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We found men who were suffering terrible pain, and the boats were so crowded it was almost suffocating. Many have been neglected, as was readily seen by a glance at their wounds, and numbers tell woeful stories regarding the treatment received. Some had to be moved beds and all, as it was dangerous to transfer them to stretchers. We made it our particular aim to attend personally to the movement of some, and much to their gratification.
The color bearer of the 15th Sergt. Lafayette Warden, Sergt Henry J. Ball, and private Henry R. Dawson of Co. D, 15th, all badly wounded, were attended by us. sergt. Henry Houghton of Co. D, from Worcester, was badly wounded in three places---right thigh broken, and had to be handled very carefully.
We learn from the latter that Lieut. Hastings and 1st Sergt Barnard, were all right at last accounts, and spoken of in the highest terms. Sergt McFarland of Co. I was unhurt and called a perfect salamander against bullets.

Houghton, Henry, 30, grocer ret., b. England
---, Margaret, 26, b. Ireland
---, Philip J., 3, b. MA
---, James N., 1, b. MA.

Henry Houghton, 39, grocer and meat, b. England (of Eng. parents)
Kate J., 19, wife, b. MA (of Irish parents)
Philip J., 12, son, b. MA (fath b. Eng, mor b. Ireland)
James H., 11, son, b. MA (fath b. Eng, mor b. Ireland)
William R., 9, son, b. MA (fath b. Eng, mor b. Ireland)
Alice, 6, dau, b. MA (fath b. Eng, mor b. Ireland.)

Obed (?) HOUGHTON, 33, laborer, (all b. in MA) [Elbridge's younger brother]
Martha ---, 24
Elbridge --- , 35, laborer
**Joseph --- , 6, (attended school)
Levi REED, Junr. 51, clerk, realestate value $1800
Sally --- , 44
Charlotte --- , 16
Warren DAVIS, 21, merchant
William DAVIS, 21, merchant.

Luther MAYNARD, 52, runs hotel, b. MA (as were all in house)
Prudence, 49, F
Charlott M., 19
Henrietta , 18
Lucretia F., 16
Emma F., 11
xxx E., 8, F
Lucia C., 6, F
Elbridge Houghton, 43, "Gentleman", personal estate $3000
Mary L. Houghton, 23, F (his step-mother)
**Joseph R., 16, clerk
Frank P., 4
Emma F., 3
Annie L., 1.

A very fine soldiers' monument of Fitchburg granite, with curb of the same material, was dedicated in Westminster, July 4. It stands 22 1/2 feet high, the names of 82 soldiers being on marble slabs attached to the sides of the monument.
The dedicatory services proper consisted of prayer, singing of an original ode, floral demonstration, an address, the reading of a poem, and the playing of a dirge by the Gardner Brass Band. A free dinner was provided in the grove....speeches were made by Captain Holden and General Kimball....

Joseph HOUGHTON, single, 35, b. MA (as were his parents), farmer, who lives in what looks like some kind of boarding house where an Irish-Canadian named Henry STACY is enumerated as the head. There are 15 other single men from all over, enumerated as laborers, and three Chinese cooks.

The "Veteran" members of Co. B., 15th Mass. regt. will hold their 18th annual reunion at Lackside House, Wachusett Lake, June 28th. Westminster sent ten men of her quota in this company. Do you remember that little squad of men who, 23 years ago, went to Fitchburg to join the Fitchburg Fusiliers and went into Camp Scott at Worcester June 28th, "the day we celebrate."
The were George W. Benjamin (dead), Joseph R. Houghton, N. Porter Howard, Edward S. Kendall, Francis Nichols, Frederick Nichols, Joel Pratt, Lyman Nichols and Lowell C. White. Nelson T. Bathrick came out as a recruit about one year later and died in hospital from wounds.

"Houghton, Joseph R., s. of Elbridge and Emily, b. Stowe, Aug. 6, 1844; farmer, unm. Enl. for 3 years July 12 1861, in Co. B., 15th Regt. Captured at Ball's Bluff and held prisoner 4 mos. Nov. 12, 1862 he was transferred to Co. I, 1st Art. and Nov. 13th was discharged to join the regular army. Serving his full time, he was must. out July 28, 1864."

Houghton, Joseph, boarder, b. Aug 1844, 55, single, b. MA (as were his parents), farmer, fully employed in the last 12 months (apparently a boarding house or hotel.)

HOUGHTON, Joseph, head, 74, single, living in rented accomodation, b. MA (as were his parents), occupation as "none."

