The Cornelius Attwood "Star-Spangled Banner" Fragments-- Part 1

From Just Collecting  R.R. Auction   Lot 423  Star-Spangled Banner.

A nice picture of the fragments accompany the article.  "Spectacular and well-documented pair of fragments..  They come from the family of General Cornelius Gilbert Attwood, 25th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry."

The remnants consist of a white swatch 2 X 3.25 inches and a red swatch 1.5 X 1.25 inches.  Originally they were separate but sewn together as part of a flag relic display.  Additional swatches, one of red and white and the other of blue with white fringe are from the flags of the 25th Massachusetts.

--Old Secesh

Cornelius Attwood's Funeral-- Part 4: Postwar Career

At the close of the war, he entered the bonds brokers' business, and in 1869 was made the deputy collector of customs at Boston.  He held that place for five years and then became secretary of the board of trade, relinquishing that office in 1879 to take the state agency of the Mutual Life insurance company of New York, the post he held at his death.

In 1876, Col. Attwood was appointed inspector general of the state militia by Gov. Rice and continued at that office three years, reorganizing the militia  thoroughly and establishing a method and a working basis the effects of which are still felt.

It was in this service that gave him the title of general by which in later years he was known.

He was prominent in the Grand Army and in the Loyal Legion and was at one time commander of the Veteran Tigers.

Col. Attwood was a native of Bangor, Maine, having been born there October 27, 1836, but he moved to Boston when he was a boy, and educated in Boston schools.

Cornelius was the son of Bradbury C. Attwood.

(This obituary clears up some questions I had about how he became a general and who the Tigers were.)

--Old Secesh

Cornelius G. Attwood's Funeral-- Part 3: Fought In Many Battles

With rthis regiment in many of the telling engagements of the war, Roanoke Island, Newbern, Goldsboro, Drewry's Bluff and Cold Harbor among the rest.  In the last battle he was wounded during the famous charge of the 3rd of June, but the final engagement he took part in which he took part was that in the crater before Petersburg.

He was mustered out because of disability in August, 1864, and afterwards was breveted colonel of volunteers.

--Old Secesh

Cornelius G. Attwood's Death-- Part 2: Death Came Suddenly

Springfield Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts
January 28, 1888

THE DEATH OF COL. Cornelius C. Attwood, which came suddenly yesterday morning at his home in West Roxbury, will bring sorrow to many circles in the commonwealth, for Col. Attwood's business, military and social connections were widely extended, and his was an attractive and striking personality.

Col. Attwood's earliest public service was in the war of the rebellion.  As a young man of 25, he enlisted in the first call for the three months' men, a second lieutenant in the 3rd battalion of rifles organized in Worcester County.

Hardly had he been mustered out of service when the years' call came, and he went to work to raise a company of which he was made a captain and which was assigned to the 25th regiment.

--Old Secesh

General Cornelius Attwood's Death-- Part 1

From Find-A-Grave.

From the January 24, 1888, Worcester Daily Spy.

General Attwood's Funeral

Veterans Follow An Honored Comrade to the Grave

The funeral of Gen. Cornelius G. Attwood took place yesterday, geld at his late residence West Roxbury.

There was a large attendance of military and personal friends of the deceased, the Loyal Legion, Edward W, Kinsley Post 113, G.A.R., the Tigers and the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment Association being represented by about 158 comrades....

The remains were then conveyed to Mt. Benedict cemetery.

--Old Secesh

General Cornelius Attwood-- Part 6: Find-A-Grave

Born 27 October 1836 in Bangor, Maine.  Died 19 January 1888 in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Buried:  Mount Benedict Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Post Cmdr. Edward W. Kinsley Post, No. 113, Grand Army of the Republic, Boston, Massachusetts.

--Old Secesh

General Cornelius Attwood-- Part 5: Post-War

Major Attwood and the 25th Massachusetts were mustered out October 20, 1864 and later he was brevetted to lieutenant colonel and soon thereafter to brigadier general.

After the war, he was appointed Deputy Collector for the Port of Boston and later was the Secretary of the Board of Trade.  In 1876 he was appointed Inspector General of Massachusetts where he was principally in charge of the state militia.

He held numerous DAR offices  including Post Commander, National Quartermaster and National Adjutant General.

He died January 19, 1888.

--Old Secesh

General Cornelius Attwood-- Part 4: The 25th Massachusetts

Attwood's 25th Massachusetts was in more than 25 battles and skirmishes.  Besides Roanoke Island, some of them were New Bern, N.C., Goldsboro, N.C., Drewry's Bluff, and Cold Harbor where Major Attwood was wounded and Petersburg.

Out if the 300 men mustering in for the assault at Cold Harbor, the regiment had 24 killed, including 6 officers and 142 wounded and 49 missing.

--Old Secesh

General Cornelius Attwood-- Part 3: Items

During his career, he acquired two swords.  The first was a foot officer's sword inscribed "Lieut. C.G. Attwood."  The second was a staff and field officer's sword inscribed on the top mount "Capt. C.G. Attwood, Boston."  The steel scabbard has all of his promotions listed as well as all of the battles he fought in.

A Maine descendant of his gave his gold bullion general's epaulets, several CDVs, a signed regimental history, a war oil painting and other items to a museum.

--Old Secesh

General Cornelius Attwood-- Part 2: With the 25th Massachusetts

On September 1861, along with some other officers, Cornelius Attwood  raised the 25th Massachusetts and he received a commission as captain of Company C.  The 25th was attached to Burnside's Coast Defense Division, 1st Brigade.  This brigade was commanded by General John G. Foster, a hero of Fort Sumter.

In the assault on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, February 7, 1862, Captain Attwood was the second man to land and the first to raise the Stars and Stripes.  On the next day, the 25th Massachusetts opened the fight and had high casualties.

The unit received the thanks of superior officers for their fighting at Roanoke Island.   The 25th then became a part of the famed Heckman's Star Brigade.

Cornelius Attwood was promoted to major October 29, 1862.

--Old Secesh

General Cornelius Gilbert Attwood-- Part 1: The Civil War and the Star-Spangled Banner--

From Facebook.

Cornelius Gilbert Attwood 1836-1888.

I have been writing about the Star-Spangled Banner in my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog this month, in honor of June 14 being Flag Day.  My attention was drawn by the existence of fragments of the flag out in public hands.  One pair of these swatches was at auction and came from the family of this man who fought in the Civil War.

Cornelius Attwood, along with Albert Dodd, a relative of his wife Ellen, in April 1861 raised a volunteer company in Boston for three months service.  He was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant.

They unit went to Fort McHenry in Baltimore and were attached to the 3rd Battalion Massachusetts Riflemen.

--Old Secesh