The Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers: A Month in New York City, January - February 1862.

The Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers:
A Month in the big city: Street life, Drilling in Washington Square, Keeping Horace Greeley out in the cold, and the dinner for the Sons of New Hampshire. New York City, January - February 1862.

Paul Whipple and the Seventh arrived in New York on January 15, 1862 to await deployment to "the seat of war" in the South.  While in New York, the soldiers had the experience of being at sea for the first time during their trip.  They

"at once went on board the sound boat "Connecticut," with orders to proceed to Jersey City, N. J. 
On Long Island Sound everything went smoothly until about 2 o'clock a. m. of the 15th [of January], when the weather became squally, and the boat pitched badly. Many of the men who had never before experienced a trip by water, soon found out how people felt when under the influence of sea-sickness. All around the bulwarks appeared a measly looking crowd, and every mother's son of them seemed to have a lot to say about New York, but our destination was then Jersey City." Little, Henry F. W. 1896.  The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. Concord, N. H., I. C. Evans, Printer. p.23

Upon arriving in Jersey City, they received orders to head instead for New York City:

"we steamed up to Jersey City and laid by there a number of hours, the cause for this soon after became apparent. A telegram from Washington, D. C, awaited us, ordering the regiment into barracks in the City of New York. Consequently we crossed over to the South Hampton and Havre pier, at the foot of Canal street, where we disembarked, and were marched up Canal street to Broadway, down Broadway, and to 79 White street, near the corner of Broadway, where there was a building formerly used for storage purposes, six stories in height, including basement, which had been leased by the government as a depot for troops awaiting orders. Our regiment was at once marched inside and occupied the upper floors, the officers occupying a part of the first or ground floor, reserving the other portion for guard mounting: and every day when the weather would permit, we were drilled on Washington Square, in company or battalion drill." Little, The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire, p.23-24.

              Washington Square Park, April 20, 1861.Washington's statue holds flag from Fort Sumter.             http://www.forgottendelights.com/omomapp/omomreal/washusq.html

Provisions are easy to come by at first. 

"as soon as the boy's found they could not get out without a pass, they began to barter with outsiders from the windows, and we often noticed suspicious looking bottles going up to one of the upper floors, suspended from a line. From other windows they were hauling in small baskets or boxes loaded with pies, cakes, fruit, or clothing, the price of the articles having been previously thrown to the venders on the ground. It was soon evident that considerable " black-strap," as the men called it, was gaining admittance, and the more effectually to stop it, an order was issued to station guards or sentinels at each window, which almost wholly ended our traffic with the outside world." Little, The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire, p.24.

A vendor was allowed to set up shop instead, but soon began to charge higher prices than the traders outside.  The soldiers attacked his shop and would have looted it clean had not the officer of the guard stepped in to prevent it.  The soldiers also at first endured shorten the rations and poor quality food from the local vendors.  In protest, the soldiers would:  

"file along to their places, face the table, take their plates of bean soup, turn them upside down, and file quietly back to their quarters. Then the order of things was slightly changed, and we got mutton soup, which must have been made from the very poorest and strongest kind of mutton, to judge by the smell of the article, to which, under the circumstances,
the men did not take kindly. Consequently, when they got down at the tables and could sniff the peculiar flavor from the cook-room, they knew what was coming, and at once set up such a continuous bleating that one would think a large western sheep ranch had arrived, and at a given signal, over would go the plates, soup and all. but after a time the quality of the rations was in a measure remedied by the officer' of the day paying more attention to his duties, being present at each meal, to see if the rations were fairly issued and of good quality, and that a plentiful supply was set before the men." Little, The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire, p.24-25.