Houghton - In this city, January 9, 1921, Joseph R. Houghton, native of Massachusetts, aged 74 years 5 months 3 days. Member of Chico Lodge No. 111, F. & A. M., and B. P. O. Elks Lodge, No. 423.
Funeral service will be held at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, January 11, at Grays, Dvisadero at Post. Incineration Cypress Lawn Cemetery.

Albert H. House, 37, Calv Bapt, b. Canada
Ursula, 33, b. Canada
Francis,12, b. VT
Martha R., 11, b. Canada
**Benjamin D, 9, b. Canada
Frederick, 6, b. VT.

A H House, 48, Bapt Clergy, b. Canada
Urtula, 43, b. Canada
Frances L, 22, b. VT
Martha R., 21, b. Canada
**Benj D., 18, b. Canada
Fred, 16, b. VT
Edwin, 10, b. NH
Pamelia, 6, b. VT.

Sharpe, John S., 65, retired, b. CT
---, Clarissa, 53, b. MA
---, Andrew W., 33, tobcconist, b. RI
---, Josephine, 22 boarding, b. OH
---, Clara N., 28, b. RI
---, Calvin S., 22, salesman (tobacco), b. RI
**---, Mary A., 20, newspaper reporter, b. RI (his future wife)
Leander W., 18, paper hanger, b. RI
**House, Ben D., 26, no occupation b. MA.

John S. Sharp, 75, retired merchant, b. CT
Calrisa R., 63, wife, b. MA
Andrew W., 42, son, married, liquor manifacture, b. RI
Josie J., 32, daur-in-law, b. OH
Clara M., 38, daur, single, b. RI
Calvin L., 32, son, single, travel for ?? house, b. RI(
Mary A. House, 30, daur, married, b. RI
**Ben D., 36, son-in-law, clerk in store, b. MA (as were his parents)
Lottie Sharp, 9, g-daur, b. Ind (fath b. RI, mor b. OH)
Hellen Sharp, 4, g-daur, b. Ind (fath b. RI, mor b. OH.)

The many friends of Benjamin D. House, Esq., were startled yeaterday by a rumor that he had attempted zo commit suicide at his residence...
On investigation it was learned that Mr. House while engaged in writing at his residence yesterday afternoon, all of a sudden became disheartened at some of his misfortunes, and without saying a word to his wife or family took a pen-knife from his pocket and attempted to end his life by cuttsing a deep gash across his throat, only missing the jugular vein by the sixteenth part of an inch.
In a moment after he had cut himself one of his family happened in the room and found him bleeding profusely.
A physician was at once summoned, who attended to the wounded man who was resting quite easily last night.
The only cause Mr. House gives for the rash attempt to end his life is that while he was sitting at his desk writing he made up his mind to end his life.
The matter is deeply regretted by himself and many friends, while it is hoped he will shortly recover.

"Ben D. House died Monday at Indianapolis. He was aged forty-three and was well known throughout the state not only as a journalist and a poet, the latter of no small ability, but as a member of the G. A. R., serving altogether six years as assistant adjutant general of Indiana, and by this means making himself personally known to every subordinate post in the state."

"Ben D. House, who had served in the Federal armies, wrote with truth and spirit. He ran away from his home in Vermont when he was seventeen, and entered the army from Massachusetts. He saw hard service, and received wounds which were a constant menace for the remainder of his life. He was mustered out finally at Indianapolis, and lived there almost continuously until his death in 1887.

His idiosyncrasies and affectations were many, and included the wearing of a great cloak, in which he sombrely wrapped himself in cold weather. His poems were printed privately by his friends in 1892. He had fair luck with the sonnet, and wrote, on the occasion of Grant's death, "Appomattox," which follows: --

To peace-white ashes sunk war's lurid flame;
The drums had ceased to growl, and died away
The bark of guns, where fronting armies lay,
And for the day the dogs of war were tame,
And resting on the field of blood-fought fame,
For peace at last o'er horrid war held sway
On her won field, a score of years to-day,
Where to her champion forth a white flag came.
O nation's chief, thine eyes have seen again
A whiter flag come forth to summon thee
Than that pale scarf which gleamed above war's stain,
To parley o'er the end of its red reigh --
The truce of God that sets from battle free
Thy dauntless soul, and they work life from pain."

Hause, Mary A., head, b. Oct 1849, widow, no children, b. RI (fat b. CT, mor b. MA)
and three lodgers.

