Patriotism of the Towns of
Old
Worcester
County
The towns all around us are still making preparations for any public
necessity which may rise, with unanimity of purpose which is almost
fearful. We are overwhelmed with reports of patriotic
meetings, full of enthusiastic love for the old flag, and of
determination never to yield till it floats again in triumph
wherever it has been struck down. There is not a doubt that
Worcester
County
in case of need, would furnish an effective force of five thousand
men for any service or any danger. It is impossible, in the
limits of our edition, to do more than sketch the elaborate and
interesting reports which cover our table.
Leicester
The call for a meeting of the citizens of
Leicester
, Monday evening, was responded to by one of the largest and most
enthusiastic gatherings ever assembled on Leicester Hill. The
meeting was organized by the choice of Joseph Murdock as chairman,
and A. R. Nichols, secretary. Rev. A. H. Coolidge offered an
appropriate and fervent prayer. Appropriate and stirring
address were made by Rev. Messrs. Cummings, May, Coolidge, Bullock,
and Gould, and by Mr. Joseph Denny, and several young men whose
earnest and thoughtful words showed them fully alive to the demands
of the hour.
The resolutions express their appreciation of the solemn duties of
the hour, say that “in Grateful remembrance of the patriotic
spirit of the early inhabitants of Leicester, who nobly poured out
their blood and treasure in the cause of freedom during the
revolution, they will, in like spirit, do everything in their power,
to preserve the honor and defend the rights of our country, in the
struggle for the maintenance of that freedom they so dearly
purchased;” recommend their citizens to forthwith organize and
drill a company in readiness for active service; and request the
selectmen to call a town meeting to adopt such measures as the
important crisis demands.
The resolutions were quickly adopted amid great cheering, by a vote
of 125 to 1, which was quickly withdrawn. the following
patriotic note was received from venerable Dr. Nelson, and read:-
“To the Respected Citizens of Leicester, now
assembled: A cold with hoarseness, in addition to my usual
infirmities, must prevent my being present with you this evening,
and raising my feeble voice in favor of the patriotic object of your
present assembling together. My whole soul, moved and excited
by the alarming public wants that are being developed, is with you.
Most heartily I wish you God speed in what you devise or do for the
relief and protection of our beloved country, now imperiled by a
most causeless and outrageous rebellion.
Now is the time to rouse up every energy, to make every sacrifice,
and put forth every effort, for preserving our government, our laws
our rights, and all that is included in the great legacy of freedom
which our fathers purchased for us their blood, and bequeathed to us
as an inheritance forever.
Leicester
was greatly distinguished for the patriotism and daring of her sons
and daughters at the trying period of the revolution.
Let the present generation show, by their immediately rallying
around the standard of their country and girding on their armor,
that they have not degenerated. Age has enfeebled my body, I
cannot therefore take part, in the great struggle that is going on,
that the burning feeling within would prompt me to do. But I
can and do look with confident expectation, to the young and more
vigorous around me to respond at once and in all the ardor to
------------the long ? call of our
country---------------------------.”
------thirty six persons have already enrolled
It is due to Leicester to know that seven of her young men have
already marched to Washington, four in the Holden company, and three
with the Worcester City guards. The first four are H. W.
Bowman, J. D. Robinson, J. S. Scott, and Emerson Stone; the
remaining three are B. N. Bottomly, G. W. Hatch, and W. B. White.
In the published list, they were inadvertently assigned to Holden
and Worcester.
Millbury
The citizens of Millbury met at Academy Hall ,
Monday evening, responding heartily to the call for aid to our
government, for the purpose of taking measures to form an efficient
military company, to be prepared for future service. The meeting was
called to order by Col. A. H. Waters, whose earnest appeal in behalf
of the
Union
, and equally earnest condemnation and detestation of traitors met a
unanimous response. John E. Bacon, Esq. was called to the
chair. prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Garrette, who
subsequently addressed the meeting, urging every man with a strong
arm and a bold heart, to enlist to fight for his country.
Col. A. H. Waters, C. R. Miles, Esq., Rev. A. S. Thomas, Wm. H.
Harrington, Esq., and others, testified their determination to do
all in their power to support the government; and their animating
addresses were received with the heartiest applause. Messrs.
Silas Dunton, Wm. H. Harrington, and Col. E. M. Holman, were
appointed a committee to enlist a corps to be drilled preparitory to
enrollment for service. A guarantee fund of more than $2000
was raised to aid the families of those who may eventually be called
away, and the selectmen were requested to call a town meeting, to
raise a fund for a similar purpose. That meeting will be
called, and the town will do its duty. Many of our young men
are among the first to join the troops who are now in or near the
capitol.
