GAR Portraits: 10th Regiment
In the summer of 1992 Elise Feeley, Reference Librarian at Forbes Library, discovered a cache of more than 200 photographs in the drawer of a work table. She thought the photographs were connected to the Civil War and invited Jim Parsons to look them over. Feeley and Parsons investigated the photographs, concluding that the images were taken in the 1880s, and that they represent members of GAR Post 86.
Private Charles H. Bigelow
Portrait of Private Charles H. Bigelow, member of the 10th MA Regiment, Company C. He was born on October 4th, 1824 and was enlisted from June 21st, 1862 to July 16th, 1865. The 1868-69 Northampton Directory lists him as a painter living on North Canal St. He is also listed as a painter in the 1880 U.S. Census. He died on May 11, 1895 is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at A-5, Div. 1, Parsons Walk. He was a member of GAR Post #86.
Private Frederick W. Clark
Portrait of Private Frederick W. Clark, member of the 10th MA Regiment, Company C. He was born on July 13th, 1840 in Northampton and married Elizabeth S. Lewis October 27th, 1859. He was enlisted from June 21st, 1861 to October 17th, 1862, with listed occupation as a paper maker. The 1870 U.S. Census lists him as an Occupation Agent in a paper mill living on Elm St and is then listed as a farmer living in Easthampton in the 1880 U.S. Census. He died on February 21st, 1908 and is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at 120, Div. 5-B, Beech Ave. He was a member of GAR Post #86.
Private Norman S. Cornwell
Portrait of Private Norman S. Cornwell, member of the 10th MA Regiment, Company C. He was born on December 11th, 1827 and married Ellen M. Graves of Williamsburg in 1858. They had daughters Anna, Nellie, and Edna. He was enlisted from October 18th, 1861 to January 5th, 1865. The 1868-69 Northampton Directory lists him as a bookbinder living on Chestnut St. He died on July 7th, 1898 in Northampton and is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at 556, Div. 2-A. He was a member of GAR Post #86
Text from Post No. 86 Personal War Sketches Book:
Norman S. Cornwell 10th Regt. - Comrade Norman S. Cornwell
Who was born the eleventh day of December A.D. 18__ in Middletown County of _______ State of Connecticut
He first entered the service at Camp Brightwood, Washington D.C. as a Private in Co. C 10 Regt. Mass. Vols. Oct. 18 1861. He was discharged at Brandy Station Ca. but re-enlisted at the place Dec 20. 1863. In June 1864, he was transferred to Co. G, 34 Mass Vols.
During the months of July and August 1863, he was confined with Chronic Diarrhea in a hospital at Philadelphia, but rejoined his regiment at Downesville. He was present at the battle of Fair Oakes and was on Gen. E.D. Key’s Headquarter Guard through the Peninsula Campagne [sic], so did not participate in any battle until Fredericksburg but was in all the rest until wounded at Wilderness Va., May 5, 1864. After being wounded, he used a couple of guns as crutches and managed to get to the rear where his foot was taken off. He was then put into an Army Wagon and carried to Fredericksburg. There he lay in the “Old Hill” for two weeks when he was transferred to Lincoln Hospital, Washington where he remained two weeks and was then taken to Knights Gen’l Hospital, New Haven. While being transferred from New Haven to Readville, Mass, the cars ran off the track causing a serious accident, many being killed and more wounded. He was counted among the wounded as his foot was broken open and a hole was punched through his cheek. Arriving finally arriving at the Dale Gen’l Hospital, Worcester, Mass. he remained there until having lost his foot at the instep, he was discharged Jan. 5, 1865.
Private Charles H. Daniels
Portrait of Private Charles H. Daniels, member of the 10th MA Regiment, Company C. He was born on February 15th, 1840 and married Lucretia M. Camp April 25, 1866. He was enlisted from June 21st, 1861 to July 1st, 1864. The 1868-69 Northampton Directory lists him as working at the Billiard Saloon on Main St; the 1874-75 Northampton Directory lists him as a machinist living on Franklin St. He died on April 17th, 1884 and is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at 88, Div. 5-A, Cedar Ave. He was a member of GAR Post #86.
