Fitchburg Fusiliers before marching off to war in 1861

chubachus

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Fitchburg Fusiliers in front of the Rollstone House in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. By J. C. Moulton.
 
Fitchburg Sentinel, May 11, 1898:
Departure of the Fitchburg Fusiliers for Camp
It ws on Friday, June 28, 1861, that the first company of Fitchburg Fusiliers who served in the Civil War left town for camp at Worcester. It was a bright summer's day and the sidewalks were lined with people. On leaving their armory (Crocker's hall), the company were met by about 60 former members of the company dressed in scarlet coats and under command of Dr. Jonas A. Marshall, who escorted the Fusiliers to what is now city hall, where Rev. Elnathan Davis, in behalf of the Protestant clergy of the city, presented each member with a neatly bound copy of the New Testament. Rev. Kenadall Brooks offered prayer and the Fusiliers were addressed by Alvah Crocker, Dr. Marshall and others.

The volunteers were next escorted to the Fitchburg Hotel, where dinner was provided by citizens. After dinner, the procession was re-formed, marched round the common and down Main street to the depot. A salute was fired from two cannon on the common and very hearty cheers were given the brave men, some of whom never returned to their homes. On arriving at the depot Capt., afterwards Gen. J. W. Kimball, gave a banner, which had been recently presented by the ladies of Fitchburg to the company, to the ex-Fusiliers to keep in trust until the return of the volunteers. The flag was accepted by Lieut. E. T. Miles, afterwards mayor of the city. The former members of the Fusiliers accompanied the volunteers to Worcester and treated to a collation at the Bay State House by Col. Ivers Phillips.

Two drummers and a fifer, who furnished music when the company marched down Main street, played when the Fusiliers were on their first parade in 1817.


[The article concludes with a long list of surviving members of the Fusiliers, including pre- and post-war members.]​

A pre-war Fitchburg Fusiliers cuff button, sold on eBay in 2011 for $172.40!
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See also: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/col-john-w-kimballs-prince.146444/
 
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