Shrewsbury
At a meeting of the citizens of
Shrewsbury
, Monday evening, held for the same patriotic purpose, L. J.
Hemmingway was chosen president, and Chas. O. Green secretary.
Many patriotic addresses were made by Thomas W. Ward, Nathan Pratt,
Rev. Messrs. Cushing, McGinley, Hascall, Rice, Colburn and others.
Mr. Adam Harrington, in behalf a committee presented a series of
resolutions which were unanimously adopted, expressing their
undiminished love of country, and the duty of every man to make
sacrifices for it.
It was also voted to pay $1 to the members of such volunteer
companies as might be raised for each day spent in elementary drill;
to raise $2000 for the equipment of the volunteers, and to pledge to
each one who is called into active service, $1 per day to be paid to
themselves or their families until the date of their discharge.
The meeting also appointed recruiting officers, who will attend to
the immediate enlistment of a company of volunteers.
Uxbridge
The citizens of Uxbridge held a meeting Monday
evening, at which Francis Deane Esq., presided. The meeting
first assembled in Taft’s Hall, and adjourned to the town hall for
want of room. eight hundred persons were present, and speeches
were made by the president, Rev. Mr. Russell, Dr. J. McComber, C. A.
Taft, W. H. Hobbs, R. J. Mowry, and others.
The meeting recommended the formulation of a company of volunteers,
to be equipped, drilled, and prepared for immediate service, and
pledged itself to take care of the families of those who should be
called away. Lieut. Hobbs, who has been ordered to recruit and
form companies, called upon those present who desired to serve their
country, to enroll themselves, to which fifteen persons responded;
and the lieutenant is confident he will have a company of eighty
persons before the close of the week.
Sutton
The citizens of Sutton held a meeting at
Washington Hall, Monday evening, of which LaBaron Putnam was
president, and Jason Waters secretary. The hall was quite too
small to hold all who desired to attend, and an adjournment was
effected to the Congregational church, where a prayer was offered by
Rev. Geo. Lyman.
Stirring speeches were made by the president , Rev. Messrs. Lyman,
and Hawkins, Messrs. Slocum, Mills,, Woodbury, Waters, Hill,
Batcheller, and others. Papers for the formation of a military
company were presented, and twenty or thirty persons enrolled their
names, amid the applause of the large meeting. series of
vigorous and determined resolutions were unanimously adopted,
pledging their earnest support to the government, and urging the
selectmen to call a town meeting as soon as practicable for the
purpose of raising money for the emergency and adopting such
precautionary measures as might be deemed necessary.
The
Brookfields
Saturday was a lively day in all the
Brookfields. In
West Brookfield
, a meeting was organized by the choice of Geo. W. Lincoln
president, and Joseph A Sprague secretary. Soon after the
organization, a delegation from
North Brookfield
entered the hall, stating that several hundred citizens of that town
and
Brookfield
were assembled on the common; whereupon a committee of citizens was
appointed to escort them to the hall. The delegation entered
with the national colors flying, and accompanied by the Brookfield
Brass Band. Speeches were made by several persons, pledging
themselves to aid the government in putting down treason to the end.
When the meeting dissolved, a procession of ten or twelve hundred
persons marched to the depot to await the arrival of the troops from
Worcester
. On the approach of the train, cheer upon cheer was given for
Gen. Devens, who appeared and made a gallant and soul-stirring
speech, which added new fire to the enthusiasm. The waving of
handkerchiefs by the ladies, the hand shaking with the soldiers, the
martial music by the band, and the booming of cannon, all this at
the “dead hour” of night, shows how deep and earnest a
patriotism is still alive in the old Brookfields.
The citizens of
Brookfield
held another meeting, Monday evening. Over two hundred men
signified their readiness to go into active service when the country
needed them. Forty-three names were enrolled toward the
formation of a new company, and the other Brookfields, we are
assured, are prepared to do the same.
Dudley
The citizens of
Dudley
held a large and earnest meeting Monday evening, Capt. Ebenezer
Davis, president, and R. P. Taft, secretary. Prayer was
offered by rev. T. J. Abbott, and patriotic speeches were made by
Messrs. Nichols, Abbott, Pratt, Conant, and many others, including
H. H. Stevens. Resolutions were passed that it was the duty of
every patriot to aid in crushing the rebellion. Every man
seemed to be ready to fight for his country, and twenty two young
men promptly offered to enlist. It is in contemplation to
raise a company of sixty-five men, and place it at the disposal of
the commander-in-chief. The selectmen have ( called a meeting
to equip the company?) and furnish the necessary aid for their
families, should they be called into service.
