Eighth New Hampshire Company G Roster

Michael BATTY, Private,  was an Irishman about twenty years of age, a spinner employed by the Norway Plains Co.; Mustered Dec. 23, 1861. Was drowned while crossing a bayou in the night, and buried at Camp Parapet, LA.

Israel DREW Private, enlist Nov 7 1861 age 44 (really age 66); died of disease Aug 22 1862 Carrollton, LA; was born in Madbury, N. H., October 25, 1795, enlisted in the War of 1812, and was stationed at Portsmouth. After his return home in 1816 he married Miss Nancy Ayers of Barnstead. In 1829 he moved to Pittsfield, where he lived until the breaking out of the rebellion. Being a young looking man, although 66 years of age, he passed muster as only 44. He was mustered into Company G, Eighth New Hampshire volunteers, December 23, 1861. He was with the regiment at Manchester, Fort Independence, Ship Island, where he was as prompt to do his duty as the younger men, but the climate undermined his strong constitution and he died at Camp Parapet, La., August 22, 1862. He was without doubt the oldest man that enlisted from the entire North. Mr. Drew was a hard-working man, with quick wit and an answer always ready. He never overcame his repugnance to the use of tobacco, the smoke of it making him deathly sick. One day he went into a lawyer's office where several people were smoking. He started to go out, but was so giddy he fell to the foot of the stairs. Some one ran to help him and exclaimed, "Why, Mr. Drew, did you fall?" "Fall! No. The bottom stair flew up and hit me in the face," replied the injured man. General Butler in his book (page 481), speaking of the health of his troops in July, 1862, says: "Indeed, there were some regiments who could not bring into line more than two hundred men." And these troops had not been in the service on an average of over eight months. So abrupt and complete a change in all the conditions of life consequent upon the translation of New England men from the bracing air of a northern winter to the enervating climate of the Gulf of Mexico, a change intensified by the ovenlike heat between sun and sand, unrelieved by shade of tree or the sight of a green growing thing to refresh the strained and dazzled eye, could not fail to have a profoundly unfavorable effect upon their constitutions. The food, though abundant and of excellent quality for strong men, was far from the requirements of the sick. A healthy and hungry man could live well upon the bread, beef, and pork that were issued as rations. But when a man began to be sick, and to have a poor or capricious appetite and enfeebled digestion, he must either continue to live upon the regular ration or go without; for there was no supply of meat juices and other nourishments adapted to a weakened stomach. So many and many a poor fellow, loathing the hard-tack and salt-horse, did go without until he grew weaker and weaker, and too weak to rally, and finally he went under the sand. The Sanitary and Christian Commissions doubtless did a grand work for the sick soldiers, but their good things were mostly distributed to the general hospitals, while the sick in regimental hospitals and in quarters failed to receive what they needed when they needed it most, and so hundreds and hundreds of poor boys succumbed to what amounted to actual starvation. Add to this what may seem to be largely a sentimental and unnecessary factor, but which actually proved to be a very powerful influence to increase the death record--homesickness. Scores and hundreds of the boys, reduced by sickness and lack of nourishment, only needed this additional depressing influence to turn the scale against them. Every man had to pass through the scourge of camp diarrhoea. None were exempt, but some suffered more than others. Many never recovered from it. Others suffered and died from diseases that seized upon a system debilitated and deprived of its power to resist disease by this bane of army life. The sinks were established on the shore below the line of high tide, and a fourth of a mile or more from the camps. No one who witnessed it will ever forget the melancholy procession of living skeletons who, day and night, staggered and tottered back and forth between camp and sink, many of whom were obliged to stop and rest by the way and turn back and repeat the weary journey ere they had time to rest themselves in their tent. Later on diphtheria appeared, and made short work of the debilitated systems of the men. This dread disease attacked us in its malignant form and carried off its victims inside of twenty-four hours in many cases. I do not remember a single case of recovery from this disease. Some cases that occurred after we went to the mainland, and had the benefit of the New Orleans market, recovered; but only to be prostrated with paralysis for long months afterwards. The next horror that came upon us was the scurvy--sufficient proof of my statement in regard to the lack of proper food. Men's teeth would turn black as charcoal, loosen, and drop out of their heads. Purple-and-black spots would appear on body and limbs, from which the blood would ooze out in drops. Inflamed and spongy gums would bleed upon the slightest touch. The whole mass of the blood would become thin, watery, and devitalized. The flesh seemed to rot alive, and when death closed the scene, the miserable, half-decomposed body would have to be hurried under the ground as soon as possible. The funeral procession, the muffled drum, the volley of musketry over the soldier's grave were daily and almost hourly sights and sounds. No wonder that the poor boys, far from home and friends, when taken sick would lose courage, give up to the fatal depression of homesickness, and die of diseases that at home, and with all that that means, would be considered trivial and easily recovered from. The above may be called a gloomy picture, but it is far within the truth and fails to portray the actual horrors of the situation. Many times it has been said that, next to the rebel prison-pens, the hardest place that our boys were placed in was Ship Island. On the afternoon of the 17th we began to hear occasional heavy guns afar off. Gradually the sounds increased, and for six days and nights we listened to the incessant roar of heavy artillery. Sleep was out of the question. Even at our distance the earth trembled and shook with the awful concussions, as if the world were being rent and pulverized by ten thousand earthquakes. Through the night of the 23d, when the fleet ran by the forts below New Orleans, it seemed as if all the thunders and convulsions of heaven, earth, and hell were let loose at once. We could only listen in wonder and suspense. Contradictory reports of the conflict reached us. At one time we were told that our fleet and army were beaten, sunk and dispersed, and that we might expect the rebel fleet down upon us at any moment. At another, that our forces had achieved a partial success. When we learned beyond a doubt of the splendid victory of Farragut, and that the forts, the great city, and the mouth of the "Father of Waters" were actually in the possession of our army and navy, our gratitude and enthusiasm knew no bounds, and we felt that the suffering and death on Ship Island were measurably compensated by the brilliant success of the Union arms.

Addison S. EMMONS, enlisted Nov. 19, 1861, served on the quota of New Hampton; died of disease at New Orleans, LA., July 8, 1863. 

Merrill EMMONS, served on the quota of New Hampton, enlisting Nov. 19, 1861, in Co. F, 8th Regt.; transferred to Co. G, Jan., 1862. He died of disease at Carrollton, La., Aug. 14, 1862. When enlisting, he gave his age as 42, probably to escape rejection. As he was born in 1804, he must have been 58 years old.

Irad E. FLANDERS, Hanover; drafted Nov. 14, 1863; died of disease Oct. 25, 1864.

Hiram R. KENDALL, credited it Hollis, Hillsborough; drafted Sept 1, 1863; died of disease at Natchez, MS., Nov 3, 1864.

Samuel E. KIMBALL, Private, Claimed Residence in Milton; enlisted December 19 1861, age 18; died Carrollton, LA October 13 1862.             

David A. LITTLEFIELD, Private, enlisted Nov 16 1861, age 33; claimed residence Barnstead; discharged disabled New Orleans, LA March 28 1863; died Sept 2 1880.