Rufus F. Hovey, 32, bootmaker, b. MA (as were all)
Angeline, 32
**Franklin W., 7
Ellen L., 4
Silas F., 6/12
Emily A. Wood, 16, b. VT
Edwin F., 14, b. VT.

Lucy Howard, 42, $400 real estate, b. MA (as were all in the family)
**Chas., 17
Rosina, 16
Lucy, 15
Mary, 11.

Howard, Thomas P., 55, farmer b. ME
---, Caroline 40, b. MA
**---, James O., 28, works in granite quary, b. ME
---, Zebia, 26, (f.) b. ME
---, Edward L., 17, works in granite quary, b. MA.

Frank E. Houghton, who had been transferred to Rickett's Battery, U. S. A., was killed at St. Mary's Church, June 24th, and it should here be noted that Rickett's Battery, to which he and his two comrades (Henry A. Putnam, p. 639, and James O. Howard, p. 641) of the Fifteenth had been transferred, had been continually with the Army of the Potomac and had participated in it's battles.

George L Howard, 27, b. June 1872, married 7 years, b. MA (fat b. ME, mor b. MA), farmer
Clara A., 25, wife, b. Sept 1874, both children living. b. NH
Leon I., 2, son, b. June 1897, b. NH
Winfield S., 1, son, b. May 1899, b. NH
James O., 25, brother, b. Dec 1874, single, b. ME, sailor.

William Gaul, 30, b. Ireland
Ellen, 28, b. Ireland
James, 5, b. MA
Thomas, 3
Mary, 9/12
**John Howard, 23, shoemaker, b. Ireland
**Jeremiah Lynch, 20, shoemaker, b. Ireland
Hannah Lynch, 25, b. Ireland (Jeremiah's wife)
Eugene Howard, 24, shoemaker, b. Ireland
(Noted: Morty Howard, his wife Johanna, and a John Lynch b. ca. 1814 in Ireland all live nextdoor. It appears this is some kind of family grouping.)

National Prisoners Released, Arrival of Four hundred at Fortres Monroe
Notice having been received by Gen. Wool, that some 400 exchanged prisoners would be sent down the James River Yesterday, the "George Washington" and "Express" left at about noon for the appointed meeting place.
The rebel boat was appointed to meet us at 3 o'clock, but at that time she was not in sight, and shortly after a heavy fog shut down, making it impossible to move in any direction. The two boats were then fastened together, and having dropped anchor, waited for the rebel boat to appear.
The fog did not lift till late in the evening, when the wind blew so fresh that the boats dragged their anchors and had to be separated. This morning at sunrise the expected prisoners made their appearance, on the "William Allison," which it seemed had also anchored for the night a few miles above us. The return passage was made without any incident, and the prisoners arrived here about 10 o'clock this forenoon. The returned prisoners will be immediately sent north. (Note: here follows a complete list of the released prisoners who arrived by a flag of truce from Richmond.)

Camp Foster, Pooleville, MD

October 28, 1861

Dear Brother Charles

As I have written to most of the folks, I thought that I would address a letter to you lest you feel neglected.

We have had a very severe fight with the rebels and I suppose that you have heard about it some time ago. There are 22 missing in our company. Porter and George Benjamin were either shot dead or taken prisoner. I guess that they were shot by the rebels when they were swimming across the river. The rebels were too many for us and we had to retreat. They went over in a flat-bottomed boat about 100 men at a time. Our regiment and the Mass.19th and part of the California Brigade amounted to about 2500 men in all. The rebels were just too much for us and after fighting all day they had to retreat.

The rebels drove us into the river, and they either had to be shot or drown. They had so many in a boat the first time across that they sank it and ever so many of the boys drowned. Meanwhile, the rebs kept shooting at them all the time. Some of the poor fellows had not the strength to get up from the ground after swimming the river so they laid there on the shore with their faces in the mud. Here many in their helpless state were shot to death by the rebels for our boys had not even the strength to get up. Some of the boys drowned in the mud I reckon, and I guess that some 150 or 200 drowned crossing the river. It was a hard fight for our first one but I am pretty tough for a small boy.

We are now on picket by the river and one of the boys has been speaking with one of the rebels and he says that they have got three Captains of ours, and he describes one who sounds just like Captain Simonds. He said that the Captain was a prisoner in Richmond now. B. Simonds and Cprl. George Daniels started for home this morning. Simonds got shot in the leg just below the knee and Daniels got shot in the arm but not serious...The rebels have now about six or seven hundred boots and a good many pairs of pants containing considerable Union money. So the rebs made a pretty good thing out of the fight...Give my best respects to the folks, and write me all the news.

