Two members of the Tenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment had the singular honor of being in the Massachusetts State Color Guard for President Lincoln as he delivered the Gettysburg Address. One was William Mason, Co. K, a 34 year old Englishman who served as a nurse throughout the war. He died in Spencer, MA. in 1873. The other was John Atwood of North Adams, MA., whose account follows.
An interesting feature of the Memorial Day exercises in this city will be the reading of Lincoln’s speech at the dedication of the national cemetery at Gettysburg by a man who heard it as it fell from the lips of the martyr president. This man is John Atwood of C.D. Sanford Grand Army post, who saw three years of hard service in the Civil war. He was a member of Company B, 10th Massachusetts regiment, and it was through a peculiar train of circumstances that he happened to be present as a color bearer on the memorable occasion of the dedication of that great cemetery, where rests the remains of valiant Union soldiers.
As his regiment was about to go into the battle of Gettysburg July 3, 1863, Mr. Atwood was prostrated by a sunstroke and taken to the hospital. When the regiment left Gettysburg he was not able to go with it, and was left in the division hospital. Later the division corps hospitals were abandoned, and the general hospital was established at Gettysburg, and to this Mr. Atwood was transferred. When he became convalescent he was sent to nursing in the hospital, and remained there till late I the fall or early winter of 1863, when the dedication of the cemetery took place, and when there came to him the honor for which he had not looked.
The dedication was a notable event, and was attended by a large concourse of citizens and soldiers. There was a parade to the cemetery, in which the colors of every state were borne by soldiers from the different states, and to Mr. Atwood came the distinction of bearing the Massachusetts colors. Each color bearer was guarded by two soldiers, and when the place where the exercises were held was reached the color bearers and their guards were seated on the immense platform that had been erected, which seated several hundred people. Mr. Atwood sat about 20 feet from President Lincoln when he delivered the speech that is perhaps more familiar to the American people than any other, and heard distinctly every word. The principal address was delivered by Edward Everett, who spoke for about two hours, and this address was followed by Lincoln’s, which is so much read and recited at Memorial day observances in all parts of the country.
That it is to be read here this year by a veteran who was present at that memorable event and heard its first utterance will be a somewhat remarkable and peculiarly interesting circumstance, for of those who heard Lincoln deliver the speech the large majority must have passed from earth.
Mr. Atwood is a native of this city, and has lived here all his life. He enlisted in June , 1861, and served until 1864. He was through he Petersburg campaign and took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and other engagements, and as above stated, was just going into the battle of Gettysburg when he was overcome by the heat to an extent that disabled him for a long time. He received a slight wound at Fair Oaks, which laid him up for a few weeks, and that was the only wound he received during his service. Mr. Atwood served on the North Adams police force for five years, retiring when the force was reorganized at the time the town became a city eight years ago. He is a very quiet and modest man, and not given to exploiting his military experiences. For this reason there comparatively few people of the city who are aware of the part he took at the dedication of the great cemetery at Gettysburg, and undoubtedly the story will come news to many of his comrades in Sanford post. He is in his 65th year, but is remarkably preserved, and does not look to be over 50.
That speech of Lincoln’s will be read in many places on Memorial day, but in very few by one who was present when it was delivered by its immortal and beloved author. The evening after the dedication a reception was held, at which Mr. Atwood shook hands with Lincoln, and so his memory of the great war president is very vivid. North Adams correspondence of Springfield Republican. Transcript
His memorial gravesite was rededicate this day of Oct. 5, 1996
North Adams - The late John E. Atwood, whose Civil War service record is highlighted by witnessing President Abraham Lincoln give the famous Gettysburg Address of Oct. 19, 1863, will be honored once again, Saturday.
This time, honors for the veteran who was born on Oct. 9, 1839, and died on Oct. 3, 1907, will be done by the North Adams Historical Society and representatives of several veterans groups during a memorial program at Hillside Cemetery at 1 p.m. The 45 - minute - to - an - hour commemorative program will honor the memory of Atwood and the contributions of North Adams to the Civil War effort. It will conclude with a lunch served by the Veterans of Foreign War Post 996, which also is providing the graveside flag.
