from the Fitchburg Sentinel, 23 October 1876
Fifteenth Regiment

The tenth annual reunion of the 15th Mass. Regiment was held at Worcester, Saturday. The meeting was called to order by Capt. George W. Rockwood of Leominster, one of the vice-presidents, in the absence of Gen. Devens, the president. At the business meeting the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

President, Gen. Charles Devens, Jr., of Worcester
Vice President, Capt. D. M. Earle of Worcester
Secretary and Treasurer, Lieut. P. F. Murray of Worcester
Chaplain, Leonard Wood of Leominster.
Directors, E. J. Russell, T. J. Hastings, B. B. Vassall, Harlan FAirbanks, Luther D. Goddard.

Capt. E. J. Russell announced the death of Gen. Willis A. Gorman, and a committee, consisting of Capt. Russell, Capt. T. J. Hasting and Segt. Walter A. Eames, was appointed to draft a series of resolutions for record in the books of the association. They reported as follows and the report was unanimously adopted:

Whereas, The Fifteenth Regiment association of Massachusetts Volunteers has been apprised of the death of Gen. Willis A. Gorman, under whose immediate command our regiment served; and
Whereas, It is proper and becoming that we should put upon record our appreciation of his relations to us; therefore,
Resolved, That we have received with pain the sad intelligence of the death of our late honored commanding general and embrace the earliest opportunity of unitedly expressing our sorrow.
Resolved, That while we sympathize with the members of his own family in this bereavement, we especially mourn the loss of one whose high qualities endeared him to us as commander, comrade and friend. We found him wise in counsel, fearless in danger, and we hold his name in grateful remembrance.
Resolved, That the secretary of this association be directed to forward to the family of the deceased a copy of these resolutions, and that they be entered upon the records of the association.

After dinner at the Lincoln House, the association was called to order by Vice President Earle. Gen. J. W. Kimball, who was to have been present and read a paper on the battle of Fair Oakes a few days ago ascertained that it was impossible for him to be present and sent a letter to that effect. Letters were read by the secretary from several other comrades who were unable to be present.

After this the boys sang the regimental song air, "Benny Haven, Oh." Captain Russell then read a paper on the battle of Fair Oakes. The descriptions of the battle was quite graphic and included many reminiscences, all of which were received with applause. Sergeant W. A. Eames moved that the address be placed on the records of the association which motion was unanimously passed. Col. Joslyn and Col. ?? followed with short interesting speeches.

(Transcriber's note: there are several illegible paragraphs here which appear to be a recounting of Ball's Bluff, mentioning Baker's Califormia regiment.) ...cheering on our little band until he fell. We had but one field piece with us and the enemy directing his fire upon that swept down the gunners with the first volley. Baker sprang forward at once and continued upon his feet, giving directions to and assisting personally the volunteers who came forward to work the guns until shot by the enemy. When he fell into the arms of those around him and was borne from the field. In fact, the little clearing in which our forces were massed was so small and the nature of the ground such that it would have been madness for our commander to mount. Such, in brief, are the facts connected with the death of that brave soldier, and I appeal to any one present to correct me if my memory is at fault. For although that battle was the first one to most of us, it was so terrific while it lasted that it left vivid recollections to those engaged in it, not only of the fierce struggle at the edge of the bluff, but of the lamentable and heart-rending result to our forces.

Addresses were also delivered by Captain Hastings of Company C, Sergeant Murray of Company E., Comrade Tioman [? Thayer ?]of Company E., Comrade Legacey of Company G., Comrades Carr [?Alvin or Jerome?] and Lawton of Company H, Sergeant Briggs of Company I, Sergeant Mullens, Williams, Barnes and Bean [?Charles H. or Charles W.?] of Company K. Bean said his name was on the records today as dead and buried, and he didn't like that very much. Sergeant Hall of the Fifty-seventh, Dr. Rockwood of Company E and Comrade Whitney of Company D, also made brief speeches.

On motion of Colonel Studley, it was voted that Col. J. W. Kimball and the officers of the association were appointed a committee to consider the feasibility of publishing a history of the regiment, as far as completed, and report at the next meeting. It was also voted to invite Captain Baldwin, adjutant of the regiment, to deliver the address next year. The reunion closed by giving three rousing cheers for General Devens, and joining hands and singing Auld Lang Syne. The association then adjourned to meet in Worcester on Saturday, October 27, 1877.

Among the new members admitted to the association were James Bartlett of Co. A. Charles Bartlett of Co. E., both of Fitchburg, and Sylvanus Maynard of Co. A, of North Leominster.

A long roll of the members of the regiment who have died since the regiment was organized was presented by the secretary, and it was voted to have it copied into a book given for the purpose by Sergeant Luther D. Goddard. The following is the list of regimental officers and members of Co. B, of Fitchburg included in this list:

[abbreviated to those who d. after the war], among others:
John M. Norcross, Lieut. d. 2 Mar 1872 in Sutton
A. L. Fuller, d. in Clinton MA
Cyrus Brown, Sgt. d. 1869 (difficult to read)
George A. Harwood, drummer d. 26 Oct 1871
Philander H. Fletcher d. 6 Dec 1874
Frank S. Marshall, d. 4 Feb 1875