Gorham, J. Martin, 1830-1880

Gorham, J. Martin, 1830-1880

Rank : Pvt.

Regiment : 33rd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (1862-1865)

Service : 1862 September 25-1865 June 10

Jason Martin Gorham, a lawyer from Barre, Mass., and a Harvard graduate of the class of 1851, received a Lieutenant's commission in the 42nd Massachusetts Infantry (nine months' service) on September 25th, 1862. On May 13th, 1863, he resigned his commission and was discharged by special order #115 from General Banks, and remained a civilian until December of that year, when he enlisted as a private in the 33rd Massachusetts, then at Chattanooga.

In April, the 33rd Massachusetts was consolidated into XX Corps under Joseph Hooker (later J. A. Mower) and joined in the Atlanta Campaign. The regiment suffered heavy losses at Resaca, Dallas, and Kenesaw Mountain, and took part in the occupation of Atlanta and the March to the Sea and March through the Carolinas. During these campaigns, the 33rd was consistently tapped for headquarters guard duty -- because of the unusually high quality of the regimental band, according to Gorham. During this time, too, Gorham was assigned to duty as regimental clerk, relieving him from any obligation as a combatant. When Johnston surrendered, the regiment was doing guard duty at Raleigh, N.C., and on June 1st, 1865, Gorham transferred to Co. H of the 2nd Massachusetts Infantry.

From the guide to the J. Martin Gorham papers, Gorham, J. Martin, 1864-1865, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)