10th Mass. Infantry.

Nathaniel W. Colton.

Mustered in, June 21, 1861.

Discharged, October 5, 1862.

Address, Veterans’ Home, Napa Co., Cal.

Born.in West Springfield, Mass., November 3, 1836. His father was Chauncey Colton, of Long Meadow, who removed to Oakham about 1848; was village Postmaster from 1851 to 1855, and Selectman in 1856. In 1830 he married Lavinia H. Ware of Oakham, sister of James B. and A. Hazen Ware.

Nathaniel W. Colton was a shoemaker living in Springfield when the war began. He enlisted May 31, 1861, at the age of twenty-five, in Co. F, 10th Mass. The regiment went into camp June 14; left for the South July 25, and was encamped during the winter at Brightwood, near the residence of Francis P. Blair, Jr. March 27, 1862, it started down the Potomac to Fortress Monroe; was engaged with loss at Fair Oaks, May 31, and heavily engaged at Malvern Hill, July 1. Colton was with McClellan through the peninsular campaign from March to July, and contracted disease, on account of which he was discharged for disability.

After recovering his health, he followed his occupation in Oakham, Worcester, Springfield, and Lynn, Mass., and in San Francisco. In 1893 he was admitted to the Veterans’ Home, Napa Co., Cal.

Source:  Soldiers of Oakham, Massachusetts, by Henry Parks Wright, The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Press, New Haven Connecticut, 1914, pages 176-7