Milton & The Civil War
Milton’s Civil War Legacy
Courage, Sacrifice, and Patriotism
Milton, Massachusetts, played a significant role during the Civil War, contributing both manpower and resources to the Union effort. As a town with deep historical roots and a strong sense of community, Milton's residents were deeply engaged in the national conflict. Many local men enlisted in the Union Army, demonstrating their commitment to the cause of preserving the United States and ending slavery. The town also supported the war effort through various means, including fundraising and supplying goods to soldiers. Milton's involvement in the Civil War is a testament to its enduring values of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism, which continue to shape the community today.
The War of the Rebellion—The Great Civil War
The first call to arms was received from Washington, by telegram, at the Massachusetts Governor's office on the 15th day of April 1861. It asked for 20 companies (fifteen hundred soldiers) to be sent forward at once. Many believed the 'Rebellion' would be short-lived and the federal government would prevail, but by the summer of 1862 the Union's 'Army of the Potomac' had failed in its objective to capture Richmond.
President Lincoln, on July 4, 1862, called for three hundred thousand troops. Massachusetts created nine new three-year regiments (from the 33rd to the 41st regiments), contributing fifteen thousand troops to the war effort. The following month, on August 4th, the President issued a call for an additional three hundred thousand troops to serve nine-month tours and to be raised by draft if necessary. Massachusetts responded by activating seventeen of its state militia regiments thus enabling the state to meet its quota of 19,090 troops.
By war's end, in 1865, more than 300 Milton townsmen had served the Union cause and some 30 of "our fallen heroes" are memorialized in Teele's The History of Milton.
JOURNAL
The Journal of Charles W. Cook
Charles W. Cook, a resident of Milton and a Civil War soldier, kept a journal. The journal's whereabouts are currently unknown but a transcript or chronology of entries excerpted from the journal has existed from at least the early 1960s when a copy was given to me by my uncle, Charles Bent. Cook, my great-great grandfather, was a corporal assigned to Company E, 35th Regiment, Mass Volunteer Infantry. The 35th, one of the three-year regiments, consisted of 1,013 officers and enlisted men making up ten companies. Company E drew its recruits from the towns of Milton, Randolph, Stoughton, and Canton. The journal spans less than a month's time but gives a firsthand account of Cook's participation and observations at the battle of Antietam - the bloodiest single day in American history; culminating in more than 23,000 casualties.
The transcript has been researched and footnoted and includes the military abstracts of the soldiers referenced in the journal with a short sketch of the Cook family. In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, we've published it here.
— Dennis M. Doyle, MHS Historian
The Letters of George Henry Moulton
George Henry Moulton of Milton kept his commitment to "serve out" his "Three Year Enlistment," and over the course of it wrote to his family sixty-two letters, donated by great-grand nephew Robert Schaefer. Moulton often mentions "the Milton boys" in his outfit, including Walter Bradlee, Johnnie Cross, Chas Hunt, Hiram Nye, Charlie Thayer and others. He inquires of girls back home and asks to be remembered to some and not others who "don't have the time to return my mail." His patriotism is constant but his youthful bravado tempers as he experiences the reality and horror of war. The one- to two-page letters are devoid of grandiose and gore, and comment on food, religion, politics, and the war. Mostly, though, they describe the personal experience of a young soldier, and we invite you to partake of that experience.
Inspired by similar projects of the Massachusetts Historical Society, we emailed to interested members each of Moulton's letters, transcribed and footnoted, on its 150th anniversary. Occasionally, we filled in with research and Moulton's records from the National Archives. The gentle but persistent pace of the emailed letters, spanning almost three years, gave the recipients a personal, direct understanding of the era.
You can partake of that experience, too: the transcribed letters, our research, and Moulton's records from the National Archives can be found here, indexed chronologically. Start at the beginning; you will find it hard to stop.
ARCHIVES
Researching the Civil War at the National Archives
For anyone researching the millions of stories of Civil War soldiers, the National Archives and Records Administration can be a treasure trove. Below is a series of six articles by Claire Prechtel-Kluskens, first printed in the National Genealogical Society Magazine, itself an invaluable resource to amateur and professional genealogists. The articles describe the records available at the National Archives, how to access them, and how to dig even deeper, while telling the stories of just a few soldiers represented there.
i. The Lightning Brothers: A Brief Case Study in Union Civil War Research
ii. Thank You, General Fred C. Ainsworth!
iii. Compiled Military Service Records Part I: The Records Inside the CMSR Jacket
iv. Compiled Military Service Records Part II: The Records Outside the CMSR Jacket
v. Compiled Military Service Records Part III: The Record of Events
vi. Compiled Military Service Records Part IV: Carded Medical Records
vi. Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933, for Caroline S. Moulton
At right is the jacket of George Henry Moulton's Compiled Military Service Record. The documents inside complement his letters by giving the Army's perspective: musters, a hospital stay, clothing, and pay reconciliation. As described in Claire's fourth article, though, it was in the unfiled records outside this jacket where she found the CMSR card most valuable to us: his enlistment description, which remains our only source of what the young man looked like.
Fort Warren on George’s Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands
Historic Civil War-era Fort Warren, George’s Island is the ideal destination for any history enthusiast.
The graceful granite archways of historic Fort Warren will greet you as you arrive for your visit to George’s Island. This Civil War-era fort is the main attraction of George’s Island and it is sure to bring out your inner history enthusiast. The construction of Fort Warren, built to protect Boston, began in 1833 and took nearly two decades to complete. Nearly obsolete upon completion, the island was used as a training facility for Union soldiers during the Civil War.
George's Island is regularly open to the public in the spring and summer for tours. Transportation to Fort Warren is via MBTA ferry.
The islands host many events such as Civil War-era baseball games played with original rules and uniforms, music concerts, and even beer tastings.
More information about the island and ferry schedules can be found on the Boston Harbor Islands website.
