COMPANY F, 23D MASS. VOL. INFANTRY
CHAPTER 1
THE UNION DRILL CLUB.
F COMPANY, of the 23d Mass. Regiment, like many others which served in the war for the Union, was the child of an earlier organization known as the Union Drill Club, which, on thetwenty-second day of April, 1861, was born of the intense patriotism that was aroused in our ordinarily quiet and peaceful community, by the attack upon Fort Sumter and other closely related events.
Its first meeting was held in the armory of the Salem Mechanic Light Infantry, Phoenix Building, Central Street, where the Club, with ninety names on the roll, organized a upon civil basis, with the following officers
President: Rev. George D WILDES, Rector of Grace Church,
Vice-Presidents GEORGE R EMMERTON, William P. UPHAM.
Secretary: HENRY F. WATERS.
Treasurer, STEPHEN P. DRIVER.
It was a short step, under existing war conditions, from a civil to a military basis, and the change was effected May 9, 1861, Officers being elected as follows:
GEORGE M. WHIPPLE - - - . Captain
JOSEPH H. WEBB . . . - - 1st Lieutenant
CHARLES H. BATES - - - . . 2d Lieutenant
CALEB H. NEWCOMB - - - . . 3d Lieutenant
GEORGE B. EMMERTON - - - 4th Lieutenant
The uniform adopted consisted of Zouave jacket of gray flannel faced with blue, dark blue trousers and gray cap, all trimmed with red. The officers wore a single-breasted frock coat (collar and cuffs of blue), and dark blue trouser; blue straight visor cap which, with the coat was trimmed with gold braid.
As an indication of the standing of the Club in the community, it may be said that many prominent citizens of SALEM and vicinity were greatly- interested in it; freely giving both time and money in furtherance of the object for witch it was organized.
The names recorded below will show the kind of influence which stood behind the Club, and will in some degree account for its success:
Hon. Stephen P. Webb, it, Mayor of Salem
Ashael Huntington, Esq.,, Clerk of Courts
Hon. W. D Northernd, Senator for Essex.
Willard P. Phillips Esq. Collector of port,
Allen W.Dodge, County Treasurer.
Judge Otis P. Lord.
Capt. John Bertram.
Messrs. W. C.ENDICOTT and E. W. Kimball.
The clergy also participated in the good work for the cause, especially
George D. WILDES, Rector of Grace Church.
Rev. Willard Spaulding, Pastor of Universalist Church
Dr. George W. Briggs, Pastor First Unitarian Church
Rev. J. H. Thayer, Pastor Crombie Street Congregational Church.
It may be of interest to record same of the duties performed by the Drill Club during the summer of 1861,July 1, with other military companies of Salem, the Club took part in the reception and escort of Commodore of the Coast Guard, R.B. Forbes commanding.
It also formed part of the escort of the Salem Mechanic Light Infantry and the Salem City Guards, upon their return from three months' service.
Sept. 16, it escorted Capt. E. A. P. Brewster's company (A of the 23d) to the cars, on its way to camp at Lynnfield.
But the hurry and rush of events, the sound of which was brought from the South on every passing breeze, intensified the warlike feelings of the community, and the military ardor of the young men soon brought to the front the question of enlistment
The matter culminated at a meeting held Sept. 30, when Captain Whipple, at the suggestion of several members, introduced the all-absorbing theme.
Resolutions were presented by Lieut. G. R. Emmerton to the effect that the members of the Club will enlist for the war, provided the Commander can receive authority from the Governor of the State to raise a company, the nucleus of which shall be the present organization commanded by its own officers.”
Rev. Geo. D. Wildes, Major Henry Merritt of the 23d Regiment, and others, addressed the members, and the resolutions were unanimously adopted. Twelve names, headed by that of Corp.
James A. Emmerton, afterward Assistant Surgeon and Historian of the 23d, were that evening secured on the roll of the now organization.
From that time there was a steady, a rapid growth, the short period in which the company was recruited being worthy of special mention. One writer remarks, “several other organizations were almost as many weeks as we were days in filling their corps.”
Oct. 3, a public meeting, over which Mayor Webb presided, was held in Mechanic Hall. It was crowded to overflowing. Captain Brewster’s Zouaves in their jaunty uniform added brilliancy to the scene, while spirited songs by the Amphipods and stirring addresses by Messrs. Northend, Wildes, and Thayer kindled great enthusiasm. Captain Brewster made a short speech, and the following poem, dedicated to the Union Drill Club, was read by Rev. Willard Spaulding:—
PATRIOTIC ODE
DEDICATED To: the Union Drill Club,
Rally, boys! Come forth to fight
For the Union, Law and Right,
For the Nation's honor, bright,
Let us draw the sword!
By the wrongs vile traitors wrought,
By the ruin they have brought,
Tyranny of deed and thought,
Forward is the word
See the northern pride and flower
Gathering in this fateful hour;
Union is our strength and power.
— Let us join the van
Lay the traitors in the dust;
Die they shall and die they must
They have broken every trust –
- forward every man!
Massachusetts calls to-day,
Beck'ning to her sons away.
She- no longer brocks delay —
Not a man must lag
Gird the sword and join the throng;
Right must triumph over wrong
In our cause we shall be strong, —
Raise the starry flag
MRS. C. W. UPHAM
Oct. 14, 1861
The Amphipods closed the exercises with a fine rendering of Holmes’ Army Hymn
Crowded meetings were held in many of the Essex County towns. And the interest thus extended added many names to the roll of the new company.
The following notice is from the Boston Transcript of Oct, 7, 1861
The Union Drill Club of Salem, being the nucleus of accompany now forming for the war, the undersigned cheerfully give their approval of the organization, and attest to the high character of its officers and members, and assure the young men of this vicinity that they may enlist in this company under the most favorable auspices
STEPHEN P. WEBB, MAYOR OF SALEM.
WM. F., NORTHEND, SENATOR FOR ESSEX.
WILLARD P. PHILLIPS, COLLECTOR OF PORT.
ASHAEL U HUNTINGTON, CLERK OF COURTS.
ALLEN W. DODGE, COUNTY TREASURER.
GEO.D. WILDES, RECTOR OF GRACE CHURCH.
JOHN BERTRAM.
Part 2