This is from your Brother, Lyman Nichols.

A very fine soldiers' monument of Fitchburg granite, with curb of the same material, was dedicated in Westminster, July 4. It stands 22 1/2 feet high, the names of 82 soldiers being on marble slabs attached to the sides of the monument.
The dedicatory services proper consisted of prayer, singing of an original ode, floral demonstration, an address, the reading of a poem, and the playing of a dirge by the Gardner Brass Band. A free dinner was provided in the grove....speeches were made by Captain Holden and General Kimball....

The "Veteran" members of Co. B., 15th Mass. regt. will hold their 18th annual reunion at Lackside House, Wachusett Lake, June 28th. Westminster sent ten men of her quota in this company. Do you remember that little squad of men who, 23 years ago, went to Fitchburg to join the Fitchburg Fusiliers and went into Camp Scott at Worcester June 28th, "the day we celebrate."
The were George W. Benjamin (dead), Joseph R. Houghton, N. Porter Howard, Edward S. Kendall, Francis Nichols, Frederick Nichols, Joel Pratt, Lyman Nichols and Lowell C. White. Nelson T. Bathrick came out as a recruit about one year later and died in hospital from wounds.

James Howard, 30, no occupation given, b. England
Bridget, 28, b. Ireland
James, 3, b. MA
Mary J., 2, b. MA
George W., 6 mos or days, b. MA.

Howarth, James, 41, work in shoe shop, b. England
---, Bridget, 42, b. Ireland
---, James, 13, b. MA (as were all the children)
---, Mary J., 12
---, George H., 10
---. Charles E., 9
---, John, 6
---, Thomas W., 4
---, Sarah A, 5/12.

Howarth, James, 52, farmer, cannot read or write, b. England
---, Bridget, 48, wife, b. Ireland
---, James, 23, son, single, works in boot shop, b. MA (as were all the children)
Sullivan, Mary J., 21, dau, married, works in boot shop
Howarth, George, 20, son, single, works in boot shop
---, Charles, 18, son, single, drives milk team
---, John, 16, son, single, works in boot shop
---, Thomas W., 12, son, single
---, Sarah A., 10, dau,
Sullivan, William, 21, son-in-law, married, works in boot shop, b. MA (of Irish parents.)

Howarth, Francis, head, b. Dec 1840, 59, widow, two children living, b. Ireland, nurse
Hoy, Bridget, sister, b. May 1825, single, b. Ireland.

Adolphus Howe, 47, shoemaker, b. MA (as were all in family)
Lucretia G., 44
Charles E., 18, shoe maker
Edward A., 14
Hannah, 8, (f)
Adela F., 5, (f.)

Winthrop Howe, 54, laborer, b. MA (as were all in the family)
Lydia,48
Catherine, 20
Sarah, 18
George, 16, shoemaker
Caroline, 14
Lucinda, 10
**Alfred, 8
Lydia, 6.

Fifteenth Regiment - We learn that, under a flag of truce carried by Quartermaster Howe of the 15th, Thomas Taylor of Co. B. and J. Moffit of Co. E., together with a private of the California regiment, were returned on Jan. 4th, by the rebel authorities at Leesburg, all three severely wounded at the affair at Ball’s Bluff. There was no pledge required of them that they would not serve against the confederate states, but it is doubtful when, if ever, they will be able to.

Howe, Church, 41, farmer, b. MA
---, Augusta C., 37, b. MA (her father b. England; mor b. VT)
---, Herbert R., 21, adpt son, b. England (as were his parents)
---, Mamie F., 19, son's wife, b. Indiana
and four farm laborers.

Howe, Henry, 41, civil engineer, b. MA (as were his parents)
---, Louise, 42, wife, b. CT
---, Gertrude, 10, daughter, b. MN
---, Albin, 6, son, b. IL
---, Louise, 3, daughter, b. IL.

Perkins, Gertrude H., head, 40, widow, all three of her children are still living, b. MN, housekeeper, they live in a rented home
---, Louise W., dau, 19, b. AZ
---, Margaret H., dau, 19, b. AZ
---, Gertrude W., dau, 6, b. CA
Howe, Louise W., mother, 72, widow, three of her four children are still living, b. CT
Kektschk (?), George S., boarder, 44, b. PA, superintendant of Quartz Mining
(Note: his widow is living with her widowed daughter, Gertrude.)