Ebenezer Weaver Peirce (April 10, 1822 – August 14, 1902), was a brigadier general in the Massachusetts militia, serving as 90–day volunteers in the Union Army in the opening months of the American Civil War, and a colonel of the 29th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Union Army between December 1861 and July 1864. He later became a farmer, real estate speculator, historian and genealogist.
Peirce was born in Assonet, Massachusetts to Ebenezer and Joanna (Weaver) Peirce. He attended local schools in Assonet and Andover Academy. He inherited an estate rich in real estate, and took up sheep farming. Peirce enlisted in the 4th Artillery, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, in 1843, and continued his service up to and including the Civil War.[1]
In 1861 Peirce was a brigadier general in the Massachusetts State Militia. Serving under Major General Benjamin F. Butler at Fort Monroe in Virginia, he was in direct command of the Union forces at the Battle of Big Bethel in June, 1861. This attempted assault on two nearby Confederate positions failed because it was too complex for the largely untrained unit, who inadvertently gave away their own position through a friendly fire incident. Peirce received most of the blame.
On December 13, 1861, Peirce joined the volunteer forces as colonel of the 29th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.[2] His regiment was located at Fort Monroe and was involved in the Battle of Hampton Roads. He was court-martialed for presenting burlesque shows to the troops of his command and for incompetency, but was acquitted.[3] Peirce then fought in the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles where, on June 30, 1862, he lost his right arm at the Battle of White Oak Swamp, considered part of the larger Battle of Glendale or Nelson's Farm.[2] He was out of action until November 1862 when he returned to command his regiment and served in the siege of Knoxville. His regiment returned to Virginia with the rest of the IX Corps and fought at Cold Harbor. He commanded a brigade at the Second Battle of Petersburg. Peirce commanded a brigade during the following time periods: August 18–September 18, 1863; January 10–March 16, 1864; and, June 4–July 23, 1864.[2] Peirce was discharged from the volunteer service on November 4, 1864 due to the loss of his right arm and general nervous debility relating to miasmatic diseases,[2] and returned to Assonet.[1] In 1880, he served one year as a member of the Freetown Board of Selectmen.
Peirce was married in Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts on December 13, 1849[4] to Irene I. Payne until she was granted a divorce from him on May 1, 1875, and the couple had one son living beyond infancy, Palo Alto Peirce, who was many years the town clerk of Freetown. He was elected a life member of the Old Colony Historical Society on April 2, 1855, and a resident member on October 11, 1886.[5] On April 5, 1892, Ebenezer Peirce married Ida E. Gardner,[1] an 1881 graduate of the Bridgewater Normal School.[6] On August 14, 1902, Ebenezer Peirce died at the age of 80. He is buried in the Assonet Burying Ground.
Peirce was an author of numerous books and articles on historical subjects in Bristol and Plymouth counties, including Indian History, Biography and Genealogy: Pertaining to the Good Sachem Massasoit of the Wampanoag Tribe, and His Descendants, which was published in 1878 by Zerviah Gould Mitchell, a descendant of SachemMassasoit.[8]
Peirce vs. PierceEdit
In the Assonet-Lakeville area, there has historically been an inconsistent spelling of the surname Pierce. In some cases, parents with the surname Pierce are shown to have children with the surname Peirce, and vice versa. The most common spelling of this subject's last name seems to be Peirce.
^ abcRichmond, Col. Silas P. A History of the Town of Freetown, Massachusetts: Military History. Assonet: Assonet Village Improvement Society, 1902.
^ abcdHunt, Roger D. Colonels in Blue: Union Army Colonels of the Civil War: New England. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2011. ISBN978-0-7643-1290-8. p. 120
^Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN0-8047-3641-3. p. 422
^Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840–1915 Ancestry.com
^Collections of the Old Colony Historical Society, No. 7. Taunton: Old Colony Historical Society, 1909.
^Boyden, Albert Gardner. Alumni Record of the State Normal School, Bridgewater, Mass.. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co., State Printers, 1900.
^Weston, Thomas. History of the Town of Middleboro, Massachusetts: Fraternal Organizations. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company, 1906.
^Peirce, Ebenezer Indian History, Biography and Genealogy: Pertaining to the Good Sachem Massasoit of the Wampanoag Tribe, and His Descendants, by Ebenezer W. Peirce; Z.G. Mitchell; MA, USA; 1878.
