Remembering the 47, Dedham Soldiers of the Civil War
The stories of the men from Dedham who fought and died during the Civil War represent a microcosm of experiences of soldiers throughout the War. Dedham soldiers fought from the first month of the War until the taking of Richmond, days before Gen. Lee surrendered at Appomattox.
Speaker, Michael Roberts, has studied the Civil War for the past forty years. A resident of Dedham, he has taken particular interest in those infantrymen of Dedham who fought, perished or survived. He has created a website dedicated to the 47 men who did not return home, and in this talk will highlight their stories, as well as those of some survivors.
During his research, Roberts has utilized original records, letters, and diaries in the collection of Dedham Museum & Archive, interested in making the soldiers’ stories available for the purposes of education, research, and appreciation of the sacrifice of these soldiers for the preservation of the Union.
The website compiles information on all 47 men from Dedham who died in the War as well as the units in which they fought. The stories on these pages will continue to be updated, including holdings of the Museum wherever possible, to ensure preservation and accessibility of this invaluable collection.
Image: 1st Company Massachusetts (Andrew’s) Sharpshooters, 1861. The company was named for Gov. John Andrew. Source: Antietam.aotw.com