Clinton
Sunday was a day never to be forgotten by the
citizens of this place. At
noon
, word came to Capt. Bowman that his command, the Clinton Light
Guard, would probably be called out in forty-eight hours.
Subscriptions were immediately started for the purpose of supplying
them with every needful outfit.
Ladies with their sewing machines immediately gathered at the
Baptist vestry, and while the afternoon services were being held in
the body of the church, fifty sewing machines and hundreds of nimble
fingers were busy preparing flannel underclothing. A committee
was dispatched to
Worcester
, and seventy five revolvers were procured for the company.
A meeting of the citizens was held Monday morning, of which H. N.
Bigelow, Esq., was chosen chairman, and H. C. Greeley secretary.
Prayer was offered by Rev. C. M. Bowers, and W. W. Winchester, C. H.
Waters, Esq., and others. About $2000 has already been raised
by subscription. the physicians, through Dr. G. M. Morse,
volunteered to attend the families of the military, during their
absence, free of charge
Athol
On Saturday evening there was a gathering of
the men and women of the town, fifteen hundred strong, at
Athol
Center
, to witness the ceremony of raising the national flag on the
common. Amidst martial music, the booming of cannon, and
the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner,” the stars and stripes
were unfurled to the breeze, and greeted with wildest enthusiasm.
The large concourse was then addressed from the balcony of the
Summit
house by the Orthodox and Unitarian clergymen of the place,
and by Messrs. Stevens, Lynde, Lathrop, Field, and others,
counseling prompt and energetic action in support of the
government, and to stand by the flag through all dangers and under
all circumstances, sentiments which were received with deep and
tumultuous applause.
A general illumination followed of all the dwellings in both
villages, making the night lighter than the day, while the streets
were traversed by long processions, headed by the band, playing
national airs, until a late hour. measures have been already
taken to procure drill officers, and volunteers met Monday evening
to take their first lesson in “Scotts tactics.” A hundred
men of the flower of the population can be raised without
difficulty, and more if required.
Bolton
The people of
Bolton
, of all classes and parties, held a meeting at their Town Hall, on
Monday evening. Marcellus Houghton president. Rev. Mr.
Heard of
Clinton
opened the meeting with prayer, offering the “first prayer in
congress,” which is preserved in Thacher’s Military Journal of
1777. Speeches were made by Rev. Messrs. Heard, Chaffee, Brown
and others, and measures were adopted for raising a volunteer
company, for which a guarantee fund of $1325 has been already
subscribed.
Gardner
The national flag was unfurled in
Gardner
, Saturday evening at sunset, amidst the ringing of church bells,
the firing of cannon, the music of the band, and the plaudits of the
people. A meeting was held in the town hall in the evening,
over which Rev. John C. Payne presided. speeches were made by
the president and by Rev. Mr. Walker of South Gardener, Messrs.
Glazier, Parish, Whitaker, and others. It is proposed to raise
a volunteer company of sixty-four men. Several young men of
the town have gone to the seaboard for the purpose of enlisting in
the naval service.
Lancaster
One of the largest meetings ever held on old
Lancaster
assembled at the town hall, Monday, J. L. S. Thompson president, and
H. C. Kimball, secretary. The meeting was addressed by Col.
Francis B. Fay, who after a few earnest and emphatic words,
proposed, in a series of resolutions, that, “the citizens of
Lancaster, old and young, rich and poor, abandon for the present all
side issues, know no party but the Union, and recognize no guiding
stars but liberty and constitution.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted with tumultuous applause,
every man rising to his feet. thirty citizens were at once
enrolled, which number will probably be doubled, for a volunteer
company. It was voted to form a “home guard” to look after
the families of such as might be called into service of the country.
The prevailing feeling is intense and unmistakable.
Northbridge
The citizens of Northbridge held an informal
meeting in the chapel in Whitinsville, on Monday evening, crowding
the room to repletion, with one of the largest and most enthusiastic
audiences ever convened in the town. It was organized by the
choice of dr. R. R. Clarke as president, and L. F. Smith secretary,
and was addressed by Rev. Mr. Clark, and Messrs. Kendall, Philbrick,
Gibbs, Taft, Whipple, Morse, and others, all expressing a fervent
devotion to the Union, and the purpose to stand by it to the end.
The meeting pledged pecuniary assistance for the common defense, and
voted to supply the necessary equipments to all persons
volunteering from that town, and to care for the families depending
on them for support. Fifty persons indicated their readiness
to be called upon whenever the country needs their services, and
will immediately enroll themselves into a volunteer company.
The people are to raise the national flag in both villages of the
town, and a legal meeting is to be immediately called to act upon
the whole subject.
|