Watson Wilberforce Bridge (1836 - 1884)

Born 27 Sep 1836 in Colrain, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States

Died 6 Sep 1884 at age 47 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: K Raymoure [send private message]

Biography

Watson was born in 1836 in Colrain, Massachusetts.

Occupations

• 1880: Custom House worker
• 1869-1870: Bookkeeper
• 1860, 1863: Clerk

Residences

• 1880: Boston, Massachusetts with his wife Alla; Drusilla and John Swan; Mullie Tasker; and James Howe
• 1869-1870: Boston, Massachusetts
• 1863: Wilbraham, Massachusetts (military enlistment)
• 1860: Springfield, Massachusetts (post office: Wilbraham) at the boarding house of Lucinda Parker

Military Service

During the Civil War, he recruited for and served as Captain of Company F of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first regiment in the United States made up entirely of enlisted men of color. He was about 27 years old, married and working as a clerk when he enlisted on 19 February 1863 as a First Lieutenant from Wilbraham, Massachusetts.^[1]

Only one other commissioned officer is known to the writer as having performed effective recruiting service. This is Watson Wilberforce Bridge, who had been first sergeant, Company D, Thirty-seventh Massachusetts Infantry. His headquarters were at Springfield, and he worked in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. When ordered to camp, about April 1, he had recruited some seventy men.^[2]

Potter's Raid

Our regiment marched with six hundred and seventy-five enlisted men and the following officers: Lieutenant-Colonel Hooper, Major Pope, Surgeon Briggs, Acting Adjutant Whitney, and Acting Quartermaster Bridgham; Company F, Captain Bridge; Company C, Lieutenant Spear; Company B, Lieutenant Hallett; Company H, Captain Tucker and Lieutenant Stevens; Company A, Lieutenant Rogers; Company D, Captain Chipman and Lieutenant Swails; Company G, Captain Appleton; Company E, Lieutenant Emerson, commanding, and Lieutenant Cousens; Company I, Captain Howard; Company K, Lieutenant Reed. Lieutenants Newell and Joy took part on Colonel Hallowell's staff. Lieutenant Leonard was directed to remain in charge of the camp. A pioneer corps of twenty men was placed under Sergeant Wilkins of Company D for this field service.^[3]

Company Remarks

See also Images.

23 April 1863 Readville, Massachusetts

Captain Watson W Bridge Mustered into US Service as Capt with Co "F" 54th Mass Vol

14 April 1863 Readville, Massachusetts

2nd Lieut Watson W Bridge Commissioned as Captain in 54th Regt Mass Vols.

Race

• 1880: White
• 1860: Unspecified

Death

He passed away in 1884 and is buried at Woodland Dell Cemetery in Wilbraham, Massachusetts.

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Sources

1. ↑ Emilio, McKay Roster p. 331
2. ↑ Emilio, p. 10
3. ↑ Emilio, p. 291

• 1860 United States Federal Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: M653_503; Page: 307; Family History Library Film: 803503
• 1869, 1870 Boston, Massachusetts city directories
• 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: 555; Page: 344A; Enumeration District: 644
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #116846555