First Lieutenant Joseph Swift Manchester, only son of Luther Manchester a sugar merchant of Cuba, and Sarah Swift, a lineal descendant of Dean Swift, of England, was born at Bristol, R.I., March 11, 1841. With the exception of a cousin, all his relatives are now dead. He was mustered as first sergeant of Company G, Second Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, June 6, 1861, and promoted to be second lieutenant of Company B, July 22d, for bravery at Bull Run. Soon after he came home ill with typhoid fever and resigned December 11th, but, meanwhile (November 1st), he was transferred to Company G. By the ensuing summer he had sufficiently recovered to permit a new enlistment, so, Aug. 20, 1862, he enrolled himself in Company G (7th), but he was mustered in as sergeant-major September 4th. December 13th he was severely wounded at Fredericksburg, and, consequently, January 7th was commissioned second lieutenant for Company B. March 1st came an appointment as first lieutenant, and, June 25, 1864, one as captain and commissary of subsistence United States volunteers. The next day he naturally severed his connection with the regiment, but was assigned at his own request to the First Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Corps, and served in that position until the war ended. July 26, 1865, when on a short leave of absence, he married, at the Lonsdale rectory, Eliza Jane, daughter of Lieut. Col. Welcome B. Sayles. He was brevetted major in the spring of 1865. Subsequently he was offered a lieutenancy in the regular army, but declined it after considering the wishes of his mother. Still later he was made inspector of customs at Boston, Mass., and afterward delegated to the English steamers. He died at the residence of Mrs. Sayles, in Providence, May 4, 1872, of consumption, engendered by his wounds and his service. He was genial, active, and brave; his generosity also was unlimited. His servant, Joe, was a White Sulphur Spring cook, and piloted the army from the Rapidan to the James. He knew how to make more drinks out of whiskey, sugar, eggs, and such stuff, than any man I ever knew before or since. A fellow staff officer of Manchester says that every morning he would call into the tents, "Gemmen, it's time for you to wake up for you hot drinks', and soon after he would bring them to us.
(the above is from The Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers in the Civil War, 1862 - 1865
by William P. Hopkins, Snow & Farnham Printers, Providence, RI, 1903)
First Lieutenant Joseph S. Manchester, born in Bristol, the son of Luther and Sarah P. Manchester, was one of the original members of the Regiment,and on being mustered in was appointed first sergeant of Company G. He was
promoted to second lieutenant of the same company on the 22nd of July, 1861, and resigned on the 11th of December in the same year. He reentered the service, September 6th, 1862, as sergeant-major of the Seventh Rhode Island,
was severely wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862, was promoted to second lieutenant of Company B, January 7th, 1863; to first lieutenant, March 1st, 1863, and resigned, July 26th, 1864. He died in
Providence, of consumption, May 4th, 1872. As his strength permitted, he was a gallant and faithful soldier. (Second Rhode Island Regiment: A Narrative of Military Operations by Augustus Woodbury; Providence: Valpey, Angell & Co., 1875)
(the above is from The Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers in the Civil War, 1862 - 1865
by William P. Hopkins, Snow & Farnham Printers, Providence, RI, 1903)
First Lieutenant Joseph S. Manchester, born in Bristol, the son of Luther and Sarah P. Manchester, was one of the original members of the Regiment,and on being mustered in was appointed first sergeant of Company G. He was
promoted to second lieutenant of the same company on the 22nd of July, 1861, and resigned on the 11th of December in the same year. He reentered the service, September 6th, 1862, as sergeant-major of the Seventh Rhode Island,
was severely wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862, was promoted to second lieutenant of Company B, January 7th, 1863; to first lieutenant, March 1st, 1863, and resigned, July 26th, 1864. He died in
Providence, of consumption, May 4th, 1872. As his strength permitted, he was a gallant and faithful soldier. (Second Rhode Island Regiment: A Narrative of Military Operations by Augustus Woodbury; Providence: Valpey, Angell & Co., 1875)
