Civil War Service
Bartlett initially enlisted in the 4th Battalion Massachusetts Infantry, also known as the New England Guards, which was garrisoned to defend Fort Independence in Boston harbor. At the time, the three forts in Boston were entirely unmanned and Boston harbor almost defenseless. Fort Independence was the only of the three forts equipped with cannon, however most of them were facing the city and not the water. The 4th Battalion, including Pvt. Bartlett, had much work to do to put Fort Independence in order. Bartlett served with the battalion for the unit's full 90-day term, from April to June 1861.
Read more about this topic: William Francis Bartlett
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