Roster Page - 108

John C. Desmond

• Company: G

• John C. Desmond was born at an unknown place.
• At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, John gave his occupation as "none" according to Ford's history.
• In 1861 John was living at an unknown place.
• 
  On 11 Dec 1861 John mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry with no further information in Ford's history, being credited to the quota of Grafton, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
• Note: this name does not appear in the MASSCW as part of the 15th Massachusetts. It does appear in Ford's history. Please contact the Webmaster if you have further information.

• Last Edited: 15 Jan 2007

Col. Charles Devens Jr.

Col. Charles Devens, Jr.

• Father: Charles Devens b. 1791, d. 1876
• Mother: Mary Lithgow b. 1797, d. 1848

• Company: Staff

• Charles Devens Jr. was born on 4 Apr 1820 at Charlestown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, son of Charles Devens and Mary Lithgow, the great-grandson of Richard Devens, Commissary-General in the Revolutionary war, grandson of David Devens, and in the maternal line of Col. Arthur Lithgow of Augusta, Maine.
• Charles Devens Jr. was graduated in 1838 at Harvard College, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
• He was graduated in 1840 at Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
• In 1848 his mother, Mary Lithgow, died.
• Between 1848 - 1849 Charles Devens Jr. was a Massachusetts State Senator.
• Between 1849 - 1853 Charles Devens Jr. was U.S. Marshal for the district, under appointment of President Fillmore.
• He was enumerated in the 1850 US Federal census on 30 Oct 1850 at Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, in what appears to be a boarding or apartment house.
  Nabby Lewis, F, 69, b. MA
  Caroline Lewis, F, 35, b. MA
  John S. Lewis, M, 12, b. NY
  Joseph TILDEN, 70, Gentleman 95,000, b. MA
  Hannah Tilden, 60, b. England
  William S. ROGERS, 63, no occupation, b. RI
  Josiah STERNS, 38, Teacher, b. MA
  **Charles DEVENS, 30, Marshall, b. MA
  3 girls from Ireland (maids?).
  
• In 1854 Charles Devens Jr. was practicing law.
• At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Charles gave his occupation as lawyer.
• 
  On 24 Jul 1861 Charles mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as the commanding Colonel of the regiment, being credited to the quota of Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 41 years, 3 months and 20 days old.
• On 14 Aug 1861 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Col. Charles Devens Jr. was mentioned in an article about the departure of the Fifteenth Massachusetts from Worcester.
• On 27 Apr 1862 Charles ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts to become a Brigadier General and Brevet Major General.
  
  
• He attended the funeral of George Hull Ward on 8 Jul 1863 at Rural Cemetery, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
• On 21 Oct 1864 at The Bay State House, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Col. Charles Devens Jr. wrote a letter read at the First Annual Reunion of the Fifteenth Regiment Association. (click icon to read).
• Between 1866 - 1873 Col. Charles Devens Jr. was Judge of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, by appointment of Governor Bullock,
  and as a Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in 1873 by appointment of Governor Washburn.
  