 In the midst of this, the local Sons of New Hampshire, including Horace Greeley, proposed to throw a party in honor of the Seventh, but the soldiers were again disappointed to find that only the officers had been invited, as reported in the New York Times:

RECEPTION DINNER TO THE SEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.
Yesterday morning the Sons of New-Hampshire met at the Grand Hotel, in order to make arrangements to give the officers of the Seventh New-Hampshire Regiment, now in this City, a proper reception before they leave for the seat of war. Messrs. H. B. Perkins.W. N. Brown, N. P. Higgins, E. P. Budd, George F. Peterson, C. A. Soule and Joseph Cushing were appointed a committee to, wait upon the officers of the Seventh, and tender them the hospitalities of The Sons of New-Hampshire. The Invitation was accepted, and the dinner will take place to-morrow evening, at six o'clock. All New-Hampshire men resident in this City are expected to attend.  New York Times. January 18, 1862, col.3, p.5)

 

The Committee, along with Horace Greeley, ventured down to the barracks to collect the officers, but did not quite get the reception they expected:

“A few days after the regiment arrived in New York, the Sons of New Hampshire living in the city, gave the officers of our regiment a supper. The men in the ranks did not like it because all were not invited. On the evening of the banquet George W. Fisher, of Company I, was one of the guards at the officers' quarters, and the Sons of New Hampshire were to come and escort the officers over to the banquet rooms. The orders to the sentinels were not to pass anyone unless accompanied by an officer. Fisher told his comrade, who was on guard with him, that he did not know the Sons of New Hampshire from a side of sole-leather, and that he did not propose to let anyone in with-out an officer for escort. Among others that appeared and wanted to go in was a man with a gray coat, who was kept waiting with the others. After a while, Adjutant Henderson came out and told the guards that they had kept Horace Greeley out in the cold tor fifteen or twenty minutes, to which they replied that they were obeying orders. A sergeant was then detailed to pass in the visitors.” Little, The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire, p.26.

79 White Street as it looks today. Present building dates from 1915.

While the officers were treated to their dinner, Little remarks that for the soldiers:

"Occasionally some patriotic citizen would come up to headquarters and ask permission to go in and take out a few of the men to a theatre or lecture, and many life-long acquaintances were thus made by our New Hampshire boy's with citizens of the great metropolis. The men who were thus favored passed many pleasant hours with their whilom chaperon." Little, The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire, p.26-27.

http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-lost-metropolitan-hotel-no-578.html

The New York Times did do a fairly extensive write-up of the Sons of New Hampshire dinner, which was from this account a lively affair at the posh Metropolitan Hotel.  However, even in this account one can hear the distant horrors of the war that were already known, and the horrors to come.

WELCOME TO THE SEVENTH NEW-HAMPSHIRE

*

Dinner at the Metropolitan Hotel—A

Cordial Greeting

*

Speeches by Lieut-Col. Abbott, Mr. Soule, Mr. H. B. Perkins, Horace Greeley, Gen. Hall, Judge Peabody, and others.

The sons of New-Hampshire, resident in New York, extended a cordial welcome to the Seventh New-Hampshire Regiment yesterday, as the latter passed through the City, en route for the seat of war. In the evening a dinner was given to the officers at the Metropolitan Hotel. The repast was expressly designed to meet the sharp appetites of soldiers, and abounded not only in substantials, but in some of the delicacies which the Messrs Leland know so well how to prepare. The arrangements were excellently made by the Committee, Messrs. N. Higgins, E. P. Budd, H. B. Perkins, W.N. Brown, George F. Patterson, C.A. Soule, and Joseph Cushing.

At about 7 1/2 the guests, to the number of one hundred and fifty, sat down and did full justice to the excellence of the viands presented for their consideration. At the head of the table was a vacant seat for Col. Putnam. On either side were arranged the Chairman, Mr. Soule, Lieut.-Col. Abbot, Gen. Hall, Horace Greeley, Judge Peabody, Judge Bonny, Maj. Roland, of the Berdan Sharpshooters, and others.

At the conclusion of the gustatory performance, the Chairman, M. Soule, called the assemblage to order and proceeded to address them briefly. He said they were a family party. They knew the cause was just, and the right must prevail. [Applause.] When, after the memorable events of the 19^th of April, New-York saw a regiment of Massachusetts volunteers [Applause.] marching to the relief of the Capital and the defense of the Union, they believed that the ‛hidden curse’ on the assailants of the Union was being fulfilled. [Applause.] they well remember the appearance of the First New Hampshire Regiment as it came fully prepared to take their position in the armies of the Union. [Applause.] Today, they welcome the Seventh Regiment. [Applause.] They all knew that the name of Putnam, in the present as well as in the past, was a synonym of patriotism and greatness. They all remembered the part the the Second New Hampshire Regiment had taken in the battle of Bull Run, and that made the soil of Virginia sacred to them. They all remembered how Israel Putnam had sought out, and dragged her den the wolf that had been depredating upon his own and his neighbors’ property; and he hoped that the Putnam who commanded this regiment would follow the wolf of rebellion to her den, and drag her forth. [Applause.] In conclusion, he gave the health of Col. Putnam of the Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers.

Col. Putnam being absent, owing to pressing official duties, Lieut.-Col. Abbott responded. He believed that the return, rather than the advance, would prove the proper occasion for ovations like this. He hoped they would deserve such a reception on their return. [Applause.] He took occasion to show what New Hampshire has done in this war. The First Regiment had left on the 21^st of May, the Seventh was on the way, and the Eighth and Ninth were under way. She had also furnished a regiment of artillery, a battalion of cavalry, and a regiment of sharpshooters. [Applause.] New-Hampshire had taken her part at Bunker Hill, and now 10,000 men in the field of this war. [Applause.] New-Hampshire had taken part in establishing this Government, and she meant to take some part in its preservation. [Applause.] They consider this war much holier than the Crusades. [Applause.] In such a war, the pomp of marching legions was eclipsed by the grandeur of their object. In conclusion, he gave,

“The Sons of New-Hampshire resident in New York – Their prominence in all walks of life in the City of their adoption is only equaled by their attachment to the State of their birth, and liberality to their citizens.” [Applause.]

The Lieutenant-Colonel call for three cheers for the sons of New-Hampshire, which were given with a will and reciprocated likewise.

The Chairman reiterated that they were here as a family party, and no one could complain that they praised their noble mother, New-Hampshire. In conclusion he proposed –

“The health of the President of the United States.”

and called upon Hon. Horace Greeley to respond.

Mr. Greeley spoke of the many officers of the army who had gone over to the rebels. The Preseident had a great many difficulties to contend against; a great many trials through which he was obliged to pass. Much opposition was in Washington of a very malignant type. An Army of the people had now been congregated. [Applause.] He believed, if the weather and roads were favourable, this body of men could crush out the rebellion in sixty days. He considered that the last danger was foreign interference. All oligarchs wished the overthrow of this Republic. He honored the old Tories of England who came out broadly against this country, for he knew that they had in mind the former victories of our arms. If the men who stand in the ranks of the South were to hear them, two-thirds of their number would walk over to our side. Only by wholesale lying can the rebellion be kept upon its legs for a month. The South need [ ] means more than they need men. They are called upon to buy muskets and war material, but have not the money to pay for them. He was positive that a majority of the citizens of the South, if they could be allowed the privilege of voting, would vote in favor of crushing the rebellion. He beseeched the soldiers New-Hampshire to carry upon their arms the hopes and the destinies of the human race. [Applause.]

The Chairman then read the next regular toast:

“New-Hampshire, our common mother,

Where’re we travel, whatso’er land we see,

Our hearts untrammeled, fondly belong to thee.

The Honor which her sons bestow upon her, is coeval with her granite hills.”

Mr. H.B. Perkins responded eloquently.

The Chairman next offered a sentiment, complementary to New-York and her citizen soldiery, and called upon Gen. Hall to respond.

Gen. Hall responded briefly and modestly, and gave as a sentiment,

“The ‛Star-Spangled Banner’ – Whether it is spread to the breeze in the North, South, East, or West, may every star in its field shine with is accustomed brilliancy.” [Applause.]

The Chairman called for “the Star Spangled Banner,” but no one seemed willing to start it.

A gentleman suggested that Mr. Tenney could sing it. Mr. Tenney said he would if he could, but he didn’t know the tune. He sang, however, with much effect, “Hurrah for Old New England.”

The Chairman next remarked that some of the lawyers of New-Hampshire had honored the bar of New-York. He gave as a sentiment –

The Bench of New-York – The Sons of New-Hampshire have sat upon it, and left it ermine unsullied.

Judge Peabody responded briefly, returning his acknowledgments for the honor paid himself and his Sate. His speech was received with much favor. In conclusion, Judge Peabody gave the following:

The War for the Union – A war not for or against any one institution, except that it is for the institution of civil liberty, but a war for the country and the Union, and whatever measures tend best to the preservation of the country and the protection of the Union are the best measures for conducting the war. [Applause.]

The Chairman next gave the following:

Reverence for and obedience to, the Law, the salvation of any country.

Judge Bonnett was called upon, and briefly responded in illustration of, and admiration for, the sentiment.

The Chairman next gave:

The Adopted Sons of New-Hampshire – She treats her sons as a mother treats her children.

Mr. Charles A. Luce, Esq., responded. He said that although the remark of Mr. Webster that New-Hampshire was a good place to emigrate from, had been interpreted as a slur upon New-Hampshire, Mr. Webster really intended it as a compliment. Mr. Webster has stated that he meant to say, that it was a good state to emigrate from, that when a man was known to hail from New-Hampshire, he was looked upon as a good fellow, and fared well accordingly. [Applause and laughter.] He complimented the energy of Lt.-Col. Abbott in raising the First New Hampshire Regiment, and bid God speed to the Seventh, on its way to the seat of war. He quoted the eloquent apotheosis of Gen. Baker to the American flag, and in conclusion gave the following sentiment:

The Seventh Regiment of New-Hampshire Volunteers, officered by regulars and volunteers – May they be each worthy of the other, and the whole combined be worthy of the Old Granite State, and the nation at large.

The Chairman next read the following volunteer toast:

Harvard University – The cradle in which the sons of New-Hampshire have learned to love their country.

Adjutant Henderson replied, trusting that he should never return until the rebellion is crushed.

Mr. Bryant, of Haverhill, said that he believed that New-Hampshire was a good State to emigrate to, and also to emigrate from. He found that the very heart and soul of New Hampshire was here. [Applause.] He was glad that though the soldiers of New-Hampshire were not to be commanded by a Stark they were to be commanded by a Putnam.

The Chairman next gave,

Our Parents, Brothers, and Sisters – If dead, we reverence them and remember them; if alive, we pray for their long life and continued prosperity.

The Chairman next gave the health of the man who saved the Great Eastern in her time of peril during the last voyage. He gave the health of Hamilton E. Towle.

Mr. Towle declined to speak, but was honored with three cheers.

The Chairman next read a volunteer toast.

The Smith Family – First in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of their countrymen.

Maj. Smith was called upon to speak, but declined, saying he was too old to commence that business.

Mr. Lege gave the following:

The Seventh New-Hampshire Regiment – When we hear from them may they be chasing the reels and never be chased.

He called upon Capt. Chase to respond.

Capt. Chase replied in eloquent strains. The next sentiment was –

Pittsfield – We feel sad to leave it for war.

Capt. Leavitt was called upon to respond, but was excused because he was on duty. [Applause.]

Major Roland was next called upon, and sang, amid much applause, the Grave of Napoleon.

Major Roland proposed the health of Gov. Berry of New-Hampshire, which was received with cheers.

Mr. Perkins proposed the health of their worthy landlord, Simon[?] Leland, who could both make a speech and keep a hotel.

Mr. Leland was called for and cheered, but modestly declined.

The Chairman proposed the health of the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Fifty-second New-York Volunteers.

Lieut-Col. Kasinski responded, hoping that in less than one year the thirty-four stars would be united. [Applause.]

The Chairman next called upon Mr. John Raymond to respond to a toast complimentary to the legal talent of New-Hampshire.

Mr. Raymond responded felicitously.

Major Roland proposed the health of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the United States. He said that Gen. Todtleben had remarked to him, on receiving a copy of one of Gen. McClellan’s works, that we had two great Generals here, Scott and McClellan, and Gen. Todtleben predicted the future success of Gen. McClellan [Cheers]

The Chairman next gave

New Hampshire – Famous for granite, ice, and men, and celebrated for good Breeding.

Mr. Breed responded in a humorous address.

The chairman next made a toast complementary to the Press, which was received with cheers. He next gave “The Clergy,” to which

Mr. Chaplin Emerson, of the New Hampshire Seventh, responded.

Other speeches and toasts followed, and it was not until a late hour that the convivial assemblage separated.

The New York Times.  January 19, 1862, col2, p.8.  (Names in bold were given in capital letters in original.  The New York Times spelled state names such as New Hampshire" or New York" with a hyphen.)

Battle flags of the 7th New Hampshire. National Archives.

Service Record and Official List of Battles and Engagements of the Seventh New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment, 1861-1865

Whipple, Paul. Co. K; b. New Boston; age 21; res. New Boston; enl. Nov. 16, '61; must. in Nov. 20, '61, as Priv.; app. Sergt. Dec., '63; re-enl. and must. in Feb. 28, '64; app. 1 Lt. Co. A, Oct. 28, '64; Capt. Co. I, Dec. 12, '64; tr. to Co. K, Feb. 3, '65; must. out July 20, '65. P.O. ad., Riverdale, S.C. See State Service.  Revised Register Of The Soldiers And Sailors Of New Hampshire In The War Of The Rebellion 1861-1866.  Prepared And Published By Authority Of The Legislature, By Augustus D. Ayling, Adjutant General.  Concord: Ira C. Evans, Public Printer. 1895.

Best to let Little describe it as he and Paul Whipple (wounded at Fort Wagner and Darbytown Road) served the almost the entire war in the Seventh New Hampshire:

The regiment had been in twenty-two engagements, besides numerous skirmishes, which, at times during our service, were of almost daily occurrence. These engagements and skirmishes were fought in Florida, North and South Carolina, and Virginia. But one other regiment from New Hampshire suffered as severely in loss of officers killed in action, during its entire service, as the Seventh New Hampshire; only two other regiments from the State lost as many men killed in action: more men from the Seventh died in rebel prisons than from any other regiment from New Hampshire; the Seventh lost more officers than any other Union regiment in any one engagement during the war. The whole number of men mustered into the regiment was seventeen hundred and nineteen, of which five hundred and ten were mustered [433] out at the expiration of their term of service; two hundred and eleven died of disease. The regiment on its return to Concord numbered three hundred and twenty men and twenty-two officers, and of these less than one hundred were original members who left the State in 1861. Of the original field and staff only one remained....

Henry F.W. Little

During its service the Seventh New Hampshire was at Camp Hale, Manchester, N. H., from October 16, 1861, to January 14, 1862 ; at White Street Barracks, New York City, 79 White street, from January 15 to February 13, 1862;

79 White Street

at Fort Jefferson, Fla., from March 9 to June 16, [434] 1862; at Beaufort, Port Royal Island, S. C, from June 22 to September 1, 1862: at St. Augustine, Fla., from September 3, 1862, to May 10, 1863, (five companies, under Colonel Putnam, were attached to the Second Brigade, Terry's Division, Tenth Army Corps, from April 4 to 12, 1863) ; at Fernandina, Fla., from May 10 to June 7, 1863; at Hilton Head, S. C, from June 8 to 16, 1863; at Folly Island, S. C, from June 17 to July 10, 1863, (attached to the First Brigade, Vodge's Division, Tenth Army Corps, June 20, 1863); at Morris Island, S. C. from July 10 to December 20, 1863, (attached to the Third Brigade, First Division, Tenth Army

Three Officers and a Sargent of the Seventh New Hampshire.

Corps, July 19, 1863; and First Brigade, First Division, Tenth Army Corps, November 23, 1863): with the United States forces at St. Helena Island, District of Hilton Head, S. C, from December 21, 1863, to February 4, 1864 ; in Florida, from Jacksonville to Olustee, from February 8 to April 14, 1864, (attached to the Second Brigade, First District of Florida, February 4, 1864) ; in Virginia from April 21, 1864, to January 5, 1865, (attached to the Third Brigade, First Division, Tenth Army Corps, April 23, 1864; Second Brigade, First Division, Tenth Army Corps, May 3, 1864; Second Brigade, First Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps, December 4, 1864); in North Carolina from January 13 to July 24, 1865, (attached to the Second Brigade, First Division, Tenth Army Corps, March 27, 1865). During the regiment's service in Virginia, it was in the Army of the James, and during a portion of the time the Seventh was in North Carolina, it was in the Army of the Ohio. [435 ]

 

Official list of battles and engagements in which the Seventh New Hampshire participated.

Morris Island, S. C. . . . . July 10, 1863
Fort Wagner (first assault) . . . July 11, 1863
Fort Wagner (second assault) . . July 18, 1863
Siege of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, S. C July 10 to Sept. 7, 1863
Siege of Fort Sumter, S. C. . Sept. 7 to Dec. 20, 1863

Olustee, Fla. ..... Feb. 20, 1864

Chester Station, Va. .... May 9, 186

Lempster Hill (near Chester Station), Va. May 10,1864

Drury's Bluff, Va May 13-16, 1864

Bermuda Hundred, Va., May 18, 20, 21, June 2-4, 18, 1864

Near Petersburg, Va. .... June 9, 1864

Ware Bottom Church, Va. , . . June 16, 1864

Deep Bottom, Va. .... Aug. 16, 1864 

Siege of Petersburg, Va. . Aug. 24 to Sept. 28, 1864 

New Market Heights, Va. . . . Sept. 29, 1864

Near Richmond, Va. .... Oct. 1, 1864

New Market Road (near Laurel Hill, or near Chapin's Farm), Va. . . . Oct. 7, 1864

Darby town Road, Va. . . . Oct. 13, 27, 28, 1864

Fort Fisher, N. C. .... Jan. 15,1865

Half Moon Battery, Sugar Loaf Hill, near Federal Point, N. C. . . Jan. 18, 19, 1865

Sugar Loaf Battery, N. C. . . . Feb. 11,1865

North East Ferry (near Wilmington), N. C Feb. 22, 186

--- Henry F. W. Little. The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. Seventh New Hampshire Veterans Association, Concord, N. H., 1896.

 

Paul Whipple and the 7th New Hampshire: Letter from H. W. Baker - duty at St. Augustine, Fla. 1862-1863

Battle flags of the 7th NH, 1865.

 Captain Paul Whipple and the 

Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers
in the War of the Rebellion*

September 15, 1862 - May 10, 1863

Duty in St. Augustine, Fla.

  

A letter signed "H.W. Baker Lt. 7th New Hampshire Infantry."  Baker would be killed later that year during the assault on Fort Wagner.

It reads in part: 

  St. Augustine, Florida, February 18, 1863...

 "....I, too, glory in being a Yankee, and glory in proclaiming it here, where the very word is detested...I see them here, eating the bread of charity and that charity coming from government that they have disowned, a government that their husbands, sons, brothers, and lovers are now in arms against - do it unblushingly and clamor about their rights!! Every mouthful ought to choke them.

Yankee though I be, I would grow my finger nails for a dinner, sooner than accept it of a man that I hated as they profess to hate us....We only garrison this old town, hel 'Old Abe' reposses Fort Marion and prevent this post being a use to Secession....More than 100 of our men have died since the Regt. was organized. The climate works noiselessly but its victims are as sure as those claimed by the bullet...We have built entrenchments to prevent a rebel dash from that direction as there are prowling bands of guerillas between us and the St. Johns. They sometimes show themselves on the otherside of the river, or on the Jacksonville wall, but they are sneaking scoundrels, used more to keep up the reign of terror in the country back of us, than with any design to operate against us. The country is very favorable for their operations...Occasionally there are patches of tolerably fertile soil on these are settled a race of people calling themselves white - a race peculiar to the South and called by the cotton lords 'Crackers' - by the negroes 'poor white trash.' They are poor, ignorant and chiefly vicious. They work but little some own a few negroes, they raise corn, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, cattle, horses and hogs. The livestock (excepting the negroes) runs at large in the woods...Since we have been here, there has been three companies of these guerillas in this region, sometimes between us and the St. Johns, at others hovering about the vicinity of Jacksonville. Once a week, a gunboat goes up the river, to prevent batteries being built along its shores. These fellows have a wholesome respect for the Gunboats, when they show themselves these valiant horseman 'skeddadle' for the back country to come back when the boat is gone..."

The letter was sold at auction in 2006. 

Baker's entry from Henry Little's Roster of the Seventh:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1605302_382-7th-new-hampshire-kia-at-fort-wagner-writes

"Baker, Henry W. Co. E: b. Loudon; age 37; res. Boscawell; enl Nov. 7, '61, as Pri.; app. 2 Lt. nov. 12, '61 must. in Nov. 12, '61, as 2 Lt.; killed July 18, '63, Ft. Wagner, S.C."

Of the Battle of Fort Wagner, Little mentions Baker here:

"Five officers fell before reaching the moat which surrounded the work. Of the line, Captain Brown and Lieutenants Cate, Baker, Bennett, and Bryant, fell dead on or near the works. Captain Leavitt lived until he reached Charleston. Captain House died of his wounds in October, and Lieutenants Davis and Worcester died on board transports, after they were exchanged. All other wounded officers recovered. It is an historical fact that in this assault the Seventh New Hampshire lost more officers than any other regiment in any one engagement during the war" (Little, pg. 126).

*Title taken from Henry F. W. Little's regimental history The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. Seventh New Hampshire Veterans Association, Concord, N. H., 1896.

May 9th, 1862: The First Emancipation Proclamation - General Orders No. 11

General Orders

"An inquiry has been very general among the troupe of this command for the famous General order No. 11, current series of this Department. We reprint it for the gratification of all concerned, merely adding that it is in full force and effect. True, the Northern newspapers published what purported to be a disavowal of the President of the United States of Gen. Hunter's action in this particular matter, but we learn that no official notification of that disavowal has been received.

GENERAL ORDERS.—NO. 11.
HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HILTON HEAD, S. C. May 9, 1862.

The three States of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, comprising the Military Department of the South, having deliberately declared themselves no longer under the protection of the United States of America, and having taken up arms against the said United States, it becomes a military necessity to declare them under martial law. This was accordingly done on the 25th day of April, 1862. Slavery and martial law in a free country are altogether incompatible. The persons in these three States—Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida—heretofore held as slaves, are therefore declared forever free.

DAVID HUNTER, Major-General Commanding. ED. W. SMITH, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General."

From the New South newspaper, 1862, August 23, Saturday, Page 4

http://digital.tcl.sc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/NSN/id/117/rec/1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hunter

The response from Lincoln via Secretary of State Seward according to Harper's Weekly:

THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.

The following proclamation by the President of the United States is published:

Whereas, there appears in the public prints what purports to be a proclamation of Major-General Hunter, in the words and figures following, to wit:

GENERAL ORDERS.—NO. 11.

HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HILTON HEAD, S. C. May 9, 1862.

The three States of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, comprising the Military Department of the South, having deliberately declared themselves no longer under the protection of the United States of America, and having taken up arms against the said United States, it becomes a military necessity to declare them under martial law. This was accordingly done on the 25th day of April, 1862. Slavery and martial law in a free country are altogether incompatible. The persons in these three States—Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida—heretofore held as slaves, are therefore declared forever free.

DAVID HUNTER, Major-General Commanding. ED. W. SMITH, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

And whereas, the same is producing some excitement and misunderstanding,

Therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, proclaim and declare that the Government of the United States had no knowledge or belief of an intention on the part of General Hunter to issue such a proclamation, nor has it yet any authentic information that the document is genuine; and, further, that neither General Hunter nor any other commander or person has been authorized by the Government of the United States to make proclamation declaring the slaves of any State free, and that the supposed proclamation now in question, whether genuine or false, is altogether void so far as respects such declaration.

I further make known, that whether it be competent for me, as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, to declare the slaves of any State or States free, and whether at any time, or in any case, it shall have become a necessity indispensable to the maintenance of the Government to exercise such supposed power, are questions which, under my responsibility, I reserve to myself, and which I can not feel justified in leaving to the decision of commanders in the field. These are totally different questions from those of police regulations in armies and camps.

On the 6th day of March last, by a special message, I recommended to Congress the adoption of a joint resolution, to be substantially as follows:

Resolved, That the United States ought to co-operate with any State which may adopt a gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such State, in its discretion, compensation for the inconveniences, public and private, produced by such change of system.

The resolution, in the language above quoted, was adopted by large majorities in both branches of Congress, and now stands an authentic, definite, and solemn proposal of the nation to the States and people most immediately interested in the subject-matter. To the people of these States I now earnestly appeal. I do not argue. I beseech you to make the arguments for yourselves. You can not, if you would, be blind to the signs of the times. I beg of you a calm and enlarged consideration of them, ranging, if it may be, far above personal and partisan politics. This proposal makes common cause for a common object, casting no reproaches upon any. It acts not the Pharisee. The change it contemplates would come gently as the dews of heaven, not rending or wrecking any thing. Will you not embrace it? So much good has not been done by one effort in all past times as in the Providence of God it is now your high privilege to do. May the vast future not have to lament that you have neglected it.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this 19th day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-sixth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President—

WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State

Harper's Weekly, May 31, 1862 p.339

General Orders No. 11: the "first" Emancipation Proclamation

SHORT NOTES and NOTICES

 

General Orders

An inquiry has been very general among the troupe of this command for the famous General order No. 11, current series of this Department. We reprint it for the gratification of all concerned, merely adding that it is in full force and effect. True, the Northern newspapers published what purported to be a disavowal of the President of the United States of Gen. Hunter's action in this particular matter, but we learn that no official notification of that disavowal has been received.

GENERAL ORDERS.—NO. 11.
HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, HILTON HEAD, S. C. May 9, 1862.

The three States of Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, comprising the Military Department of the South, having deliberately declared themselves no longer under the protection of the United States of America, and having taken up arms against the said United States, it becomes a military necessity to declare them under martial law. This was accordingly done on the 25th day of April, 1862. Slavery and martial law in a free country are altogether incompatible. The persons in these three States—Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida—heretofore held as slaves, are therefore declared forever free.

DAVID HUNTER, Major-General Commanding. ED. W. SMITH, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

From the New South newspaper, 1862, August 23, Saturday, Page 4

http://digital.tcl.sc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/NSN/id/117/rec/1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hunter

The Song of the N. H. Volunteers: Captain Paul Whipple and the 7th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers

 Captain Paul Whipple 

and the 

Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers

Regimental Colours after the war. National Archives.

Recruitment Poster

On December 13, 1861 Paul Whipple was first mustered into the First Regiment of NH Volunteers, for three months. After being mustered out when that unit was disbanded, he immediately enlisted in Company K of the 7th under Captain. W. E. F. Brown.  He was promoted to Sergeant and then First Sergeant shortly after “for good conduct and strict attention to duty”. 

Captain Paul Whipple, brother of J. R[eed]. and J[ames]. B. Whipple, who was born here in 1840, is another man eminent in another line. At twenty-one years of age he enlisted in Company K, Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers, served throughout the war, and was discharged captain in August, 1865. He at once returned south to Darlington, S. C, and with the aid of several hundred colored hands, men, women, and children, he cultivated his own plantation of 5,000 acres. On his estate are fifty cabins, a church, and school-house, for his help, for whom he supports a teacher and pastor. He has won the love of the Southerners who at first were his bitterest foes, and has been honored by them with public office.

From the Granite State Monthly: A New Hampshire Magazine Devoted to History, Biography, Literature, and State Progress.  Volume XXII, Concord, N.H. Published by The Granite Monthly, 1897. 

http://www.archive.org/stream/granitemonthlyne22dove/granitemonthlyne22dove_djvu.txt 

Song of the New Hampshire Volunteers. 

By Marian Douglas.

Respectfully Dedicated to the Seventh New Hampshire Regiment.

From hill-top and mountain

We press to the fight;

Up, up with our Banner,

For God and the Right!

We dare not stay weakly

And trembling at home;

The moment for action,

For conflict, has come!

chorus.

The fire sweeps the prairie,

The tempest the sea,

But nothing can conquer

The hearts of the free!

'Tis ours to keep burning,

On hill-top and glade,

The fire on the altars

Our fathers have made.

Our hearts beat together,

And shall to the last;

Who fears for the future,

That thinks of the past?

chorus.

The fire sweeps the prairie,

The tempest the sea,

But nothing can conquer

The hearts of the free!

Then up with our Banner!

'Mid sunlight or shade,

Before we would suffer

Its brightness to fade,

Amid the wild tumult

Upon the red plain,

Our hearts, with their life-blood,

Would dye it again!

chorus.

The fire sweeps the prairie,

The tempest the sea,

But nothing can conquer

The hearts of the free!

[Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1862.]

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:2001.05.0077:chapter=4&highlight=Seventh+New+Hampshire%2C

Annie Douglas Green Robinson (a.k.a. 'Marian Douglas' 1842-1913) poet and author from Plymouth, New Hampshire. She published the collection of verse entitled Days we Remember (1903), and several works for children such as Picture Poems for Young Folks (1872) and Peter and Polly; or, Home Life in New England a Hundred Years Ago (1876).