Salem, NH's Civil War Heroes
MELVIN LOWELL
1839 - 1863
15th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
MELVIN LOWELL
1839 - 1863
15th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
Enlistment sheet for Melvin Lowell
A Salem, NH born shoemaker, MELVIN LOWELL, the son of Robert and Hannah (Emerson) Lowell, was 23 years, 6 months old when he signed up with the 15th Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, on September 10th, 1862. This was his second enlistment, having previously served in Co. H, 1st New Hampshire Infantry, from April 21st to August 9th, 1861.
Mustered into Company K as a private on October 16th, 1862, Melvin and company (there were 28 other Salem men in this company) left New Hampshire on the 13th of November for New York, where they encamped for nearly a month before being shipped south to Louisiana. The regiment would be engaged in a dozen battles in the Port Hudson area, from May to July 1863.
Melvin would become one of many within the regiment to fall ill with disease during his service. When the unit began its trip back home in July 1863, many of the sick did not complete the full journey and were left behind in hospitals along the route north. Melvin did survive the trek, and returned home to Salem in very poor condition. He was unable to attend the mustering out ceremony in Concord on August 13th, '63, and would perish from chronic diarrhea on the 22nd. He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Salem.
Mustered into Company K as a private on October 16th, 1862, Melvin and company (there were 28 other Salem men in this company) left New Hampshire on the 13th of November for New York, where they encamped for nearly a month before being shipped south to Louisiana. The regiment would be engaged in a dozen battles in the Port Hudson area, from May to July 1863.
Melvin would become one of many within the regiment to fall ill with disease during his service. When the unit began its trip back home in July 1863, many of the sick did not complete the full journey and were left behind in hospitals along the route north. Melvin did survive the trek, and returned home to Salem in very poor condition. He was unable to attend the mustering out ceremony in Concord on August 13th, '63, and would perish from chronic diarrhea on the 22nd. He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Salem.
From the Independent Democrat (Concord, NH), Sept. 10th, 1863
photo taken 30 May 2020
Melvin's stone was one of many that the Gilman Sleeper Camp No. 60 has cleaned. Of all of the Civil War veterans buried in this cemetery, this marker is in the most need of repair. His parents' stones are also broken and lie flat nearby.
The "GAR 1861 - 1865" marker was apparently destroyed by a mower very recently, found broken and bent near his stone.
The "GAR 1861 - 1865" marker was apparently destroyed by a mower very recently, found broken and bent near his stone.
Photo taken 27 April 2024
Lowell lot photo - 2 May 2021
RSS Feed
