the Cheshire railroad

[Christian1863]

does anybody know if the Cheshire railroad was used by the union during the civil war. if so i would like to put some of my relics of the railroad on display with my other civil war items. the railroad ran through winchendon Massachusetts troy new Hampshire and Maine etc,

 

[John Hartwell]

It's possible. The 6th N.H. regiment was raised in the Monadnock region, and organized/trained at the Cheshire Fair Grounds in Keene. They mustered in the fall of 1861, and in Dec. left by rail by way of Fitchburg, and Worcester, to Norwich, Ct, where they took ship for New York. Very likely the first leg of that trip was over the Cheshire RR.

There may well have been other regiments from western NH and Vermont that took that route as well.

That early in the war, people in towns along the route often gathered by the stations to cheer the troops -- sometimes passing out fruit, sandwiches, snacks through the windows.

see: https://archive.org/details/historyofsixthne00jackm/page/n8/mode/1up?view=theater
"As we rolled out of the station, the people gave us a parting cheer of encouragement. Soon we began to see new sights, as we sped on among the Cheshire hills. The people of every manufacturing town through which we passed left their homes and workshops, and, lining the railroad, cheered us with a good will. As we passed through such places as Fitzwilliam, Fitchburg, and Worcester, we were greeted with hearty cheers, and the shout was heard, "We will be out there soon!" We saw many Massachusetts recruits drilling at different points, and all were eager to know who we were and where we were going, while we were ready to let them know all about ourselves. We were happy now, and found this pleasant soldiering."

 

[Christian1863]

It's possible. The 6th N.H. regiment was raised in the Monadnock region, and organized/trained at the Cheshire Fair Grounds in Keene. They mustered in the fall of 1861, and in Dec. left by rail by way of Fitchburg, and Worcester, to Norwich, Ct, where they took ship for New York. Very likely the first leg of that trip was over the Cheshire RR.

There may well have been other regiments from western NH and Vermont that took that route as well.

That early in the war, people in towns along the route often gathered by the stations to cheer the troops -- sometimes passing out fruit, sandwiches, snacks through the windows.

see: https://archive.org/details/historyofsixthne00jackm/page/n8/mode/1up?view=theater

O my god my 4th great grandfather was in the New Hampshire 6

 

[Lubliner]

Thanks for filling in the blanks @John Hartwell. @christian1863 I would love for you to post some pictures here, and tell us more about your 4th great grandfather. There could be many interesting facts to learn!
Lubliner.

 

[John Hartwell]

O my god my 4th great grandfather was in the New Hampshire 6

What was his name?

 

[Christian1863]

What was his name?

Captain Edward Adams