Daniel Taft

Researchers: Ben Fraser and Marc Mitchell

          Daniel F. Taft was born in Franklin, Massachusetts in 1828. He married Ann Eliza who was born in Uxbridge. Together they had a son Daniel Warren Taft, who was born November 11, 1859, and a daughter Mary Taft who was born April 23, 1871. Before Daniel F. went in to the war he was a factory laborer. When He went into the war he was 33 years old. Based upon the information we have found, Daniel F. Taft died in the war, or shortly after it, he died before 1870 in his late 30‘s.

          Daniel F. Taft along with other brave volunteers in his town were organized in Reedville on August 27, 1861. He was assigned to Company G Regiment 18 of Massachusetts He was involved in many battles; some examples are Yorktown, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, and Cold Harbor. At Yorktown in York County and Newport News, from April 5 to May 4, 1862 under Major General George B. McClellan, Daniel fought for just over a month until the battle was declared inconclusive, with 320 total casualties. Taft was then sent to Antietam, which was also known as Sharpsburg, in Washington County, on September 16. He was there until September 18, 1862.At Antietam he fought under Major General George B. McClellan . Daniel survived the battle but the battle had no winner just two losers with 23,100 total casualties. Daniel was the moved to Chancellorsville, which was in Spotsylvania County, on April 30. He was fighting bravely in Chancellorsville until May 6, 1863 ; when the battle was won by the Confederacy, once again Daniel was able to survive another dangerous battle; although 24,000 brave men died he was one of the lucky ones. He was then sent to Adams County were he was involved in the battle of Gettysburg, which started on July 1,1863. He fought for Major General George G. Meade. Meade troops including Daniel F. Taft were north and west of Gettysburg; they began to fall back from Confederate assault. They fell back to Cemetery ridge, a highpoint which helped the hold back the Confederates in the three day battle ending July 3, 1863. Many Union soldiers gave their lives for the victory which was declared the turning point of the was, Taft was one of the lucky soldiers who survived to fight another day. After fighting in the battle of Gettysburg he was sent to New Hope Church in Orange County were he fought the battle of Mine Run on November 27. Daniel F. Taft fought under Major General George G. Meade again. The Union had far more casualties but still fighting bravely the battle was declared inconclusive. After Daniel was sent to Spotsylvania County to fight in the Battle of Wilderness on May 5. The battle went on two days where he fought under both Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, Major General George G. Meade. The battle was declared inconclusive, but Grant continued his offensive even when losing 18,400 soldiers. Daniel then moved onto Cold Harbor or Second Cold Harbor fought on May 31.