Acton Memorial Library Civil War Archives | Civil War Records of Daniel Tuttle

Additional Information

Text from "Not Afraid to Go," exhibit at the Acton Memorial Library:

In a town strongly opposed to slavery, Daniel Tuttle believed the South had a right to hold slaves as long as its people obeyed the laws and were loyal to the Union.

Tuttle was elected Captain of the Davis Guards in 1855, 1857, 1859, and 1861, and commanded them when the call for troops came from President Lincoln. In spite of his views on slavery, when the national flag was fired upon at Fort Sumter, he took this as an act of treason, Without hesitation, Daniel Tuttle led the Davis Guards in their deployment to protect Washington.

Captain Tuttle's diligence in preparing the Davis Guards and organizational skill in assembling them when the need arose are shown in an account by Luther Conant: "When the telegram came to Captain Tutle on the evening of April 15th, to have his company report the next morning at Lowell, armed and equipped for war service, it found a response prompt and earnest from every man. Though scattered in different towns and not expecting the summons, the bells were rung in the night, messengers sent in all directions post-haste, equipments forwarded, carriages procured...and at 7:30 o'clock the next morning Captain Tuttle was able to report to Colonel Jones of the Sixth Regiment, his whole company [in Lowell] ready for duty."

Luther Conant describes the sacrifice made by those men in "leaving farms, shops, homes, families, friends and plans in an instant." While all who went are to be admired for their sacrifice, Daniel Tuttle is particularly deserving of praise. At age 47 he was exempt from service and had other responsibilities in the community. He also left a large farm at the beginning of planting season, and his wife to care for ten children, three of whom were under the age of six.

After the first 115-day deployment, Captain Tuttle left active duty and returned home. He remained a respected citizen, twice serving as postmaster. He was an active member of the Isaac Davis GAR Post, living out his years in the company of his comrades and family in Acton.

From Acton in History, by James Fletcher (1890): 283:

"Captain Daniel Tuttle was born February 14, 1814, on the heights which overlook the village and town, one of the oldest of a large family of children. His father, Francis Tuttle, Esq., was for a long time an officer and influential citizen of the place. The captain was elected to command the Davis Guards in the years 1855, 1857, 1859, 1861. He was twice postmaster. He was forty-seven years old at the outbreak of the war, and exempt by age from military duty. He was a Breckenridge Democrat in the preceding canvass for the Presidency against Lincoln. He had at the time a large farm on his hands, a wife and numerous children--some of them young. At the opening of a new season, and with all his cares so pressing, it seemed impossible for him to leave; yet when the summons came there was but one decision..."

Daniel Tuttle, age 41, a farmer, is recorded in the 1855 Massachusetts State Census for Acton, in household (dwelling no. 138) with Emeline Elizabeth Tuttle and six children, ages 8 months to 20 years (Lainhart, 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts State Censuses for Acton: 20).

Daniel Tuttle, age 46, a farmer, is recorded as an inhabitant of Acton in the 1860 federal census, in household (dwelling no. 125) with Emeline E. Tuttle and six children, ages 2 to 18 ("1860 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com).

Daniel Tuttle, age 51, a farmer, is recorded in the 1865 Massachusetts State Census for Acton, in household (dwelling no. 43) with Emeline Elizabeth Tutle and five children, ages 7 to 23. (Lainhart, 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts State Censuses for Acton: 47).

Daniel Tuttle is recorded in the 1890 Special Veterans Census as a resident of Acton ("1890 Veterans Schedules," Ancestry.com).

Name included on the Acton Memorial Library Soldiers' Tablet, "The Men of Acton Who Fought For The Union."

Co.	Regiment / Ship	From	To	Residence/ Credit	Occupation	Notes
Captain of Co. E (Davis Guards)	6th MVI (3 months)	comm. May 31, 1859; must. April 22, 1861	Aug. 2, 1861	Acton	farmer
MASSCW, 1:381

Co.	Regiment	Date Filed	Type	App. No.	Cert. No.	State	Beneficiary/Remarks
E	6th MVI	July 5, 1881	Invalid	425 034	536 018	Mass.
E	6th MVI	April 5, 1899	Widow	695 930		Mass.	Emeline E. Tuttle

Date	November 29, 1898
Place	Acton, Mass.
Age	84 years, 9 months, 8 days
Cause
Obituary	Concord Enterprise, Dec. 8, 1898
Funeral
Burial	Woodlawn Cemetery, Acton, Mass.
Survived by	widow Emeline E. Tuttle (sister of Aaron C. Handley)

Acton Memorial Library

Civil War Archives

Civil War Records of Captain Daniel Tuttle

Service

Pension

Grand Army of the Republic

Death

Additional Information