Company A, 5th Regiment Massachusetts Militia was the local company that served during the Civil War. The Regiment Commander was Col. David W. Wardrop of New Bedford. This was the most widely spread regiment in the state.
The 5th was called along with the 4th, 6th and the 8th regiments. A special train was furnished by the Fairhaven R. R. Co. to go as far as Tremont to carry messengers on way to Halifax, Carver, Plympton and Plymouth. Company A got its orders at 2 A.M.
(My brother, James W. H. Baker, had a clock that struck the hour of 2 A.M. on that fateful morning over a hundred years ago. ~ This clock was then in Capt. Charles Lyon’s home and it stood on the same shelf until my brother’s death in 2001. The clock then was given to his son. The clock is still in the family.)
The Plymouth Co., got orders at about 3 A.M. the same morning. Both companies reported at noon the same day. The Regiment sailed from Boston on April 17th under sealed orders from Central Wharf. The next morning when 9 miles out, the orders were read. It took 47½ hours to reach Fortress Monroe.
On the afternoon of arrival, they were immediately embarked on the Gunboat “Pawnee” and proceeded to Gosport Navy Yard under orders to destroy the dry-dock, construction houses, yards, building and all vessels and ammunition.
Company B had to be relieved because of the heat while mining the dry-dock. Co. A and B were on guard. The mission was completed and the “Pawnee” got back to Fortress Monroe at 6 A.M. on April 21 (Sunday).
Company C among routine duties under Capt. Chamberlain with drawn bayonets and loaded muskets suppressed “insubordination,” in the “Naval Brigade.” Next, the regiment orders were to occupy Hampton and the Companies A, B and C were the main guard. Here, experience in trenching with the thermometer at 114 degrees and the temperature, while scouting, at one degree higher were endured.
The regiment returned July 19. It was mustered out on July 22 on the Halifax Common amid great cheering.
Respectfully submitted, Sue Basile, Halifax, MA Historian 2015
photo: USS PAWNEE, circa 1864-1865
