremiah Shuttleworth's home. Today, this is where the Dedham Historical Society is located.

In 1867, the town decided to build a new building for town offices and to honor those who died in the Civil War. The architects Ware and Van Brunt designed Memorial Hall. It was a grand Victorian building, similar to old town halls in England.

After the war, Eliphalet Stone donated a special piece of land on a hill in Brookdale Cemetery. He also provided a monument to honor the Union soldiers. The monument included four cannons used in the war, likely taken from Confederate troops. The monument itself is a granite base with the words "Repose," "Mespha," and "Gilead."

Other Dedham Soldiers

Frank Wilson, who lived on Washington Street, also served in the war. His neighbors, Robert F. and Henry Everett, also served. Robert joined the service under General Benjamin Butler in New Orleans. He worked as a clerk and wore civilian clothes. After he died, a military shirt was sent home to his parents with his other belongings.

William B. Gould served in the Union Navy before he settled in Dedham.

Images for kids

• Dedham Memorial Hall 01.jpg

  Memorial Hall in Dedham, built to honor Civil War soldiers.