Political offices
Preceded by
Henry Peirce
Member of the Freetown Board of Selectmen 1880 Served alongside: James Winslow, Orsmond F. Braley
Succeeded by
George W. Hall
August 30, 2023
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Ebenezer Weaver Peirce April 10 1822 August 14 1902 was a brigadier general in the Massachusetts militia serving as 90 day volunteers in the Union Army in the opening months of the American Civil War and a colonel of the 29th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the Union Army between December 1861 and July 1864 He later became a farmer real estate speculator historian and genealogist Ebenezer W PeirceEbenezer W PeirceBorn 1822 04 10 April 10 1822Assonet MassachusettsDiedAugust 14 1902 1902 08 14 aged 80 Assonet MassachusettsBuriedAssonet Burying GroundAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branch United States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1843 1864RankBrigadier General Massachusetts Militia Colonel Union Army Battles warsAmerican Civil WarOther workFarmerSignature Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Peirce vs Pierce 4 ReferencesBiography EditPeirce was born in Assonet Massachusetts to Ebenezer and Joanna Weaver Peirce He attended local schools in Assonet and Andover Academy He inherited an estate rich in real estate and took up sheep farming Peirce enlisted in the 4th Artillery Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in 1843 and continued his service up to and including the Civil War 1 In 1861 Peirce was a brigadier general in the Massachusetts State Militia Serving under Major General Benjamin F Butler at Fort Monroe in Virginia he was in direct command of the Union forces at the Battle of Big Bethel in June 1861 This attempted assault on two nearby Confederate positions failed because it was too complex for the largely untrained unit who inadvertently gave away their own position through a friendly fire incident Peirce received most of the blame On December 13 1861 Peirce joined the volunteer forces as colonel of the 29th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment 2 His regiment was located at Fort Monroe and was involved in the Battle of Hampton Roads He was court martialed for presenting burlesque shows to the troops of his command and for incompetency but was acquitted 3 Peirce then fought in the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days Battles where on June 30 1862 he lost his right arm at the Battle of White Oak Swamp considered part of the larger Battle of Glendale or Nelson s Farm 2 He was out of action until November 1862 when he returned to command his regiment and served in the siege of Knoxville His regiment returned to Virginia with the rest of the IX Corps and fought at Cold Harbor He commanded a brigade at the Second Battle of Petersburg Peirce commanded a brigade during the following time periods August 18 September 18 1863 January 10 March 16 1864 and June 4 July 23 1864 2 Peirce was discharged from the volunteer service on November 4 1864 due to the loss of his right arm and general nervous debility relating to miasmatic diseases 2 and returned to Assonet 1 In 1880 he served one year as a member of the Freetown Board of Selectmen Peirce was married in Freetown Bristol County Massachusetts on December 13 1849 4 to Irene I Payne until she was granted a divorce from him on May 1 1875 and the couple had one son living beyond infancy Palo Alto Peirce who was many years the town clerk of Freetown He was elected a life member of the Old Colony Historical Society on April 2 1855 and a resident member on October 11 1886 5 On April 5 1892 Ebenezer Peirce married Ida E Gardner 1 an 1881 graduate of the Bridgewater Normal School 6 On August 14 1902 Ebenezer Peirce died at the age of 80 He is buried in the Assonet Burying Ground Legacy Edit Ebenezer Peirce birthplace in AssonetIn 1867 the E W Peirce Encampment Post 8 Grand Army of the Republic was established in Middleborough Massachusetts and named for Ebenezer W Peirce 7 Peirce was an author of numerous books and articles on historical subjects in Bristol and Plymouth counties including Indian History Biography and Genealogy Pertaining to the Good Sachem Massasoit of the Wampanoag Tribe and His Descendants which was published in 1878 by Zerviah Gould Mitchell a descendant of Sachem Massasoit 8 Peirce vs Pierce EditIn the Assonet Lakeville area there has historically been an inconsistent spelling of the surname Pierce In some cases parents with the surname Pierce are shown to have children with the surname Peirce and vice versa The most common spelling of this subject s last name seems to be Peirce Biography portal American Civil War portalReferences Edit a b c Richmond Col Silas P A History of the Town of Freetown Massachusetts Military History Assonet Assonet Village Improvement Society 1902 a b c d Hunt Roger D Colonels in Blue Union Army Colonels of the Civil War New England Atglen PA Schiffer Publishing 2011 ISBN 978 0 7643 1290 8 p 120 Eicher John H and David J Eicher Civil War High Commands Stanford Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 p 422 Massachusetts Marriage Records 1840 1915 Ancestry com Collections of the Old Colony Historical Society No 7 Taunton Old Colony Historical Society 1909 Boyden Albert Gardner Alumni Record of the State Normal School Bridgewater Mass Boston Wright amp Potter Printing Co State Printers 1900 Weston Thomas History of the Town of Middleboro Massachusetts Fraternal Organizations Boston Houghton Mifflin and Company 1906 Peirce Ebenezer Indian History Biography and Genealogy Pertaining to the Good Sachem Massasoit of the Wampanoag Tribe and His Descendants by Ebenezer W Peirce Z G Mitchell MA USA 1878 Political officesPreceded byHenry Peirce Member of the Freetown Board of Selectmen1880 Served alongside James Winslow Orsmond F Braley Succeeded byGeorge W Hall Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ebenezer W Peirce amp oldid 1159497879, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