Paul W. Marino, historian and director of research for NAHS, said Atwood enlisted in what was then called the Johnson Greys on April 16, 1861. The Johnson Greys had been called the Greylock Militia.
On June 21, 1861, Atwood joined the U.S. Army, called the Union Army during the Civil War, enlisting as a private in Company B of the 10th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry at the Springfield, Mass.[sic] He was discharged July 6, 1864.
The historian said it is interesting to note that the uniform colors of the Union and Confederate States of America soldiers reversed from what was originally worn. The Union actually started out wearing grey uniforms, switching to blue, the color with which it is identified, during the war.
In 1866, the Civil War veterans formed the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), and placement of a GAR marker and flag will be part of Saturday’s ceremonies, when Glen DeMarsico of the 10th Regiment Re-enactors Color Guard introduces the Gettysburg Address, which Atwood read at the 1904 Memorial Day Program. It will be recited by Melissa Davis.
This part of the event has historical significance in its own right.
The GAR marker was made at the Brooklyn Street Foundry, which is the present location of CSS Construction Company on Houghton Street. The marker is believed to be one of only two known to exist and was donated by Ed Smith of GSS Construction to the Historical Society.
Michael Catrambone, Veterans of Foreign War Post 996 patriotic officer, will officially place the marker. Margaret Juras, great-granddaughter of John E. Atwood , will address the group on behalf of her family. Donald Atwood, great-grandson of John E. Atwood, will place a flag into the historic marker after it is presented to him by a representative of American Legion Post 125.
This will be followed by a volley salute by the re-enactors and possibly the Adams National Guard Firing Squads. Albert Gardner of the North Adams State College Campus/Community Band will then play "Taps."
Catrambone tracked down an original copy of the 11 - by - 15 1/2 - inch book “Personal War Sketches Grand Army of the Republic, presented to Charles D. Sanford Post No. 79, North Adams, Department of Massachusetts by John Bracewell, Albert C. Houghton, H. Torrey Cady and Wm. Arthur Gallup 1892, in which Atwood recounts his war experience. The Civil War veteran served in 10 battles, Fair Oaks, White Oak Grove, Gaims [sic] Mill, Cold Harbor, Charles City Crossroads, Malvern Hill, Antietam (the famous battle when the attack on Washington D.C., led by Confederate Army General Lee was halted), Chancellorsville, Fredicksburg [sic] and the bloodiest battle of the war, Gettysburg. Atwood writes:
"Was slightly wounded in the leg at Fair Oaks. Rec’d a Sun stroke at Gettysburg and remained there a short time, and had the great pleasure of hearing the famous address of President Lincoln. The most important event in my whole service and the one for which I am most grateful was the sparing of my life and receiving and [sic] honorable discharge."
The book goes on to state that Atwood died in Boston and was buried in Hillside Cemetery with a Grand Army Burial Service.
Marino said Atwood was in the Mass. Color Guard, serving as the color bearer at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg. During Saturday’s ceremony, Marino will include a description of North Adams’ involvement in the Civil War, which includes the fact that the North Adams Iron Company provided the pig iron that was ultimately used to armor plate the U.S.S. Monitor, the U.S. Navy’s first iron-clad warship. He will explain how Company B was formed and what is known of Atwood’s service in the War, as well as what he did after the war. Another little-remembered historical Civil War connection involves Edward Richmond Tinker, who was a founding member of the Republic [sic] Party. Tinker helped put Abraham Lincoln in the White House and is buried not far from Atwood’s grave.
The Hillside Cemetery program to be conducted at graveside will include an introduction by Historical Society President Deborah J. Benoit, invocation by The Rev. William Kelton of the Blackinton Union Church and benediction by the chaplain of the 10th Re-enactors. Mayor John Barrett III also is expected to make remarks at the event, which will include songs recorded at the 1995 VE Day concert by the NASC Campus and Community Band and Choir.
From the North Adams Transcript, Wednesday, October 2, 1996, page 3, columns 1 - 6, continued on page 8.