| The Loses of the Fifteenth Regiment
Capt. George W. Rockwood of Co. A He was an intelligent and capable officer, and for several years held the post of adjutant in the old ninth regiment. He was a native of Charlton, thirty eight years of age, and resided in Leominster. Captain C. S. Simonds of Co. B. He was born in Groton, and resided in Fitchburg, where he leaves a wife now very ill. He was about thirty years of age, and a worthy and estimable man. Capt. John M. Studley of Co. D. was born and lived in Worcester, where he was well known and had a large circle of friends. He was thirty two years of age, and leaves a wife and young family. Capt. M. W. Getchel of Blackstone, Co. K. is reported to have been wounded and drowned while swimming the river to the island. He was a young man, probably the youngest captain in the regiment, who had taken great pains with his command, and of whom high hopes were entertained. Lieut. Grout, who is reported killed, was a son of Mr. Jonathan Grout of this city, scarcely eighteen years of age, who took an early and constant interest in the company to which he was attached, and if his life had been spared, would have won credit for himself and his regiment. Sergeant Vassal of Co. E whose name also appears on the fatal list, was a native and resident of Oxford, twenty five years of age and unmarried. Major Poore telegraphs from Washington the following dispatch in relation to the bearing of the regiment in the fight:--- The Massachusetts fifteenth regiment stood its ground nobly for hours. The Northbridge company, Capt Charles Philbrick, received the first fire of the enemy, after which all the remainder were engaged. When General Baker came over he said to them, : "Boys if I had been here in the morning with my Californians, you would have been better off." Col. Devens would not give the order to retire in the afternoon until twice ordered to do so. Capt Henry Bowman, Co. C. of the fifteenth regiment, said he could not swim back to the island , and he was taken prisoner Capt Moses W.Getchell of Blackstone commanding Co. K. of the same regiment, was wounded while swimming across to the island, and drowned. Capt Charles H. Watson of Oxford, of Co. E. and Sergeant F. A. Walker of North Brookfield, severally of the fifteenth regiment, were all night on the river and they thought they were in the enemy hands, but it turned out that the party was the New York pickets. Color Sergeant Joshua Freeman saved the colors of the fifteenth. Colonel Devens and most of the other officers lost their swords in crossing the river. When the survivors of the fifteenth reached they island they found the remainder of the Massachusetts nineteenth regiment, Col Hinks, and the twentieth, there to reinforce them. |