First Lieutenant Joseph Swift Manchester, only son of Luther Manchester a sugar merchant of Cuba, and Sarah Swift, a lineal descendant of Dean Swift, of England, was born at Bristol, R.I., March 11, 1841. With the exception of a cousin, all his relatives are now dead. He was mustered as first sergeant of Company G, Second Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, June 6, 1861, and promoted to be second lieutenant of Company B, July 22d, for bravery at Bull Run. Soon after he came home ill with typhoid fever and resigned December 11th, but, meanwhile (November 1st), he was transferred to Company G. By the ensuing summer he had sufficiently recovered to permit a new enlistment, so, Aug. 20, 1862, he enrolled himself in Company G (7th), but he was mustered in as sergeant-major September 4th. December 13th he was severely wounded at Fredericksburg, and, consequently, January 7th was commissioned second lieutenant for Company B. March 1st came an appointment as first lieutenant, and, June 25, 1864, one as captain and commissary of subsistence United States volunteers. The next day he naturally severed his connection with the regiment, but was assigned at his own request to the First Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Corps, and served in that position until the war ended. July 26, 1865, when on a short leave of absence, he married, at the Lonsdale rectory, Eliza Jane, daughter of Lieut. Col. Welcome B. Sayles. He was brevetted major in the spring of 1865. Subsequently he was offered a lieutenancy in the regular army, but declined it after considering the wishes of his mother. Still later he was made inspector of customs at Boston, Mass., and afterward delegated to the English steamers. He died at the residence of Mrs. Sayles, in Providence, May 4, 1872, of consumption, engendered by his wounds and his service. He was genial, active, and brave; his generosity also was unlimited. His servant, Joe, was a White Sulphur Spring cook, and piloted the army from the Rapidan to the James. He knew how to make more drinks out of whiskey, sugar, eggs, and such stuff, than any man I ever knew before or since. A fellow staff officer of Manchester says that every morning he would call into the tents, "Gemmen, it's time for you to wake up for you hot drinks', and soon after he would bring them to us.
(the above is from The Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers in the Civil War, 1862 - 1865
by William P. Hopkins, Snow & Farnham Printers, Providence, RI, 1903)
First Lieutenant Joseph S. Manchester, born in Bristol, the son of Luther and Sarah P. Manchester, was one of the original members of the Regiment,and on being mustered in was appointed first sergeant of Company G. He was
promoted to second lieutenant of the same company on the 22nd of July, 1861, and resigned on the 11th of December in the same year. He reentered the service, September 6th, 1862, as sergeant-major of the Seventh Rhode Island,
was severely wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862, was promoted to second lieutenant of Company B, January 7th, 1863; to first lieutenant, March 1st, 1863, and resigned, July 26th, 1864. He died in
Providence, of consumption, May 4th, 1872. As his strength permitted, he was a gallant and faithful soldier. (Second Rhode Island Regiment: A Narrative of Military Operations by Augustus Woodbury; Providence: Valpey, Angell & Co., 1875)
(the above is from The Seventh Regiment of RI Volunteers in the Civil War, 1862 - 1865
by William P. Hopkins, Snow & Farnham Printers, Providence, RI, 1903)
First Lieutenant Joseph S. Manchester, born in Bristol, the son of Luther and Sarah P. Manchester, was one of the original members of the Regiment,and on being mustered in was appointed first sergeant of Company G. He was
promoted to second lieutenant of the same company on the 22nd of July, 1861, and resigned on the 11th of December in the same year. He reentered the service, September 6th, 1862, as sergeant-major of the Seventh Rhode Island,
was severely wounded in the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13th, 1862, was promoted to second lieutenant of Company B, January 7th, 1863; to first lieutenant, March 1st, 1863, and resigned, July 26th, 1864. He died in
Providence, of consumption, May 4th, 1872. As his strength permitted, he was a gallant and faithful soldier. (Second Rhode Island Regiment: A Narrative of Military Operations by Augustus Woodbury; Providence: Valpey, Angell & Co., 1875)
Inscription
Born in Bristol, R.I. He served with distinction throughout the Rebellion and lost his right arm in the battle of Fredericksburg Dec. 12, 1862. He died of consumption at Providence in the 30th year of his age.
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