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diff --git a/old/52079-0.txt b/old/52079-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index eaa9b0e..0000000 --- a/old/52079-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,15344 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Forty-second regiment -infantry, Massachusetts volunteers, , by Charles P. Bosson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: History of the Forty-second regiment infantry, Massachusetts volunteers, 1862, 1863, 1864 - -Author: Charles P. Bosson - -Release Date: May 16, 2016 [EBook #52079] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF 42ND REG., MASSACHUSETTS *** - - - - -Produced by Wayne Hammond and The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - HISTORY - OF THE - FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT - _INFANTRY_, - MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS, - 1862, 1863, 1864. - - BY - SERGEANT-MAJOR CHARLES P. BOSSON. - - BOSTON: - MILLS, KNIGHT & CO., PRINTERS, 115 CONGRESS STREET. - 1886. - - - COPYRIGHTED BY - CHARLES P. BOSSON. - 1886. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -This history of the regiment was undertaken by me at the special -request of several officers who knew I had written, soon after the term -of service expired, considerable matter relating thereto, for my own -amusement and instruction. Without this foundation to work on, written -when memory was fresh, it is doubtful if a history of the regiment -could be written, for references to many soldiers’ diaries disclosed -the fact that nearly all did not contain detailed accounts of events -occurring at the time entries were made. Few soldiers thought any -memorandum of theirs would ever become useful for a purpose of this -kind. Access to the regimental books and files of papers has greatly -facilitated this history. - -I have not been able to write a satisfactory account of Companies C and -H on detached service, or of Company K on detached service, in charge -of pontoons. I found it impossible to obtain information in a way to be -of service. - -I proposed to publish _Descriptive Lists_ of each company of the -regiment. Upon investigation, and a comparison of lists in possession -of the War Department, the regimental descriptive books, and orders -of detail, I found such a marked difference in Christian names and -surnames the idea was abandoned; besides, such lists would prove -misleading, as many men enlisted under a false age; those who were too -young gave in their age several years older than they were, others, -too old, made their age to meet the requirements of law. The original -_Descriptive Lists_ were made up in a hurried, loose manner, few -officers realizing their importance in after years. - -It is probable certain facts in these pages will appear to some -readers at this day far different than they would had the history been -published within a few years after the war closed. We have grown older -and wiser than we were in 1862 and 1863. - -If any of my old comrades in arms shall have passed a pleasant hour in -reading this history, I shall feel amply repaid for time and trouble in -its preparation. - - CHARLES P. BOSSON. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - PAGE. - - ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT--CAMP AT READVILLE--DEPARTURE - FOR NEW YORK 1 - - - CHAPTER II. - - EN ROUTE--CAMP AT EAST NEW YORK--ON TRANSPORTS 19 - - - CHAPTER III. - - ON BOARD TRANSPORTS--THE SAXON--QUINCY--CHARLES - OSGOOD--SHETUCKET--QUINNEBAUG 38 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - GALVESTON 61 - - - CHAPTER V. - - AT CARROLLTON--BOUND FOR GALVESTON--ARRIVAL OF COMPANIES--CAMP - MANSFIELD--DETAILS 140 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - FEBRUARY--AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MORE DETAILS 154 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - ENLISTED MEN PRISONERS AT HOUSTON--MARCH FOR THE FEDERAL - LINES--ARRIVAL AT NEW ORLEANS 173 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MARCH--APRIL 197 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MAY 226 - - - CHAPTER X. - - BAYOU GENTILLY--JUNE--FAREWELL TO GENTILLY CAMP--IN NEW ORLEANS 239 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - BRASHEAR CITY 252 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - ACTION AT LA-FOURCHE CROSSING 286 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - JULY--IN NEW ORLEANS--AT ALGIERS 310 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - COMPANIES C AND H ON DETACHED SERVICE AT CAMP PARAPET 331 - - - CHAPTER XV. - - COMPANY K IN CHARGE OF PONTOONS--BATON ROUGE--TECHE - CAMPAIGN--SIEGE OF PORT HUDSON--DONALDSONVILLE--RETURN - TO REGIMENT 352 - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - AUGUST--AT ALGIERS--BOUND NORTH--ON BOARD - “CONTINENTAL”--ARRIVAL HOME 378 - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - ADVENTURES OF CORPORAL WENTWORTH AND PRIVATE HERSEY 389 - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - OFFICERS IN CONFEDERATE PRISONS--HOUSTON--STATE PRISON--CAMP - GROCE--CAMP FORD--EN ROUTE HOME--AT HOME 415 - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - IN SERVICE FOR ONE HUNDRED DAYS--ORGANIZATION--READVILLE--OFF - FOR WASHINGTON--AT ALEXANDRIA--AT GREAT FALLS--RETURN HOME 442 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PAGE. - - FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS 1 - - KUHN’S WHARF, GALVESTON 81 - - HEADQUARTERS AT BAYOU GENTILLY 161 - -[Illustration: - - LIEUT-COL. STEDMAN. COL. BURRELL. CHAPLAIN SANGER.] - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT--CAMP AT READVILLE--DEPARTURE FOR NEW -YORK. - - -At the time (August 4th, 1862) a draft was ordered by President -Lincoln for three hundred thousand militia to serve for a period of -nine months, Colonel Isaac S. Burrell was in command of the Second -Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia--an old militia organization -of the State. General Orders No. 25, issued July 1st, 1862, by the -Commander-in-Chief of the State troops, Governor John A. Andrew, -notified the militia to prepare for a call to service. General Orders -No. 34, issued August 13th, 1862, by the same authority, notified the -volunteer militia they would be accepted for nine months service. - -In common with other organized and uniformed militia organizations -in the State, the colonel was instructed by officers and men of -his command to tender the regiment as volunteers for nine months -service, and to obtain permission to recruit up to the requisite -strength. Public opinion was opposed to a draft at that time, and -Governor Andrew, by accepting the services of such militia bodies as -volunteered, affording every facility in his power to enable them to -recruit up to the full maximum of strength, avoided the necessity for -a draft, made available the services of those officers who eventually -recruited their companies to a war strength, and the rank and file -already enlisted in the militia--a very fine nucleus to commence with. -The intermixing of raw recruits with men of some experience of the -duties of a soldier tended to greatly facilitate the mobilization of -the States’ quota, and hastened the departure of regiments to the field -in a tolerable good condition for immediate duty. - -The Second Regiment, M. V. M., was one of the regiments accepted. -As there was already a Second Regiment (three years troops) in the -field, orders were issued designating the regiment as the Forty-Second -Regiment, M. V. M., and was ordered into a camp of instruction at -Readville, August 26th, 1862. - -The old Second Regiment, M. V. M., a part of the First Brigade, First -Division, State Militia, had just completed the five days camp duty -with the brigade at Medford, required by law, from August 13th to -18th, and the regimental guard, Company C, Captain Leonard, left at -Medford in charge of the camp equipage, since that encampment ended, in -anticipation that the regiment would be immediately ordered back, was -ordered August 22d to strike camp, proceed to Readville early next day, -and pitch tents upon high ground very near to the Boston & Providence -Railroad track. The camp was laid out by Quartermaster Burrell and -Adjutant Davis, assisted by men of Company C. Colonel Burrell assumed -command of all troops rendezvousing there until Brigadier-General -Peirce was placed in command. - -In addition to this guard, the first detachment of about one hundred -men, occupied this camp on the afternoon of August 26th, and from that -time until the regiment was complete (November 11th), recruiting, -equipping, and instruction occupied the time. The Ninth Battery, -Captain De Vecchi (enlisting for three years), Eleventh Battery, -Captain Jones, Forty-Third Regiment, Colonel Holbrook, Forty-Fourth -Regiment, Colonel Lee, and the Forty-Fifth Regiment, Colonel Codman -(all enlisting for nine months), were encamped in tents and barracks -at the same place and at the same time. The whole force formed a post, -commanded by Brigadier-General R. A. Peirce, of the State Militia. - -The officers of the old Second Regiment, M. V. M., that went into camp -with the intention of entering the service, if successful in recruiting -men to complete their companies and the Forty-Second Regiment, were:-- - -Colonel--I. S. Burrell. - -Lieutenant-Colonel--T. L. D. Perkins. - -Major--George W. Beach. - -Adjutant--Charles A. Davis. - -Quartermaster--C. B. Burrell, _vice_ James W. Coverly, resigned. - -Surgeon--John A. Lamson, resigned August 28th, 1862. - -Company A--Captain, Wm. A. Brabine; Lieutenants, Wm. Kilner and John H. -Stevens. - -Company B--Captain, Albert H. Townsend; Lieutenants, Artemas Webster -and Wm. B. Rand. - -Company C--Captain, O. W. Leonard; Lieutenants, I. B. White and Geo. H. -Drew. - -Company D--Captain, George Sherivé; Lieutenants, Wm. H. Cowdin and D. -F. Eddy. - -Company E--Captain, Samuel C. Davis; Lieutenants, David Hale and Henry -Pierce. - -Company F--Captain, Wm. H. Russ; Lieutenants, Wm. A. Clark and James C. -Singleton. - -Company G--Captain, A. N. Proctor; Lieutenants, A. E. Proctor and -Charles Jarvis. - -Considerable time elapsed before the regiment was full. The system -adopted by the Governor, of assigning quotas to cities and towns, was -found to work to the disadvantage of the seven original companies -comprising the regiment in gaining recruits, as such quotas preferred -to enlist in a regiment, as a body, under officers of their own choice, -whenever the quotas were sufficient to form a company, or companies. -It became evident, early in September, that the Forty-Second Regiment -could not be filled to ten full companies unless some of the original -companies gave way to such city or town companies as could be secured. -Colonel Burrell, with his officers and their friends, spent time and -money, visiting various cities and towns endeavoring to have them join -the Forty-Second. - -There being a vacancy of three companies in the regiment, Colonel -Burrell, although having offers of five full companies to join at one -time, thought he could conscientiously accept of only three, viz., one -from Weymouth, one from Medway, and one from Dorchester, preferring -to let the other two join some other regiment, and to wait a short -time longer, in hope that officers recruiting for the original seven -companies would have full commands in a short time, although recruiting -was very, very dull at the time for four of those companies. When two -of the old companies, D and G, were full to the maximum, and the third, -Company C, was progressing favorably, it was evident Companies A, B, -E and F could not be recruited, and were delaying formation of the -regiment. - -Company H, recruited by Captain Bailey, was about full. This company -was not in the old Second Regiment. Bailey had some sort of authority -to recruit a company, and expressed a desire to become a part of the -Forty-Second. He made his headquarters at Readville, and sent men into -camp often. There was a great deal of bounty jumping in this company -before it was mustered in. The keeping of a correct list of men sent to -camp by the captain was a tough job, as the adjutant and sergeant-major -well remember. What blunders were made, or obstacles met and overcome -by Captain Bailey, no one can tell, for the captain kept his own -counsel. - -In Company B, Captain Townsend was very troublesome. In September he -carried his supposed grievances so far as to remain away from camp, and -order his men to keep away also. This culminated on the eighteenth, -when Colonel Burrell requested the adjutant-general to discharge him; -also recommended that Companies B and C be consolidated, and that -Company C be the nucleus and letter of the new company. Orders were -issued by the Governor disbanding A, B, E and F, transferring the men -to other companies. The Weymouth company was designated Company A; -Medway company, Company B; Dorchester company, Company I; and steps -were taken to try and secure town quotas to fill the three companies -required to complete the regiment. - -During October the Governor decided to consolidate certain regiments, -in order to remedy an apparent evil, and get the troops into the field -as soon as possible. More regiments were being recruited in the State -than could be filled by the State quota of nine months volunteers. The -Forty-Second and Fifty-Fourth regiments had the smallest number of men -mustered into service; the Forty-Second having seven companies, the -Fifty-Fourth, six companies. Three companies from Worcester County, -viz., from Leicester, Captain Cogswell, Worcester, Captain Stiles, -Ware, Captain Davis, of the Fifty-Fourth, were transferred to the -Forty-Second regiment. One company of the Fifty-Fourth was transferred -to the Fiftieth Regiment, two companies of the Fifty-Fourth to the -Fifty-First Regiment, and the Fifty-Fourth Regiment was disbanded. - -All through the attempt to recruit the regiment to its maximum -strength, Lieutenant-Colonel Perkins and Major Beach, instead of -rendering any valuable service in that direction, were hampering the -efforts of others. A jealousy sprang up in the breasts of these two -officers against the colonel, born from what no one seems to know, -and it is doubtful if they knew themselves. This jealous feeling was -intensified when Companies A, B, E and F were disbanded, opening -the way for three new companies from city and town quotas to take -their places. With only three companies remaining of the old Second -Regiment, a triangular fight sprang up for the positions of colonel, -lieutenant-colonel and major; elective in all nine months troops from -Massachusetts, line officers casting the ballots. Officers of the -three Worcester County companies held the balance of power. They were -desirous of obtaining for field officers the best men they could find -in the regiment. A council was held one evening, seated in a circle -upon the grass some distance from quarters, where the matter was -fully discussed. It was finally decided to vote for Isaac S. Burrell -for colonel, as he was well known to most of them as an old militia -officer; for Captain Stedman, Company B, to be lieutenant-colonel, as -he had been highly recommended to them by officials connected with -the Norwich, Vermont, Military Academy (where Stedman formerly held a -position as instructor in military tactics), with whom a correspondence -was carried on without the knowledge of Captain Stedman; for Captain -Stiles, Company E, to be major, as they all knew him to be an excellent -officer. The question of proportioning the field positions so as to -recognize the new companies that had joined the regiment did not enter -into their discussions at all. - -The election occurred on Thursday afternoon, November 6th, -at regimental headquarters. Every line officer was present. -Brigadier-General Peirce was presiding officer, with acting -Post-Adjutant Lieutenant Partridge, Company B, recording officer. The -vote for colonel stood twenty-eight for I. S. Burrell and two for T. L. -D. Perkins. The vote for lieutenant-colonel stood sixteen for Captain -Joseph Stedman, ten for Lieutenant-Colonel T. L. D. Perkins, two for -Major George W. Beach, and two for Captain A. N. Proctor. The vote for -major stood seventeen for Captain F. G. Stiles, three for Major George -W. Beach, and ten for Captain A. N. Proctor. - -Friends of Captain Proctor based his claim for the positions of -lieutenant-colonel and major on the fact that he was the senior -captain, a valid claim, which would have had weight with officers -holding the balance of power if they had known more of his military -history at that time. His friends did not press his claim until it was -evident Perkins and Beach could not be elected.[1] - -[1] The wounds of disappointment inflicted by this election were never -fully healed, but did not interfere with all of the officers doing -their duty as they understood it. In very small things did any feeling -show itself afterwards, and not then until the lieutenant-colonel was -in command, while the colonel was a prisoner. - -The dates of muster into the United States service are as follows: - - Company A--September 13, 1862. - “ B-- “ 13, “ - “ C--October 11, “ - “ D--September 19, “ - “ E-- “ 30, “ - “ F-- “ 30, “ - “ G-- “ 16, “ - “ H-- “ 24, “ - “ I-- “ 16, “ - “ K--October 14, “ - -The field and staff were commissioned November 6th, 1862, and mustered -in November 11th, 1862. The time of the regiment commenced from October -14th, 1862. - -It would be a hard task to pick out a finer body of men than composed -the rank and file of the Forty-Second Regiment as it now stood, -containing men from all ranks of life and all grades of society. A few -bad men were enlisted, ’tis true, but less than the usual proportion -found in regiments formed and enlisted as this was. About one-tenth, or -say nearly one hundred men, were of that disposition and temperament, -in case of going into action the very best thing to be done with them, -for the safety of the regiment, would be to hurl them into a ditch -with orders to stay there until the fighting was over. That the record -of the regiment does not equal the best from Massachusetts was due -to events over which it had no control. The material was there, the -courage was there; it needed merely a baptism fire to fully acquaint -the rank and file with the smell of powder, and then opportunities to -prove their metal. - -Life in camp at Readville was by no means monotonous. During August, -September, and part of October, the men were under canvas. Regular -routine duties of camp were performed, and the hours after duty were -passed in social pleasures, which only those who have a natural taste -for the life of a soldier, or young novices in camp life, know how to -enjoy. The weather, for a large portion of the time, was glorious. The -surrounding scenery at Readville is very fine, as any person who has -visited the ground can testify. As the facilities for visiting from -Boston were very good, _via_ the Boston and Providence Railroad, also -by splendid drives over excellent roads, all of the troops concentrated -there, over three thousand men, had many visitors to while away the -time when off duty, causing the various camps to have a gala appearance -at all parades of ceremony, such as guard mounting, dress parades and -reviews. Bands of music were specially engaged at various times to -assist in these parades, much to the gratification of the men. All day -long the rat-a-tap of the drums was to be heard, as the newly-organized -drum corps attached to the regiments went on with their practice. It -was a continual scene of excitement, without danger, until orders -came for the various bodies to move. Between other regiments and the -Forty-Second there was not much social intercourse, except in a few -instances. There appeared to exist a feeling that the Forty-Second did -not amount to much.[2] - -[2] Among the members of a band occasionally engaged for duty on -Sundays at Readville Camp was Mariani, the old drum-major of Gilmore’s -Band when at the zenith of its fame in Boston. Signior (as he was -called) Mariani was a man of commanding presence, very tall and very -heavy in build. He was a jolly companion, full of anecdote regarding -his native land, Italy. His one time, two time, three time story has -never been forgotten by those who had the pleasure of hearing it. - -Surgeon Cummings, appointed _vice_ Lamson resigned, commenced his -duties and reports September 6th, at once taking hold of matters with -a will and devotion to the interests of men in camp characteristic -of him.[3] With a sharp eye kept on the rations, cooking, sanitary -condition of grounds and quarters, hardly a day passed without his -embodying some suggestion of importance in his daily reports to the -colonel. At first he had great difficulty in getting first-sergeants -of companies to answer properly the surgeon’s call at his quarters in -the morning, whereby some men were neglected who were sick in quarters -and were not reported. He maintained his right, by virtue of the army -regulations then in force, demanding that the first-sergeants, or those -acting in their stead, attend the call punctually, report in writing -all on sick furlough, all sick in quarters and unable to attend, and -cause all who were sick so as to incapacitate them from duty, or -claimed to be so, to appear at his quarters, where each company would -be called in turn, prescribed for, and the men sent to quarters, to -hospital, on furlough, to easy duty or full duty; and if after the -morning call any were taken sick, a sergeant or corporal in all cases -be sent with them to his quarters, or to summon him to see them at -their own quarters when too sick to go to his tent. By hammering away -he finally got this system at work to his satisfaction. He calculated -to keep the run of all sick men in the regiment, as was his duty, and -did not want any one to say he had been neglected. Companies C and H -gave the surgeon much trouble, and ruffled his temper, because not able -to obtain any report from them, day after day, even after they were -mustered into service. - -[3] Cummings served in the Army of the Potomac, between Yorktown and -Richmond; also did duty in the Yorktown and Portsmouth Grove general -hospitals. - -The regimental hospital tent was one of the first things to occupy his -attention. By constant efforts on his part and of Colonel Burrell, he -was able to report on the twentieth of September that he was supplied -with all the medicines needed; on the eighteenth of October that the -hospital tent was ready for such patients as needed treatment there, -with accommodations for ten patients--in his opinion the best at the -post. On the second of October, and up to that date, accommodations in -regimental hospital had been such, and those unfit in the estimation of -the surgeon, that only two men could be received. Until the hospital -was ready, the practice was to allow sick men to go home on furlough if -unfit for duty. A few of the men attempted to play “old soldier,” but -very soon exposed themselves in some way, and had to do double duty as -the penalty. Surgeon Cummings could not be fooled very long. - -In the matter of police duty in the camp, he kept a careful watch to -see whether the officer of the day had sinks properly attended to. Cook -houses, cooking utensils and their care were often inspected by him; -also the cooking and food for rations. The guard quarters frequently -had his inspection, nor was he forgetful of the sentries on night duty, -many times recommending that hot coffee be served to them when the -nights were cold. With constant persevering efforts and rigid rules the -camp was kept very free from filth and vermin, that curse of military -camps in general. - -Most of the sick cases were from slight ailments. All serious cases -were furloughed home, and for a greater part of the time the average -sick was quite small; the camp continued to remain in a healthy -condition. Some cases of scarlet fever appeared in October and -November. Prompt isolation of persons affected prevented any spread -of this disease. One fatal case occurred in the regiment previous -to leaving the State--Private Robert T. Morse, of Company B, died -October 4th, 1862. While in regimental hospital his symptoms not being -favorable he was taken home by relatives and died there. In October -the surgeon discovered that Private Warren J. Partridge, Company B, -twenty-three years old, had an aneurism of the right subclavian artery, -liable to burst and destroy his life at any moment, and recommended a -discharge from the service. Private Partridge was discharged October -22d. The surgeon also reported on October 22d that one of the cases in -hospital he believed to be feigned, Private Abner Ward, of Company C. -He had learned Ward was determined to get a discharge at all hazards, -and was fifty-two years old. Ward enlisted as forty-four years of age, -never went with the regiment, and did obtain a discharge for disability -March 12th, 1863. - -Assistant-Surgeon Hitchcock was appointed and assigned to the regiment -by the surgeon-general of the State, reporting for duty in September. -Before leaving the State there were no opportunities to judge of his -capacity. He made a favorable impression on some and was not liked by -others. His appearance and conversation was that of a young graduate -from college. The reason he failed to satisfy men of the regiment while -in the field may partially be traced to early impressions he made upon -them at Readville. - -The rations furnished while in camp were good, and could not cause -complaint. So near home, with many friends, pocket money plenty, the -regular rations were supplemented by extras to such an extent that it -may be said most of the men fared sumptuously. Notwithstanding all -this, the natural instinct of a soldier in camp or on active service, -to forage, would make itself manifest in spite of extra precautions -taken to prevent it. A supper, participated in by a favored few one -evening, was one of the pleasant events of this camp. Those invited -were pledged not to ask questions. As chicken after chicken was brought -forth from a ground-hole inside of the tent, the reason was obvious. -It would have been awkward for some persons present to have asked -questions and been told the truth, for frequent complaints of despoiled -henroosts had been made by residents in adjacent farm-houses, and all -officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, were ordered to keep a -sharp lookout for chickens served as rations, and to follow up the clue -so obtained. - -The non-commissioned staff made an attempt to form a mess, with an -arrangement made with one of the company cooks to attend to the -cooking. The plan worked well for a short time. The sharp appetites -of all who composed that mess got the better of their willingness to -allow fair play and a fair chance for all to sit down and have a proper -share of what was on the mess table, so the unlucky member who was late -would find nothing to eat. Dissatisfaction was expressed by the unlucky -member at such times, which was to be expected, but precious little -satisfaction could he get. One after another withdrew until there was -not enough left to stand the expense, when the non-commissioned staff -mess became a thing of the past. No attempt was ever made to revive it. - -To vary the monotony of company and battalion drills, that had been -pushed ever since camp was located, short practice marches were made -from camp in different directions over the various roads in the -vicinity. The day after a march made October 9th, Surgeon Cummings, -in his morning report, commented as follows: “The march of yesterday -had its usual effect upon those not in perfect health, of which class -there are always more or less in every regiment. A larger proportion, -however, than usual, will, I believe, be found in this regiment capable -of enduring severe and exhausting hardships, which are unavoidable in -the field.” Throughout October the weather could not have been better. -What with the bracing air, constant out-door exercise, plain food, -strict regularity of meals and good hours for sleep, it was astonishing -to see how tough and hardy those men became who had heretofore led a -sedentary and confined life in counting-rooms. The greater number of -this class of men afterwards stood fatigue of campaign service much -better than those who appeared to be healthier and stronger. In fact, -the men who were strong, from having out-door occupations, were among -the first to break down when hot weather set in, while serving in the -Nineteenth Corps. - -On the departure of the Forty-Fourth Regiment for North Carolina, -October 22d, the Forty-Second struck its camp, occupied the barracks -vacated by that regiment, and rapidly improved in discipline and drill. -On going into the barracks of the Forty-Fourth they were found to be in -a dirty and filthy condition. It was hard work policing the grounds -and cleaning up quarters before the surgeon would be satisfied with -the sanitary condition of grounds and barracks. The regimental camp -hospital was removed to the barrack hospital on the twenty-third, much -against the judgment of Surgeon Cummings, who expressed a preference -for his tent as long as the weather was not too cold. In his morning -report of October 23d, Cummings says, “The removing of the camp from -its present site to that lately occupied by the Forty-Fourth Regiment -in this weather will, I fear, cause more or less sickness from -exposure; but the men stand camp life remarkably well--much better -than we had any reason to expect. The field, barracks, cook-houses, -hospital, wells, and especially the sinks, lately occupied and used -by the Forty-Fourth Regiment were left in the most dirty and filthy -condition imaginable. I was astonished to find a camp which had been -reported to the surgeon-general as a pattern of neatness and excellent -sanitary regulation in such an exceedingly filthy condition, especially -the sinks. They evidently have not been filled in for more than a week, -to say the least. I shall report to the surgeon-general the exact -state, as near as possible, in which the camp was left for us.” - -November was a cold month. On the seventh a severe north-east -snow-storm was experienced, causing much inconvenience and suffering, -as stoves had not been placed in the barracks. The next day this was -remedied by obtaining stoves from the Forty-Fifth Regiment barracks. - -Orders were originally prepared for the regiment to proceed to -Newbern, N. C., but Colonel Sprague, Fifty-First, who had served -under General Foster, wishing to do so again, an interview was held -with Adjutant-General Schouler by the two colonels, and as Colonel -Burrell expressed a preference to serve under General Banks, the -original orders were destroyed; orders were then issued to report -to Major-General N. P. Banks in New York, to form a part of his -expedition, or “Banks’ expedition” as it was publicly known. - -The regiment left Readville at one o’clock in the afternoon, Friday, -November 21st, in a heavy rain-storm, _via_ Boston and Providence -Railroad, by cars to Groton, Conn., thence by steamer _Commodore_ to -New York. - -The original mustered strength of the regiment was as follows: - - Field and Staff, 9 officers, 9 total. - Non-Commissioned Staff, 5 enlisted men, 5 “ - Company A, 3 officers, 94 “ 97 “ - “ B, 3 “ 92 “ 95 “ - “ C, 3 “ 88 “ 91 “ - “ D, 3 “ 86 “ 89 “ - “ E, 3 “ 79 “ 82 “ - “ F, 3 “ 88 “ 91 “ - “ G, 3 “ 96 “ 99 “ - “ H, 3 “ 88 “ 91 “ - “ I, 3 “ 92 “ 95 “ - “ K, 3 “ 86 “ 89 “ - -The following men had been discharged for disability before leaving the -State: - - Company A, Private Joseph Viger, November 18, 1862. - “ A, “ Bernard Doherty, “ 18, “ - “ A, “ James C. Wendall, “ 18, “ - “ B, “ Warren J. Partridge, October 22, “ - “ F, “ James O. Boyd, November 19, “ - “ F, “ Henry W. Pratt, “ 19, “ - “ F, “ Anthony Sherman, “ 19, “ - “ K, “ William B. Gould, “ 18, “ - -There were left behind, in the State, the following officer and -enlisted men, on detached service, sick, or in jail: - -Lieutenant D. A. Partridge, Company B--Remained at Readville camp by -orders of Colonel Day, issued October 27th, 1862, on detached duty, -looking out for deserters; six men were returned to the regiment -through him. There was some difficulty and correspondence relating to -his rejoining the regiment. A feud existed between Lieutenant-Colonel -Stedman and Partridge, occasioned by the election for captain in -Company B, when Partridge was jumped over by Cook, through interference -of Stedman, so Partridge claims. Stedman lost friends in the regiment -by his action. Lieutenant Partridge was mustered out of service March -5th, 1863, to accept a commission in the Fifty-Fifth Regiment. - -Private Newman B. Luce, Company E--Sick in hospital at Camp Wool, -Worcester, since October 2d, 1862. Rejoined his company April 9th, 1863. - -Private Frederick A. Mahan, Company E--Sick in hospital at Camp Wool, -since October 10th, 1862. Rejoined his company April 9th, 1863. - -Private Asa Breckenridge, Company K--Sick in hospital at Readville. -Sent home to Worcester, November 12th, 1862. Did not rejoin the -regiment. - -Private John W. Sheppard, Company K--Sick in hospital at Readville. -Sent home to Warren, Mass., November 12th, 1862. Discharged for -disability April 8th, 1863. - -Private Abner C. Ward, Company C--Shot himself to escape duty. Left at -Hopkinton, Mass. Discharged for disability March 12th, 1863. - -Private George A. Davis, Company D--Sick at home in Roxbury, Mass., -since November 21st, 1862. Rejoined his company May 16th, 1863. - -Private John O’Harran, Company D--Confined in Dedham jail on sentence -for manslaughter; killing a citizen in a drunken brawl at Mill Village, -Dedham, Mass. Never rejoined his company. - -Private John Nolan, Company D--Confined in Dedham jail as a witness in -O’Harran’s case. Released and joined the regiment February 4th, 1863. - -Private Thomas H. Rillian, Company D--At home sick. Discharged for -disability March 7th, 1863. - -Private John A. Pierce, Company H--At home sick. Discharged for -disability March 5th, 1863. - -Private Charles H. Hill, Company I--Sick in hospital at Readville, -November 22d, 1862. Discharged for disability March 28th, 1863. - -Others were also left, but they reported in camp at East New York -before the regiment sailed for New Orleans. - -The roster of the regiment was as follows: - -Colonel--Isaac S. Burrell. - -Lieutenant-Colonel--Joseph Stedman. - -Major--Frederick G. Stiles. - -Adjutant--Charles A. Davis. - -Quartermaster--Charles B. Burrell. - -Surgeon--Arial I. Cummings. - -Assistant-Surgeon--Thomas B. Hitchcock. - -Assistant-Surgeon--Rush B. Heintzelman. - -Chaplain--George J. Sanger. - -Sergeant-Major--Charles P. Bosson, Jr. - -Quartermaster-Sergeant--Henry C. Foster. - -Commissary-Sergeant--William H. Hutchinson. - -Hospital-Steward--Charles J. Wood. - -Drum-Major--Richard A. Neuert. - -Company A--Captain, Hiram S. Coburn; Lieutenants, Martin Burrell, Jr. -and John P. Burrell. - -Company B--Captain, Ira B. Cook; Lieutenants, David A. Partridge and -Joseph C. Clifford. - -Company C--Captain, Orville W. Leonard; Lieutenants, Isaac B. White and -Joseph Sanderson, Jr. - -Company D--Captain, George Sherive; Lieutenants, William H. Cowdin and -Darius F. Eddy. - -Company E--Captain, Charles A. Pratt; Lieutenants, John W. Emerson and -Brown P. Stowell. - -Company F--Captain, John D. Cogswell; Lieutenants, Timothy M. Duncan -and Lyman A. Powers. - -Company G--Captain, Alfred N. Proctor; Lieutenants, Albert E. Proctor -and Thaddeus H. Newcomb. - -Company H--Captain, Davis W. Bailey; Lieutenants, Charles C. Phillips -and Augustus L. Gould. - -Company I--Captain, Cyrus Savage; Lieutenants, Samuel F. White and -Benjamin F. Bartlett. - -Company K--Captain, George P. Davis; Lieutenants, Henry A. Harding and -J. Martin Gorham. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -EN ROUTE--CAMP AT EAST NEW YORK--ON TRANSPORTS. - - -On arrival at Groton, the men were immediately marched aboard the -steamer _Commodore_, owned by Commodore Vanderbilt, exclusively used -for transport service since the war commenced. Owing to a dense fog -which prevailed and stormy character of the weather, it was near two -o’clock Saturday morning before the boat left her pier. - -At this place the regiment came near losing the sergeant-major. After -the men had filed aboard and been assigned positions upon the boat, -he went ashore to take a look around the wharf, to ascertain if all -stragglers had reported on board; while doing so, the darkness causing -all lights to be very indistinct, he was about to walk off the dock -when a friendly voice of caution was heard just in the nick of time. -Dressed in a great coat, with belt and sword, and heavy knapsack -strapped upon his back, to have dropped into the chilly water on that -cold night was almost certain to have ended his life. - -Only those who have participated in like occasions can imagine the -scene that presented itself on board the _Commodore_. One would think -this body of over nine hundred men were bound on a picnic rather than -a duty which involved life or death. No one could foretell what the -future had in store for him, whether a victim to disease, maimed or -diseased for life, death upon the field, temporary sufferings from -curable wounds, or a return home in as good health and spirits as when -he left. They took the risk. They should have credit for the courage to -do so. - -A trip through the cars while _en route_ from Readville Camp showed -the men to be in rather a sober state of mind. Nothing gloomy about -them, but very thoughtful. The car containing the field, staff and line -officers, had the appearance of a silent prayer meeting. The colonel -was quite meditative. Parting with wife and children was no easy matter -to a man of his noble disposition. Many men had been married only a few -weeks or months, and to them the enforced separation was keenly felt. -As the day was rainy a very limited number of friends were present in -camp to say good-by, and affecting parting incidents were not so many -as they otherwise would have been. All homesick feelings passed away -when the regiment reached Groton, and each man was himself again. - -The quartermaster and commissary stores, ammunition and horses were -in cars on the fore part of the train, in charge of detailed men. The -jolliest crowd upon the train was in the ammunition car, composed of -Sam Hersey, the colonel’s clerk, Sergeant Courtney, Sergeant-Major -Bosson, and Sergeant Wentworth. - -With singing, dancing, card playing, frolicking, and cutting up pranks -of various sorts, time passed rapidly. There were parties who did not -sleep at all that night. Those who have ever been on excursions such as -used to be indulged in by the old militia organizations, can form some -idea of the manner in which the night was passed. - -Owing to the late hour of leaving Groton the _Commodore_ did not arrive -at New York until noon of Saturday. Rations had been issued, to be -carried in haversacks, sufficient to last three meals to each man; but -with that carelessness so habitual to a raw soldier the rations lasted -a majority of them for one meal; the consequence was, that on arrival -at New York, the men were tired, very hungry, and very cross. About -dusk orders were received to proceed to the Union Race Course at East -New York, and report to Colonel Chickering, Forty-First Massachusetts -Volunteers, commanding the post. The steamer _Commodore_ was then lying -at Williamsburg. The baggage wanted immediately was packed and sent -forward; the troops filed out of the steamer, forming regimental line -in South Second Street. The citizens (noble hearted people) furnished -the entire regiment with hot coffee, crackers, fresh bread, cheese and -cold meats. Some ladies went so far as to furnish hot pies, baking -and dealing them out while the men were halted, refreshing themselves -in their neighborhood. By eight o’clock the entire body was amply -refreshed and ready to commence the ten-mile march which was before -them. All through the City of Williamsburg the regiment was greeted -with cheers, wavings of handkerchiefs, expressions of good-will, and -all those demonstrations which proved a people’s interest in the cause -for which the men were enlisted. While this excitement continued the -column was steady enough, but after the populous part of the city -was passed and the muddy road was reached, with all quiet outside of -the column, straggling commenced. The weight of knapsack, gun and -ammunition pouch began to be felt; feet became sore; silence reigned -in the ranks, and nought could be heard save the rattling of the drums -at the head of the column, the solid tramp, splash, tramp, splash, or -words of command from officers. - -The night was dark as black pitch, the road rapidly became worse as the -regiment advanced, the weather became very cold, with strong, chilly, -wintry blasts, so that by the time Hiram Woodruff’s hotel and stables -was reached the men were not in the best of spirits to receive the -intelligence imparted to them. It was here Colonel Chickering had his -headquarters. When Colonel Burrell reported himself and command for -instructions, he was ordered to the race-course to feed the men, and -procure the best quarters possible. There were some four thousand -men already in camp and bivouac. No ground had been allotted the -regiment, and no tents were to be had, so that soon after reaching the -race-course the regiment countermarched back to Woodruff’s stables, and -the men were ordered to find shelter for the night in the horse-stalls, -hen-houses, etc., to the best of their ability. The One Hundred and -Sixty First New York Infantry had arrived but a short time previous, -and were placed in a similar position. How the various companies of the -regiment passed the night would be an interesting history by itself, -suffice it to record every man survived, and in the morning, on forming -regimental line, none seemed the worse for a little hard experience -so early in his military career. On arrival at New York the colonel, -quartermaster, and adjutant, reported to General Banks. Requisition -was made at once on Post-Quartermaster Colonel Van Vliet for camp -equipage. Adjutant Davis was left to get this camp equipage _en route_ -for the camp-ground, and had a tough time to obtain drays and induce -the drivers to start for East New York. The late hour when all was -ready made it necessary to persistently stick to the work, or else it -would not have been accomplished. This camp equipage arrived during the -night, ready for use the next morning. - -Camp was pitched on Sunday, a bitter cold day, and from this time until -the day it was vacated the regular routine of camp life was done. At -first the cold weather occasioned much distress, but moderating in a -few days comparative comfort was experienced. Most of the men, with -“Yankee” ingenuity, built underground ovens in their tents with a -passage to the outside for escape of smoke. Towards night these ovens -were filled with wood and a fire started, which generally would last -all night, enabling occupants, with the aid of straw bedding, to keep -tolerably warm. Every night huge bonfires were made at the head of each -company street, and around them the men would cluster and discuss their -treatment, talk of those at home, crack jokes, sing songs, tell stories -(some of them good, others not good), while few of a philosophical turn -of mind indulged in speculations as to the future. The poor fellows on -sentry duty had a hard time; the guard reliefs would gather about a -bonfire in front of the guard tents roasting the side of their bodies -nearest the fire while the other side was freezing, then reverse this -position and thaw out one side while the other froze again. During the -eleven days in camp here a large amount of wood was consumed, in order -to keep warm. Many trees in rear of the camp were cut down and burned, -besides the amount of wood allowed by Government and drawn through the -quartermaster, for the nights would be cold even when the days were -comfortable. - -There were two evils under which the troops suffered while at this -post: rations, and officers on leave of absence. Instead of allowing -rations to be drawn in kind, a post-kitchen had been established; -somebody having contracted with some United States official to furnish -cooked rations at so much a ration. This somebody must have realized -a very large amount of greenbacks by the operation. Frequently the -food was not fit for dogs to eat. Not once could the coffee be drank -without creating a nausea. This necessary article would be drawn by the -company cooks from the post-kitchen in pails, and then thrown away, -alleging, as a reason for doing so, that so much was stopped from -delivery to the rest of the troops in camp. At times the meat served -out was eatable, but often better fitted to be used as manure than -to sustain life in a human being. The bread was good, and on this, -with clear, cold water, most of the men subsisted. Some companies did -manage to obtain a little good coffee and cheese, from New York City, -on their private account. To such a pitch had the feelings of men been -wrought by this one item of bad rations, when the post commissary -building caught fire one day, not a soldier would lend a helping hand -to quench the flames until it was announced that the post hospital was -over the cook-house. They then worked with a will to stop the fire. In -the month of December, a few weeks after the regiment had left, this -same cook-house caught fire again, and was burnt to the ground. It is -supposed to have been designedly set on fire by soldiers then in camp. -After this was done Government rations were issued according to army -regulations. When the Forty-Second got orders to leave camp, Colonel -Burrell had a wordy fight with the contractor who furnished rations, as -he refused to sign a receipt for full rations, telling him the whole -scheme was a fraud. Time was precious, and a compromise was arrived at -by Burrell consenting to sign a receipt for one-third the number of -rations claimed to have been issued. - -All furloughs or leaves of absence had to be granted by Colonel -Chickering. Battalion commanders had no right to grant them. Field -officers were obliged to be absent more or less on business. Line -officers of the regiment were continually away on furlough, to visit -New York City, often without leave, taking the liberty without -applying for it in the regular way. At this time the discipline of the -enlisted men was far ahead of that shown by their officers. Orders -were frequently received from post headquarters when no commissioned -officer could be found in camp to take them. The regular drills would, -in most cases, have to be conducted by non-commissioned officers, in -the absence of those in commission. Is it to be wondered at, with such -a state of things existing among the officers, that the men should -adopt the same policy? If a furlough was not granted run the guard and -be absent on “French leave,” as it was termed. There were some forty -cases, on an average, each day, of men absent without leave. - -True to his duty and profession, Surgeon Cummings had the hospital -tent put up and placed in order immediately after the camp-ground -was selected. Those who were under his treatment can testify to his -care of them, and the amount of work he did to keep the sick in good -spirits. He labored under extraordinary difficulties at this particular -time, with several serious cases on his hands. Four of them had to be -left in hospital when the regiment proceeded to embark on transports, -viz., Private Abijah S. Tainter, Company E, Private Charles S. Knight, -Company F, Private Paschal E. Burnham, Company G, and Private George A. -Cushing, Company A. - -Cushing, Knight and Burnham did not rejoin the regiment, being -discharged and mustered out of service during the Spring of 1863. -Tainter never rejoined his company, and was not mustered out until the -expiration of service by the regiment. - -One peculiar case under the surgeon’s care deserves mention. A private -from one of the companies was in hospital sick. It was difficult -to diagnosis his case. There was no trace of disease except his -complaint of being sick. He was in the hospital about two days, eating -heartily, sleeping soundly, generally enjoying the snug place like -an epicure. The surgeon got mad. It is usual to make convalescents in -camp hospitals do some light work when there is any to do and they are -capable of doing it. He set this fellow to do some light chores in -the tent, when his peculiar disease developed itself suddenly. It was -laziness. To square accounts with the impostor, Cummings pronounced him -cured, but, before discharging him from the sick-list to duty, said he -must take a bath; upon disrobing himself his shirt and flannels were -found literally alive with vermin; they could not be cleaned; a hole -was dug in the ground, a fire made, when the clothing, with vermin, was -burned. The fellow was too lazy to keep himself clean. - -Cummings enjoyed a good smoke before going to sleep. A look into his -tent any night after he had retired would show him to be covered up -to his chin with coverlids, a night-cap on almost covering his eyes, -and from the small exposed part of his face volumes of smoke would be -rolling upward from an old clay pipe seen in his mouth. Those who were -aware of this habit used to think it a good joke to invite anybody to -take a peep into the tent and see the surgeon at his devotions. - -Thanksgiving Day found most of the companies with enough turkey and -chicken to go around. Where they came from is not a mystery. Some from -home, but not all. The complaints of farmers near by, who had poultry -to lose, destroys all mystery about it. To the credit of the regiment -be it said that this was the only time when any foraging was done -clandestinely while at East New York. The justification must rest on -the ground of neglect by proper officers to furnish proper food. - -The City Government of Boston having generously furnished the regiment -with a complete set of band instruments, which were received December -1st, while at East New York, a band was organized from the rank and -file, consisting of the following members, viz.: - -1. Bugler Joseph R. Parks, Company D, Leader. - -2. Drummer Frederick L. Bowditch, Company A. - -3. Private George A. Morse, Company B. - -4. Private Joseph Clark, Company B. - -5. Bugler Bernard McKenna, Company C--in February, 1863, gave up his -connection with the band and joined his company at Camp Parapet, La. - -6. Corporal Frederick S. McIntosh, Company D--was completely prostrated -by long sickness, and discharged from the service in June, 1863, for -disability. - -7. Private Edmund L. Chenery, Company D. - -8. Private Francis L. Howard, Company E. - -9. Drummer Frank Lamb, Company F. - -10. Corporal Charles H. Woodcock, Company F--gave up his warrant in -March, to join the band. - -11. Corporal Edward A. Spooner, Company F--attached in March. - -12. Private Orrin F. Bacon, Company I. - -13. Fifer Thomas Bowe, Company I. - -14. Bugler Henry B. Sargent, Company I. - -15. Corporal William A. Cowles, Company I. - -16. Bugler Cyrus S. Loud, Company K. - -The places of sick members were temporarily filled by others from the -ranks. A queer compound of human flesh, Sergeant Charles A. Attwell, -Company G, was made band-major March 2d, magnifying his position and -duties to such an extent that his appointment was revoked July 18th. -Parks, the leader, was another queer fish. He worked hard in his own -way, ably seconded by Tom Bowe, to improve the band. The talent could -not be called first-class, while his own ability to instruct members -was limited. He should be congratulated for such a tolerable degree -of proficiency as was attained. Notwithstanding the band did not have -a good selection of band music for a long time, it was a source of -pleasure while in service. Old Parks, as he was called, was a great -tobacco chewer, with a cud in his mouth at all hours. One afternoon he -forgot to remove this article from his mouth while on regimental dress -parade in New Orleans, and blew the same into his instrument when the -band commenced to sound off down the line. He played, or tried to play -away, without success, and set the boys laughing by his look of wonder, -and attempts to remedy the evil. Not until this parade was over, amid -bantering by his comrades, did he discover what was the source of -trouble. - -Long since has it been demonstrated that regimental bands are not -desirable during active service. The attention, the accommodations and -privileges they require, are not commensurate with the service they -render. Field music, where there is in addition a band, is sure to be -neglected. Out of fourteen to twenty drums in the Forty-Second Regiment -that should always have been in good working order, from two to five -only were usually found fit for use, while the band was kept supplied -with everything it required. The long roll has been beaten by one drum -because all other drums were without drum-heads. Often the same drummer -has had to first beat drummers call at guard quarters, then beat the -stated signals in front of the camp. - -Drum-Major Neuert must have been very much disgusted with his position -and duties while at Bayou Gentilly Camp in Louisiana, to have devoted -so much of his spare time in teaching some of the young darkies who -hung around the camp how to drum. These youngsters learned very rapidly -how to beat a drum, using a piece of board to practise upon. An -excellent drum corps of from twelve to fifteen drummers could easily -have been formed from these camp followers, who, in a short time, would -be almost as proficient as the regular drummers. - -At noon, on the second day of December, orders were received from -General Banks directing the regiment to proceed at once to Brooklyn -and embark upon transports, that were to be in readiness. Camp was -struck at once, baggage packed and sent forward, cooked rations for -twenty-four hours issued, or supposed to have been, for what was -received from the post-kitchen was not reliable, and by three o’clock -in the afternoon the regiment was _en route_. Just before leaving the -camp-ground to take the road the Twenty-Eighth Connecticut Infantry -Regiment passed by, on the way also to take transports. From the -music given by the Twenty-Eighth regimental musicians, that could be -distinctly heard for some minutes as the regiment came along the road -hid by the woods, it was supposed they had a very fine band. Great -was the surprise to those who were near enough the road to see when -the head of the column came in sight, that the music was rendered by -drummers, fifers and buglers only. With those who were interested in -such matters it was the opinion, that the music rendered by these field -musicians equalled, and in some selections of pieces played surpassed, -anything the band of the Forty-Second ever did. - -Passing through Brooklyn, a similar demonstration greeted the regiment -as when passing through Williamsburg. It was a fine evening, about -dark, as the men marched upon the sidewalks (the streets were quite -muddy) along some of the most pleasant thoroughfares of Brooklyn. -Houses appeared to be in a blaze of light, the people crowded at -windows, on door-steps and sidewalks, full of enthusiasm. Many requests -were made by young ladies to be favored with a letter after taking -the field; many little necessaries were given to the men; neatly -folded within the packages were found _billet-doux_, with the name and -address of the writer, saying the donor expected to hear again from the -recipient. Some of these notes fell into rather queer hands. So far as -could be ascertained, no undue advantage was ever taken by the men of -the Forty-Second from this epidemic of nonsense. - -On arrival at the South Ferry, foot of Atlantic Avenue, at seven -o’clock, one transport was found at the designated pier, accommodating -two companies, and she was not ready to embark men. Quarters for the -night were generously tendered Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, for the -regiment, by the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Regiments, N. Y. National -Guard, in their armory. The colonel, major, and quartermaster went to -New York on business at General Banks’ headquarters. Refreshments were -furnished by the same regiments, and by citizens. Many of the men were -entertained in private residences with supper, lodging and breakfast. -To the postmaster, and Mayor of Brooklyn the regiment was especially -indebted for favors extended. State Agent Colonel Tufts, in charge of -the New England rooms in New York, supposing the Forty-Second would -embark at foot of Canal Street in that city, had provided a full supply -of hot coffee, sandwiches, crackers and cheese, at that point. On -learning this fact the sergeant-major was dispatched to have the food -brought over to Brooklyn, which was done late in the evening, arriving -after the men were all fed. The supply thus obtained was dealt out in -the morning to those who needed it.[4] - -[4] After sentinels were posted, to prevent men from straggling away -from quarters, many ludicrous scenes occurred in attempts made to get -out. The most ingenious contrivances were adopted; some men even risked -their lives in these attempts to evade the guard, by windows, and from -the armory roof. They tried to crawl through ventilators, and to tunnel -into the street from the cellar. Nearly all these devices failed, and -by midnight all were fast asleep. Private Gusebio, Company C, was -caught by a police officer, as he emerged from a coal-hole in the -sidewalk, and beaten with a club until the guard took charge of him. -These policemen on duty did not exercise any judgment whatever. They -were finally taken away from the neighborhood to prevent a collision -with the men, who were enraged at their bullying behavior. - -The greater part of the regiment behaved finely on this occasion. There -was some straggling and some desertions. The worst case of neglect of -duty that occurred was Color-Sergeants Vialle, Company G, and Humphrey, -Company D, who had in their charge the State and United States colors. -Instead of leaving them in the armory where the regiment was quartered, -they were left in a low groggery on Atlantic Avenue, and found by the -sergeant-major, by the merest accident, late in the evening, taken -to the armory, and placed in charge of the color company. It was the -intention of Colonel Burrell to have had an inquiry into this case -of neglect, when circumstances would permit. The separation of the -companies and his being retained a prisoner of war for a long time -alone prevented. - -Early on the morning of December third the embarkation commenced, -transports having arrived. Owing to the large number of stragglers -during the day it was dark before all were got aboard, and the vessels -hauled into the river.[5] It was now evident that the three steamers -upon which the regiment was embarked were not sufficient for the -purpose. Upon the _Charles Osgood_, _Shetucket_, and _Saxon_, at least -one hundred men upon each vessel were obliged to sleep on deck. Proper -representations were made to General Banks the next day, who placed a -fourth transport, the _Quincy_, at the colonel’s disposal, when three -companies were transferred to that vessel. - -[5] Among these stragglers was Private Wilson Curtis, an _alias_, -of Company C, a professional bounty jumper, who had deserted from -Readville Camp, a tough customer every way. He was spotted in New York -by Lieutenant White, over there for the purpose of picking up stray -men from his company, as he was on his way to board the _Shetucket_. -Lieutenant White accosted him, and expected to have a fight before he -could get him on board, but Curtis, who at first denied his identity, -soon deemed it best to rejoin his company, as White covered him with -his pistol besides using an argument on him, the substance of which -was, that his life was not worth a cent if he was handed over to the -military authorities. Curtis served faithfully with his company to the -end. - -Perhaps those men who on the night of the third of December were so -loud in their denunciations of the colonel and his staff, laying all -the blame for the hardships then suffered on those who strove in -every way, and used every means within their power, to benefit their -condition; perhaps those men, when time had given them a chance to -reflect and compare their whole experience with what it was that night, -would acknowledge that they were wrong in their snap judgment. If they -could have seen the work done that night, and heard the opinions of -their officers, they would then have known that the colonel and staff -had their welfare and good condition at heart. - -Shame on all men who will endeavor to foment a mutiny on the strength -of fancied wrong, or incompetency of those in command, on such -occasions as the one in point presented. There were men on board the -transports that night who should hang their heads in shame. - -The regiment was finally distributed as follows: - -On the _Saxon_--Colonel Burrell, Adjutant Davis, Quartermaster Burrell, -Surgeon Cummings, Chaplain Sanger, Quartermaster-Sergeant Foster, and -Companies D, G and I. On the _Quincy_--Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, -Sergeant-Major Bosson, Commissary-Sergeant Friend S. Courtney, who -had been promoted from a private in Company D, _vice_ Hutchinson, -discharged at East New York on account of sickness, Drum-Major Neuert, -Assistant-Surgeon Hitchcock, the band, and Companies A, B and F, with -fifty men of Company C, Twenty-Eighth Connecticut Volunteers. Upon -the _Charles Osgood_--Companies E and K, and Hospital-Steward Wood. -Upon the _Shetucket_--Major Stiles, Ward-Master Lewis, of Company -D, Ordnance-Sergeant Wentworth, Company G, and Companies C and H. A -few officers and men were detached for special duty on transports -_Quinnebaug_ and _Eastern Queen_. - -The regiment departed South in these transports, leaving behind the -enlisted men named in the following table, who straggled from their -colors or deserted them while in camp at Readville and East New York, -and while embarking for the South: a mere handful ever returned. - -There may have been some excuse for the desertion of a few of the -younger men. Often a young man, after enlisting, has had such a -pressure put upon him by family relations as to cause his desertion. -In other cases cowardice was the true reason. While in a camp of -instruction, and in no danger, all is well; when marching orders -are received and preparations made to reach the seat of war, then -weak-hearted young or old men are apt to desert. The greater portion -of deserters from the Forty-Second Regiment were professional bounty -jumpers under assumed names. - - - ===================+===============+==+==+==+============ - NAME. | RANK. | CO. | DATE. - -------------------+---------------+-----+--------------- - William Hoes, | Private. | C. | October 15. - George Gray, | “ | “ | “ 16. - William Nickerson, | “ | “ | “ 18. - John Osborne, | “ | “ | “ 18. - Henry Phillips, | “ | “ | “ 20. - | | | - James Boyd, | “ | “ | “ 20. - David Coleman, | “ | “ | “ 20. - Herman Hemming, | “ | “ | “ 28. - John Single, | “ | “ | November 2. - John Gordon, | “ | “ | “ 2. - Edward Harrison, | “ | “ | “ 15. - John Isensee, | “ | “ | “ 15. - Patrick Murphy, | “ | “ | “ 15. - John Stevens, | “ | “ | “ 17. - James Haley, | “ | “ | “ 17. - Hugh Cameron, | “ | “ | “ 29. - Thomas F. McKenna, | “ | “ | December 2. - Alexander Campbell,| “ | D. |Time not known. - Henry Doyle, | “ | “ | “ - William H. Ellis, | “ | “ | December 4. - Michael Hagan, | “ | “ |Time not known. - John Hathon, | “ | “ | December 4. - Samuel Holmes, | “ | “ | “ 4. - James Johnson, | “ | | “ 4. - James Long, | “ | “ | “ 4. - Trueworthy L. | “ | “ | “ 4. - Moulton, | | | - Henry Morrill, | “ | “ | “ 4. - Henry O. Williams, | “ | “ |Time not known. - Christopher Smith, | “ | “ | “ - Thomas Burns, | “ | “ | December 4. - | | | - John Nolan, | “ | “ | “ 4. - | | | - Thomas Mathews, | “ | “ | “ 4. - | | | - Patrick Goughan, | “ | E. | October 4. - | | | - Samuel E. Lull, | “ | G. | “ 1. - William Mullen, | “ | “ | “ 12. - Robert Cunningham, | “ | “ |November 10. - Joseph Reed, | “ | “ | “ 18. - Henry Bridges, | “ | “ | December 3. - | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | - James M. Marston, | “ | “ | “ 3. - Joseph V. Colson, | “ | “ | “ 3. - | | | - | | | - Rufus C. Greene, | “ | “ | “ 3. - John Luzardo, | “ | “ | “ 3. - George G. Nichols, | 1st Sergeant. | “ | “ 3. - James L. Vialle, | 2d “ | “ | “ 3. - Charles A. Atwell, | 4th “ | “ | “ 3. - Edward Bliss, | Private. | H. |September 25. - John Fitzsimmons, | “ | “ | “ 25. - John Flanigan, | “ | “ | “ 30. - William Gorman, | “ | “ | “ 25. - Joseph W. | “ | “ | “ 26. - McLaughlin, | | | - John Quinn, | “ | “ | “ 30. - William Thompson, | “ | “ | “ 30. - Charles Stewart, | “ | “ | October 1. - Henry Canivan, | “ | “ | “ 1. - George Cook, | “ | “ | “ 1. - Francis Curly, | “ | “ | “ 20. - Samuel D. Gregory, | “ | “ | “ 1. - Charles Kenney, | “ | “ | “ 18. - Timothy Linehan, | “ | “ | “ 18. - Patrick Maline, | “ | “ | “ 10. - Patrick McNally, | “ | “ | “ 5. - John C. Anels, | “ | “ | November 29. - Thomas Cahill, | “ | “ | “ 18. - Joseph H. Gleason, | “ | “ | “ 14. - John Higgins, | “ | “ | “ 1. - Florence Crowley, | “ | “ | “ 24. - John McCarty, | “ | “ | “ 1. - Dennis O’Connors, | “ | “ | “ 17. - Thomas H. Ryan, | “ | “ | “ 17. - Benjamin F. Wilde, | “ | “ | “ 25. - Hans F. Hansen, | “ | “ | “ 29. - Alonzo Jones, | “ | “ | December 4. - James Baxter, | “ | I. |September 24. - Nathan Green, | “ | “ | “ 25. - James Gorman, | “ | “ | “ 25. - David Gracy, | “ | “ | “ 25. - Frederick Ernell, | “ | “ | November 18. - John Snier, | “ | “ | “ 18. - Levi Elmer, | “ | “ | December 3. - Edward Fisher, | “ | K. | “ 2. - | | | - George A. Whitney, | “ | “ | “ 2. - | | | - Dennis O’Mara, | “ | “ | “ 3. - Andrew J. Horton, | “ | “ | “ 3. - | | | - ===================+===============+=====+=============== - - ===================+============================================ - NAME. | REMARKS. - -------------------+-------------------------------------------- - William Hoes, | Deserted from Readville Camp. - George Gray, | “ “ “ “ - William Nickerson, | “ “ “ “ - John Osborne, | “ “ “ “ - Henry Phillips, | Deserted from Readville Camp, and also - | was a deserter from the First Mass. - James Boyd, | Deserted from Readville Camp. - David Coleman, | “ “ “ “ - Herman Hemming, | “ “ “ “ - John Single, | “ “ “ “ - John Gordon, | “ “ “ “ - Edward Harrison, | “ “ “ “ - John Isensee, | “ “ “ “ - Patrick Murphy, | “ “ “ “ - John Stevens, | “ “ “ “ - James Haley, | “ “ “ “ - Hugh Cameron, | Deserted from camp at East New York. - Thomas F. McKenna, | Deserted at Brooklyn, N. Y. - Alexander Campbell,| Deserted. - Henry Doyle, | “ - William H. Ellis, | Deserted at Brooklyn, N. Y. - Michael Hagan, | Deserted. - John Hathon, | Deserted at Brooklyn, N. Y. - Samuel Holmes, | “ “ - James Johnson, | “ “ - James Long, | “ “ - Trueworthy L. | “ “ - Moulton, | - Henry Morrill, | “ “ - Henry O. Williams, |Time not known.