Windham

DOWNS, Henry W.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 7 of 20 
unnumbered leaves (portrait p 7)

Henry W. DOWNS, of Newton [Middlesex County], Massachusetts, was born 29 
August 1844 in Jamaica [Windham County, Vermont], son of Calvin and Elizabeth 
DOWNS. Educated in the public schools of his native town; up to the breaking 
out of the Civil War, was employed on his father's farm; enlisted at 
seventeen in Company I, Eighth Vermont Volunteers; immediately went to the 
front; served four years; mustered out second lieutenant; under BUTLER and 
BANKS, in the army of the gulf, participated in a dozen memorable 
engagements, Port Jackson, Morganzia Bend, taking of New Orleans; the Red 
River campaign; forty-four days' siege of Port Hudson; afterward his regiment 
was transferred to the army of the Potomac; under SHERIDAN took part in the 
Shenandoah Valley campaign; fought at Winchester, Cedar Creek, several other 
less important engagements; promoted several times for bravery on the field; 
in 1891 received the Congressional medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry, 
battle of Winchester, where he volunteered and bravely crossed the field, 
although exposed to a raking fire, to secure ammunition for the regiment, its 
supply being exhausted. At the close of the war went to Massachusetts; 
engaged as a silk manufacturer; continued until 1891; then entered the dry 
goods and importing business on Tremont Street, Boston [Suffolk County, 
Massachusetts], where he is still located.

Mr. DOWNS is a conspicuous member of several military organizations; member 
and ex-president of Vermont Veterans' Association, of Boston, and is now its 
treasurer; past commander of Post 62, Grand Army of the Republic, of Newton; 
member of Loyal Legion; Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, of Boston; 
is assistant quartermaster general of Massachusetts department, G. A. R. In 
the Massachusetts Volunteer militia, he has also served with honor in time of 
peace; captain of Company C, Fifth Infantry. In politics an ardent 
Republican; has served on the ward and city committees of Newton; has been a 
delegate for many years to the Massachusetts State Republican conventions. 
In 1867 he [Henry W. DOWNS] was married to [Miss?] Lovisa B. RAWSON, and 
their only child, Arthur W. DOWNS, is engaged in business with his father, 
under the firm name of the H. W. Downs Company.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly