Edward Everett Hutchins, the son of Stephen and Catharine Hutchins, was born November 17, 1842. The 1860 census lists an Everett Hutchins as a servant--probably an apprentice--in the Lowell, Massachusetts home of Isaac Scripture, baker. During the American Civil War, Hutchins enlisted in Company F, 33rd Massachusetts Infantry and mustered into service with the company on August 5, 1862. Everett Hutchins was killed at the Battle of Resaca, Georgia on May 15, 1864.

Warren E. Hutchins, brother of Everett Hutchins, served with the 7th Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery. He died in a hospital at De Valls Bluff, Arkansas on November 29, 1864.

The 33rd Massachusetts Infantry was organized at Springfield, Massachusetts during the summer of 1862 and mustered into Federal service in August. The regiment arrived in Washington, D.C. on August 17. Establishing camp across the Potomac, the regiment remained in defense of northern Virginia throughout the autumn and went into winter quarters near Falmouth. In 1863, the regiment participated in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, then was encamped near Bristoe Station, Virginia before being ordered southward. In September, the 33rd arrived in Bridgeport, Tennessee. It saw heavy fighting at Wauhatchie on October 29 and participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge before going into winter quarters. In May 1864, the regiment joined the Atlanta campaign and saw heavy fighting at Resaca (May 16), Dallas (May 25) and Kenesaw Mountain (June 22). The regiment participated in the siege of Atlanta, the city's occupation, and Sherman's march to the sea, then in the march northward into the Carolinas. At war's end, the 33rd participated in the Grand Review at Washington, D.C. and was mustered out of service on June 10, 1865.

The 7th Battery, Massachusetts Light Artillery, was organized as Richardson's Light Guard, an independent infantry company, at Lowell, Massachusetts. The company was mustered into service on May 21, 1861 and immediately departed for Fort Monroe, Virginia, where it engaged in garrison duty through the fall and winter. Detached on light artillery duty on December 25, the company became designated the 7th Massachusetts Battery on March 17. The unit served in eastern Virginia, seeing action near Franklin and Deserted House and participating in the siege of Suffolk. In May 1863, it joined the Carrsville Expedition, then remained at Portsmouth until June, participating in Dix's Peninsula Campaign. In July, the 7th was ordered to Washington, D.C., and from there to New York, where it saw duty during the draft riots. In September, the battery returned to Washington, D.C., where it remained for several months. In January 1864, the 7th sailed to New Orleans, and it would eventually serve in the Red River Campaign, generally remaining in Arkansas from May 1864 until January 1865. The battery returned to Louisiana, then moved to Dauphin Island, Alabama in February, participating in the campaign against Mobile. The 7th remained in Alabama through June, then was moved to Houston, Texas, where it served until October. The 7th Massachusetts Light Artillery returned to Boston and was mustered out on November 10, 1865.