| Deserted. - Christopher Smith, | “ - Thomas Burns, | Straggler at Brooklyn, N. Y.; rejoined - | Feb. 4, 1863. - John Nolan, | Straggler at Brooklyn, N. Y.; rejoined - | Feb 4, 1863. - Thomas Mathews, | Straggler at Brooklyn, N. Y.; rejoined - | Feb. 4, 1863. - Patrick Goughan, | Deserted from Camp Wool, Worcester, - | Mass. - Samuel E. Lull, | Deserted from Readville Camp. - William Mullen, | “ “ “ “ - Robert Cunningham, | “ “ “ “ - Joseph Reed, | “ “ “ “ - Henry Bridges, | Deserted at Brooklyn, N.Y.; apprehended - | at Albany; sent to regiment Dec. 31, by - | Major I. T. Sprague, 1st Inf., U. S. A., - | Supt. Recruiting N. Y. Vols., but never - | joined; deserted again. - James M. Marston, | Deserted at Brooklyn, N. Y. - Joseph V. Colson, | Straggler at Brooklyn, N. Y.; reported - | himself to the proper officer, and - | rejoined the regiment Feb. 18, 1863. - Rufus C. Greene, | Straggler, } Came to New Orleans on the - John Luzardo, | “ } transport _Quinnebaug_; - George G. Nichols, | “ } rejoined the regiment Feb. - James L. Vialle, | “ } 3, 1863. - Charles A. Atwell, | “ } - Edward Bliss, | Deserted from Readville Camp. - John Fitzsimmons, | “ “ “ “ - John Flanigan, | “ “ “ “ - William Gorman, | “ “ “ “ - Joseph W. | “ “ “ “ - McLaughlin, | - John Quinn, | “ “ “ “ - William Thompson, | “ “ “ “ - Charles Stewart, | “ “ “ “ - Henry Canivan, | “ “ “ “ - George Cook, | “ “ “ “ - Francis Curly, | “ “ “ “ - Samuel D. Gregory, | “ “ “ “ - Charles Kenney, | “ “ “ “ - Timothy Linehan, | “ “ “ “ - Patrick Maline, | “ “ “ “ - Patrick McNally, | “ “ “ “ - John C. Anels, | Deserted from camp at East New York. - Thomas Cahill, | Deserted from Readville Camp. - Joseph H. Gleason, | “ “ “ “ - John Higgins, | “ “ “ “ - Florence Crowley, | Deserted from camp at East New York. - John McCarty, | Deserted from Readville Camp. - Dennis O’Connors, | “ “ “ “ - Thomas H. Ryan, | “ “ “ “ - Benjamin F. Wilde, | Deserted from camp at East New York. - Hans F. Hansen, | “ “ “ “ - Alonzo Jones, | Deserted at Brooklyn, N. Y. - James Baxter, | Deserted from Readville Camp. - Nathan Green, | “ “ “ “ - James Gorman, | “ “ “ “ - David Gracy, | “ “ “ “ - Frederick Ernell, | “ “ “ “ - John Snier, | “ “ “ “ - Levi Elmer, | Deserted at Brooklyn, N. Y. - Edward Fisher, | Straggler at Brooklyn; was sick, and - | discharged the service March 12, 1863. - George A. Whitney, | Straggler at Brooklyn; was sick, and - | discharged the service March 5, 1863. - Dennis O’Mara, | Deserted at Brooklyn, N. Y. - Andrew J. Horton, | Straggler at Brooklyn, N. Y.; rejoined - | the regiment February 3, 1863. - ===================++============================================ - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -ON BOARD TRANSPORTS--THE SAXON--QUINCY--CHARLES -OSGOOD--SHETUCKET--QUINNEBAUG. - - -“Headquarters” transport _Saxon_, so called because the colonel with a -majority of his staff were on board, was commanded by Captain Lavender, -and remained in the harbor until the morning of Friday, December 5th, -the men subsisting on crackers and cold water. At eight o’clock she -proceeded to sea, the boys giving a round of cheers to a lady upon -the ramparts of Fort Columbus, who waved a United States flag as they -passed. All arrangements were promptly made for the voyage: cooks -detailed to cook rations, and men assigned to bunks below deck. - -Rough weather experienced the first night out soon became a gale, -which lasted for two days, playing the deuse with company cooks, and -prevented any use of the galley situated between decks. Those who could -eat at all had to subsist on hard bread and raw, salt pork. Nearly all -of the men and all of the officers were very sea-sick. The galley fire -was started several times, but rolling of the steamer would cause fat -in the pans to run over upon the galley stove, and blazing up quick -would set fire to the deck. Quick work with buckets of water would put -the fire out and prevent any serious damage. - -The gale moderated during the night of December 7th. On Monday, -December 8th, after passing Cape Hatteras during Sunday night, the sea -became smooth, when men began to show themselves on deck. Somewhat -hungry, and not liking the regular allotted fare, on Monday night a few -men broke open the ice-chest and stole some fresh beef, cooking it at -the galley. Next morning the culprits were picked out. Corporal Sanford -Wood, Company I, was broke, had his chevrons stripped from his uniform, -and was put in irons by order of the colonel, as he was ringleader in -the affair. Privates J. Colson, Company I, Frank McConlow and Fitzallen -Gourley, both of Company D, detailed cooks at the time, were also put -in irons for not revealing the thieves names. - -The _Saxon_ proved to be the safest and fastest boat of the four -vessels. She made a fine run to Key West, where anchor was cast at -six o’clock December 11th, without anything of an exciting nature to -enliven the trip except striking a school of finback whales about ten -o’clock on the morning of the tenth. The orders to transport-captains -were, to sail forty-eight hours out to sea and then open their sealed -orders, which were to rendezvous at Ship Island, Gulf of Mexico, with -permission, in case of distress, want of coal, water or provisions, -to stop at Port Royal, Tortugas or Key West. Taking in a supply of -fresh water and coal the steamer left Key West at six o’clock on the -morning of December 12th, bound for Ship Island direct; but early on -the morning of December 15th, which was very dark, the mate in charge -of the deck lost his course, and at full speed almost ran by the -blockading fleet off Mobile Bay. The gunboat _R. R. Cuyler_ hailed them -at two A.M., and was answered, when a blank shot followed by -a cannon-ball from the gunboat _Montgomery_ caused the mate to slow -up and heave to. Not provided with a steam whistle there was nothing -to do but to wait for something to develop, and soon the _Saxon_ was -boarded by naval officers, who gave the unwelcome intelligence that -the transport was off her course, heading direct for Mobile, and was -then past the inner line of picket boats, about one and a half miles -from Mobile Bar. - -The _Saxon_ then proceeded on the correct course for Ship Island, -arriving there at nine o’clock A.M. About twenty-five tons -of coal was taken aboard from coal vessel _General Berry_, that had -lain at Ship Island for four months without a bushel of coal being -removed until the _Saxon_ took her small supply. After receiving orders -and coaling, at five o’clock in the afternoon a start was made for -New Orleans, encountering a severe northerly gale during the night, -which caused the vessel to roll worse than at any time previous on the -voyage. At seven o’clock, December 16th, the bar at South-West Pass -of the Mississippi River was in sight, and at nine o’clock she was on -her way up river, passing Forts Jackson and St. Philip at noon, tieing -up at the left bank at nine o’clock for the night; two sentinels were -placed upon the river bank as a protection from any possible guerilla -attack. - -Early on the morning of December 17th, say about three o’clock, the -vessel proceeded to New Orleans, arriving at seven o’clock, after a -trip of twelve days from Sandy Hook, New York harbor. At four o’clock -in the afternoon the _Saxon_ steamed up river to Carrollton, arriving -at seven o’clock, and anchored for the night, the men landing to go -into camp late in the afternoon of next day, eighteenth. - -The _Quincy_ was the first transport to get away, passing Sandy Hook -at night December 4th, in face of a threatening gale that lasted about -three days. While passing Cape Hatteras the gale became so severe that -the vessel was in great danger of not being able to weather it, as -Captain George W. Clapp, an old and experienced navigator, afterward -acknowledged. Had she foundered, few, if any, could have survived to -tell the tale. Except the crew and Captain Cogswell, all hands were -in that state of sea-sickness they did not care whether they lived or -died. The _Quincy_ was an old freight propeller with two light masts, -and one small upright boiler to work her machinery, previously in the -merchant marine on one of the western lakes. She was lost December -12th, 1863, while making the voyage from New York to New Orleans, -having sprung a leak during a violent gale, going down in sight of -Hatteras Light. Out of twenty-five persons aboard nine were saved. -Captain Clapp was lost. - -On the evening of December 8th a leak in the boiler was discovered. The -fire was put out to admit of repairs being made; the steamer drifting -through the night. Fortunately the weather was all that could be -desired, and no bad results from the accident were to be feared. Steam -was got up on the morning of the ninth, but the same evening another -and worse leak in the boiler was discovered. At a council of officers -convened it was decided to instruct the captain to put into Port Royal -for repairs. The weather continued magnificent, with a smooth sea. -Port Royal was reached at noon on the eleventh under circumstances -which did not admit of a doubt that had the steamer been delayed twelve -hours longer her engine could not have been used at all. A Board of -Survey, granted by Brigadier-General Brannan, U. S. A., commanding the -District, and Commodore Dupont, pronounced the vessel sea-worthy, while -the boiler and engine were altogether too small for ocean service, -besides being very much out of order. - -The troops were landed and quartered at Hilton Head while repairs -were made. Lieutenant Powers was sea-sick from the start, refusing -nourishment part of the time, and not able to retain any on his stomach -when he attempted to take it; wrapped in his blanket he lay a picture -of helplessness, losing strength day by day until it became a question -whether he would survive to reach Ship Island. The landings at Hilton -Head and Tortugas enabled him to recuperate sufficient strength to -stand the strain while upon the water, for when going to sea after -each landing he was flat on his back again the moment the long ocean -swell was reached. While the gale lasted for the first days out from -New York, sick as they were between decks, in an atmosphere almost -stifling from combined effects of stench from the cooking-range and -stench of another character, the men did not miss the funny scenes -that constantly occurred, causing laughter from men too sick to raise -their heads. One of these scenes was when the vessel gave a lurch, -that came near putting her upon her beam ends and threw the men below -promiscuously out of their berths, when one of them scrambled to the -other side, clung to a bunk and shouted, “for God’s sake, boys, all on -this side and right her!” - -Buckets of water were kept in readiness for use in case of fire, -because in a heavy sea fat in stew-pans on the galley would be thrown -out and flash up in a blaze, causing danger to constantly exist of -a fire breaking out among inflammable material. This was so in all -transports conveying the Forty-Second, notwithstanding every precaution -was taken to guard against such a danger when cooking ranges were -placed on board. - -Surgeon Hitchcock had a few severe cases of fever under his care, -attending to them faithfully, with a loss of one man by death. To his -care and attention many men owe a debt of gratitude, and for assistance -he rendered in placing them on their sea-legs; dealing out nourishment -suited to the debilitated condition they were in until sufficient -strength and appetite was gained to go on with the army ration. When -fairly over their sea-sick attack appetites of men became voracious. - -On shore at Hilton Head the men were allowed to roam at will, an -opportunity they exercised to the utmost,--visiting other troops in -camp; taking daily baths at the sand beach, where they also washed -their under-clothing; feasted on fresh bread from the post-bakery, -equal to any furnished by the best of hotels in Boston; stole apples -at night from under the noses of a guard posted upon the wharf where -the barrels lay; sight-seeing upon the island like school-boys on a -vacation. The quarters were in some empty barracks near a sluggish -bayou, upon whose bank was a small graveyard, covered with ashes, with -a neglected appearance in general, where were interred the remains of a -few sailors who lost their lives at the capture of Forts Beauregard and -Walker by the Federal Navy in November, 1861. - -Everything wore a quaint look, not only here but at every stopping -place _en route_ to New Orleans, exercising a peculiar charm over men -from the North who had never visited the South, experienced by all -travellers to parts of this world remote from their own residences, -regardless of any facts bearing on the climatic influences on -unacclimated beings. Until the stern reality of war was forced upon -them, it seemed to each and every man as though he was travelling for -pleasure at the Government expense. The first agreeable impressions of -localities visited on the voyage from New York to New Orleans cannot be -eradicated from minds of men belonging to the Forty-Second Regiment. - -After repairs were finished the men reëmbarked December 16th, -proceeding at once to sea, and made a fine run to Tortugas, arriving -at Fort Jefferson on the twentieth, at nine o’clock A.M., to -take in coal. While coasting in sight of Florida Keys the steamer -_Memenon Sanford_, that formerly ran between Boston and Bangor, was -seen upon the reefs with wreckers around her. The _Sanford_ had the One -Hundred and Fifty-Sixth New York Infantry Regiment on board; every man -was saved and taken to Key West, December 11th, with nothing but what -they carried in their hands. The baggage and stores were afterwards -obtained, but the steamer could not be saved. - -In Fort Jefferson was a garrison of four companies, Ninetieth New -York Infantry, weak in numbers from heavy losses by yellow fever -during the summer months. There was a large number of military and -civilian prisoners kept at work upon the fort, not then in a finished -state. Occupying a part of the parade within the walls were several -three-story brick dwelling houses with gardens attached, and trees of -large growth under whose sheltering branches several head of cattle, -belonging to the Commissary Department, would collect to escape the hot -sun at mid-day. - -As another instance of danger that existed during the transportation of -Banks’ expeditionary corps to New Orleans, while the _Quincy_ was at -Tortugas an old rat-trap steamer came into port in a leaky condition -with New York troops on board. The pumps were kept constantly at -work since leaving New York, so the men stated. How the unseaworthy -transports managed to carry their human freights without loss of life -from dangers of the sea is one of those curious mysteries of God’s -providence. - -After coaling and starting again seaward a collision occurred in the -channel with a Government schooner, carrying away the after part of -the steamer’s deck cabin, which caused a detention of several days to -repair damages. At dusk, on the twenty-second, the _Quincy_ put to sea, -arriving at Ship Island on the twenty-fifth, at nine o’clock P. -M. Early on the morning of the twenty-fifth Private W. H. Young, -Company C, Twenty-Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, died of fever, and -was committed to the deep at eleven A.M. with appropriate -services. Before the death of Young was announced, scattered on deck -and below, were knots of men engaged in the pastime of cards. Lounging -around, fishing and card playing were what the men did to kill time -since leaving Hilton Head; a book of any sort in their hands was not to -be noticed. On the announcement--presto--a sudden change; cards were -put away; nearly every man had his Bible, and was intently engaged in -its contents for the balance of the day. A death at sea with solemn -funeral rites was not without effect. - -Receiving his orders, Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman had the _Quincy_ sail -for New Orleans on the twenty-sixth, arriving late at night on the -twenty-ninth, after a passage of twenty-five days from Sandy Hook. -The South-West Pass was reached at nightfall; a thick curtain of mist -preventing an entrance then. In company with several other transports -the _Quincy_ lay outside the bar until morning; a continual noise -from fog-whistles causing one to think he was in New York harbor. In -the morning, as the heavy fog lifted, a beautiful mirage was seen in -the sky, showing a brig ashore on a mud bank of the Delta. A perfect -representation of what was soon seen to be actually the case. - -The _Quincy_ disembarked her troops at Carrollton, who went into camp -at Camp Mansfield. - -The _Charles Osgood_ was an unfortunate vessel. An old propeller -used on Long Island Sound, she was in every respect consort of the -_Shetucket_; each fitted up in the same manner to convey troops, -_i.e._, with a false deck to cover bunks and cooking apparatus. In -a serious blow, with heavy sea running, this deck was liable to be -swept away at any moment. The steamer anchored in the river after -all hands were on board, proceeding to Sandy Hook on the fifth; there -remained until she put to sea at half past five o’clock A.M. -December 6th. Captain Geer never was beyond Fortress Munroe, and knew -little about ocean navigation. He put to sea with one small compass, -no charts, no chronometer, no life preservers on board, and with two -small boats. With clear, cold weather, a high wind and rough sea, the -_Osgood_ ran down the coast and into Cape May harbor during the night -of the seventh, for refuge. While in Delaware Bay a severe blow split -sails and caused a slight displacement of the boiler, causing the -captain to run into Delaware River and anchor off Delaware City at -six o’clock, eighth, then to Philadelphia next day for repairs. She -remained at Philadelphia for five days, to obtain new sails, new boat -oars, life preservers, charts, and repairs on the boiler. The captain -secured the services of an old and experienced navigator, Captain Sears. - -As the men were afraid to continue the voyage on the steamer they were -not allowed to go ashore, for fear none would return when all was -ready to start. They grumbled considerably, and when the vessel ran -aground on League Island, about half past seven A.M. on the -fourteenth, some men improved the opportunity to run ashore upon the -ice. They went to Philadelphia, got drunk, but all came back before -she got afloat at the next full tide except Private Chauncey Converse, -Company K. Private Converse did not rejoin his regiment until April -11th, 1863. He surrendered himself to United States officers, taking -the benefit of general orders No. 58, War Department, series of 1863, -granting pardon to all deserters who did so. Regarding this case of -apparent desertion Adjutant-General Schouler wrote Lieutenant-Colonel -Stedman, under date of February 21st, that Converse reported he was -left sick at Philadelphia, and said he had tried and wished to rejoin -his regiment. - -At half past eight o’clock A.M. on the sixteenth this -transport got a fair start, after remaining over night inside the -breakwater at Cape Henlopen, proceeding down the coast in sight of -land during the day and running out to sea at night until Key West -was reached at two o’clock on the afternoon of the twenty-third. The -vessel struck on Fernandina Shoals, on the twentieth, about four -o’clock in the morning; fortunately no damage was done, although boats -were got ready to cast off in case of necessity. Leaving Key West -at nine o’clock A.M. on the twenty-sixth, bound direct for -Ship Island for orders, the transport arrived there at seven o’clock -P.M., December 29th, proceeding to New Orleans early next -morning (four o’clock), two hours later running aground and remaining -for a few minutes, off Chandeleur Light; made Pass L’Outre, mouth of -the Mississippi, at four o’clock in the afternoon, arriving at New -Orleans at two o’clock A.M., January 1st. - -Ordered forthwith to Galveston, the transport left New Orleans at four -o’clock in the morning, January 2d, and anchored at South-West Pass for -the night, about five o’clock in the afternoon. On the third, at six -o’clock A.M., the voyage was continued, but after a five hours -run gunboat _Clifton_ hailed the _Charles Osgood_ and ordered her back -to New Orleans, because Galveston was lost. She again reached that city -at three o’clock P.M. on the fourth. - -Companies E and K were disembarked at Carrollton on the afternoon of -January 5th, and reported to Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, in command -of Companies A, B and F, in camp at Camp Mansfield. Five companies -of the regiment were now united after a month’s separation by the -sea. Greetings were cordial and heartfelt. The _Charles Osgood_ was -twenty-six days making the voyage from Sandy Hook to New Orleans, -although the men had to live on board for thirty-three days. - -The _Shetucket_ was another unfortunate transport, with a tedious -passage. She went to sea on the morning of December 6th. The men -had embarked during the day of December 3d, proceeding down the bay -to Sandy Hook on the morning of the fifth, when Captain Philo B. -Huntley, in command of the steamer, was obliged to seek shelter until a -snow-storm, then raging, had somewhat abated. - -The officers on board were: Major Stiles in command; Captain Leonard, -Lieutenants White and Sanderson, of Company C; Lieutenants Phillips -and Gould, of Company H; and Lieutenant Duncan, Company F, detailed to -act as commissary. Captain Bailey, Company H, had been granted a two -hours furlough on shore for the express purpose of obtaining oil to -counteract the effect of salt water upon the muskets, and taken with -him acting Commissary-Sergeant Wentworth, Company G. They failed to -report on board at the limitation of time, but took passage for New -Orleans on the _North Star_, conveying the Forty-First Massachusetts -Infantry, General Banks and staff. The _North Star_ left New York -December 4th, before the _Shetucket_ left her anchorage in the -river. Captain Bailey did not assume command of his company until -January 12th. He and Wentworth arrived in New Orleans December 15th. -Wentworth was ordered to join his company on the _Saxon_. No hospital -accommodations was upon the transport, and no medicines, except what -meagre supplies were obtained by Major Stiles at Fortress Munroe and -Hilton Head. Private Thomas M. Lewis, Company D, enlisted from Roxbury, -a man forty-five years old, and a friend of Surgeon Cummings, was -detailed to act as surgeon. He was familiarly known as “old salts,” a -nickname given by the men, suggested by a rule he invariably followed -of prescribing a dose of salts to about every man who complained of -sickness. - -The _Shetucket_ was an old two-masted propeller freight boat, plying -between New York and New London. A false deck-house of unsound lumber -had been built upon her main deck, covering the whole vessel from bow -to stern; in this deck-house bunks were built to accommodate near -two hundred men, and cooking apparatus placed. In a rough sea every -wave that struck her sides would send salt water into the bunks, so -much so that when the water was rough very few men would occupy them; -those that did arranged rubber blankets for what protection they would -afford. All of the accommodations were extremely poor. Sailing orders -were the same as on other transports; no one on board knew their -destination until after leaving Key West, except Major Stiles, Captain -Huntley, and Captain Leonard. This commendable secrecy was observed -upon all four of the transports that conveyed the Forty-Second. - -Slow progress was made by this vessel when at sea. On the third night, -December 8th, Major Stiles retired early, worn out with loss of sleep, -leaving the command with Captain Leonard, and Lieutenant White on -duty as officer of the guard. About eight o’clock Lieutenant Gould, -conversing with Lieutenant White, remarked that if the captain kept -on in the direction he was going the vessel would be ashore, as he -knew the course steered was wrong from his experience and knowledge, -obtained while serving upon a Baltimore steamer. White paid no -special attention to what Gould said, and it does not appear that the -attention of Major Stiles was called to the matter. Lieutenants White -and Phillips were engaged in a game of cards in the cabin about nine -o’clock when a sudden shock was felt, bringing them to their feet in -an instant. Another shock followed immediately, and on the deck they -went, when another was felt, each one shaking the vessel from bow to -stern. The sky was clear, the sea tolerably smooth, and the shore could -be seen distinctly about one-half a mile away. There were two boats -(one large and one small) upon the _Shetucket_; the large boat was not -sea-worthy, while the small boat was capable of carrying three men. The -old sailors (there were many in Companies C and H) were sharp at work -trying to launch them. Captain Leonard sought the major, who sprang -from his berth on the grating sound awakening him, and was dressing, -and said: “The men have mutinied, and are all on deck. The officers of -the boat up in the rigging assailed by the men and dare not come down, -and the boat is aground; for God’s sake, come on deck.” - -There was the usual commotion and confusion incident to such occasions, -and the major, half-dressed, was met by Lieutenant Phillips at the head -of the companion-way, who handed him a rope saying: “Make yourself fast -major, or you will be washed overboard.” - -Lieutenant White drove men away from the boats, not until Sergeant -Henry Mann kicked a hole in one of them, and remarked as he did so: -“Only the officers can use it.” They then went for the hatchway, broke -it open, and commenced work on what little cargo there was aboard; for -what reason it is difficult to understand, unless to obtain material to -float upon in case it was necessary to take to the water as the only -means of escape, or to lighten the vessel. This was soon stopped. Major -Stiles ordered the men to their quarters below, answered by a chorus of -voices shouting: “We will be d--d if we will.” A persuader in shape of -a couple of cocked revolvers, with a determination to shoot the first -man who refused to obey his order, settled the business in a very short -time, and they went below. - -Captain Huntley came down from aloft and informed the officers his -vessel was on Hog Island Shoals. For half an hour all attempts to back -off ended in failure, until a long, ocean swell lifted her bow, when -she floated into deep water. An examination of the hold proved that the -ship was making water slowly--not enough to be dangerous, as the pumps, -when set to work, were found able to control it. Her rudder was sprung, -two flukes were gone from the propeller, and two of her keel planks had -been smashed. The _Shetucket_ proceeded on, and reached Fortress Munroe -next day. - -One of the funny incidents of this adventure was Lieutenant Sanderson -appearing on deck with a patent rubber pillow, for use in case of -shipwreck, at that period sold extensively in New York City, so fixed -about his body near the hips that if he should have been washed -overboard it would be difficult, if not impossible, to keep either head -or feet above water. The lieutenant was obliged to hear many sharp -jokes on this account the remainder of the trip. - -At Fortress Munroe the vessel was ordered to Norfolk for necessary -repairs, arriving in the evening at six o’clock. In passing Craney -Island on the way to Norfolk they came to a blockade of piles with bare -room enough for a vessel to pass through, and a gunboat on guard. In -answer to a hail from this gunboat a dare-devil in Company H shouted in -reply: “Go to h--ll!” an answer that aroused the anger of Mr. gunboat -commander, who threatened to blow them to pieces. Apologies were of no -avail; a demand was made for the man who made the insulting reply, but -no one would point him out. The affair calmed down and the _Shetucket_ -went on her way. - -The men disembarked, quartered in the Seamen’s Bethel on West Wide -Water Street, and gave their officers considerable trouble by pranks -they carried on while in the city. General Vialle at one time -threatened to send a battery and fire into them; they made so much -disturbance ringing the church bell. During their stay Privates Luke -Armstrong and Alexander B. Ralsea, Company H, were taken sick and -placed in the general hospital; neither men rejoined the regiment -during its term of service. Private Ralsea was mustered out of service -at Fortress Munroe, for disability, May 27th. - -Repairs finished, on the afternoon of December 21st the _Shetucket_ -proceeded to sea, making very slow time, and ran short of coal and -water, causing Captain Huntley to bear up for Hilton Head. In the -attempt to make that port he ran into the blockading squadron off -Charleston, S. C., at three A.M. on the twenty-fifth, sailing -a direct course for Fort Sumter, when hailed by war-vessel _Powhattan_, -whose crew were beat to quarters, with a command: “Stop, or I will sink -you!” The naval officers were out of temper, and used strong language -to Captain Huntley for his stupidity, intimating that he deserved -sinking, and would have got it but for the troops on board. Anchor was -dropped at Hilton Head in the afternoon at half-past five o’clock. - -The next day, twenty-sixth, an affair happened that threatened serious -consequences to one of the participators. Coal schooner _J. G. Babcock_ -was alongside coaling the steamer. For some time the men had been -chaffing the schooner’s crew in a good-natured manner, and when a -drummer-boy of Company H began to climb the rigging he was ordered down -by the sailing-master, who was in an angry mood. This drummer paid -no attention to the order until the master sprang into the rigging to -force the boy back. He was coming down as the officer passed up, and -was kicked by the latter a few times in the head. That was enough to -make the men furious. Seizing lumps of coal they began to hurl the -missiles into the rigging, uttering threats to kick him overboard if he -came down, and frightened the officer to such an extent that he dare -not do so, but kept on going up to the crosstrees with an intention -of coming down on the other side of the mast. Privates John Davis, -Company H, Con. Dougherty, William Cook and Joseph Cole, Company C, and -others, all rough fighters, jumped on board the schooner and were in -the rigging on that side to get at him, when Lieutenant White, whose -personal courage no one ever had occasion to doubt, sprang to the -schooner’s deck ordering them down. All of the company officers then -got these men aboard the _Shetucket_, and the _Babcock’s_ crew cut the -ropes, letting her drift away to a safe distance. On the twenty-seventh -another schooner finished coaling. - -As water was scarce at Hilton Head, the _Shetucket_ was ordered -to Beaufort to replenish water casks, doing so on Sunday, the -twenty-eighth. With a few hours to spare while at Beaufort, Major -Stiles decided to give the men leave of absence on shore until five -o’clock P.M., for at that hour the tide would serve to proceed -to sea. Thoroughly disgusted with the _Shetucket_, the men held a mass -meeting in a square of the town during the day and voted not to go on -board the old boat again. A committee was appointed to notify Major -Stiles of their decision; this committee attending to that duty between -two and three o’clock in the afternoon. No time was to be lost if the -men were to be got aboard that day in season to sail. The quality and -temper of the men was such, that any attempt to persuade them was -useless and merely involved loss of valuable time. Major Stiles called -upon the provost-marshal, informed him of the situation and asked his -assistance, which he was willing to give if the major would assume all -responsibility if trouble ensued. Of course this was done. - -With about one hundred cavalry-men and seventy-five infantry the -provost-marshal, almost at the point of the bayonet and sabre, it -might be said, drove the men slowly toward the wharf, and every man -but one (a member of Company H) was got aboard at the appointed time. -The missing man was asleep in a house and overlooked, but found next -morning, brought down to Hilton Head and put aboard. On casting off and -reaching the channel, the provost-guard was saluted with many forcible -compliments, such as can only be given by men in a like situation. - -It is not surprising such an incipient mutiny should have occurred when -all the circumstances of the case are considered: an old, unseaworthy -boat; indifferently officered, manned and equipped; consuming days of -valuable time to make a comparatively short voyage; liable to founder, -if caught in a heavy gale; not able to make over four knots an hour at -her best speed. The regimental officers consider it creditable that the -men bore their hardships patiently so long as they did. - -Sailing from Hilton Head on the twenty-ninth, the steamer arrived at -Key West January 2d, 1863, for provisions. There was much amusement on -board when the U. S. gunboat _Sagamore_ hailed them in the afternoon of -the day they went into Key West, and the officer in charge of her deck, -when informed what day the vessel left New York, replied: “Where in -h--ll have you been all this time?” - -Lieutenant Duncan, who was sea-sick whenever at sea, had a penchant -for collecting leaves and flowers wherever a landing was made, placing -them between leaves of books to press, and thus preserve them. While -at Key West some wags among the officers, who were ashore strolling -around, conceived the idea of carrying on board an appropriate sample -of the product of the soil. A huge cactus plant was obtained, taken -aboard, and presented to Lieutenant Duncan to press and preserve. He -had to stand many a joke about that cactus for a long time. - -After obtaining a supply of repacked beef, that tasted well enough when -cooked and cold, but during the process of cooking made such a stench -the men could not remain below, the _Shetucket_, on the fourth day -of January, sailed for Ship Island, encountering a rough gale on the -sixth, that made things lively on board, and blew them fifty miles from -their course. Late in the afternoon on the seventh two steam vessels -were seen, or rather, the smoke they made was sighted on the horizon. -There was some commotion on board, and speculation was rife as to their -identity. The Confederate war vessel _Alabama_ was a nightmare that -haunted the minds of all upon transports conveying troops to the Gulf -Department. The following morning a vessel was in sight giving chase. -Rapidly gaining upon the _Shetucket_, a blank shot, then two solid -shots were fired, the last striking water about two hundred yards away -from the transport, when she was hove to. The vessel in pursuit was -the gunboat _R. R. Cuyler_, who had sighted the afternoon before, the -transport and another steamer, giving chase first to the _Shetucket_, -until finding her to be a slow sailer had gone in pursuit of the other -vessel, overhauling her during the night, capturing a good prize in an -English iron-built blockade runner, and then started for the transport -again, confident she could be found at any time. - -This was on the morning of the eighth, and in the evening, at nine -o’clock, they arrived at Ship Island. Receiving orders to proceed -to New Orleans, a start was made at noon the next day, entering the -Mississippi River by Pass L’Outre early on the morning of the tenth, -arriving at New Orleans in the afternoon of Sunday, January 11th, with -only three men sick after such a trip. - -The regiment was in camp at Carrollton, and Companies C and H proceeded -next day to that place, disembarked, and joined Companies A, B, E, F -and K, having been thirty-six days on the trip from Sandy Hook to New -Orleans. - -The transport _Quinnebaug_ was in charge of Lieutenant Proctor, -Company G. Corporal Hodsdon, Company D, was detailed to report to -Colonel Beckwith, chief commissary, and by him assigned to the -vessel. It was intended at one time to send some horses upon her, -but the accommodations were such that none would have lived, and -it was abandoned. This transport was like the _Charles Osgood_ and -_Shetucket_, fitted up with bunks to accommodate troops. After some -changes of mind in regard to this vessel, she was loaded with stores, -sufficient for twenty-four thousand army rations. - -Lieutenant Proctor, while on the way to go aboard his steamer in the -river, ready to proceed, was hailed on Broadway by Sergeants Nichols, -Vialle and Atwell, who said they had been left, together with Private -Greene, all of them members of Company G. Proctor told them to find -Greene and go on board the _Quinnebaug_, which they did. - -One of the ridiculous things done in loading this vessel was to put -in a large refrigerator built next to the engine boilers, against -remonstrances of men who knew this would not do, packing it with ice -and fresh beef. As was to be expected, heat from the boilers melted -the ice fast, and by the time they went into Tortugas the beef was -spoilt. The _Quincy_ was there at the same time, but her troops could -not, or would not, eat the meat which Lieutenant Proctor sent on board -to the extent of several tons. The balance he threw overboard after -leaving Tortugas. - -This vessel sailed December 6th, proceeding to Fortress Munroe for -orders, as directed, remaining there two days; also touched at Hilton -Head for one day, Tortugas for one day and a half and Ship Island -for one day, arriving at New Orleans December 29th, having been -twenty-three days on the trip from Sandy Hook. - -When Captain Beckley, commanding vessel, heard the sailing orders read -at sea, which directed them to Ship Island, he was mad, and said his -boat was unseaworthy and in no condition to go over the Bahama Banks; -he was also without charts for a voyage beyond Charleston, S. C., and -was obliged to send to Baltimore for them, from Fortress Munroe, where -they were obtained with difficulty. The _Quinnebaug_, in July, 1864, -while conveying from Morehead City to Baltimore about two hundred and -eighty discharged soldiers, was driven ashore when off Cape Lookout, -the machinery refusing to work, and became a total wreck. Between -eighty and ninety soldiers were lost. - -Other detailed men from the regiment for detached duty were: Corporal -Alfred Thayer, Company I, Wagoners John Willy, Company B, Joseph -B. Ford, Company A, Chauncey K. Bullock, Company D, Nelson Wright, -Company E, Porter Carter, Company K, in charge of horses upon the -transport-ship _Wizard King_. This ship sailed from New York December -8th, and arrived at New Orleans December 31st. Besides a large amount -of stores, about one hundred and sixty horses were on board, belonging -to field officers of various regiments in the expedition. Each -regiment detailed men to care for its own horses. Twenty-five horses -were lost on the trip, among them Surgeon Hitchcock’s horse. - -The experience of other Massachusetts troops on the voyage to New -Orleans was varied, as the following condensed statement will show: - -Fourth Regiment Infantry--Seven companies and a portion of another -sailed from New York January 3d in the transport-ship _Geo. Peabody_; -arrived February 7th, not landing until the thirteenth; forty-seven -days on board; balance of regiment arrived about the same time. - -Forty-Seventh Regiment Infantry--Entire regiment sailed from New York -December 22d on steamer _Mississippi_; had a pleasant voyage of eight -days to Ship Island; arrived at New Orleans December 31st. - -Forty-Eighth Regiment Infantry--Embarked December 29th on steamer -_Constellation_, sailing from New York for Fortress Munroe January -4th; after detention of seven days sailed for New Orleans, and arrived -February 1st. - -Forty-Ninth Regiment Infantry--Left New York January 24th on the -steamer _Illinois_; arrived at New Orleans February 7th. - -Fiftieth Regiment Infantry--Three companies were on steamer _Jersey -Blue_, one company on steamer _New Brunswick_, five companies on -steamer _Niagara_, one company on ship _Jenny Lind_. The _Jersey -Blue_ sailed from New York about December 11th, became unmanageable -at sea and was obliged to put into Hilton Head in distress; troops -were landed and remained on shore about three weeks, then embarked on -bark _Guerrilla_, and arrived at New Orleans January 20th. The _New -Brunswick_ sailed December 1st; arrived at New Orleans December 16th. -The _Niagara_ sailed December 13th, sprang a leak first night out, -machinery became disabled, and it was necessary to put in at Delaware -Breakwater; arrived at Philadelphia sixteenth, where the steamer -was condemned by a Board of Survey as unfit for transport service. -Ship _Jenny Lind_ arrived at Philadelphia January 1st, took the five -companies on board, and on the ninth sailed for Fortress Munroe, -arriving on the thirteenth. As the _Jenny Lind_ was not capable of -accommodating all the troops, three companies were transferred to ship -_Montebello_--she sailed sixteenth; arrived at New Orleans January -27th. The _Jenny Lind_ arrived at New Orleans February 9th. - -Fifty-Third Regiment Infantry--Embarked on steamer _Continental_ -January 17th, and after a stormy passage of twelve days reached New -Orleans January 30th. - -Thirty-Eighth Regiment Infantry--Left Baltimore November 10th on -steamer _Baltic_; arrived at Fortress Munroe November 12th; left -Fortress Munroe December 4th; after a smooth and pleasant passage -arrived at Ship Island December 13th; went into camp on the island -until the twenty-ninth; embarked on steamer _Northern Light_, and -arrived at New Orleans December 31st. - -Forty-First Regiment Infantry--Sailed from New York December 4th in -steamer _North Star_, and after a remarkable pleasant passage arrived -at New Orleans, _via_ Ship Island, December 15th. - -Twelfth Light Battery--Sailed from Boston January 3d in ship _E. W. -Farley_; arrived at New Orleans February 3d, after a very rough passage. - -Thirteenth Light Battery--Sailed from Boston January 20th in ship -_DeWitt Clinton_; arrived at Fortress Munroe February 11th, after a -very stormy passage and loss of fifty-seven horses; after a long, -tedious voyage from Fortress Munroe arrived at New Orleans May 10th: -becalmed off the Florida coast, steamer _Geo. Peabody_ towed the ship -to Key West; from Key West the steamer _St. Mary’s_ towed the ship to -within one day’s sail of the Mississippi River. - -Fifteenth Light Battery--Sailed from Boston March 9th in ship _Zouave_; -touched at Fortress Munroe, and arrived at New Orleans April 9th. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -GALVESTON. - -OFF FOR GALVESTON--LANDING--OCCUPATION OF THE CITY--ACTION OF JANUARY -FIRST--LOSS OF THE “HARRIET LANE”--DESERTED BY THE NAVY--SURRENDER. - - -Companies D, G and I went into camp at Carrollton on the afternoon -of December 18th, 1862. A telegraphic order was received from New -Orleans on the nineteenth, sent by General Banks, which read as -follows: “Colonel Burrell, with his three companies of the Forty-Second -Massachusetts Volunteers, will proceed to Galveston forthwith.” -Supposing execution of this order was urgent, preparations to move -were at once made. At three o’clock in the afternoon camp was struck -and the companies ready to move; but, as the transport _Saxon_, at -New Orleans for repairs, did not arrive, tents were again pitched and -occupied until the twenty-first. Next day, twentieth, written special -orders from General Banks were handed to Colonel Burrell by General -Sherman, commanding the post, and read: “Colonel Burrell, with the -three companies of the Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, -will proceed to Galveston, land and take post.” - -Colonel Burrell decided to execute his orders promptly. On the -twenty-first the _Saxon_ was ready to embark his men. Camp was struck -early in the morning. At eight o’clock men, baggage and equipage were -all on board, and the steamer proceeded down river until eight o’clock -in the evening, having anchored opposite New Orleans for about two -hours, while the colonel, accompanied by Chaplain Sanger, went ashore -for an interview with General Banks at his headquarters, to obtain -definite instructions. The only officer to be found at headquarters was -Colonel S. B. Holabird, chief-quartermaster of the Department, who said -full instructions in writing had been prepared, but he could not find -them; during the conversation carefully looking over documents in the -office. Colonel Holabird suggested to Colonel Burrell not to be in a -hurry in proceeding to Galveston, and having heard the subject talked -over in consultations that had taken place among other staff-officers -and General Banks, advised him, on arrival at Galveston, to consult -with Commodore Renshaw, commander of the fleet, in reference to his -course of action; that instructions would be forwarded very soon, as -the balance of the regiment on arrival from New York would be promptly -sent to him. The intention of General Banks, Holabird stated, was to -send there an additional regiment of infantry, a regiment of cavalry, -and a light artillery battery, as soon as it could possibly be done; -that General Banks’ idea was, for the three companies to remain under -protection of the navy guns until reënforcements arrived. Colonel -Holabird cautioned Colonel Burrell, not to be drawn into any scrapes -by Confederate General Magruder, who had lately assumed command of all -forces in Texas. - -After lying alongside the river bank until half-past one o’clock -next morning, the transport proceeded on her way. Passing out of the -Mississippi River by the South West Pass into the Gulf of Mexico at -eleven o’clock in the morning, the course was taken for Galveston. - -The troops on board the _Saxon_ consisted of: - -Colonel--Isaac S. Burrell. - -Adjutant--Charles A. Davis. - -Quartermaster--Charles B. Burrell. - -Surgeon--Ariel I. Cummings. - -Chaplain--George J. Sanger. - -Quartermaster-Sergeant--Henry C. Foster. - -A young volunteer in the engineer corps named W. S. Long, who reported -on board at New Orleans. - -Lieutenant Brown P. Stowell, Company E, who was sick when the regiment -left New York, and embarked on the _Saxon_, instead of remaining with -his company. - -Private Samuel R. Hersey, Company C, acting as clerk to the colonel. -Frank Veazie, cook to officers’ mess, not an enlisted man. Two colored -boys, Charles L. Amos of Dedham, Mass., servant of Quartermaster -Burrell, and Charles F. Revaleon of Boylston, Mass., servant of Surgeon -Cummings. - -The following officers and men of Company D: - - 1. Captain George Sherive. - 2. First Lieutenant Wm. H. Cowdin. - 3. Second Lieutenant Darius F. Eddy. - 4. First Sergeant Samuel A. Waterman. - 5. Second Sergeant Charles D. Frye. - 6. Third Sergeant Charles R. Todd. - 7. Fourth Sergeant Wm. E. Humphrey (color bearer). - 8. Fifth Sergeant John W. Davis. - 9. First Corporal Chas. C. Richards. - 10. Second Corporal Benjamin Noyes. - 11. Third Corporal Wm. H. Tileston. - 12. Fourth Corporal Chas. J. Oldham. - 13. Fifth Corporal Benjamin F. Bean. - 14. Sixth Corporal Lewis M. Calhoun. - 15. Corporal Henry W. McIntosh. - 16. Drummer Lewis Eddy. - 17. Private Albert S. Allen. - 18. “ William H. Brown. - 19. “ William H. Bullard. - 20. “ William H. Batson. - 21. “ Charles Brown. - 22. “ Charles W. Bailey. - 23. “ John Barnes. - 24. “ Edward Boardman. - 25. “ William Burke. - 26. “ Major Bacon. - 27. “ Michael Buckmaster. - 28. “ John Burns. - 29. “ Charles H. Cushman. - 30. “ George T. Clinton. - 31. “ Dennis Dailey. - 32. “ John Drury. - 33. “ Peter Durnam. - 34. “ Tobias Enslee. - 35. “ George M. Fisk. - 36. “ Henry Fisk. - 37. “ John Fay. - 38. “ Fitzallen Gourley. - 39. “ Charles J. Grinnell. - 40. “ Amos B. Howard. - 41. “ Thomas C. Houghton. - 42. “ David Howe. - 43. “ Wallace A. Josselyn. - 44. “ Edwin F. Josselyn. - 45. “ Jacob Kopf. - 46. “ William B. Larrabee. - 47. “ Fred Lamote. - 48. “ Thomas Londergan. - 49. “ Frank McConlow. - 50. “ Randolph P. Mosely. - 51. “ John V. McIlroy. - 52. “ James Moore. - 53. “ Francis L. Morrill. - 54. “ Angus G. Nicholson. - 55. “ James O’Shaughnessy. - 56. “ Benjamin Pratt. - 57. “ George Powers. - 58. “ Louis Preami. - 59. “ Gustavus Raymond. - 60. “ Cornelius Ryan. - 61. “ Jerry S. Russell. - 62. “ William Rigby. - 63. “ Jeremiah Quinn. - 64. “ Henry C. Sellea. - 65. “ Joseph H. Stowell. - 66. “ Sargent L. Stoddard. - 67. “ Daniel J. Sullivan. - 68. “ Laban Thaxter. - 69. “ Josiah Thompson. - 70. “ James Thomaston. - 71. “ Daniel H. Vining. - 72. “ Charles G. Weymouth. - 73. “ Daniel L. Weymouth. - 74. “ George S. Walls. - 75. “ George H. Wight. - 76. “ Jonathan G. Wight. - 77. “ Albert P. Wright. - 78. “ Nathaniel White. - -The following officers and men of Company G: - - 1. Captain Alfred N. Proctor. - 2. 2d Lieutenant Thaddeus H. Newcomb. - 3. Sergeant Levi W. Goodrich. - 4. “ Philip P. Hackett. - 5. Corporal John W. Buttrick. - 6. “ Seth E. Clapp. - 7. “ John C. Bishop. - 8. Corporal George W. Griggs. - 9. “ Moses Lincoln, Jr. - 10. “ Robert G. Thompson. - 11. “ George G. Morrison. - 12. “ David L. Wentworth, acting as ordnance-sergeant. - 13. Drummer Horace W. Chandler. - 14. “ David A. Ireson. - 15. Wagoner Roland C. Judkins. - 16. Private Obed F. Allen. - 17. “ Joseph Brownlow. - 18. “ Charles A. Bailey. - 19. “ John Brown. - 20. “ William H. Bickers. - 21. “ Charles L. Barrett. - 22. “ Charles Barrett. - 23. “ Charles Boardman. - 24. “ John M. Barnard, Jr. - 25. “ William M. Bird. - 26. “ Gilbert F. Blaisdell. - 27. “ John H. Cary. - 28. “ Thomas O. Bryant. - 29. “ John Carvey. - 30. “ John T. Cook. - 31. “ Lemuel S. Copeland. - 32. “ Frank Covell. - 33. “ Frederick Corson. - 34. “ Gilbert Crocker. - 35. “ Fred T. Clark. - 36. “ William Carter. - 37. “ George H. Davis. - 38. “ John E. Davis. - 39. “ James L. Davis. - 40. “ George R. Dary. - 41. “ Edmund B. Doubel. - 42. “ Daniel Dinnegan. - 43. “ James G. Emerson. - 44. “ John Eaton. - 45. “ John Eastman. - 46. “ Richard Ellis. - 47. “ Thomas Field. - 48. “ Benjamin Gould. - 49. “ John W. Gordon. - 50. “ George S. Hyde. - 51. “ Albert A. Hayden. - 52. “ John Harmon. - 53. “ Henry T. Horn. - 54. “ Albert A. Holt. - 55. “ Lucius Higgins. - 56. “ Charles Hilger. - 57. “ Alonzo D. Ireson. - 58. “ Eli P. Johnson. - 59. “ Francis Knight. - 60. “ George W. Kibbey. - 61. “ Arthur Kelley. - 62. “ Charles B. Lynde. - 63. “ Amos W. Lynde. - 64. “ William Logan. - 65. “ Samuel Marshall. - 66. “ Joseph Mullen. - 67. “ James H. McAllister. - 68. “ Francis L. Nott. - 69. “ Joseph W. D. Parker. - 70. “ Charles Paine. - 71. “ Daniel D. Penney. - 72. “ John F. Parrott. - 73. “ Benjamin R. Pierce. - 74. “ Diomede Roseline. - 75. “ Martin W. Roberts. - 76. “ Chas. W. H. Sanborn. - 77. “ Albert I. Smart. - 78. “ Thomas T. Sweetser. - 79. “ Henry O. Studley. - 80. “ William Stiles. - 81. “ Charles H. Upham. - 82. “ Edwin A. Vinton. - 83. “ Levi Vincent. - 84. “ James W. Vinal. - 85. “ James Vance. - 86. “ Abiel F. White. - 87. “ Henry J. Wethern. - 88. “ William B. York. - 89. “ Josiah R. York. - -And the following officers and men of Company I: - - 1. Captain Cyrus Savage. - 2. First Lieutenant Samuel F. White. - 3. Second Lieutenant Benjamin F. Bartlett. - 4. First Sergeant Wm. H. Hunt. - 5. Second Sergeant John F. Hewins. - 6. Third Sergeant Chauncy B. Sawyer. - 7. Fourth Sergeant Edward Merrill, Jr. - 8. Fifth Sergeant Cornelius G. Kenney. - 9. First Corporal Frank M. Adams. - 10. Second Corporal Nathaniel H. Bird. - 11. Third Corporal Sanford H. Brigham. - 12. Fourth Corporal David F. Sloan. - 13. Fifth Corporal Daniel H. Walker. - 14. Drummer Albert Schneider. - 15. Private Moses Averill. - 16. “ Edward F. Bryant. - 17. “ Jonathan Baker. - 18. “ Edward J. Baker. - 19. “ Edward K. Baker. - 20. “ John K. Clements. - 21. “ Samuel Crowell. - 22. “ Jefferson W. Cheney. - 23. “ Peter Cuddy. - 24. “ Thomas P. Contillon. - 25. “ James G. Colson. - 26. “ David Chapin. - 27. “ Timothy Dolan. - 28. “ Thomas Dellanty. - 29. “ Charles H. Dodge. - 30. “ Wm. C. Elder. - 31. “ Horace W. Eaton. - 32. “ John Elliott. - 33. “ George K. Farnum. - 34. “ Willard S. Farrington. - 35. “ Henry E. Farrington. - 36. “ James F. Floyd. - 37. “ George T. Fernald. - 38. “ Edward S. Gray. - 39. “ Thomas V. Gleason. - 40. “ Charles Gleason. - 41. “ William F. Gardner. - 42. “ George Glover, Jr. - 43. “ Charles E. Hewins. - 44. “ John A. Hodgkins. - 45. “ Frederick Huggins. - 46. “ Elijah Hunt. - 47. “ Lewis A. Hunt. - 48. “ Alexander Hobbs. - 49. “ Thomas F. Igo. - 50. “ Ambrose A. Knight. - 51. “ Charles Littlefield. - 52. “ William B. Lambert. - 53. “ Frank B. Laury. - 54. “ David W. Lannergan. - 55. “ James Mulry. - 56. “ Thomas Morris. - 57. “ William Morgan. - 58. “ Dennis Mahoney. - 59. “ Nathaniel McCreary. - 60. “ Lawrence Mannix. - 61. “ James McGee. - 62. “ Jos. W. McLaughlin. - 63. “ Thomas A. Noyes. - 64. “ Solomon Nordlinger. - 65. “ Albert H. Plummer. - 66. “ Porter Plummer. - 67. “ George L. Pitman. - 68. “ George B. Proctor, Jr. - 69. “ John B. Pratt. - 70. “ Charles H. Poole. - 71. “ Joseph T. Paget. - 72. “ Evelyn Ransom. - 73. “ Asa Robbins. - 74. “ Geo. W. Richardson. - 75. “ Edwin Smith. - 76. “ Joseph Scaff. - 77. “ Charles J. Sumner, Jr. - 78. “ George W. Sloan. - 79. “ James E. Stanley. - 80. “ William Spargo. - 81. “ John Taylor. - 82. “ Jacob H. Taylor. - 83. “ Joseph A. Teeling. - 84. “ Wm. H. H. Weeman. - 85. “ George W. Wescott. - 86. “ Ozias Willis. - 87. “ Joel F. Williams. - 88. “ Sanford Woods. - -The total force amounting to 15 officers, 249 enlisted men, 1 white -citizen, and 2 colored boys. - -The instructions Colonel Holabird could not find were handed to -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman as the steamer _Che-Kiang_ was about to -leave New Orleans for Galveston. They never reached Colonel Burrell. -They were as follows:-- - - - “HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE GULF, - “NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 3d, 1863. - -“LIEUT.-COL. STEDMAN, 42d Reg’t Mass. Vols.: - -“_Colonel_,--I am directed by the Commanding General to enclose you -instructions, which he requests you to hand Colonel Isaac S. Burrell. - - “Very respectfully, your obedient servant, - “W. L. G. GREEN, - “_Aid-de-Camp_.” - - - “HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE GULF, - “NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 3d, 1863. - -“COLONEL: - -“Your regiment having been ordered to Galveston, you are hereby placed -in command of that post. You will execute such orders as you may -receive from these headquarters. My instructions from the Department -of War forbid me at present to make any extended military movements in -Texas. The situation of the people of Galveston makes it expedient to -send a small force there for the purpose of their protection, and also -to afford such facilities as may be possible for recruiting soldiers -for the military service of the United States. Every assistance in your -power will be afforded for the complete attainment of these objects. - -“General Hamilton is appointed Military Governor of the State of Texas, -and will be recognized by you in that capacity, but your orders you -will receive from these headquarters. - -“Until the port of Galveston is regularly opened by the Government of -the United States, no trade can be carried on, and no attempt for that -purpose will be recognized, or countenanced by you. - -“I rely fully upon your energy, vigilance and capacity, for the -performance of the important duties intrusted to you. Do not fail to -make frequent reports of all that transpires within your command, and -of whatever important facts you may learn from the enemy in Texas, or -from its people. - -“It is not probable that any successful movement can be made upon the -main-land until our force shall be considerably strengthened; and -you will take care not to involve yourself in such difficulty as to -endanger the safety of your command. - -“Other instructions will be sent to you from time to time, as occasion -may require and opportunity offer. - - “N. P. BANKS, - “_Major-General commanding_. - - “COLONEL ISAAC S. BURRELL, - “42d Regiment Mass. Vols.” - - - “HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE GULF, - “NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 3d, 1863. - -“COLONEL: - -“You will immediately cause to be constructed a _tete-du-pont_, to -command the bridge which connects Galveston Island with the main-land. - -“I directed an engineer officer to go there some time since, and I -suppose he is there. If so, he will give suitable directions for the -work. - - “Very respectfully yours, - “N. P. BANKS, - “_Major-General commanding_. - - “COLONEL ISAAC S. BURRELL, - “commanding U. S. Forces at Galveston.” - -The trip to Galveston was devoid of interest. The weather was fine -and the sea moderately smooth. Few were sea-sick. At half past eleven -on the morning of the twenty-fourth land was sighted; at noon, the -gunboat _Tennessee_ fired a shot across the bow of the _Saxon_, and -she hove to, off Galveston Bar, for about two hours, when a pilot was -taken. The navy had been expecting troops to arrive for some days. -Commander Law, of the _Clifton_, when he ascertained what troops were -on board the _Saxon_ and their purpose, sent a boat to bring the -colonel over the bar, and on board his vessel, which then proceeded -up the channel a short distance. As the _Saxon_ would not be able to -get over the bar at once, an offer from Law, to take Burrell in his gig -to see Commander Renshaw, was accepted. Upon reaching the flag-ship -_Westfield_, Renshaw, who was entertaining Confederate officers in the -cabin under a flag of truce, met the colonel at the gangway, extending -a hearty welcome. He suggested the postponement of a conference at that -time, not wishing the Confederate officers to see Colonel Burrell, and -would meet him on board the _Clifton_ with all commanding officers of -gunboats then in the harbor, viz.:-- - -_Westfield_--A ferry-boat; eight guns; Commander W. B. Renshaw. - -_Clifton_--A Staten Island ferry-boat; seven guns; Lieutenant-Commander -R. L. Law. - -_Harriet Lane_--Formerly a United States revenue cutter; eight guns; -Commander J. M. Wainwright. - -_Owasco_--Screw propeller; regular war vessel; six guns; -Lieutenant-Commander H. Wilson. - -Commander Renshaw, as agreed, met Colonel Burrell on board the -_Clifton_. The situation was explained and discussed. Renshaw strongly -urged landing the troops in the city, and was supported in this advice -by all of his officers. Burrell suggested landing on Pelican Spit, an -island near the harbor entrance, with plenty of space, and buildings -that could be occupied until more troops arrived. Great stress was -placed on the difficulty of obtaining water upon the spit, while -abundance was to be had in the city. Renshaw scouted the idea of danger -to so small a force in the city. A decision was finally made to land -on Kuhn’s Wharf, occupy for barracks the wooden storehouse upon it, -and fully understood by all officers present, that the troops would -be under protection of the navy guns. They were to be protected or -removed. In case an attack was threatened, the _Owasco_ was to take -position on the right, the _Clifton_ on the left of Kuhn’s Wharf, and -these vessels were accustomed to occupy those positions every night. -Assurance was also given that the troops could be taken from the wharf -in five minutes time if it became necessary to do so. - -Galveston City in 1861 was a port of entry and capital of Galveston -County. It is situated near the east end of Galveston Island, with the -best and least difficult harbor on the whole Texas coast. It was the -commercial emporium of Texas, with the bulk of its commerce coastwise -with New Orleans and New York. The former port connected with it by -regular steamship lines. The city contained the court-house, a jail, -and other county buildings, several churches, numerous warehouses, -wholesale and retail stores, and hotels; and published several -newspapers. The island in which the city stands, is about thirty-six -miles long, with an average width of two miles. The soil is good, being -a black mould, about a foot deep, resting on sand and shells, and it -has several ponds of good water. Separated from the main-land by West -Bay, it was connected by a wooden railroad bridge, two miles in length, -used by the Galveston and Houston Railroad. No portion of the surface -is more than twenty feet above the level of the Gulf of Mexico, and -with the exception of several groves of live oak, the whole is open -prairie. Before the war the land was said to have been in a state of -excellent cultivation, and the city the residence of many wealthy -farmers. Very few slaves were held on the island, and the population -was about seven thousand. - -Federal naval forces had virtually been in possession of Galveston -since October 8th, 1862, in full control of the harbor, but lacking -adequate force to land and occupy permanently the city. Besides the -four gunboats in the harbor when the detachment first arrived, the -gunboat _Sachem_, an altered merchant screw propeller steamer, five -guns, Acting Master Amos Johnson, came in December 29th with her -boilers out of repair, and, securing the services of two boiler makers -from the city, anchored in the channel on the city front to have them -patched up. The small Government schooner _Corypheus_, Acting Master A. -T. Spear, with one gun, and manned by fifteen men, also came into port -with the _Sachem_. - -The sailing barks _Arthur_, _Cavallo_, and _Elias Pike_, loaded with -coal for the fleet; the transport steamer _Mary Boardman_, loaded with -hay and horses; and the transport steamer _Saxon_, was all the shipping -that was in Galveston Harbor, January 1st, 1863. - -At two o’clock the _Saxon_ passed over the bar, her keel striking -bottom a few times, and at half-past four came to anchor in the harbor -channel. - -The troops made a landing December 25th, at ten o’clock in the -morning. The two-story storehouse was occupied on the upper floor for -sleeping, the lower floor to store quartermaster and commissary stores, -ammunition, and intrenching tools, which were removed from the _Saxon_ -that day and next. A partitioned room on the lower floor was fitted up -by Surgeon Cummings for a hospital. The commissary supplies consisted -of coffee, hard bread, beans, salt pork, and molasses, sufficient to -last about thirty days for three hundred men. The intrenching tools -were spades, picks and axes, for five hundred men. Three months medical -supplies and about twenty-five thousand rounds fixed ammunition for -infantry was also landed. - -Kuhn’s Wharf was the largest on the harbor front, the storehouse end -large and roomy, connected with the land by a bridge-like wharf some -four hundred feet long, about twenty feet wide, built on piling. The -water was quite shallow at any tide almost to the end. Tides in -Galveston harbor and bay ebb and flow very little; the depth of water -is greatly influenced by heavy northerly winds, which blow the water -over the bar out to sea. Heavy draft vessels at such times must keep to -the narrow channel. - -A flag-pole was found which belonged on the storehouse, and being -placed in position upon the cupola, the old garrison flag, used by the -regiment at Readville, was run up about eleven o’clock and greeted -with cheers. Sentries were at once posted in the city as far as Market -Square, one of the principal places with all of the main streets -leading into it. They were also posted on the streets to the right and -left, communicating directly with the wharf. At night these posts were -reënforced in such a manner as to constitute picket-posts. - -Immediately upon landing and taking post, Colonel Burrell adopted such -measures to secure all the protection possible that in his judgment the -situation demanded. From this time until the morning of January 1st it -was _work, work, work_. Fatigue and working parties were constantly -employed. Guards and pickets were on duty day and night. Reconnoitring -detachments were on duty by day and squads scouting at night. The -Forty-Second Infantry, posted upon Kuhn’s Wharf, were very active -during their short stay, occupying the city so far as the small force -and prudence would allow, and exercising proper surveillance. The men -were barely allowed sufficient time to obtain needed sleep. - -Among the first things done was to barricade the interior of the -storehouse facing the city, by placing against that side, on each -floor, barrels of whiting, plaster and hair, found on the premises. For -a temporary shelter to men on picket at night, if forced to seek it, -it was decided to build a breastwork upon the wharf by tearing up and -utilizing the planks. Volunteer Engineer Long saw no use or necessity -for this, not exercising any supervision over the work until operations -had commenced and he saw that the colonel was determined about it. -Commencing at a point some fifty feet from the shore end, the hard pine -planks were removed to make a gap in the wharf for the space of about -another fifty feet, and the first breastwork was erected on the edge -of this gap the day of landing. Fortunately Quartermaster Burrell, in -looking around the city in the morning, had found a keg of large-sized -spikes and ordered them taken to the wharf where they might be found -useful. They were very useful in building this work. - -An examination of the ammunition, ordered in a few days after landing -when it was evident the enemy meant mischief, was not a welcome -surprise. Company G was armed with Springfield rifles, and Companies -D and I had Springfield smooth-bore muskets. The bulk of ammunition -landed was found to be for rifles, with only a small supply of ball -and buckshot cartridges for smooth-bores. There was also found to be a -scarcity of caps. This is accounted for by the confused manner in which -the regiment was embarked at Brooklyn on the different transports--a -proper apportionment of the ammunition was not possible under the -circumstances. Sending Adjutant Davis to the fleet for any surplus caps -they had to spare added very little to the supply, as they were short -also. It was found that cartridges and caps sufficient to give each -man eighteen rounds in his cartridge box was all the ammunition that -could be made serviceable when a distribution was made to the men on -the thirty-first. This was kept a secret from the command. The men were -cautioned to husband their ammunition until it could be used to effect -at close quarters, in case of an action. No man was to fire his musket -unless so ordered by an officer. - -Commander Wainwright, with a few sailors armed with cutlasses and -pistols, visited the wharf on the twenty-sixth. After a conference -with Colonel Burrell, a _reconnoissance_ through Galveston and its -suburbs was determined upon. Captain Sherive, with about one hundred -men, including the sailors, accompanied by the colonel, adjutant, -quartermaster and chaplain, with Wainwright, started about nine o’clock -in the morning to reconnoitre, proceeding as far as the brick kilns, -some two miles outside of the city. It was not deemed advisable to -go further in the direction of Eagle Grove, about three miles, but -a circuit of the outskirts was made and the city looked over. The -inhabitants had fled. It was almost entirely deserted. Unlike many -other cities and towns occupied by Federal troops, very few colored -people were to be seen. A lookout was established in a four-story brick -building on the Strand near Market Square and within the guard lines, -where all that was going on at Eagle Grove on the island, and Virginia -Point on the main-land, was distinctly visible in the daytime by the -aid of a field-glass. This lookout was constantly maintained. - -In the afternoon Colonel Burrell, accompanied by Volunteer Engineer -Long, proceeded in the _Harriet Lane_ towards West Bay as far as the -channel would allow. A good view of Eagle Grove and Virginia Point was -obtained. The earthwork, mounting three guns, thrown up at Eagle Grove -by Confederates, to protect the railroad bridge, was abandoned. The end -of the bridge at Virginia Point was protected by extensive works with -heavy guns in position, and here the enemy appeared to be in force. -Their camps could be plainly seen. - -It was while on this trip in the _Harriet Lane_ that Colonel Burrell -made up his mind to destroy the railroad bridge. None of the naval -vessels could get near enough to do any permanent damage, on account -of the narrow, tortuous and shallow channel. The distance from the -fleet anchorage by way of the channel was about four and one-half -miles. Heavy naval guns, fired from a point of anchorage where it would -have been safe to try it, would not have reached the bridge with any -accuracy, the gun-carriages not admitting a sufficient elevation of the -guns to carry shot or shell that distance, while such heavy charges -of powder would be required for the distance that the concussion upon -the gun-decks of such vessels as were then at Galveston would have -caused serious damage to the vessels, had everything been favorable -in other particulars for attempting the destruction of the bridge in -this manner. The bridge could not be effectually severed by the navy -except by sending up armed launches prepared for such duty. These the -gunboats did not have; all of their row-boats were small, not capable -of carrying light guns, even if they had them. This would have been -hazardous service, as the enemy were vigilant and brave. That the -navy could have sent up boat crews and destroyed it when the vessels -first entered the harbor in October, was admitted by a number of naval -officers, because the enemy had precipitately taken flight, abandoning -everything. The Confederate military commander at that time was a -weak-kneed sort of man. In a very short time the Confederate troops -rallied, removed all of their guns on the island, and built the works -at Eagle Grove rendering the attempt hazardous. Destroying the bridge -would not have prevented all communication between the island and the -main-land, only rendered it difficult, as the enemy had plenty of boats -hid in the creeks and bayous adjacent that could be used for ferry -purposes. But no attempt of any sort had been made by the navy since -first entering Galveston Bay to damage or sever this bridge. - -Collecting barrels of tar pitch, with other combustible material, and -confiscating a dray (all horses had been run out of town), the colonel -ordered them stored ready for use, intending to move up immediately -on the landing of the balance of his regiment, occupy the works at -Eagle Grove, destroy the bridge as far as possible, mount some heavy -guns, and shell the enemy from his works on the main-land. Those naval -officers who talked the matter over with officers of the Forty-Second -agreed that it ought to be done. Commander Wainwright was especially in -favor of severing this means of communication. Had the seven companies -of the regiment arrived on or before the twenty-eighth of December, it -was thought not much difficulty would have been experienced. The enemy -soon ascertained the small strength of the detachment landed, and on -the twenty-ninth reoccupied the earthworks at Eagle Grove, and mounted -heavy cannon to protect the bridge and approaches. Colonel Burrell -then requested Commander Renshaw to go up the bay as far as possible -with two of his lightest draft vessels, and shell the enemy from the -island, which he refused to do. After the twenty-eighth December, the -destruction of this bridge could not have been accomplished without an -action with the enemy in force at Eagle Grove, but an attempt would -have been made had not the event of January 1st occurred. - -During the afternoon of the twenty-sixth, while Captain Sherive with a -small force of men was out on a foraging expedition, to see what could -be found for cooking-stoves, eight Confederate cavalry-men appeared -under a flag of truce, with a request to see the British consul. No -flag-of-truce trick could be played on Captain Sherive. He promptly -halted the party, and notified his commanding officer. One man, under -guard, was allowed to see the consul, and the Confederate captain in -charge was ordered to leave by six o’clock, as after that hour they -would be fired upon. For weeks had the enemy enjoyed the hospitality of -Commander Renshaw under these convenient flags of truce, used freely -for the most trivial reasons; but the military commander stopped all -such nonsense at once. This truce flag was the only one recognized -until the day of surrender. - -Supplies of food were not plenty in the city. The Confederates would -not allow any to be brought from the main-land, consequently, what -few inhabitants remained in Galveston, mostly women, found it hard -work to subsist. In a small way, rations were given to them by Colonel -Burrell. Not much could be done in this direction, owing to the small -supply on hand for the troops, who must be fed and kept in fighting -condition. There were quite a number of German women with gold and -silver coin, who wished to purchase provisions from the quartermaster. -Their husbands were serving in the Confederate army, and much valuable -information was obtained from them. - -Confederate cavalry commenced to infest the city and suburbs at -night, about three days after a landing was made; but did not attempt -to molest the pickets. These cavalry-men came along the beach, -concealed by a range of sand hills on the Gulf shore; on reaching -the outskirts they would separate to go through the city in squads -of two and three. Before daylight these squads would rendezvous at a -place called Schmidt’s Garden, and return to Eagle Grove by the same -route they came. They easily obtained, during these nocturnal trips, -all information they required, for the men talked freely with such of -the inhabitants as wished to converse. While there were a handful of -Union men, or refugees as they were termed by the enemy, who sought -protection under the Federal flag, the bulk of the small population, -men, women and children, were secessionists to the core. - -Lieutenant Eddy and Private Hersey must have had this fact very -forcibly impressed upon their minds when they were _entertained_ by -some Galveston ladies at a house on the Strand, some two miles from -quarters, on the afternoon of Sunday, December 28th. The ladies sang -all of the latest Confederate songs, Eddy and Hersey in return singing -the latest from the North. The conversation was bitter disunion on the -female side, and well calculated to draw out information on military -affairs. On bidding them good afternoon as they left, several young men -were seen loitering in the vicinity, who had undoubtedly been listeners -to the conversation. - -While the enemy easily obtained information of the Federal strength, -position and purposes, the men of the Forty-Second as easily secured -definite information of the Confederate strength and intentions. At -this game of cards honors were easy. - -On the night of the twenty-seventh a report was brought in that a force -of Confederate cavalry was in the city. Captain Sherive with fifty men -and Captain Savage with fifty men received separate orders to drive -them out. Taking different directions, a thorough scout failed to -discover any traces of this cavalry until Captain Sherive arrived at -the beach road leading to Fort Point, when fresh horse-shoe prints in -the sand were discovered, showing that a force of mounted men had gone -in the direction of Fort Point, where there was an abandoned earthwork -thrown up to command the harbor entrance. Captain Savage came up soon -after, joined forces with Sherive, and was directed to place his men on -the sand ridge of the beach, lying down, while Sherive with his men -covered the beach, and all awaited developments. About midnight Captain -Savage became impatient, if not a little timid, as signal rockets were -seen sent up in the city, and he declined to remain longer, proceeding -back to the wharf. This forced Captain Sherive to retire also, as he -doubted his ability to meet the supposed force of the enemy with the -men left. It was afterwards ascertained that the party was General -Magruder, reconnoitring the entrance to the bay with some eighty of -his officers and men, who would certainly have been captured, killed, -or wounded, if the detachments had remained where Captain Sherive -had them posted. There was no escape, except by breaking through the -detachments, and the enemy could not successfully do that while Captain -Sherive was around. Captain Savage destroyed the telegraph lines -connecting Galveston with the main-land, that had remained intact up to -this time, as part of the night’s operations. - -There was a lull in the preparations and rounds of duty on Sunday, -the twenty-eighth, giving the men that rest they sorely needed. Only -two civilians were molested by the troops during their short stay in -Galveston. A German was arrested on this day for uttering seditious -language. He was confined at guard quarters in the wharf storehouse, -remaining there during the action of January 1st, almost forgotten, but -miraculously escaped without a wound. The other was a citizen caught -hanging around the head of the wharf in a suspicious manner, and was -arrested for a spy, retained in confinement some six hours, and then -released. This arrest occurred on the ----th. - -Sunday afternoon Colonel Burrell, in a row-boat, proceeded to Fort -Point to inspect a 100 Pr. gun, dismounted in the fort, with the -intention of removing it to the earthwork at Eagle Grove when his -force was increased. The gun was found to be sound, not spiked, and -ready for immediate service, when mounted on a gun-carriage. The story -of the dismounting of this heavy gun, as told by naval officers and -sailors, is said to be true. - -[Illustration: KUHN’S WHARF, GALVESTON, TEXAS.] - -It seems that when the fleet was sailing towards Galveston Bar the -orders were not to fire, even if fired upon, until the signal was -displayed from the flag-ship. A gunner on the _Clifton_, standing by -his gun, with lanyard in hand, accidentally slipped when the vessel -lurched, causing him to pull the lanyard with a sudden jerk and fire -the gun. Without being trained on the fort, the solid shot took effect -on the gun-carriage of this 100 Pr., near the stanchions, shattering -the carriage, heaving the gun up in the air, tumbling it over backward -in the sand. The garrison became panic struck at the effect of this -chance shot and fled. The fleet then entered the harbor without another -gun being fired. - -The situation looked serious, and with a doubt in his mind about -the loyalty of the naval commander, and no news from his expected -reënforcements, Colonel Burrell decided on the twenty-ninth to send -Quartermaster Burrell to New Orleans on the _Saxon_, with despatches -for General Banks. The commissary supplies had dwindled down to -fifteen days rations for three hundred men, and the ammunition was -not available. Engineer Long decided to go also, not being under the -orders of Colonel Burrell, and took passage on the _Saxon_. Much to -the transport captain’s relief, for he had been in a highly nervous -state while lying at the wharf, the _Saxon_ left, proceeding as far -as Pelican Spit, where she had to remain until January 1st. A strong -northerly wind, that continued on the thirtieth and thirty-first, had -blown the water from Galveston Bar so that only three feet of water -covered it, rendering proceeding to sea impossible. - - -LETTER CARRIED TO GENERAL BANKS, BY QUARTERMASTER BURRELL. - - “HEADQUARTERS, - “GALVESTON, TEXAS, December 29th, 1862. - -“_Sir_: In obedience to orders, upon arriving at this place on the -evening of the twenty-fourth instant, after consulting with the -commander of the blockading fleet, I landed the three companies of my -command, which were with me upon the transport _Saxon_, on the end of -Kuhn’s Wharf, and quartered them in the warehouse there. I have taken -possession of the city as boldly as I could with the small force at -my command, and have thoroughly reconnoitred the built-upon portions -of the city up to within range of their battery at Eagle Grove, which -is apparently well built, mounting three guns. They have also one gun -at the draw, which is about midway of the bridge. Upon Virginia Point -they have a strong battery, mounted with heavy guns. From the best -information obtainable, I judge their force in this immediate vicinity -to be about two thousand strong. - -“During the day we control the city, but at night, owing to our small -force (as the balance of my regiment has not yet arrived), I am obliged -to draw in the pickets to the wharf on which we are quartered. I think -there are still living upon the island about three thousand persons, -a large proportion of whom are women and children. A great many of -these people are almost entirely destitute of the means of subsistence, -as the enemy will not allow anything to be brought over from the -main-land, thinking, doubtless, to make them disloyal by starvation. -The naval officer in command has contributed all he could spare from -his stores, and my men have shared their bread rations with them. -I believe the larger part of the residents now here to be loyal and -really desire to remain in the city, and that common humanity calls -upon us to render them assistance. This, in my judgment, can best be -done by placing the city under martial law as soon as my force is large -enough, and forcing the rich, who are mainly the secessionists, to feed -the poor. I would most respectfully urge upon your consideration the -necessity of sending provisions for immediate relief. These can be sold -to them at Government prices, thus conferring a real charity, without -subjecting them to the mortification of being beggars. Under the -existing circumstances I have thought it best to send one of my staff, -Quartermaster Burrell, and Mr. Long, the engineer, who accompanied -us here, to report to you in person. These gentlemen will explain in -detail the state of affairs, and the importance of the knowledge which -they can convey to you has, in my judgment, authorized me in ordering -the _Saxon_ back to New Orleans, which I humbly trust will meet your -approbation. - - “I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, - “ISAAC S. BURRELL, - “_Colonel commanding 42d regiment Mass. Vols._” - -The small schooner _Corypheus_ had lying useless upon her deck two -captured 12 Pr. Howitzer field-guns, with over three hundred rounds -of ammunition for them. Adjutant Davis was sent on the night of the -twenty-ninth to Commander Renshaw, with a request for the guns to -be landed upon the wharf. Colonel Burrell intended to place them in -position in the storehouse, opening port-holes on the land side. -Company D (the old Roxbury Artillery) had many Roxbury men who knew how -to handle such guns, besides having in the ranks a dozen man-of-wars -men, who had enlisted in Boston shortly after their discharge from a -war-vessel, that had arrived from a long cruise. The idea was ridiculed -by Renshaw, who flatly refused the request. - -General Magruder, when he assumed command in December of the -Confederate forces in Texas, immediately set about perfecting plans to -recover possession of Galveston, and to capture or cripple the fleet. -These plans were so far matured that he intended to attack on the -twenty-seventh, but was obliged to postpone it until the morning of -January 1st from delay in fitting out his river steamers. - -The naval commander heard of these steamers being got in readiness -to attack him, but did not think he would have much difficulty in -blowing them to pieces with his guns; in fact, affected to look upon -such preparations of the enemy as futile. As for the information of -Magruder’s plan of action on land, obtained by the military force, none -of the naval officers, with the exception of Wainwright, placed much -reliance upon it until the thirty-first, as they had heard every day -since they had been there reports of an attack to be made. - -Definite news was obtained on the thirtieth that the enemy would -make an attack that day or next. Commander Renshaw had not at any -time since the troops landed been very communicative, or evince any -desire to consult over the situation, although an occasional visitor -to the military headquarters. Determined to protect the men as far as -possible, a second breastwork, close to the storehouse, was commenced -in the afternoon and finished by midnight, tearing up the wharf in -front and opening another gap for fifty feet. - -The two breastworks were strong enough to resist infantry-fire, but not -artillery. Composed of two and two and one-half inch planking laid one -upon the other, two planks deep, so that the faces were composed of the -edges only, they were some thirty inches in thickness, built shoulder -high. On this last work the entrance port was protected by a cotton -bale. Not satisfied with this, a raft lying at the wharf, such as is -used by caulkers in working on vessels’ seams near the water line, was -raised from the water by hard labor, and securely placed in position -on the right of the second breastwork, to protect as far as it would a -fire from the next wharf on that flank, one-eighth of a mile distant. -The storehouse protected the left flank from infantry-fire from the -wharf on that side, also about one-eighth of a mile distant. - -That night a false alarm, about ten o’clock, brought the entire force -to arms behind the breastworks, and gunboats took positions near the -wharf as agreed--one on the left and one on the right. - -While the city was apparently deserted for some days after landing, on -the thirtieth and thirty-first of December it was noticed that many -men in citizen’s attire had returned and were strolling around. It was -believed then, by the officers of the Forty-Second, that these men were -in the Confederate service. No attempt was made to interfere with them -so long as they remained civil, committing no overt wrong. With the -small force on hand, no decisive measures concerning the inhabitants -could be adopted, or any attempt made to govern the city. - -During the day of the thirty-first, in company with Commander -Wainwright, Colonel Burrell with a guard patroled some of the streets, -and noticed many of these strange faces, who seemed to shun them. From -the lookout station the enemy were seen assembling on the plain near -Eagle Grove, horse, foot and artillery. Wainwright remarked: “Active -operations going on, colonel; things look squally, and we had better -not remain here. I will go up to-morrow and feel of them.” He intended -to go up in his vessel as far as the channel would permit, and endeavor -to shell them from the island. - -Between these two officers a friendship for each other existed from -their first meeting. They were frequently together, strollers around -the city and suburbs, consulting the STATUS of affairs. Many -of the other naval officers were frequent visitors, very courteous and -obliging, but none appeared to take the same interest in matters that -Wainwright did. The Forty-Second officers thought he was the only live -man in the fleet. - -In none of their perambulations and confidential talks did Wainwright -breathe a word against his superior officer, although the colonel, -after a few days on shore, could not remain quiet with the conviction -forced upon his mind that Renshaw was not acting in such a manner as -to warrant confidence, and bluntly told Wainwright only a day or two -before the final events took place he thought Renshaw was a traitor. -To this plain and straightforward expression of opinion the naval -captain made no reply. Not so with the sailors; they, coming in contact -with the enlisted men, frequently expressed their suspicion of the -“commodore.” - -On the morning of the thirty-first of December the _Owasco_ went -down to the coal bark _Arthur_, lying in the channel near the harbor -entrance, about a mile and one-half from the wharf, for a supply of -coal. Contrary to her usual custom she did not return to her position -near the wharf when night came. The _Westfield_ lay near Pelican Spit, -on guard at the harbor entrance, and covering the Bolivar channel -of the bay. She had lately received a new heavy gun, brought by the -_Tennessee_ to replace one disabled while on the coast some time -previous. Up to midnight the