Alton Edwin Phillips, Civil War Soldier
Title
Alton Edwin Phillips, Civil War Soldier
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Description
Alton Edwin Phillips
Born in Lisbon, Conn._Son of Henry B. Phillips,_by occupation a Brakeman,_Unmarried,_at the age of 23 enlisted for three years in the 1st Regiment of Cavalry. Mass. Vols._Company E.
Mustered into service in September, 1861, and was appointed Corporal. October 23rd following he was promoted to Sergeant, and Nov. 29th made Orderly Sergeant. March 7, 1862 he was promoted to be 2nd Lieutenant; and Jan. 16, 1863 was commissioned 1st Lieutenant, which office he held at the time of his death.
Though but a Lieutenant, he had command of one company nearly all the time, and not unfrequently of two. In the affair at Pocotoligo, S.C._May 1862, he was assigned to command a body of skirmishers, and handled his men with great skill. For his bravery he received the congratulations of his brother officers, and was promoted to the second Lieutenantcy, his commission being dated back to March 7th._
In the latter part of July following, he was ordered north to recruit. He opened an office in Springfield, Mass. and was very successful in enlisting. In October he was ordered to report in Washington D.C. where he engaged for a time in drilling recruits._Subsequently he had command of a company which acted as body-guard to Gen. F.J. Porter, and afterwards to Ge. Hooker._After the Battle of Fredericksburgh till April 1863, he was employed in picket duty.
In the memorable raid of Gen. Stoneman, the 1st Mass. Cavalry was assigned to Gen. Averills’ division. As our forces approached the Rapidan River, Lieut. Phillips was put in command of two companies to clear the banks of the river of the enemy’s sharpshooters, and also to burn a railroad bridge near Barnett’s Ford. On the 1st of May, 1863 he moved forward to the river with his force. Standing on the banks of the river was a house, where his dismounted with a few of his men, and entered. After a few minutes delay, he stepped to the door fronting the river to examine the position and to lay his plans. As he turned partly round to speak to one of his men, he fell pierced in the neck by a ball from one of the sharpshooters. The best surgical treatment was rendered, but it was in vain, as the ball had penetrated the spine. He died on the 4th; his last words to his servant were, “I die a true soldier.” His body was buried near the spot where he fell. It was subsequently recovered by his friends and buried in Maple Gove Cemetery, Chicopee, October 10, 1863.
Maj. H.L. Higginson of the regiment wrote to his parents: “He had won the respect and esteem of all his brother officers, high and low, and has done his duty well, as I myself have occasion for twelve months to know, and as is shown by his being twice promoted in a regiment where work and ability, and not simply seniority of rank, are demanded before promotion is given. He is a real loss to us all as an officer, and will make a gap not easily filled.”
Col. H.B. Sargent, of the same regiment expressed his testimony “to his courage and conduct as a soldier and to those high qualities which inspire respect of men for their leader, and officers for their companion in danger and glory.”_
Born in Lisbon, Conn._Son of Henry B. Phillips,_by occupation a Brakeman,_Unmarried,_at the age of 23 enlisted for three years in the 1st Regiment of Cavalry. Mass. Vols._Company E.
Mustered into service in September, 1861, and was appointed Corporal. October 23rd following he was promoted to Sergeant, and Nov. 29th made Orderly Sergeant. March 7, 1862 he was promoted to be 2nd Lieutenant; and Jan. 16, 1863 was commissioned 1st Lieutenant, which office he held at the time of his death.
Though but a Lieutenant, he had command of one company nearly all the time, and not unfrequently of two. In the affair at Pocotoligo, S.C._May 1862, he was assigned to command a body of skirmishers, and handled his men with great skill. For his bravery he received the congratulations of his brother officers, and was promoted to the second Lieutenantcy, his commission being dated back to March 7th._
In the latter part of July following, he was ordered north to recruit. He opened an office in Springfield, Mass. and was very successful in enlisting. In October he was ordered to report in Washington D.C. where he engaged for a time in drilling recruits._Subsequently he had command of a company which acted as body-guard to Gen. F.J. Porter, and afterwards to Ge. Hooker._After the Battle of Fredericksburgh till April 1863, he was employed in picket duty.
In the memorable raid of Gen. Stoneman, the 1st Mass. Cavalry was assigned to Gen. Averills’ division. As our forces approached the Rapidan River, Lieut. Phillips was put in command of two companies to clear the banks of the river of the enemy’s sharpshooters, and also to burn a railroad bridge near Barnett’s Ford. On the 1st of May, 1863 he moved forward to the river with his force. Standing on the banks of the river was a house, where his dismounted with a few of his men, and entered. After a few minutes delay, he stepped to the door fronting the river to examine the position and to lay his plans. As he turned partly round to speak to one of his men, he fell pierced in the neck by a ball from one of the sharpshooters. The best surgical treatment was rendered, but it was in vain, as the ball had penetrated the spine. He died on the 4th; his last words to his servant were, “I die a true soldier.” His body was buried near the spot where he fell. It was subsequently recovered by his friends and buried in Maple Gove Cemetery, Chicopee, October 10, 1863.
Maj. H.L. Higginson of the regiment wrote to his parents: “He had won the respect and esteem of all his brother officers, high and low, and has done his duty well, as I myself have occasion for twelve months to know, and as is shown by his being twice promoted in a regiment where work and ability, and not simply seniority of rank, are demanded before promotion is given. He is a real loss to us all as an officer, and will make a gap not easily filled.”
Col. H.B. Sargent, of the same regiment expressed his testimony “to his courage and conduct as a soldier and to those high qualities which inspire respect of men for their leader, and officers for their companion in danger and glory.”_
Source
Soldier's Record, Town of Chicopee
Date
ca. 1861-1865
Rights
Public Domain
Type
Text
Coverage
Chicopee (Mass.)
Identifier
SR-260.0
Files
Collection
Citation
“Alton Edwin Phillips, Civil War Soldier,” Chicopee Archives Online, accessed April 27, 2024, https://www.chicopeepubliclibrary.org/archives/items/show/2628.