EARLY RECOLLECTIONS. 43 



1 86 1, as first lieutenant, and was appointed adjutant of the 

 First Massachusetts Volunteers. On the stafif of General 

 Hooker, August 23, 1861, major, aide-de-camp, U. S. Volun- 

 teers, November 10, 1862. Engaged at the battles of Antie- 

 tam, Lookout Mountain and Peach Tree Creek. Brevet Lieut. 

 Colonel and Brig. General U. S. Volunteers, March 13, 1865. 

 Mustered out on July 10, 1866, and died at East Boston on 

 November 22, 1874. 



For some years before his death he held a responsible po- 

 sition at the Boston Custom House. No native of Groton 

 during the war reached so high military rank as did Billy 

 Lawrence. 



The Fitchburg Daily Sentinel, September 26, 1893, gives 

 a sketch of George, the younger brother, which is so com- 

 plete that I send it with no additions. It is a just tribute to 

 a brave soldier and a worthy man : 



Lieut. George L. Lawrence, the first Fitchburg man to enter the 

 United States service for three years during the late war, died at his 

 home, 39 Cottage square, this morning, after a wasting illness that ex- 

 tended over a period of more than ten years. 



Lieut. Lawrence was the son of Henry L., and the late Martha H. 

 (Leighton) Lawrence, and was born at Groton, August 14, 1836. 

 His parents moved to Fitchburg when he was seven years old, and 

 he attended the public schools of the town and while quite young he 

 went to Boston, where he was employed by Liberty Bigelow in the 

 office of the Grand Junction railroad. 



He early developed a taste for military affairs and had been a 

 member of the Fitchburg Fusiliers and the Boston Fusiliers before 

 the breaking out of the civil war. He was a resident of Fitchburg 

 when Fort Sumter was fired upon, but the Fusiliers not being called 

 immediately into the service, he went to Boston, and on May 23, 

 1 86 1, was mustered into the United States service as a sergeant of 

 Co. G, First Massachusetts regiment. His older brother, William H., 

 who was afterwards on Gen. Hooker's staff, was first lieutenant in the 

 same company. George was promoted to second lieutenant, August 

 30, 1862, and to first lieutenant, July 2, 1863. He served the full 

 term of three years. 



After the expiration of his term of service he resumed his former 

 position in the office of the Grand Junction railroad. Later, he was 