• In 1867 his brother, Arthur Lithgow Devens, died.
• Arthur Lithgow Devens the General's brother, married Agnes Howard WHITE in 1862, and had daughter Mary ("Maddie"), Agnes (1866-1896) and son, Arthur Lithgow Devens, Jr.
• On 10 Mar 1877 Col. Charles Devens Jr. was Attorney-General of the United States in the cabinet of President Hayes.
• He was enumerated in the 1880 US Federal census in 1880 at Washington, DC, living in what appears to be another genteel boarding house owned by the widow Susan V. WALKER. He is single and Attorney General of the US. Other boarders are:
  George DEWEY, U.S.N., age 41 from VT;
  Charles KNAP, age 54, occupation gold mining, from OH; and
  Leoner LAUGEL, age 26, an attache at the French legation. (Note of interest: This appears to be the same Commodore George Dewey of VT who, on 1 May 1898, with a squadron of six ships, attacked and destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila bay. The Philippines fell shortly after.).
• On 21 Oct 1882 at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Col. Charles Devens Jr. attended the 16th annual regimental reunion of the 15th Massachusetts. (Report from the Fitchburg Sentinel.).
• On 20 Oct 1883 at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Col. Charles Devens Jr. attended the 17th annual reunion of the 15th regiment association, with some 110 other veterans of the regiment. (Report from the Fitchburg Sentinel.).
• In Jun 1886 Charles was living at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, with addition of "court house, Boston."
• In Jun 1886 Col. Charles Devens Jr. took part in the regimental reunion Excursion to the Battle-Fields of Gettysburg, PA., Antietam, MD., Ball's Bluff, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
• On 28 Jun 1888 Col. Charles Devens Jr. wrote a letter read at the reunion of Company B, The Fusiliers. (Click icon to read the report.).
• On 21 Oct 1888 at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Col. Charles Devens Jr. attended the annual regimental reunion of the 15th Massachusetts. (Report from the Fitchburg Sentinel.).
• He was enumerated in the 1890 US Federal census, Veteran's Schedule in Jun 1890 at Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, as having served in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
• He died on 7 Jan 1891 at Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, (Click icon to read his obituary.). He was 70 years, 9 months and 3 days old.
• He was buried in Jan 1891 at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Tulip Path, Lot 1594 (click icon to view).
• Charles was unmarried and left no issue.
• On 25 Nov 1892 John White Kimball gave his eye-witness account of the Battle of Ball's Bluff to the Boston Journal, and it was reprinted in the Fitchburg Sentinel.
• On 4 Jul 1906 at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, a statue of General Devens was dedicated. (click icon to read the report).
• Credits: Primary photo from USMHI, Carlisle, PA.
• Credits: Cemetery photography courtesey of Kristin Jones.

• Last Edited: 8 Apr 2010

Alonzo Dewing

• Company: No_SvcRec

• Alonzo Dewing was born between 1840 - 1841 at unknown.
• At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Alonzo gave his occupation as farmer.
• Alonzo was living at Shrewsbury, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
• 
  On 24 Mar 1862 Alonzo mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry according to the 1870 roster, being credited to the quota of Shrewsbury, Worcester County, Massachusetts.
• Alonzo ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts by desertion, he was returned under "Pres. Proc." according to the 1870 roster. Please contact the Webmaster if you know what this means.
  
  
• Starting 30 Sep 1862, Alonzo also served in the 51st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. D.
• He ended his service with the 51st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on 27 Jul 1863.
• On 18 May 1864 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Alonzo Dewing was noted among the wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness.
• According to Ford, men designated here as "No_SvcRec" were apparently "mustered into the service of the United States and assigned to the Fifteenth Regiment, but none of them have a record of service with that organization."
  

• Last Edited: 30 Jan 2011

Ferdinand Dexter

• Father: Esick Dexter b. 28 Nov 1796
• Mother: Sophia Whitney b. 20 Jan 1795, d. 1866