Private-Captain Lewis Day
Portrait of Private-Captain Lewis Day, member of the 10th MA Regiment, Company C. He was born in 1838 and married Louisa Sackett in November 1857 and had daughters Winnie and Lucinda. He was enlisted from June 21st, 1861 to October 28th, 1861. The 1868-69 Northampton Directory lists him as a farmer on West St; the 1874-75 Northampton Directory lists him as a brickmaker on West St; the 1880 U.S. Census lists him as a policeman. He is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at 128. From 1860 to 1880 he farmed rye, corn, and tobacco. He died December 7th, 1897. He was a member of GAR Post #86.
Sergeant Calvin Burnell Kingsley
Portrait of Sergeant Calvin Burnell Kingsley, member of the 10th Regiment, Company C. He was born August 18th, 1839 and married Harriet (Hattie) Nims on April 22nd, 1879. He was enlisted from June 21st, 1861 to September 21st, 1869. The 1868-69 Northampton Directory lists him as a farmer living on Pleasant St; the 1874-75 Nothampton Directory also lists him as a farmer living on Pleasant St; the 1880 U.S. Census lists him as a laborer for the railroad freight house; the 1900 census lists him as a tallyman for freight depot and living at 58 Bridge St. He died January 1st, 1905 is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at 350, Div. 1, Main St. He was a member of GAR Post #86.
Private William Mather
Portrait of Private William Mather, member of the 10th Regiment, Company C. In 1870, he married Mary Louisa Potter. The 1874-75 Northampton Directory lists him as living on Massasoit St. By the 1880 census he is living in Hadley and working as a blacksmith. He is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at 425, Div. 6-B, Acanthus Ave. He was a member of GAR Post #86 and was enlisted from June 21st, 1861 to July 1st, 1864.
Text from Post No. 86 Personal War Sketches Book:
William Mather 10th Regt - Comrade William Mather
Who was born the twenty six day of August A.D. 1837 in Northampton County of Hampshire State of Massachusetts.
June 21, 1861, he enlisted at Northampton as a Private and on the expiration of his term of service received his discharge at Springfield July 6, 1864.
About April 1, 1863, he was detailed to the Baloon Corps in the charge of Prof. Lowe and served there until the Baloon was sent to Washington.
August 2, 1863, he was detailed as blacksmith and remained there until his time was out.
He was present at Williamsburg, Fair Oakes, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg.
At Fair Oakes he was wounded in both thighs and was confined in Chelsea Marine Hospital.
His intimate comrades were Calvin B. Kingsley, Alvin Rust, Norman Cornwell, C.W. Brewster, and James Bramon.
Colonel Joseph B. Parsons
Portrait of Colonel Joseph B. Parsons, member of the 10th Regiment, Company C. The 1868-69 Northampton Directory lists him as living on West St. He is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at 391, Div. 1, Walker Ave. He was born in 1826 and died June 4th, 1906. Enlisted 21 June 1861 in Company C, Massachusetts 10th Infantry Regiment and commissioned as an officer. Discharged 1 July 1864 as a Colonel. Promoted to Brevet Colonel on 13 March 1865.
Private Alvin Rust
Portrait of Private Alvin Rust, member of the 10th MA Regiment, Company C. He was born on August 27th, 1829 and was enlisted from June 21st, 1861 to March 13th, 1862. The 1868-69 Northampton Directory lists him as a clerk and he was boarding on Maple St. He died April 5th, 1889. is buried at Bridge St. Cemetary at 94, Div. 4, Magnolia Ave. He was a member of GAR Post #86.
Post from Post No. 86 Personal War Sketches Book:
Alvin Rust 10th Regt - Comrade Alvin Rust
Who was born the twenty seventh day of August A.D. 1829 in Northampton County of Hampshire State of Massachusetts.
June 21, 1861, he entered the service at Springfield as a Private in Co. C 10 Regt. Mass. Vols. In September 1863, he was promoted to Corporal and served in that capacity until the expiration of his term of service when he was discharged at Springfield July 1, 1864.
He was present at Williamsburg, Fair Oakes, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, St. Marys Heights, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg.
His intimate friends in the service were Calvin B. Kingsley, C.H. Brewster, N.S. Cornwell, Mark Moody, Fred C. Wright and Solomon C. Lacore.