Dorchester Illustration 2613 Henry Martyn Tremlett, Civil War
Henry Martyn Tremlett was a Boston merchant. Tremlett was born July 15, 1833 in Dorchester, the son of Thomas and Cordelia Tremlett. Tremlett began as a captain in the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment from 1861 to 1862, then as a major in 1862, and eventually a lieutenant colonel in 1864 commanding the 39th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
He lived in Dorchester until the early 1850s, when his family moved to Boston. His father was a successful shipping merchant as a partner in the company Deblois & Tremlett with premises at 28 Foster’s Wharf in Boston. In 1855, he entered into business in Boston with his older brother Frank (Francis E.) as Tremlett Bros. & Company.
Following the attack on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, Tremlett joined the 4th Battalion of the Massachusetts Militia on April 25. In a short time, he rose to the rank of sergeant. On July 10, 1861, he enlisted in the 20th Massachusetts Regiment that was forming in Readville. Tremlett was commissioned to the rank of captain and assigned to command Company A. The regiment was initially part of Lander’s Brigade, Second Division, Second Corps.
On Sept. 4, 1861, two months after the First Manassas (the first major battle of the Civil War), the 20th Massachusetts received orders to leave for the front. Tremlett served through many battles throughout his three year enlistment. He also served in Boston as a recruiting officer. On July 10, 1864, he reenlisted. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and assigned as the new commanding officer of the 39th Regiment, Fifth Corps, which was camped in the center of the Union line outside Petersburg, Virginia.
At the end of March 1865, the 39th was in the Battle of Gravelly Run also known as the Battle of White Oak Road, in Virginia. Where they encountered strong Confederate opposition. During the battle, Tremlett was wounded in the leg. As Adjutant General Schouler noted in his annual report, “Lieutenant-Colonel Tremlett was wounded soon after the engagement began, and was with much difficulty conveyed to the rear. It was found necessary at the hospital to amputate his leg at once.”
Back in Boston, Tremlett was hospitalized and received treatment over the course of several weeks before being discharged. Not long after, he developed complications from his wound and died about a month after the armistice, on June 6, 1865. Tremlett is buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain.