Do you know where Tysvers is? Pauline Bresnahan shares some local Civil War history

Hi, Being from W.Glou. forever there is a FB page:  “Do you know where Tysvers is?”  My friend Audrey Allenshared this article:

Stone Marks Reveal Civil War Training In West Gloucester – Elliott C. Rogers – November 1954

 

Men were trained for Civil War services on a nearly forgotten muster field in West Gloucester. This is the conclusion reached by a student of local history and terrain after research and observation. Initials and symbols carved in stone mark the place.

There is some evidence that men trained there for the Revolutionary War, too, says Elliott C. Rogers in a “memorandum” that makes a timely reading at Memorial Day time:

Memo in Re the Old Training Ground or Muster Field at West Gloucester.

Undoubtedly dating from Revolution or Colonial times and probably used as a training ground for militia from then to and including the Civil War period.

After some search, there seems to be no actual evidence that this particular field was used during the Revolution, but it was, as shown clearly by the existing permanent record, in use at the time of our Civil War. (See later re Revolutionary Monument.)

This training ground is located on a height of land overlooking Ipswich Bay, off Concord street, nearly to Sumner street, and above with a view of Walker Creek where in 1860, William Haskell, Jr., and Mark Haskell made a request of the town to “have liberty to set down a corn mill on tidewater called Walker Creek.”

This is a tide water creek from Ipswich or Essex Bay according to the latest map prepared under the direction of the Army Map Service copied by the U. S. G. S. for Gloucester, 1945. The Essex boundary crosses the creek not far from the Conomo Point Road, and the Ipswich line, comes into Essex Bay, so called, on the map just outside of Tommy Island, and crossing a part of it. The creek runs through the marsh and land not far at any time, from Sumner street, crosses Walker street and goes almost to the line of Essex avenue, where the brook or overflow from Haskell’s Pond enters it. This point is hereinafter mentioned in connection with the sawmill formerly there. I give this slight description of Walkers Creek because people, except West Gloucesterites, seem to know nothing about it, or have even heard of it. It has, however, played a prominent part in the industrial development of that region, and our town and city.

This training Ground is reached by a grass-grown road in more or less bad repair, on the southerly side of Concord street. The land, I believe is still called the Currier Pasture, and at this time is owned by one of their heirs. About on quarter mile of this road is a comparatively flat piece of land, stripped of loam quite recently by some local contractor and while clumps of bushes, etc., show here and there, it is easy to see that at one time it was an open field.

At the extreme end on a flat smooth ledge there is the record of at least one company of soldiers who trained there. Carved in the granite and still in good condition is the insignia of a crossed cannon, musket and sabre. Below are the letters “D. L. I.,” which I found afterwards stood for “Danvers Light Infantry,” then the letters “M. V. M.,” standing for “Massachusetts Volunteer Militia” and then “Co. C 17th Regiment, Capt. Fuller, 1861.”

On another smooth ledge adjoining are numerous initials, presumably of some of the men who camped there. The growth of the moss and lichens on the granite show conclusively that the carving was made on or about the year indicated, 1861.

Not much seems to be available in regard to the 17th Regiment. However, “Massachusetts in the Rebellion” by P. C. Headly, published in Boston, 1866, by Walter Fuller & Company says:

“The 17th Regiment was comprised of eight companies from Essex County, one from Middlesex and one from Sussex. Company C and Company F were engaged near Goldsboro, N. C., both under the command of Captain Fuller.” This is the only reference to Captain Fuller and whether he was the Captain Fuller whose name is carved on the rock is not known.

There is no mention of the 17th in Gloucester histories (Pringle’s being the only one covering the Civil War period), but the History of Rockport, 1888, comprising the Centennial address of Lemuel Gott, M. D., shows that a comapny was formed there and went into camp at Cape Pond Pasture, afterwards called Camp Kimball, after the Hon. Moses Kimball of Boston, formerly of Rockport. This company became Co. G of the 17th. Reference may be had to the above history for more brief information about the regiment and Co. G.

My information shows Co. C was recruited in Topsfield, Massachusetts, and the surrounding country, Topsfield, I believe, being then part of Danvers, hence the name, Danvers Light Infantry. How long Co. C stayed at West Gloucester is not known but the Rockport History says the 17th left Baltimore. Md., for New Bern, N. C. in the ___, that vicinity during the war.

As I said before, ther is little actual evidence that this field was used during the Revolution, but there is some considerable circumstantial evidence that it was. The tide mill on Walkers Creek for the grinding of corn was in operation for many years, under several owners, and I think, in operation from the time of the original grant in 1690 until a little later than the Civil War. An esteemed resident and historian of West Gloucester, Elmer P. Richardson, tells me that in 1880, the mill was still standing gut had not been, to his knowledge, in operation for many years, and he used to go there to catch eels. The remains of the dam may still be seen.

A letter from Isaac Andrews to Mrs. Elmer P. Richardson says, “West Gloucester has an interesting history and the old Training Ground or Muster Field towards Currier’s upper pasture dates back to Colonial days. I believe they had one day in the spring they used to call Election Day, and that day elected their officers. (This must have been in the early militia days.) The famous election cake was baked for that day, something like a pound cake or fruit cake.”

He then goes on to tell something of the Danvers Light Infantry and the Fullers. Then says that “Uncle Malachi told me that one warm summer day when the regiment was being drilled, the captain marched them down to the old grist mill wharf and when they got there he did not say Halt! It was high tide and they marched right over the edge into the water. Probably one reason the upper field was chosen because it commanded such a good view of the entire creek and Essex River, also a view of the sand hills and a sail could be seen in the distant ocean. Not only could they train, but there to guard and protect against enemy invasion. The grist mill on Walker’s Creek was one of the few along the coast the ground the settlers’ grain. Traders in small schooners before starting to the West Indies would sail up here for a supply for the voyage. If this industry was lost, much damage was inflicted on the community.

Obviously the above has reference to Colonial times and possibly to the 1812 was period, but certainly not to the inscription date carved in the rock. The grist mill was probably abandoned before or bear the year 1861.

There is a suggestion that there is another training field in West Gloucester, used by the militia in 1776, also with an inscription carved on a granite boulder. This, I have been told, is somewhere off of Thompson street, which is the old Ferry road to Cape Ann from elsewhere, starting at Concord street near Walker Creek through the woods and past the first cemetery to Bray street and thence through the woods to Concord street again, and then over Causeway street to Sandy Bay and the settlement, also passing the site of the first church. I hope to see this, but to date, have nothing but the above information.

It may be that these fields are the same, although Thompson street is quite a distance in a straight line from Currier’s pasture.

Another Mill for sawing lumber was located on the brook that runs into Walkers Creek from the ____ _____, was in existence in my memory, whether operating or not I do not know. My earliest recollections are of gathering butternuts that grew on several trees in that immediate vicinity. This mill stood in the low land between Sumner and Lincoln streets about on the line of Essex avenue as it now exists.

Most of the people who would know about this Civil War carving and the training field are gone, but in Isaac Andrew’s letter to Mrs. Richardson, he says that more records might be had from Mrs. Minnie L. Burnham, Manton Willkins and John Bray, all presumably of West Gloucester. There are probably others who have knowledge about it also.

These old monuments and records should not be forgotten but preserved if possible, and it is with this intent that the above is written. It should be remembered that this carving is on private property and whoever goes there is in a way a trespasser, or at least goes by permission of the owner, silent or otherwise. His rights should at all times be carefully observed.

Assistance has been given to me by Mr. and Mrs. Elmer P. Richardson, Chester H. Dennen, Jr., and Henry L. Oakes, Jr., all of West Gloucester.