balance of the fleet were distributed -along the water front of Galveston, in the channel, which averaged -at any point only a little less than two hundred and twenty yards -in width. The _Clifton_ was at the right of Kuhn’s Wharf, about one -hundred yards distant; then came the _Sachem_, still at work on repairs -to her boilers; then the small schooner _Corypheus_; and up the -channel, a mile away, nearly opposite the depot wharf, was stationed -the _Harriet Lane_. - -At night a conference was held by officers of the Forty-Second. -Positions were assigned for the companies in case of attack. Companies -D and I remained upon the wharf, in the building, to snatch what sleep -they could, while Company G, Captain Proctor in command, was on picket -during the night. The three companies had been held in readiness every -night since landing. Those not on duty slept on their arms. On the -thirtieth and thirty-first only one company at a time was allowed to -sleep. The men were informed of what was expected, their courage and -manhood appealed to, with every point emphasized, that would naturally -tend to inspire them with confidence. Not a word was uttered that could -possibly convey any idea foreign to the fact, that fight was a duty -they were to perform. - -Burrell did not like the outlook, nor his position upon the wharf. -Commodore Renshaw had failed to inspire him with any confidence in -his integrity. Seated in his quarters that evening to muse over his -situation, without allowing his officers or men to know his thoughts -for fear of disheartening them, the colonel fully determined to order -the _Saxon_ up to the wharf next morning, embark his men, and remain on -board in the harbor until reënforcements arrived. - -About midnight Colonel Burrell, Captain Sherive, and Chaplain Sanger, -visited the picket sentinel posts in the city, finding the men were -drawn in from their original positions, and did not occupy the usual -ground. The original posts were reëstablished. Rumbling noise of -artillery wheels was heard distinctly through the night, together -with the sound of moving railroad cars accompanied by the locomotive -whistles. Captain Proctor had reported in person to inform Colonel -Burrell, “there was trouble ahead”; so when the _Harriet Lane_, in the -moonlight, discovered black smoke from smoke-stacks of Confederate -vessels across the bay, some two miles away, and signaled with rockets, -Lieutenant Stowell, placed in charge of the fireworks signals, burned -some lights for the purpose of giving information to the navy that the -military force was wide awake and ready. Every man on the wharf was -ordered to man the breastworks. - -It was at this time the colonel noticed that the _Clifton_ had left her -position. She was signaled by Renshaw from the _Westfield_ that he was -aground, and gone to her assistance between twelve and one o’clock. -The _Westfield_ discovered these Confederate steamers about the same -time as the _Harriet Lane_ and got under way, but very soon was hard -and fast ashore at high water. The absence of both the _Owasco_ and -_Clifton_ left the military upon the wharf unprotected on the flanks -for some hours. - -The _Bayou City_ had left Choppers Bar, at Morgan’s Point, between nine -and ten o’clock Wednesday night, December 31st, with the _Royal Yacht_ -and _J. F. Carr_ in tow. The _Royal Yacht_ got aground at Redfish Bar -and had to be left behind. The Confederate boats being light draft -steamers could navigate the shoal waters of the bay, and were not -obliged, on arriving opposite the city, to keep to the ship channel. -Upon being discovered these steamers withdrew out of sight to Half Moon -Shoals, six miles distant. The military force went into their barracks -again to sleep on their arms. - -Captain Sherive, with the chaplain, made a second visit to the city, -by a mistake getting outside of the lines; they had been drawn in -once more without any notification to the rest of the command. They -found the city full of people; and had the enemy been ready then for -operations, both officers would have been killed, or wounded and taken -prisoners. Not ready to act, the Confederates kept in hiding as much as -possible. - -About half-past three o’clock in the morning, masses of moving men in -the streets were discovered by the picket sentries, who fired at them -and slowly fell back toward the wharf, without eliciting a fire in -return. The troops asleep in the barracks, equipments and overcoats -on, for the night was cold, and guns by their side, were immediately -ordered up, and to line the work built on the thirtieth. The order was -promptly obeyed: Company I upon the right; Company G upon the left; -while Company D was to be stationed in line, with its left resting at -the breastwork, the right prolonged towards the harbor, ready to wheel -either to the right or left up to the work. As the picket detail came -in over the single plank left upon the openings in the wharf for that -purpose, they took position with Company G. Lieutenant Newcomb was -the last man in. Up to between one and two o’clock a bright moonlight -enabled objects to be distinguished for some distance, but after two -o’clock darkness had shut in to such a degree that objects ten feet -off could not be seen. A few cheering words were rapidly addressed to -his men by the colonel, who cautioned them not to forget the State -they represented, and to reserve their fire until orders were given to -commence. The enemy lost no time in getting into position. Magruder -must have expected to be able to cut off the whole or part of the -picket from reaching the wharf by placing his first gun at the large -open door of the Star Foundry, a building at the head of the next -wharf to the right of Kuhn’s Wharf, for the position gave him a chance -to rake the wharf. It was this gun that was first fired, having been -rapidly placed in the foundry after the pickets gave warning he was at -hand. - -A city clock had a few minutes previous struck four o’clock when this -gun was fired by General Magruder in person, the ball glancing over the -edge of the breastwork, crashing through the storehouse, and the action -opened. All of the enemy’s artillery opened fire shortly after with -solid shot, shell and canister. Before he fired the first gun, Magruder -remarked: “Boys, now we will give them hell,” and after firing left for -his headquarters, established on Broadway, saying, “Now boys, I have -done my part as private, I will go and attend to that of general.” - -A number of men not exactly sick, but worn out and tired from continued -hard work, together with a few lazy fellows, remained in the building -when the rest filed out. They did not stay long. Private Mosely, -Company D, who was lying down when told by Sergeant Waterman to get up -and come along, said it was “d----d nonsense,” and proposed to have -some sleep. The cannon ball crashing and smashing things over his head -sent Mose rolling down the run that lead to the second story. Private -Dave Howe, Company D, who claimed to be sick, climbed out of a window -to a pitch roof, that covered the water tank, straddling along until -the end was reached, when he found himself looking down into the water; -a shell over his head just then sent him wriggling back and through the -window again, and down he tumbled over the run to the wharf. One of the -incidents the men can never forget was the chaplain finding Privates -Thompson and Vining[6] had got into a large iron tank, used to catch -rain-water from the storehouse roofs, that was set upon its side close -to the building, drove them out and got in himself. Not a very safe -place to take shelter if a solid shot happened to strike it. - -[6] Daniel Harvey Vining, of Weymouth, an odd character, was sixty-five -years old. He tried to get mustered with Company A, but the mustering -officer rejected him as too old. When Company D was mustered into -service Vining dyed his hair, fixed up to look young, and tried it -again with that company. The officer knew him however, and asked: “How -old are you to-day?” Vining answered promptly, “Forty-four years old.” -No further questions were put and he was mustered in, to his delight. - -The Confederate land force under General Magruder, consisted -of infantry commands of Colonels Green, Bagby and Reily, -Lieutenant-Colonel L. A. Abercrombie and Major Griffin; Colonel Pyron’s -regiment dismounted dragoons; Colonel X. B. Debray’s cavalry regiment; -and cavalry companies of Captain Bowles, Atkins, Andrews, and Durant; -Colonel J. J. Cook’s regiment artillery; and Wilson’s six-gun light -battery. The country for miles around was thoroughly scoured for -volunteers, who flocked to Magruder’s force, in this way swelled to -about five or six thousand men of all arms. The brigade commanders -were Brigadier-General W. R. Scurry and Colonel Reily. General Scurry -had command in the immediate vicinity of the wharf. Besides Wilson’s -light battery the enemy had six siege guns, fourteen field pieces--some -of them rifled--and a railroad ram, armed with an eight-inch Dahlgren -mounted on a railroad flat car. Most of this artillery arrived from the -Mississippi River a week before. In regard to the numbers of his men -General Magruder, in conversation with the officers some time after -they were prisoners of war, admitted he had no means of officially -knowing the strength of his force, and then placed it as about five or -six thousand men because such large numbers of volunteers joined him. - -Details of the attack were made at Pyron’s camp. Three heavy guns were -ordered to Fort Point in charge of Captain S. T. Fontaine, of Cook’s -artillery regiment, supported by six companies dismounted dragoons, -under Colonel Pyron. Major Wilson was to open fire on the wharf with -his battery. The railroad ram was to take position on railroad wharf to -fire at the _Harriet Lane_. The remainder of the artillery, manned by -Cook’s regiment, was to be posted in eligible positions on the Strand -and water front, and warehouses along the edge. Artillery was hauled -by mules and by hand half way to the city from the railroad bridge, at -one o’clock that night. A large quantity of cotton was also carried -by rail to railroad wharf for use in building a breastwork, besides a -large quantity of intrenching tools, for the purpose of Magruder was to -throw up intrenchments at the ends of streets leading to the water if -his plan of action did not succeed before daylight. Signals agreed upon -were: white light--enemy in sight; blue light--order to prepare; red -light--make ready for action; at twenty minutes intervals. - -General Magruder is credited with sending this dispatch to Major Leon -Smith from Summit Station, thirty-five miles from Galveston, on the -Galveston and Houston Railroad, as his soldiers commenced the march to -take positions assigned them: “I am off, and will make the attack as -agreed, whether you come up or not. The rangers of the prairie send -greeting to the rangers of the sea.” - -Upon reaching the city, shortly before four o’clock, the Confederates -placed a 32 Pr. gun at the cotton press near McKinney’s Wharf, to -engage the _Harriet Lane_. This point was the left of the Confederate -battle line. A 42 Pr. gun was placed at the head of Kuhn’s Wharf, near -Social Hall, and a section of Wilson’s battery was near Hendleir’s -Wharf. Why they did not attempt to place guns upon ends of the wharves -on each side of Kuhn’s Wharf, where an enfilading fire upon the -soldiers of the Forty-Second could have been obtained, is a mystery, -unless they feared the positions too much exposed. - -Of the navy, the _Sachem_ was first to open fire, followed by the -_Corypheus_ and the _Harriet Lane_. For an hour did shot and shell fly -all around the troops upon the wharf, accompanied with musket balls, -causing them to think they were to get “h--ll” sure, as Magruder said, -and to hug the planks and huddle close to the breastwork in such a -manner that the original position planned for them to take at that work -was lost. After a few rounds had been fired at them with no wholesale -slaughter occurring, many of the men began to gain that confidence old -soldiers possess, and to note progress of the action. - -The navy fired high and made hot work in the city, but did not for some -time do any execution among the enemy’s guns. Seeing this, Captain -Sherive shouted to them: “Fire lower, and not so high,” In spite of -the distance, sailors of the _Sachem_, who were afterwards taken -prisoners at Sabine Pass, said they distinctly heard the warning, -and then depressed their guns as much as possible. The Confederates -admitted that the firing from heavy guns on the naval vessels was hard -to stand. The crashing of walls and falling timbers, and a constant -rain of bricks, mortar and roofing, as the shot and shell plunged -through buildings, added to the crash of many hundreds of window panes, -assisted to make the night hideous. - -At the first shot from the enemy Colonel Burrell ordered every man -to lie down. During the first hour the colonel walked the wharf, -taking careful notice of all that occurred. Many shells would drop -upon the wharf and explode, or burst overhead, pieces flying forward -and overboard, yet he did not receive a scratch. A shell exploded in -the storehouse and, seeing flame and smoke, he ran in, but a wooden -partition prevented his reaching the fire. He shouted: “Is any one in -there?” Private Hersey, with a few others, was lying down close to one -of the rain-water hogsheads in the building when the fire started among -the tents stored there, and at once endeavored to put it out. Hersey -answered that HE was and that the tents were on fire, when -Colonel Burrell ordered them thrown into the water by a back door, that -could be easily reached. Part of the burning tents were soon floating -in the harbor; but finding an empty pail, and drawing water from the -hogshead, Hersey soon extinguished the fire. The ammunition that lay in -dangerous proximity to the tents was at once attended to. A call for -men to “come in here and rout out this ammunition” was promptly obeyed -by a squad of men, who soon placed the boxes near the end of the wharf -where they could easily be pitched overboard in case of necessity. - -It was still dark at five o’clock when the enemy suddenly ceased -their artillery fire. This was ominous; everybody felt an assault was -premeditated. Not a shot had been fired from the wharf, which must have -deceived the enemy as to the condition the Forty-Second detachment was -in to repel an assault. They supposed many were killed or wounded. A -sharp lookout from the breastwork was ordered. Somebody sung out that -they were coming in boats to the left of the wharf. Colonel Burrell -called for men, and ran to where the storehouse abuts the wharf-edge, -but could not see or hear anything. Leaving the men to watch, he -rapidly passed back to the breastwork to see that the men there took -position ready to open fire, and again ran back to the left. He was -there when the first fire was opened to repel the assault. - -The assaulting column (about five hundred men) under Colonel Cook, said -to have been composed of two small regiments, could be heard splashing -in the water as they waded out. The understanding among the officers -was, in case of an assault they were to wait until the enemy came -within easy range before firing. - -Adjutant Davis, Captains Proctor and Sherive, and Lieutenant Newcomb, -were anxiously looking over the breastwork into the darkness to catch a -glimpse of where the enemy were. Captain Proctor sang out that he could -see moving objects in the water, when Adjutant Davis gave the order to -fire. A volley was given, followed up by some rapid firing at will, as -fast as the men could load. Those in the front ranks had to look out, -for in the excitement men from the rear would crowd up and blaze away -regardless of friend or foe. As the line of fire was mostly straight -away from the shoulder, very few firing downwards into the water, the -casualties to the attacking force was not heavy. Some of them attempted -to come out upon the wharf, by placing planks over the openings where -they had been torn up. They did get to the first breastwork, and showed -their heads above it, as the musketry flashes lit up the scene, but no -further. - -The _Sachem_ and _Corypheus_, attracted by this fight, sent shot and -shells toward the head of the wharf among the enemy in such a manner -that they were glad to fall back, with such scaling ladders as they -carried, taking most of the dead and wounded ashore. A few bodies were -floating in the water during the morning hours. - -After this repulse the enemy retired behind the protection of -buildings and side streets, out of musket range. The combined fire -of the three gunboats, who continued to send their compliments among -the enemy’s artillery placed to cover Kuhn’s Wharf, prevented the -Confederates from anything more than random artillery firing after -this assault. Some of their batteries they had previously found great -difficulty in keeping manned; the gunners were forced to return to -their pieces many times by cavalry patrols stationed in the rear. - -As daylight dawned, a scattered musketry-fire was opened on both sides. -The Confederate riflemen took positions in windows, and upon the flat -roofs of such warehouses as overlooked the wharf within range. The -small field-gun, stationed at the Star Foundry, was sending some shells -which exploded underneath the wharf, making it a question whether the -piling would not eventually be severed and destroy the wharf. The -gunners had also got the range where the men lay, and by a little -elevation they could sweep them. Hastily calling for some good rifle -shots, Colonel Burrell posted them near the flanking raft, with orders -to prevent that gun from being served. This detail did the duty well, -effectually putting a stop to the Confederates dodging from around the -street corner to load and fire. Major Dickinson, General Magruder’s -assistant adjutant-general, lost an eye while gallantry trying to -attach a drag-rope to the gun in order to draw it away, when they found -it dangerous to keep at work; a nephew of the general, Lieutenant -George A. Magruder, aide-de-camp, also made the attempt after Dickinson -was wounded--all of no avail, the gun had to be abandoned by them. - -An attempt was made about seven o’clock to launch a boat that was upon -the wharf for repairs, and then supposed to be in condition for use, in -order to send Captain Sherive, who volunteered to go, on board one of -the vessels with a request that they come up and take the troops off. -Colonel Burrell, Captain Sherive, Adjutant Davis, Lieutenant Cowdin -and Private Morrill, Company D, had got the boat launched from the -end of the wharf, but it filled with water and sank at once, because -some bullet holes had not been noticed, when the riflemen from a brick -building at the head of the next wharf commenced to fire at them. As -the bullets began to whistle over their heads the men shouted: “Look -out, colonel, they are firing at you!” Private Morrill was severely -wounded in a hand, Captain Sherive and Adjutant Davis dodged behind -hawser posts, Lieutenant Cowdin jumped for shelter, and the colonel -disappeared in a hurry down a sloping freight gangway that was handy. -The men thought he was shot until he called to them: “I am all right.” - -In a few moments the _Owasco_ was seen in the slight foggy mist of the -morning coming along from the coal bark, and when off the wharf sent a -few shells into the building, driving the annoying riflemen out. The -_Clifton_, ordered by Renshaw to return to the city when the action -opened, with difficulty kept the channel, and returned from Pelican -Spit soon after daylight, opening fire upon the enemy’s guns placed in -position on the sand beach near Fort Point by Captain Fontaine, driving -the gunners away, and continued on past the wharf a short distance, -taking position near the _Sachem_. In passing, a solid shot was fired -over the wharf obliquely, into the brick building used for a lookout -station, one quarter of a mile distant, tearing a corner out and making -a bad wreck of the building. - -With the exception of a few shot and shell fired into the city by -the gunboats nearly all firing had ceased when it was about broad -daylight. The enemy had removed most of their artillery; only a few -pieces remained that they could not and dare not persist in attempting -to take away: the rifles of Company G could reach them and prevented -it. Captain Sherive asked permission to take his company out and -secure them, but the colonel would not allow it, fearing an ambuscade. -Volunteers were called for, to go out and ascertain the position of -the enemy. Several volunteered, but the selection fell upon Private -Colson, Company I, a rather tough customer, who had been put in irons -for misbehavior and confined in the guard-house for some time, but been -released. He went out, soon returned, and reported the enemy hid behind -buildings and massed in the yards not far away. - -The naval force, excepting the _Westfield_, all assembled on the harbor -front, daylight to assist them in discovering the enemy’s position; -the front of Kuhn’s Wharf cleared of their presence, it did seem for a -short time that a victory would eventually be won. - -In less than fifteen minutes the whole aspect of affairs was changed. -The State authorities had taken the _Bayou City_, a Houston and -Galveston packet steamer, made bulwarks of cotton bales upon her sides -and armed her with a 68 Pr. rifled gun, placed in the bow. The river -steamer _Neptune_ was also fitted out in the same manner and carried -two Howitzer guns. Steamers _Lucy Govirn_ and _Royal Yacht_ were used -as tenders to collect wood for the gunboats, and steamer _John F. Carr_ -was fitted up for a hospital boat. - -The _Bayou City_ was commanded by Captain Henry Lubbock, with Captain -M. McCormick for pilot. Colonel Green had command of troops on board, -about one hundred and fifty men. Captain A. R. Wier, Cook’s regiment -artillery, was in charge of her artillery. Captain Martin, of the -cavalry, was a volunteer on board. The _Neptune_ was commanded by -Captain Sangster, with Captains Swift and McGovern for pilots. Colonel -Bagby had command of troops on board, about one hundred men. Lieutenant -Harby, in command of a company infantry acting as artillery, was in -charge of her artillery. The _John F. Carr_ was commanded by Major -A. W. McKee. General Magruder called for three hundred volunteers -from Sibley’s brigade, armed with Enfield rifles and double-barrel -shot-guns, to man this flotilla. - -The entire flotilla was under command of Captain Leon Smith, a man of -great experience in steamboat management, who was employed by Magruder -in the Quartermaster Department, made a volunteer aide on his staff -with rank of major, and afterwards called _commodore_ by the general. -Major Smith had charge of all work in preparing these steamers for -action. He had orders to be ready to attack the Federal vessels at -midnight. - -At half-past four o’clock the Confederate flotilla, at Half Moon -Shoals, fired up with rosin and proceeded towards Galveston, arriving -within a mile of the Federal gunboats at daylight. - -When a lookout on the _Harriet Lane_ soon after midnight first -discovered the Confederate flotilla, Wainwright, asleep in his -stateroom, was notified and assumed charge of the deck. After this -flotilla disappeared the _Harriet Lane_ retained her position, with -steam on, while her officers, on the watch for further developments, -leaned over her rails listening to sounds from on shore, that indicated -some movement there by the enemy, until the first gun was fired at the -wharf. Her anchor was then raised to the cathead, but not secured, and -attempts made to turn around for the purpose of proceeding towards -Kuhn’s Wharf to occupy the place made vacant by the _Clifton_, gone to -Renshaw’s assistance. To do this without getting aground necessitated -a use of great skill and consumed much time, for the vessel had to -forward and back to gradually swing her bow around. Why she should -have been stationed at this point--head of the ship channel where it -was impossible to manœuvre her--when the _Westfield_ or _Clifton_ (old -ferry-boats) were better adapted for the position, had often been -discussed by naval officers at Galveston. - -While working his vessel around Wainwright opened fire on the city. -Her bow was headed towards the wharf when signs of an approach by the -flotilla were again seen, which caused him to abandon proceeding down -the channel and to work his vessel around again in order to present her -bow to the enemy. Fairly around she steamed up to meet the _Bayou City_ -and _Neptune_, who showed a disposition to attack, other cotton boats -keeping out of harm’s way. A fire was opened upon them with shells from -her eight-inch forward gun, sending three shells and a cannon shot into -the _Bayou City_; the shells passed through her engineer’s room, one -exploding near the engineer, doing some damage; the cannon shot passed -through her messroom and pantry. - -Within one-half a mile the _Bayou City_ opened fire. Her second shot -struck the _Lane_ plumb behind a wheel, close to the magazine, making -a hole large enough for a man to crawl through; when fired a fourth -time the gun exploded, killing Captain Wier, with others, and wounding -Captain Schneider, with other men. - -As it was plain that the enemy’s intention was to close with him, -Wainwright backed his vessel some distance in order to get a good -headway, for it was understood on board, the _Lane_ was to try and ram -her bow into the _Bayou City_, cut her down even if it crippled the -_Lane_, then reach the _Neptune_ and capture her by boarding. This was -not to be, because just before reaching the _Bayou City_ her bow ran -aground, barely allowing the Confederate pilot time to put his helm -hard around in season to prevent his boat going on to the _Lane’s_ bow -in a strong ebb tide, which also prevented his running against the -_Lane_ so as to strike forward of the port or left wheel-house, which -was his purpose to enable the Confederates to board. He did carry away -the _Lane’s_ port cathead, whereby an anchor was let go, and ran out -fifteen fathom of chain attached. The _Harriet Lane_ was now at an -anchor and also aground. - -Wainwright, from his position upon the bridge with Third Assistant -Engineer Mullen by his side, ordered the crew forward upon the -forecastle ready to repel boarders. As the _Bayou City_ struck a -glancing blow in passing, about twenty of her men jumped for the -forecastle deck. Many fell into the water, and those that reached the -deck were met by sailors armed with pistols, cutlasses and boarding -pikes, to be hurled overboard. One colored sailor, Nick Wheeler, caught -a man upon a pike, which entered his body near the stomach and came out -between his shoulders, and had to shake him off into the water. All -this occupied very few minutes. - -As the _Bayou City_ passed to shoal water off in the harbor beyond -the channel, with her outside planking of port wheel-house and sides -torn off from contact with the _Lane’s_ strong upper works, her men -from behind cotton bales opened a scattering musketry-fire upon the -blue-jackets. The blue-jackets trained a gun upon her, and at a -favorable moment Acting Master Hamilton pulled the lanyard, which -broke; he reached for a hatchet that had lain beside the gun-carriage -a few moments before, intending to strike the percussion-cap to fire -the gun, but it was gone; some one had seized that hatchet for a weapon -when Wainwright called for boarders to be repelled. - -It was then thought she would be taken in hand by other naval vessels, -and attention was given to the _Neptune_, that came up immediately -afterwards and struck the _Harriet Lane_ upon the starboard (or right) -side, intending to board, but did not succeed, and passed by, her men -firing from their rifles. At this time Commander Wainwright was killed -upon the bridge where he had remained a mark for the enemy, paying no -attention to suggestions from his officers not to expose himself. He -received one ball in the forehead, that went out back of his head, and -four balls in the body. Lieutenant Lea was also mortally wounded in the -abdomen and carried below, and Acting Master Hamilton was wounded in -the arm. Fire was returned by the _Lane’s_ crew as fast as they could -load their small-arms. - -The _Neptune_ passed astern, turned, and came back making for the port -side, with a brisk musketry-fire maintained by her men, when a shot or -shell from one of the _Lane’s_ nine-inch port guns, fired by Engineer -Mullen (who broke the lanyard on the first pull, quickly tied it -together and tried a second time with success), smashed the _Neptune’s_ -bow, causing her to take water fast. She got on to the channel’s edge, -and soon sank in about eight feet of water. Many of her men jumped -overboard to reach land, and for a time the Confederate riflemen on -shore opened a fire upon their own men escaping from one of their own -vessels. - -When it was seen that the _Neptune_ was out of the fight a round of -cheers went up on board the _Harriet Lane_, and her men threw their -caps in the air with joy, supposing all was ended. But the vessels -below had not attended to the _Bayou City_, and she had rounded and -again approached the _Lane_, swung diagonally across the channel, -aground, with her anchor out, for sufficient time had not elapsed to -remedy either mishap. As she came along evidently intending to board, -the pivot gun forward was trained upon her and fired; the shot struck -her wheel-house without inflicting any perceptible damage, and before -another gun could be brought to bear she struck the _Lane_ abaft the -port wheel-house, running her bow so far under the gunwale and wheel -that both vessels were stuck fast. - -After a short exchange of shots with small-arms the enemy, headed by -Major Leon Smith, Colonel Tom Green and Captain Martin, commenced to -jump into the boarding nettings that were up in place, cutting them -apart with their long knives. They got aboard in three places, on the -wheel-house and aft; met with a gallant resistance by the _Lane’s_ -crew, who fought upon deck until driven under the gangway, forecastle -and hurricane decks by superior numbers, where they still kept it up, -and hurled at the enemy their pistols, boarding pikes, and whatever -they could find suitable for such a purpose after their small-arm -ammunition had been expended. - -No formal surrender of the _Harriet Lane_ was made, and no man can tell -just when her capture could be considered complete. It is said that -her pennant was hauled down by James Dowland, Jr., clerk to Captain -Wharton, assistant quartermaster, and it is a settled fact, the claim -made by Major Leon Smith that he killed with his own hands Commander -Wainwright is not true, and could not be, as Wainwright was dead some -time before. - -Why the casualties upon the _Harriet Lane_ and _Bayou City_ were -so light as they proved to be, is one of those rare circumstances -impossible to explain. While it lasted the fighting had been of -a desperate character on both sides; shot and dangerous missives -of destruction flew in all directions. Upon a comparison of notes -afterwards, officers of both sides considered it a miracle so few were -seriously injured. Many men suffered from bruises and light wounds, -easily healed, who are not mentioned in the official report of killed -and wounded. - -Like their companions on shore the Confederates upon the _Bayou City_ -were without discipline, and for a time after they had obtained control -of the _Harriet Lane_ her officers and crew were in danger of being -shot down in cold blood. Sailing Master Munroe, as he came down from -the hurricane-deck to surrender, had a shot-gun levelled at him, and -was shot in the face by a drunken Confederate loafer. He could not be -called a soldier, for soldiers do not act in such a cowardly manner. -This loafer met his deserved punishment then and there, by being -instantly shot through the head by Engineer Mullen. - -Among the _Lane’s_ crew were several colored sailors who fought -nobly; and little Robert Cummings, a second-class white boy, with two -revolvers in his hands danced about the deck, continually yelling at -the top of his voice and sending a shot at the enemy every opportunity -he got, full of fight as any man aboard. - -Beside the crew, made prisoners, were the following officers: Commander -Wainwright, killed; Lieutenant-Commander Edward Lea, mortally wounded -in bowels; Acting Master Charles H. Hamilton, wounded in arm; Acting -Master Josiah A. Hannum; Acting Master W. F. Munroe, seriously wounded; -Second Assistant Engineers M. H. Plunkett (in charge) and Charles H. -Stone; Third Assistant Engineers A. T. E. Mullen, Robert N. Ellis and -John E. Cooper; Assistant Surgeon Thomas N. Penrose; Paymaster R. -Julius Richardson. - -When it was seen that the _Harriet Lane_ had been captured, the -_Clifton_ and _Owasco_ tried to get near enough to so disable her as -to be unfitted for use to the enemy. One of the eleven-inch shells, -fired while on the way, struck close to her stern-post, and opened a -hole in her hull large enough for a man to walk in. When this shell -from the _Owasco_ went into the stern, Paymaster Richardson was about -to open his stateroom door to obtain his watch. The entire shell passed -crashing through his room, while he was turning the door handle; a -moment sooner and he would have been killed or wounded. - -The Confederates then placed the captured officers upon the -hurricane-deck, with a threat to shoot them down if another gun was -fired by the _Owasco_, an act of barbarism they would have carried out -in their state of excitement. The _Owasco_ got too close and within -easy range of the Confederate riflemen, who fired a volley that killed -and wounded several of the crew, including every man serving the rifled -gun. In consequence of this loss, all of her guns could not afterwards -be manned. The gunboats were short of a full complement of men; none of -them could suffer much loss without being seriously crippled. - -None of the Confederate steamers were a match for any United States -vessel present. They were considered mere playthings by naval officers, -upon which an officer of sound judgment and discretion would not -have risked his life or reputation in attacking the Federal navy. An -ordinary man-of-war steam launch, armed with a light bow gun, could -have coped successfully with them. They took the chances, and by -nothing but good luck were saved from an ignominious defeat. Look and -see how this luck favored them: first, the _Harriet Lane_ should not -have been placed where she was, while two other vessels were present -who could have been more easily handled at this point of the channel; -second, she ran aground when on the verge of ramming the _Bayou City_, -and that steamer barely had time to save herself; third, the gun -missing fire that Hamilton had trained upon the _Bayou City_, which -undoubtedly would have sent that steamer where the _Neptune_ went. -Everything favored the Confederates at critical moments during the -engagement, and they had nothing to brag about, except good fortune, -for their dare-devil bravery. - -After the volley had been fired the _Owasco_ fell back, opening fire -upon the city. In passing Kuhn’s Wharf, within thirty feet, she was -hailed by Colonel Burrell, to take his men off. This request was heard -on board, but no response given. The _Owasco_ kept on. - -The _Bayou City_ and _Harriet Lane_, entangled and aground, disabled -for any service they could render in this fight, with the _Neptune_ -sunk, were at the mercy of the Federal vessels if they acted promptly. -The _Lucy Govirn_ and _John F. Carr_ remained out of danger. In -this emergency Major Leon Smith ordered a white flag run up at 8 -A.M., and adopted bluff tactics. Captain Lubbock was sent on -board the _Clifton_ and _Owasco_ to demand an immediate surrender of -the fleet. This demand was made of Lieutenant-Commander Law, who asked -what terms of surrender were offered, and received for a reply “that he -would be allowed a ship to remove his people, the balance of the public -property to be surrendered.” Law was also informed by Captain Lubbock, -that Wainwright and Lea were killed, with two-thirds of the crew killed -and wounded, a statement Acting Master Hannum, who was with Lubbock, -confirmed. The truth was, only ten out of a crew of one hundred and -twenty men were seriously injured. Hannum had lost his head and did not -know what he was about. - -Commander Law asked for three hours’ time to consult with Commander -Renshaw, still aground near Pelican Spit, and a three hours’ truce was -then agreed upon at about eight o’clock. Law proposed to go with his -vessel, but Lubbock insisted he should go in his gig, anchoring the -_Clifton_ exactly where she was until the truce was over. Law thought -it was rather rough, but agreed. The senior officer of the _Harriet -Lane_ fit for duty, Acting Master Hannum, was allowed to go with Law, -on his parole of honor to return. All of the gunboats then displayed -white flags. - -Renshaw refused to accede to the Confederate proposition, and ordered -Law to get every vessel out of port with despatch while he blew up the -_Westfield_, as all attempts to float her had failed. - -Not receiving any communication from the navy, and at a loss to -understand what was going on, while the _Clifton_ and _Owasco_ had -dropped down the channel far enough to be out of direct range of the -enemy’s desultory musketry-fire which was kept up on the troops upon -the wharf, Colonel Burrell ordered Corporal Henry W. McIntosh, Company -D, to stand up upon the breastwork, with a piece of sail-cloth attached -to an oar-blade. Several handkerchiefs were also attached to bayonets -and raised in the air. - -Corporal McIntosh was fired at several times, the bullets whizzing -very close, before the truce flag was acknowledged. General Magruder -afterwards apologized for this breach of the usages of war, explaining -the difficulty of managing the unruly men that formed his command, and -the personal exertions made by himself and staff-officers to stop the -firing. Magruder was called to account, for this action of his men, by -the Confederate War Department at Richmond. He had a personal interview -with Colonel Burrell, while a prisoner at Houston, and produced an -order calling upon him to report forthwith to the War Department, and -requested a signed document from the colonel stating the facts. - -A cessation of hostilities for half an hour was asked, for the -express purpose of communicating with the fleet. This was granted -with the understanding that only one man was to leave the wharf. The -intention of Colonel Burrell was to prevail upon the naval commander -to send a gunboat to the wharf, embark his men at the expiration of -the half-hour, and assist the navy with his men if the fight was to -continue. No idea of a surrender entered his head at this time. - -Selecting Adjutant Davis to see the naval commander, a difficulty -presented itself in obtaining a boat, as the one held at the wharf -was sunk. The Confederates had managed quietly to remove from the -neighborhood all of the row-boats without attracting any attention. -Fortunately two refugees just then passed towards the gunboats, -were hailed, ordered to the wharf, and took the adjutant into their -boat, proceeding towards the _Clifton_. While on the way a row-boat, -containing some Confederate officers and flying a flag of truce, tried -to overtake them. One of the officers ordered them to stop, when the -adjutant shouted: “I will see you d----d first,” and with his revolver -in hand ordered the refugees to row for all they were worth to the -_Owasco_, the nearest vessel, fearing some treachery. - -On reaching the _Owasco_ he found that Commander Law, the ranking -officer, had gone to see Renshaw. Commander Wilson refused to do -anything until Law’s return, as the truce flags were up. No amount of -entreaty was of avail. Wilson’s attention was called to the fact that -the Confederates on shore had again manned their guns and moved others -into position, even while truce flags were up on shore--a violation of -the truce on their part. It was of no use, Adjutant Davis had to remain -until Commander Law should return. - -The time agreed upon for cessation of hostilities expired. The -Confederates had replaced their artillery in favorable positions to -fully command the wharf. No reply had been received to the request -sent the naval commander, and the naval vessels had left the troops -without protection. Thus abandoned by his only support, not a sign -of succor from any source, his position completely at the mercy of -the enemy’s artillery, with riflemen posted in commanding and covered -places, when the Confederate truce flag came to the wharf, at the -expiration of the time agreed upon, Colonel Burrell proceeded to meet -it. After a discussion of terms of surrender, it was agreed that upon -an unconditional surrender the officers and men were to retain all of -their personal effects and all private baggage. Only property of the -United States, except knapsacks, haversacks and canteens, was to be -delivered up. The very best terms the enemy would concede. - -Colonel Burrell then offered General Scurry his sword, which that -officer refused, saying: “Keep your sword colonel, a man’s done what -you have deserves to wear it.” The Confederate troops came down yelling -like mad people when the surrender was completed, and soon swarmed upon -the wharf. When Major-General Magruder, in a gorgeous uniform, met -Colonel Burrell, he remarked: “Don’t be cast down colonel, it is the -fortune of war; you will soon be paroled.” On his appearance upon the -wharf, Surgeon Cummings courteously offered him a glass of whiskey, but -Magruder declined with thanks. The numerous “colonels” and “majors,” -who seemed to be thick as bees, were not so backward, for they sampled -a case of fine liquors, the private property of the officers, in such a -manner that it was never seen afterwards. - -To their anxious inquiries about the killed and wounded, when informed -none were killed with but few wounded they expressed great surprise, -expecting to find a heavy loss had been sustained. Magruder remarked -that they would probably never again be subjected to such a heavy fire -and suffer so small a loss. - -An inspection of the breastwork disclosed that it was marked in -hundreds of places by bullets, while the storehouse looked like a -sieve. The officers occupied quarters in the storehouse on and after -the twenty-ninth. Previous to this time they had lived aboard the -_Saxon_, while she lay at the wharf. The enlisted men were in the -building. Some cooking was done on the _Saxon_ at the cooking-range; -but stoves having been procured on the twenty-seventh they were set up, -but not fully protected so as to prevent setting fire to the building -until the thirty-first, when they were ready for use. A pot of beans -was being baked in one of the stoves for the officers, who expected -next day to have a royal meal; a shot cut the stove funnel in two; the -stove sustained no damage; the next day Confederates enjoyed that royal -meal with the savory dish of New England. - -The regimental flags were placed in the barracks between two heavy -beams. Lieutenant Cowdin received instructions, when landing, to keep -a sharp eye on the colors, and in no event allow them to be lost. Why -Lieutenant Cowdin at this period did not think of some way in which -to avoid their capture is excusable only on the ground that he was -severely wounded in the back and under the surgeon’s care. Why other -officers, or men, did not arrange to save them is a puzzle. To be -sure it was a time of intense anxiety and excitement; but the colors -should not have been forgotten. It was an easy matter to take them -from the staffs and either placed in somebody’s knapsack or have been -wound around the body of some man, under his clothing, and the staffs -destroyed, or, what would have been better, the flags could have been -torn into pieces and distributed amongst the men for keepsakes. The -enemy did not know so small a force had colors with them until they -were found after the action. - -Confederate Major Shannon, who had been a prisoner of war in the -Federal hands and received kind treatment, as a mark of his gratitude -for that treatment, asked for and received permission to take care of -private baggage of the command, and prevent unruly men of Magruder’s -force from despoiling it. This was not an easy matter to do, but the -major succeeded in his purpose; the baggage was properly delivered in a -few days to the prisoners at Houston. The officers’ swords were passed -over to the provost-marshal at Houston, properly marked, to be returned -when the owners were paroled or exchanged. They never were seen again. - -About nine o’clock arms had been stacked, knapsacks slung, and the -Forty-Second detachment marched from the wharf, passing between lines -of General Magruder’s force drawn up in the streets of Galveston, and -proceeded to some empty houses in the suburbs, where the men remained -until one o’clock in the afternoon. The captured crew of the _Harriet -Lane_ joined them during the forenoon. - -As the troops marched from the wharf Commander Law returned. When -Adjutant Davis asked him what was going to be done, he replied: “The -_Harriet Lane_ is captured, Wainwright dead, and the fleet will -proceed to sea immediately.” Orders were sent to the little schooner -_Corypheus_ for the captain to scuttle her and take his men on board -some of the remaining vessels; but he asked permission to set sail, and -did so, saving her. With truce flags flying, the gunboats proceeded -to sea. The _Clifton_ lead, followed by the _Owasco_, then the -_Corypheus_, and last was the _Sachem_, whose commander, by diligent -work during the action, had patched up her boilers and got steam -started. - -Renshaw sent the _Westfield’s_ crew on board transports _Saxon_ and -_Mary Boardman_, and a slow-match was applied to a train of powder -leading to her magazine. As no explosion took place at the expected -time, he went back in a row-boat with Lieutenant Zimmerman, Engineer -Green, two quartermasters, four firemen and five sailors. As Renshaw -was about coming over her side into the row-boat again, a premature -explosion took place. The _Westfield_ fell to pieces, and not a -vestige of the boat’s occupants was ever seen again. This was about -ten o’clock A.M. Her guns were afterwards recovered by the -enemy, and placed in battery to protect the harbor from another visit -by Federal vessels. News of Renshaw’s death reached Law when the -_Clifton_ was half-way towards the bar, placing him in command of the -navy, and that officer concluded to proceed at once to New Orleans, -abandoning the blockade from fear of an attack by the _Harriet Lane_, -although an officer on board the _Mary Boardman_ informed him another -transport-vessel would be down in forty-eight hours, and ought to be -warned. In the race for New Orleans the _Mary Boardman_ reached the -city first, followed next day by the _Clifton_, and afterwards the -_Saxon_ and _Honduras_. - -The following account of how the _Westfield_ was destroyed is taken -from a letter written by William L. Burt, aide-de-camp to General -Hamilton, to Major-General Banks. Major Burt was on board transport -_Mary A. Boardman_, lying at anchor near the flag-ship _Westfield_: -“Captain Law had an interview with Commander Renshaw. Our vessel, the -_Mary Boardman_, was then alongside the _Westfield_, having endeavored -to haul her off. As soon as Captain Law left for his own vessel -Commander Renshaw sent an officer to us saying, that he was going to -blow up the _Westfield_, and requesting us to assist in taking off her -men and whatever could be saved. I remonstrated with this officer, that -it was unnecessary, and that the whole force could lie by and protect -the _Westfield_ until the tide turned (which was then running out), -when she would float, and we could save her, and as she was heavily -armed and of light draught she was invaluable. I also requested the -commander to come on board. This remonstrance was repeated to every -officer that came to my vessel with men. We received on board the men -and their baggage, with property of the ship, until our decks would -hold no more, and the rest was placed on the transport _Saxon_. - -“At about ten A.M., while the commander’s boat and crew and -second cutter and crew were at the _Westfield_ to receive the last men, -the commander, having poured turpentine over the forward magazine and -just over where she was aground, set her on fire with his own hand. -He stepped down into his boat, in which were Lieutenant Zimmerman, -Chief-Engineer Green, and two oarsmen. The magazine immediately -exploded, tearing the bow of the vessel open and blowing her to pieces -to the water’s edge and back to the smoke-stack. After the explosion -no living thing could be seen. She did not sink, being aground; her -guns aft, which were double-shotted and run out, as the flames should -reach them, threatened us, at the short distance we were from her, with -destruction, which might have been foreseen when she was fired. - -“Acting Sailing-Master Smalley took charge of us as pilot, and we -started for the bar. It was evident that we could not get over with -what we had on board, and we threw overboard everything on deck except -what belonged to the men of the _Westfield_. We went over the bar, -striking very heavily, followed by the _Saxon_, two small schooners, -the _Clifton_, _Owasco_ and _Sachem_, gunboats, leaving the _Harriet -Lane_ in the hands of the rebels, with two barks loaded with coal, and -one small schooner.” - -The behavior of Colonel Burrell is spoken of in the highest terms by -officers and men who were under him. He walked the wharf during the -entire time the action continued, with shot and shell flying around in -unpleasant proximity. While risking his own life in this manner, in -order to be able to observe all that was taking place, he kept his men -under shelter as much as possible. They rose to their feet from behind -the breastwork only when ready to fire on the enemy. - -All of the officers are entitled to credit for their gallant conduct -under the trying circumstances of this their first fight. Gallant -Captain Sherive especially showed marked courage and bravery. - -The men, as a whole, behaved like veterans; not that there was no -quivering--there was; but no display of childish fear took place. Every -order given was obeyed with marked promptitude, and in such a manner to -show that they stood to their duty like men. - -Many comical incidents happened during the engagement, and if all could -be remembered they would make a respectable-sized chapter. A few, that -the men often talked and laughed about, are here given: Frank Veazie, -officers’ cook, during the hot firing, kept up a promenade inside the -storehouse with his coat collar up and bent over as if rain was falling -upon him. Private Billy Burt, Company D, when all hands were crowded -for shelter near the breastwork, during the first hour, shouted: “For -God’s sake, get where the sergeants are and we will be safe!” The -quartermaster’s colored boy, Charlie Amos, fell asleep early in the -evening, sleeping through all the uproar, and did not awake until it -was over. - -The loss by the United States naval squadron was: - -_Clifton_--One wounded. - -_Owasco_--One killed; fifteen wounded, including Commander Wilson. - -_Harriet Lane_--Five killed; five wounded; exclusive of officers, one -hundred and ten sailors were made prisoners. - -_Westfield_--Fourteen killed. - -The Confederate loss is hard to ascertain. From the character of their -raw volunteers many men slightly wounded must have never been reported, -besides, their administration department was too loose for an exact -official report of casualties. While not so heavy as would be supposed -from the naval cannonade of the city, it is officially reported by -General Magruder to have been about twenty-six killed and one hundred -and seventeen wounded, but Surgeon Cummings, who had excellent -opportunities for knowing, places it at about three hundred killed and -wounded.[7] A part of the Confederate loss was known at the time to be -as follows: - -[7] Andrew Parish, a lad of fourteen or fifteen years, Magruder’s -colored servant, who was with the general in Virginia and Texas, says -he saw at Galveston from fifty to seventy-five Confederate dead after -the action was over. With the usual proportion of wounded to killed, -Mr. Parish almost corroborates Surgeon Cummings. - -Colonel Pyron’s regiment--Two killed; six wounded. - -Captain Wilson’s battery-- ---- killed; four wounded. - -On steamer _Bayou City_--Five killed; two wounded. - -On steamer _Neptune_--Seven killed; twenty-eight wounded. - -Among the Confederate officers placed _hors-de-combat_ were: - -Surgeon Fisher, Colonel Cook’s regiment, killed. - -Captain Weir, Company B, Texas artillery, killed on _Bayou City_. - -Lieutenant Sidney W. Sherman, Texas artillery, killed. - -Lieutenant Harvey Clark, Colonel Cook’s regiment, mortally wounded. - -Major Dickinson, wounded in eye badly. - -Major A. M. Lea, C. S. engineers, wounded. - -Captain Schneider, slightly wounded. - -Lieutenant Madden, slightly wounded. - -Captain McMahan, slightly wounded. - -Property captured by the enemy was as follows: the _Harriet Lane_ with -her fine battery, the guns on the _Westfield_, three sailing vessels -loaded with coal, viz., _Arthur_, _Cavallo_ and _Elias Pike_--these -vessels were said to have been burned by the navy, or set on fire--one -set regimental colors, one garrison flag, arms and ammunition, tents, -intrenching tools, commissary supplies, and quartermaster stores of -clothing, etc., etc., that the detachment carried to Galveston. - -The garrison flag was afterwards found upon a Confederate Texan -soldier, made prisoner at Thibodeaux by Lieutenant Alf. Halstead, -Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York Infantry, on the -twenty-third June, 1863, a few days after the action at La-Fourche -Crossing, in which a detachment of the Forty-Second Regiment took part. -This soldier had got possession of the flag, and carefully preserved -it. By request of Lieutenant Halstead the flag was forwarded to -Governor John A. Andrew, to be placed among other State _mementos_ of -the war. - -On the day of surrender the following vessels, with reënforcements and -military stores, were on the way to Galveston. Had the action been -delayed one week quite a respectable military force would have been -assembled upon the island. - -Transport steamer _Cambria_, with Governor Hamilton and troops. - -Transport steamer _Honduras_, with detachment First Vermont Battery, -Captain Hibbard. - -Transport steamer _Charles Osgood_, with two companies Forty-Second -Regiment. - -Transport steamer _Che-Kiang_, with three companies Forty-Second -Regiment, one company Texas cavalry, and a number of Texas refugees. - -The _Honduras_ and _Charles Osgood_ were spoken in the Gulf by gunboat -_Clifton_, and returned to New Orleans. The _Che-Kiang_ lay at the -United States Barracks below New Orleans January 3d, ready to proceed -the next day, when the news was telegraphed from the Passes, and her -orders were countermanded. The _Cambria_ arrived off Galveston January -2d, and was fortunate to escape capture from well-laid plans of General -Magruder. - -The following accounts were given by Sergeant Nichols, Company G, -Forty-Second Regiment, and by Purser Bach, steamer _Cambria_, before -it was known what steps were taken by the Confederates to catch the -transport steamer: - - -STATEMENT OF SERGEANT NICHOLS. - -“The _Cambria_, Captain Sumner, arrived off Galveston Bar at three -o’clock P.M. January 2d. On board were three hundred men First -Texas Cavalry, Colonel Davis, recruited in New Orleans from Texas -refugees, and equipments for a full cavalry regiment; a detachment -First Vermont Battery with guns; Sergeants Nichols, Vialle, Attwell, -and Private Greene, all of Company G, Forty-Second Regiment, _en -route_ to join their company. A small brass cannon on deck was fired -several times to signal a pilot and notify the navy, without attracting -attention. Several refugees, ‘Nicaragua’ Smith, Foley, big ’Jack’ -and others, volunteered and went in a row-boat to notify the fleet. -As his volunteers did not return, Captain Sumner remained off the -bar until morning without suspicion of any danger. About ten o’clock -A.M. next day a sloop, pilot flag up, with three or four men -aboard, approached and made an attempt to entice the steamer on the -bar, reporting she could follow, and they would take soundings. There -was ten and one-half feet of water on the bar, and the _Cambria_ drew -eleven feet. Not one of the men would come on board. After some talk -Captain Sumner became suspicious, and, in a loud voice, ordered: ’Men, -stand by the ports!’ although the steamer was not armed. Just then -a few refugees on board recognized Confederate Captain Payne on the -sloop, told Sumner of the fact, who ordered him to come on board the -_Cambria_ or the sloop would be blown to pieces. Captain Payne came -aboard, and, in answer to questions, said, Captain Wainwright was in -command of the fleet, with several other false stories, playing his -part well until he, in turn, recognized several faces on board. He -then knew he was trapped, and said: ‘The game is up, I am lying; the -Confederates are in possession of the city and harbor.’ The whole story -of what had occurred was then told, including a tale of the capture -of Smith and his comrades. Payne reported that the _Harriet Lane_ -was about ready to come out after the _Cambria_, so Captain Sumner -allowed the other men on the sloop to get away, while he made haste -to reach New Orleans. This Captain Payne was placed in confinement on -a war-vessel at New Orleans. He was afterwards seen on the streets of -that city apparently a free man.” - -“Nicaragua” Smith was tried by a court-martial, declared a traitor, -and shot January 8th, game to the last. Six balls entered his body. -A characteristic speech made by him when face to face with the firing -party would not bear repetition here. Two of his comrades escaped, but -Foley and big “Jack” managed to be paroled when the enlisted men were -sent to the Federal lines. - - -STATEMENT OF PURSER BACH. - - “ON BOARD STEAMER CAMBRIA, - “January 7th, 1863. - “MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS, - “Commanding Department of the Gulf: - -“The steamer _Cambria_, with two companies First Texas Cavalry, horses -of the Second Vermont Battery, and a great number of men, women and -children (refugees), left New Orleans for Galveston December 31st, -1862, at 9 P.M. Arrived outside the island January 2d, at -7 P.M. Strong wind and high sea running. No sign of pilot, -consequently came to anchor. - -“Next morning, third instant, weather very hazy and high sea. We -commenced beating about, in the hope of a pilot coming to us, up to 12 -M. No such success, during which time several of the refugees, -being well acquainted with the bar, were desirous of piloting us -in. The captain would not listen to any such suggestions. They then -offered to take one of the life-boats and go for a pilot, to which -he also dissented; but, upon the earnest solicitations of officers -and refugees, amounting almost to a demand, he reluctantly consented, -and the boat left, manned by six men, two of whom were soldiers and -four refugees. This was about 12.30 P.M. The colonel sent a -pressing letter to the officer in command, stating that we were in -distress, the horses on board suffering from the rough weather, and -demanding assistance. - -“About 7 P.M. the weather cleared to bright moonlight; sea -more calm. The boat did not return, and hopes for her safety were given -up, as it was supposed she might have swamped in crossing the bar. At -this time three shells were plainly visible as having been fired from -near the city, which was the first cause of uneasiness on the part of -our captain. On the supposed warning the colonel had his men called -together and put in readiness in case of emergency. Nothing further -transpired, however, during the night. - -“The next morning the day broke clear, the sun shining bright, with -the city and its surroundings in full view. We hoisted pilot-jack and -blew the whistle about eight o’clock, which signal was answered by -pilot-boat inside the bar, near a schooner, and a bark with American -colors flying, which proved to be the bark _Cavallo_. After the boat -came toward us she tacked, apparently running and sounding the bar. -She then went toward the bark and lowered her jack, signifying that -she had put the pilot on board. In the meantime the pilot-boat shot -up alongside and asked: ‘How much water do you draw, captain?’ To -which he replied: ‘Nine and a half to ten feet.’ The answer then -was: ‘You can go in; there is plenty of water on the bar.’ ‘Are you -a pilot?’ was then demanded. _Reply._--’No, but you can follow us -in.’ _Question._--’Where is the pilot?’ _Answer._--’On the bark.’ -_Question._--’Why does he not come out for us?’ _Answer._--’Because -he had special orders to take the bark out first.’ In the meantime we -separated some distance. Again the pilot-boat shot up alongside, when -the captain ordered the pilot on board, when he replied: ‘There are -too many men there for me.’ He then immediately hauled jib-sheet to -windward, slacked off the main-sheet, and put his helm hard to port, -with the intention of getting clear. Seeing this, the captain ordered -the steamer backed, which placed the steamer between the pilot-boat -and the bar. The captain then called out: ‘Stand by your guns, fore -and aft, and be ready to fire. Do not open your port-holes before -the colonel gives the word.’ The pilot-boat then came to, and the -pilot said he would come on board. The colonel asked him who was in -command. His immediate reply was: ‘Captain Wainwright.’ After several -unimportant questions and answers he was recognized and called by -name by one of the refugees, by which he was apparently confused and -lost his presence of mind. Seeing that the captain looked upon him -with marked suspicion, he said: ’Gentlemen, I cannot lie any longer; -Galveston is in the hands of the Confederacy.’ The captain, hearing -that the _Harriet Lane_ was in their hands and as she was reported -uninjured, immediately put the steamer to sea. The counterfeit pilot, -T. W. Paine, was, of course, detained on board as prisoner. The -pilot-boat and crew were permitted to depart, as the colonel thought by -their returning it would give us more time to escape. - -“About nine o’clock on the evening of the fifth instant we met the -United States sloop-of-war _Brooklyn_, and was boarded by an officer -from her, to whom we gave the foregoing information. We afterward -learned that the boat sent ashore with the six men was detained and the -men taken prisoners. - - “Respectfully submitted, - “LEWIS BACH, - “_Acting-Purser Steamer Cambria_.” - -What steps were taken to entrap the _Cambria_, or any transports -unlucky enough to arrive while the United States gunboats fled to -New Orleans, is described by General Magruder in his official report -of the action. He says: “Having buried the dead, taken care of the -wounded, and secured the captured property, my exertions were directed -to getting the _Harriet Lane_ to sea. The enemy’s ships fled to New -Orleans, to which place one of their steam transports was dispatched -during the action. I knew that a large naval force might be expected to -return in a few days. I therefore ordered the employment at high wages -of all the available mechanics to repair the _Harriet Lane_, her main -shaft having been dislocated and her iron wheel greatly disabled, so -that the engine could not work. The United States flags were ordered to -remain flying on the custom-house and at the mast-heads of the ships, -so as to attract into the harbor any of the enemy’s vessels which might -be bound for the port of Galveston. A line of iron buoys, which we had -established for the guidance of his ships in the harbor, were displaced -and so arranged as to insure their getting aground. - -“On the third of January, I being then on board of the _Harriet Lane_, -a yawl-boat, containing several men, in command of a person named -Thomas Smith, recently a citizen of Galveston, and who had deserted -from our army, was reported alongside. He informed me he was sent from -the United States transport-steamship _Cambria_, then off the bar, for -a pilot, and that they had no idea of the occupation of the city by us. -I forthwith ordered a pilot-boat, under command of Captain Johnson, to -bring in this ship, but, through a most extraordinary combination of -circumstances, the vessel which contained E. J. Davis and many other -apostate Texans, besides several hundred troops and 2,500 saddles for -the use of native sympathizers, succeeded in making her escape. The -man Smith, who had, it is said, several times set fire to the city of -Galveston before he deserted, had been known as Nicaragua Smith, and -was dreaded by every one. He returned to Galveston in order to act as -Federal provost-marshal. His arrival produced much excitement, during -which some one without orders sent a sail-boat to Pelican Spit, now -occupied by our troops, to direct the commanding officer there not fire -on our pilot-boat, although she was under Yankee colors. The sail-boat -thus sent was at once supposed to be destined for the Yankee transport. -The pilot-boat gave chase to her, and the guns from the shore opened on -her within hearing of the ship. - -“Night coming on, I thought it surer, as the alarm might be taken, to -capture her at sea before morning; but the _Harriet Lane_ could not -move, and our cotton gunboats could not live on the rough sea on the -bar. Therefore one of the barks, the _Royal Yacht_, a schooner of ours, -the pilot-boat and the _Leader_, a schooner loaded with cotton, which -I had ordered to be sent to a foreign port, with a proclamation of the -raising of the blockade at Galveston, were directed to be prepared -and armed with light artillery. This was done by two o’clock the same -night, our little fleet being manned by volunteers, under the command -of Captain Mason, of Cook’s regiment of artillery. - -“Unfortunately the wind lulled, and none but the pilot-boat could -reach the enemy’s ship. The pilot-boat went out under the command of a -gallant sailor, Captain Payne, of Galveston. The enemy’s ship proved -to be a splendid iron steamer, built in the Clyde. I had ascertained -from her men taken ashore that she had only two guns, and they were -packed on deck under a large quantity of hay, and I anticipated an easy -conquest and one of great political importance, as this ship contained -almost all the Texans out of the State who had proved recreant to their -duty to the Confederacy and to Texas. The pilot-boat was allowed to get -close to the ship, when the boat was hailed and the pilot ordered to -come on board. Captain Payne answered that he thought there were rather -too many men to trust himself to; whereupon he was directed to come on -board, or he would be fired into. He went on board as ordered, and soon -after the steamer sailed in all haste seaward, leaving the pilot-boat -and hands to return to us. - -“I am thus particular in this narration as the friends of Captain -Payne fear that he may meet with foul play from the enemy. I shall -ascertain, through Commodore Bell, his fate, and act accordingly. -Smith, the deserter, was tried regularly the next day before a general -court-martial, and, being convicted of deserting to the enemy, was -publicly shot in Galveston, in accordance with his sentence. The -proceedings, which were formal in all respects, legal and regular, are -forwarded.” - - * * * * * - -The following papers, connected with this action, are here given. The -first, a dispatch from William L. Burt, was the first news sent North -of the action, and naturally caused many a heart to ache for relatives -and friends supposed to be at Galveston: - - - “SOUTHWEST PASS, LA., - “January 3d, 1863, 1.45 P.M. - -“MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS: - -“I have received the following dispatch, which I hasten to communicate: - - - “’ON BOARD MARY BOARDMAN, - “’January 3d, 1863, 12 noon. - “’N. P. BANKS, - “’Commanding Department of the Gulf: - -“’Galveston was attacked by land and water on the morning of January -1st. Colonel Burrell and his men were all killed or taken prisoners. -Four rebel rams made an attack on the _Harriet Lane_, and carried her -by boarding. Captain Wainwright and Lieutenant Lee killed, and all -the men killed or prisoners. The captain of the _Owasco_ (Wilson) was -killed. Commander Renshaw blew up the flag-ship _Westfield_ to prevent -her from falling into the hands of the enemy. He was killed, and also -First-Lieutenant Zimmerman. Two barks loaded with coal fell into the -hands of the rebels. We have some seventy men from the _Westfield_ -on board. They must have some arrangements for taking charge of them -immediately on our arrival, as we have only our own crew. - - “’WM. L. BURT, - “’_Major and Aide-de-Camp, Staff of General Hamilton_.’ - “C. HUGGINS.” - -General Banks, in a letter to Major-General Halleck, gives as his -reason for sending Colonel Burrell to Galveston, the following: - - - “HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE GULF, - “NEW ORLEANS, LA., January 7th, 1863. - (_Extract._) - -“_Sir_: The detachment of troops was sent to Galveston upon the -suggestion of Admiral Farragut, and upon the statement of General -Butler, that he had contemplated ordering a small force there to assist -in recruiting Texas refugees. It was supposed that the fleet made the -occupation of the part of the island adjacent to the gunboats perfectly -secure. It would not, however, have been sent forward so soon after my -arrival had it not been for the impatience of General Hamilton. When it -became known that our destination was New Orleans and not Texas, which -was not until our arrival here, those connected with him became very -violent, and denounced unsparingly the Government and all connected -with the expedition for what was called bad faith in its management. - -“General Hamilton is not a bad man, but he does not manifest great -force of character, and is surrounded by men who came here on the -Government transports, unbeknown to me, for base, speculative purposes, -and nothing else. I notified him of the conduct of these men, and he -promised to correct it, but has not yet done so. He explains their -presence by saying, that in the North he became indebted to them for -pecuniary assistance. I sent him notice that they would be required to -leave the Department if their course was approved by him. - -“It was mainly the impatience of these people that prompted me to -forward the detachment to Galveston; but only upon the concurrence of -Admiral Farragut and General Butler as to its expediency and safety. -Such is a full statement of my participation in this affair. - -“I have the honor to be, with much respect, - - “your obedient servant, - “N. P. BANKS, - “_Major-General commanding_. - “MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, - “_Commander-in-Chief U. S. Army_.” - -The flag-of-truce scheme, so fortunately put into use by Major Smith, -led to some correspondence on the subject between General Magruder and -Commodore Bell, commanding United States forces off Galveston. None -of this correspondence is of material interest to the Forty-Second -Regiment, except the following extract from a letter by Colonel Debray -to Commodore Bell, January 22d, viz.: “As to your complaint of a breach -of truce in connection with the Forty-Second Massachusetts, I would -respectfully state that the land troops were not embraced in the terms -of truce on the 1st instant, either directly or indirectly. As soon as -daylight came they could have been destroyed by our guns and musketry -in five minutes. To avert a misunderstanding on this subject with you, -which Major-General Magruder would much regret, he will send a full -statement by to-morrow morning.” - -The full statement of Magruder to Bell is embraced in the following -papers sent to the Confederate War Department in Richmond, Va., by -Major-General Magruder, in justification of himself. It is proper to -state that the statement signed by Colonel Burrell, was drafted after -a long consultation between his officers, and, while not correct in -every respect, the officers felt under obligations to Generals Magruder -and Scurry, for favors granted and expected, and were disposed to help -Magruder out of his muddle with the Confederate War Department. The -documents were: - -“The following document is not to be considered or used as official in -any way, but as strictly personal. - - “ISAAC S. BURRELL, - “_Colonel 42d Regt. Mass. Vols._ - - “_Statement in relation to the surrender of a portion of the - Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, at Galveston, - Texas, on the morning of January 1st, A.D. 1863, to the - Confederate forces under the command of Major-General J. B. - Magruder, with the circumstances attending the surrender_: - -“After the steamer _Harriet Lane_ had raised the white flag in token -of surrender, the white flag was also raised by the Forty-Second -Regiment by order of the colonel commanding; but the fire continuing -for ten or fifteen minutes from the wharf and the brick building above -Kuhn’s Wharf, where the said Forty-Second Regiment was stationed, when -Brigadier-General Scurry came down to Kuhn’s Wharf and demanded the -unconditional surrender of the troops on the wharf the firing ceased -and was not resumed so far as the wharf is concerned. - -“The surrender was made immediately, and the battle terminated, so far -as said Forty-Second Regiment was concerned. Between the time the white -flag was raised on the wharf and the cessation of the firing only one -man was wounded and none killed. - -“This statement is made in justice to Brigadier-General Scurry, who, by -his gentlemanly conduct and uniform kindness to officers and privates, -is entitled to the grateful remembrance of the whole command. We -believe that the firing after the white flag was raised was unknown to -him and against his will or orders. - -“The flag of truce was not raised on the wharf by the Forty-Second -Regiment until every vessel in the harbor had raised one. - -“When the demand for surrender was made by Brigadier-General Scurry, -the colonel of the Forty-Second Regiment asked to be allowed the same -time given to the fleet for consideration (three hours), but his -request was refused. - -“Having carefully examined the above statement, I believe it to be true -in every point, and accordingly I have affixed my signature thereto. - - “ISAAC S. BURRELL, - “_Colonel 42d Regt. Mass. Vols._” - -This was enclosed in a letter sent to Richmond, Va., by General -Magruder, of which the following is an extract: - - “HOUSTON, TEXAS, January 23d, 1863. - -“This statement made by Colonel Burrell, commanding the detachment -of the Forty-Second Massachusetts Regiment Volunteers, captured at -Galveston on the 1st instant, it will be seen agrees in every important -particular with the statement furnished by me in my communication to -Commodore Bell. Our naval officers distinctly state that the white flag -hoisted on board the ship did not apply to the land force. Captain -Lubbock, the commander of one of our gunboats, who arranged with the -senior officer in command of the Federal fleet the terms of the truce, -stated, on his return from the Federal flag-ship, to Brigadier-General -Scurry, in the presence of Colonel Burrell, that the land troops were -not embraced in these terms, directly or indirectly, he having been -sent by Captain Leon Smith, commanding our fleet of gunboats, to demand -the surrender of the rest of the Federal fleet, and to give the Federal -commander three hours’ time to accept or decline his demand, during -which time the fire was to cease between the ships. I knew nothing -of the arrangements, nor did any officer ashore, and when Captain -Lubbock, on his return, touched at Kuhn’s Wharf, where the Forty-Second -Massachusetts Regiment was stationed, he gave the above information to -Brigadier-General Scurry in the presence of Colonel Burrell, and the -latter surrendered unconditionally, after his request to be allowed the -same time given the ships was refused. Had the Federal commander of -the land forces been in superior force to myself and engaged in battle -ashore he would certainly have prosecuted his advantage to the utmost, -regardless of a truce between two fleets, which he had not authorized. -If necessary, I think it can be fully established also that the Federal -troops ashore were ready to surrender the moment daylight gave them an -opportunity of doing so, and would have done it even before daylight -had it been possible. - -“I have also to state that I am informed by Brigadier-General Scurry, -who was in that portion of the battle, that the white flag displayed -from Kuhn’s Wharf was respected the moment it was seen.” - -With the exception of Private Hersey, left to help take care of -baggage, wounded men taken to hospital, Surgeon Cummings, left to -attend them, and naval officers to attend the funeral of Wainwright -and Lea, all of the prisoners marched to Virginia Point in the -afternoon, where they were obliged to wait until half-past one o’clock -A.M. next day, January 2d, for cars to transport them to -Houston. - -On arrival at that city, about noon, the depot was reported to be -crowded with people, and the train was stopped half a mile out. The -men then marched, under guard, through Houston to their quarters in -a cotton warehouse near Buffalo Bayou. The officers were confined in -Kennedy’s building, corner of Travis and Congress Streets. - -On the march through crowded streets, many bantering remarks were -made, mostly by women, who were exceedingly bitter and sarcastic. The -men had been cautioned by their colonel not to pay any attention to -insults, which they must expect to receive, but carry themselves as if -on parade. They did march through the City of Houston as if on parade, -giving the people a sight of good marching, military bearing and good -manners such as they had not seen before. - -In passing the _Houston Telegraph_ newspaper office, where from the -windows was displayed the captured regimental colors underneath the -Texas Lone Star Flag, the men got mad, some of them threatening to “go -for them.” Cool counsel prevailed, and no trouble occurred. - -The _Houston Telegraph_, in giving an account of the arrival of the -prisoners, said they were acknowledged Americans, with an occasional -foreigner to be seen among them, either Irish or Dutch. Gave them -credit for being well dressed and good looking. Spoke of Colonel -Burrell as a tall, slim specimen of a man, who was much stared at by -the people, but he never lifted his eyes from the ground during the -march. As the prisoners of war marched up Main Street they were well -treated, and received from the Houstonites the compliment of being a -fine-looking body of men, who ought to be ashamed of themselves for -volunteering their services in the villainy of trying to subjugate a -chivalrous people. - -At the hospitals in Galveston Surgeon Cummings remained until the -eighteenth of January, attending Federal wounded, also assisting the -Confederate surgeons. Sisters of Mercy, attached to the Convent of St. -Leon, rendered service to the wounded of both sides impartially. On the -tenth, while a gunboat was shelling the city from the Gulf side, some -shells exploded in the convent yard, necessitating removal of patients -to a small, wooden school-house, when a hospital flag was raised, which -stopped further mischief. - -Commander Wainwright and Lieutenant Lea, of the _Harriet Lane_, were -buried with Masonic and military honors on the second. Major Lea, C. -S. A., father of the lieutenant, officiated at the grave, reading the -Episcopal Church burial service in a firm, unfaltering voice to the -end, when he gave way to his feelings and wept like a child. The rest -of the killed were buried on the third. - -Surgeon Cummings, on the twentieth of January, found time to make the -following official report of the killed and wounded: - - - “HOUSTON, TEXAS, January 20th, 1863. - “COLONEL I. S. BURRELL, - “42d Regt. Mass. Vols.: - -“_Sir_,--The following is a correct list of the wounded of said -Forty-Second Regiment at the battle of Galveston, January 1st, 1863: - - =====================+====+==========+===================+============ - NAME. | CO.