On Veteran’s Day, just after the Medway ceremony at Matondi Square, some other veterans will receive an honor for which they’ve waited 150 years. Thanks to Tom A. C. Ellis, Jr., Medway historian and author of Medway & Millis Civil War Service: A History and Roster, written for Medway’s Tercentennial, six soldiers buried in Oakland Cemetery on Barber Street in Medway will finally have headstones dedicated in their memory.
“There were no recordings of the Civil War veterans,” says Ellis, who had combed local cemeteries for information on soldiers from the era. When he found those born from 1810-1840, he then checked their names with the state adjutant’s office for records.
“I was able to find veterans people didn’t even know were veterans,” says Ellis, whose work on this project took him about a year to accomplish. “I came across a grave that had six soldiers buried in it.” The area, in Section A of the Oakland Cemetery, was known as “Soldiers Lot.”
Ellis says he was able to get hold of a WPA (work program administration) list of Civil War veterans that helped him to identify the six men buried there. The Medway Historical Commission contacted the Veterans Administration, which provided the headstones.
The ceremony dedicating the headstones will feature a 21-gun salute by 13th Massachusetts Regimental Volunteer Infantry reenactors. “They’re coming with muskets, in full uniform of the Civil War,” says Ellis.
The six U.S. soldiers to be honored, with descriptions garnered from Ellis’ book, include:
Dain, Henry R. enlisted for three years as a private at the age of 33 into the 3rd Regt. Mass. Vol. Cav. Co. “D” February 26, 1864, and received a $325.00 state bounty. His occupation was that of a teamster. He resided in Medway, but was born in Royalston, Vermont on March 10, 1831, to Rice O. and Mary and died on September 14, 1864 near Winchester, Va.
Hixon, Egbert Oswell enlisted at the age of 34 into the 8th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company “D” (known as the “Lynn Light Infantry”) April 30, 1861, (3 months) and was discharged from that unit August 1, 1861. He then re-enlisted for three years as a private at age 35 into the 1st Company of Andrew Sharpshooters September 4, 1861, at Camp Saunders in Lynnfield. He deserted from the Sharpshooters September 4, 1862. He then enlisted in the 124th Ohio Infantry Company “C” December 21, 1863, for three years under the name of “Hicks.” He died of malaria November 22, 1864, in Nashville Tennessee as a result of that service. He resided in Medway, where he worked as a bootmaker. He was born on August 1, 1824, in Medway to Isaac and Persis (Adams), was married and had four children,
Houghton, Albert C. enlisted for three years as a private at the age of 20 into the 2nd Mass. Vol. Inf. Co. “E” May 25, 1861, at Camp Andrew in West Roxbury. He was promoted to corporal April 1, 1863. He went through all the action of the 2nd, up to the Battle of Chancellorsville, Va., where he was hit by artillery in the leg, which nearly severed it. He was killed in that action May 3, 1863. He resided in Medway, where he worked as a boot stitcher. He was born around 1841, in Newton to Abel S. and Hannah (Chamberlain).
Miller, Louis L. enlisted for three years as a private at the age of 20 into the 12th Mass. Vol. Inf. Co. “E” in June of 1861, at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor. He was wounded in the leg August 30, 1862, at the 1st Bull Run battle. He died from that wound October 2, 1862, at a hospital in Washington. He resided in Medway, where he worked as a clerk. He was born in Franklin on August 17, 1840, to Warren and Emily.
Read, George H. enlisted for three months as a corporal at the age of 20 into the 1st R.I. Vol Inf. Co. “H” in April of 1861. He was discharged in July of 1861. He returned to Medway, and re-enlisted October 31, 1861, for three years into the 1st Mass. Vol. Cav. Co. “I”, the 1st became the 4th Mass. Vol. Cav. Co. “I”. He again re-enlisted for three years into the 4th Mass. Vol. Cav. and received a $499.33 state bounty. He became very sick while in Florida, and was detailed as a clerk for the Regimental Quartermaster. He resided in Medway, where he worked as a jeweler. He was born in Medway on February 12, 1841, to George and Louisa (Fairbanks), and died February 25, 1866, of pulmonary consumption, after being discharged after the war ended the previous November.
Treen, John S. enlisted for three years as a private at the age of 22 into the 2nd Mass. Vol. Inf. Co. “E” May 25, 1861, at Camp Andrew in West Roxbury. He was in all his regiment’s action until he was killed in action September 17, 1862, at the battle of Antietam. He resided in Medway, where he worked as a bootmaker. He was born at Wallace River, Nova Scotia, Canada, around 1839, to Joseph and Lucretia.
Issue Date:
November, 2017
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