FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

With the fall of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, it was evident that the Chelsea Light Infantry was sure to be called into service. On April 15, 1861 President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for State troops for the war of the rebellion, with an immediate response of 75,000 volunteers. As expected, on the morning of April 19th,1861, Governor John Andrew called upon the Chelsea Light Infantry to be ready to march at once. The militia call was sounded. By 3:00 P.M. all members of the company had assembled at the armory. The State Adjutant, being present, asked the members to volunteer in a body for a three year enlistment in accordance with the Governor's call. Captain D. W. Bailey, then in command of the company, made a plea for more time. He claimed the company could not be made ready to go. Governor Andrew replied that this was 'inadmissible, the need was immediate and urgent'. The Governor instantly disbanded the company on the spot. He then ordered all guns and equipment be turned into the Adjutant at once. As soon as this had taken place Lieutenant Sumner Carruth stated that if a company could be recruited he would take command. Stepping to the front of the group he asked aloud "boys, will you follow me?" The response was tumultuous. Enrollment began at about 5:00 P.M. that afternoon and by 9:00 P.M. sixty-nine names had been enrolled. With a brass band and Mayor Fay in the lead, the enrollees began their march to the State House followed by a very large group of patriotic citizens. They were met at the State House by Governor Andrew. Acting as spokesman, Mayor Frank Fay tendered the company to the governor stating they had come on the anniversary of the battle of Lexington to present their first contribution and were ready to be mustered into the service. Alluding to the unfortunate events of earlier that day, he hoped the events of the evening would make amends. The Governor said he must forget that, as this was a new company. Moving to the Doric Hall Rotunda, Mayor Fay being a Justice of the Peace, was authorized by the adjutant-general, to swear them in. Election of Officers was then held, over which the mayor presided. Sumner Carruth was elected Captain by a unanimous vote, sworn in and commissioned. By the war's end, Sumner Carruth had risen to the rank of Brigadier General. The company was then placed in the 7th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment but wanting to be among the first in the field, they were sworn in as Company H, of the First Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry May 23, 1861. The first company in the state to be mustered into the Federal service for three years. The regiment assembled on June 1st at Camp Ellsworth by Fresh Pond in Watertown Twelve days later it was transferred to Camp Cameron, North Cambridge. The regiment departed Massachusetts for Washington, D.C. on June 15th, arriving at Camp Banks in Georgetown June 17th. On July 16th the company began its march. On Thursday July 18th, three days before the Battle of Bull Run, Company H, was engaged in a bloody skirmish at Blackburn's Ford, resulting in the loss of six Chelsea men killed and six wounded. The six men killed in action at Blackburn's Ford were: Sgt. Thomas Harding, Pvt. George Bacon, Pvt. Philip Crowell Jr., Pvt. Thomas Needham, Pvt. James H. Murphy, and Pvt. Albert G. Wentworth. Upon receiving the news of the battle and the resultant loss of life, Mayor Fay left for the front that night to claim and bring back the bodies of those killed and to give aid to the wounded. Upon arrival in Washington, the mayor was refused a pass to the front by General Scott due to the retreat and demoralization of the troops at Bull Run. Mayor Fay stayed on a few days in spite of conditions, giving aid to the wounded, assisting scattered troops and notifying Chelsea of their conditions. The end result was that Mayor Fay was only allowed to bring one body home, that of Philip Crowell Jr. The realities of war came home to Chelsea. The City of Chelsea was closed down in mourning while the citizens paid honor to a hero with a military funeral. The remaining five heroes were buried in Virginia. Their names were inscribed on a plaque placed in the Cary Avenue Church now the Temple Emmanuel Synagogue. During the construction of a McDonald's in Centreville, Virginia, one hundred thirty six years later, workers unearthed remains in six unmarked graves. The remains, lying in a row, were removed and put in storage at the Smithsonian Institute. For nine years researchers examined and investigated scraps of uniform fabric, buttons and shoes found with the remains. Also an extensive search into military records led to the conclusion the soldiers were members of the First Massachusetts Infantry Regiment killed during a skirmish July 1861, a few days before the Battle of Bull Run. Based on military records it is theorized two of the soldiers were from Boston, two were from Chelsea, one from Malden, and one from New Hampshire, who had been living in Boston. The two soldiers from Chelsea were identified as George Bacon and Albert G. Wentworth. All six soldiers unearthed in Centreville, were returned home to Massachusetts, finally, after one hundred forty five years. They were buried in the National Cemetery in Bourne with full military honors. The bodies of Sgt. Thomas Harding, Pvt.Thomas Needham. and Pvt. James H. Murphy still lie in hallowed peace in unmarked graves somewhere in Virginia, waiting to be brought home.