486 HISTORY OF COH ASSET. 



years' service in response to the second call, of May 3, 

 1861. 



The other two were Forrester A. Pelby, twenty-four 

 years, and Charles F. Weils, twenty-three years. 



Readville was the camping ground for the recruits, 

 where they might be drilled and equipped for service. 



Cohasset already had one of her sons, Zealous B. 

 Tower, in the regular army, stationed at Fort Pickens, 

 Fla., where he was promoted to the rank of major in 

 the corps of engineers. His education at West Point, 

 where he graduated at the head of his class, July i, 1841, 

 had revealed the constructive talent which was common 

 in some of the Tower family. He had been assistant 

 professor of engineering and had been engaged in the 

 construction of defenses at Hampton Roads, Va. In the 

 Mexican War he had served with much distinction, lead- 

 ing General Riley's column of attack at Contreras ; and 

 being wounded at the storming of Chapultepec, he had 

 been brevetted major for gallant and meritorious services. 

 Now that the Civil War had broken upon the nation, 

 the services of this capable officer were still further 

 drafted by giving him the rank of brigadier general of 

 volunteers. 



The war cry, " On to Richmond," had forced the third 

 call for volunteers, June 17, 1861, and Cohasset supplied 

 thirty-four more men upon a three years' enlistment. 

 But our only men at the front at this time were Doane, 

 Thayer, Pelby, Simpson, all of Company I, and Wells, 

 of Company G. These were in the First Regiment of 

 Massachusetts volunteers and were in the opening cam- 

 paign of Bull Run. 



After crossing the Potomac the march was taken up 

 through Germantown, Va. The Confederate outposts were 

 ready to resist the march to Richmond, and a part of 

 the brigade under Richardson got tangled in a skirmish 

 at Blackburn's Ford. Company I was in the fight, and 



