Edward Ireland, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, killed at Laurel Hill. Benjamin J. Ellis, jun., Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died at Medford, from disease contracted while in prison. Sargeant Edwin B. Hatch, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, killed at Hatcher's Run. Frank R. Curtis, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in prison at Richmond, Va. William H. Rogers, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in prison at Salisbury, N.C. Henry G. Currell, Company C, Thirty-ninth Regiment, died in prison at Andersonville, Ga. Michael O'Donnell, Second Heavy Artillery, died in prison at Andersonville, Ga. George H. Lewis, Seventeenth Regiment, died at Raleigh, N.C. Joseph M. Carret, died in prison at Andersonville, Ga. COL. JOHN G. CHAMBERS. Among the saddest events of the war, to the citizens of Medford, was the death of Col. John G. Chambers, who was wounded at Drury's Bluff, and died at Fortress Monroe, May 13, 1864. He first served as a private soldier in a Massachusetts regiment during the Mexican War, at the end of which he returned to the peaceful pursuits of private life. At the breaking-out of the Rebellion he was first lieutenant of the Lawrence Light Guards; and on the 19th of April, 1861, he went with his company to the seat of war, and afterwards acted as adjutant of the regiment. At the expiration of the term of his three-months' service, he joined the Twenty-third Regiment as adjutant, and again went to the front. His cool courage, marked ability, and fondness for his profession, soon marked him as a man to be promoted; and in due time he was made major, and afterwards colonel, of his regiment. A wound received in the shoulder, from a fragment of an exploded shell, gave him a short furlough. But he could not long remain idle when his country required his services; and he soon rejoined his regiment, and shared all its dangers, hardships, and exposures, until he was called to lay down his life for the cause he had so faithfully served. His body was brought home; and, with the consent of his family, the town took charge of his funeral. Prompted by patriotic feeling, and personal regard for the deceased, the whole community gathered together as mourners, and united in paying the last tribute of love and honor to the dead soldier. THE LAWRENCE RIFLES. This company was organized under the following authority: [SPECIAL ORDERS No. 71.] COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. George H. Gibson and eighty-four others of Medford and vicinity having forwarded to the Adjutant-general a roll of enlistment for the volunteer militia of the Commonwealth: IT IS ORDERED, that a company be organized of the men there enlisted, and that a captain and one first lieutenant and one second lieutenant be immediately chosen. The order to assemble the men for the election will be directed to said Gibson of Medford, who will furnish the presiding officer with an attested copy of the enlistment-roll, previous to the meeting. The usual ten days' notice to electors will be waived. The chairman of selectmen of Medford will preside at the election, and make prompt return of the doings to these headquarters. By command of His Excellency, WILLIAM SCHOULER, Adjutant-General. JOHN A. ANDREW, Governor and Commander-in-Chief. When duly organized, it was attached to the Fifth Regiment as Company E, afterwards changed to Company F. During its existence, it served the purposes of its organization, much to the satisfaction of the town, and the military authorities of the State. Benjamin F. Hayes, Godfrey Ryder, jun., William H. Dane, Charles O. Burbank, and Warren W. Manning, served successively as its commanders. It was, however, found difficult to maintain two military companies in Medford; and in 1874, by amicable arrangement, the membership of the Rifles was merged in that of the Lawrence Light Guard, and its charter transferred to a company formed in Waltham. |