• Company: F

• Ferdinand Dexter was born on 28 Nov 1826 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts, son of Esick Dexter and Sophia Whitney.
• On 3 Jul 1848 Ferdinand Dexter, 21, married Rosetta T. Kendall at Palmer, Hampden County, Massachusetts.
• Ferdinand Dexter and Rosetta T. Kendall were enumerated in the 1850 US Federal census on 14 Sep 1850 at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as:
  Ferdinand DEXTER, 24, m, painter, b. MA (as were all in household)
  Rosetta, 21, f,
  Albert, 2, m,
  Martha KENDALL, 26, f,
  Julius ALDEN, 20, m,painter
  Addison ALDEN, 14 (?), m, painter.
• On 11 Apr 1858 Rosetta T. Kendall, his wife, died at Fond Du Lac, Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin.
• Ferdinand Dexter was not enumerated in the household of James H. Carpenter and Martha C. [--?--] in the 1860 US Federal Census on 4 Jun 1860 at Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, with his sons, as:
  James H Carpenter, 36, lawyer, b. CT
  Martha C., 35, b. MA
  Alb F Dexter, 11, b. Wis (sic)
  Lucerna H Dexter, 9, b. Wis (sic)
  Sarah Lewis , 19, servant, b. Norway.
• In 1861 Ferdinand was living at Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts, according to the official record.
• An affidavit in his pension file states that his home was Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and that he had gone for a visit in Massachusetts when he signed up with the 15th Massachusetts.
• At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Ferdinand gave his occupation as painter.
• 
  On 12 Jul 1861 Ferdinand mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a Sergeant. He was 34 years, 7 months and 14 days old.
• He died on 21 Oct 1861 at The Battle of Ball's Bluff, Leesburg, Virginia. He was 34 years, 10 months and 23 days old.
• On 30 Oct 1861 at "The Worcester Spy", Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Ferdinand Dexter was included among "The Killed Wounded and Missing of the Fifteenth Regiment," after Ball's Bluff.
• On 15 Feb 1864 J. H. Carpenter made application for a pension as guardian to Ferdinand Dexter's surviving dependants, and received certificate number 28073. (Relationship, if any, unknown).
• In 1898 the G.A.R. Post in Brookfield, Massachusetts, was named for him.

• Last Edited: 1 May 2011

Trustam Duval Dexter

• Father: Amasa Dexter b. 3 Dec 1808, d. Oct 1883
• Mother: Roanna Allen b. about 1812, d. Jan 1866

• Company: C

• Trustam Duval Dexter was born on 7 Jul 1834 at Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts, son of Amasa Dexter and Roanna Allen.
• About 1845 Trustam was living at Wendell, Franklin County, Massachusetts.
• He was enumerated in the household of Amasa Dexter and Roanna Allen in the 1860 US Federal Census on 14 Jun 1860 at Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts, as:
  Amasa Dexter, 51, farmer, b. MA
  Roana, 47, b. ME
  Trustum D., 25, carpenter, b. MA (as were all the children)
  Elihu O. C., 19, farmer
  Hephsibah, 15
  Hoyt, 12
  Ann, 9.
• At the time of his enlistment in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in 1861, Trustam gave his occupation as carpenter.
• 
  On 12 Jul 1861 Trustam mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 27 years and 5 days old.
• On 17 Sep 1862 Trustam Duval Dexter was wounded at The Battle of Antietam, Washington County, Maryland, in the arm.
• On 8 Nov 1862 Trustam Duval Dexter, 28, married Mary Susan Calligan, 22, daughter of James Calligan and Sarah Ann Mabury, at Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, in a first marriage for both.
• On 1 Jan 1863, Trustam was promoted to Corporal, but gave up the warrant, according to Ford's history.
• On 28 Jul 1864 Trustam ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts having fulfilled his term of service.
  
  
• In Jan 1866 his mother, Roanna Allen, died.
• Trustam Duval Dexter and Mary Susan Calligan were enumerated in the 1880 US Federal census on 7 Jun 1880 at Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as:
  Dexter, Trustum D., 45, carpenter, b. MA
  ---, Mary S., 39, wife, b. MA.
• In Oct 1883 his father, Amasa Dexter, died at age 74.
• Trustam Duval Dexter made application at Massachusetts for a veteran's pension on 22 Apr 1890, received certificate number 753094.
• He was enumerated in the 1890 US Federal census, Veteran's Schedule in Jun 1890 at Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, as having served in the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Co. C, where he received a bullet wound in the left arm.
• On 12 Jul 1894 Mary Susan Calligan, his wife, died at Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, at age 53.
• In 1896, Trustam was included in "The History of Clinton, Massachusetts."
• He was enumerated in the 1900 US Federal census on 5 Jun 1900 at Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, a widower and carpenter, living alone.
• He died on 4 May 1904 at Clinton, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 69 years, 9 months and 27 days old.

• Last Edited: 11 May 2010