| RANK. | HOW WOUNDED. | RESULT. - ---------------------+----+----------+-------------------+------------ - Francis L. Nott. | G. | Private. | Shell in left | Died in 17 - | | | side of bowels. | hours. - Jos. W. D. Parker. | G. | “ | Ball in arm. | Recovering. - Edmund B. Doubel. | G. | “ | Ball in left | “ - | | | hand, severe. | - George R. Dary. | G. | “ | Ball in left arm, | “ - | | | above elbow. | - Thos. T. Sweetser. | G. | “ | Buckshot in chin, | “ - | | | slight. | - James L. Davis. | G. | “ | Splinter in face, | “ - | | | slight. | - John M. Barnard, Jr. | G. | “ | Spent ball in | “ - | | | left leg, | - | | | slight. | - John T. Cook. | G. | “ | Splinter in leg, | “ - | | | slight. | - David L. Wentworth. | | Act-Ord. | Shell in leg. | “ - | | Sergt. of| | - | | regt. | | - Wm. H. Cowdin. | D. |1st Lieut.| Ball in back. | “ - Francis L. Morrill. | D. | Private. | Minnie ball in | I fear loss - | | | hand, severe. | of arm. - Tobias Enslee. | D. | “ | Splinter in head, | Recovering. - | | | slight. | - Edwin F. Josselyn. | D. | “ | Shell in head, | “ - | | | severe. | - Daniel J. Sullivan. | D. | “ | Minnie ball in | “ - | | | hand, severe. | - Jas. O’Shaughnessy. | D. | “ | Shell in both | “ - | | | legs, right | - | | | leg amputated. | - =====================+====+==========+===================+============ - -“These are all the casualties in our regiment in the late severe -battle, in which the only wonder is that one of us lived to tell the -story. It seems indeed providential that so few are wounded and none -killed on the spot. We have to mourn the loss of one noble fellow, Nott -of Company G, a brave soldier and an excellent man, and to regret the -loss of a leg of Company D, O’Shaughnessy, who is recovering rapidly. I -amputated his leg just below the knee, in order to give him the benefit -of the joint, which was not injured. - -“I have the honor to be, dear sir, - - “Yours faithfully, - “A. I. CUMMINGS, - “_Surgeon 42d Mass. Regt. Vols._” - -Besides the above, there were wounded, who did not report to the -surgeon: Private John Barnes, Company D, slightly in leg; and Private -James W. Vinal, Company G, slightly in hip. - -Quartermaster-Sergeant Foster was standing by the breastwork in -conversation with Private Hersey when the first shot was fired, -glanced on the breastwork and passed into the building. In a moment -of excitement Foster fell wounded, so Hersey thought, but on an -examination of a wound he received, a bad cut of a thumb, it proved -to have been made by oyster shells upon which he had fallen. It was -jocularly reported Foster had received a shell wound in the action. - -Private Nott was wounded during the first hour. He had got behind a -hawser-post, where Colonel Burrell found him moaning faintly, with a -terrible wound in the side and bowels. He was not apparently suffering -any intense pain. To the question, if he was badly hurt, he replied, -“Yes, in the side,” and begged for water. Private Hersey went into -the building and got it, which appeared to revive him somewhat from a -state of apathy. When the surgeon got an opportunity to examine his -case, Nott was told he could not live many hours, as he was bleeding -internally, and any message for home had better be given then. - -Private O’Shaughnessy was wounded during the first half hour. He yelled -like an Indian on the war-path, and was carried into the hospital-room, -where the surgeon remained at his post the entire time that the enemy’s -fire was concentrated upon it. - -Privates Enslee and Josselyn were wounded at the commencement, while -standing ready to fire before the order was heard to lie down. A solid -shot, or a shell, struck and crashed through the breastwork, splinters -wounding Enslee in the head. A fragment of shell ruined Josselyn’s -musket, knocked it overboard, then glanced to his head. The wound bled -profusely, but Josselyn did not know he was hit until blood was running -down his face. Upon reporting at the hospital he was so covered with -blood Surgeon Cummings was unable to recognize him. Binding his head up -with a handkerchief, Josselyn returned to his post. - -Private Morrill, when wounded, tied a handkerchief around his hand and -kept his place in the ranks until the action was over before reporting -to the surgeon. - -Lieutenant Cowdin was wounded while lying down, during the first -hour. A canister shot struck the storehouse brick chimney, knocking -it to pieces, the debris flying in all directions. Supposing he had -been wounded by a falling brick, on standing up he was surprised to -find several small shot ran down his clothing into a boot; they had -struck him in the back, low down, going through coat, shirt, pants and -under-drawers. - -Company I, from its sheltered position, had no casualties. Private -Eaton had his bayonet cut in halves, another man received a ball in -his hat, and Private Paget had a ball cut his haversack straps. - -An official report of the action was not made to General Banks, until -July, 1864, when Colonel Burrell arrived in New Orleans, paroled and -exchanged. - - - “NEW ORLEANS, July 27th, 1864. - “TO MAJOR GEORGE B. DRAKE, - “_Assistant Adjutant-General_: - -“_Major_,--Pursuant to orders, I proceeded with my command to -Galveston, Texas, and took post. I arrived there December 24th, 1862, -landed next day on Kuhn’s Wharf, and fortified by building barricades, -and tearing up the bridge, making my position as strong as possible. - -“I took possession of the city as far as my small force would allow; -my scouts destroyed the telegraph running to Houston; and I took such -precautions as I thought necessary for holding the place. Commander -Renshaw, who had command of the fleet, laid four months within musket -shot of this telegraph and had allowed it to remain in working order. -We found the railroad in good condition. Signals were thrown up every -night, giving the enemy all the information they wanted. - -“I requested Commander Renshaw to go up the bay with two of his -lightest draft steamers and dislodge the enemy. I also requested the -use of two howitzers, which were on board of a schooner, and of no use -to the schooner. Both requests he refused to grant. - -“I landed my command on the wharf with the distinct understanding that -I was to be supported by the steamer _Harriet Lane_ on my right and -the steamer _Clifton_ on my left. On the morning of the first January, -1863, about four o’clock, I was attacked by a force of infantry and -cavalry, amounting to over six thousand men, with thirty-two pieces of -artillery. The only support I received was from the steamer _Sachem_, -and the schooner _Corypheus_ manned with fifteen men and one gun. -The steamer _Sachem_ was out of order, with her fires out to repair -boilers. The _Harriet Lane_ laid so far up the stream she was unable -to retreat, and became easy prey. The steamer _Owasco_ was two miles -below the city, with little or no steam up. The steamer _Westfield_, -with Commander Renshaw aboard, managed to get aground three miles below -the city, and signaled for the _Clifton_ to come and get her off. At -this time the enemy opened their heavy guns upon me from the head of -the wharf, and continued to throw shot and shell for one hour, when -they made an assault with two of their regiments to drive me from my -position. We repulsed them, and they retreated with severe loss. My -officers and men fought with great gallantry. Being without artillery I -had to rely upon the _Sachem_ and a little schooner for support. - -“At this time two cotton boats attacked the _Harriet Lane_, driving the -men from their guns, killing Captain Wainwright. The steamer _Owasco_ -came up and fired a few shots, also the _Clifton_, who had fired but -seven or eight shots when a flag of truce was entertained, and they -agreed to cease hostilities for three hours, and immediately dropped -down stream without consulting me at all in the matter. At this time -the enemy were in full retreat from the wharf; the artillery had -limbered up and withdrawn. - -“In a short time they returned, and immediately put their guns in -position and opened fire. I had no alternative but to surrender after -the fleet had left. Entirely deserted by the navy in a cowardly manner. -They had agreed to take my command off the wharf if we were hard -pressed. The steamers _Clifton_ and _Owasco_ passed by, but refused -to render any assistance. After receiving the fire of the enemy for a -half-hour, and receiving no assistance, I was compelled to surrender -myself and my command. - -“The fleet, at the expiration of the three hours agreed upon by flag -of truce (except the _Westfield_, which was blown up), ran out of the -harbor without firing a shot. - -“It is my opinion and belief that Commander Renshaw was a traitor, he -being in constant communication with the enemy. Commander Law proved -himself unworthy of his command. In not holding Galveston we lost the -key to Texas. - -“Enclosed please find the report of my excellent and lamented surgeon, -Dr. A. I. Cummings. - -“The following is a list of the amount of property lost and -surrendered: two hundred and seventy small-arms, (one hundred and -eighty Springfield smooth-bores and ninety Springfield rifles); -equipments for two hundred and sixty men; medical stores to the amount -of $1,000; one set of surgical instruments; twenty A tents and three -wall tents; five boxes of ammunition; twenty days’ rations for two -hundred and sixty men. - - “I remain, major, - “Very respectfully, - “I. S. BURRELL, - “_Colonel 42d Regt. Mass. Vols._” - -Admiral Farragut severely censured the naval officers for their conduct -in this action, and would not listen to any explanations. He was -chagrined at the capture of the _Harriet Lane_. When her crew, under -parole, reported to him, on their return to the Federal lines, he gave -them a severe lecture, and accused each and every man of cowardice, -threatening to punish those who tried to offer an excuse. The sailors -said they had never seen the “old man” so mad. A bitter feeling existed -among the _Harriet Lane’s_ crew against the _Clifton’s_ crew, which led -to several fistic encounters in New Orleans, when they met each other. - -A full inquiry into the cause of the disaster had been made by Admiral -Farragut. A court-martial, held on board the flag-ship _Hartford_, -had resulted in condemning Commanders Law and Wilson. The blame for -this defeat had been placed where it belonged, and when the exchanged -officers of the regiment left New Orleans for New York, General Banks -placed in the colonel’s hands the following letter: - - - “HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE GULF, - “NEW ORLEANS, August 5th, 1864. - “TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR ANDREW, - “Of Massachusetts: - -“_Sir_,--Colonel Isaac S. Burrell, of the Forty-Second Massachusetts -Volunteers, left New York with the troops under my command at the time -I entered service in this Department. Two days after I assumed command -here he was sent with his regiment to protect the island of Galveston, -which had been for three months in the possession of the naval -authorities of the United States. Two companies of his regiment, under -his own command, arrived there on the twenty-fourth of December, 1862. -The plans of the rebels for the recapture of the island had been so far -matured that before the balance of his regiment could reach the island -(a large part of which was within sight at the time the recapture -occurred), it was impossible for him, with his small force, to defend -the post or effect a retreat with his men. By an arrangement with the -commanding officer of the naval squadron the rebels had maintained a -railway communication from the main-land to the island, and upon the -night of the attack they ran their forces of five or six thousand, with -heavy artillery, to within a quarter of a mile of the position occupied -by Colonel Burrell. It is unnecessary for me to recount the facts -connected with this disaster to our arms, but it is just to Colonel -Burrell, to say, that it is in no wise attributable to him, but that -his conduct and that of his men, from the testimony of all parties, was -highly creditable to the service. - -“He has been held prisoner of war by the enemy from the first of -January, 1863, until recently exchanged. He has suffered greatly in -health, and is entitled to consideration from the officers of the -general government, as from the officers of the State of Massachusetts. -I commend him to the favor of your Excellency, as in all respects -worthy of favorable consideration. - - “I have the honor to be - “Very respectfully, your obedient servant, - “N. P. BANKS, - “_Major-General commanding_.” - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -AT CARROLLTON--BOUND FOR GALVESTON--ARRIVAL OF COMPANIES--CAMP -MANSFIELD--DETAILS. - - -Brigadier-General T. W. Sherman was in command of all United States -forces assembled at several camps in and about Carrollton, a suburb -of New Orleans, distant a few miles north of that city. The town did -not contain many houses or white inhabitants, and was situated on low, -wet, swampy ground. The vacant squares of building lots was ground on -which the troops pitched their tents. Camp Mansfield contained the One -Hundred and Tenth New York Infantry, One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth New -York Infantry, One Hundred and Sixty-First New York Infantry, Third -New Hampshire Infantry, Twenty-Fifth Connecticut Infantry, detachment -Forty-Second Massachusetts Infantry, Twenty-Fifth New York Light -Battery, Reed’s Massachusetts Rifle Rangers--in all about four thousand -men; Colonel Littlejohn, ----th New York, commanding the post. - -The release from close confinement on board transports was, for a time, -enjoyed by everybody, regardless of weather changes. The days were warm -and pleasant, but the nights freezing cold, causing much suffering, -as no boards could be obtained for tent floors, or firewood to build -bonfires. Why diarrhœa and dysentery did not attack more men while at -this camp, than was the case, is surprising. Camp regulations in regard -to men being out of quarters after taps had to be set aside, for, -finding it impossible to sleep without getting chilled, many of them -would cluster around the cooking-stoves, that were kept heated, and -endeavor to keep warm until day, with its bright, southern sunshine and -warmth, should dawn, when they could be comfortable. The rattling of -drums beating reveille in the various camps caused many a man of that -four thousand to feel thankful. - -According to orders received the evening of January 2d, 1863, the -detachment (Companies A, B and F) struck camp on the morning of January -3d, went to the river levee and embarked on board steamer _Che-Kiang_, -at nine o’clock, _en route_ for Galveston, Texas, to join Companies -D, G and I. While lying at the United States Barracks at night on -the third, where most of the day was passed in taking aboard stores, -ammunition, horses, and a detachment First Texas Cavalry, recruited -from Texas refugees, a furious thunder-storm occurred. Rain fell in -torrents; the lightning seemed to be everywhere and constant, with -deafening peals of thunder. It was a scene not to be forgotten, and -although showers of the same magnitude were afterwards experienced, -none made so vivid an impression on the memory as this first -thunder-storm witnessed in the sunny South. - -During Sunday, the fourth, there seemed to be a strange foreboding in -the minds of a great many that some unfortunate occurrence had taken -place. The transport was not in a hurry to proceed on the voyage, and -there was an ominous silence among officers who were supposed to know -the cause of delay. At noon the truth became known. Galveston had been -captured by Confederates, with Companies D, G and I, and the regimental -colors. All the mad projects, which found vent in words, that started -in the brains of men on board the _Che-Kiang_ would not be believed if -they were given here. A dare-devil spirit to do something that would -recapture their comrades, restore their colors, and wipe out the stigma -which they felt would be against the regiment, animated every breast. - -When Lieutenant M. Burrell, Jr. with First-Sergeant Henry White, -of Company A, came on board and recited their story of the affair, -although not very elaborate or satisfactory, it was listened to with -marked attention. They had started a few days before in the transport -_Honduras_ for Galveston, with the First Vermont Battery on board, -arriving off the harbor on the morning of the capture, and been ordered -back to New Orleans by a naval officer commanding a gunboat that was in -the action. The companies disembarked a second time at Carrollton in -the afternoon of January 4th, and went into camp at Camp Mansfield on -worse ground than before. - -Next day Companies E and K, from the _Charles Osgood_, reported for -duty and pitched their tents. Quartermaster Burrell and Adjutant Davis -also came into camp, having just arrived from Galveston after escaping -capture. They were received with cheers and congratulations. - -This camp was situated on very swampy ground with two ravines running -lengthwise through it, made to drain the water during rainy seasons. -The arrangement of tents was made as symmetrical as possible, but -formation of the ground completely spoiled its beauty. To reach the -color-line a deep water gully had to be passed, marring the good -appearance of a dress parade. The hospital was located in a vacated -school-house, distant half a mile from camp, because it was impossible -to accommodate patients in the hospital tent. Assistant-Surgeon -Hitchcock was quite sick with typhoid fever soon after reaching -Carrollton, and Assistant-Surgeon George C. Smith, One Hundred and -Fifty-Sixth New York Infantry, was detailed to occupy his position -temporarily, serving the regiment from January 17th to 27th.[8] - -[8] While at Carrollton the average daily sick in the regiment was: -taken sick, five; returned to duty, five; sick in hospital, twelve; -sick in quarters, eighteen; an average of thirty men each day under a -surgeon’s care. - -On the twelfth, Major Stiles, with Companies C and H, reported for duty -at camp, receiving a warm reception. The men were as much pleased to -tread dry land once more as their comrades were to see them. The day -and night was occupied by the men in reciting each other’s adventures -since they parted in New York. - -An aggravating case of desertion occurred January 2d, when Private -Lewis Buffum, Company B, deserted the service and his regiment under -circumstances proving him to be an arrant coward. Placed in a position -as acting-engineer on board the transport _Quincy_, while on her -trip from New York with the three companies, he received the best of -treatment, lived in the same manner as the officers, at no cost to -himself, and on arrival at New Orleans received extra pay from Captain -Clapp of the _Quincy_, for his services on the voyage; this Buffum, -regardless of all feelings of honor and duty, improved the opportunity -thus given him, detached and away from his company for a few days after -landing, to procure a change of clothing and bribe the first-engineer -on the _Quincy_ to conceal him on board upon her return trip to New -York. - -Several orders sent him to report for duty with his company and not -obeyed caused a search to be made, when his desertion was discovered. -An overhauling of the _Quincy_ failed to find him. It was ascertained -some months afterward (April 24th), when he came into the hands -of provost-marshal Captain John Pickering of New Orleans, having -surrendered himself at Fort Columbus, New York harbor, March 31st, -under the promise of pardon made by President Lincoln in General Orders -No. 58, War Department, issued March 11th, 1863, to all deserters who -returned to duty, that Buffum was on board the _Quincy_ during the -search, stowed away on the top of her boiler. As the searching party -passed one side of it he would slide down the opposite side until they -had passed, and then return to the top. - -There are no extenuating circumstances connected with Buffum’s -desertion. He was a married man, with wife and children living. As a -man he should have had some respect for their feelings, even though he -was without honor himself. He never was ill-treated by his officers. -His profession placed him in a position to be of great service to -the Government, by performing detached duty as engineer on some of -the railroads and steamers controlled by United States officers in -Louisiana. Private Buffum was so detailed by orders from Department -headquarters, to which detail answer had to be returned: “Deserted in -New Orleans, January 2d, 1863, and has not since been apprehended.” - -In connection with this case of desertion may properly be stated the -three cases of enlisted men who were disciplined at this camp. Corporal -Denny, Company E, was, January 22d, ordered to be placed in arrest -by Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman. A captain objected to some statements -that had appeared in a communication sent home by the corporal for -publication, and preferred charges against him. Denny remained in -arrest until after his trial by a division court-martial held January -27th, in New Orleans, and the proceedings of the court could be passed -upon by General Sherman. The charge and specification was as follows: - - -CHARGE. - -“Conduct to the prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline.” - - * * * * * - -_Specification_--In this: that he, Corporal Denny, was author of, did -write and cause to be published in the _Worcester Daily Spy_, on the -morning of December 29th, 1862, an article containing sentiments false -and calculated to mislead the public with reference to the acts of -Captain George P. Davis, then commanding troops on board the _Charles -Osgood_, and reflecting censure on his (Corporal Denny’s) superior -officer, which article was, in form and substance, as follows: - - * * * * * - -“Considerable feeling was created by the refusal of the privilege, but -a quantity of _whiskey_ provided by the officers allayed the feeling -with some, while it only added intensity with others. It was looked -at by many as a kind of _bribe_, while others were conscientiously -opposed to the indiscriminate distribution of whiskey by even superior -officers. It is to the credit of a large number that they threw the -stuff overboard as soon as received. There is a general feeling -that whiskey drinking is already too prevalent to have it so openly -countenanced, and all well-wishers of the Union army hope the practice -may soon be abandoned.” - - * * * * * - -Said article, of which the above is only an extract, was written after -the departure of the steamer _Charles Osgood_ from New York and before -her arrival at New Orleans. - -To which charge and specification the accused pleaded as follows: - - To the specification--Not guilty. - To the charge--Not guilty. - - -FINDING OF THE COURT. - -The Court, after mature deliberation on the evidence adduced, finds the -accused, Corporal Everett A. Denny of Company E, Forty-Second Regiment -Massachusetts Volunteers, as follows: - - Of the specification--Guilty. - Of the charge--Guilty. - - -SENTENCE. - -And the Court does therefore sentence him, Corporal Everett A. Denny, -Company E, Forty-Second Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, to be -reduced to the ranks, to forfeit ten dollars of his pay, and to be -publicly reprimanded by the commanding officer of his regiment. - - * * * * * - -The sentence was approved in General Orders No. 16, Defences New -Orleans, March 7th, 1863, and Corporal Denny released from arrest and -returned to duty with his company March 17th. - -Whether the offence was worth the trouble and expense of a trial is a -debatable question. Corporal Denny was young and inexperienced at the -time; with more years upon his shoulders he would probably have been -more discreet. There were many young correspondents with the army who -did not always confine their letters to matters of public interest, -but dabbled with surmises of probable movements by the troops, their -strength, positions occupied, and _morale_ of officers and men. This -is against army rules, and not to be tolerated. It is indirectly -furnishing information of value to the enemy. - -Private James White, of Company A, while at Carrollton, disobeyed -orders, using disrespectful language towards his superior officer. A -regimental court-martial convicted and sentenced him to forfeit one -month’s pay and to walk six hours a day for fourteen days--three in the -morning and three in the afternoon--with a log of wood tied across his -back, weighing not more than fifty pounds and not less than twenty-five -pounds, and to do fatigue duty every morning. As provided in orders for -regimental courts-martial, the sentence was approved by the brigade -commander. - -Private Jotham E. Bigelow, of Company K, was placed in arrest for -sleeping on his sentry post. By regimental General Orders No. 11, -issued January 30th, he was released from arrest and ordered to duty, -because, “from his previous good conduct as a soldier in all matters, -and being the first case of the kind in the regiment.” A warning was -issued in the orders that future cases would not be dealt with so -leniently. - -All proceedings in cases proper for a regimental court-martial had to -be before a field-officer of the regiment, by General Orders No. 91, -issued July 29th, 1862, from the War Department. Major Stiles was in -every case detailed to hear the evidence. - -At Carrollton several heavy details were made of working parties to -unload vessels at the levee, besides attending to a regular routine of -camp duty. Short marches were taken out on the shell road to accustom -the troops to that exercise. When Brigadier-General Emory assumed the -command he watched sharply these marching drills, also the company -and battalion drills of each organization. As some field-officers -were inclined to consume time in executing fancy tactical movements -when they had their regiments on drill, a general order was issued -indicating a more rapid mode of instruction for the field. The -following points were enjoined as of the first importance: - -1st. The firings--to be executed with facility, promptness, and good -order. - -2d. Rapid ployments and deployments while marching as well as from a -halt. - -3d. Sudden and rapid formations of squares against cavalry. - -With these instructions carefully and faithfully carried out, any -troops could soon be made fairly efficient for field service, with -discipline also enforced. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, on several occasions, as field-officer -of the day, had to make the grand rounds. The start was usually made -between eleven and twelve o’clock at night. Considerable ground had to -be covered to reach various bodies of troops occupying scattered camps, -while the outpost stations would consume much time. Acting under verbal -orders to thoroughly do this duty, numerous attempts were made to catch -sentries off their guard; in some cases quite successfully, but it -resulted in creating bad feeling between the organization so caught, -and the regiment from which the field-officer of the day belonged. One -of the most notable cases was a surprise of the Fifteenth New Hampshire -camp. Upon approaching a sentry he failed to challenge, and seemed glad -to take part in a casual conversation, which was commenced, when it -was seen the man was not reliable in his duty. Finally, he was seized -without resistance and his musket taken away, frightening the poor -fellow to such an extent it was with difficulty the grand rounds’ party -could remain by him while proceeding towards the guard quarters, where -everything was found to be all right, with the men alert. - -The One Hundred and Tenth New York camp was entered one night without -a challenge, or being seen by any sentinels; on stealthily approaching -the guard quarters, where a log fire was burning, no sign of life was -seen excepting a solitary sentinel pacing to and fro before a line -of stacked muskets. Watching a favorable opportunity he was made a -quasi-prisoner, much to his chagrin, and on inspecting the guard -tents a few men were found sound asleep, with no officer of the guard -present. Routing out the regimental officer of the day to investigate -the matter, it appeared that the reliefs, together with officers of the -guard, had gone to their quarters for sleep. - -After a few incidents like these were reported to post headquarters, it -was not long before sentries were wide awake for surprises. It became -dangerous business to attempt any fooling with sentries, and such -attempts were abandoned. Whenever a field-officer of the Fifteenth New -Hampshire or One Hundred and Tenth New York had the grand rounds, in -retaliation, they tried various ways to catch the Forty-Second guard -napping, but never succeeded. - -On one of these grand rounds’ tour of duty, while proceeding along -the levee road towards outpost stations, the road was found to be in -an impassable condition, owing to a small break in the levee, not -known to exist, as during the early afternoon one of the officers -had found the road in good condition. An occupant of a house near at -hand was awakened to obtain directions how to proceed: the man either -intentionally or by mistake directed the party to take the levee -embankment, his reasons for the bad condition of the road not creating -any suspicion that a crevasse existed in the levee. Proceeding along -the embankment with Sergeant-Major Bosson leading the mounted party, -his horse suddenly stopped, and no amount of urging could induce the -animal to move forward. In the pitchy darkness it was impossible to see -what was the matter, so the party with difficulty (the embankment top -was very narrow) turned about, going back, finally reaching another -road leading to the outposts. The next morning, upon examining the road -at this point, there was found a small break in the levee. Had the -horse kept on for a few feet, both horse and rider would have been in -the Mississippi River. - -A sharp report from several muskets, fired by sentinels, followed with -a cry of fire, roused the camp at two o’clock on the morning of January -26th. Not far from the camp lines was a small frame house, used by -officers of the Forty-Second for messing. This had caught fire, burning -to the ground. The primitive fire department of Carrollton rallied, -consisting of several white men, a gang of negroes with an old worn out -double-deck hand fire-engine, requiring not over ten men to man the -brakes, without suction hose, water being furnished the engine by hand -buckets, and a small hose carriage. A detail of men from the regiment -soon took possession of this fire apparatus, relieving the local -firemen of any responsibility, and earnestly endeavored to stop the -flames. What was in rain water cisterns attached to the nearest houses -was all the water that could be used. There was great sport in fighting -this fire, as well as some sharp and brave work in saving what was in -the house. For the purpose of obtaining indemnity from the Government, -the owner implicated officers of the regiment with this fire. A council -of investigation was ordered by Brigadier-General Emory into the -circumstances; the detail consisted of Captains Cogswell and Cook and -Lieutenant Gorham, who found that the fire was accidental. - -Lieutenant Proctor was without a command, as his company were prisoners -of war. Upon landing, with men of Company G who were with him, he met -Colonel N. A. M. Dudley, an old friend, in the city, who requested -him to join his brigade, then at Baton Rouge, as he wanted a brigade -quartermaster, and wished to appoint the lieutenant to that position. -Although attached to another brigade and division, Colonel Dudley -thought he could arrange the matter with his division general, Grover, -and the Department headquarters. Lieutenant Proctor proceeded to Baton -Rouge, but Dudley could not carry out his plan, as Adjutant-General -Irwin stated it was against the rules of the service. This was true. -Lieutenant Proctor and his men reported back to the regiment February -3d. - -First Sergeant Nichols, Company G, was detailed acting lieutenant of -Company E, _vice_ Stowell, a prisoner of war. - -Sergeant Attwell, Company G, remained unattached. - -Private H. C. Green, Company G, was attached to Company K for duty. - -Private John Luzardo, Company G, was attached to Company K for duty. - -Sergeant Vialle, Company G, remained unattached. - -War Department General Orders No. 5, issued January 5th, 1863, had -made the troops in the Gulf Department to constitute the Nineteenth -Army Corps, to date from December 14th, 1862. Orders were issued from -Department headquarters on the thirteenth of January attaching the -Forty-Second to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Nineteenth Army -Corps. In the brigade were the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, -three years men; Forty-Second Massachusetts Infantry, nine months -men; Forty-Seventh Massachusetts Infantry, nine months men; Ninth -Connecticut Infantry, three years men; Twenty-Eighth Maine Infantry, -nine months men. The brigade was then under command of Colonel Farr, -Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers, and constituted part of the -garrison in the Defences of New Orleans. - -The regiment remained in camp at Carrollton until January 28th, -receiving marching orders for five companies to take post at Bayou -Gentilly, on the Ponchartrain Railroad crossing, on the twenty-seventh. - -Up to this date the following changes by detail and sickness had -occurred: - -January 17th--Companies C and H left for duty in engineer service. - -January 25th--Quartermaster Burrell was detailed by brigade orders as -acting brigade quartermaster. Lieutenant Albert E. Proctor, Company G, -by regimental orders, was detailed as acting regimental quartermaster, -on the twenty-sixth. - -Assistant Surgeon Isaac Smith, Jr., Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts -Volunteers, was detailed to act as surgeon during Surgeon Hitchcock’s -sickness, relieving Surgeon Smith, One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth New York -Volunteers, and joined the regiment for duty on the twenty-ninth, at -Bayou Gentilly. - -Captain George P. Davis, Company K, and Lieutenant T. M. Duncan, -Company F, by department orders, were detailed for duty in the -provost-marshal general’s office, on the twenty-first. - -Captain Charles A. Pratt, Company E, had been absent from camp on sick -leave, and not on duty since his company landed from the _Charles -Osgood_. Captain Pratt did not see any service with his company. He -resigned, and was discharged for ill health by Special Orders No. --, -Gulf Department, March 28th, 1863. - -January 3d--Corporal Alonzo I. Hodsdon, Company D, was appointed -acting quartermaster-sergeant, in place of Foster, taken prisoner -at Galveston. Hodsdon, with the pay of his rank as corporal to July -12th, performed the arduous duty of the position in a most admirable -manner during the term of the regiment. Special mention is made in -his case over that of other non-commissioned staff-officers, because -of his devoted attention to the duties with no prospect before him -of any promotion to the position. While Foster lived, Corporal -Hodsdon remained a corporal. Foster’s parole, when released by the -Confederates, did not allow him to take his position until exchanged, -which did not occur during the term of service. - -January 1st--Private Eldridge G. Harwood, Company B, was appointed -regimental carpenter. - -January 15th--Private Clark K. Denny, Company F, was detailed as -orderly and clerk at regimental headquarters. - -January 15th--Private Leavitt Bates, Company A, was detailed as clerk -to headquarters of General Emory, at Carrollton. Relieved February 3d. - -January 15th--Private John A. Loud, Company A, was made regimental -armorer. - -January 30th--Private Winfield B. Tirrell, Company A, was detailed as -orderly at brigade headquarters, by brigade orders. - -The Quartermaster Department was advanced a stage in its appointments, -by organizing the wagon train, as follows: Private John Willy, Company -B, chief wagoner; Private Porter Carter, Company K, Corporal Alfred -Thayer, Company I, Privates Chauncey K. Bullock, Company D, G. G. -Belcher, Company F, Joseph B. Ford, Company A, as wagoners. - -On moving to Bayou Gentilly the following sick men were left in general -hospital at Carrollton: Privates Adin P. Blake, Company B, George E. -Pond, Company B, Lucius M. Turner, Company B, and Surgeon Hitchcock. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -FEBRUARY--AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MORE DETAILS. - - -That part of Bayou Gentilly where a portion of the Forty-Second was to -remain in camp for nearly five months was, at the time of arrival, a -most desolate looking place. The Gentilly road passed the camp ground, -leading to Fort Macomb, on Lake Ponchartrain, and at this point, at -this time, was in a wretched condition. Each side of the road was lined -by small plantations and pasture lands, extending back for a short -distance to swamps. Most of the plantations were uninhabited, the land -covered with rank vegetation, and showed every sign of abandonment. -Occasionally some hut or rude cabin would give signs of life--occupied -by charcoal burners, who carried on their vocation in the swamps. -The Ponchartrain Railroad, from New Orleans to Lakeport, on Lake -Ponchartrain, five miles long, in a direct line through the swamp to -the lake, ran only two trains a day. Save the regiment, scarcely a -person would be seen for days. - -A sugar-cane plantation near the camp, belonging to a Mr. Lee, was used -to pasture private and Government cattle, and recruit the strength of -horses and mules run down by hard service in the army. The private -residence, negro cabins, stables and work houses remained in very good -order. The sugar-house was a mass of ruins. An extensive grove of plum -trees was in good condition. - -Pent up in this flat spot of land, with nothing to relieve the eye -but a mass of trees situated in the swamp, their limbs covered with -light-colored moss, had a depressing effect on the spirits of some men, -who began early to show signs of home-sickness. - -The ground selected for the camp was upon the old Louisiana -race-course, the best to be found in the neighborhood. This race-course -had been surrounded by a high board fence, such as enclose similar -grounds, but had disappeared, leaving the ground as open as the land -about it. Adjoining the Gentilly road and Ponchartrain Railroad, the -side towards New Orleans was on the border of a swamp. This ground -was formerly occupied for a camp by Confederate troops. The famous -Washington Artillery, of New Orleans, first went into camp at this -place at the commencement of hostilities. A portion of the Confederate -garrison of New Orleans, when General Butler landed, were also encamped -here. What few inhabitants were to be seen said that a large number of -men had at various times been in camp at this point, and was a general -rendezvous for many of the Louisiana troops when organizing for the -war. Many an hour has been pleasantly passed inspecting the writings -and pictures upon the walls of a building used by them as a hospital, -placed there by men from the Thirtieth and Thirty-First Louisiana -regiments. - -By railroad the distance from New Orleans to Gentilly Station was -three miles, and from Gentilly Station to the Lake End, or Lakeport, -was two miles. A short distance up the track towards Lakeport and back -from the Gentilly road, which the railroad crosses at grade, was an -earthwork mounting four heavy guns, called Battery Gentilly, flanked -by extensive breastworks for infantry, with wide and deep ditches in -front filled with water. Trees in the swamp in front had been cut down -for a considerable distance to give good range to the guns. Another -earthwork, mounting nine guns, was situated on the Gentilly road, -towards Fort Macomb, some two and one-half miles from the railroad -track, and was in all its surroundings similar to Battery Gentilly. - -On the twenty-eighth of January, when the regiment changed camps, -the roads were in very good condition in spite of cold weather, and -rain falling for two days previous. Great coats were worn; the men -were in excellent spirits, and the distance, about three miles, was -accomplished early in the afternoon. Very few men straggled; most of -those that did were suffering from diarrhœa. The line of march embraced -a circuit of New Orleans on its immediate outskirts, affording few -opportunities to see subjects of interest to strangers in a new land. -A greater part of the houses were either deserted or occupied by the -poorer class of people; only a few were evidently the property of -wealthy individuals. Some handsome residences were seen, but their -occupants were decidedly unfriendly. They could be seen looking slyly -through blinds and from door corners, but none threw their windows open -in a bold manner to look out of them, as the regiment marched past. - -The houses were generally in good repair, many of one or two stories in -height, with large windows and doors; nearly one-half had a veranda in -front of each story. The gardens were in a deplorable condition. Few -people were seen on the roads, and they, except the negroes, evinced -no interest in the regiment. There was one knot of women collected -together who would frequently hiss: “d----d Yankees,” “ain’t you -ashamed,” “hope you will all die,” and similar words of welcome. None -of the men paid any attention to them. Coffee houses and apologies -for restaurants, located on the route, were generally closed for want -of business; their signs were retained, put up when the secession -excitement was in full blaze. _Beauregard_ was the favorite name for -use on these signs. - -Having arrived at Bayou Gentilly, by night-time camp was pitched and -everything made as comfortable as possible. The hospital was located in -a wide and long one-story wooden building, formerly used for a liquor -and refreshment saloon, attached to the race-course. Headquarters was -also established in the building. The quartermaster and commissary -stores, and the horses, occupied a similar building, which had been -built or refitted for the purpose, a short distance away towards the -railroad crossing. - -General Banks, having issued a general order calling for volunteers -to fill the Second Vermont Battery, Captain Holcomb, the next day, -twenty-ninth, Corporal Thomas Hanson White, Company K, Private John B. -Williams, Company K, Private Addison J. Williams, Company K, Private -William F. Howard, Company K, Private Horace M. Cowles, Company K, -Private Oscar J. Stockwell, Company E, and Private Oliver King, Company -E, who had volunteered, received their descriptive lists, final orders, -and left camp to join the battery then stationed at Donaldsonville, to -remain until their term of service expired. This battery was in the -army before Port Hudson, and the men saw some hard service. None of -them died from disease, or were wounded or killed. They rejoined the -regiment at Algiers, July 23d. - -The month of January closed with five companies on duty at Bayou -Gentilly, showing a strength of sixteen officers and four hundred and -forty-nine men present, with sixteen of the men sick in hospital. - -In February the regiment was still further scattered by several -details. Cold and rainy weather, combined with these continual details, -rather dispirited for awhile both officers and men, who gradually -became convinced that as a body the regiment was not destined during -its service to perform any gallant deeds, or be placed in a position to -try and do so. - -A detachment of one sergeant, three corporals and twenty-five privates -from Company A, under command of Lieutenant Martin Burrell, Jr., was -ordered February 3d to take charge and guard the battery situated on -the Gentilly road, towards Fort Macomb. At the time of taking charge -of this battery it mounted nine guns. Battery Gentilly did not have an -armament. During the month, as nothing was to be feared from the enemy -in this direction, and the Confederates could attempt a demonstration -against New Orleans from the direction of the lake in the neighborhood -of Lakeport, Bayou St. John and Hickok’s Landing, General Sherman, -commanding Defences New Orleans, had his ordnance officer, Captain -Pease, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, remove the guns from -this battery and use them to equip Battery Gentilly on the railroad -track and Battery St. John on St. John Bayou. Removal of these guns -and putting them into their new positions occupied about one month. On -the eighteenth the transfer had so far advanced that the detachment -under Lieutenant Burrell was ordered to the battery on the Ponchartrain -Road. It was not until March 10th that Battery St. John was occupied -and taken in charge by the remaining men of Company A, under command of -Captain Coburn. - -Pay day were talismanic words to the soldier. Visions of a pocket full -of “Uncle Sam’s” greenbacks float before the eyes of those men who had -not allotted their money. Depending altogether on his frugality, for -days or weeks after being paid off a soldier can visit the sutler, and -at enormous prices buy little delicacies and necessaries to go with -his Government rations, to make them more palatable. Tobacco and pipes -were the most popular articles of purchase. Liquor had peculiar charms -for a great many. - -The first muster for pay of the regiment took place at Carrollton on -the twenty-seventh of January, when the troops at that place were -mustered to December 31st, 1862. Government always has its troops -in arrears two months at least, to cover any overdrafts on clothing -account, or fines charged them by sentence of courts-martial for -misdemeanors. The troops are mustered for pay on the last day of the -month every two months during the year, when all men present are -reported on the muster and pay rolls, who draw their pay when the -paymaster makes his appearance. Absent men, except on detached service -by orders, do not get mustered, but have to wait until the next -muster and payment before obtaining any money; this, to most men, is -sufficient punishment for their absence without leave. - -Companies A, B, E, F and K were paid off at Bayou Gentilly on February -2d, by a major in the Paymasters’ Department attached to the Department -of the Gulf. Companies C and H were paid a few days later at Camp -Parapet. Payments to all companies of the regiment (except Company K) -were made with regularity and promptness during the term of service, -because, stationed in close proximity to New Orleans most of the time -afforded paymasters easy access to them. Company K, while on duty -with the army in the field, was not so fortunate. The paroled men of -Companies D, G and I were first mustered for pay on the regular muster -day, February 28th, and first paid April 27th, when they were paid from -the date of their enlistment to March 1st. - -Those who did not allot any of their pay, received what seemed to be -at that time large sums of money. The nine months troops were allowed -regular pay from time of signing the enlistment rolls, and a large -number had done so early in August and September, 1862; they had, -therefore, some six and seven months pay due them. The allotment system -never found much favor with men of the Forty-Second, so that nearly -every soldier received the full amount due him without any deductions. -Many men, with families at home, availed themselves of an express -arrangement at low rates with the Adams & Co. Express, to forward most -of their pay, every pay day, to those in need of it. - -The unmarried men, with those of a spendthrift character, retained -their money, spending the larger part of it in a bar-room, otherwise -called a sutler’s shop, situated in the same building used for -headquarters and for a hospital, kept by a man called Charley Ellis. -This man Ellis, in all outward appearances a well-meaning man, was at -heart a perfect rogue. Formerly lessee of the New Orleans race-course -(the grounds occupied by the regiment for a camp), at the time -Louisiana seceded he was a professed Union man, suffering a short -imprisonment in the Parish jail, and was treated to a coat of tar and -feathers for his sentiments. Nothing definite is known of his former -history except that he was a professional horse jockey, an admirer -of sports of the turf, and a regular sporting man. As lessee of the -race-course he ran in debt, and was unable to pay. Upon the occupation -of New Orleans by troops under General Butler, he enlisted the -sympathies of that general. He kept a regular drinking saloon in the -city, and whenever troops occupied the race-course for a camp opened a -branch establishment on the ground, if he was lucky enough to hoodwink -the commanding officer, nominally to furnish sutlers’ stores, but -practically as a drinking saloon. - -[Illustration: HEADQUARTERS AT BAYOU GENTILLY, LA.] - -Ellis, by his plausible stories and seductive manners, completely -blindfolded the eyes of officers in the Forty-Second at first, and was -allowed to open his saloon. By rendering little favors and trifling -services to the officers he managed to keep in their good graces, and -became intimate enough to borrow considerable sums of money from them, -much of which was never repaid. He once got a loan from the hospital -fund that created some trouble in the hospital by his not paying back -the money at the stipulated time, thereby preventing the surgeons from -obtaining those little extras they were in the habit of furnishing to -their patients, until, by threats, Ellis was made to pay this borrowed -amount. - -The building occupied for headquarters and hospital Ellis endeavored to -make the officers believe belonged to him, as lessee of the grounds, -although it was known his lease was void from non-fulfilment of its -conditions on his part. On the departure of the regiment from Bayou -Gentilly he presented a bill for rent of the building, at the rate of -five hundred dollars a month, for the length of time it was occupied -by the regiment, to Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, for his approval. It -was never approved. Why Ellis was allowed to remain inside of the -regimental lines with his stock of bad liquors for sale was a mystery -to those who had learned his character and saw what mischief he was -doing. The surgeons were opposed to his being allowed there, and -remonstrated against it, and Chaplain Sanger, who could not help seeing -that not alone disease of the body but disease of the mind was one -of the results sure to accrue from this sutler’s shop, joined in the -remonstrance. - -Two other liquor saloons on the road, in close proximity to the camp, -were also doing mischief. Verbal orders were at one time given their -proprietors not to sell liquor to a soldier, on pain of having their -stock demolished; but as no extra vigilance was exercised in detecting -offences against the orders, they were not considered as of any account. - -February 4th, Privates Thomas Burns, John Nolan and Thomas Mathews, -stragglers in New York from Company D, returned and were assigned to -duty with Company E. On the eighteenth, Privates Greene and Luzardo, -of Company G, on duty with Company K, were detached and assigned to -duty with Company E, and Private Joseph V. Colson, Company G, was -assigned to Company E. Private Colson was a straggler in New York from -the regiment. He had a varied experience on his trip to New Orleans. -Reporting to the proper officer in New York, he was put aboard the -ship _Planter_, with some two hundred other men belonging to various -regiments of the Nineteenth Corps. The ship went upon the reefs at -Grand Abaco Island, in the Bahama Channel, during good weather, about -four o’clock in the morning. All hands were saved by the ship’s boats, -landing them upon the island, where they remained seventeen days, -subsisting on pork and water saved from the wreck and shell fish -obtained on the island. Finally a few wrecking schooners carried the -troops to Key West, and from there they were sent to New Orleans to -rejoin their several commands. Of the two hundred and fifty horses -aboard, all were lost. The vast amount of medical stores and other -property was mostly saved by wreckers; some fifty wrecker sails were -counted by Colson hovering about the ship in three days after going -upon the reef. What was saved by these wreckers was taken to Nassau. -Aboard the ship it was believed that the captain, a Southerner, -purposely wrecked the vessel. Colson reported having a good time on the -trip, but it seemed like home to him when he reached the regiment. - -The only case in February before Major Stiles, for discipline, was that -of Private James Minz, Company K, for disobedience of orders and using -disrespectful language to his superior officer. Conviction and sentence -followed, the sentence meeting the approval of the brigade commander, -which was, to forfeit eight dollars a month of his pay to the United -States for two months and to remain a prisoner at the guard tent for -seven days, doing fatigue duty each day. - -A system of rocket signals was arranged between the brigade -headquarters in New Orleans, the Gentilly Station and Lakeport. In case -the enemy appeared at night upon the lake, three rockets at Lakeport, -or in the city, was the signal for the regiment to get under arms and -await orders from the general commanding Defences of New Orleans. -Several times the sentries mistook shooting stars for rockets, and -raised alarms in the camp; even the officers have been led at times to -think these stars were signal rockets. They certainly did have that -appearance when seen for a moment in the remarkable clear atmosphere -prevailing during the early part of the night, just above tall trees -of the swamp, and would be apt to mislead any person who was on the -lookout for such signals. - -Among the several _new sensations_ experienced at Bayou Gentilly were a -few night alarms. Only those who have for the first time in a hostile -country heard the drums beat to arms near the midnight hour can form -any idea of the sensation it gives to a raw soldier. The heart beats -quick; he can feel his blood warming up; every nerve is strung to the -highest tension in anticipation of stirring events about to happen. - -The regiment, for several nights in succession, during February, was -under arms for what, at the time, were thought to be good causes, but -at a later period partook of the ludicrous and provoked a smile. The -first alarm was started one night by Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, for -the purpose of testing the guard in a knowledge of its duty. At a -distance of about one-quarter of a mile from camp he fired his pistol -some three or four times towards the camp and then quickly returned to -his headquarters. The officer of the guard aroused the camp at once by -causing the long roll to be beaten, and reported the circumstances to -the officer of the day, who proceeded to report to Lieutenant-Colonel -Stedman, and entered headquarters a moment after his return. The -regiment was always in line from five to ten minutes after a call to -arms, ready to obey orders. - -On the occasion narrated a detachment of thirty men was sent down the -road leading toward Fort Macomb, with orders to scour the plantations -upon each side and ascertain the cause of firing. Sergeant-Major Bosson -was fond of giving his experience on this, his first night on a scout. -In detail he gave the _peculiar_ feelings that came over him when -prowling around and looking into every nook and corner of a ruined -sugar-house, accompanied by two men, expecting to find a body of armed -men secreted there; how he afterwards joined the detachment on the -road, and then with another detail of two men searched plantations -upon the left of the road as far down as the battery, where Lieutenant -Burrell with his detachment was stationed, saving the life of a cow -one of his companions mistook for a man dodging around among the swamp -trees and made ready to fire at. - -A number of officers had with them patent-armored vests, that were sold -extensively when the nine months troops were enlisting. Those iron-clad -arrangements were put on with such alacrity at every night alarm that -the officers who unfortunately owned them must have laughed when, at -home safe and sound after their term of service expired, they thought -over the _dangers_ they passed through in Louisiana, especially at -Bayou Gentilly. Some of the officers have slept at night with these -iron cases on, and it came to be a fixed custom until the hot weather -set in for owners of iron vests to don them when the regiment was under -arms for any supposable emergency, more for the purpose of making -some use of them, or, as they jocosely remarked, “get their money’s -worth out of them at any rate.” Officers who were in the Galveston -action also had these iron vests. They were forgotten when trouble was -expected and no use made of them. - -A private in Company F, a troublesome fellow and great shirk, -endeavored to pass a sentinel without giving the countersign on -the night of February 14th. He was properly challenged but paid no -attention to the call, “Who goes there!” repeated a number of times, -when the sentry, also a private of Company F, aimed his musket and -fired at him for his temerity. The ball whistled by his head and passed -through the hospital without damage. The fellow did not receive any -sympathy, nor did he deserve any, and the fright given him was deemed -sufficient punishment and warning not to repeat the blunder.[9] - -[9] Adjutant Davis had a similar adventure at this camp. A sentry -challenged him without receiving a reply, made ready and levelled -his gun at him. The click of the trigger woke Davis from a reverie -to instantly comprehend his situation and answer the challenge. This -sentry acknowledged he recognized the adjutant, and yet maintained he -should have fired at him in a moment after taking aim. As Davis was -inside the camp on official business, such action on the sentinel’s -part would not have been humane or proper, while it might have been -justified. As he recognized his officer and thought, as he admits, that -his challenge was not heard, to have stopped the adjutant at the point -of his bayonet was sufficient. - -Quite a number of men in Company F were sick. Two of the cases baffled -the surgeon’s skill until it was decided, after an inspection of -company quarters, that in these two cases signs and symptoms of scurvy -was manifested, and fresh meat in place of “salt horse” ought to be -provided. The brigade quartermaster was unable to fill a requisition -for fresh meat, while the camp was serenaded night and day by constant -tinkling of a hundred cow-bells, attached to as many cows. The idea -of going without fresh meat when it was needed, with a herd of cattle -within reach, was more than the officers could stand, and a council -was held at regimental headquarters. The result was, Captain Cogswell -received authority to take some of his men, who understood how to -slaughter and dress cattle, and go to work that night. - -The party consisted of Major Stiles, Captain Cogswell, Sergeant-Major -Bosson, Sergeant B. A. Bottomley, Corporal Sylvander Bothwell, Privates -Harvey Allen (company cook), George Mann and Charles Sanderson, of -Company F. They selected a fine animal, placed a rope around her horns -with difficulty, and dragged the cow towards a grove of trees, selected -as a proper place to dress her. Everything was done in a workmanlike -manner, as the butchers knew their business, and after the fresh beef -was carried upon a confiscated ladder to the regimental quartermaster’s -depot all hands returned to Company F’s quarters, to partake of broiled -steak and liver, cooked by Harvey Allen about one o’clock in the -morning. - -Not satisfied with this supply of beef, Lieutenant Harding and men -from his company (Company K) again made a raid on the herd of cattle -shortly after and slaughtered cow number two, without authority. In -this case the hide and entrails were buried in the swamp, while Captain -Cogswell’s butchers threw the head, hide and entrails into a well of -water used by the cattle, near the paroled camp. No one supposed these -cows would be missed, until the owner appeared and made inquiries about -them. He was not satisfied with his reception in the camp, proceeding -to prowl around to ascertain where they were. His attention was -attracted to the well of water, where all that remained of cow number -one had been placed, by the moaning of several head of cattle that -stood near smelling of the water and tearing up the turf with their -feet, when a hundred men of the regiment, who had been watching him -with curiosity from the camp line, saw the owner fish out the head and -hide with a long pole. - -He then made complaint to the provost-marshal in New Orleans, who -invited the regimental officers to explain. In order to prevent an -unpleasant inquiry the affair was settled by the officers making up a -purse of about three hundred dollars to pay the owner’s claim; this -fresh meat costing them dear in the end. No cattle were molested -afterwards. - -Before Assistant-Surgeon Smith, Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, was -relieved from charge of the hospital a curious case came under his -care, ending in a manner discreditable to him. Private Francis N. -Prouty, Company F, was sick in hospital with malarial fever. No one -thought the case serious until, one morning, Surgeon Smith came into -the headquarters office excited and breathless, reporting Prouty as -dying. Word was sent to Captain Cogswell and his company officers, -who at once repaired to the sick-room, accompanied by Chaplain Sanger -and several others, to witness the dying scene. There Prouty lay upon -his cot, with head and shoulders bolstered up by pillows, breathing -short and quick, no sign of death in his face, that had an intelligent -look, and his eyes their natural appearance. The other patients in -the room were resting upon elbows on their cots watching Prouty with -wondering eyes, as the solemn procession filed in and took positions -near the supposed dying man. While the surgeon kept one hand upon the -patient’s pulse, Chaplain Sanger offered a fervent prayer in his behalf -that only served to produce a look of wonder in Prouty’s eyes, that -appeared to say, what in the devil is this all about? He did not die, -and afterwards said, had no intention of doing so, to please any one. -The whole scene ended, after waiting about half an hour, in the solemn -procession retiring from his side, pleased to find that the end was not -to come, and somewhat mad with the surgeon for his opinion on the case. -Smith had not been considered a surgeon of any skill before this event, -and this case served to deepen the distrust of his ability. - -During February New Orleans was alive with army officers and men, on -furlough and without leave, indulging in all sorts of wild dissipation. -The evil became so great that special orders were issued by General -Banks to General Sherman to stop it. Stringent orders relative to -passes, rigidly enforced, soon put an end to this demoralizing conduct. -Another source of trouble was the presence of large negro contraband -camps in the vicinity of the city, requiring other stringent orders -to be issued for their government, and regulating the behavior of -soldiers towards them. In January the ladies in New Orleans had shown -a disposition to indulge in petty insults to soldiers whom they met on -the streets, and caused a circular, dated January 13th, to be issued, -which put a stop to much of this silly nonsense, but did not do away -with it entirely. The circular read as follows: - - - “HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE GULF, - “NEW ORLEANS, January 13th, 1863. - -“Notice is hereby given by the commanding general of this Department -that offensive personal demonstrations, by language or conduct of any -character, by persons of any class whatever, with the intention of -giving personal offence, or tending to disturb the public peace, are -forbidden, and will be punished with relentless severity. Parents will -be held responsible for the respectful conduct of their children, and -prompt measures will be taken to fasten upon the proper parties any act -of this character. All persons who may be witnesses to such conduct, -are directed, as a measure of public peace, to give information thereof -to the provost-marshal, or at these headquarters. - - “By command of - “MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS. - “RICHARD B. IRWIN, - “_Lieut.-Col_., _Assistant Adjutant-General_.” - -Brigade drills under Colonel Farr, and a brigade review and inspection, -by Brigadier-General Sherman, commanding division, were had while at -Gentilly Bayou. The brigade drills were interesting, and considering -the short time most of the regiments had been in service were quite -satisfactory. Three drills were all this brigade ever had, on account -of its being posted over a large extent of ground, and at posts that -could not be left exposed by gathering the men together for such a -purpose. - -It was the custom to leave camp at eight A.M. on brigade drill -days, in light marching order, as a march had to be made of about -three miles to the drill ground. The weather would be hot and sun -very scorching; on one drill only did the weather prove treacherous, -and then the regiment was caught in a thunder shower. After several -hours devoted to drill, and then a march back to camp with but short -intervals for rest during the time, no rations in haversacks to make -a dinner from, when the regiment arrived in camp, usually about -half-past three to four o’clock in the afternoon, the men would be -thirsty, hungry, hot and dusty. While such service may not be equal to -a day’s march in an active campaign, yet for the regiment to perform it -with so few men falling out of the ranks from fatigue, as was the case, -shows what good material for service composed the regiment. - -These drills were not without their attendant scenes and excitements. -Crowds of negroes, of both sexes, would hover around the ground to -hear the bands of music and witness the evolutions. Colonel Farr would -frequently lose his temper and damn both officers and men; Colonel -Marsh, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, particularly meriting -the displeasure of the brigade commander, and received many of that -officer’s choice remarks. Colonel Marsh was not a military man. The way -in which he managed to twist his regiment around, mix the companies -up and the brigade also, caused more laughter among the men than any -other incident. It was amusing to see the expression of wonder on the -face of Colonel Marsh when his regiment would be out of place, with the -brigade standing at ease, waiting for him to place the regiment where -it belonged, and Colonel Farr, accompanied by his entire staff, coming -up at a full gallop to know “What in h--ll is the matter now?” Captain -“Ned” Bird, Company I, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts, acting as major, -would always have to give the correct orders that brought his regiment -into proper position. - -At a brigade drill which took place on the twenty-sixth of February, -the new colors, which had been sent to the regiment by Governor Andrew, -to replace those lost at Galveston, were unfurled and carried in the -ranks for the first time. This second set of regimental colors never -trembled from the whistle of bullets or fluttered amid smoke from -powder during the term of service. They were seldom used, consequently -on the return home of the regiment they looked new, bright colored and -clean, as though fresh from the designer’s hand. - -Brigadier-General Sherman impressed an observer very favorably. He -was a regular army officer, familiar with all details of the service, -courteous in manner towards all officers--a thorough soldier and -gentleman. When inspecting the brigade assembled for a drill, February -19th, on reaching the Forty-Second, in position for inspection, he -noticed the regimental colors were missing. He sharply called the -attention of Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman to the fact, and when informed -they had been lost at Galveston his tone of voice quickly changed; -lifting his hat he replied: “I beg your pardon, colonel.” There is -no importance attached to this incident, except that it showed the -thoroughbred officer, and made quite an impression on those near enough -to hear the conversation, engendering a feeling that here was an -officer to be trusted, and his orders could be obeyed with confidence. -Not many volunteer officers display such tact and discrimination. - -During February the following additional changes by detail occurred: -Private Martin Proctor, Company F, was made steward for the field and -staff officers’ mess at regimental headquarters; on that duty until -relieved in July in consequence of sickness. - -February 2nd--Private Henry E. Putnam, Company E, was detailed as clerk -at brigade headquarters by brigade orders, where he remained until -July, and then returned to his company. - -February 18th--Private Edward J. Worcester, Company E, was made -regimental armorer, a position he held until his term of service -expired, _vice_ Private Loud, detailed to assist Lieutenant Pease. - -February 18th--Company K left the regiment to act as pontoniers to the -Nineteenth Army Corps. - -February 25th--Captain Cogswell, Company F, appointed as corporals -George L. Stone and Sylvander Bothwell, in place of C. H. Woodcock and -E. A. Spooner, who preferred to join the regimental band. - -At the close of February there were present for duty in the four -companies at Gentilly Bayou, and Company K, in New Orleans, twenty -officers and four hundred and twenty-five men. Present sick in -hospital, seventeen men. The average sick per day of the regiment -during February was: taken sick, five; returned to duty, five; in -hospital, fourteen; in quarters, eleven. Two men were sent to general -hospitals in New Orleans. Surgeon Hitchcock returned to duty on the -twenty-fourth, relieving Surgeon Smith, and Surgeon Heintzelman -reported for duty March 1st. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -ENLISTED MEN PRISONERS AT HOUSTON--MARCH FOR THE FEDERAL -LINES--ARRIVAL AT NEW ORLEANS. - - -The rank and file of the Forty-Second, with captured sailors of the -_Harriet Lane_, were confined in a cotton press, situated in close -proximity to Buffalo Bayou. The officers were quartered in the third -story of Kennedy’s brick building, upon one of the streets not far from -the cotton press. - -While in Houston the men received good treatment and were allowed a -furlough in the city every day, four men at a time, under guard. Their -officers were allowed to visit them frequently, and cheering words, -coupled with good advice, was not wanting. The food furnished was -the same as issued to Confederate soldiers, consisting of corn meal, -rice, sugar, dried and fresh beef, corn coffee, and occasionally a -small supply of salt. The coarse ground corn meal was baked and made -into what was called corn-dodger, to take the place of the Federal -ration of hard bread. Until General Magruder left Houston, when the -ration was taken away, the officers were favored with extra rations of -flour. A German baker, formerly of Roxbury, Mass., was found, who took -this flour in exchange for bread. Diarrhœa and dysentery were quite -prevalent under this diet and a change of water, with sudden, sharp -changes of weather that occurred, from warm to cold, and _vice versa_. - -Surgeon Cummings, whose ability was acknowledged at all times by the -Confederate officers, was, for a time, given his parole of honor, -and assisted in taking care of the wounded and sick, Federals and -Confederates. It was asserted that many of the Confederate wounded -would not allow their own surgeons to attend them, preferring the care -of Surgeon Cummings, in whose honor be it said, friend or foe, who -needed his services, shared alike. - -A jolly, social set of men, who made everything pleasant as possible, -composed the guard--a dismounted company of cavalry, known as Captain -Clipper’s company. Their discipline and drill was very, _very_ crude, -and often a subject of comment and amusement to the prisoners, who -heartily enjoyed the ceremony of guard-mounting as done by this -company; soldiers continually chewing tobacco, spitting the juice -freely, talking with each other, and laughing all through the parade. -The unsoldier-like conduct and poor quality of Sibley’s men, and -the entire Confederate force under General Magruder, was a noted -fact throughout the State: poorly armed and equipped, indifferently -officered, without honor, discipline, or _esprit de corps_. After the -fight at Galveston, Magruder issued an order to his command calling -attention to these facts, entreating them to reform and be true -soldiers, reciting, as an example of what well-disciplined, efficient -troops could accomplish, the stubborn defence of Kuhn’s Wharf by the -Forty-Second Massachusetts Volunteers. - -The prisoners busied themselves with card playing, singing, making -little trinkets from bones left from their meat, and in various other -ways; selling their bone trinkets in large numbers to the ladies and -others of Houston at good prices in Confederate money, which was -used to buy what extras for food they could purchase. Many of the -inhabitants would gather in the vicinity of the cotton press to obtain -a glimpse at the northern barbarians, as the prisoners were termed; -people from the country for miles around came to Houston for this -purpose. It is related for a fact, by a sergeant who overheard the -conversation, that a little girl who had been brought by her mother to -see them, said to her: “Why, mother, they haven’t got any horns; you -said they had!” This was about the idea Texan people had of northern -troops at the time. - -Previous to leaving Houston positive information was obtained relative -to the fate of Amos and Revaleon. They had been sold as slaves to -Texan planters, bringing somewhere near five hundred dollars each. -They were bright, intelligent colored lads, cousins, fascinated with -camp life, and notwithstanding the bitter opposition of their parents -were determined to see service in the army in some capacity, finally -prevailing upon the surgeon and quartermaster to take them as servants. -Revaleon was owned by several masters, receiving good treatment, until -at last he was taken for a servant by Major Leon Smith, who intended to -send him into the Federal lines if he ever got near enough to do so. -A few colored men that were in the _Harriet Lane_ crew did not fare -so well, suffering harsh treatment by being treated as convicts, with -incarceration in the State Prison at Huntsville. All were released at -the close of the war and came home in the summer of 1865. - -Orders were issued at five o’clock on the morning of January 22d for -the men to be ready to move at ten o’clock. Permission was given the -captains to visit their companies and bid them good-by. Captains Savage -and Sherive did so. Captain Savage said a few words of regret at the -necessary separation, and was expressing his fervent wishes for their -future safety and prosperity when obliged to stop short, his feelings -having completely unmanned him. Captain Sherive was full of fight, and -exhorted them to pitch in and “give them h--ll” whenever exchanged -and again armed. Colonel Burrell (who was refused the privilege of -seeing his men) and the other officers, after an interview with the -orderly-sergeants at officers’ quarters, sent by them a farewell to the -companies. - -Delays occurred in the preparations, and it was two o’clock in the -afternoon before the men fell into line for roll-call, proceeding at -once, after repeated cheers for the officers were given, to the depot, -where platform cars with seats built upon them were in readiness. With -a good-by to the guard a start was made about six o’clock for Beaumont. - -The following sick and wounded men were left behind, not able to stand -the fatigue and exposure of the journey: Private Edwin F. Josselyn, -Company D, wounded; Private Francis L. Morrill, Company D, wounded; -Private James O’Shaughnessy, Company D, wounded; Corporal Henry W. -McIntosh, Company D, sick; Private Dennis Dailey, Company D, sick; -Sergeant David L. Wentworth, Company G, wounded; Private Joseph W. D. -Parker, Company G, wounded; Private Joseph W. McLaughlin, Company I, -sick, returned to Houston from Beaumont; Private Samuel R. Hersey, -Company C, remained with the colonel; Citizen Frank Veazie, cook to -officers’ mess, remained with the colonel. - -Corporal McIntosh, suffering with diarrhœa, was so weak he had to be -supported by two soldiers when led out to say good-by to his comrades -he never expected to see again, and never did. - -At first General Magruder intimated his intention to march the men -across Texas to the Red or Mississippi Rivers. Such a march was -condemned by prominent officers in his Department as certain death to -a large number, and transportation was furnished for part of the way. -It was stated in a boastful manner by the guards and citizens, that -few would live to reach the Federal lines. This may have been mere -boasting and only an expression of what they wished would occur, for -the condition of the country passed over, and hardships endured by the -men, were in no measure to be compared to what they had been led to -expect by the representations of these parties, and it may safely be -said their enemies were ignorant of what would have to be encountered. - -With enlisted men and Chaplain Sanger, of the Forty-Second -Regiment, were the sailors of the _Harriet Lane_, Assistant-Surgeon -Thomas N. Penrose, Paymaster R. Julius Richardson, and the third -assistant-engineers of that vessel, who had been allowed to go upon -a claim made by all the captured officers, that these officers were -non-combatants and could not be classed as commissioned officers. -Considerable argument had to be used before the Confederate officials -were made to acknowledge the point and let them go. - -There was one smart affair managed successfully by a few warrant -officers of the Forty-Second that saved the life of Andrew Romain, a -Texan refugee, who was smuggled through as a member of the regiment -with great difficulty, and when detection was almost certain. Romain, -who formerly had lived in one of the New England States, was at the -head of a little band of refugees who quartered on Kuhn’s Wharf under -protection of the naval guns, and was of great benefit to the fleet -before land forces arrived as a spy, from his intimate acquaintance -with the inhabitants and country in the immediate vicinity of -Galveston. His person, character, and the service he rendered United -States officers was well known to the Confederate leaders, hence he was -a marked man. Of medium size, he wore an immense black beard of great -length, almost covering his face to the eyes, and up to the time of -surrender wore citizen’s clothes. - -After the surrender, and when names of prisoners were taken by the -Confederate officers, Romain was not to be seen, and it was surmised -by the boys he had escaped to the fleet. By some lucky chance he had -safely hid away, until, at a favorable moment, he joined the ranks on -the march through Galveston towards Virginia Point, clad in a blue army -blouse, buttoned close to the neck, covering the long, flowing part of -his beard, wearing a fatigue cap, and with knapsack upon his shoulders. -On arrival at Houston he was partly shaved by Sergeant Frye, Company D, -who left him with whiskers of the mutton-chop style. Each successive -shave was improved to alter the style of cut to the hair upon his face. -A sailor from the _Harriet Lane_ assisted at times in these tonsorial -duties. - -Shortly after arriving in Houston the Confederate officers began to -inquire after Romain, their actions indicating they suspected he was -among the prisoners. - -A great difficulty to overcome was passing him through the roll-calls, -as Confederate officers attended these calls of names, which were -made one company at a time. Romain would dodge from one company in -line, ready for roll-call, to the ranks of a company whose roll-call -was over, assisted in this by various devices of those most active in -getting him through, and managed with success for some time in this -way. Feeling confident he was among the prisoners, a last effort was -made to detect him when the men were ready to march for the depot. - -The companies were separately ordered into line, outside of quarters; -as each name was called the man stepped to the front and had his name -checked. Romain, who saw that his chances to get off with the rest -were very slim, prudently remained in the building, and the rolls were -found correct. Company G had passed out of the gate, leaving the other -companies inside, when Sergeant Phil. Hackett obtained permission to -go into the quarters for some few things he stated were left there, -and in a short time came out followed by Romain, whom he rated soundly -with abuse and curses for having left the ranks to go back to quarters -without leave. On his approach towards Confederate Lieutenant Todd, -who stood at the gate, Romain was the picture of a devil-may-care sort -of man, puffing away at a large pipe, with a broom thrown over his -shoulder. Lieutenant Todd sharply asked why he was there, and Romain -replied that Sergeant Goodrich had sent him back to get a broom to -sweep the cars, because they were covered with charcoal dust. Todd -asked his name, and Romain gave one suggested to him by Hackett. -Calling for Sergeant Goodrich, Todd inquired who he had sent back, the -Sergeant answering with the same name that Romain used, for Hackett and -Goodrich were acting in concert. Examining the roll of Company G the -name was found, and Romain was ordered to “get out of here.” - -The whole thing was so neatly planned and carried out by the two -sergeants that the Confederates were completely hoodwinked, and Romain -got off with the prisoners. After leaving Houston it was easy work to -pass him along. - -He left a wife and child at Galveston, who probably thought him dead. -He was able to give valuable information to General Banks regarding -Texas, and Andrew Romain was afterwards in the secret service corps of -the Gulf Department. He was a brave man. It required uncommon fortitude -to bear up under the constant dread of capture which must have haunted -him, as death was certain were he discovered. From the fact that -Romain was armed with a revolver, furnished by some friendly hand, it -is surmised, if discovered, he would have sold his life dearly, if -not contemplating suicide rather than fall into Confederate hands. A -man of quiet reserve, seldom making any conversation with others, it -was thought by the paroled men he had no gratitude for the assistance -rendered by them, because he never expressed any. When Phil. Hackett -was buried at Gentilly Camp, Romain was present, and his presence at -those last sad rites is good proof he was grateful for what had been -done to save him. - -The train left Houston with a speed of about four miles an hour, -crossing San Jacinto Bayou at midnight, not reaching Beaumont until -four o’clock in the afternoon next day--distance eighty-three miles by -rail. This was a tiresome ride for it rained all night, rendering sleep -impossible, besides the charcoal dust upon the cars became wet, and in -the shifting and turning about hands would get covered with it; these -same hands were often applied to faces, and in the morning the men were -a sight to behold. As the locomotive could not draw the entire train -at once, sections were taken and run until a siding was reached, when -the engine would go back for the remaining cars. There appeared to be -plenty of cattle in sight grazing on the prairie lands through which -the railroad ran, and this was also noticed to be the case on the trip -from Galveston to Houston. - -At Beaumont the men remained until the twenty-ninth, awaiting the -return of a steamboat that had preceded them with baggage, horses, beef -cattle, commissary stores, and wagons brought from Houston, to be used -on the march to Alexandria. Occupying several abandoned shanties near -Drake’s Bayou, the time was made to pass quickly by various expedients. -Pigs were plenty in the neighborhood, so that pork was not a luxury, -four or five being killed each day, the owners not missing them. -They were caught by the lassoing process from a trap-door in an old -blacksmith shop, underneath which they congregated. Wild mules were -also plenty, whose backs the soldiers and sailors did not miss any -opportunity to ride, affording great amusement to spectators by their -antics. - -Finally the steamer _Roe Buck_ arrived, and a start was made at -half-past one o’clock in the afternoon down the narrow Neches River -to Sabine Bay; proceeding up the Sabine River, at daylight on the -thirtieth, the steamer tied up at Novell’s Bluff, Louisiana, for a -short time, and then proceeded to Morgan’s Bluff to remain over night, -arriving there at half-past six o’clock in the afternoon. - -After wooding-up the trip was resumed early next morning on the crooked -and narrow river, lined with forests upon either bank, causing the boys -to keep a sharp lookout, as the boat would often snap limbs off the -trees to fall upon the deck. At six o’clock in the afternoon a stop -was made at Possum Bluff for the night. Here the men had to use fence -rails, near at hand, for fuel to cook rations, as all of the cut wood -was required for the boat. - -The boat steamed along, with occasional stops to take in wood and tie -up each night, until half-past four o’clock in the afternoon, February -4th, when the journey by boat was over, on arriving at Burr’s Ferry -Landing. The weather had been cloudy, rainy and cold almost the entire -trip, creating great inconvenience to the men, who were obliged to -use rubber and woollen blankets to stop rain-water leaks in their -sleeping-places. Several were quite sick. Private David Chapin, Company -I, nineteen years old, died at night, February 2d, at quarter-past -eleven, when the boat was stopped at Starks’ Ferry Landing, Newton -County, Texas. Chapin was not well when he left Houston, and was down -with intermittent fever in a few days. After breakfast, on the third, a -beautiful spot in the woods, under cypress and pine trees, was selected -for a grave. The funeral took place at half-past nine o’clock in the -morning, with three volleys fired over the remains by the guard, as -poor Chapin, in a rough-made coffin, the best his comrades could make, -was lowered into the grave. - -At Burr’s Landing the prisoners went into bivouac in a pine grove -about one-half a mile from the river. To make a shelter from the cold, -northerly winds, some men made tents with rubber blankets; others built -shanties made of bushes, pine boughs and such other material as they -could gather, in a manner peculiar only to the “Yankee” soldier. All -hands had washed their flannels during the fifth, leaving them out over -night to dry, to find them frozen stiff the next morning, and a white -frost covering the ground. - -Private Henry C. Sellea, Company D, had been sick on board the boat -for four days with intermittent fever, and, as his case seemed -hopeless, arrangements were made by his comrades to remove him to a -farm house owned and occupied by Mrs. Burr, who came from Springfield, -Mass., where he would be sure to receive the best of care. This was -accomplished at two o’clock on the afternoon of the sixth; but poor -Sellea, only nineteen years old, died at five o’clock P.M. the -next day. - -As in the case of Private Chapin, a rough coffin was made by his -comrades, the burial services taking place at eleven o’clock -A.M. on the eighth, with Privates Charles G. Weymouth, Daniel -L. Weymouth, R. P. Mosely and Henry Fisk acting as pall bearers. -The grave was in Mrs. Burr’s private burying ground, where the boys -sang “There will be no more sorrow there,” and the guard fired the -customary volleys. A neat head-board, with name, age, company and -regiment inscribed thereon, was placed on both graves. - -Chapin and Sellea were delirious the last days of their life, not -recognizing anybody. Every attention possible was paid to them by -the members of their companies, and if the sympathy of their fellow -soldiers could have saved them they would not have died. These two -deaths were the only losses suffered on the trip, but several laid -the foundation for diseases, which subsequently carried them to their -graves. - -Orders were issued on the eighth to be ready to commence the march for -Alexandria at four o’clock A.M. on the ninth. Extra rations -were given out to the cooks, who were at work all night attending to -cooking. Mess kettles were few in number, and the practice on the -entire trip, either on board boat or on the march, was to detail each -night four men to cook until midnight, relieved by four men from that -hour until daylight. The rations consisted of corn meal, pork, and -fresh beef killed about every day, with such vegetables as the boys -could forage, or buy from the few inhabitants living near the route of -march. - -The Confederate guard consisted of thirty men from the Fourth Texas -Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant W. J. Howerton, a pompous, overbearing -individual, without military knowledge or manners. On the march the -enlisted men were mounted upon Texas mustang ponies, tolerably well -armed and equipped, but without drill or discipline. At any time -they could have been overpowered by the prisoners. The guard were -well disposed and well behaved towards their prisoners with a few -exceptions; one private, a large, fat, red-headed man, whose looks was -enough to condemn him to be a coward, was very bitter in speech and -treatment of the men. In turn, the prisoners neglected no opportunity -to work him up by badinage, partaking more of a sacrilegious tone than -the chaplain thought was proper. - -With the exception of a few fights among themselves to settle old -scores, and retaliating in kind for any taunts made by members of the -guard, the conduct of the prisoners was good. Lieutenant Howerton had -his good and ill-natured days. At one place where a halt was made for -the night some of the prisoners obtained permission to get food and -lodging in a so-called tavern, neglecting in the morning to pay for -the accommodation. This neglect put the lieutenant in a rage, when the -landlord complained about it. Previous to this occurrence the men had -been allowed to march in disorder, but on forming column that morning -the lieutenant ordered column of fours, and made a speech from his -saddle, the substance being, that a citizen of the Confederate States, -whom one of his own men would not dare to wrong, had been grossly -insulted by some “scabs” of Northern soldiers. He had given orders -that the march that day would be in column of fours, and any man who -straggled from that formation of column would be shot down or cut down, -“by G--d.” One of the sailors slyly shouted S-H-O-W, when the -enraged lieutenant rose in his stirrups and yelled: “I’ll show yer!” -swinging his sabre over his head to suit action to his words. Several -men did get struck for not obeying the orders, although none were -seriously hurt. This did not help Howerton, in the estimation of the -boys. - -No tents were carried, and the men were obliged to sleep in the open -air, through fair or foul weather. No rivers were in their path, but -several swamps had to be passed, one of them while a heavy rain-storm -was in progress. The train, in charge of a wagoner, consisted of four -wagons, each drawn by six mule teams. The feed for horses and mules was -chiefly wild sugar-cane. - -Doctor Penrose acted as surgeon for everybody when he could obtain -medicines, for the escort carried none. He attended Chapin and Sellea, -doing the best in his power, travelling some miles to obtain a supply -of medicine to treat their cases. The sick had to suffer and get along -as best they could; those very sick were taken in the wagons, while the -men who did not feel strong enough to be encumbered by the weight of a -knapsack, but able to march when not encumbered, could purchase from -the guard the privilege of stowing away what they wished in the wagons. -Frequently a ride upon the ponies belonging to good-natured men of the -guard was to be had by parting with some article of value to them, -as the Texans were always ready to trade or steal when they could. A -Sergeant Bradford is said by the boys to have been a “tip-top fellow.” - -The story of the march cannot be described in a more interesting manner -than is given by Sergeant Waterman, Company D, in his diary, and the -same is presented here: - -“February 9th--Breakfast at five A.M. At six o’clock formed -line, and one half an hour later commenced the march for the day from -Burr’s Ferry. The first eight miles were done without a halt, over a -good road, through a heavily-timbered country. Hard pine, very large -and tall, some one hundred feet high to the limbs. After we started -again from a rest, we went through a swamp about three miles in length, -timbered with beach, magnolia and other trees, and at noon halted, -after making eleven miles. On this halt killed and dressed two beeves. -Marched again about two miles through swamps and then came to higher -ground with pine trees again, large and straight, as before. At six -o’clock P.M. arrived at a place called Huddleston and went -into bivouac for the night, with the boys about played out after -marching eighteen miles, and after lying still about two months. - -“February 10th--Started at seven o’clock A.M. footsore and -weary, with the sky looking like rain. At noon had marched seven miles. -Dined on corn-dodger and beef; some of the boys felt as if they had -eaten so much beef they were ashamed to look a cow in the face. Weather -became warm and pleasant. At half-past five o’clock P.M. -halted for the night in a pine grove with a brook near by, at a little -place with two houses and one cotton press, called Fifteen Mile Mill. - -“February 11th--Started at half-past six A.M. and at eight -o’clock met the mail--a man on horseback with a mail bag. It is trying -to rain, but cannot make out very well. At noon it cleared off and a -halt was made for dinner in a pine forest. Has been nearly all pine -woods so far. Passed over a sandstone ledge this morning so soft that -it could easily be broken in the hand. At three o’clock P.M. -we were halted once more to rest and remain over night, as the march -has badly blistered the feet of the boys. - -“February 12th--Rain commenced to fall at four o’clock A.M., -raining hard until seven o’clock, when, slacking up some, we started -again through a swamp seven miles long, with the water knee deep all -the way. Had to stop in the rain for a bridge to be repaired, so that -the wagons could pass. Passed Hineston, a village of three shanties -and a pig-sty, at quarter-past ten, and at noon halted to cook a pot -of mush for dinner, the rain spoiling all of the corn bread and meat. -The mush tasted good, as we had very little breakfast. Are on high pine -land with wild flowers in bloom. Put up for the night in a very pretty -place with enough old shanties to hold all the men. Had to sit up -until eleven o’clock trying to dry our clothes. - -“February 13th--Started at eight in the morning over a very good road -for about three miles, and then came down on to what they call Red -River bottom, composed of a red sand, clay and glue. Such walking was -never seen. Passed by some very fine plantations, where the negroes -were as happy as clams at high water, lining the fences and grinning -like so many Cheshire cats. Halted near a bayou for dinner, where, upon -the opposite side, the mocking birds were singing. Sun came out and it -is warm. The grass is green and looks like the last of May at home. -Plenty of sheep and lambs all around. Passed through a hedge of rose -bushes at least twenty feet high. We are in sight of Alexandria, and at -seven P. M. went aboard the roomy steamer _New Falls City_, in -time to escape the rain. - -“February 14th--A pleasant day. Boys feel somewhat sore. Heard -yesterday that we might have to march two hundred miles more, but -I told Lieutenant Howerton to-day that we could not do it any way, -and he says we may not have to march more than twenty-five or thirty -miles--perhaps none at all. At three P. M. it looks like a -heavy shower; the clouds are black and threatening, with heavy thunder. -The river is high and roily; as we use it to cook with, the corn-dodger -looks like a red sweet cake.” - -Marching was over when the Red River was reached. The men had done -well, bearing sickness, suffering and fatigue without a murmur; obeying -the orders of Sergeants Waterman, Goodrich and Hunt (who were in -command of Companies D, G and I, respectively), with commendable zeal, -excepting in one instance when Private Fitzallen Gourley, Company D, -defied the authority of Sergeant Waterman, who had placed him upon a -working detail of men while at Beaumont, and obliged the sergeant to -report the case to the Confederate lieutenant, who threatened to return -Gourley to Houston, and place him in jail, before he would yield. - -That part of the country covered by the line of march was generally -admired by the men, so different from anything to be seen at home, -and their first sight at pine woods. Small villages on the route, -considerable distance apart, with very few houses intervening, made -it seem as though they were passing through a wilderness. The dense -woods furnished an abundance of wood for cooking purposes, and torches -for light at night. The few inhabitants to be met were well-disposed, -simple-minded, honest people. - -It was on Sunday, February 15th, that the Federal war steamer _Queen -of the West_, an inferior looking craft, having safely passed the -Vicksburg batteries to play a flying-devil upon the Red River, gave the -Confederates a great scare at Alexandria. The prisoners were ashore, -when word came at four o’clock A.M. to be ready to start at -any moment as the Federals were coming up river. After breakfast, at -half-past six o’clock, all hands were hurried on board the steamer -_General Quitman_, and a race was run for about five miles, with the -river behind them full of boats skedaddling in a perfect panic. In the -afternoon the panic subsided, and at four o’clock, after news had been -received that two Federal gunboats had been taken--the _Queen of the -West_ captured, and the _De Soto_ abandoned and burnt--all speed was -made for Alexandria again, where mules and wagons were taken aboard. - -After starting down the river at daylight next day, the _Queen_ was met -during the morning in tow of a river steamer on her way to Alexandria -for repairs. The crew of the _Queen_ had escaped to the gunboat _De -Soto_ by floating upon cotton bales, except five men who were noticed -on shore, where a fire was started to obtain warmth, and were made -prisoners. Everything went on quiet and smooth until passing three -small one-gun batteries upon the right bank; at half-past two o’clock -P. M., because a signal to stop was not noticed, two rounds -of grape-shot were fired at and almost into them. Shot flew thick all -around the boat, fortunately hitting no one. Turning back, despatches -for the Confederate officer in command were sent on board, causing a -delay of half an hour before the trip was resumed, and continued until -dark. About midnight, orders came from the lieutenant of the guard for -all hands to turn out and help wood-up ship; but his unbearable manner -in giving his order roused the devil in them and they refused to do so. -He threatened and swore, to no purpose, for the men remained obdurate. -He had his revenge, however, in not allowing the prisoners to draw -rations next day until late in the afternoon, thus allowing them only -one meal in twenty-four hours. - -On the seventeenth, early in the morning, while proceeding up river -again in wake of three other steamers, all making fast time, the -subject of seizing the transport-boat was again broached by sailors -anxious and ready to try it. While on their way down the Neches River -to Sabine Lake, a seizure of the boat then was talked over by the -warrant officers in command of companies, but was abandoned from a want -of knowledge where to go after obtaining possession. Upon the Red River -there did not exist so favorable circumstances for success as there -was at Sabine Lake. At the latter place they would have had to pass -down the lake to Sabine Pass, and by a fort commanding the channel, -before reaching the blockading vessels. Stratagem could have effected -this purpose, but upon the Red River Confederate gunboats held the -river to the Mississippi after the _Queen of the West_ and _De Soto_ -were lost by the Federals. To have passed the enemy’s boats by deceit, -or otherwise, would have been impossible. Frequent consultations of -the men concerned in the plot failed to develop any plan of action all -would give coöperation, and the attempt was wisely abandoned. - -After remaining over night above the three batteries before mentioned -waiting the return of a courier, sent to Alexandria early in the -evening for orders, at noon a transport-boat came alongside with a -detachment of two hundred and seventy-eight men, Eighth Infantry, -United States Regulars, who had been basely surrendered in Texas, by -General Twiggs, May 9th, 1861, on the commencement of hostilities -between the North and South, and been retained in close confinement up -to this time. Five or six of the men had their wives with them; one -with a family of two children. - -A day or two after these prisoners arrived on board, one of the women -got into a wordy warfare with a private of the guard, who was abusive -in speech and manner. The Confederate soldier had said to the woman -that if she was only a man he would shoot her, when a private of the -Eighth Regulars, who could stand it no longer, made the quarrel a -personal one with himself, calling the Confederate a d----n coward, and -offered to go ashore for a fight with any weapon he would name. To this -bold challenge the Confederate interposed an objection, that he could -not fight with a prisoner of war. Our “bold soger boy” said: “That need -not interfere; I will fight you with pistols, ten paces apart, right -here.” Nothing but sneers were given in reply by the soldier and his -comrades of the guard, who had clustered around. In return the United -States soldier taunted them all with being cowards, offering to fight -the crowd in any fashion they chose, without effect; they finally -slunk away. The women were not molested afterwards. - -All of the prisoners were conditionally paroled on the eighteenth -and nineteenth, and a flag of truce raised upon the boat, with the -intention of proceeding to Vicksburg. Horses, mules and wagons were -sent ashore, but a start was not made until the twenty-third, on -account of trouble experienced in obtaining wood. There was a dispute -on the twenty-first, between the officer of the prisoners’ guard and -officers upon the steamer _Grand Era_, in regard to wood that had -been supplied the flag of truce boat by the steamer _La-Fourche_ in -the morning, resulting finally in a compromise, allowing the _Grand -Era_ to have one-half of what was on board. Pistols were drawn amid a -general cursing match in the altercation, and at one time a fight was -imminent between the two factions. Just as the wood was gone the _Grand -Duke_ came alongside searching for the same article, but left without -obtaining any. - -At last, during the evening of the twenty-second, a boat load of sixty -cords was received, about half enough for one day’s consumption, for -the _General Quitman_ used from ninety to one hundred and ten cords -each twenty-four hours, when the boat steamed down river at daylight -next day. After stopping at a wood pile to take on about one hundred -cords more, a final start was made for Port Hudson, instead of -Vicksburg as first intended, passing Fort De Russy during the day, when -Romain was able to rough sketch the work. The Mississippi River was -reached at half-past two P. M., and at the sunset hour a high -bluff, lined with cannon and men, was dimly discernible, on account -of the thick misty rain storm prevailing, which the guard called Port -Hudson. - -Early on the morning of the twenty-fourth the prisoners were turned -over to Federal naval officers, who sent them and the _General Quitman_ -to Baton Rouge, where they landed and were made comfortable, glad to -be once more within the Federal lines. Lieutenant Howerton received -a torrent of abuse as the paroled men left his boat, after revenge -prompted them to throw overboard all movable property they could find -upon the steamer, without any attention to Howerton’s request: “Now, -gentlemen, please stop.” The red-headed soldier of his command did not -dare to show his ugly face, for the prisoners wanted to thrash him. -Several negroes were on the river shores, above Alexandria, when the -sight of blue-coated soldiers upon the _Quitman_ conveyed an idea to -them that the Federals occupied the river. They shouted and sang for -“Massa Linkum’s sogers”--“take us wid yer”--in a manner that upset the -temper of Lieutenant Howerton, who ordered his men ashore to capture -them. They were brought aboard and made to attend boiler fires until -reaching Port Hudson, when they stole a boat belonging to the _Quitman_ -and made their escape. - -Cloudy, or rainy and cold weather had been experienced about every day -since their arrival at Alexandria. Cooped on board river steamers most -of the time, using Red River water for cooking and drinking, with the -depressing effect of bad weather, caused a great deal of sickness among -the men, chiefly diarrhœa. On the march, or on board river steamers, -through sickness, suffering and fatigue, the men kept up their spirits -wonderfully. Very little recreation in the way of foraging for food -could be done upon the march, although every opportunity that presented -itself was improved to the utmost, many a “porker” falling victim to -their snares. Pigs appeared to be the only animal available when a -foraging party went to work. - -Embarking upon the _Iberville_, at nine o’clock on the evening of the -twenty-fourth, the prisoners arrived at New Orleans about daylight on -the twenty-fifth. Through some negligence they were not reported at -general headquarters until the twenty-sixth, when special orders were -issued, stating that “two hundred and forty men of the Forty-Second -Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, paroled prisoners, not having -been reported to the headquarters, and on the _Iberville_ unattended -to and in a starving condition, will be taken charge of by Lieutenant -Farnsworth, Fourth Wisconsin Volunteers, and conducted to the camp at -Gentilly Crossing, and turned over and kept as paroled men under proper -officers.” - -They disembarked on the twenty-sixth, and marched to camp under escort -of Companies A, B, E and F, after attending a brigade drill. Many were -the heartfelt greetings exchanged all around, and for days afterwards -the boys were occupied in reciting their adventures and trials. - -A communication from General Sherman, commanding Defences of New -Orleans, gives the status of the prisoners as follows: - -“The Forty-Second Regiment on the _Iberville_, with the exception -of the chaplain, are paroled but not exchanged; the chaplain is -unconditionally released. The conditions of the parole are thus stated -in the fourth article of the cartel between the United States and the -enemy, promulgated in General Orders No. 146 of 1862 from the War -Department, adjutant-general’s office: ‘The surplus prisoners not -exchanged shall not be permitted to take up arms again, nor to serve -as military police or constabulary force in any fort, garrison or -field work held by either of the respective parties, nor as guards of -prisons, depots, or stores, nor to discharge any duty usually performed -by soldiers, until exchanged under the provisions of this cartel.’” - -A reply was made March 6th, which elicited from General Sherman a -response that everything was satisfactory. - - “HEADQUARTERS, 42ND MASS. VOLS., - “CAMP FARR, BAYOU GENTILLY, LA., March 6th, 1863. - -“_Sir_,--I have the honor to state that your communication of the third -inst., enclosing a copy of letter of instructions from headquarters, -Department of the Gulf, and inquiring whether special orders from these -headquarters, No. 73, current series, February 26th, have been fully -carried out, is just received. - -“In reply, I would respectively state, that the two hundred and -forty men of this regiment, paroled prisoners, were reported to me -by Lieutenant Farnsworth, as ordered; and that I have placed them in -a separate camp, at a distance of three hundred and eighty paces, or -seventy-six rods, from the camp of the men under my command. That I -have placed Captain J. D. Cogswell, a competent and efficient officer, -at the camp to take charge of them, with instructions to treat them as -paroled but unexchanged prisoners of war, and to make such rules and -regulations, subject to my approval, as shall conduce to their comfort -and welfare. - -“I have also given instructions to Lieutenant A. E. Proctor, acting -regimental quartermaster, to furnish for them proper rations and such -articles of clothing as they are in need of, some of them being quite -destitute of clothing. I would also respectfully add, that I have -required nothing whatever that shall in the least manner effect their -parole, or cause a violation of the ‘cartel’ alluded to. - -“I have the honor to remain, - - “Very respectfully, your obedient servant, - “J. STEDMAN, - “_Lieut-Colonel commanding_. - “TO CAPTAIN WICKHAM HOFFMAN, - “_A. A. General Defences New Orleans_.” - -Had the men at Galveston been captured prior to January 1st, 1863, -they would have been declared duly exchanged and ordered to report -for duty immediately, February 9th, 1863; a general order issued that -day from Department headquarters required all officers, enlisted men -and camp followers captured in the States of Texas and Louisiana up -to January 1st, 1863, to return to duty at once, as they are declared -duly exchanged prisoners of war by General Orders No. 10, dated January -10th, 1863, from the War Department, adjutant-general’s office. The -men of the Eighth Regiment, United States Regulars, were exchanged -and organized into a battalion for duty with the army. A portion of -them under command of Lieutenant Copley Amory, Fourth Cavalry, arrived -at Opelousas April 23d to join in the campaign then under way by the -Nineteenth Corps. On the twenty-fifth, they were relieved from this -service and ordered to return North, as an act of justice to those -gallant men. A national salute was fired when leaving Opelousas, and -a similar honor was paid them on their departure from New Orleans; -General Orders No. 34, Nineteenth Army Corps, made honorable mention of -their record, accompanied by a full roster of the men. - -The trouble between Federal and Confederate War Departments over the -exchange of prisoners commenced in 1863, so all attempts to effect an -exchange for the men of the Forty-Second failed. At Gentilly Crossing -they remained, until about the time the regiment embarked for home, -in a camp laid out very neat, kept in good order, with ovens and -fire-places for cooking purposes, built of brick obtained from the -ruins of an old sugar house across the Gentilly road, opposite their -camp. - -Familiarly nicknamed the “pet lambs,” their military life was one of -inglorious ease, much to their disgust. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MARCH--APRIL. - - -The month of March was dull enough to suit an epicure or sluggard. -Additional details from the regiment for service elsewhere was the -order of the day. In response to a call by special orders from -headquarters, Defences of New Orleans, the following men were detailed -from Company E, March 1st, for service in the Fourth Massachusetts -Battery, in need of men: - -Privates Alender E. Dorman, Henry C. Tyler, George H. Hathorn, Lyman -Hathorn, Leonard Mahon and Michael Nedow. - -On the tenth, Captain Coburn and Lieutenant John P. Burrell, Company -A, with three sergeants, five corporals and forty-eight privates, left -camp to take post at Battery St. John, situated on the Bayou St. John. - -The monotony of camp life was relieved by a brigade drill held on the -third. On this occasion Sergeant Charles A. Attwell, Company G, who -had been detailed March 2d to act as band-major, made his first effort -in that line of business. Attwell was a stout, pompous appearing man, -well calculated to deceive anybody on a slight acquaintance, and he -made out of his position all that any man could possibly squeeze. On -the march to and from the drill ground he made love to all the women, -who followed the regiment with pies and cakes for sale. Dropping to -the rear of the column, when a route step was taken, Attwell would be -found, escorted by these women, liberally helping himself to their -goods. There was a reason for all this on his part; a perfect specimen -of a “dead beat,” he never paid for anything, except in compliments. - -A ripple of excitement was created on the eighth, when a letter from -Colonel Farr was received, with orders to hold the men in readiness -for marching orders at a moment’s notice. On the thirteenth, when the -paroled men were ordered to get ready for transfer to the United States -Barracks and there quartered, it looked like a general breaking up of -camp at Gentilly Bayou, and the men were in fine spirits again. The -latter orders were immediately countermanded, and the camp soon settled -down to the old state of things. - -There existed, among regiments that arrived in January and February, -a heavy sick list, accompanied with a loss of many men by death. An -inquiry into the cause, ordered by General Sherman, produced the -following interesting circular, issued to all commanding officers under -his orders. One reason for incorporating this circular as a part of the -regimental record, is to show certain officers and men of the regiment, -who were accustomed to disregard nearly all of the recommendations -contained therein, what results will follow from not performing one of -the highest duties that belong to an officer on active service, viz., -personal attention to the health of his men. - - “CIRCULAR. - “HEADQUARTERS DEFENCES NEW ORLEANS, - “NEW ORLEANS, March 7th, 1863. - -“Upon the following report of the medical director of this command of -February 21st, ult., the brigadier-general commanding has made this -indorsement: - -“’It is believed that a publication of Surgeon Sanger’s report, to -the troops of this command, fully approved as it is by me, will be -sufficient to awaken a greater spirit of pride and vigor in attention -to duty. - -“’There is no doubt but that a want of attention to personal -cleanliness, of proper police, and of vigorous, hearty, and interested -attention to duty, is the cause of most sickness now prevalent. - -“’I call upon all commanding officers to look carefully into this -matter, and endeavor to prevent not only all unnecessary mortality, but -that continued reduction of the duty list, which so much enfeebles the -efficiency of the command. - -“’Commanding officers must not take upon themselves to excuse men and -officers from duty on the plea of sickness. The medical officers alone -are to decide who are fit or unfit for duty.’ - - “WICKHAM HOFFMAN, - “_Assistant Adjutant-General_. - - * * * * * - - “NEW ORLEANS, March 5th, 1863. - “CAPTAIN W. HOFFMAN, - “_Assistant Adjutant-General_: - -“In obedience to your instructions, I have examined with care and -interest the various hospitals and regiments in this command, to -ascertain the cause of so much sickness. My investigations have been -thorough, having visited nearly every cook-house, street, and tent, -observing drainage, etc., in this command. - -“The results of my investigations are not altogether satisfactory, -and in some instances contradictory. The special cause of disease -in individual regiments is hard to arrive at, because what seems to -predispose to disease in one case is harmless in another, and results -are so dependent upon the mental and moral influences exerted over -the men, their special predisposition and resistance to disease, and -their idiosyncracies, and previous habits. I have, however, arrived at -certain general conclusions of importance. - -“_First._ There is but little, if any, malarious poison generated at -present. I did not see a characteristic case of intermittent fever, -and but one case of remittent. In many cases where malarial fever was -reported, it was either initiative fever, or one of the species of -the continued form, or the regiments had been previously exposed to -malaria, and the damp weather, or other untoward circumstances had -developed or reproduced it. In confirmation of this may be instanced -the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, now suffering from intermittent. This -regiment had fever and ague severely at Forts Philip and Jackson last -June and July, but after being ordered to the Custom House, beyond -malarious influences, recovered. Since the rainy season set in, their -quarters have been dark and damp, and this fever has been reproduced. - -“_Second._ The camping ground outside the city is very similar in -character; there is but little choice of grounds, most of the camps are -susceptible of pretty good drainage, and the difference of altitude -does not vary more than twelve to seventeen inches. Some camps are more -accessible to certain conveniences, such as drinking water, sinks and -places for the disposal of slops, and those on the immediate banks of -the river are more exempt from whatever malaria exists at the present -time, yet these differences do not account for the disparities in the -sick reports. - -“_Third._ Neatness in cooking and person, and cleanliness of camps, -are powerful agents in preserving health, and in proportion to the -observance of Heaven’s first law, did I see exemption from disease. -It is not sufficient, however, that soldiers should be passive agents -in the accomplishment of this, but their pride and ambition should be -aroused, they should be made to feel that it was not only _necessary -for the preservation of health_, but _laudable_. - -“Wherever I found officers who had inspired spirit in their men, and -had taken a personal interest in keeping their soldiers and camps -clean, and where soldiers had been made to feel that excellence in -these points was meritorious, and that a deviation would not only -not be _permitted_ but surely _punished_; and where I found men were -convinced that to complain was unmanly and nursing not the privilege of -the soldier, there I found a healthy regiment. - -“The One Hundred and Tenth New York had the largest sick list, two -hundred and ninety-two; this regiment was on shipboard fifty-three -days; after landing had some ship fever and about one hundred cases of -measles; lost fifteen men. The voyage, measles and deaths depressed the -men somewhat, besides men from agricultural districts do not seem to be -so hardy and stand campaigning as well as city soldiers. The camp was -neat, tents floored and cooking good; men looked pretty vigorous; think -the surgeon too lenient, but he said if he did not excuse the men the -colonel would. Should say the sick report might be reduced one-third -with impunity. - -“The Sixteenth New Hampshire was encamped near the One Hundred and -Tenth New York, had one hundred and seventy-three sick; only fifteen -days on shipboard; lost ten men; principal disease, diarrhœa; camp was -not so well drained as the One Hundred and Tenth New York. Tents and -streets were very dirty and the men unwashed, some had not washed for -four weeks and the most not for two weeks. - -“The One Hundred and Sixty-Second New York, camping on the same ground, -had very few sick. This regiment was enlisted in New York City; were -forty-one days on shipboard, and, I believe, had not lost a man in -camp. The surgeon attended personally to the cooking, drainage and -cleanliness of camp, and the commanding officer had his suggestions -rigorously enforced. - -“The Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts had one hundred and fifty-five sick; -tents provided with floors; streets pretty neat, and the facilities for -drainage good; cook tents too much crowded, and cooking not attended -to as it ought to be; principal disease, diarrhœa; think the surgeon a -little too lenient; says there were forty chronic cases, which never -ought to have been enlisted; attributes diarrhœa to sour bread. - -“The Fifty-Third Massachusetts had one hundred and thirty-six sick; -sick list swelled by a number of cases of scarlet and lung fever; lung -fever caused by sleeping on the damp ground for the first fortnight -after their arrival. The hospital was not neat; sick were not provided -with comforts, and the surgeon complains that he could not make his -hospital fund available. Both assistant-surgeons sick. Cooking done in -the open air, without shelter from the heavy rains. - -“The One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth New York had one hundred and -twenty-three sick; were on shipboard forty-two days; did not pay the -same attention to cleanliness and fumigation that the One Hundred and -Sixty-Second New York did; have had a large number of cases of ship -fever, nearly one hundred; lost thirty-nine men. Principal cause of -disease at present, diarrhœa. Neither the camp nor hospital are in good -condition. The soldiers don’t take pride in grading their streets and -keeping their tents clean. Counted beef bones by the dozen about their -tents. Many of their patients are treated in hospital tents and on the -floor. Suggested to the colonel to take a confiscated house within his -regimental lines, now occupied by the One Hundred and Sixty-Second New -York. A vacant house can be found near the camp of the One Hundred and -Sixty-Second New York, quite as convenient for the latter. - -“The Twenty-Sixth Connecticut has one hundred and fifty sick. Diseases, -typhoid fever and diarrhœa. Number of deaths, nine. I think the cause -of so much disease, and _kind_, can be traced to want of cleanliness. -The tents were all disorderly and dirty. Attention was not paid to -keeping the drains and streets free from mouldy bread, meat bones and -orange peel. The men had a listless and indifferent look, as if waiting -the expiration of their term of service. - -“The Fourth Massachusetts had one hundred and fourteen sick; on -shipboard forty-eight days; no deaths; diarrhœa prevailing. Through -the energy and attention of their commander, this regiment has escaped -serious disease. Did not see any very sick in hospital or quarters. The -men were enjoying a little respite after long confinement on shipboard. - -“The Sixth Michigan is improving; still show the effects of the malaria -of last summer. - -“The Fifteenth New Hampshire are rapidly improving; officers and men -becoming very much interested in improving their camp. - -“The Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts has a large number in general hospital. -The inclement weather and dark, gloomy and damp quarters give them a -sickly look. I think they would rapidly improve if the regiment was -removed to drier and more airy quarters. - -“The One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth New York and Thirty-First -Massachusetts are very free from disease. Much is due in both these -regiments to the spirit, energy and attention of their commanders and -surgeons. The camp of the One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth New York is -scrupulously neat, clean and well drained--best camp in this command; -and personal attention seems to be paid by the officers to everything -conducive to health and comfort. The other regiments of your command -are in very good condition, and present very small sick reports. - -“I found very few of the regimental cooks furnished with the little -cook books issued by the Commissaries. Either the Commissaries have -failed to furnish them, or the company to distribute them. Most of the -cooks seemed anxious to be supplied with them. - -“The use of mixed vegetables is almost universally neglected. It is -important to accustom the regiments to the use of them, at least once -a week, in soups, as fresh potatoes will soon fail, and the habitual -use of some succulent vegetable is essential to health, as well as to -prevent the cravings of a ravenous appetite, produced by a want of -that variety to which soldiers have been accustomed in private life. -A morbid appetite is created by this neglect, and when soldiers get -access to such food they invariably overload their stomachs. - - “Respectfully, your obedient servant, - “EUGENE F. SANGER, - “_Medical Director, General Sherman’s Command_.” - -The first vacancy among commissioned officers of the regiment was -caused by the resignation of First-Lieutenant David A. Partridge, -of Company B, who remained in Massachusetts to look after deserters -when the regiment left the State, and was granted a discharge by War -Department Special Orders No. 105, dated March 5th, to enable him to -accept a commission and recruit for the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts -Colored Volunteers. The vacancy was filled March 24th by the -_election_ of Second-Sergeant Benjamin C. Tinkham, Company B, jumping -Second-Lieutenant J. C. Clifford and the first-sergeant, who were in -the line of promotion. - -The second vacancy was caused by the resignation of Captain Charles -A. Pratt, Company E. This vacancy was also filled by an _election_ -by the company, April 2d. First-Lieutenant John W. Emerson was made -captain, and Second-Sergeant Augustus Ford, Company E, was elected -a first-lieutenant, _vice_ Emerson, promoted (if this can be called -promotion), jumping Second-Lieutenant Brown P. Stowell, a prisoner of -war in Texas, and the first-sergeant, who were in the line of promotion. - -This _elective_ system of filling vacancies, one of the inducements -held out to attract men to enlist in the nine months’ troops from -Massachusetts, was a ridiculous system; one of caucus politics in the -army. It was the cause of considerable ill feeling and much trouble in -nine months’ organizations from the State. To allow the rank and file -to choose by an election their company officers was entirely wrong. -Under it any man in the company, no matter what his qualifications may -be, stands a chance, by electioneering, to win an officer’s position -that is vacant. Merit in that officer who has a right to expect the -promotion is overlooked, if that officer has been so unlucky as to -incur the displeasure of a few prominent men in his company, and they -proceed to spread the dissatisfaction to others, and take their revenge -by electing another over him not entitled to the vacancy. What is the -consequence? The officer so jumped forthwith loses the interest he -formerly had in the command, and does not exert himself to work for the -good of the men under him. - -It is just to say that in the above cases the selections were good. -Perhaps could not be better. - -With the exception of a slight clashing of authority between Captain -Coburn, in command at Battery St. John, and Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, -concerning some captures of prisoners and seizures of contraband -goods on the night of the fourteenth, which required two peremptory -letters to be sent to Captain Coburn before it was straightened out, -everything worked smooth with the command. This was a case where four -citizens were arrested near Bayou St. John in the act of smuggling -contraband goods across Lake Ponchartrain; three of them were sent to -New Orleans March 17th by orders, and one was discharged March 16th by -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman. - -The City of New Orleans so near to many camps, full of enticements -of a varied character, was the place to tempt many a soldier who was -disposed to evade duty and absent himself without leave. Stragglers -from these camps without passes gave provost-guards so much trouble -and the evil grew to such proportions every day, Department Special -Orders No. 61 were issued March 2d to put a stop to it. There were five -hundred men in the city without passes and in confinement reported to -the provost-marshal-general March 2d. In one day the provost-guard -found nineteen men from one company without a pass; but one man from -the Forty-Second is known to have visited the city in this way during -March, and he, Private Owen Fox, Company A, was promptly arrested by -the guard and sent back to the regiment. - -Besides the details already mentioned, the following details were made -and changes occurred during the month: - -March 4th--Corporal John C. Yeaton, Company E, was reduced to the ranks -by regimental special orders as unfit for the position. - -March 4th--Private G. G. Belcher, Company F, was relieved as a wagoner -and ordered to duty in the ranks, and the captain ordered to appoint a -trustworthy person to fill the position of wagoner. - -March 5th--Privates Thomas H. Sawyer, Company B, and Joseph V. Colson, -Company G, were detailed as markers. - -March 5th--Private John A. Loud, Company A, was ordered to report to -Lieutenant Pease, division ordnance-officer, to do duty as a mechanic -in unspiking guns at Chalmette. He returned to duty in the regiment -June 13th. - -March 7th--Private J. Augustus Fitts, Company B, was detailed as -orderly at regimental headquarters. - -March 7th--Private William H. Haven was transferred from Company E to -Company F, to date from March 1st. - -March 8th--Private Clark K. Denny was relieved from duty as orderly and -made a clerk at regimental headquarters. - -March 9th--Special Orders, Defences New Orleans, appointed Corporal -Uriel Josephs and Sergeant Eben Tirrell, Jr., of Company A, as -ordnance-sergeants at Batteries Gentilly and St. John, reporting to the -division ordnance-officer. - -March 9th--Private Elbridge G. Harwood, Company B, was made regimental -carpenter, serving in that capacity until relieved in July. - -March 9th--Private George H. Greenwood, Company B, was made cook for -the wagoner’s mess, serving as such until relieved in July. - -March 31st--Major Stiles and Lieutenant Duncan, Company F, were -detailed on court-martial duty by general orders, Defences New Orleans, -to serve when such court was held. They were not relieved until July -30th. - -In addition to these details the chief-quartermaster asked for names -of such men in the regiment as were qualified to act as superintendent -of machine works, and in the manufacture and preparation of lumber. -Upon inquiry there were found quite a number, who were recommended -accordingly, but no detail was made from the regiment. - -In this month (March) a few unimportant incidents occurred worth notice -because a few members, who are aware of the facts, cannot forget them. -One was a hunt after dogs, on the night of March 31st, by a few wild, -restless spirits, with a view to exterminate all they could from the -neighborhood infested with them. Another was an old negro who could not -tell his age, but, from facts gleaned in conversation with him, must -have been over one hundred years old. Bent over with age, trembling -with weakness, without a home or friends, this old man was a wanderer -from camp to camp for food and shelter. On a bitter cold night he -struck the Forty-Second camp, and was provided with lodging in the -guard-house. None of his kind would care for him, so he said, “since -old massa had dun gon’ away.” - -Sergeant-Major Bosson, and Sergeant Phil. Hackett, Company G, had an -adventure on the Gentilly road on the night of March 10th. A beautiful -moonlight evening it was. As they strolled along the road songs were -heard, sung by a party of men evidently in liquor. To hide and listen, -under the shadow of a board fence, was suggested by Hackett. No sooner -done than a few snatches of a secession refrain raised Hackett’s -anger to such a point that he was ready to whip the entire party. -Bosson advised no interference, as the men had a perfect right to -sing. Hackett’s blood was up, however, and when a citizen (the party -separated a few moments before) arrived opposite their hiding place, -Phil. jumped for him, when the man showed fight. Hackett threw him -into a ditch, alongside the road, and by the time he got out, swearing -vengeance, Bosson was on hand. The two confronted him. He raised one -arm to the back of his neck, when stories, often read in books, of -Southerners with bowie knives carried in that spot flashed across the -minds of both men, and simultaneously they seized him. Hackett held -his arms while Bosson placed a pistol to his head. Frenchman as he -was, excited with anger and liquor, the cold muzzle against his temple -completely cowed the fellow. A search was made for the suspected bowie -knife, but none was found. The man, who gave his name as citizen -Ambrose Leonard, was marched into camp a prisoner. As nothing could -be charged against him, he was released from arrest March 12th by -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman. There was no good cause for this arrest; -the affair sprang from a spirit of mischief and from ignorance of what -they had a right to do. - -On March 21st occurred the first loss by death the regiment sustained -at Bayou Gentilly. Private Obed F. Allen, Company G, a paroled prisoner -of war, died in the regimental hospital of typhoid fever. The disease -was contracted on the march from Houston. His body was embalmed by a -city undertaker at the expense of his comrades in Company G, and sent -to his home in Quincy, Massachusetts. - -At the close of March there were present for duty in the four -companies at Gentilly Bayou and vicinity, seventeen officers and three -hundred and fifty-five men. - -Present sick in hospital, thirty-six. The average sick per day of the -regiment during March was: taken sick, two; returned to duty, two; in -hospital, twenty; in quarters, three. - -In April the companies attached to regimental headquarters had some -work to perform. Brigade special orders, issued on the fourth, placed -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman in command of the stations Bayou Gentilly, -Bayou St. John, Lakeport, and the bayous dependent upon the same, -with headquarters at Gentilly Bayou, and he was ordered to relieve -two companies of the Ninth Connecticut Infantry, then stationed at -Lake-end of Bayou St. John and at Lakeport, with two companies from the -Forty-Second. - -On the fifth, a fine Sunday morning, about ten o’clock, Captain -Cogswell (who had been relieved from command of the paroled camp by -Lieutenant Powers, Company F) proceeded with his company to Lakeport -and relieved Company E, Ninth Connecticut, Captain Wright, then on -picket duty from Lakeport to Point aux Herbes, fifteen miles. On -the same day thirty-five men of Company A, under Captain Coburn, -proceeded to Lake-end of Bayou St. John and relieved Company G, Ninth -Connecticut. The Ninth Connecticut men behaved in a most unsoldierlike -manner, causing Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman to state the facts to -brigade headquarters in the accompanying letter: - - - “HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND REGT., MASS. VOLS., - “CAMP FARR, BAYOU GENTILLY, LA., April 6th, 1863. - -“_Sir_,--I have the honor to report that I proceeded yesterday, -according to Special Orders No. 54, and moved Company F of this -regiment to Lakeport, and there relieved the Ninth Connecticut, Captain -Wright, who turned over the public property in his possession to -Captain J. D. Cogswell, commanding Company F. The pickets were taken -from Company F for Lakeport and all stations below that point. - -“At the Lake-end of Bayou St. John I placed thirty men and four -non-commissioned officers from Company A, leaving thirty men of the -same company at Battery St. John; the whole under command of Captain -Coburn, of Company A. - -“I have remaining of Company A, nineteen men, four non-commissioned -officers and one lieutenant, who are now stationed at Battery Gentilly -on the Ponchartrain Railroad, thus making all the stations and pickets -outside of this immediate camp under charge of Companies A and F. - -“In connection with the relieving of the companies of the Ninth -Connecticut Volunteers, I am sorry to be obliged to report the ill-will -manifested by many of them at their removal from the lake. - -“At Lakeport they broke up and destroyed all the bunks in the building -they occupied as quarters and sold all the boards they could remove -from the building. Several of them were badly intoxicated, and one -drew a knife and another a club on one of the members of Company F for -refusing to allow them to pull out the faucets of the water tanks and -waste all the water at the quarters. - -“At the Lake-end of Bayou St. John the Government schooner _Hortense_ -was lying, and the crew of that boat managed, before my men took -possession of her, to damage her in several ways. Twelve lights of -glass were broken of the cabin windows, and the cabin furniture -considerably damaged. They sold the hawser, also the launch, or -tender, of the schooner, and many of the cooking utensils were thrown -overboard and lost. The water cask and a few of the ropes have been -recovered from parties who bought them, but the launch and other -things, which they sold, we have not found as yet. - -“I would respectfully submit this report as a simple statement of facts -which have come under my observation since relieving the companies -named. - -“I have the honor to remain, - - “Your most obedient servant, - “J. STEDMAN, - “_Lieutenant-Colonel commanding_. - - “To LIEUTENANT GEORGE E. DAVIS, _A. A. A. General_, - “_Second Brigade, Second Division, New Orleans_.” - -The boat of the _Hortense_ was found May 2d at Hickok’s Landing in the -possession of a coffee house proprietor. There was some correspondence -with the brigade commander about this affair, but it was allowed to -blow over, and no steps were taken to punish the ringleaders. The -Connecticut men were very angry, because taken from a post where they -enjoyed themselves to the neglect of duty. - -Captain Cogswell soon found there was business to occupy his attention. -Within two hours after his arrival a man representing himself as J. D. -O’Connell, special detective in Government employ, with a companion, -requested assistance in a case they were engaged in working up. Not -producing any proof, as requested, that they were in the Government -service, a special messenger was sent to the provost-marshal of New -Orleans, who returned with the information O’Connell was “all right.” -While not fully satisfied in his own mind, the captain concluded to -join in the game, intending to arrest them if they did not prove “all -right.” - -The case was one in which a party of Confederates wished to get across -the lake. A sail-boat was furnished by Captain Cogswell with one man -disguised as a fisherman, who was to have the boat ready at a certain -lonely spot on the road leading to Bayou St. John where it ran close -to the water. The party of Confederates were to be ready to cross -on the eighth, but did not make the attempt until the night of the -tenth. Requesting assistance from the lieutenant-colonel, eight men -from Company B, under Lieutenant Tinkham, were sent to Lakeport on the -eighth. - -A detail of twelve men, divided into two squads, under the commands of -Lieutenant Tinkham and Orderly-Sergeant J. A. Titus, Company F, were -secreted among bushes that bordered upon the road. Accompanied by the -two detectives, who pretended to be Confederates, the party appeared -about nine o’clock P.M. The detectives waited until their -companions had reached the boat, when they gave a pre-arranged signal, -responded to by Lieutenant Tinkham shouting the agreed-on command, -“Rally on centre,” fired his pistol, and the squads dashed out from -their hiding-places with a shout. One detective pretended to be killed, -the other was made a prisoner; all in the plan. It was supposed the men -who reached the boat would make a hot fight, but they shouted not to -fire and they would agree to come in; as there was some delay in doing -so, Sergeant Ballou, Company B, asked and received permission to wade -out and hurry them up, taking possession and remaining upon the boat -until relieved. - -Under guard, the prisoners were marched to Captain Cogswell’s -headquarters for examination. They proved to be Major Breedlove, a -Confederate spy within the lines for nearly three months, Captain -Switzer, a Confederate steamboat man, on his way to take command of a -gunboat, and three other men. On the person of Captain Switzer was -found $3,098.00; $2,800.00 was in one-hundred-dollar Confederate bills, -the balance in notes of Louisiana State Banks, located in New Orleans. -Relieved of their personal effects, the prisoners were turned over to -the provost-marshal of New Orleans, and the property also. They were -confined in the Parish prison for several weeks, and then released. -Breedlove and Switzer afterwards visited Captain Cogswell to obtain -their property. - -Later, on the same night, a negro reported men loading a boat on the -lake near the “White House.” Sergeant Ballou was sent with a detail -of men to the spot, but did not capture any prisoners. The boat was -secured, and found to contain boots, shoes, cards for carding cotton, -pipes, matches and sundries. - -A schooner, under a Confederate flag of truce, conveying one hundred -and thirty-three United States soldiers, sailors and marines, captured -at Vicksburg, paroled for exchange, arrived on the sixth, accompanied -by Confederate Commissioner of Exchange, Colonel Zyminsky. The men were -in a sad condition from detention upon the lake by a severe storm, -three days without food or water. They were supplied with all of the -food at the post, not enough to go around, and some of the men ate raw -potatoes, preferring to do so instead of waiting to have them cooked. -After a few hours delay sufficient supply for their immediate wants was -obtained. - -Colonel Zyminsky, a Pole by birth, resided in New Orleans when the war -commenced. His wife was then residing in the city, and came out to the -post to see him. Captain Cogswell allowed her five minutes to exchange -compliments, but that was all the colonel desired, and, in fact, said -he did not want to see her anyhow. Zyminsky was a giant, six feet -four inches in height, as large everyway in proportion. Such a nose! -A pickled blood-beet was pale beside it. He wanted a twelve-gallon -demijohn of Louisiana rum more than he did a visit from his wife. He -got the visit, but did not get the rum, although he clandestinely -ordered it. The demijohn was brought to the wharf, where Cogswell would -not allow it to pass, so Colonel Zyminsky went back across the lake -very dry. - -To northern soldiers all southern scenery, cities and towns, so -different in character to what they were accustomed to see North, -charmed the eye and senses of those men who had not travelled far away -from home, until a thorough acquaintance with any locality where they -were stationed produced a desire to get away. After the novelty of -being in a new section of country wore off, the men were unanimous in -praise of their own sections as the proper place to live, enjoy life -while living, and be laid away when dead. - -Lakeport was no exception to this first seductive influence. A small -village, with a few one-story houses, two hotels that entertained -dinner parties from New Orleans, repair shops for the Ponchartrain -Railroad, and a school-house was about all there was to it. On Sundays -there were many visitors from the city bent on pleasure, as though no -war was in progress. The hotels for dinners and bath houses to sport -in the lake water were objective points. Occasionally, large numbers -of colored men and women came out early on Sunday mornings to witness -ceremonies of baptism to a score of both sexes who had joined a church. -The religious fervor was always great on such occasions, coupled with -antics of voice and body that cannot be described. White-robed negro -women would become unmanageable when _ducked under_, as the boys termed -it; if two stout assistants did not lead their religious sisters to -where the minister stood and be ready to seize them after baptism for -conveyance on shore they would drown. An exhibition of this character -once seen can never be forgotten. While on duty at Lakeport, Company F -could not complain of a monotonous existence. - -Picket duty at the Lake-end Bayou St. John requiring extra attention, -ten privates were sent from Gentilly Battery, on the sixth, to -reënforce Captain Coburn, and on the ninth, Lieutenant Clifford, -Company B, was ordered there to assist the captain, remaining at the -post until the twenty-first. - -The schooner _Hortense_ was repaired under supervision of Corporal -Croome, Company F (an old sailor), who was detailed to command her, -with the following crew: Kirkland A. Hawes (an old sailor) was mate; -Privates John J. Upham, cook; George M. Roberts, Thomas H. Robinson, -George Adams, all of Company F, and Rufus C. Greene, Company G, were -seamen. Two picket-boats for night duty were respectively in charge -of Corporal George L. Stone, assisted by Privates Charles M. Marsh -and John Kraft; Sergeant Hiram Cowan, assisted by Privates Albert -W. Cargell and James F. Harlow. These small boats captured many -prisoners with contraband goods, in their attempts to cross the lake. -The schooner was used for picket duty and to carry supplies to such -picket-posts as were stationed on the bayou outlets. - -On the fifth, Corporal Rhodes and three privates of Company B, with -rations for one week, were detailed to proceed as a guard, on the -schooner _Concordia_, carrying stores and property to Fort Pike and -Fort Macomb. - -When the steamer _N. P. Banks_ was loaded at Lakeport with supplies -for Pensacola, and ready to sail on the twenty-first, Captain A. N. -Shipley, A. Q. M. in New Orleans, called for a detail. Sergeant Ballou, -Corporal Fales and twelve privates from Company B composed the detail, -with rations for one week. The instructions Ballou received from -Shipley were, to go aboard the _Banks_ as a guard, watch the captain, -a southerner, and see that he stopped at all forts on the lake to -leave provisions and various stores, then to proceed to Fort Pickens, -and Pensacola. If the steamboat captain showed any disposition to -do otherwise, then he was to arrest all of the officers and run the -steamer into the blockading fleet off Mobile and report. The transport -vessel that made a similar trip, a short time previous, had been run -through the blockaders into Mobile by her officers, and the cargo -passed into Confederate hands. The round trip was made in five days, -without any event of importance. - -These duties of detailed men, with constant activity at the lake posts -to prevent smuggling across to the enemy, gave many men a taste of -active duty that was fatiguing, if it was without glory. - -It was hard work to get rolls, returns and statements, required by -army regulations, made correctly and promptly by company officers of -the regiment. A few officers appeared to think these documents were -unnecessary, a species of red tape to be fought down. Still it was said -they averaged as good as any organization in the Gulf Department, if -not better. In the army, among those who knew nothing about it, a great -deal of talk was constantly made about red tape. Among business men the -wonder was, that the vast machinery of an army could be successfully -kept going with such simple returns. There was nothing about them a -school-boy of ordinary ability could fail to understand in a short time -of study. To understand the nature and use of these documents was as -much the duty of an officer as to know how to drill his men. His duty -to the men demanded it. Without them payments could not be made, either -bounties or wages, rations provided, clothing held in readiness for -issue, pensions granted for disability or to the proper relatives of -deceased soldiers. Many a large corporation or business house, in their -method of conducting business, requires a system much more complicated -than the Government has in use for administration of the army. When -delays and trouble occurred in the rolls, returns, etc., it was usually -traced to the inability of some officer to understand them. - -The company returns required were: morning reports, company muster -rolls, company muster and pay rolls, company monthly return, returns -of men joined company, descriptive lists, quarterly company returns -deceased soldiers, muster-in rolls, muster-out rolls, enlistments, -re-enlistments, furloughs, discharges, final statements, rolls of -prisoners of war, ordnance returns. - -All very simple to fill up properly; each return so printed that there -was no excuse for not understanding how it was to be done. - -The regimental returns required were: consolidated morning reports, -field and staff muster rolls, field and staff muster and pay rolls, -muster rolls of hospital, muster and pay rolls of hospital, regimental -monthly returns, lists of officers, alterations in officers, quarterly -regimental returns of deceased soldiers, annual return of casualties. - -Careful supervision at regimental headquarters was necessary of company -pay rolls, in order to have them correct before forwarding to proper -officers. - -The regimental books were lost at Galveston; it became necessary to -make out a new descriptive book, and could only be done by obtaining -the company descriptive books to copy. Captain Bailey, Company H, had -peculiar ideas of his own in regard to making proper company returns -to regimental headquarters, and when he refused to obey an order from -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, to forward his company book, it was proper -to discipline him. - -On the thirteenth a regimental order to Captain Leonard, Company C, in -command of Companies C and H, contained the following: “You will also -forward to these headquarters the descriptive books of both companies -C and H of the regiment, for copying in the regimental records.” What -followed is explained in a letter written to the brigade-commander next -day:-- - - - “HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND REGT., MASS. VOLS., - “CAMP FARR, GENTILLY STATION, LA., April 14th, 1863. - -“_Sir_,--I would respectfully report that the enclosed is a copy of an -order sent to Camp Parapet yesterday, by my orderly, and that Captain -Leonard complied with the order at once. Captain D. W. Bailey, of -Company H, absolutely refused to send his descriptive book, saying that -‘the colonel or no other man should have his company books.’ If he was -under my immediate command here at the camp, it would be clear to my -mind how I should act in this case. In the present instance I am not -sufficiently informed what my action should be in the premises, not -knowing fully how the commanding general considers their relations to -this regiment, and more particularly to the commanding officer of the -same. - -“I would respectfully refer the case to Colonel Farr, for advice and -information. - -“I have the honor to remain, - - “Your obedient servant, - “J. STEDMAN, - “_Lieutenant-Colonel, 42nd Mass. Vols._ - - - “To LIEUT. GEO. E. DAVIS, _A. A. A. General_, - “_Second Brigade, Second Division, New Orleans_.” - -By orders of General Sherman, Captain Bailey was placed in arrest on -the sixteenth, sent to Gentilly Station the next day, an orderly -bringing the descriptive book that caused the trouble. Under orders -from brigade headquarters, charges and specification of charges were -forwarded on the sixteenth. The assignment to quarters, while in -arrest, was as follows: - - “HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND REGT., MASS. VOLS., - “CAMP FARR, BAYOU GENTILLY, LA., April 17th, 1863. - -“_Captain_,--You having been reported at these headquarters in arrest -by orders of Brigadier-General Sherman, you are hereby assigned -quarters in the large tent to the left of these headquarters, and you -will hold yourself within the following limits, viz.: On the right, on -a line with the guard line and the right flank of this camp. In front, -on a line with the woods in front of the camp. On the left, on a line -with the tents on the left flank of the camp of paroled prisoners. In -the rear, on a line with the road extending along the rear of this camp. - -“You are also referred to the Army Regulations in relation to officers -in arrest, in relation to communications, etc. - -“By command of - - “LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. STEDMAN, - “CHARLES A. DAVIS, _Adjutant_. - - - “To CAPTAIN DAVIS W. BAILEY, - “_Company H, 42d Regt., Mass. Vols._” - -Until May 14th the captain remained at Gentilly Bayou, when he was -allowed the limits of New Orleans, until the findings in his case were -promulgated. - -The charges and specifications in this case, and findings of the Court, -were as follows--copied from General Orders, No. 48, Nineteenth Army -Corps: - - -CHARGE FIRST. - -“Disobedience of Orders.” - - * * * * * - -_Specification_--“In this: that he, Captain Davis W. Bailey, Company -H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, when ordered by -Lieutenant-Colonel J. Stedman, in the execution of his office, and -through Captain O. W. Leonard, senior captain of Companies C and H, -Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and to whom the order -was addressed, to send to the regimental headquarters his company -Descriptive Book, did absolutely refuse and fail so to do. All this at -Camp Parapet, Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863.” - - -CHARGE SECOND. - -“Conduct unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman.” - - * * * * * - -_Specification First_--“In this: that he, Captain Davis W. Bailey, -Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, when notified -by Captain O. W. Leonard, senior captain of Companies C and H, -Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, that he (Captain -Leonard) had received an order from Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman -(commanding Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers), to send -to the regimental headquarters the Descriptive Books of said Companies -C and H, did then and there use disrespectful language of his superior -officer, saying in substance as follows: ‘the colonel or no other man -can have my company books.’ All this at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, on or -about the thirteenth day of April, 1863.” - -_Specification Second_--“In this: that he, Captain Davis W. Bailey, -Company H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, did, on -or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863, at or near his quarters -at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, when waited on by an orderly from the -regimental headquarters of the Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts -Volunteers, which orderly was sent by Lieutenant-Colonel J. Stedman, in -the execution of his office, with a written order to Companies C and -H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, to forward their -company Descriptive Books for copying on the regimental records, did -refuse to send his Descriptive Book, and neglect so to do. All this at -Camp Parapet, Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863.” - - -CHARGE THIRD. - -“Conduct to the prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline.” - - * * * * * - -_Specification_--“In this: that he, Captain Davis W. Bailey, Company -H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, when informed by -Captain Leonard, senior captain of Companies C and H, Forty-Second -Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, that the lieutenant-colonel had -sent an order for the Descriptive Books of said companies, did, then -and there, at or near his quarters at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, and in -the presence of Captain Leonard and at least two enlisted men of the -Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, refuse to send his -Descriptive Book, averring in substance as follows: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel -Stedman or no other man can have my company books.’ All this at Camp -Parapet, Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863.” - -To all of which charges and specifications the accused pleaded “not -guilty.” - -The Court, after mature deliberation on the evidence adduced, finds the -accused as follows: - - Of the specification, first charge--“Not guilty.” - Of the first charge--“Not guilty.” - Of the first specification, second charge--“Not guilty.” - Of the second specification, second charge--“Not guilty.” - Of the second charge--“Not guilty.” - Of the specification, third charge--“Not guilty.” - Of the third charge--“Not guilty.” - -And does therefore acquit him. - - * * * * * - -The case was clear and charges filed correctly, but, on his trial -before a general court-martial, held in New Orleans, March 25th, the -charges were not sustained; a material witness failed to remember -anything. - -The proceedings of this court-martial were approved by General Banks in -General Orders of June 9th, when Captain Bailey was acquitted, released -from arrest and returned to duty; the orders did not take effect until -July 20th, when they reached the regiment. - -At a general court-martial convened in New Orleans, January 27th, 1863, -of which Major F. Frye, Ninth Connecticut Volunteers, was president, -the following enlisted men of the Forty-Second were tried, in addition -to the case of Private Denny, Company E, already mentioned: - -Private William H. Thomas, Company B, for “sleeping on post.” - -Private Frank L. Fisher, Company B, for “sleeping on post.” - -Privates Thomas and Fisher when found asleep, were awakened and -cautioned by the officer of the guard as to the penalty they would -incur by going to sleep while on sentry duty. Notwithstanding the -caution they allowed themselves to fall asleep again while on guard, -and in the same relief. - -The findings of this Court were not promulgated in General Orders -until March 7th. In the case of Thomas, he was found asleep on post -13, in front of regimental headquarters at Gentilly Bayou, between -the hours of one and half-past one o’clock on the morning of February -12th. He pleaded “guilty” to the charge and specification. His plea was -accepted, and, as it appeared that he was sick at the time and excused -from duty by the surgeon, it was recommended that he be returned to -duty. - -Private Fisher was found asleep on post 15, at the stable and -quartermasters’ department at Gentilly Bayou, between the hours of -one and two o’clock on the morning of February 10th. He pleaded “not -guilty” to both charge and specification, and the Court on the evidence -adduced found him “not guilty,” and recommended that he be returned to -duty. Fisher and Thomas, confined since February 12th, were released -from confinement in the guard-house March 18th. - -Private Freeman Doane, Company F, was also found asleep on post at -Lakeport on the twenty-ninth of April, and placed in arrest. Upon -examination of the case Captain Cogswell was so well satisfied that -Doane was sick and not fit to have been placed on sentry duty, being -under the surgeon’s care, that he asked for and obtained his release -the next day. - -Lieutenant Albert E. Proctor, Company G, acting regimental -quartermaster, met with a very serious accident on the morning of the -twentieth by being thrown from his horse, in front of headquarters, -immediately after mounting, preparatory to proceeding to the city on -official business, sustaining a fracture of the right arm near the -socket of the shoulder, which incapacitated him from further duty with -the regiment during its term of service. - -A moment before he left headquarters in fine spirits, and when -brought in looking deathly pale everybody present was dumfounded. -Luckily, Assistant-Surgeon Heintzelman was present on duty with the -regiment, having reported at camp March 1st. He immediately made a -careful examination of the fracture, properly bandaged it, and prepared -everything to make Proctor comfortable until he arrived at the hospital -in New Orleans, where he was sent the same day and had his arm reset. -Lieutenant Proctor showed true fortitude throughout the day. Not a -groan escaped his lips, although the pain he suffered was excruciating. -He gave proper directions for the continued performance of his duties -and what disposition to make of unfinished business he had on hand with -utmost _sang-froid_. - -Lieutenant Proctor was a twin brother of Captain Alfred N. Proctor, -Company G, then a prisoner of war in Texas. It was difficult to say -who was who, even when seen together. The lieutenant remarked, soon -after the accident to himself, that his brother Alfred had met with an -accident also. His reason for thinking so was because a sympathetic -feeling had always existed between them. As a matter of fact, Captain -Proctor did have one of the bones of an ankle broken while wrestling -with Sergeant Wentworth, March 27th. - -Until May 20th, when Quartermaster Burrell reported back for duty, -having been relieved as acting brigade-quartermaster, when Colonel -Cahill, Ninth Connecticut Volunteers, superseded Colonel Farr, -the active duties of the position were well performed by Acting -Quartermaster-Sergeant Alonzo I. Hodsdon, corporal in Company D. - -The regiment was fortunate in having good quartermasters during the -term of service, and in obtaining supplies of proper food. The salt -meats, coffee, potatoes, bread, etc., were of excellent quality. It was -necessary only once (May 15th) during the entire term of service to -call for a Board of Survey to examine into the quality of subsistence -stores received from the Commissary Department. Quartermaster Burrell -was socially one of the best of men, with business qualifications -for his duty of a high order. Acting-Quartermaster Proctor was also -adapted to fill the position, and was a jovial man. Corporal Hodsdon, -without a business training to fit him to hold such a position at once, -had mastered the details to such extent from his connection with the -department that during the time he performed the duties everything went -along smoothly. - -At the close of April there were present for duty in the four companies -at Gentilly Bayou and vicinity, thirteen officers and three hundred and -fifty-six men. Sick in regimental hospital: one officer (Lieutenant -Harding, Company K, who arrived April 27th, sick with fever), and -twenty-one men. Thirteen men were sick in quarters. The average sick -per day for the month had been: taken sick, four; returned to duty, -four; in hospital, twenty; in quarters, fourteen. One man died at -the camp hospital of typhoid fever, Private Frank Covell, Company G, -a paroled prisoner, April 22d. The body was embalmed and sent home. -Private Covell, quite young in years, was careless of his health. He -would insist on sleeping at night in the open air instead of under tent -cover, exposed unprotected to change in the atmosphere, usually very -rapid after nine o’clock. Repeated cautions not to do so were given -him. Company G was unfortunate at this camp in the loss of men by death -from disease. The other companies of paroled men, D and I, did not lose -a man. - -At Bayou Gentilly the night air was treacherous and dangerous. In good -weather the days, at this season of the year, would be hot and sultry -up to about ten o’clock in the night, when changes would commence to -occur, becoming damp and hazy. About midnight sentinels were obliged -to wear their great-coats. Many men would persist in sleeping upon the -ground in the open air, regardless of repeated warnings not to do so. -When the midnight change took place, if they by chance awoke, they -would occupy their tents. This careless habit caused much sickness in -the regiment from bowel complaints and fevers, that was charged by the -sufferers to bad quality of rations issued. - -Discipline of the camp continued good, and the paroled men behaved -well under their enforced idleness. Very few men absented themselves -without leave. Corporal Clapp, Privates Holt, Barnard and Davis, all -from Company G, tried it on and were picked up by the patrol in New -Orleans, April 4th. Privates Dolan, Dellanty, Contillon and Morgan, all -from Company I, were bagged by the patrol on the fifth, and Private -Marshall, Company G, was arrested by the police of New Orleans, April -12th. These men were returned to camp by the provost-marshal in one or -two days after their arrest. - -Two deserters reported back to the regiment this month: Private Chauncy -Converse, Company K, on the eleventh; Private Lewis Buffum, Company B, -on the twenty-fifth. - -While able to furnish details of skilled mechanics, if wanted, on a -call for telegraph operators, made on the twenty-ninth, to do duty in -the Defences of New Orleans, a careful inquiry failed to find any--the -only request ever made by a general officer, either of brigade or -division, that the Forty-Second Regiment was not able to meet. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MAY. - - -After hot weather fairly set in not much time was occupied in drill at -Gentilly Camp. When the many details for regular camp and extra duty -had been provided, there were few men left to go on drill. Most of the -drills were by company, after Companies A and F had been detached. -Previous to that time a battalion drill was in order every morning, -after guard-mounting, either in command of the lieutenant-colonel or -the major. - -On the seventh General Sherman inspected the regiment in camp and -the detachments at Batteries Gentilly and St. John. The number of -men under inspection was not large, but they looked well and in good -condition. The next day, eighth, to relieve the dull routine of camp -life, Companies B and E, then remaining in camp, were marched along the -Ponchartrain Railroad to Lakeport, there joined by men from Companies A -and F, and an exhibition dress parade gone through with. After lying in -the close camp at the bayou, this change, even for a short time, to the -cool breezes of the lake shore, was very agreeable. - -Orders were received at 9.15 A.M., May 9th, from division -headquarters, for all men that could be mustered of the detached -portions of the second division to immediately report, in heavy -marching order, on Canal Street, in New Orleans, for review. The -men were at once got under arms and marched into the city, arriving -fifteen minutes too late to take part. One brigade (the Third) was -absent on a reconnoissance; only the First and Second Brigades were in -line. They made a handsome appearance. The One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth -New York Infantry (Second Duryea Zouaves), Lieutenant-Colonel Smith in -command, carried off the honors for best condition in everything. - -Various rumors were in circulation in the city about this review, some -people insisting upon it that the army under General Banks had fallen -back from the Teche campaign, and the troops under review were a part -of that army. Others said that General Banks had met with a bad defeat, -and the troops were under orders to reënforce him. Numerous citizens -industriously asked questions of the men at every opportunity; but, to -give credit where it is due, the news they received must have puzzled -if it did not mislead them. The men got the hang very quickly of what -they were after, and acted accordingly. If instructions had been issued -to cover such an attempt of the enemy’s spies to obtain information, -they could not have been obeyed any better than was the case. - -The true cause of such a hurried review of this division was soon -apparent. General Sherman had received orders to report at Baton Rouge -with two brigades. His three brigades, assigned to the Defences of New -Orleans, were scattered along the various forts and entrances to the -city, while the brigade not on review was distant some thirty miles on -a reconnoissance; yet, in thirty-six hours after receipt of his orders, -General Sherman had been rejoined by his Third Brigade, transferred -some regiments of the Second to the First and Third, leaving the Second -Brigade in the Defences, and was on his way, _via_ the river, to Baton -Rouge with two brigades to join General Augur in a demonstration -against Port Hudson. - -During the entire month men at Gentilly Camp and picket-stations on the -lake were kept in a condition to move in twenty-four hours’ notice, -in obedience to an order issued by the division commander. This was -supplemented on the twenty-eighth by a confidential circular issued, -to keep a careful watch and supervision at each camp and post, in such -a manner as not to attract attention or excite alarm. All officers -and men were obliged to remain in camp ready for any duty. Nothing -of importance transpired during this time to furnish a key to these -instructions. Perfect order and quiet reigned within the limits of the -Defences of New Orleans. - -Some changes in the commanding officers took place: Colonel Cahill, -Ninth Connecticut Infantry, assumed command of the brigade on the -ninth, and General Emory assumed command of the Defences New Orleans on -the nineteenth. - -No changes took place in the stations occupied by the Forty-Second. -Companies A and F remained on picket at the lake. By Department General -Orders, No. 35, issued April 27th, registered enemies of the United -States were ordered, peremptorily, to leave the Department on or -before May 15th. Many of them were sent by the provost-marshal-general -_via_ the lake. This placed extra duty on the men of the Forty-Second -stationed there, as all of their baggage had to be overhauled and -inspected upon the wharf before leaving, and guards furnished to -steamers transporting them to points across the lake and on the Gulf -shore. Large numbers were taken to Madisonville, Manderville, Pass -Christian, Biloxi, Mississippi City, Pascagoula, and to Mobile. - -Many captures were made of small boats endeavoring to get across the -lake with supplies for the enemy. The occupants in every case escaped, -for Department General Orders, No. 37, issued April 29th, announced -that any person convicted before the commanding general of furnishing -supplies to the enemy would suffer the penalty of death. In spite of -this order attempts were constantly made, but the parties engaged in -such acts lost no time in taking to the swamps when discovered at it. - -The routine of guard and picket duty at this time is explained by the -following letter to General Sherman: - - -“HEADQUARTERS 42D REGIMENT, MASS. VOLS., “CAMP FARR, BAYOU -GENTILLY, LA., May 5th, 1863. - -“_Sir_,--I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of your -communication of the fourth instant. I would respectfully report the -following facts concerning the guard duties at the mouth of Bayou -St. John. Captain H. S. Coburn, of Company A, has under his command -at that place: one sergeant, four corporals and thirty privates. He -furnishes three sentinel-posts: one, a picket of three men at the -extreme end of the bayou, who are relieved every twenty-four hours, one -man being on duty all the time; the second post is at the quarters of -the captain, and the third on the drawbridge across the bayou. These -two posts are relieved every two hours by rotation of the men in the -command. This manner of relieving the men at the last two posts is -resorted to on account of the small command and to allow the men good -rest between each tour of duty, for it often happens that six or ten -men are called out in the night on extra duty, either to arrest some -suspicious character or to watch for smugglers of contraband goods. One -non-commissioned officer is detailed each day and has charge of the -guard for the twenty-four hours, and his whole duty is to carefully -observe all that is going on and to relieve the sentinels at proper -hours. The reason of only five men appearing to be on duty at the time -of the inspection was because the balance of the command was in line. - -“In reference to the absence of the commanding officer at Bayou St. -John, I have ascertained that he was away on Saturday afternoon at the -lake-end of the bayou. - -“Captain Coburn has frequently occasion to visit the office of the -provost-marshal-general, and he had been away that day. It is found -necessary to keep one commissioned officer at the mouth of the bayou -all the time, for the purpose of examining passes, vessels, etc., going -into and out of the bayou. Lieutenant Burrell has been in the habit -of aiding Captain Coburn at times when he was in the city, and he was -absent that day for this purpose, Captain Coburn having returned from -General Bowen’s office a short time previous to your visit. - -“Lieutenant Burrell has at Battery St. John thirty men. In reference -to the absence of ten of his men, he reports as follows: two were away -at Camp Farr for rations; three were at the lake-end of the bayou for -a few days on account of sickness, and the surgeon considered a change -good for them; two were in the city for a few hours on a pass; the -remaining three were absent for a short time preparing a boat for use, -in duty at the bayou. - -“In regard to the strength of the guards within my command and the -posts, I would respectfully report as follows: - -“I have in this camp two companies for duty, viz., B and E. The number -of effective enlisted men by this day’s report is one hundred and -eighteen; commissioned officers, five. At this camp and from these -companies I mount a daily guard, consisting of one commissioned -officer, five non-commissioned officers and twenty-seven privates. -This guard furnishes nine sentinel-posts. Five of these posts are a -camp-guard, one at headquarters, one over the quartermaster’s stores, -one at the crossing of the Ponchartrain Railroad and the Gentilly road, -and one picket-station on the railroad in the direction of the city. - -“At Battery Gentilly, near this camp, I have a detachment of Company A, -consisting of one commissioned officer, two sergeants, three corporals -and twenty privates. This detachment mans the guns, and for a guard -mounts each day one non-commissioned officer and six men, furnishing -two sentinel-posts: one on the parapet over the guns, and one as a -picket-guard on the railroad and to prevent people from passing within -the lines of the fort. - -“At Lakeport Company F is stationed, under command of Captain J. D. -Cogswell. He has at the present time eighty effective men, including -non-commissioned officers. For a guard he mounts daily twelve men, -having four sentinel-posts: two of these posts are on the wharf, for -the purpose of observing all that transpires within sight on the lake -and to detain all boats and persons from leaving the wharf without a -proper pass; the second is at the entrance to the wharf, to keep order -in the day-time, and to keep all persons from the wharf after nine -p.m.; the third post is a picket-post and is rather more than a mile -from the village, on the shore of the lake, at the “White House,” so -called, for the purpose of observing all that transpires within sight -of the lake, and to stop smugglers, etc. - -“Besides these he sends a picket of six men and one sergeant to Bayou -Cashon (eight miles distant), and these are relieved weekly. This -picket is supplied with a small boat and sail, and can thus have -communication with the commanding officer at any time. - -“The schooner _Hortense_ is sent to this picket-station every other day -with fresh water and rations. In addition to the above sentinels and -pickets, one corporal and four men are kept on the schooner _Hortense_ -at all times, ready for duty; also, two picket-boats have each a picked -crew of one non-commissioned officer and two men, ready for duty at any -time; at night they cruise back and forth (one on each side), from a -point off the end of the wharf to points two miles from the wharf, for -the purpose of intercepting smugglers of contraband goods. - -“I believe the number of sentinels and location of all the posts in my -command have now been stated, and I respectfully submit this report. - -“I have neglected to state the number of sentinels at Battery St. John. -At that place a daily guard of two privates and one non-commissioned -officer is detailed. This guard is increased by one man every night. -The first post is upon the bridge on the west side, the second upon the -bridge on the east side of the fort; the extra man at night is placed -on the parapet over the guns. - -“I have the honor to remain, - - “Respectfully, your obedient servant, - “J. STEDMAN, _Lieutenant-Colonel_, - “_commanding 42d Regt., Mass. Vols._ - - - “TO CAPTAIN WICKHAM HOFFMAN, _A. A. General_, - “_Second Division, 19th Army Corps, New Orleans_.” - -From the main camp at the bayou various details of men were made for -all sorts of duty: - -On the seventeenth--Company E proceeded to New Orleans and acted as -a funeral escort to the remains of Captain Albert Coan, Company A, -Twelfth Maine, who was buried from the St. James Hospital. - -On the nineteenth--Sergeant Turner, Corporals Lowey and Turner, and -seven privates of Company B, Corporal Lovly and five privates of -Company E, in heavy marching order, relieved a guard of the One -Hundred and Sixty-Fifth New York at the University Hospital, on Baronne -Street, New Orleans; relieved in turn, on the twenty-seventh, by -Sergeant Emerson, Corporal Southworth and six privates of Company E, -and Corporals Fales, Wales, and six privates of Company B. - -On the twenty-second--Two corporals and two privates from Company E, -with four privates from Company B, were detailed for guard duty at the -headquarters of General Emory, in the city. - -The extra-duty detailed men were few: - -May 13th--Corporal Henry Mellen, Company E, was made orderly at brigade -headquarters, serving until relieved in July. - -May 24th--Private Frank A. Smith, Company F, was made orderly at -brigade headquarters, serving until relieved in July. - -April 28th--Private Chauncey K. Bullock, Company D, was placed on duty -as hostler at brigade headquarters until relieved May 19th. - -Some men of the paroled camp, to vary the tedium of their life, began -to trespass upon private property in the neighborhood. It was trivial -in its nature, but, on complaint being made, orders were issued, April -1st, to stop such trespassing. This order not having the desired -effect, a Board of Inquiry was held May 10th, at the paroled camp, to -ascertain the basis of complaints that were made of destruction of -fences and depredations upon property. The result was to locate the -breach of orders on a few unprincipled paroled men, and to clearly -establish that the greater number were behaving in a most praiseworthy -manner. - -On the seventeenth of June Privates Thomas F. Igo, Thomas P. Contillon -and Thomas Dellanty, paroled men of Company I, were placed in arrest -on a charge of disturbing persons and property near the camp; the only -cases where discipline had to be enforced to stop it. - -The bad feeling displayed by the Ninth Connecticut men at Lakeport -towards Company F was renewed by men of that regiment detailed for -provost-guard in New Orleans, towards men from the Forty-Second who -were in the city on furlough. It culminated in a cowardly attack on -Sergeant Waterman, Company D, and was the cause of another complaint -being made on the twelfth of May, this time to the provost-marshal. The -facts are set forth in the following letter: - - -“HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND MASS. VOLS., “CAMP FARR, BAYOU -GENTILLY, LA., May 12th, 1863. - -“_Sir_,--I would respectfully bring to your notice and attention the -manner in which one of the members of the provost-guard treated several -enlisted men of this command after having demanded their passes, seen -them, and pronounced them correct. The circumstances are as follows: - -“Orderly-Sergeant Waterman, Sergeants Hewins and Sawyer, Corporal -Merrill, and two privates of this regiment, paroled but unexchanged -prisoners of war, were in New Orleans on Saturday, the ninth inst., for -the purpose of witnessing the brigade review on that day, and, when -coming down St. Charles Street, a soldier with a musket stopped them -and demanded their passes; they were shown and pronounced correct. -This man, representing himself as a member of the patrol, made some -insulting remarks to Orderly-Sergeant Waterman and then seized him by -the throat, whereupon the sergeant shook him off. The patrol then fixed -his bayonet and charged upon Sergeant Waterman, striking him in the -breast and inflicting a slight flesh wound, at the same time calling -the sergeant ’a d--n son of a b--h’; at this point an officer came -across the street and sent the whole party away. Up to the time of the -officer making his appearance no other members of the patrol had been -seen by any of the party alluded to, and the man who stopped them had -no stripes or insignia of office on his clothing. The name of this -patrol has since been ascertained to be Corporal James Gibbens, Company -I, Ninth Connecticut Volunteers. - -“The same day of the above occurrence Sergeant Waterman went up to -the square to learn the name of the man who had assaulted him, and -the lieutenant who commanded the guard that day refused to give it to -him. After his interview with the lieutenant, this man, Gibbens, came -along, and seizing Sergeant Waterman by the collar pushed him out of -the square, at the same time calling him ‘a nine-months’ conscript son -of a b--h,’ also using much profane language. Other members of Gibbens’ -company stood looking on, advising him to kick the sergeant, break -his head, etc. All this time Sergeant Waterman did not resist in any -manner, or make any retaliatory reply. - -“I believe that I can prove that said Gibbens has several times before -this stopped soldiers in the street and demanded their passes, even -when he had no arms and was entirely unaccompanied by any patrol or -member of the provost-guard. Trusting that this matter may receive a -rigid investigation, - -“I have the honor to remain, - - “Very respectfully, your obedient servant, - “J. STEDMAN, _Lieutenant-Colonel_, - “_commanding 42d Regt., Mass. Vols._ - - - “TO MAJOR VON HERMAN, - “_commanding Provost-Guard, New Orleans_.” - -The provost-marshal promised to look into the affair and report what -was done about it. Nothing further was heard about the matter. - -With warm weather rapidly setting in, the unacclimated officers and men -of the Forty-Second began to swell the sick list. Assistant-Surgeon -Hitchcock, in charge of the regimental hospital, had been ordered to -Berwick Bay on special duty April 19th, where a large number of sick -and convalescent men from the army operating in the Teche district -were in hospitals. On his departure, Assistant-Surgeon Heintzelman -assumed charge of the regimental hospital at Bayou Gentilly, with the -following organization: Private Charles H. Warren, Company F, acting -hospital-steward; Private Thomas M. Lewis, Company D, ward-master; -Private James Mitchell, Company B, nurse; Private William F. Lacount, -Company F, nurse; Private Edwin Rycroft, Company K, nurse; Private John -W. Robinson, Company K, nurse; Private Hiram B. Douglass, Company K, -nurse; Private William Harris, Jr., Company I, cook; Private Archibald -McDollen, Company E, cook. The arrangements of the hospital under -Surgeon Heintzelman were excellent. He won the good opinion of all the -men, with the exception of those who failed to play their points upon -him by playing sick. His experience and knowledge promptly detected all -such cases at surgeon’s call in the morning; the men being promptly -returned back to their companies as fit for duty. These qualities -in any officer never fails to command the good will, respect and -confidence of the majority of men over whom he has control, for they -feel that no shirks can cause extra duty to fall on other shoulders, -because they cannot successfully evade it. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman and Major Stiles were on the sick list; the -major in May and through June. Lieutenant Harding recovered and went -to Port Hudson, May 25th, to join his company. - -At the close of May there was present for duty, under orders of -the lieutenant-colonel, seventeen officers and three hundred and -fifty-seven men. Sick in regimental hospital, twenty-five men; and -in quarters, ten men. The average sick per day for the month had -been: taken sick, four; returned to duty, four; sick in hospital, -twenty-four; sick in quarters, thirteen. On the seventeenth there were -fifteen men of Company K in hospital, and on the twenty-third seventeen -men of that company; nine of them were returned to duty on the -twenty-sixth. About all sickness this month was among the men on duty. -The paroled prisoners were in good health. Only one man of Company D -was in hospital May 31st. Companies G and I did not have a case. - -One death occurred. Private John H. Cary, Company G, May 6th, from -delirium tremens, and he was buried near the camp. The case of Private -Cary was the result of hard drinking. His body was found, badly -decomposed, in the swamp by the roadside, not far from camp, on the -thirteenth of May. Cary had been a hard drinker ever since his return -from Texas, and shown such symptoms of delirium as to cause a watch to -be kept on him. On the evening of the sixth he managed to get out of -his tent without attracting the attention of any one, and immediately, -it would seem, took to the swamp in the place where found, and there -died. He was missed soon after disappearing, and for a week diligent -search was made to find him. An impure odor, caused by decomposition -of the body, attracted the attention of some members of the regiment -passing by upon the road; they searched the swamp and found him. He -was sitting at the foot of a tree, grasping with both hands the -roots, with his legs immersed in mud almost to the knees. Thick bushes -bordering on the swamp edge, by the roadside, screened him from being -seen and prevented an earlier discovery. Cary was put in a box by the -help of an old colored man, called John, who chopped wood in the camp. -No one else could be induced to touch the body; but old John said: “I -not afraid of a ’Yankee’ soger, sah! No sah, dead or alive, sah!” The -remains were buried the same day with appropriate ceremonies. - -This negro, John, was a camp follower from the time the regiment went -into camp at Gentilly until it embarked for the North. He was formerly -a slave, and lived a long distance from camp, but was always on hand -at reveille, remaining until Peas on a Trencher, doing all the hard -work of camp, splitting wood, getting water, etc., etc., and would work -steady in the hottest sun, with perspiration coming from the pores of -his skin like water. He worked for small pay; for a small sum of money -sang the old religious hymns the negroes in that locality sang at -their prayer meetings, danced as plantation darkies can dance, and was -the jolliest old negro there was in camp. Old John’s wife did a large -amount of washing for the boys, which brought additional picayunes -to his wallet, and, although he made a few bad debts--some of the -unprincipled men taking advantage of his ignorance to cheat him--on the -whole, John made a good living from his labor for the Forty-Second. -His boy was also a hanger-on at camp, but could not be made to do much -work. This boy was a great imitator, and would watch attentively the -drummers at practice, and soon became able to handle a drum with skill. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -BAYOU GENTILLY--JUNE--FAREWELL TO GENTILLY CAMP--IN NEW -ORLEANS. - - -The month of May passed rapidly without the occurrence of any event of -importance to the regiment. With the commencement of June affairs in -the Department began to assume such a shape as to lead officers of the -Forty-Second to think the regiment was to get some service. - -Affairs at Port Hudson reached a stage when reënforcements were needed -to maintain the effective strength of the army, and to continue the -siege. Troops from Brashear City and Ship Island were ordered to Port -Hudson, and from Key West and Pensacola to New Orleans, while the small -garrison in the Defences of New Orleans had to be ready for instant -service at all hours. It was evident to all hands the regiment was -about to be concentrated, as far as possible, to be able to meet any -emergency, and soon was it verified. - -The detachment at Battery St. John, about sixty men of Company A, was -relieved by a detachment Fifteenth Massachusetts Battery, and returned -to the regiment June 1st. On the third the detachment under Lieutenant -Martin Burrell, Jr., at Battery Gentilly, about twenty men, was also -relieved by a detachment Fifteenth Massachusetts Battery, and returned -to the regiment. On the sixth Companies C and H marched into camp -with about one hundred and forty men, from Camp Parapet, having been -relieved from engineer service. With the exception of a detachment -Company A, about forty men, at Lake-end Bayou St. John, Company F at -Lakeport, and Company K at Port Hudson, the regiment was again united. - -Upon receipt of orders from brigade headquarters to draw as many -men as possible from the post at Lakeport, in case the regiment was -ordered to move, leaving only a small picket-guard upon the Lake shore -and a camp-guard to look after regimental property and the hospital -at Gentilly, drills were immediately resumed to an extent allowed by -hot weather, and inspections made to see if every man was in proper -condition for duty. All parades of ceremony, drill and guard-mounting -had to be made before eight o’clock A.M. or after six o’clock -P. M. The sentinels had to have sun shelters erected, or were -posted in the shade so far as practicable. - -The exact state of affairs was not generally known. A majority of -the men refused to believe that any danger existed, or that the -regiment would do any field duty, arguing that concentration meant the -regiment was to proceed home promptly on the expiration of its time of -enlistment, June 25th, as they claimed. This was not so, and could not -be. - -At this time the entire Second Brigade, Second Division, Nineteenth -Corps, composed of two New York batteries, three Massachusetts -batteries, not equipped, one squadron cavalry, the Twenty-Sixth, -Forty-Second and Forty-Seventh Massachusetts Infantry, Ninth -Connecticut Infantry, a detachment One Hundred and Seventy-Fifth New -York Infantry and Twenty-Eighth Maine Infantry, with some smaller -detachments of troops, composed the garrison in New Orleans and -its defences, who were under standing orders to be ready to move -immediately with one hundred rounds of ammunition to each infantry-man. - -On the ninth, after a mixed detachment of one hundred men under -Captain Cook had left camp for Brashear City, everybody woke up and -began to think there was music in the air, causing them to feel anxious -for something to come next. Their anxiety was increased when Captain -Cook and Lieutenant Clifford reported at the regimental hospital on -sick leave, and told what a hole the detachment was in. - -The case of Captain Cook was singular. Other than a thick-coated -tongue, the captain did not show any signs or symptoms of illness. -He did not go into the hospital, but lived in his company tent, ate -heartily, and acted in every way like a well man. Surgeon Heintzelman -said, as his private opinion, that the case was one of fright. It is -true that Captain Cook did not do any more duty during the regiment’s -term of service, but remained on the sick list. - -Two men were noticed lurking around camp on the nineteenth, and were -recognized by some of the paroled men as Texans from the Confederate -army. They were arrested, and claimed to have left the service and had -taken the oath of allegiance. As General Emory had issued orders on the -fourteenth to arrest and send to him any person found lurking around -the forts or intrenched positions, they were sent to his headquarters -for examination. What became of them is not known. - -Positive information having been received that the enemy was raiding -on the west bank of the river and threatened to cut communication with -Brashear City, on the nineteenth all troops of the Second Brigade -were again ordered to have two days cooked rations on hand, and be -in readiness to move any moment, and Colonel Cahill was ordered to -concentrate the brigade as much as possible. All officers and men, of -all arms, whether on detached service, provost duty, or other duty, -were under orders to hold themselves ready to move, with cooked -rations and one hundred rounds each man. All outlying companies were to -be ready to move into the city at a moment’s notice, except the guard -over prisoners at Algiers and the troops at Pass Manchac. All leaves of -absence were absolutely stopped, and every officer and man obliged to -remain at their quarters. - -By the sudden departure of all available troops at New Orleans to -reënforce Colonel Stickney at La-Fourche Crossing, orders were received -at noon on the twenty-first, at the Forty-Second camp, to immediately -report in Lafayette Square to General Emory, in heavy marching order. -The picket-posts at Lakeport and Bayou St. John were also ordered to be -weakened, that as many men as possible should join the regiment. At two -P.M., having packed baggage and struck camp, leaving behind -the surplus baggage, a hospital-guard and the paroled men of Companies -D, G and I, the regiment proceeded by rail to the city, with a total -effective strength of about two hundred men. - -On first receipt of marching orders a general impression prevailed -in the ranks that they were _en-route_ for Port Hudson. The prospect -of active field duty was hailed by every one with feelings of lively -satisfaction. After lying inactive in camp for nearly the whole term of -enlistment everybody thought the regiment was to see a little service -before going home, and perhaps taste powder in a different way than -by biting cartridges when loading for guard duty. These feelings were -dispelled on arriving at Lafayette Square, where the regiment was -ordered to take possession of the Ninth Connecticut Infantry camp and -to do provost duty in the city; a few days after joined by a detachment -Twenty-Eighth Maine Infantry, from Camp Parapet. - -All convalescent men and stragglers in the city capable of bearing arms -were collected together and made ready for duty in case of necessity. -Private instructions were given Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, by General -Emory, to have every available man in quarters ready for any emergency -at a moment’s notice. The regiment was kept so, for there could not -have been over five hundred soldiers in the city from the twenty-first -to the twenty-sixth. - -The city was remarkably quiet at this time. Movements of the troops -were made so quietly the citizens were not aware of what was going on. -There was no indication among the populace that the enemy were near, or -expected to get near. Some of them must have been aware of it, but gave -no outward sign. - -When the enemy ceased to seriously menace New Orleans, on the -twenty-sixth, most of the troops at Boutee Station, on the Opelousas -Railroad, returned to the city, including a part of the detachment -Forty-Second, in command of Lieutenant Tinkham, and the Ninth -Connecticut Volunteers. They brought with them a small number of Texan -prisoners, who looked more like Mexicans than Americans. They looked -clean, were well clothed in loose-fitting trousers and jackets of gray -cloth, with large, slouchy-looking, gray felt hats. Their blankets, -carried slung over the shoulder, were of the best quality, in fact, -better than those in use by men of the Forty-Second. The complexion of -these prisoners was quite dark, and they had a savage look in their -faces. - -Some slight disturbances, soon quieted, occurred between men of the -Ninth Connecticut and Forty-Second Massachusetts, growing out of -disputes as to who should occupy the tents in Lafayette Square. On this -occasion the Ninth Connecticut again behaved in a disgraceful manner, -more like rowdies and bullies than soldiers, and it appeared as though -the line officers had no control over their men. - -The Forty-Second marched back to its old camp-ground at Bayou -Gentilly, five miles in a hot sun, on the afternoon of June 27th. Camp -was put in order and arrangements made for a long stay, the picket-post -detachments rejoined their stations, when, the next morning, -twenty-eighth, orders were received, by a mounted orderly, to report -at once in the city at the Custom House and occupy quarters vacated by -the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts Infantry. The entire regiment, with the -exception of small detachments left on picket-stations, arrived at the -Custom House during the afternoon. - -This was a final farewell to Bayou Gentilly. The duty detachments left -behind on this second breaking up of this camp were: two sergeants, -four corporals and thirteen men of Company A, under Captain Coburn -(who was not in condition for field duty), on picket at Bayou St. -John; four sergeants, three corporals and thirty-four men of Company F -on picket at Lakeport; Private Rufus C. Greene, Company G, placed on -detached service June 25th, in command of picket-schooner _Hortense_; -a hospital-guard of one sergeant, two corporals, and eighteen men of -Company A. These picket-posts, the Gentilly Camp and paroled men were -under command of Major Stiles, then not well and unfit for active duty. -There were fifty-eight men under the surgeon’s care June 28th; twelve -were returned to duty, and there was left, when the regiment moved, -twenty-six men sick in hospital and twenty men sick in quarters. - -The accommodations for troops at the Custom House were not good, and -it seems a pity and a shame men were obliged to occupy such dark, damp -and feverish quarters for any length of time. No surgeon could sanction -the quartering of troops in the manner they were placed at this Custom -House, except under the most pressing circumstances. The men were -distributed in quarters, the guard of the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts -relieved, and by sunset the Forty-Second was in full possession of the -New Orleans Custom House, with regimental headquarters established in -a room formerly occupied by Major-General Butler. A few officers, who -did not like their quarters, provided for themselves elsewhere in the -neighborhood. This could not be tolerated at the time, owing to the -peculiar position of affairs; General Emory insisted on all officers -quartering with their men. - -At midnight, on the twenty-ninth, the long-roll called the regiment to -arms, and crossing Algiers Ferry to Algiers, a reconnoissance was made -for some miles to find the enemy’s cavalry, reported to be on the river -road below that town. None were found, or any traces of them, and at -eight o’clock A.M. next day the regiment was back in quarters -again. On this occasion Company C was thrown out in skirmishing order -to move down the road and over fields that bordered on a woody swamp, -and here they first discovered those watermelon patches which they -afterwards despoiled of the luscious fruit. That night march, who can -forget it? Awakened from a sound sleep, clothes and equipments put on -quick, ferried across to Algiers, and then marched down a lonely road -for several miles on a hunt for an imaginary foe. Lucky was the man -who wore his overcoat, for the air was damp and chilly, though it was -in June. Every sentry on guard at storehouses along the river front of -Algiers was dressed in his great-coat; experience had taught them to -fear the treacherous midnight air. - -An effort was made by General Banks to reënlist men from the nine -months’ troops for one, two, or three years, at their option. For some -reason it was not successful. From the Forty-Second the only man who -reënlisted was Musician Bernard McKenna, Company C, who was discharged -May 25th to reënlist as a bugler in the Twenty-Sixth New York Battery. -The same date, Lewis Eddy, drummer in Company D, was discharged by -Department orders, and returned home. - -In connection with this reënlistment attempt, more men from the -Forty-Second would have done so but were unable, on account of -disqualifications or irregularity on the part of recruiting officers. -Privates Diomede Roseline, Company G, Luigi Briana, Company D, and John -Brown, Company G, offered to enlist in a battalion called the First -Louisiana Sharpshooters. Roseline and Brown were under parole and could -not do so until duly exchanged, and Briana was not a member of the -regiment. Somebody had given an _alias_ to Captain Salla, commanding -the First Louisiana; who it was could not be ascertained. Privates -Charles Slattery and George Ward, Company C, were claimed by Lieutenant -Whitaker, Second Rhode Island Cavalry, as having reënlisted in that -regiment, but they changed their minds before they could be mustered in. - -At the close of June there was present for duty in New Orleans, twelve -officers and three hundred and eighty-two men. Sick in hospital and -quarters, five officers and forty-six men. Twenty-nine of the men were -in the regimental hospital at Bayou Gentilly. The officers sick and not -on duty were: Adjutant Davis, Captain Cook, Company B, Captain Emerson, -Company E, and Lieutenant Tinkham, Company B. Adjutant Davis was absent -from June 25th to July 9th; Lieutenant Powers, who was relieved from -charge of the paroled camp by Major Stiles, acted as adjutant during -that time. - -The average sick per day for the month had been: taken sick, five; -returned to duty, four; sick in hospital, twenty-one; sick in quarters, -thirteen. - -The extra-duty details for June were: - -June 8th--Sergeant T. M. Turner, Company B, and Sergeant George Bell, -Company C, as color-bearers. - -June 8th--Privates Everett A. Denny, Company E, and John A. Paige, -Company B, as clerks at headquarters Defences of New Orleans. Private -Paige returned to his company for duty June 26th. - -June 14th--Corporal Alfred Thayer was made chief-wagoner, _vice_ -Wagoner John Willy, Company B, ordered to his company. Private George -A. Davis, Company D, on duty in Company E, was made wagoner. Private -Warren A. Clark, Company B, was made wagoner. - -The deaths in June were: - -June 5th--Private Nelson Wright, Company E, typhoid fever. - -June 13th--Private Buckley Waters, Company E, chronic diarrhœa. - -June 19th--Private Lewis E. Wales, Company B, typhoid fever. - -June 30th--Private Benjamin Gould, Company G, congestion of the brain. - -The case of Private Waters was not considered fatal up to the time of -his death. The surgeons were inclined to think he was suffering more -from home-sickness than disease. He died quietly in the evening, as the -glee club, composed of Sergeant Hunt, Company I, Sergeant Waterman, -Company D, Quartermaster Burrell, and Lieutenant Powers, Company F, -were singing an appropriate song in the headquarters office, adjoining -the hospital ward. They did not know that Waters was dying, and when -the nurse asked some one in the ward to stop it Waters requested them -not to do so, as he preferred to listen to the song. - -Notwithstanding the general orders issued April 24th by General -Sherman, to prevent sending North bodies of deceased persons until -after decomposition had ceased, in order to prevent any quarantine to -Government vessels, the bodies of Privates Nelson Wright and Lewis E. -Wales were prepared and partially embalmed by the regimental surgeons -for transportation home. - -The operation was performed in the rear of the hospital, a guard being -posted to prevent men from coming near who had curiosity to witness it. -The skin upon the chest was first cut, and after removing a small bone -in the upper part was laid back upon each side a sufficient distance -for work. Interior parts of the chest were then taken out and examined, -followed by removing the bowels; the vacant space thus left was filled -with charcoal, the skin replaced and sewed together. The body was then -packed in liquor, with the heart separate, and was ready to be sent -home. The parts of bodies removed were properly buried. This process is -similar to that of dressing cattle for market. - -Private Wright, according to the surgeons’ testimony who examined his -lungs, could not have lived much more than a year longer, as they were -diseased. - -Of those men who were curious to witness these operations, some would -stand, eyes wide open, with no evidence of any feeling more than -of wonder that the surgeons could handle their knives with so much -composure; others would evince so much interest and desire to get near, -in order to learn such secrets of the human system as they could, that -they troubled the guards; while others had a look of sorrow on their -countenances, and after a short stay would saunter slowly away in deep -thought. No man knew whether he would or not be treated in the same -manner in case he sickened and died. - -Bodies sent home were invariably escorted a certain distance from camp -by the regular Guard of Honor detail, according to the rank held -by the deceased, with arms reversed, followed by the regiment with -side arms, as mourners, the band playing a dirge. On arrival at the -prescribed distance three volleys were fired over the remains, when -the regiment marched back to camp, while the body was carried to New -Orleans in an ambulance, attended by a few members of the company to -which the deceased belonged, and put aboard some steamer for New York. -In all such cases burial service was held in front of the hospital, in -presence of the regiment. - -The dead that were buried near camp were escorted to the grave, and -burial service held there. After the service all passed around the -coffin to take a last look of the remains before committal to the -earth. Burials were solemn occasions, and it was plain to see such -scenes were not without some influence on the men. He must be a -hardened man who can gaze upon the remains of a departed comrade, -perhaps a few weeks and sometimes only days before as full of life -and hope as himself, but now cold, rigid and at rest, without some -mysterious sensation creeping over him. The chances were that any one -was as likely in a short time to be an inhabitant of the same ground as -the one just buried. - -All coffins were made of pine board, painted a dark brown color, filled -with shavings on which to rest the body. They were very good for the -kind, and answered the purpose for which they were intended. Each -grave was marked with a head-board, on which was inscribed the name of -deceased, rank, company, regiment, age, and time of death. - -Privates John H. Cary, Benjamin Gould, and Sergeant Philip P. Hackett, -of Company G, Private Buckley Waters, Company E, Private Rufus G. -Hildreth, Company C, and Private Thomas J. Clements, Company H, were -buried at Bayou Gentilly. Their graves were situated near three large -oak trees, between them and the swamp, at the end of the Gentilly -race-course, looking towards it from the Ponchartrain Railroad. Some -three or four soldiers of a native guard regiment (Union colored -troops) were also buried at the same spot. - -Chaplain Sanger officiated at these burial services. His remarks -were generally to the point and well delivered. A brief resume of -the deceased soldier’s life, as far as known, was usually given, and -a prayer offered for his relations. The chaplain always attended to -notifying relations of their loss, forwarding the personal effects, any -rings or valuables, together with locks of hair taken from the person -before burial. This duty was done well and conscientiously. It is not -pleasant, however, to record that Chaplain Sanger was not popular with -the command. A feeling was first manifested by the Galveston prisoners, -and by them communicated to the rest of the regiment. The only reason -for this, so far as could be ascertained, was that they did not like -his behavior when the prisoners were marched from Texas to the Union -lines. They accused him of neglect to their sick and suffering when he -should have at least tried to do something for them; of currying favor -with the Confederate officers in such a manner to lead them to suppose -he was deficient in manly bearing. - -On this march Chaplain Sanger was sick with diarrhœa, and remained so -for some time after reaching regimental headquarters, a fact sufficient -to account for any lack of energy he did display. He always spoke well -of the men, was anxious to do for their good and to gain their esteem. -That he did not do so was a misfortune for both. Many regarded the -chaplain as ranking among some of the best that left Massachusetts. -Except a rather quick temper, his personal behavior was in keeping with -his profession. - -Private William F. Lacount, Company F, a hospital nurse, acted as -chaplain on Sundays from the time the regiment arrived in Louisiana, -in December, until Chaplain Sanger returned with the paroled men, -afterwards conducting divine service on the Sabbath at the paroled -camp; the chaplain officiating at the regimental camp. It was thought -proper to have these separate services on account of the feeling -prevalent. Private Lacount deserves much credit, more than he -received, for the able and intelligent manner in which he performed -these volunteer duties. He displayed a true Christian spirit and was -satisfied in doing good. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -BRASHEAR CITY. - -ON ACTIVE SERVICE--ACTION OF JUNE TWENTY-THIRD--CAPTURED--PAROLED -AND RETURNED TO ALGIERS. - - -Colonel Cahill, Ninth Connecticut Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, -Second Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, issued, June 9th, 1863, Special -Orders No. 97, for Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman to have Company B, with -details from other companies sufficient to make the full strength three -officers and one hundred men, with one day’s cooked rations in the -haversacks and at least forty rounds of ammunition to each man, proceed -at once to Algiers and report to Captain Schenck, ordnance officer -at the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad depot, for -transportation to Brashear City, and there report to Lieutenant-Colonel -Stickney, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts Infantry, commanding the post. - -Regimental Special Orders No. 107 were immediately issued, detailing -Sergeant Charles L. Truchon, Corporal Francis N. Luce and eighteen -privates of Company E, Corporals Charles M. Marden, ---- Smith and -twenty-three privates of Company H, Corporal John F. Cushing and eleven -privates of Company A, to report to Captain Cook, commanding Company B. -The lieutenants who accompanied the detachment were First-Lieutenant -Benjamin C. Tinkham and Second-Lieutenant Joseph C. Clifford, both of -Company B. - -In heavy marching order this detachment left Gentilly Camp about -half-past two o’clock the same afternoon orders were issued, and took -the train for New Orleans, proceeding at once to Algiers, where a train -made up of box and platform cars carried the men to Brashear City. -They started about five o’clock and arrived about midnight, after a -tiresome ride of eighty miles. In passing through New Orleans to the -Algiers Ferry suspicious actions of two privates in the detachment were -noticed, and Sergeant T. M. Turner, Company B, was ordered to keep in -the rear and watch them, to prevent their desertion, an object they -evidently had in view. - -When General Banks made his first campaign through the Teche country -towards Red River, in April and May, 1863, a garrison was left at -Brashear City, and Berwick on the opposite side of the Atchafalaya -River; Colonel Walker, Fourth Massachusetts Infantry, in command of the -post, with his own regiment, and the Sixteenth New Hampshire Infantry -forming a part of the garrison. The post was a base of supplies for the -army in the field, and contained general hospitals to relieve the field -hospitals of sick and wounded men, who are always sent to the rear as -fast as possible. Naturally, a large amount of army material would -accumulate at such a post. - -From Algiers to La-Fourche the posts upon the railroad line were -occupied by the Twenty-Third Connecticut Infantry, and the posts -from Terrebonne to Brashear were in charge of the One Hundred and -Seventy-Sixth New York Infantry. - -All was quiet at these various posts until the latter part of May, -the detachments on duty having what soldiers call “a soft thing.” On -the twenty-first of May Colonel Chickering, commanding Forty-First -Massachusetts Infantry, and other troops, convoying an immense train -of six hundred wagons, three thousand horses and mules, one thousand -five hundred head of cattle, with six thousand negro camp followers, -who expected to locate on Government plantations in La-Fourche and -adjoining parishes, left Barre’s Landing at daybreak on the march for -Berwick, where he arrived May 26th, closely followed by the Confederate -forces operating under the command of Major-General “Dick” Taylor. By -the thirtieth all of this force under Colonel Chickering had proceeded -to Port Hudson, including the Fourth Massachusetts and Sixteenth -New Hampshire Regiments. On June 1st Colonel Holmes, Twenty-Third -Connecticut, assumed command of Brashear City, with portions of his -own regiment and that of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York in -occupancy of the post. - -In a few days Colonel Holmes was taken sick, and, as Colonel Nott, One -Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, was also sick, the command fell -to Lieutenant-Colonel ----, Twenty-Third Connecticut. He, frightened -by the situation of affairs and deficient in nerve, was relieved by -General Emory, who sent Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney from New Orleans -to take command. Stickney was on detached service from his regiment, -having been made inspector-general of the Defences of New Orleans June -6th, with orders to commence a thorough inspection of convalescent and -other camps. - -The troops on duty in Brashear under Stickney comprised detachments -from the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, Twenty-Third -Connecticut and Forty-Second Massachusetts Infantry, Twenty-First -Indiana Artillery, one company of the Corps de’Afrique (colored -troops), and various cavalry squads, in all about six hundred effective -men. Adjutant Whiting, Twenty-Third Connecticut, was post-adjutant; -Quartermaster Kimball, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, -post-quartermaster; Lieutenant Kinsley, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts, -was serving as an aide-de-camp. - -The post hospital contained many sick and wounded soldiers, who were -removed to New Orleans when able to undergo the journey. At one time -near one thousand convalescent soldiers, capable of bearing arms in -an emergency, were in camp at Brashear. A large amount of baggage, -commissary, quartermaster and medical stores, cannon, arms and -ammunition was stored in various buildings and places. Part of the -baggage and stores was removed to Algiers previous to June 21st. - -Passing the night of their arrival in bivouac about the depot, next -day the detachment was ordered by Stickney to quarter in the depot -building, and do picket duty upon the railroad line and guard a water -tank used by locomotives of the road. Excursions across the river to -Berwick were in order almost every day, to drive out cavalry scouts of -the enemy and obtain cattle. The enemy always returned when the way was -clear for them to do so, and an exchange of shots across the river was -of frequent occurrence. The weather was extremely hot. There was some -movement made by the troops each day, with guard, patrol and picket -duty to be done at night. Mosquitos were thick and blood-thirsty enough -to cause refreshing sleep to be an impossibility. With difficulty could -food be obtained to serve out with any semblance of regularity. Food -was plenty, but there was no system in delivering rations. The men were -gradually becoming worn out. - -The time and energy of all troops at the post was frittered away in -this manner without any good accruing from it; instead of devoting -the same time and labor to what was absolutely needed, _i. e._, to -prepare defences for use in case of emergency, with plenty of idle -convalescent men at hand capable of rendering assistance, besides a -large number of negroes whose labor could be utilized. No intelligent -attempt was made to organize the convalescent men for service, or to -render efficient a number of field-guns that were in Brashear, posted -on the river front. - -The enemy was active in an annoying sort of way across the river, -on the Berwick side, after it had been abandoned by troops of the -garrison, and on the line of the Atchafalaya River. Danger of an -attack existed from the first day of June.[10] The officers of the -Forty-Second detachment soon learned from various sources that the -situation was rather ticklish. Even privates came into possession of -information, from the many negroes in and around Brashear, that the -enemy was up to mischief, and trying to get in between Brashear and New -Orleans, upon the line of railroad. - -[10] The official report of General Banks mentions the fact that the -officials at Brashear City were fully warned of danger, by orders, -and the disaster was due to the carelessness and disobedience of -subordinates. General Emory sent word by a steamer (after the telegraph -line was severed) to hold out to the last. The place was captured -before this steamer could arrive. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney was not a man calculated to inspire -confidence as to his military abilities. He had a habit of riding -around, often alone, to give verbal orders for all sorts of petty -things, and to find fault with trifles. As to perfecting the -organization of what troops he had, or establishing any system out of -the chaos that existed, there seems to be but one verdict from those on -duty under him. He did nothing. No one knew what the position of other -bodies of troops would be in case of an attack; no one knew what was -expected or required to be done in case the enemy appeared. No one knew -where to expect support in case of need, or to whom or how to render -such support if wanted. Lieutenant Tinkham reports that there did not -seem to be a head to anything. First-Sergeant Ballou reports that most -of his time was occupied in finding food for the detachment, and that -it appeared to him as though the Forty-Second were visitors who had -remained too long, but did not leave because there was no one to tell -them to go. The testimony of all the observing men is of a like nature. - -All the various detachments on duty had no knowledge of each other, -were acting without concert, had never before co-operated, were -entirely destitute of _esprit de corps_, while a half-regiment on duty -would have had all of these essentials, so requisite to a body of men -expected to defend an important post in daily danger of an attack. -It would be safe to say, not in a boastful spirit, had the four or -six companies of the Forty-Second Regiment, in camp at Bayou Gentilly -and at the posts on Lake Ponchartrain, been at Brashear, that place -would not have been lost without a fight of some duration. Under their -own officers, the companies well acquainted with each other and of -excellent material, cohesion and confidence would have existed, that -made a gallant stand not only possible but almost certain. When Sir -John Moore organized and disciplined the British army at Shorncliffe, -it was on the basis of the regimental system. The object of this system -was to make each regiment a living unit, by making officers and men -thoroughly acquainted with each other. This engenders a feeling of -close comradeship which is exemplified even now in the many regimental -reunions that annually take place, where old times are revived and -talked over without regard to present station in life. - -The Forty-Second Regiment, since the days of Readville Camp, had shown -on several occasions this feeling of comradeship. The men knew their -officers (some of those officers better than they knew themselves), -and with the companies at Gentilly Bayou were officers who had only -to say what they wanted done, when the men would have done it without -hesitation or fear. - -Under the circumstances, as they existed, the congregation of troops at -Brashear could not be expected to have done any better than they did. - -June 14th Captain Cook obtained sick leave, and returned to the -regiment at Bayou Gentilly. The men said, “his boots hurt him.” This -hit can be appreciated by those who remember the elaborate high-top -boots the captain was wont to wear. June 18th Lieutenant Clifford and -a few enlisted men did the same thing. Lieutenant Clifford suggested -to Lieutenant Tinkham how easily he could obtain sick leave also, if -he desired; but Tinkham refused to entertain such an idea, preferring -to stand by his men, and remained, the only commissioned officer with -the detachment. The same day Clifford left, Sergeant Albert L. Clark, -Company B, then at Gentilly, was ordered to his company at Brashear. In -view of what subsequently happened, it seems a pity that two officers -from the regiment of sound judgment and undoubted courage were not -ordered to Brashear also. - -The most extended scout in which any part of the detachment -participated was on June 17th, when the steamer _Kepper_ and gunboat -_Hollyhock_, three guns, which had arrived on the sixteenth, carried a -company One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, a few cavalry, and a -detachment Forty-Second Massachusetts, under Lieutenant Clifford, the -entire force in command of a captain, One Hundred Seventy-Sixth New -York, for a trip up the Bayou Teche to Pattersonville, on a foraging -expedition. This expedition started at four o’clock in the morning. On -landing, a skirmish line was formed and marched inland from the bayou. -The line was then swung around in half-circle form, driving in all live -stock that was found, aggregating some one hundred head of horses, -mules, and cattle of all kinds. The day was, as usual, extremely hot, -and when they arrived on the bayou the cattle were allowed a rest -previous to attempting to make them take the water and be swum across. -When a large bull had been caught, and by aid of boat and rope pulled -into the water, with an encouraging prospect that the rest would -follow, word was given by a lookout on the _Hollyhock_, “the enemy’s -cavalry are coming!” The usual exaggerated stories were afloat at once. -The report gained credence that their force was five thousand strong. -A cool head would have known better. As a matter of fact the enemy -was not over one hundred strong, probably nearer fifty men, while the -Federals numbered about one hundred and fifty men. - -Ordered to cease work, the troops hastened on board the _Kepper_, -leaving the cattle to roam back to their homes and be picked up by -the planters, who had followed the troops, protesting against taking -their stock, for they were good Union men; at the same time they -undoubtedly conveyed word to the enemy of what was going on. On arrival -at Brashear, about five o’clock in the afternoon, it was found that -quite a number of men were missing. The _Kepper_ took aboard two guns, -as an addition to her small armament, and volunteers were called for, -to go back as a guard and assist in finding the stragglers. Tired and -hungry as they were, without food all day (rations had not been carried -in haversacks), volunteers were numerous. Going back a few miles, an -exchange of shots with the enemy’s cavalry took place. The infantry -upon the _Kepper_ fired away most of their ammunition without doing -any execution, because the Confederate cavalry kept at a respectful -distance. A hail from the right bank of the river disclosed all of the -stragglers, about twenty and mostly New York men, who were taken on -board. - -On the way back to Brashear a sad accident happened to a private of the -New York company, who was leaning upon his rifle, when it was by some -accident discharged; the ball entered his head, causing instant death. -There were no other casualties during the day, unless what happened to -Corporal Lowery, of Company B, can be so called. The corporal was out -with a forage party when they came to a high board fence, and instead -of lending a hand to break it down he chose to jump over at a place -that was rather low, to land on the other side in a bee-hive. The bees -stung him badly before he could get away from them. It was sport for -lookers-on, but no fun for the corporal. - -On the morning of the twentieth, shortly after midnight, Sergeant -Ballou with twenty men was sent upon the gunboat _Hollyhock_ to assist -in obtaining and removing three heavy cannon that were in battery upon -an island in the river, some few miles below Brashear City, where -an earthwork had been constructed named Fort Chene, garrisoned by a -detachment of the Twenty-First Indiana Artillery, under Lieutenant -Sherfy, and one company, about thirty men, of the One Hundred and -Seventy-Sixth New York, under Lieutenant Kerby. It was understood that, -by orders of Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney, the fort was to be evacuated -and destroyed, and the garrison, with the cannon, was to proceed to -Bayou Bœuff. - -Lieutenant Tinkham, with all the business on his hands that one man -would care to undertake, had not been able to obtain any sleep for many -hours, and had just lain down to take some needed rest, immediately -after the detail of men for the gunboat had started, when a train of -cars was run into the depot. Thinking it strange, with his curiosity -aroused to learn what was taking place, caused him to remain wide awake -while the rest of his men slumbered. Very soon after detachments of -the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York and Twenty-Third Connecticut -Infantry, without music, quietly filed into the depot in light marching -order. Still watching what was going on, Stickney approached and wanted -to know why the men of the Forty-Second were not ready to board the -train. No orders had been received to that effect from any source, -and so Tinkham informed him. Stickney disputed this, and curtly gave -the detachment a limited number of minutes to get ready. The time -was extremely short, and without rations the lieutenant with about -fifty men, all there was with him at the time, took the train and -left Brashear City for La-Fourche. Orders were left with the sentries -on duty for Sergeant Ballou to follow as soon as possible with the -balance of the detachment. General Emory had telegraphed from New -Orleans for Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney, with all of his available -force, to proceed to La-Fourche, as the enemy might attempt to sever -communications. - -The departure of Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney left Major Anthony, -Second Rhode Island Cavalry, in command of the post. It seems that -Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney, for some trivial matter, had placed -Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne, commanding One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth -New York, under arrest on the sixteenth, but had released him from -arrest on the evening of the eighteenth, with an understanding that -Duganne would report for duty in a few days, that officer pleading -illness as a reason for not returning to duty immediately. Abruptly -ordered away at midnight, before Duganne was on duty, caused Stickney -to place the post in command of Major Anthony, the next senior officer -fit for duty in Brashear. This should not have prevented Duganne, by -virtue of his senior rank, assuming command the next day, twentieth, -when he returned to duty. Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne was in command -of troops in the garrison; Major Anthony was not. Even if Duganne had -done so, that any prompt measures for defence, backed up by pluck and -determination, would have been attempted is very doubtful. The defence -of Bayou Bœuff by this officer answers the doubt. - -Major Anthony did not possess the qualities to make a successful -soldier. There were line officers in the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth -New York, on duty under him, more competent to assume command. A -good idea of the kind of soldier Major Anthony was is afforded by an -incident that occurred on a scout made on the Berwick side. Some of the -Forty-Second detachment on this scout, under Captain Cook, inclined -to have some fun out of it, on the sly would dig the pigs in their -vicinity, that were running around loose, with the points of their -bayonets, causing them to give an occasional squeal. To this amusement -the major took exceptions, and because Captain Cook could not detect -men in the act, or cause them to stop, he was threatened with arrest by -the gallant major. - -What did it matter if a few pigs were touched up with bayonets? there -was work to do of more importance than to fret and fume over a thing so -insignificant; but so it was with the post-commanders at Brashear in -June, 1863. Instead of bending their energies and giving their time and -thought to the critical situation of affairs, they preferred and did do -nothing but put on airs about trifles. - -Sergeant Ballou, with his men, arrived at the depot from Fort Chene -about daylight with the guns. The guard, about twenty men under -Sergeant Turner, that had been sent out early on the morning of the -nineteenth for twenty-four hours duty at the water tank, situated -nearly a mile from the depot upon the railroad line, came in about the -same time. The men were mustered and found to number forty-five. - -Everything had the appearance that morning of an intention to vacate -Brashear. The remaining cars, about fifty, mostly box cars, were made -up into a train, with half of them loaded with stores of all kinds, the -other half occupied by all of the men who could go. With the locomotive -_La-Fourche_ attached, it was about four o’clock in the afternoon when -a start was made. Upon stopping at Bayou Bœuff, seven miles out, the -rumor was current there, among the troops and people, that the force -which left Brashear early that morning had been taken prisoners at -La-Fourche, the track torn up, and the enemy waiting for the next train -to come along. The train was run some thirteen miles further and then -stopped near Chucahoula by some whites and blacks, who signalled the -engineer. - -As previously instructed, on coming to a stop, one-half of the -troops formed upon each side of the train and awaited orders. No -reconnoissance was made. A Captain Bailey, deputy provost-marshal at -Houma, had arrived at Brashear during the day and reported “rebs” upon -the road between Houma and Tigerville. This report was undoubtedly -true, for the enemy scouted continually upon all of the roads in -La-Fourche Parish; still an armed reconnoissance by the troops might -have developed a fighting chance to get through by a bold dash. As it -was, no enemy was seen, although they may have been in ambush. Most of -the soldiers were chagrined at going back without an attempt to push -through to La-Fourche Crossing, eight miles further on. Telegraphic -communication had been severed between Brashear and La-Fourche during -the day, and the report that a rebel battery and cavalry commanded -the track was accepted as gospel truth by some of the officers, and -in a short time the train was ran back slowly to Brashear, arriving -about ten o’clock the same evening. The Forty-Second detachment again -occupied the depot building, without orders from any source. - -Berwick City was shelled, set on fire, and partially destroyed by -the gunboat _Hollyhock_ during the afternoon, after the train left -Brashear. The light of burning buildings was visible to those upon the -train as they were returning. It is supposed that the gunboat commander -considered the evacuation completed when the train started, and that -it would run through without any trouble; then shelling Berwick, in -retaliation for the annoyance from there by the enemy, and taking on -board a few officers and men, had steamed down the river out of the -enemy’s range and there remained to watch further Confederate movements. - -A heavy rain-storm set in the next day, Sunday, June 21st, in the -afternoon, continuing that day and all night. Some of the negroes -were armed, equipped, and organized into a company, by a few of the -non-commissioned officers of the Forty-Second detachment. Late in the -afternoon Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne collected all the men of his -regiment he could and proceeded to Bayou Bœuff, in accordance with -an understanding with Major Anthony. Captain Hopkins, with a company -Twenty-Third Connecticut, was stationed at Bayou Ramos, six miles from -Brashear, to guard the railroad bridge. These dispositions appear to -have been foolishly made. They were thus strung seven miles out from -Brashear, without any food supply except what could be daily sent to -them by cars, instead of concentrating at Brashear, where danger -existed, and all of the necessary equipment was on hand for defence and -to subsist, if properly applied.[11] - -[11] Duganne, on his arrival at the Bœuff, received information from -Lieutenant Robens, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, who was -deputy provost-marshal at Tigerville, that a Union fugitive from -Alexandria had, on the preceding Thursday, informed him that General -Taylor, with fifteen thousand men (how figures do swell as they -travel), was moving down the Teche River for a movement upon New -Orleans. - -When Stickney left for La-Fourche with all of the troops not on -duty as guards, pickets, or were straggling, the force of duty men -left behind was quite small. When Duganne went to Bayou Bœuff, this -force was so reduced that there were in Brashear, on the morning of -the twenty-second, the convalescent soldiers, some colored troops, -about one hundred men of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York -Infantry and Twenty-First Indiana Artillery Regiments at Fort Buchanan, -forty-five men of the Forty-Second Massachusetts at the depot, and -various small squads of guards over property. The fort mounted ten -heavy siege-guns, for use on the water face only, commanding the rivers -Teche and Atchafalaya, from a point above the fort where they make a -junction. These guns were of no use whatever to repel a land attack, -as they could not be swung around. No attempt was ever made to throw -up breastworks to cover the open rear. The only guard against a rear -attack was to station pickets in the wooded swamp. - -During the twenty-second, the Forty-Second men subsisted as best they -could, appropriating provisions found in the depot and vicinity. No -orders from any officer were received by Sergeant Ballou, who was -in a quandary as to what he should do. The post-commandant had two -platform cars arranged with a barricade of railroad sleepers, with -two 12 Pr. howitzers mounted upon them. These cars were sent out late -in the morning, under command of Lieutenant Stevenson, One Hundred -and Seventy-Sixth New York, with a small force of infantry acting as -sharpshooters, to reconnoitre upon the railroad. This train returned -in about two hours, after proceeding to Terrebonne, three miles from -La-Fourche, where the enemy was found tearing up rails, and a few shots -exchanged with a battery commanding the track. - -About nine o’clock that night, Lieutenant Robens, One Hundred and -Seventy-Sixth New York, was sent by Duganne from Bayou Bœuff to report -to Major Anthony that a scout had brought in the intelligence of boats -seen crossing Lake Pelourde; a movement which threatened both Brashear -and the Bœuff, in the rear, but no steps were taken to meet it.[12] - -[12] The Confederates, under Major Hunter, started at six P.M. -on the twenty-second, in forty-eight skiffs and flats, from the mouth -of the Teche, up the Atchafalaya into Grand Lake, where oars were -muffled, and then a pull of about eight hours landed them in rear of -Brashear City. - -Near sunrise on the morning of the twenty-third the four-gun -Confederate (Valverde) battery opened fire from Berwick upon the depot -building, situated upon the river front with a wharf attached. A few -solid shot crashed through that structure, and some shells reached -the wharf and convalescent camp. The men under Sergeant Ballou turned -out promptly, attempting to silence the battery by opening fire from -the railroad wharf, but their Springfield smooth-bore guns would not -carry bullets across. The gunboat fired a few rounds and then proceeded -down the river without further effort to silence the battery. Some -Confederate riflemen, in support of the battery, joined in the fun, -blazing away lively, sending some shots well across the water (about -eight hundred yards), without inflicting any serious loss. Of the -Forty-Second, Sergeant Turner, Company B, had a bullet go through his -blouse sleeve at the elbow. An old iron 6 Pr. gun, which was mounted -upon the wharf, trained upon the Berwick side, was put into use without -effect. - -About an hour after this amusement commenced a few men of the One -Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York, under Lieutenant Stevenson, -commander of the provost-guard, hauled a 24 Pr. gun, from the river -front below, to the depot, and placed it into position, opening a fire -with shells, which soon caused the Confederate battery to limber up -and get out of the way. At this period there was a mixed assemblage -around the depot, composed, in part, of infantry men belonging to the -Forty-Second, yet Sergeant Ballou received no orders or instructions. -He was ignorant of how matters stood, or the positions of what -few troops remained at the post, and as to any knowledge if the -post-commandant was in existence an unborn child was as learned. - -Not long after this, about six o’clock, Privates Lovell and Redmond, -Company A, who were on their regular tour of duty watching the -surrounding country from the cupola of the depot building, saw the -Confederates dash out from the woods between Fort Buchanan and the -convalescent camp. Fort Buchanan was about two miles from the depot, -while the camp was about one-quarter of a mile away. Giving the alarm, -they joined their comrades below. In not over thirty minutes the enemy -was seen coming from the direction of the fort, while some of the -convalescent soldiers ran down from their camp at the same moment, -shouting: “the rebs are coming!” - -Major Sherod Hunter (of Baylor’s Texas Cavalry), with a small force -of three hundred and twenty-five Texans (picked men), had got in from -the swamps, situated in rear of the tented camps that were between the -depot and fort, meeting with a slight resistance. Hunter got through -about four o’clock A.M., when, on arrival in view of an -imposing display made by the tents of the convalescent camps and those -occupied by the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York and Twenty-Third -Connecticut, left standing when the men went to La-Fourche and the -Bœuff, with all of their baggage in them, including knapsacks, blankets -and extra clothing, his men fancied a large army was before them, and -fled back to the swamps from whence they came, but Hunter succeeded in -rallying them in season to make the attack as stated.[13] - -[13] Major Hunter does not mention this fact in his official report. -His men did say so, however, and it is the enlisted men who state facts -seldom found in official reports. All of the Confederate documents -relating to Brashear City, Bayou Bœuff and La-Fourche are an eulogy of -their own prowess. - -When the alarm by the lookout was given, Sergeant Ballou did not know -what to do. Neither himself or the detachment had been under fire at -close quarters. He thought of the train upon the track, loaded and -ready, to be moved to Algiers if an opportunity offered, but could -not find any matches handy with which to fire it. Then he thought of -deploying the men as skirmishers, hold the enemy in check, retreat -gradually, and try to escape capture. Not knowing the country, he -finally concluded to get his men into line upon the railroad track and -do the best he could with them. - -What defence was made by other troops seems to have been in the use -of artillery by small detachments, and scattered squads of infantry. -All of these isolated attempts to fight showed good pluck and courage, -a sure sign that if handled properly in a body it would not have -been a holiday affair for the enemy. Captain Cutter, One Hundred and -Seventy-Sixth New York, on the sick list and in hospital, was killed -while rallying men among the tents. The isolated squads of brave -fellows were soon put to flight. Major Anthony had been down to the -depot when the battery opened fire from Berwick, also Captain Noblett, -artillery commander at Fort Buchanan, but both started for the fort -when the dash was made from the woods. Major Anthony got there; Captain -Noblett had his horse shot, was dismounted, and sought refuge in the -hospital. Beyond an endeavor, crowned with success, to get a gun from -the fort into position to use upon the land side, and firing a few -shots, no defence was made by troops in the fort. Lieutenant Stevenson -and his men in charge of the 24 Pr. gun attempted to use it against the -enemy, but were shot down and captured. - -The Forty-Second detachment, with a number of other soldiers on duty, -also some convalescent men, took position in a small ditch alongside -the railroad track, behind box cars, while what colored troops were on -the right occupied the barricaded platform cars, and a few men were -left in the depot building to defend the door. - -The enemy skirmished up to within ten paces of the train; a skirmish -fire continued for about half an hour. On the Confederate side, their -firing was wild for a time, most of their shots going over the cars. -From the Federals the firing was also rather wild, but they managed -to do some execution, about forty of the enemy being killed and -wounded.[14] At the end of a half hour the colored troops suddenly -stampeded to the woods, the enemy got into the depot and around the -head of the train, opening a fire upon the flanks and rear. A few men -had fallen previous to this time, and now, under this cross-fire, they -commenced to drop quick, most of the casualties among convalescent men. - -[14] Hunter says he lost three killed, eighteen wounded. His orders -were to concentrate at the railroad buildings. He says the forts -made but a feeble resistance, and each column pressed on the point -of concentration. At the depot the fighting was severe, but of short -duration. He claims the Federals lost forty-six killed, forty wounded. - -In the absence of any orders, with no sign or hope of assistance, -Sergeant Ballou sang out: “Boys, take care of yourselves!” when the -men broke, some for the woods and swamp, a short distance away, a few -to fall back, under Sergeant Turner, maintaining a fire from behind -trees and buildings until they reached a saw-mill on the river, where -a number of unarmed sick and convalescent men had taken refuge to be -out of danger. Here an officer of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New -York with some men of that regiment were found, and a fusillade with -the enemy was kept up for some time. Two convalescent men were wounded -by this scattered fire, when the officer, who did not stand up to his -duty (preferring to lie down), raised a white handkerchief upon his -sword-point and surrendered the party about nine o’clock. - -Privates Redmond, Company A, and Albee, Company B, in company with a -few One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York soldiers, fell back to a -breastwork to make a further stand. As there was no possibility of -making a successful defence, and no way of escape except by swimming -the river, it was decided to surrender, in turn. A handkerchief was -raised by Albee, attached to his musket, from which the lock had been -shot off without his knowing it, and a surrender was made of this knot -of men. - -Private Lovell, Company A, and six men of the One Hundred and -Seventy-Sixth New York escaped in the only boat to be found at this -point, landing at Fort Chene, thence going aboard the gunboat. Lovell -jumped into the boat just as it was pulled off and nearly capsized the -party. Little Franklin Borden, fourteen years old, fifer for Company -B, who was on duty with the detachment, managed to get a small skiff -and also escaped to the gunboat. He was fired upon by Texans, shot -striking the water all around him, their only effect to cause the -little fellow to hurry up and get out of range as soon as possible and -to yell like an Indian. The eight men who escaped were put on board a -steam-transport from New Orleans that was met in the river, bound for -Brashear to assist in removing material of war, and were brought to New -Orleans. - -Before he ordered his men to take care of themselves, Sergeant Ballou -was severely wounded by a rifle-ball in the left arm, near the wrist, -and Private Cook received his fatal wound. Ballou asked Private George -Kingsbury, Company B, to assist him in binding up his arm, and while -doing so about twenty Texans made a rush upon them, with a demand for -their surrender. A Confederate lieutenant gave orders to shoot them -down, because there was a flag of truce displayed while the firing -continued. An appeal to Major Hunter was necessary to prevent this -barbarity, the sergeant not being aware of any flag of truce having -been raised, and informed the major that he did not raise one. This was -settled satisfactorily, and the few men left with Ballou were taken -prisoners. - -Corporal Fales, Company B, had noticed the flag of truce when it was -raised near the railroad wharf, by whom nobody knew, either at that -time or after. If it was not a trick of the enemy, famous at such -games in small actions, then it must have been done by some of the -other men on duty, or from convalescents who wished to surrender. In -either case it had no reference to or binding force upon the men who -had the courage to make a fight. Each knot of men act for themselves -in an action of this character. Fales spoke to Private Young, Company -B, saying: “It is foolish to stand where we are and be shot down or to -surrender with the flag of truce,” and both fell back behind a house -near by, from there ran into the woods and swamp, and were joined by -Privates Nathaniel Ide, David Robinson, George S. Rice, a private -of the Twenty-First Indiana, and a sergeant of the Twenty-Third -Connecticut. They endeavored to travel southward in the swamp, with -an idea of reaching Shell Island, expecting to be able to escape from -there towards Algiers. Their food gave out, and finally, after trying -to live upon uncooked green corn with salt pork, not daring to make a -fire, they surrendered to Colonel Baylor at Bayou Bœuff, on Sunday, the -twenty-eighth, after five days’ life in the swamp. About eleven men -escaped by the railroad track to Bayou Bœuff, and reported for duty to -Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne, commanding post. - -The casualties to the detachment were: - -Private Lawson Comey, Company H, twenty-five years old, shot in the -head and killed before the detachment scattered. - -Private William E. Cook, Company B, twenty years old, wounded in -abdomen, dying the same day. - -First-Sergeant George W. Ballou, Company B, severely wounded in left -arm just before the detachment scattered. - -Private George E. Clark, Company B, severely wounded in calf of left -leg. - -Several men had narrow escapes from wounds or death, for bullets grazed -clothing, muskets, and accoutrements. - -At Bayou Bœuff, on the morning of the twenty-fourth, Lieutenant-Colonel -Duganne found he had only seventy-two infantry and forty artillery -men for duty, instead of two hundred and fifty men with him the day -before. This does not speak well for the officers on duty, that over -one hundred men should have disappeared during the night. Everything -was entangled. When an engineer ran two locomotives into the Bœuff the -morning before, bringing news of the capture of Brashear City, and -men who had escaped capture came straggling in and corroborated the -engineer’s story, the post-commander made some preparatory measures -for a proper defence. He had three siege-guns and one brass howitzer. -Slight earthworks were thrown up. Captain Hopkins burned the bridge -at Bayou Ramos early on the evening of the twenty-third, and joined -Duganne with his men. The situation of the post was bad, with an enemy -in front and rear. An officer of experience and courage who, when his -determination was fixed to defend the post, had decision of character -sufficient to make the attempt, could possibly so arrange his plans of -defence as to enable him to have kept the enemy at bay for a few days -at least. The men were reliable, if under an officer in whom they had -confidence. The food supply was one day’s rations to each man, but -this could have been eked out to last two or three days, if any skill -had been applied. The ammunition was plenty for a proper defence. Many -times in the history of wars have small bodies of soldiers been placed -in worse positions, yet, by a heroic defence, saved themselves and -prevented the intentions of an enemy from being carried out. There was -no defence of Bayou Bœuff. The fact that relief was likely to come from -New Orleans was ignored. On the very day Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne -surrendered, a force of five companies Ninth Connecticut Infantry, -under Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzgibbons, advanced to Chucahoula in the -afternoon, within nine miles of the Bœuff, before a Confederate force -was met. Had Duganne kept them at bay for one day, letting his guns -tell the story, their reverberation along the narrow, densely-wooded -railroad line would have brought down upon them the whole Federal force -then at La-Fourche. - -Early on the morning of the twenty-fourth a council of officers was -held and decided to surrender. A sugar-house with outlying sheds, -filled with army supplies, officers’ baggage, arms, and military -appurtenances of all kinds, stored by some of the brigades of the -army, was burned during the evening of the twenty-third. The two -locomotives were rendered unfit for immediate use, but not destroyed. -What negroes had been armed to assist in the defence were disarmed, -that the enemy might have no reason to maltreat them. Some of these -negroes were excellent shots, anxious and ready to fight. - -Shortly after dawn the Confederates appeared from Brashear and opened -a parley. While debating whether to accept the terms of unconditional -surrender demanded, Colonel Major and his men appeared on the other -side; a parley was opened, Colonel Major crossing the railroad bridge -with a flag of truce, and while discussing the preliminaries of -surrender, before the truce was withdrawn, Major’s men got into the -post without a gun being fired, and the Federal troops were prisoners -before they knew it. The enemy appropriated everything, as usual, -and the prisoners were marched to Brashear the same day, joining -their comrades at Fort Buchanan the same night. To use an expression -frequently made by the enlisted men, it was a “sell out,” and they -expected it from the method adopted to organize and prepare for defence. - - * * * * * - -About two hundred and fifty enlisted men were taken prisoners at Bayou -Bœuff, and the following officers: - - Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Duganne, 176th New York. - Lieutenant Charles Kerby, “ - “ John F. Kimball, “ - Captain Julius Sanford, 23d Connecticut. - “ A. D. Hopkins, “ - “ Alfred Wells, “ - Lieutenant John F. Peck, “ - “ Charles D. Hurlbutt, 23d Connecticut. - “ John A. Woodward, “ - “ Frank Sherfy, 21st Indiana. - -The following officers were made prisoners at Brashear City: - - Major R. C. Anthony, 2d Rhode Island Cavalry. - Lieutenant Caleb Brennan, “ - Colonel Charles C. Nott, 176th New York. - Captain William P. Coe, “ - “ S. E. Thomason, “ - Lieutenant John Babcock, “ - “ David G. Wellington, “ - “ J. D. Fry, “ - “ J. P. Robens, “ - “ Daniel G. Gillette, “ - “ T. Foster Petrie, “ - “ Louis W. Stevenson, “ - “ Charles Sherman, “ - Captain F. W. Noblett, 21st Indiana. - “ Albert Allen, 1st U. S. Vols., “Corps d’Afrique.” - Lieutenant Charles E. Page, 4th U. S. Vols., “ - Captain S. G. Bailey, 23d Connecticut. - “ George S. Crofut, “ - “ James R. Jenkins, “ - Lieutenant O. H. Hibbard, “ - “ John G. Stevens, “ - “ Charles Bailey, “ - “ John W. Buckingham, “ - “ James DeLamater, 91st New York. - “ Charles Avery, 25th Connecticut. - “ George W. Hugg, “ - “ Henry W. Morse, 4th Massachusetts. - “ James M. Sampson, “ - “ Henry Humble, “ - Surgeon James Waldock, “ - “ David Hershy, 4th U. S. Volunteers. - “ A. J. Willets, 176th New York. - Assistant-Surgeon ---- Throop, 176th New York. - -After a full list of the prisoners was made up for parole, there was -found to be between twelve and thirteen hundred, including officers, -enlisted men on duty, sick and convalescent men, some few citizens, -and about one hundred railroad laborers. - - * * * * * - -The following men of the Forty-Second Regiment detachment were paroled: - - _Company A._ - - 1. Corporal John F. Cushing. - 2. Private Charles S. Redmond. - 3. Private James G. Raymond. - 4. Private George W. Tirrell. - 5. Private Charles S. Williams. - - _Company E._ - - 6. Corporal Francis N. Luce. - 7. Private Robert Whiteside. - 8. Private Francis T. Jones. - 9. Private David F. Cummings. - 10. Private John H. Hildreth. - 11. Private Patrick Fitzpatrick. - - _Company B._ - - 12. 1st Serg’t George W. Ballou. - 13. 2d “ Thaddeus M. Turner. - 14. 4th “ Frederick D. Morse. - 15. Corporal Henry J. Daniels. - 16. “ Silas E. Fales. - 17. Private Daniel Akley. - 18. “ Erastus Adams. - 19. “ D. Newton Blake. - 20. “ Albert E. Bullard. - 21. “ George E. Clark. - 22. “ Sewall J. Clark. - 23. “ Frank L. Fisher. - 24. “ George H. Fisher. - 25. “ Harrison E. Harwood. - 26. “ Nathaniel Ide. - 27. “ George A. Kingsbury. - 28. “ Charles M. Morris. - 29. “ George S. Rice. - 30. “ Henry S. Richardson. - 31. “ David Robinson. - 32. “ Orson D. Young. - 33. “ Albert Albee. - - _Company H._ - - 34. Private John Davis. - 35. “ James Healey. - 36. “ William A. Ragan. - 37. “ Calvin W. Woods. - 38. “ Lovett B. Hayden. - 39. “ Charles McLaughlin. - 40. “ John Barrett. - 41. “ Henry A. Watkins. - -And Private Joseph P. Snow, Company K, sick in hospital. - -After fighting at Brashear City was over the prisoners were collected -at Fort Buchanan and wounded sent to the hospital, where appearances -indicated that as many of the enemy were wounded as upon the Federal -side. The Confederate troops at once commenced to loot the town and -camps, and get drunk. The rank and file were a good-natured, motley -crowd, apparently without discipline or organization. After General -Taylor arrived (twenty-fourth) with the balance of his command, the -force was seen to be well mounted and armed, most of the men owning -their horses and equipments. The general understanding among them -was that each man was entitled to keep what he captured. No attempt -was made to maintain uniformity in dress or arms. Privates were seen -wearing the uniform of a Federal officer, with sword, belt and sash, -while officers were seen dressed in a red shirt and striped trowsers. - -Sergeant Turner got Major Hunter to allow him, with a guard for -protection, to look around the post and find the missing men of his -detachment. Visiting the hospital first, Private Cook was found laid -out upon the grass beside a dozen others, having died from his wound. -Sergeant Ballou was found back of the hospital, suffering great pain -from his wound. His blanket had been stolen, and he was very thirsty -and hungry. Turner obtained a blanket and did what he could for his -comfort. At the depot, where he expected to find the knapsacks, the -enemy’s troops were in force, and had seized everything left there. -In the village a few dead New York soldiers were to be seen and one -soldier of the Fourth Massachusetts, supposed to have been shot -down where they lay. Private George Clark was found at a house, in -comfortable condition, receiving good care from two pretty girls. They -were told to keep him there, and kept their promise to do so, baffling -all attempts made to take him to the hospital. - -On the way back to the fort a Confederate officer halted the party. -During a conversation that ensued he noticed the figures forty-two -on Turner’s cap, and inquired if he belonged to the Forty-Second -Massachusetts. Turner answered, “Yes;” the officer then said he was -present at the capture of Galveston with the Forty-Second Regiment; -that the men were paroled, and he would have to look into his case. It -was hard work to make the fool understand that only three companies -of the regiment were made prisoners at Galveston, and not the entire -regiment. - -Sergeant Ballou went to the hospital about ten o’clock in the forenoon -to have his arm looked after, and was informed that it was done up so -well he could wait better than other wounded men, for an amputation. -It was late in the afternoon and dark when the surgeon requested the -sergeant to get upon the table and have his arm taken off. A request -to save the arm, if possible, caused the surgeon to make another -examination, but he gave an opinion that it was impossible to save it. -Ballou, however, insisted upon making the attempt, and the surgeon -proceeded to its attention. He found about two and one-half inches of -the large bone in the wrist was shot away and the small bone broken. -With the cavity made by the wound stuffed with lint and bound up, -the suffering that night from pain endured by Ballou was terrible. -He fortunately found Surgeon Willets, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth -New York, the next morning, who carefully removed the lint bandage, -examined the wound, set the broken small bone, put on a board support, -and attended to it assiduously. Sergeant Ballou saved his arm and hand, -but the hand has never been of use to him. In refusing to submit to the -loss of his arm it is probable that he also saved his life, for with -one exception every man died who suffered amputation. Hot weather and -no ice to be had, gangrene would set in and the patients die. With the -exception of a short allowance of food, the wounded were well treated -while in the enemy’s hands. - -On Saturday, June 27th, the enlisted men having been paroled, searched, -and deprived of everything except what they wore, a haversack and -woollen blanket, started at five o’clock in the afternoon to march for -the Union lines. A curious feature in regard to prisoners taken at -Brashear is that no negro soldiers were among them. As no one saw or -heard of any cut-throat actions towards colored Federal soldiers, the -supposition would seem to be well founded that they all escaped capture -in some way through the wooded swamps. Sergeant Turner, on receiving -his parole, was complimented by an officer who represented the United -States forces, and thanked for what defence the detachment made. The -tenor of his remarks were, that if there had been a few more men like -those composing the Forty-Second detachment the shameful surprise, with -attendant consequences, would not have occurred. - -The following men were left at Brashear, not able to march: - -First-Sergeant George W. Ballou, Company B, wounded. - -Private George E. Clark, Company B, wounded. - -Private George H. Fisher, Company B, sick. - -Private Patrick Fitzpatrick, Company E, sick. - -Many convalescent and sick soldiers not able to march, but anxious -to reach the Federal lines, attempted to do so with their fellow -prisoners. They gave out day by day from sickness and fatigue, caused -by debility, hot weather, poor drinking-water, and insufficient -rations, to be left on the line of march all the way from Brashear to -New Orleans. Quite a number died. Many were in a condition to give -out any moment, but pluckily kept on and reached the lines. From the -Forty-Second detachment Privates Henry Richardson and George Kingsbury, -Company B, sickened, and had to be left at Thibodeaux. - -At first the Confederate guard was a company of Louisiana infantry, -soon relieved by a cavalry company of Colonel Baylor’s Rangers, because -the infantry could not keep up with the impatient prisoners. The guard -was kind in treatment of their charge, while under strict orders to -shoot down any man attempting to straggle or forage without permission. -As to rations, they fared no better than their prisoners, making an -equal division of what they had so long as it lasted. - -The route of march was upon the railroad road-bed which ran through -a swampy, thickly-wooded country a greater part of the way. The -atmosphere was stifling. The first night was passed at Bayou Ramos, -about six miles out from Brashear; the second night upon a plantation -beyond Bayou Bœuff, where Corporal Fales and five men came in -and surrendered. Starting at four o’clock on the morning of the -twenty-ninth, after a march of eighteen miles, the prisoners reached -Terrebonne, remaining over night. On the thirtieth they continued on -to Thibodeaux and beyond, to remain over night near the La-Fourche -railroad bridge. July 1st, after an early start in the morning, while -_en-route_, the men found the hospital in which was Private Woodman, -Company B, wounded in the action of June 21st. A halt for the night -was made at Raceland, midway between Brashear and Algiers. Very little -progress was made the next day as rations had given out, causing a -delay until provisions expected from Brashear should be forwarded; -meanwhile the men had to get along with what they could forage. -July 3d the Federal pickets were found just before reaching Boutte -Station--where the advanced troops were stationed charged with the -Defences of New Orleans--and the prisoners delivered over to Federal -officers. - -The Confederate guard attempted to play a sharp trick that night. After -turning over their prisoners, with a Texan yell they departed, but not -to go far, for they hung around until night, when they made a raid upon -the picket-posts. Their design had been suspected and the posts were -on the alert, prepared for them; the consequence was that instead of -capturing the posts many of them were made prisoners instead, and sent -to New Orleans, where they arrived before the paroled men whom they had -under guard from Brashear to Boutte. - -The duty performed by this Forty-Second detachment, with all the -necessary exposure attending it, told upon the men. On their return, -July 4th, to Algiers, where they were quartered in the Iron Works -building (a very dirty place), receiving poor treatment, most of them -were suffering from diarrhœa, dysentery, or chills and fever, some men -having a combination of these complaints. Efforts were at once made to -have the Forty-Second Regiment men sent to the paroled camp at Bayou -Gentilly, which was not accomplished until July 8th. - -Sergeant Ballou, with Privates Clark and Fisher, remained at Brashear -City five days after the Confederate troops departed, on July 22d, -when two Federal gunboats arrived. These men proceeded to New Orleans -by water, going into the University Hospital, and then reported to the -regiment at Algiers July 28th. - -With one dollar and forty cents in his pocket when made prisoner, -the sergeant was fortunately enabled to borrow twenty dollars from -a soldier of a Connecticut regiment. With this money he was able to -subsist until carried to New Orleans, securing board with a German -woman, who furnished him with one meal a day for twenty-five cents. -Several of the Texan troops took meals at her house, for which she made -them pay one dollar a meal. She claimed to be a good, true Unionist, -and was not at all backward in saying so. Unlike many of the so-called -Southern Unionists with whom the army often came in contact, this woman -was as outspoken before Confederates as she was before Federals. She -made no attempt to disguise her sentiments. - -At Brashear Sergeant Ballou had excellent opportunities to see what -was going on. Taylor and his men came down the river to Brashear in -five steamboats, except the artillery, which marched overland. They had -several batteries; one called the Valverde Battery they considered the -best equipped in the Confederate service. They were five days removing -contents of railroad cars and other material found at Brashear, -carrying the same across the river to Berwick, thence to their various -depots. The cars, when emptied, were ran about half a mile out upon the -track and set on fire. After the fire was well under way the locomotive -_La-Fourche_, under a full head of steam, was started from the depot -and ran into the burning train, jumping some ten feet in the air when -it struck. - -The spoils obtained by the enemy consisted of heavy cannon and -field-guns (about fifteen), small arms, ammunition, tents, baggage, -commissary and quartermaster stores, with large medical supplies of -great value to them. The colors of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth -New York Regiment were also lost. - -The gift of Brashear City to the enemy, with this valuable property, -was without an excuse. There is but one explanation of the failure to -properly defend the post: incompetency and cowardice of the senior -officers. A determined stand by half the number of the raiding force -under Major Hunter would have easily driven them back. Had the naval -vessel remained in the river to co-operate whenever an opportunity -offered Hunter would not have had easy work in forcing his men to make -the attack; many of them declared that if the gunboat had not moved -down the river they would not have attempted to get in. This may or may -not have proved to be the case. The Texans under Colonel Green, when -they attacked Donaldsonville upon the twenty-eighth, were not deterred -from it even with three gunboats present, but a defeat was given them -there, with severe loss to them. - -A repulse of the attack made by Hunter’s raiding party would have given -time to decide upon a course of action to be adopted before General -Taylor made his appearance. Had it been decided to evacuate, then the -train with its valuable load and other property in Brashear could have -been destroyed, the garrison, with all sick men able to be moved, could -have been taken by water to New Orleans, for ample facilities were at -Brashear. On Monday the _Hollyhock_ had brought around from Bayou Bœuff -a number of flatboats, which were added to those already at Brashear, -then there was the gunboat, the small ferry steamers used to ply across -from Brashear to Berwick, with the transport-steamer that was coming up -river on the morning of surrender. The flatboats were put in use by the -enemy to remove captured property. - -The entire force of duty men were nine months’ troops. They were -what are termed raw troops, with unseasoned officers. The freshness -of troops does not matter so much if they can be officered by men of -experience. What fresh troops need most, in action, is to be informed -of the situation of affairs, the location of other troops, and general -instructions as to what they have got to do, or what is expected of -them. Old troops soon acquire the art of finding out all this without -being told, understanding that the least danger lies in holding -together, face to the enemy, and that a stampede is running headlong -into danger. - -In consequence of the loss of medical stores in Brashear, the -medical purveyor’s stock became too small for army necessities, with -men rapidly swelling the sick lists and the hot weather in season. -To replenish supplies, the transport-steamer _New Brunswick_, a -light-draft side-wheeler, nine hundred and thirty tons burthen, manned -by a fine crew, was loaded with coal and despatched to New York in July -or August. Her captain had orders to drive her with all possible speed -and spare nothing in order to make a quick passage North, and return. -Fortunately good weather prevailed, with the exception of a stiff -blow off Hatteras and a short gale on the return trip. This transport -made what was then called “the famous passage.” The exact time is now -lost, but it was between six and seven days. Everything on board that -could be utilized was used for fuel; her chief-engineer, Wesley Allen, -to whom the credit is due for her quick passages, although he had as -assistants two efficient men, stood by his engines almost the entire -time, pushing the wheels to twenty-two revolutions a minute, and so -maintained them. They ordinarily made from seventeen to nineteen. Allen -is said to have slept not more than twenty hours on each passage. He -fully understood that many lives could be saved by each day gained, and -was a man, every inch of him. - -The _New Brunswick_ arrived at New York early one morning, was loaded -with medical and hospital stores the same day, and at night was on -her way back to New Orleans, passing a mail steamer at Sandy Hook, -bound in, that she parted company with and left at the Passes of the -Mississippi River. Coal and stores were rushed on board with a run. -Coal was dumped upon the open deck forward, instead of wasting time -to fill up her hold. Fires were not drawn from the boilers, and they -only had the water blown out while fresh water ran in. No time was -lost in fancy oiling of machinery, for it was slapped on without regard -to appearances, in order that no part should become heated. Among the -firemen life below deck was a hard lot, as her blowers were never -turned off from the boiler fires. - -The round trip was made in a little less than two weeks, ruining her -boilers in so doing. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -ACTION AT LA-FOURCHE CROSSING. - - -About six o’clock Saturday morning, twentieth June, 1863, the train -which left Brashear City for La-Fourche a few hours before, arrived at -the railroad bridge crossing Bayou La-Fourche, twenty-eight miles from -Brashear, fifty-two miles from Algiers, then a suburb of New Orleans, -upon the west bank of the Mississippi River. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney had under his command on the train: -one hundred and fifteen men One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York -Infantry, Major Morgans in command; seventy-five men Twenty-Third -Connecticut Infantry, Major Miller in command; forty-six men -Forty-Second Massachusetts Infantry, Lieutenant Tinkham in command; -and two pieces of artillery, a 6 Pr. gun and a 12 Pr. howitzer. This -force was in light marching order, having left at Brashear City all -knapsacks, extra clothing, and many of them their blankets. - -There was posted at Terrebonne and La-Fourche, guarding the railroad -bridge, a force of about two hundred and fifty men with one 12 Pr. gun -and one 12 Pr. howitzer. This force, joined with the reënforcements -from Brashear, made Stickney’s command about five hundred and two men, -as follows: -- companies, one hundred and ninety-five men, Twenty-Third -Connecticut Infantry; -- companies, one hundred and fifty-four men, One -Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York Infantry; one company, forty-six -men, Forty-Second Massachusetts Infantry; one company, thirty-seven -men, Twenty-Sixth Maine Infantry, under Captain Fletcher; one company, -fifty men, First Louisiana Cavalry, under Captain Blober; and about -twenty artillery-men, mostly from the Twenty-First Indiana Artillery. - -Upon disembarking from the train, the commanding officer of the -post appeared to be much surprised at this appearance of additional -troops, and asked what was to be done. When informed that the post was -threatened by the enemy he laughed heartily, and told Stickney no enemy -had been seen around there for six months. - -Captain Blober, on his return from a scout made the day before, ordered -by Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney by telegraph from Brashear, reported no -signs whatever of any force on the Bayou La-Fourche. Blober, ordered -to be sure and scout as far as Napoleonville, and beyond if possible, -only proceeded a mile or two beyond Labadieville, about twelve miles -from La-Fourche and nine miles from Thibodeaux. He reported that people -from Napoleonville _said_ no force was in that direction; the reason, -probably, why he did not carry out his orders. This company of the -First Louisiana Cavalry was composed of raw recruits, without much -drill or discipline. In his official report of the action Stickney -says: “Had their scouting been properly done, there was no necessity -whatever of the infantry force at Thibodeaux being captured.” - -Colonel Major[15] with three regiments of Confederate Texan mounted -men was at that very moment on his way down from Plaquemine--forty -miles from Thibodeaux--and could not have been many miles away. On the -nineteenth June General “Dick” Taylor was at the Fausse Riviere, an -ancient bed of the Mississippi, some miles west of the present channel -and opposite Port Hudson, in company with Colonel Major and his men. -He had heard from some ladies of his acquaintance there, recently from -New Orleans, that the Federal force in that city was not over one -thousand men, and with the exception of a small garrison in the fort at -Donaldsonville there were no troops on the west bank of the river. This -was not true. There was scattered in the Parish towns on the west bank -a respectable force of detached Federal troops on guard and provost -duty. Taylor ordered Major to proceed at once, for the express purpose -of reaching the rear of Brashear City by the twenty-third, and to pass -Plaquemine at night to escape observation. Major could not do this. His -men, hungry for spoils, raided into that town, capturing some prisoners -and burning two steamers. Lieutenant White, of the Forty-Second -Massachusetts, with his unarmed colored engineer troops barely escaped -capture at the time. - -[15] Colonel James P. Major commanded the Second Cavalry Brigade, -composed of mounted infantry, artillery and cavalry. His official -report, dated June 30th, 1863, does not give the strength of his -command, but enough is gleaned from it to know that he had regiments -commanded by Colonels W. P. Lane, B. W. Stone, and Joseph Phillip, -Colonel C. L. Pyron’s Second Texas Cavalry, and Captain O. J. Semmes’ -battery. - -Major captured Plaquemine June 18th, was at Bayou Goula at daylight on -the nineteenth, at dark sent a force under Colonel Lane through a swamp -direct to Thibodeaux, and at midnight followed with the rest of his -men, arriving at 3.30 A.M. on the twenty-first. The rest of -his report on this action does not agree with the facts. - -The men lay around carelessly until afternoon, as it was extremely hot -and nothing could be had to eat. Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney, when he -left Brashear, did not apprehend any attack on that place for some -days, and intended to return as soon as possible. Not hearing from -Captain Blober, who had again been ordered to scout and cover the -roads about Thibodeaux, about four o’clock he got ready to go back -to Brashear upon the same train that brought him. An order was given -Lieutenant Tinkham to remain at La-Fourche with his detachment, as a -reënforcement to the post; Stickney remarked he did not dare to leave -without doing so. Orders had also been received from New Orleans to -return two companies infantry to Brashear. - -As the men were about to board the cars up rode a cavalry-man in hot -haste, with bare breath enough to say, “the rebs are coming, three -divisions of them,” and told that they were already at Thibodeaux. -Blober’s cavalry detachment came in shortly after, with a loss of -two men in a close pursuit by the enemy. With no wish to weaken his -force just then, but desirous to increase it, the train was hastily -despatched to Terrebonne, three miles distant on the railroad, with -orders for Captain Barber, Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth -New York, posted with about sixty men and one piece of artillery in -a stockade, to evacuate. The gun and detachment of gunners left for -La-Fourche during the morning. - -Throughout the morning crowds of colored people kept coming along the -road, from the direction of Thibodeaux, with reports that the enemy -were coming. Failing to obtain satisfactory news from these people -Captain Barber rode to that town to find out the facts, arriving just -as the cavalry scouts started for La-Fourche, and with them the captain -went. This left young Lieutenant Phœbus W. Lyon, One Hundred and -Seventy-Sixth New York, in command, without proper information of what -to expect. When the Confederate troopers appeared they did not dare to -attack the stockade, as they expected that the field-gun was there. -They showed the convenient flag of truce. To the sergeant who was -sent out to meet it a demand was made to see the commanding officer. -Lieutenant Lyon, alone, went to meet them some three hundred yards from -the stockade, and refused their demand for a surrender of the post, -when the Confederate commander pulled out a revolver, placed it behind -an ear of the lieutenant and demanded that he should go along with -him. To the charge of violating a flag of truce by such a demand no -attention was paid, and entirely at their mercy Lieutenant Lyon had to -go with them, a prisoner of war. The enemy made a feint to charge upon -the stockade, and then withdrew some distance. Without molestation the -Federal troops embarked upon the train, which arrived shortly after all -this occurred, and Lieutenant Lyon had to witness the evacuation, from -the woods where he was held, with chagrin. - -At Thibodeaux the Confederates captured all the infantry stationed -there, also about one hundred men upon plantations in the vicinity -(forty-seven men of the Twelfth Maine, with Lieutenants Freeman -H. Chase and John W. Dana, convalescents sent by Stickney from -Brashear; forty others, also convalescents from Brashear; about ten -men Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York; and a few -plantation guards). At Terrebonne Captain William H. May, Twenty-Third -Connecticut, was taken prisoner. - -When the cavalry-man had made his report all of the troops were ordered -to “fall in,” and a line of battle was formed. The position taken is -described by Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney in his official report as -follows: “The levee of the Bayou La-Fourche is about twelve feet high; -the railroad crosses the bayou over the top of the levee, nearly in a -direction perpendicular to that of the bayou, and is about twelve feet -above the level of the surrounding country. For five or six miles to -the east of La-Fourche Crossing a carriage-road runs up and down the -bayou on both sides close to the levee, passing under the railroad on -both sides of the bayou. We were on the east side of the bayou and -north of the railroad, our front being parallel with the railroad, -extending about one hundred and fifty yards from the levee, and being -about two hundred yards from the railroad. From the right of our front -I had a line of defence running perpendicular to and resting upon the -railroad. I was obliged to have my front farther from the railroad than -it otherwise would have been, on account of trees standing, which could -not be cut down. The country around was level, affording full play for -the artillery, and was covered with tall grass, which I subsequently -had cut down, as it concealed, in a measure, movements in our front. - -“A detachment of about fifty men of the Twenty-Third Connecticut, under -command of Major Miller, was posted in the tall grass on both sides -of the road along the levee, lying down, about four hundred and fifty -yards in advance of the battle line. - -“The remainder of the infantry was drawn up in line, with the right -flank in reverse, excepting the company of convalescent men, under -Captain Fletcher, Twenty-Sixth Maine, who were posted at the railroad -bridge. - -“Captain Blober and his cavalry-men were posted so as to guard against -the turning of the right flank, with the detachment Forty-Second -Massachusetts in their front, and to the rear of the centre of the -battle line. - -“The artillery was posted as follows: a 12 Pr. gun upon the railroad -bridge, near the left bank of the bayou; two 12 Pr. howitzers and one 6 -Pr. gun on the battle line front, one of the howitzers being so placed -upon the extreme right so that its fire could be directed to the front -or right flank.” - -These movements were the first indication of an action in which this -detachment of the Forty-Second had seen an opportunity to participate. -Not without reason Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney rode up to Lieutenant -Tinkham and asked him what he thought about the behavior of his men -under fire; the lieutenant answered, he did not know, but thought -they would fight. Cavalry-Captain Blober, a plucky little German, was -boiling over for a fight. He was just the man to put courage into any -one a little weak in the knees. Later in the day this captain captured -a Confederate bugler upon the road. - -With nothing to eat since the evening before, a hot, dusty and tedious -ride in the cars early that morning, lounging around all day in a hot -sun, no wonder there were many anxious inquiries, at all hours of the -day, for some stimulant. Those who had it in their possession kept -still, and the welcome friend was hard to find. However, no sooner had -position in line been taken to meet the expected enemy, when out came -the secreted whiskey, and was passed around to those in need of it. - -About five o’clock the enemy came marching down the bayou road, -mounted, in column of fours, and as soon as the head of the column was -in sight a shot was fired from the gun upon the bridge, causing them -to halt and retire. They soon advanced about one hundred skirmishers, -who drove in the Federal pickets and moved on until encountering the -detachment Twenty-Third Connecticut, hid in tall grass, who, after an -exchange of shots, fell back upon the right flank of the main line -without loss. - -The artillery gave them a few solid shot and shell, when the enemy -retired towards Thibodeaux with their killed and wounded. - -Even here, almost before a gun was fired, the malady which seemed to -have attacked some officers on duty in this section was made manifest. -Major Miller, Twenty-Third Connecticut, during the day had spoken to -Major Morgans and Lieutenant Tinkham about a surrender to the enemy; -said he was in favor of it, and that it was of no use to make a fight. -He got an unfavorable response from these officers, but the major -continued panic-struck, for, after the first fire by the enemy upon the -Twenty-Third Connecticut in the grass, as Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney -says in his official report: “I found Major Miller, some distance to -the rear of his command, crouching in the high weeds on the levee. I -ordered him under arrest, and put in command of this detachment the -next senior officer, who faithfully executed my order.” - -Soon after the enemy’s disappearance, instead of promptly throwing -out his skirmishers to follow up their retrograde movement and -ascertain what they were doing, Stickney sent a flag of truce to -obtain permission to remove his hospital stores and sick from the -hospital, which was in front of his lines and exposed to his fire. The -truce party went two and one-half miles on the road before meeting -the Confederate pickets. True to their own cowardly use of flags of -truce, they refused to comply with Stickney’s request. This made no -difference, however, as they could not interfere where they were, and -the hospital contents were removed to the Federal rear, and, just -before dark, the building was burned, to prevent interference with the -range of fire. A building upon the other side of the bayou was also set -on fire, to enable movements of the enemy to be seen, as it was feared -they might come down on that side and attempt to cross the railroad -bridge. - -The position in line of battle was maintained all night, ready to repel -at any moment an attack: the men rested upon the ground as best they -could; pickets were thrown out about four hundred yards to the front; -squads of cavalry kept scouting to the right and rear; everything upon -this Johnson Plantation that could be used for fuel was torn down to -keep fires going. - -About eleven o’clock at night a train arrived from Algiers with five -companies, three hundred and six men, Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts -Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Sawtelle. Being the senior officer, -Stickney tendered him the command, which Lieutenant-Colonel Sawtelle -refused. The Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts went into line on the front. No -demonstrations were made by the enemy during the night. - -The next morning, Sunday, June 21st, Captain Grow with one section of -the Twenty-Fifth New York Battery and thirty men arrived from Algiers. -One gun went into position on the extreme left of the line to cover the -bayou road, and one gun was held in reserve, where it could be moved to -the front or upon the right flank, as occasion should require. Slight -earthworks were thrown up, at no point over two feet high, but they -extended only a few yards in either direction from the angle formed on -the right flank by the two fronts. - -During the morning Confederate mounted troops appeared in small bodies -within range of the outposts, to reconnoitre the position. About four -o’clock in the afternoon nearly one hundred and fifty Confederates, -mounted and dismounted, attacked the outposts and pickets, but made no -attempt to advance in force. A desultory fire was maintained for one -hour and a half, when the enemy retired. - -Shortly after noon a heavy rain commenced, and continued until about -half-past six o’clock, drenching the men to the skin, who maintained a -battle line the greater part of the day as they had during the night. -Stickney claims this was necessary, as he could not depend on the men -falling into position with sufficient alacrity at the least warning. - -The Federal position at dusk was about the same as on the previous day, -except that two companies of the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts were added -to the front line, two companies on the right flank in reverse, and one -company upon the railroad bridge in support of the gun placed there. - -Between five and six o’clock Lieutenant Tinkham was ordered to advance -on the road to a point about one-quarter of a mile in front, with his -Forty-Second Massachusetts detachment and some fifty negroes, to take -down a rail fence that somewhat obstructed the view. While engaged in -this work the enemy could be seen about another quarter of a mile up -the road, somewhat covered by the woods. Captain Blober tried his best -to draw them on, by riding towards them and circling around as the -ground would permit, without effect. Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney rode -up and wanted a volley fired at them, but Lieutenant Tinkham informed -him it would do no good, as his men were armed with Springfield -smooth-bore guns that would not reach the distance. Finally a volley -was fired, without effect, when Stickney told the lieutenant to hold on -and he would send out a field-gun, which was done. - -It was shortly after this fence was levelled that the enemy, -dismounted, with a yell, and opening fire at the same time, made -a charge. The field-gun, after three discharges of canister shot, -was abandoned by the Twenty-Fifth New York artillery-men, although -Lieutenant Tinkham suggested to the gunner in command to fire in -retreat. The gunner was either a coward or too frightened to listen -to any orders or suggestions, and the gun was left. As the gunners -retreated Lieutenant Tinkham, who had his men in line to the rear -in support, upon one side of the road, wheeled the detachment into -line across the bayou road and gave the enemy a volley from his -smooth-bores, carrying a ball and three buckshot to each musket, almost -point-blank in their faces. They were not over ten paces distant. -This volley staggered them for a few minutes, as well it might, for -an uglier weapon to face at close quarters than those Springfield -smooth-bore muskets, even in the hands of raw troops, could not be -found in the entire army at that time. - -Promptly faced about, the detachment was double-quicked back to the -battle line as fast as the mud and slippery condition of the road -would allow, for the rain had caused the Louisiana soil of that region -to assume the consistency of a sticky paste, so well known to all -campaigners in the Gulf Department. With this uncertain footing, the -close proximity of the enemy, fairly on their heels,[16] yelling and -firing, and the balance of the Federal force in line of battle also -opening fire, placing the detachment between two lines of fire, it is -remarkable that the casualties were so few at this time. Not a man was -taken prisoner. Major Morgans did not expect the detachment would be -able to get back, but reserved the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New -York fire as long as he dared, and then opened an oblique firing, to -prevent any harm to the detachment, if possible. - -[16] One of the curious events of the action, which also proves -the close proximity of the enemy, was that a Confederate -lieutenant-colonel, mounted upon an iron-grey horse, who must have -distanced his men in the charge they made, got around and ahead, by -the flank, and led the Forty-Second detachment on its retreat to the -main line. This officer came in contact with men of the Twenty-Sixth -Massachusetts, who made him a prisoner, as related later on in this -chapter. - -The Forty-Second detachment was not out as skirmishers, and did not -have that formation. It was on a special duty and had performed that -duty. No orders were given the lieutenant except to support the -field-gun. What had become of the pickets and outposts Lieutenant -Tinkham did not know. The enemy were upon him almost without warning, -for they had crept up in the tall grass on his front. In his official -report Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney says: “The enemy advanced rapidly -and soon compelled the pickets to fall back on the main line, which -they reached in rather a straggling condition at our left wing.” This -could not mean the detachment Forty-Second Massachusetts, for they did -nothing of the kind. The detachment ran in, maintaining as good an -alignment as the slippery soil would allow. - -A ridiculous proceeding occurred just after the detachment reached -the line. A second-lieutenant, an acting staff-officer, came up in an -excited manner and ordered Lieutenant Tinkham to go back and retake -the abandoned gun. Tinkham replied he would see him d--d first, and to -go and get it himself. With the darkness, fire opened on the enemy in -front, the bad condition of the ground and the uncertainty just where -the gun was at that moment, made the undertaking foolhardy, without a -chance for success; in reality giving the enemy a present of so many -prisoners. It was another instance of that want of judgment in an -inexperienced officer, of which many examples were furnished in the -whole history of General “Dick” Taylor’s raid towards New Orleans. - -After reaching the line the detachment was posted on the extreme left, -resting on the bayou and covering the road. Firing was continuate until -about eight o’clock. The artillery used canister; there not being -any canister for the 6 Pr. gun, packages of musket ammunition were -used instead. The infantry were ordered to fire by rank, and opened -in that manner, soon substituting firing at will. The smoke became -quite dense and would not lift readily, on account of the dampness of -the atmosphere. Nothing could be seen in front, not even flashes of -the enemy’s guns; nothing to be heard, except continued reports of -artillery and musketry-firing. - -When the order was given “cease firing,” pickets were thrown out, and -the abandoned gun, near the rail fence, left by the enemy when they -withdrew, was brought in to the Federal lines. The wounded within -reach were carried to a field-hospital that had been established in a -planter’s house, about one-quarter of a mile in the rear. The Federals -rested upon their arms, remaining in line of battle all night, with -what sleep they could obtain under the circumstances. Moans and cries -of the wounded, well to the front, could be distinctly heard. Totally -destitute of provisions, and hungry, having been without food of any -consequence for forty-eight hours, worn out by loss of sleep and -fatigue, nothing but the excitement could have held the men up so long -and prevented them from breaking down completely. - -That many of the Confederates were crazy drunk and in no condition -to continue a steady fight seems to be fully established by the -information obtained on Tuesday, when an advance to Thibodeaux was -made. They were capable of making a bold dash, but no more; repulsed, -they could not maintain a destructive fire. What firing came from their -side was wild and high, as the total casualties to the entire Federal -force engaged amply testifies. - -Notwithstanding General “Dick” Taylor, in his book called “Destruction -and Reconstruction,” says that Colonel Major had no artillery with -him, they fired a few shots from one field-gun while Tinkham and his -men were at the rail fence. Whether they ceased firing because their -ammunition was bad or damaged by rain, or compelled to do so by shots -from a gun of the Twenty-Fifth New York Battery that was placed in -position upon the right to engage their gun, is not known. Prisoners -stated that they had other guns in position, but the rain prevented -their use. - -There were many sensational stories told next day of what was done -along the line. Some men of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York -claimed to have performed special feats of valor. A careful inspection -of the ground in front soon put to flight all belief in these camp -yarns. The enemy never got dangerously close, except in a few -individual cases. An attempt made by them to gain the rear and turn the -right flank caused the gunners of the Twenty-Fifth New York Battery to -become panic stricken and abandon their gun, a 12 Pr. howitzer, posted -at the angle made by the front and right flank thrown in reverse. This -made two guns that the Twenty-Fifth New York artillery-men abandoned in -this action, though only one came into possession of the enemy. - -The actual Federal force in this action was eight hundred and -thirty-eight men; about six hundred were engaged; the balance were -posted upon the railroad bridge and to protect the right. The Federal -loss in this action was: three killed, ten wounded, Twenty-Sixth -Massachusetts Infantry; two killed, twelve wounded, One Hundred -and Seventy-Sixth New York Infantry; one killed, three wounded, -Forty-Second Massachusetts Infantry; two killed, sixteen wounded, -Twenty-Third Connecticut Infantry. - -Lieutenant Starr, Twenty-Third Connecticut, was the only commissioned -officer injured in the action. He was wounded in the thigh, and -afterwards died in consequence of amputation. - -The force of Confederates engaged is estimated to have been six hundred -men of the Second Texas Mounted Rangers, Colonel Pyron, claiming to be -the oldest regiment in the Confederate service, and that they never -before had been whipped in action. - -As General Taylor has published that only two hundred men under -Colonel Pyron made an attack on La-Fourche Crossing, the attack being -repulsed with a loss to the Confederates of only fifty-five killed -and wounded,[17] the official report of Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney -is again quoted: “The enemy were engaged during the night in carrying -away their killed and wounded who were outside of our lines, and the -following morning fifty-three of their dead were counted inside of our -pickets. When we entered Thibodeaux, Tuesday morning, nearly sixty -wounded were found in the hospitals, from which I conclude that their -loss in killed and wounded must have been three hundred, taking fifty -as the number of their killed, and reckoning the ratio of killed to -wounded as one to four.” - -[17] General Taylor relies on the official report of Colonel Major -for this statement. As a specimen of Confederate reports on their -operations west of the Mississippi River during June and July, the -following _extract_ of Major’s report of this action is given: - -“At Paincourtville received a despatch from Colonel Lane stating he had -captured the town, taking one hundred and forty prisoners and a large -amount of stores, also a small force at Terrebonne Station, and that -there was a force in strong position, with artillery, at La-Fourche -Crossing. I pushed on and arrived at Thibodeaux at 3.30 A.M., -on the twenty-first. Pickets reported reënforcements from New Orleans -during the night, and at sun-up reported the enemy advancing. I posted -Pyron’s regiment, West’s battery and two squadrons cavalry on east -bank La-Fourche, and moved them down towards the railroad bridge. -Lane, Stone and Phillip were posted at Terrebonne Station, and they -were moved forward to La-Fourche Crossing. The enemy fell back, and -my pursuit was checked by one of the heaviest rains I ever saw fall. -It rained until five P.M., and having only thirty rounds -of ammunition to the man when I started, and not over one hundred -cartridge boxes in the entire command, my ammunition was nearly all -ruined, and I found myself with an enemy in front, rear, and on the -flank, with only three rounds of ammunition to the man. I directed -Pyron, as soon as it stopped raining, to strengthen his picket and feel -the enemy, find his position, and test his strength, giving him some -discretion in the matter. He advanced his picket, driving the enemy -into his stronghold, and then charged his works, taking four guns and -causing a great many of the Federals to surrender. But night had come -on; it was very dark, the ammunition nearly all gone, and just at that -moment a train with about three hundred fresh men arrived from New -Orleans, and Pyron was forced to retire from a position won by a daring -assault, unequalled, I think, in this war. Had I known his intention to -assault the works I could have sent him such reënforcements as would -have insured success. Pyron’s strength in the attack was two hundred -and six. The enemy’s force, reported by themselves, was over one -thousand.” - -Some of these statements will cause a smile to spread o’er the face of -men on the Federal side who were in this action. - -Probably this is not an exaggeration, but many of the wounded must have -been slightly so, not going into the hospitals, except for occasional -treatment, else a larger number would have been captured. They left -some badly wounded upon the field. One poor fellow was found bleeding -to death from wounds, in a trench not over fifty feet in front of the -line. - -Whether Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney is correct or not, in regard to the -Confederate dead, Lieutenant Cooke, Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, reports -the following facts, viz.: “On the morning of the twenty-second, when -a lookout, stationed upon a house, reported a flag of truce coming, I -happened to be standing near Stickney, who immediately turned to me and -said: ‘Meet them as far outside of our picket line as you possibly can, -and I will despatch another officer immediately to act as messenger.’ -I was upon my horse instantly, and galloped up the bayou road, running -my sword-point through my handkerchief corners to make a flag of -truce, meeting the party so far from our lines as to cause, I fancied, -a shade of disappointment to pass over the face of an officer in -charge, which quickly changed to a smile as we drew rein and saluted; -he introduced himself as Captain Johnson, of Texas, and remarked that -it was a singular coincidence that both sides should start out at the -same time for a truce, and was much astonished when I said that I had -come to meet him, having seen him approaching. He stated that he was -sent by Colonel Major to ask permission to drive upon the battle field -with their wagons and carry away their dead. The request was carried -to Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney, who replied that it was impossible -to grant it, but if they would send their wagons to the point of -negotiation he would receive and return them to the same point loaded. -This was a necessity, for the majority of their dead lay so near -our battle line had they been permitted to come near they would have -gained an accurate knowledge of our position and numbers. Colonel Major -assented to this modification of his request, and wagons soon began to -arrive and the work went on. After the transfer was made I inquired -of those who were engaged in the work how many dead they found, and -was told one hundred and sixty. These are the figures written in my -diary at the time. I was also told that in one place fifteen bodies -were found in such close proximity as to justify the statement that -they were slain in a heap. At my interview with Captain Johnson, he -complimented our forces in very flattering terms for the courage and -steadiness with which they met and repelled the assault; that had it -been known we had such a large and well-disciplined force their action -would have been less hasty and impetuous.” - -The ground was cut at regular intervals by irrigating ditches, a -probable reason why the enemy made their attack dismounted. These -ditches made the ground unfavorable for cavalry. - -Two of the unwounded prisoners captured (sixteen in number) came in and -surrendered to Lieutenant Tinkham, after the firing had ceased. They -must have secreted themselves under the lee of the bayou bank. - -The killed and wounded of the Forty-Second detachment were: - -Private Reuben Dyson, Company E, wounded fatally in the abdomen and -hip, and died in a short time after he was carried to the rear. When -wounded he clasped both hands across his abdomen and exclaimed: “What -have I done that they should hit me!” - -Sergeant Edmand A. Jones, Company B, was slightly wounded in the left -shoulder. - -Private William Whiting, Company B, was wounded by a bullet in the -back of his neck which passed out of his mouth, taking three teeth in -its course. - -Private Daniel S. Woodman, Company B, was wounded in the right hand, -losing one finger and part of the thumb joint; also, shot in the right -breast, the ball entering about two inches above the right nipple, -passed through the upper part of his lung and came out through the -shoulder blade. - -Private Dyson was buried on the field at La-Fourche. Private Woodman, -too dangerously wounded to be removed, was left in an abandoned -planter’s house in care of an old planter. Woodman had lain upon the -field all night; was carried to the hospital about noon next day, where -his wounds were dressed by surgeons of the Twenty-Third Connecticut and -Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts. His clothes were removed, as they were very -bloody, and he lay naked almost a week, when a comrade procured some -old, ragged clothing for him. He was brought from La-Fourche July 31st, -and came home with the regiment. - -Early on the morning of Monday, June 22d, the enemy were found to have -retired near to Thibodeaux. Among the debris picked up upon the field -was found some muskets that were identified as belonging to the three -companies Forty-Second, captured at Galveston. The wounded were cared -for and the Federal dead buried. - -A Confederate flag of truce came with a request for permission to bury -their dead and carry away their wounded. This was granted on condition -that all of their wounded men outside the camp lines should be paroled, -that none of their drivers should come within the outposts, and that -all wounded within the camp should be retained. They agreed to these -conditions, and men were engaged throughout the morning, with carts and -wagons furnished by the enemy, in carrying their dead to Thibodeaux. - -Very early in the morning there reached the crossing about six hundred -men Fifteenth Maine Infantry, Colonel Isaac Dyer, a fresh regiment -from Pensacola and Key West, under orders to reënforce the troops at -Brashear City, and about eleven o’clock Colonel Cahill arrived from New -Orleans with the Ninth Connecticut Infantry, two additional companies -Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, and another section of the Twenty-Fifth -New York Battery. Colonel Cahill assumed command of the forces at -La-Fourche. - -The men who comprised the detachment Forty-Second Massachusetts behaved -admirably in this, their maiden action, with the exception of Sergeant -Albert L. Clark and Private John Donnelly, both of Company B, who -attempted to desert from their comrades, without leave, and board a -train about to start for Algiers. They threw away their guns, and did -not report to the detachment until Tuesday. - -Lieutenant Clifford was not in this action, as he rejoined the -detachment from leave of absence after the action was over. - -Other men, attached to the several commands, showed the white feather, -and the official report of Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney says: “Their -wounded in our hands thought that our troops must be regulars, so -steadily did they stand at their posts; but I regret to say that the -train in waiting on the track left at the commencement of the fight, -without orders, carrying away some cowardly soldiers, and that during -the battle some few left their ranks and sought shelter near and behind -the railroad.” - -Among those who left by this train was the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts -color-bearer with his flag. He was ordered back to his regiment in -a peremptory manner by General Emory, commanding the Defences of -New Orleans. A word of defence is due this color-bearer. A brave, -honorable and worthy man; when the darkness came on he was ordered -by his commanding officer to retire from the line and remain with his -color at a house just to the rear. Those panic-stricken men who ran -away from the ranks passed this house towards the railroad, shouting: -“All is lost, the rebs are inside of our lines and gobbling up the -whole force.” He supposed it to be true, and animated with a desire to -save his flag also ran to the railroad, tearing his flag from the lance -to secrete it upon his person. He felt the disgrace keenly, suffered -mental agony, and died from the effect upon him in September following. -None of his comrades thought him guilty of cowardice, rather a victim -to circumstances, for he could not see the true situation. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney officially makes special mention of two -officers and one private. He says: “Major Morgans, commanding the -One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth New York Regiment, through the action -encouraged his men, and to him is due, in a great degree, the fine -conduct that they showed. Captain Jenkins, commanding the Twenty-Third -Connecticut, displayed the greatest bravery and coolness. A Confederate -officer seized him by the throat, demanding a surrender. The assault -was immediately returned in precisely the same manner, when one of -Captain Jenkins’ men bayoneted the Confederate. I desire particularly -to mention Sergeant John Allyn, Company A, Forty-Seventh Massachusetts -Regiment, who has been with me since I was ordered to Brashear City, -and has at all times rendered the most valuable service, going on -dangerous scouts, once inside the enemy’s lines, and showing at all -times the greatest courage and remarkable sound judgment. His thorough -knowledge of the country and habit of reporting facts only were of the -greatest assistance to me.” - -Two companion incidents to the hand-to-hand scrape of Captain -Jenkins are these: Lieutenant Cooke, acting adjutant Twenty-Sixth -Massachusetts, the action still in progress, was startled by the sudden -appearance before him, inside of the battle line, of a Confederate -lieutenant-colonel, who said: “Captain, I am badly wounded, will you -be kind enough to take me to the rear.” The lieutenant informed him he -would do so, when he felt justified in taking men from the ranks to act -as a guard, and conducted the wounded officer to a tent, standing not -more than twenty yards to the rear, and saw him comfortably stretched -out upon the straw. After the action was over, with no prospect of its -renewal, Lieutenant Cooke went to this tent for his prisoner, to find -him gone, without a clew to be obtained of his whereabouts. On the -reconnoissance to Thibodeaux, twenty-third, this wounded officer was -found in hospital, and paroled. He stated that while lying in the tent -it occurred to him that in the darkness he might walk out of our lines, -and did so without difficulty. - -Another case of foolhardy bravery was exhibited by a fiery Texan -lieutenant, who rushed up to a field-gun, placing his hand upon it, in -face of a dozen men, and demanded its surrender. Three men answered -him; one with a bayonet, one with a musket ball, the other with the -butt of his gun, to send him down to mother earth fatally wounded, and -with curses upon his lips of the men who did their duty. He was carried -to the hospital, and lived four hours. - -No further hostile movement was made by either combatants on Monday, -except at about dark the Confederates fired a few rounds from one -field-gun. On Tuesday, June 23d, an advance was made to Thibodeaux by a -part of the troops, now commanded by Colonel Cahill, to find the enemy -had gone. Colonel Major with his Texans were well on their way towards -the rear of Brashear City. At night the Fifteenth Maine Infantry was -sent back to New Orleans. - -Wednesday morning, June 24th, at eight o’clock, five companies -Ninth Connecticut, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzgibbon, proceeded -to Terrebonne Station as guard to a construction train, repairing -the track for one mile beyond. Proceeding towards Chucahoula, twelve -miles from Bayou Bœuff, the bridge, one mile from the station, was -found to be on fire. This was extinguished, and the bridge repaired. -Skirmishers were then deployed and advanced towards the station, where -the enemy was found on the open land, behind buildings and fences, -who at once commenced a sharp fire. Confined to the narrow track, a -thickly-wooded swamp upon both sides, after engaging the enemy for one -hour Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzgibbon deemed it prudent to retire, also -being recalled by a signal-gun fired at La-Fourche Crossing, nine miles -distant, which the lieutenant-colonel says he heard. The Federal loss -was three wounded, and two men taken prisoners by the enemy. - -Port Hudson still holding out, with work enough in prospect to occupy -the attention of all the available forces in the Department, the troops -that composed the force under General Emory, charged with the defence -of New Orleans, reduced to a low number, and Brashear City lost, with -all of the troops on duty between that place and La-Fourche Crossing, -there existed no further necessity for holding the railroad line to -Brashear. The ill-luck experienced by General Emory in losing post -after post, through cowardice and inefficiency of regimental officers, -surrendering without firing a gun, was not assuring as to how far he -could trust the balance of his force. Prudence dictated to withdraw his -troops close to the city where protection of the navy could be given. - -The Confederates pushed up from Brashear, bold and fearless, -offering many opportunities to inflict some hard blows against their -undisciplined troops if any equally bold officers had been with the -Federal soldiers. This was not the case, and on June 26th the Federal -force fell back to Boutee Station, twenty-four miles from Algiers, -after they had spiked and abandoned three field-guns and some old iron -guns; an absurd gift to the enemy, without any valid excuse. - -With the energy displayed by the enemy, which the Federals did not meet -with counter efforts, it was undoubtedly sound policy to allow them to -dash against the fortified defences whenever they felt so disposed. -They moved quickly from place to place, leaving stragglers and scouting -squads occupying all of the roads in the region of country upon the -left bank held by them, looting where they could. Many of them could -easily have been bagged by small forces equally as bold; by so doing -thrown them into much the same state of uncertainty where to look for a -blow as existed among the Federal officers. - -While at Boutee Station orders from Colonel Cahill directed the -Forty-Second detachment to be temporarily attached to the Fifteenth -Maine and to proceed to the Metairie race-course, in New Orleans, -where a camp was formed, comprised of detachments One Hundred and -Seventy-Sixth New York, Twenty-Third Connecticut and Fifteenth Maine, -with Grow’s battery; Lieutenant-Colonel Stickney in command of the -force. These orders were countermanded on the same day and the -detachment ordered to rejoin the regiment, then in New Orleans, and did -so June 29th, bringing under guard to the provost-marshal some sixty -prisoners taken at La-Fourche and vicinity. - -On the thirtieth June the Federal force drew back to Jefferson Station, -eight miles from Algiers, where fortifications of a formidable -character were thrown up by large gangs of negroes. This station was -an outpost to the Defences of New Orleans for some weeks, with pickets -upon the roads and railroad line back to Algiers, and the river -patroled by gunboats between Company Canal and Donaldsonville. - -While the Confederates under General Taylor raided on the various posts -in the Parishes between the Atchafalaya and the Mississippi Rivers, -picking up all scattered troops found, to send them on parole to New -Orleans, the garrison in the defences of the city was quite small. -General Banks had drawn all the men he dared to take in front of Port -Hudson, even bringing troops from Ship Island and Pensacola. To offset -this General Emory had all troops in the garrison, on whatever duty, -kept ready from the nineteenth June until all danger was over to move -readily at any moment with two days cooked rations and one hundred -rounds per man. The Second Brigade, Second Division, was concentrated -as far as possible; all passes or leaves of absence were absolutely -stopped; convalescent soldiers were got together and organized, and -colored regiments, recruited from intelligent blacks of the city, were -organized for sixty days service, under colored officers. In this -manner were sufficient troops obtained to do the needed garrison duty, -furnish required guards and patrol service, while the regular forces -attended to the extreme outposts. The First Texas Cavalry, Colonel -Davis, did all of the scouting service, under direct orders from -General Emory. - -This action at La-Fourche Crossing must not be confounded with the -disastrous engagement of July 13th at Bayou La-Fourche, in which the -Forty-Eighth, Forty-Ninth and Thirtieth Massachusetts Regiments formed -a part of the Federal forces; Colonel Dudley in command. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -JULY--IN NEW ORLEANS--AT ALGIERS. - - -New Orleans on a Sunday during the summer of 1863 would have shocked -those staid old New Englanders who believed in a proper observance of -the day. Army and navy officers, soldiers and sailors, who could obtain -furloughs, did not hesitate to use the day for a grand spree. All the -elements were there to have a merry time, and upon the Shell-road there -was seen a cosmopolite crowd bent on enjoyment of the day. The colored -population was always out in full force. Until one got so used to it -that the novelty was gone, all this excitement, in endless variety, was -not to be lost by those who could take part. - -The Fourth of July was made a gala-day. Salutes were fired morning, -noon and night. A street parade was made by the Forty-Second -Massachusetts and a few small companies from the One Hundred and -Seventy-Sixth New York, Twenty-Third Connecticut Infantry and -Twenty-Fifth New York Battery, with two squadrons cavalry, as an escort -to a procession of citizens, mostly dark colored. Fireworks in front of -the Custom House at night closed the jubilations of the day. - -At the Custom House the regiment remained until July 14th, on provost -duty and on guard over Confederate prisoners, confined in the best -part of the building. The treatment of these prisoners was good; their -food was the same furnished to the regiment on guard, and except -deprivation of their liberty they had no reason to complain. It was a -hot time the day these Confederate officers arrived from Port Hudson. A -large crowd of sympathizers were on hand to welcome them, so boisterous -in behavior the cavalry-men, who assisted the infantry guard, in a -number of cases lost their temper and drove the people into stores and -houses by backing their horses into the crowd; sabres were also used -a few times. The crowd threatened at one time to make an attempt to -seize some stacked arms in a street near the Custom House, after the -prisoners were placed in quarters. In a day or two quiet was restored -and all expressions of sympathy ceased. - -While on duty in the city all drills were suspended; parades of -ceremony, guard-mounting and dress parade, took place on the reserved -ground in the centre of Canal Street. These parades were gone through -with in an indifferent manner on account of hot weather and debility, -which began to affect a great majority of the men. Not being acclimated -the extreme hot weather told on their health in a marked degree; not -exactly in a condition to be called sick, they did not feel well; what -duty had to be done was made easy as possible. Guards for hospitals, -men for patrol, funeral escorts, and regular sentry duty at quarters -kept at work every man able to do duty. One funeral escort was -furnished every day, always at six o’clock in the afternoon. - -After several assaults had been made upon solitary unarmed soldiers -by the rough element in the city, an order was issued July 11th for -every officer and soldier to wear his side-arms whenever upon the -street. Several men had been roughly handled, and reports were current -of the assassination of two men in the suburbs, but of the truth of -this report there is no definite knowledge. The night patrol had -orders to prevent more than three persons assembling together and to -arrest all officers and men of the army without side-arms. The patrol -furnished by the Forty-Second consisted of one lieutenant and eighteen -men, who covered all streets within the limits of--from St. Mary’s -Market to Eliseum Field Street, to Dauphin Street, to Canal Street, to -St. Charles Street, to Julia Street, to Tchoupitoulas Street, and to -Custom House Street. These limits covered many questionable places of -resort and afforded night patrols an opportunity to see very curious -incidents. At reunions of the regiment these incidents form the basis -of a large number of amusing anecdotes. - -To while away care and to lighten the burden of duty a few officers and -men conceived an idea of forming a mock Sons of Malta Lodge. Prominent -in this amusement were Captain Leonard, Lieutenants Sanderson and -Phillips, Sergeant-Major Bosson, Sergeants Nichols, Vialle, Attwell, -and others. The first move was to secure a victim for an initiation -ceremony. It was decided to try Sergeant John Binney, of Company A, a -man well known to all on duty at the Custom House. After broaching the -subject in a careful way to the sergeant, he was anxious to join such -a lodge, which he was informed had already been formed, and thought it -an excellent idea. He was kept in suspense a few days on the plea that -his name would have to go before the lodge, and if not black-balled he -would be admitted on a certain evening. Binney caught at the bait like -a hungry fish. - -When everything was ready the _pseudo_-lodge members assembled, masked, -in a dimly-lighted room in the Custom House, prepared for fun. A bugle, -trombone, bass-drum and cymbals were procured from the band, officers -appointed, and the sergeant, blindfolded, was admitted after passing -through certain mock forms at the door. All worked well; the questions -and answers and chorus from lodge members were carried out with due -decorum until the moment the embrace of fellowship was to be given. - -There was attached to Company C, as cook, an immense large negro, a -regular old plantation hand, tall, burly looking, black as coal, with -an odor about him as bad as from a skunk. With some difficulty, and not -without threats, this negro was got into the room and made to strip -naked to the waist. As the arms of Binney were placed around this negro -and his head laid upon the bare, black breast the whole ceremony came -near being spoiled by those present bursting into a roar of laughter; -fortunately this was stifled, and amid a crashing din, made by band -instruments, gas was turned on and the bandage removed from the eyes -of candidate Binney. For a moment dead silence reigned, while Binney -stared around and then at the negro in such a manner those present can -never forget. Suddenly he kicked him, and with an exclamation more -forcible than polite he proceeded to kick him out of the room amid -peals of laughter. The negro did not lose any time in escaping from -Binney’s wrath, for the poor fellow had been almost frightened out of -his wits during the initiation; large drops of sweat stood out upon his -face and breast like moisture on a well-filled ice pitcher. - -Binney was mad. It was some time before he was cooled down. Finally he -saw the joke, took it good-naturedly, and had his revenge in assisting -at the initiation of others. Quite a number were “put through,” but -as the proceedings leaked out candidates became scarce, and the lodge -adjourned _sine die_. - -While at Bayou Gentilly there was much discussion among some officers -and men about their time of enlistment, caused by a regimental order, -issued May 19th, promulgating the time of service for the regiment to -expire on July 14th. Opinions varied, and naturally the men inclined -to believe that theory which made their time for discharge come early. -Some company officers allowed themselves to display their ignorance -by agreeing with the short-term men, and did all in their power to -keep up that belief. Those who knew better did not try to stop this -short-term theory by informing the men of the true facts in the case. -By a decision of the War Department, promulgated at the time when nine -months regiments were called for, and modified at various times so that -it was at last expressly stated that companies could be mustered when -full, the men to draw pay from time of enlistment, though it be a month -or two before their company was mustered; that when ten companies were -mustered and formed into a regiment, then the field and staff were to -be mustered, and the time of the regiment would date from the time the -tenth company was mustered into service. This should have been known -by all officers. Men in the companies who did not have the correct -information imparted to them had an idea their term expired from date -of muster of each company, and thought they could be sent home by -companies. These men seemed to think of nothing but to get home as soon -as possible, and they did not show any pride in the duty of a soldier, -nor any regard for the cause they were in service for. - -A few company commanders sent in to Department headquarters a -notification their time would be out on a certain date--which was -required by regulations--and received for reply the information, in -substance, as issued by the War Department. Notwithstanding this -official information they still refused to believe such to be the case, -and took no steps to quell a mutinous sentiment which prevailed to a -great extent; men swearing they would rather be shot than do another -day’s duty, and similar foolish remarks. - -This feeling reached a climax on the morning of July 14th. In the -morning orders had been received to have the companies in readiness to -move at a moment’s notice, in light marching order. The men and a few -officers declared the time of the regiment had expired, and refused -to do further duty. It was necessary to notify General Emory. The day -before it was with difficulty a detachment of seventy-three men was -furnished Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzgibbon, who ordered the detail. - -The men on duty were assembled upon the top of the Custom House and -addressed by Lieutenant-Colonel W. D. Smith, One Hundred and Tenth New -York Volunteers, acting assistant-adjutant-general on the staff of the -general commanding. The trouble was mortifying, besides interfering -with plans of the general, and it is no wonder Lieutenant-Colonel -Smith could not control his temper, and used threats, combined with -entreaty, to bring the men to a proper sense of their duty. The state -of affairs was told to them, with a warning of what to expect if a -refusal to do duty was persisted in. One officer, Lieutenant Duncan, -Company F, protested, claiming that his time had expired, and asked in -the name of _justice_ that he and his men be sent home. He was promptly -placed in arrest and his sword taken from him. This summary action was -well-timed, for Lieutenant Duncan was a special champion of the “want -to go home” men. It was proof to the men to butt against the Government -was not an easy matter. When the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts marched -into the Custom House in the afternoon, to occupy their old quarters -and relieve the Forty-Second, ordered to Algiers, the men thought and -so expressed themselves that the commanding officer intended to coerce -the regiment into doing duty, if it was found necessary. Fortunately, -without further difficulty, the regiment went over to Algiers in the -afternoon. Lieutenant Duncan was released from arrest and his sword -returned, after an apology for his hasty, ill-timed behavior. - -A history of the regiment would not be correct, and the truth not told, -without recording these events, though it is unpleasant to do so. All -true friends of the Forty-Second have every reason to be thankful -nothing further took place to bring discredit on the regiment. This -ebullition of sentiment about expiration of time of enlistment is the -only act the enlisted men, as a body, have reason to feel ashamed about -during their term of service. - -From the fourteenth to the twenty-ninth the regiment was on picket -duty upon the Opelousas and Gulf Railroad. Headquarters of troops -on the west bank of the Mississippi River were at Company Canal, -Brigadier-General McMillan in command (from July 21st, when he relieved -Colonel Plumley) of all troops from Algiers to Des Allemands, and -troops were pushed forward to La-Fourche Crossing, repairing the track -and bridges to that point. The picket-detail usually consisted of from -thirty to forty men, who were out on duty forty-eight hours, carrying -rations for that time, their blankets and mosquito bars. The bars did -not prove effective protection, and it was generally the case these men -could not obtain any sleep, for they were obliged to keep awake and -fight the terribly annoying insects. This was all of the fighting done -on picket. - -This picket duty extended to Jefferson Station, eight miles from -Algiers, where two companies of Colonel Desanger’s regiment of -sixty-day free colored troops and a battery of artillery were on -duty. These colored troops were neatly dressed in the United States -regulation uniform, and to all appearances were doing their duty well. -Besides this picket-detail a guard was retained on duty, comprising -nine men from Company A, eight men from Company B, nine men from -Company C, five men from Company E, seven men from Company F, seven men -from Company H, forty-five men in all, and acting Lieutenant George -G. Nichols, Company G, under the command of Lieutenant White, Company -C, who were sent to the Bellevue Iron Works in Algiers, July 13th, to -relieve a guard from the Ninth Connecticut over Confederate prisoners -of war confined there. - -Another permanent guard was detailed for duty at Canal Street and -French Market Ferries from New Orleans. Their duty was to prevent -soldiers or citizens from crossing over without passes and to arrest -suspicious persons. - -Algiers and vicinity would not have pleased a tourist, with its -dilapidated and uncared-for buildings, abandoned and neglected -plantations and small population. All drills were stopped. Men not on -duty could stroll where they pleased. A mixed contraband camp, not far -away, was a favorite spot for many men to pass their spare hours. The -men raided on all watermelon patches within a radius of several miles -until complaints were made to the provost-marshal. In more than one -case did these melons effect a cure of that scourge in armies--chronic -diarrhœa. Singular as it may seem several men with this complaint, -unable to get relief from the surgeons, were completely cured by eating -these melons. - -Quarters were taken in an old salt warehouse close to the river, with -all the companies located in the building, space allotted each company, -every man making himself comfortable upon the floor. Doors and windows -torn out, there was no trouble about ventilation in the extreme hot -weather that prevailed. The guard occupied tents on the opposite side -of the road; the company cooks[18] and kitchens were in tents upon the -levee. A house situated within a fine orchard, not far from the men’s -quarters, was used by the surgeons for a hospital, the grounds in front -for the field and staff-officers’ tents. - -[18] One day a negro cook of Company C (the same man who took a part in -the Sons of Malta ceremonies at the New Orleans Custom House) got into -a difficulty with a camp-follower colored boy. Bantered into frenzy by -this little devil the cook got a small dagger, and would have committed -a murder had not the sergeant-major and Private John Davis, Company -H, seized him, as he was about to stab the boy. A short struggle took -place before this dagger was obtained. For punishment the negro cook -was kicked for some distance down the road. Whatever became of the -burly, quick-tempered negro has often been a subject of speculation -among those who remember him. - -Each night, after taps, the men made this salt warehouse ring with -fun and music up to midnight. Many rough remarks were passed to and -fro with special reference to the lieutenant-colonel, who, the men -thought, was not exerting himself to obtain transportation home. As -great injustice was done Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman while at Algiers, -it is proper some of the correspondence in relation to securing passage -North should be read by the regiment. At first he endeavored to have -the paroled men sent home; affairs in the Department would not warrant -an application to send home those men able to do duty, as every man was -wanted. - - - “HEADQUARTERS 42D REGIMENT, MASS. VOLS., - “CUSTOM HOUSE, NEW ORLEANS, LA., July 5th, 1863. - -“_Sir_,--I would respectfully present the following facts to the -attention of the commanding general of the Defences of New Orleans: - -“January 1st, 1863, three companies of the Forty-Second Massachusetts -Volunteers, viz., D, G and I, under Colonel I. S. Burrell, were taken -prisoners at Galveston, Texas. These men were taken to Houston and -kept several weeks, when they were sent to our lines at Baton Rouge -and paroled. February 25th they arrived in New Orleans and were ordered -by General Sherman to report to me at the camp of the Forty-Second -Regiment at Gentilly Crossing, on the Ponchartrain Railroad, since -which time they have been in camp at that place. - -“These men have had nothing to do or to engage their attention, and -as a consequence they have become very low spirited and much reduced -in bodily vigor. Several of them have lately died very suddenly, and -several are daily taken sick. One sergeant taken sick July 3d was -buried July 4th. - -“The time of this regiment expires the fourteenth of this month, -according to the rule established by the War Department for the service -of the nine months troops, this date being nine months from the date -of muster of the last company in the regiment. In view of these -circumstances and of the fact that these men have been of no service to -the Government in their present condition, I would respectfully ask the -commanding general that they be sent to their homes as soon as possible. - -“Many of these men are from the best families in Boston and vicinity, -and their friends are deeply anxious that they should be sent North, -and personally I am deeply interested that their case may be acted on -at an early day, for if they are kept in this climate even a few weeks -longer many more will be lost by reason of sickness, not only to their -friends but for future use to the country. - -“There are also at Algiers forty-four men from different companies of -this regiment who are paroled, having been taken at Brashear City; -these with those first spoken of make a total of two hundred and -seventy-six paroled men of this regiment. - -“By allowing these men to be sent to their homes not only a humane act -will be accomplished but a great and never-to-be-forgotten favor will -be bestowed on these men, who faithfully served their country when in -service, and on many true friends of the Union in Massachusetts. - -“With the highest consideration, - - “I remain, your obedient servant, - “J. STEDMAN, _Lieutenant-Colonel_, - “_commanding 42d Mass. Vols._ - - - “TO LIEUT.-COL. W. D. SMITH, _A. A. General_, - “_Defences New Orleans_.” - -The transport-steamer _F. A. Scott_ was partially promised -by Provost-Marshal-General Bowen, but on July 11th he wrote -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman as follows: “General Emory, in view of -the altered condition of affairs since the fall of Vicksburg and -Port Hudson, revokes the order for the transportation of the paroled -soldiers of the Forty-Second Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers to New -York.” This letter was the first intimation that an early return North -could be expected of all nine months regiments whose time had expired. -Until the two Confederate strongholds surrendered they would have been -retained in the Department. - -As a matter of form a letter was sent to the Department commander June -19th, stating the time of expiration of service, with a request for -transportation to Massachusetts. - -The two following letters explain themselves: - - - “HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND REGT., MASS. VOLS., - “LAFAYETTE SQUARE, NEW ORLEANS, June 21st, 1863. - -“_Sir_,--I have the honor to report that your communication of the -eighteenth instant, relative to the muster into service of this -regiment, is received. - -“I would respectfully state that no formal muster was ever made of -this regiment, and the field and staff were mustered on the eleventh -November, 1862. But the War Department have decided that in the case -of the nine months’ troops their time was to expire nine months from -the date of muster of the last company, which in this regiment was the -fourteenth of October, making our time, as above, the fourteenth of -July next. - -“I received a short time since an official order from Governor Andrew, -based on an order from Secretary Stanton, that the time would be -reckoned as above stated. - -“I have the honor to remain, - - “Very respectfully, your obedient servant, - “J. STEDMAN, _Lieutenant-Colonel_, - “_commanding 42d Mass. Vols._ - “TO LIEUT.-COL. R. B. IRWIN, _A. A. General_, - “_19th Army Corps_.” - - - “HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND REGT., MASS., VOLS. - “CAMP AT ALGIERS, LA., July 27th, 1863. - -“_Sir_,--The time of service of the Forty-Second Regiment Massachusetts -Volunteers having expired the fourteenth instant, I would respectfully -request that transportation be furnished the regiment for their return -to Massachusetts. I would state for the information of the commanding -general that the aggregate strength of the regiment at this time is as -follows: on duty with the regiment and on detached service, including -sick, five hundred and eighty; paroled enlisted men, two hundred and -seventy-five; this making a total of eight hundred and fifty-five -officers and enlisted men, for whom I apply for transportation. Of -this number from twenty to thirty will be unable to travel with -the regiment on account of sickness, and these will need separate -transportation. Of the above number I have only about two hundred men -fit for duty. Many have become debilitated from exposure and from the -effects of the climate (fever and ague being quite prevalent), which -incapacitated them for duty at the present time. - -“Of all the commissioned officers I have only the adjutant, one captain -and nine lieutenants for duty, the balance being either sick, on -detached service, or prisoners of war at Huntsville, Texas. - -“I have five captains sick, who will probably never get well in this -climate. In view of the present condition of the regiment I would -urgently request that this matter receive an early consideration from -the commanding general, on the ground of humanity, if for _no other -reason_. - -“The paroled men have done no duty since their capture at Galveston -January 1st, and they have become much debilitated from this constant -inactivity, and they have lost a large percentage of their number by -death, and many more will be lost, not only to their friends but to -their country, if a change of climate is not granted them soon. - -“Nothing has yet been asked of the Forty-Second Regiment that they have -not fully carried out, and if Port Hudson still remained in the hands -of the enemy there is not a man but would volunteer to stay to assist -in any manner in accomplishing so desirable a result, as its capture. - -“But having been informed that the exigencies do not now exist for our -services that prevailed previous to the fourteenth of July, and our -time having expired, as above stated, every member of the regiment is -more or less anxious that the Government should allow them their right -of returning to their homes and friends. - -“I have the honor to remain, - - “Very respectfully, your obedient servant, - “J. STEDMAN, _Lieutenant-Colonel_, - “_commanding 42d Mass. Vols._ - - - “TO LIEUT.-COL. R. B. IRWIN, _A. A. General_, - “_19th Army Corps_.” - -A letter from Brigadier-General McMillan, dated July 28th, stated -that the major-general commanding the Department would send all nine -months men home in such order as he would select, and as fast as -transportation could be obtained; that he would send all at once if -he could, and that all petitions and representations would fail to -expedite the sending. - -July 17th--Paroled men of Companies D, G, I, A, B, E and H arrived at -Algiers from Gentilly Camp and were assigned quarters in the warehouse. - -July 21st--Company K rejoined the regiment. - -On one occasion while at Algiers an act of insubordination had to -be summarily dealt with. Details for picket duty had been ordered, -and first-sergeants had notified their men for that duty. When -the hour arrived to “fall in” and report to the adjutant, the men -from Companies C, H and E refused to do so. Their company officers -proved powerless to enforce the orders, and the case was reported at -regimental headquarters, when the lieutenant-colonel, major, adjutant -and sergeant-major went to quarters to straighten matters out. Most -of the trouble was in Companies C and H. Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman -ordered the first-sergeant of Company C to order his detail to “fall -in,” fully equipped. The first man called absolutely refused to do so. -He was given five minutes to obey by the lieutenant-colonel, who held -his watch in one hand and a pistol in the other. This man reluctantly -did as ordered before the time expired, and the rest followed suit. No -difficulty was experienced with other company details, and the picket -on duty was regularly relieved. This ended all serious trouble of this -kind, although Private Lawrence Mannocks, Company I, was placed in -arrest July 19th for inciting to mutiny and indulging in blasphemous -remarks; it was also necessary, on the twenty-eighth, to reduce to the -ranks Corporal Thomas P. Hobart, Company A; a regimental special order -was issued to that effect. At Battery St. John Captain Coburn reduced -to the ranks Corporal E. C. Crocker, Company A, June 5th. - -The guard-house was filled each day by men temporarily placed there -for being drunk. They were old, hard, chronic cases, poor soldiers, -unfit to be in service. Captain Leonard, Company C, found it necessary, -in June and July, to arrest and confine quite a number of his men for -disobedience of orders. Of his men, Private Charles F. Towle was in -arrest from June 10th to July 13th, for desertion; Private John Myers, -for same cause, from July 1st to the 10th. No further action was taken -in either case. - -Confinements in the guard-house while at Gentilly were few. Privates -Owen Fox, Michael Bresneau, Company A, and Thomas Matthews, Company D, -frequently got placed there for drunkenness, disobedience of orders, -and insolence. Private Fox was once sentenced to carry cannon balls for -two days (February 25th and 26th), without a proper hearing into his -case in the regular manner. Private Bresneau was once confined a week -for insolence. At other times they would be released in a few days, -when sober. - -At Algiers the men suffered more from sickness than at any other period -of service. The regimental hospital was at Bayou Gentilly until July -18th, Surgeon Heintzelman in charge, leaving that part of the regiment -at Algiers without a medical-officer, as Surgeon Hitchcock was at Port -Hudson on a visit, without orders. Hitchcock always claimed permission -was granted him to go there, but the only order received at regimental -headquarters which authorized his absence was Special Orders No. -207, Defences New Orleans, issued April 19th, 1863, ordering him to -report for duty at Berwick Bay, where he remained for a short time. -Department Special Orders No. 185, issued July 30th, read: “Relieved -from duty at Berwick Bay.” This want of a surgeon caused a letter to be -sent the medical director, Defences New Orleans, which read: “I would -respectfully bring to your attention the following facts: many men of -this command are sick at this camp, and without any medical attendance. -Unless a surgeon can be sent us some of our men will die in forty-eight -hours. The reason of our being destitute of a surgeon will be explained -by Chaplain Sanger, the bearer of this note. Please send us a good -surgeon for temporary service.” Surgeon Hitchcock allowed a personal -matter with the lieutenant-colonel to interfere with his duty. - -The medical director had the regimental hospital removed to Algiers on -the nineteenth, in order to secure the services of Surgeon Heintzelman. - -The hospital record tells the following story of sickness in July. At -Bayou Gentilly, July 2d, forty-four men were taken sick, most of the -cases among the paroled men recently arrived from Brashear City. On -the third, of sick in quarters: fourteen were in Company A, twelve -in B, six in C, two in D, fourteen in E, and eight in H. July 4th, -ninety-five men were sick: twenty-seven in hospital and sixty-eight -in quarters. The average sick per day at Gentilly up to July 11th was: -taken sick, twelve; returned to duty, ten; in hospital, twenty-seven; -in quarters, fifty-five. At Algiers, July 20th, one hundred and seven -new cases were reported on the sick list; nearly all were sick in -quarters. The largest number sick on any one day was reported by -the surgeon in his morning report of July 22d, when one hundred and -forty-five men were sick and unfit for duty, in and out of hospital, -viz.: Company A, twenty-one; B, twenty-two; C, seventeen; D, two; E, -twenty-seven; F, fifteen; G, two; H, eighteen; I, five; K, sixteen. Not -until the twenty-third did the paroled men from Galveston begin to show -signs of breaking down, when eleven men of Company D, six of G, and -eight of I were taken sick. After this date sick in quarters gradually -diminished, but the sick in hospital kept that building full. The -average sick per day at Algiers was: taken sick, twenty-three; returned -to duty, seventeen; in hospital, thirty; in quarters, sixty-two. - -Had the regiment remained in the Department another month the deaths -would have doubled those in July, owing to the debilitated condition of -many men. The deaths were: - -July 4th--Sergeant Philip P. Hackett, Company G, congestion of the -brain. At Gentilly. - -July 7th--Corporal Uriel Josephs, Company A, jaundice. At Marine -Hospital, New Orleans. - -July 8th--Private Rufus G. Hildreth, Company C, dysentery. At Gentilly. - -July 12th--Quartermaster-Sergeant Henry C. Foster, suicide. In New -Orleans. - -July 17th--Private Thomas J. Clements, Company H, chronic diarrhœa. At -Gentilly. - -July 17th--Private Welcome Temple, Company H, disease not known. At -United States Barracks. - -July--Private Patrick Fitzpatrick, Company E, chronic diarrhœa. In New -Orleans. - -July 26th--Private Ezekiel W. Hanaford, Company H, chills and fever. At -St. James Hospital, New Orleans. - -July 25th--Private John M. Gates, Company K, chronic diarrhœa. At -Algiers. - -July 26th--Private William H. Bickers, Company G, swelling of glands. -At Algiers. - -Sergeant Hackett (at one time an active member of old Barnicoat Engine -No. 4, of Boston) was a clever man, full of life and good spirits. His -disease was the result of hard drinking. - -Corporal Josephs was a thorough believer in the cold-water cure. When -his disease first showed its symptoms, about one month before he -died, while on duty as ordnance-sergeant, he refused to report to the -surgeon, but got permission to hire a room in a house not far distant -on the Gentilly road. Every day he would bathe in a tub of water and -then go to bed wrapped up in a wet sheet, until the landlady complained -at headquarters about the corporal acting like a crazy man in her -house, and asked for his removal. As Josephs was found to be very sick, -he was removed to the Marine Hospital in the city. - -Poor Hildreth lost all courage and hope a month before his death. He -was then able to move about, and was cheered up by those who met him, -without any effect. Had he shown some strength of will, as others did, -he might have reached home and recovered. - -The case of Private Gates was sad. Although blind in one eye and -quite old when mustered into service, being a good marksman, very -enthusiastic to serve, the officers and men of his company assisted him -to deceive the mustering officer that he was only forty-two years old. -He did duty manfully until his disease took such a hold upon him that -he gradually wasted away. At his death he could not have weighed more -than fifty pounds. - -Private Bickers was unconscious when he died. He was placed on an -operating chair in an upright position, a nurse standing near with a -fan to stir the air for him to breathe, and drive away swarms of flies -infesting the place. Around the room were beds arranged upon the floor, -occupied by sick patients, all watching with intense interest poor -Bickers draw his last breath. The sight was not calculated to give them -courage, for Bickers was sick in the hospital only a short time. - -Privates Temple, Fitzpatrick and Hanaford were sent to the general -hospitals for better treatment than could be given them in the -regimental hospital. During the latter part of July medical supplies -became scarce. With difficulty were sufficient quantities of proper -medicines obtained to treat a majority of cases; the supply of quinine -gave out completely. Such a large quantity of medical stores lost at -Brashear City could not be replaced until supplies from New York were -received. - -Private Hanaford lay upon the warehouse floor for some days, suffering -with chills and fever, and nothing could be done for him. When taken -with chills, it seemed as though he would shake the breath out of him. -His removal to St. James Hospital was not made until nearly dead. This -case caused much comment among the men, who freely charged he had been -neglected. - -About noon, July 12th, word was brought in to the headquarters -room by a corporal in charge of the guard stationed at a house on -Canal Street, corner of Magazine Street, occupied by the regimental -quartermaster, quartermaster-sergeant and commissary-sergeant, that -Quartermaster-Sergeant Foster had committed suicide a few minutes -before. The news was hardly credited, but an immediate visit to his -room, in which the sad event happened, proved it to be a fact. Foster -lay upon the floor near the centre of the room, not far from a bureau, -feet towards the door, dressed in his flannel shirt, pants and socks, -just as he fell; a small pool of blood upon the floor near his head, a -small bullet wound in the centre of his forehead, encircled by a small -black-and-blue ring, and a pistol upon the floor by his side. Sergeant -Foster had not been in good health for some time, and latterly shown -great despondency. The reason was not known. His sickness was nothing -more than came from extreme debility, and was not dangerous. For a few -days previous he had given some evidence of not being exactly in his -right mind, but there was nothing exhibited to lead any one to think -him not capable of taking care of himself. He occupied a room with -acting Quartermaster-Sergeant Hodsdon, both men sleeping in the same -bed. - -That morning Hodsdon thought Foster spoke and acted queer, without -exciting any suspicion however, and when obliged to go out on business -Hodsdon, contrary to his usual custom, laid his belt, containing a -holster and pistol, upon the bureau, intending to be back in a moment -and then wear it. He left the room, leaving Foster upon the bed, and -had barely closed the door when he heard the report of a pistol and -immediately opened the door again, to see Foster lying upon the floor -as described. He never spoke, dying in a few moments. - -His effects were taken in charge by the chaplain and sent to his -parents, then residing in Dorchester, Massachusetts, from which place -Foster enlisted. From a partial examination of his knapsack, where -a few letters were found, it was thought the sad act was caused by -unwelcome news from home. - -The weather being hot, by orders of the commanding general -all bodies had to be buried the same day that death occurred. -Quartermaster-Sergeant Foster was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, at -dusk, on the twelfth, escorted to the cemetery by a proper detail -becoming to his rank, under command of Sergeant-Major Bosson, and the -customary volleys fired over his grave. The burial party started at -half-past three in the afternoon, and reported back to quarters at nine -o’clock same evening. - -Corporal Alonzo I. Hodsdon was made quartermaster-sergeant, July 13th, -_vice_ Foster, deceased. - -Special-duty details in July were few: - -July 18th--Private William A. Clark, Company B, was placed on duty as a -wagoner. - -July 23d--Private Leavitt Bates, Company A, was made clerk at -regimental headquarters in place of Clark K. Denny, returned to duty -with Company F. - -July 25th--Private Lewis Buffum, Company B, to be a locomotive engineer -on the Opelousas and Great Western Railroad. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -COMPANIES C AND H ON DETACHED SERVICE AT CAMP PARAPET. - - -Special Orders No. 16, issued from headquarters Defences of New -Orleans, January 15th, 1863, detailed Companies C and H for duty in -the Department engineer service. The two companies made a skeleton -battalion, under command of Senior-Captain Leonard, who, after -reporting to Major D. C. Houston, chief-engineer Nineteenth Army -Corps, for instructions, on the seventeenth marched them to Camp -Parapet, three miles up river, with their camp equipage, and pitched -tents upon a level piece of low, muddy land, formerly used as a burial -place for soldiers. This Camp Parapet was so called because a large -number of troops were in camp near earthworks thrown up a few miles -above Carrollton. These works then consisted of a parapet and other -fortifications on the east bank, between the river, the swamps and Lake -Ponchartrain, with an abandoned Confederate redoubt upon the west bank, -re-named Fort Banks. - -The camp was moved to a fig grove January 21st, tents provided with -floors, and here the battalion remained until relieved from detached -duty, without suffering any inconvenience except, when a portion of -camp was drowned out, February 15th, by a terrible thunder shower -that forced men to seek shelter in barns not far away. Regular Sunday -and monthly inspections were maintained, with an occasional drill. -The inspections were thorough, as they should always be, and more -drills would have been ordered had the details been less heavy. The -companies suffered from a lack of commissioned officers. In Company C, -Captain Leonard, as battalion commander, occupied the best quarters -obtainable in the vicinity, and exercised command as such. Lieutenant -White, absent on detached duty a greater part of the time, left but one -company officer on duty, Lieutenant Sanderson. In Company H, Captain -Bailey took things easy until placed in arrest April 16th, leaving -Lieutenant Phillips the only company officer on duty; Lieutenant Gould -was on detached service as an acting quartermaster. - -There was little sickness among the men in this detachment during their -stay at the Parapet. The position of their camp was more favorable -for health than others at the post, with the additional good feature -of being kept scrupulously neat; the prettiest camp at the post. On -the extreme right of the earthworks, near the Jackson Railroad track, -ground was so unhealthy it was nicknamed “Camp Death.” Here the One -Hundred and Fifty-Sixth New York suffered severely from sickness. This -ground, near the railroad, was also a risky place for the troops there -stationed on account of shells exploding in the neighborhood, fired -from the gunboats when practising to obtain a range of this road. All -shells had time fuses and would explode high in air, but fragments -occasionally fell where not wanted. On one occasion, March 31st, a -shell from the _Portsmouth_ went over the One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth -New York camp to explode nearly half a mile away, as every one thought, -yet a large fragment was flung into camp and took off the head of a -Zouave, who did not dream his death was so near. At another time a -shell in passing over Companies C and H camp prematurely exploded -overhead; pieces were flung into camp, fortunately without injury to -anybody. - -Among the few inhabitants who lived near Camp Parapet must have been -some treacherous, be-deviled secessionists. Ammunition was occasionally -stolen, the empty boxes afterwards found in places where they had been -thrown. An attempt was once made by them to cause a break in the levee -above the fortifications, by removing pickets placed to keep the levee -embankment from giving way. This attempt was discovered before any -damage resulted, and guards were afterward placed upon the river banks -to prevent other attempts of a like nature. - -Private Charles E. Warren, who had been an apothecary clerk in Boston, -was detailed by Captain Leonard to act as medical-officer for the two -companies. Warren did not take the position from any love for the -medical profession, but did so to advance his personal interest and -comfort. He was a social, jolly, good fellow, with a certain amount -of acquired knowledge how to use medicines, but had no diploma as a -graduate from any medical institute authorizing him to assume the -practice of medicine. - -Other details from the enlisted men were made to serve in various -capacities, viz.: - -Sergeant Frederick C. Blanchard, Company C, acting adjutant. - -Sergeant Edward P. Fiske, Company C, acting sergeant-major. - -Sergeant Edward L. Jones, Company H, acting commissary-sergeant. - -Sergeant Dennis A. O’Brien, Company H, wagon-master. - -Private David N. Phipps, Company H, carpenter. - -Corporal William A. Hinds and Private Reuben Smith, Company H, clerks -in Commissary Department. - -Privates John Davis, Company H, Larry O’Laughlin, Company H, James -Haley, Company H, Daniel E. Demeritt, Company C, Solomon Kennison, -Company C, and Henry C. Dimond, Company C, overseers of contrabands. -Private Henry C. Dimond was also clerk in the superintendent’s office. - -Corporals Charles E. Loring, Company H, Charles M. Marden, Company H, -and George H. Smith, Company H, clerks in office superintendent of -contrabands, Engineer Department. - -Private Henry A. Fenner, Company H, orderly to Major Houston, United -States Engineers. - -Companies C and H contained a queer mixture of men, that made it hard -to handle them in good shape. No other companies in the regiment were -like them in their _personnel_. There were good men, with excellent -reputations at home and from families of high standing; many men -whose reputations were known to be bad, taken from the rough element -of cities and towns, whose faces and behavior were enough to stamp -them what they were; also many excellent fellows who did their duty -manfully, though they did come from the ordinary ranks of society. This -much must be said about the tough characters: fight as often and hard -as they could among themselves, a frequent occurrence, whenever an -outsider molested any comrade belonging to their companies, they came -to his rescue, and would stand by each other to the last. - -The duty performed by these companies was not arduous. It mainly -consisted of guard duty and acting as overseers to gangs of contrabands -at work on the fortifications. There was plenty of this kind of work -to keep in good order earthworks already finished, change the lines -of some portions, raze and rebuild other portions, cut and haul wood, -and, under direction of Mr. Long, volunteer United States engineer (the -same young officer who was at Galveston), a bastioned redoubt, to -form a part of the earthwork defences, was commenced January 30th, and -completed before the companies rejoined their regiment. - -There were several large contraband camps maintained at the Parapet, -known as colonies number 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the Greenville colony and -Brickyard colony. Women and children were kept in camps separate from -the men. These camps received additional negroes brought from abandoned -plantations by details of men sent up river to collect them. A number -of men from C and H were detailed in various capacities to assist such -officers as were in command of these negro camps, for they had to be -governed and fed by the military authorities. - -No guard was kept over these contraband colonies, the negroes in them -allowed to go and come as they pleased; but over those able-bodied -negroes in the engineer camp a line of sentinels was placed, whose -orders, at first, allowed them considerable liberty after their day’s -work was done. A great many had what they called wives, who were -domiciled in the colonies, and at dusk would go to see them, frequently -remaining out of camp all night. Sometimes they got on a carouse, and -made things lively. A considerable number would attend the numerous -religious meetings held every night in the swamps. This exodus, at -times, was so great that detachments of men from Companies C and H, -mounted upon mules, would be started to hunt them up and bring them -into camp, a fact Sergeant Meserve well remembers, because on one of -these night hunts his mule became stubborn, and refused to obey the -reins or the sergeant, finally landing him upon a tree-limb, where he -hung until assisted to get down. - -It was thought necessary to have more stringent orders than those in -force, and by directions from General Sumner, Engineer Department, -the sentries were ordered to shoot any one that attempted to leave -without authority to do so. Naturally, this created considerable -dissatisfaction among them, especially those who had wives and children -in other camps. This state of feeling led some officers to apprehend -acts of insubordination several times, and the orders caused an -unfortunate affair to happen on the evening of April 17th, when a negro -man, while attempting to creep out of the engineer camp, was detected -in the ditch and challenged; not responding, he was shot in the back -by a sentry from Company H. His wound was an ugly one, and he died the -next day, after receiving every attention that could be given. The -negro camp was thrown into great excitement by this event, requiring -a large force of soldiers on the spot before quiet was restored. Many -officers expressed their indignation at the manner in which negroes -were restricted and guarded in this camp, as they did not consider -these strict rules necessary. To get the case before a court, where -their views could be ventilated, Lieutenant White placed the sentry in -arrest, insisting that he should stand an inquiry into his conduct; -by such action he incurred the displeasure of Company H. The man was -released next day by Captain Leonard, for the case was clear that the -orders compelled him to fire as he did. - -Eleven days later, April 28th, an uproar of voices within this same -camp alarmed Private Martin, on sentry duty, who thought trouble -was brewing in the camp and raised an alarm, which caused both -guard-reliefs to turn out and double-quick to the spot, while the rest -of the men also ran down, some with arms, others without, seizing for -a weapon anything they could lay hands on, ready and willing to fight -anybody if their comrades were in danger. An investigation showed that -the contrabands had built a large bonfire, and were singing around it. -After these two events no further trouble was given by the negroes on -engineer duty. - -Thrown in contact with such large numbers of contrabands of both sexes -as they were, it would not be Companies C and H if the men did not -manage to find amusement in their surroundings. Perhaps the officers -could tell a good story in connection with the marriage of Captain -Bailey’s negro servant, an occasion they graced with their presence; -while enlisted men could spin startling and true tales of pranks they -played in these camps when off duty. - -First-Sergeant Henry C. Mann, Company C, met with a serious and curious -misfortune March 26th. It is surmised he had imbibed freely during -the day, a fault common to many enlisted men at this camp, and as -acting officer of the guard slept at night in the guard tent, upon the -ground, without covering. At daylight he was quite sick from a cold -thus contracted, and was unable to speak above a whisper. Nothing was -thought of this at the time, as every one supposed upon a recovery -from the cold his voice would return. It did not, and Sergeant Mann -was incapacitated from further duty with his company during the term -of service on account of this infirmity. One year after, while walking -on Washington Street, Boston, Mann was seized with a violent coughing -spell, and coughed up two pieces of gristle-like matter, when his -natural voice suddenly returned. Sergeant Mann afterwards served in an -unattached heavy artillery company. He died from consumption several -years ago. - -Of the officers from the regiment on detached service, Lieutenant White -had more adventure than the rest. Immediately after the two companies -arrived at Camp Parapet he was detailed, by orders from General Banks, -to visit any abandoned plantations he could find within or without the -Federal lines, gather together what negroes he could and bring them to -the Parapet to work on the fortifications. He usually took from the two -companies a detail of ten men as a guard, finally reducing this detail -to seven men, for his own convenience and to obviate some difficulty he -had experienced in obtaining rations. All of his trips were successful. - -The first trip was made January 17th, and resulted in bringing in -about four hundred on the nineteenth. The second trip was made on -the twenty-seventh, when about six hundred were obtained and brought -in January 30th. The third and last trip was made early in February -to Donaldsonville and below. The detail for this trip consisted of: -Corporal Augustus H. Young, Privates Elbridge G. Martin, Jr., Cornelius -Dougherty, and Francis Droll, Company C; Sergeant Joseph J. Whitney, -Company H; Private George H. Brown, Company C; and John Scroder, a -Boston boy, who had been servant to Captain Leonard. - -Complaints had been made by old resident planters in the parish, who -remained to work their plantations, that many negroes were gathered -on the plantations committing depredations. Major W. O. Fiske, First -Louisiana Infantry (white troops), suggested to Lieutenant White that a -trip to those plantations be made, and he would be able to get together -a considerable number of negroes to bring down; by so doing benefit -the planters, if they told the truth in their complaint, and also the -Government. Caution was to be exercised, however, as the major did not -fully believe the planters wished to have these negroes disturbed, as -they had work for them to do upon the plantations. What occurred on the -trip would seem to prove this view of the case was correct. - -There was a detachment of thirty men, under a lieutenant from the One -Hundred and Tenth New York, stationed at Magnolia Plantation, in St. -John Parish, for what purpose Major Fiske said he did not understand, -but did know this officer was having a fine time there and was on good -terms with the planters, a fact that would make it probable he could -not be counted on to render any assistance. This proved to be so. - -Taking a river boat White and his men arrived at a landing two miles -below this plantation about ten o’clock at night. On visiting this -lieutenant a pleasant evening was passed without any mention made of -the business in hand. Quarters were furnished for the night. Early next -morning Lieutenant White, in company of the New York officer, made a -round of adjacent plantations to look over the ground carefully. Upon -their return White explained what he was after, when the lieutenant -stated his position: he was pleasantly situated, well treated, on good -terms with the inhabitants, and did not feel like doing a thing to -disturb his pleasant life. Lieutenant White at once made up his mind -the work must be done without assistance. He quietly gathered his men -together and informed them there was considerable work to do, with a -hint how easier it was to ride than to walk, then left them for the -night. After breakfast, next morning, when he reached the place where -his men quartered, he found seven horses ready, bridled and saddled. -To his inquiry: “What does this mean?” one of the men replied: “It is -White’s cavalry.” As he said it was easier to ride than walk, his men -acted on the suggestion and equipped themselves in the night. Without -difficulty he procured a mount for himself and proceeded to make a -tour of the surrounding plantations, collect the negroes together, and -explain what he wanted to do with them. They received the intelligence -with delight, and were told to bring all of their effects and families -with them, occupy a large storehouse situated by the river bank, where -they could live until he could take them down river. They came in large -numbers. - -White left two men to look after matters at the storehouse, with -instructions how to find him in case of need, and with five men started -upon another tour on the succeeding day. While absent, a civilian -provost-marshal, named Marmillon, or calling himself by that name, -rode up to the storehouse, accompanied by a squad of hard-looking -characters, fully armed, and demanded to see the lieutenant in charge. -Word was despatched to White, who returned and confronted the gang. -After some parley, Marmillon demanded that the detail should get out of -the parish; said they had no business there; that he had orders of a -later date than White’s instructions, which stated that all officers on -such detailed duty as his should cease their operations and forthwith -join their commands, insisting that White should read the orders, which -he refused to do in a positive manner, but informed Marmillon no such -orders had been received by him, furthermore, he could not receive them -through him as official, and that he was on a service he meant to put -through to the best of his ability. - -The following orders were all that Marmillon could have had at the -time, issued from headquarters of the Department, viz.: a circular of -February 16th, 1863, which explained a system of labor adopted for the -year in utilizing unemployed negroes, and General Orders No. 17, issued -February 18th, 1863, that reads: “No negroes will be taken from the -plantations until further orders, by any officer or other person in the -service of the United States, without previous authority from these -headquarters.” - -While the conversation was at its height, with sharp questions and -answers upon both sides, the men of “White’s cavalry” became uneasy and -were ready for a fight, intimating to Lieutenant White their desire -to “clean out” the provost-marshal’s gang. They were held in check, -until finally Lieutenant White notified Marmillon it was of no use to -talk further about the matter, he did not intend to leave the parish -and should not, but the best thing he (Marmillon) could do was to get -out himself with his crowd of scallywag cut-throats, about as rascally -a set of men as he ever saw, for his own men were a little excited, -and if he did not clear out he would not hold himself responsible -for the consequences. This appeared to settle the matter, for the -provost-marshal and his men went away saying they would be heard from -again. That night Marmillon, or somebody, sent to Lieutenant White a -threatening letter, with peremptory orders to leave the parish. - -The negroes were attentive listeners to all that passed between the -two parties. During the evening one of them quietly asked White to go -with him to the storehouse, where he found these negroes had made a -barricade, with their bedding, baggage, and sundry traps of all kinds, -on the three sides approached by land (the fourth side was on the water -front), so as to make the building almost bullet proof. In the vicinity -were about two hundred negroes, armed with long sugar-cane knives, -very excited and full of fight. They said, let the provost-marshal and -his gang make an attempt to use force and they would wipe them out of -existence. - -The situation was not pleasant to contemplate, not knowing what -Marmillon with his men would attempt to do, and they could not get -away. Repeated attempts to stop boats on the river were failures. -The boats hug the east bank as though they feared some trick was -attempted upon them. This uncertain state of affairs continued for -several days without interference from any quarter, White and his men -in the saddle most of the time, raiding around to prevent any attempt -to surprise them. Finally Lieutenant White and Corporal Young seized -a horse and wagon, drove to Donaldsonville and, by pluck combined -with CHEEK, compelled a steamer bound down river to land at -the storehouse and take the negroes on board. They were landed at the -Parapet and turned over to the proper officers. This detail was absent -about thirteen days, unable all that time to communicate with Captain -Leonard, who thought the party had been captured by the enemy. - -Several other short trips after negroes were made at various times by -Lieutenants Phillips and Sanderson without any trouble while performing -that duty. - -Preliminary steps were taken in March towards enlisting from the -negro camps a sufficient number of men to organize the First Regiment -Louisiana Engineers, to form a part of the “Corps d’Afrique,” then -under consideration, and later on ordered to be organized as proposed -in General Orders No. 40, from headquarters Nineteenth Army Corps, -issued May 1st, 1863, at Opelousas. In those orders Major-General Banks -proposed to organize a _corps d’armee_ of colored troops, to consist -ultimately of eighteen regiments, representing all arms--infantry, -artillery and cavalry--organized in three divisions of three brigades -each, with appropriate corps of engineers, and flying hospitals to each -division. - -Considering the character and standing of many men who received -commissions in these regiments the following part of General Orders No. -40 sounds like _buncombe_. The extract is as follows: - -“In the field the efficiency of every corps depends upon the influence -of its officers upon the troops engaged, and the practicable limits -of one direct command is generally estimated at one thousand men. The -most eminent military historians and commanders, among others Thiers -and Chambray, express the opinion, upon a full review of the elements -of military power, that the valor of the soldier is rather acquired -than natural. Nations whose individual heroism is undisputed have -failed as soldiers in the field. The European and American continents -exhibit instances of this character, and the military prowess of every -nation may be estimated by the centuries it has devoted to military -contest, or the traditional passion of its people for military glory. -With a race unaccustomed to military service, much more depends on -the immediate influence of officers upon individual members than with -those that have acquired more or less of warlike habits and spirit by -centuries of contest. It is deemed best, therefore, in the organization -of the Corps d’Afrique to limit the regiments to the smallest number of -men consistent with efficient service in the field, in order to secure -the most thorough instruction and discipline, and the largest influence -of the officers over the troops. At first they will be limited to five -hundred men. The average of American regiments is less than that number. - - * * * * * - -The chief defect in organizations of this character has arisen from -incorrect ideas of the officers in command. Their discipline has been -lax, and in some cases the conduct of the regiments unsatisfactory and -discreditable. Controversies unnecessary and injurious to the service -have arisen between them and other troops. The organization proposed -will reconcile and avoid many of these troubles.” - -The First Louisiana Engineers comprised twelve companies of sixty-five -men each, in three battalions, under command of Colonel Justin Hodge, -U. S. A. This regiment was conceived in the following manner: all -negroes employed at work upon the fortifications were in a camp by -themselves, styled “the engineer camp.” These negroes were organized -into gangs of one hundred and twenty-five men each, commanded by two -enlisted men from Companies C and H, each gang numbered one, two, -three and so on, the same as companies in a regiment. The gangs were -further subdivided into squads of twenty-five men, commanded by the -most intelligent negro to be found. Before recruiting for this regiment -was thought of, acting under orders these gangs were often drilled -in marching, the facings, and other exercises without arms, by the -detailed men who commanded them. Contrary to expectation, they took -a great interest in these drills and improved rapidly, manifesting -considerable intelligence for slaves, one reason why it was easy work -to handle them, for they obeyed all orders without causing trouble, -accustomed as they had been to doing so for their late masters. - -Opinions differ in regard to whether the negroes enlisted of their own -free will, fully understanding what they were about, when this regiment -was determined upon. Lieutenant White says, that the two companies -taken by him to Brashear City were sent away in a hurry, and the manner -in which they were mustered into the service was this: the men were -drawn up in line, when a German officer, who spoke poor English, said -something to them that White could not understand, though he stood -near him, and then declared the two companies mustered into service. -These negroes afterwards asked what had been going on, and appeared -ignorant of the nature of the ceremony. No enlistment papers had been -made out or signed that White ever knew. On the other hand, soldiers -who were engaged in recruiting for this regiment say, that the men -signed enlistment rolls, nearly all by affixing their mark, and that -they fully understood what was wanted of them, enlisting of their own -free will. This is probably true so far as other companies than the -first two are concerned. At all events, it is a fact, none of them ever -protested against their enlistment, or mode of muster in, and were -wonderfully tickled at the idea of becoming soldiers, proud to belong -to the “machinery department,” as they termed it, in their ignorance -supposing as a matter of course anybody called an engineer must have -something to do with machinery in some manner. - -After passing an examination early in April, the following men of the -Forty-Second were appointed officers in this engineer regiment, and -received their commissions a month later, viz.: - -Sergeant Moses Washburn, Company C, to be captain. Commissioned May 23d. - -Sergeant Frederick C. Blanchard, Company C, to be captain. Commissioned -May 23d. - -Private William E. Melvin, Company C, to be captain. Commissioned May -23d. - -Sergeant Edward L. Jones, Company H, to be captain. Commissioned May -23d. - -Sergeant Samuel H. Everett, Company H, to be captain. Commissioned May -23d. - -Sergeant John G. Meserve, Company C, to be first-lieutenant. -Commissioned May 21st. - -Corporal Joseph McField, Company C, to be first-lieutenant. -Commissioned May 21st. - -Sergeant James G. Hill, Company K, to be first-lieutenant. Commissioned -March 27th. - -Sergeant William H. Shepard, Company K, to be second-lieutenant. -Commissioned March 27th. - -Corporal Augustus H. Young, Company C, to be second-lieutenant. -Commissioned May 21st. - -Private Edwin G. Sanborn, Company C, to be second-lieutenant. -Commissioned May 23d. - -Private Charles E. Warren, Company C, made assistant-surgeon, June 24th. - -Private George F. Clark, Company C, appointed quartermaster-sergeant, -June 26th. - -Other men in Companies C and H had commissions tendered to them, -which they declined for personal reasons. Some of the above-mentioned -promotions were good--men adapted to carry out the spirit of -Major-General Banks’ order. - -An expedition made February 12th by the Third Division down Plaquemine -Bayou, for the purpose of capturing Butte a la Rose, at the head -of Grand Lake, was obliged to abandon the attempt on account of -timber drifts in the swollen bayous, that made a passage through -them impracticable, and returned February 19th. Lieutenant Swift, -Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts, had got an idea into his head that he -could, with a proper force, remove the greatest obstacle encountered -by the Third Division: a completely-packed drift of wood like a raft, -about three miles long, situated at the upper end of Bayou Sorrel, in -St. Martins and Iberville Parishes, a narrow sheet of water about nine -miles long. Swift had received permission, with orders from General -Banks, to attempt it. - -In winter months it had been the custom for light-draft river boats to -make a short cut from Berwick Bay by way of Grand Lake, Lake Chilot, -Bayou Sorrel, the Atchafalaya River, and Bayou Plaquemine to the -Mississippi River. In summer months this route is almost dry in places, -and not navigable for local boats. From Brashear City, via Grand Lake, -to Lake Chilot is about thirty miles; Lake Chilot to Bayou Sorrel, -about eight miles; through Bayou Sorrel, nine miles; and from Bayou -Sorrel to Plaquemine, upon the Mississippi, is about twelve miles. - -On April 26th, at the earnest request of Colonel Hodge, Lieutenant -White consented to take command of two companies, about one hundred and -thirty men, from the colored engineer regiment, under orders to proceed -to Brashear City to assist Lieutenant Swift in his project. - -The officers in command of these two companies were: Captain Samuel H. -Everett, Captain William E. Melvin, Acting Lieutenant David C. Smith -and Acting Lieutenant James S. Lovejoy, from Company C, Forty-Second -Massachusetts Volunteers, Acting Lieutenant ---- Purrington, from -Twelfth Maine Volunteers, and Acting Lieutenant ---- McCown, a clerk to -Colonel Hodge. - -At Brashear City the expedition had to remain some three weeks, until -suitable steamers could be furnished from boats in use by the army, -then advancing up the Teche. Two small tug boats and two barges were -finally provided, with all the equipment and rations supposed to be -sufficient for the time it would occupy, calculated by Lieutenant -Swift to be ten days. A start was made about May 20th. No surgeon -was detailed or medicines provided, although an attempt was made to -obtain both in Brashear City. The post hospital officers refused to do -anything in the absence of direct orders to do so, although White had a -personal request from General Banks to get a couple of panniers, with a -full set of surgical instruments and medicines. The bags were obtained, -but no instruments and but few medicines. Lieutenant Swift had with -him a detail of thirty men, Twelfth Maine Infantry, all practical -river lumber drivers. He did not conceal his opinion, that the negro -troops were of no use to him in this scheme, and that the men from the -Twelfth Maine would make short work of the obstacle. - -On arrival at Bayou Sorrel, where they were attacked the first night -by guerillas, they went to work with a will for some days, sending the -logs right and left floating down towards Lake Chilot, where they again -collected together to form a formidable obstacle in their rear, and -before they were aware of it they were caught between the obstructions; -they could not go ahead or go back. The weather was extremely hot, with -mosquitos and flies terribly annoying, and before many days Lieutenant -Swift was obliged to call upon Lieutenant White to assist him with the -negro troops. - -The expedition lay in this bayou between three to four weeks, the -water falling steadily until there were places in their rear fordable -over sand bars. The men sickened rapidly, measles appeared, and all -of the Maine detachment, except five or six men, were on the sick -list unfit for duty. Fortunately none died. About sixty-five of the -negro detachment were also sick and unfit for duty; seven of them -died. Provisions ran short. The few inhabitants in the vicinity gave -information that the Confederates were operating around their rear to -cut them off, not expecting they could get through in front and must -eventually abandon the boats to try and work back by land towards -Brashear. - -In this emergency Swift appealed to White for a trustworthy man to go -to Brashear City for provisions, and arms for the negro companies. -Acting Lieutenant McCown was selected, who, with two negroes, managed -by travelling at night to work their way back to Brashear, where -they obtained provisions, also forty muskets, without bayonets or -ammunition, and brought them up upon a small steamer. - -Work was pushed day and night by all of the available hands to break -through the obstacle in front, as it had become impossible to work -back. This was at last accomplished, and with a clear passage beyond -this obstacle the steamers were rushed through to the Mississippi, -reaching that river late in the afternoon of June 19th, and the men -were landed on the east bank, opposite Plaquemine. - -One boat struck a snag while entering the Mississippi and sank in water -almost up to her deck cabin; all hands, except the captain with a few -of the crew, were taken on board other boats. Next morning Confederate -soldiers appeared on the river bank and captured those who remained -upon the wreck. It was afterwards ascertained that a force of about -two thousand cavalry reached a point on the Bayou Plaquemine very soon -after the expedition had passed, to find they were too late, when they -pushed for Plaquemine Town, capturing the small force stationed there, -burning the hospital building, and committing other acts of vandalism. - -At the season of the year it was undertaken this expedition was a -farce. Had an intelligent officer first made proper inquiries to -ascertain the true state of that line of water course, when it was -navigable and when not, the probabilities are that the expedition would -not have started. - -Lieutenant White, Acting Lieutenants Smith and Lovejoy proceeded -immediately to the regimental hospital at Bayou Gentilly, sick with -fever, and for a time it was doubtful whether they would recover. The -two companies went to Port Hudson to rejoin their regiment. - -The First Louisiana Engineers received orders to proceed to Baton Rouge -May 20th, with General Neal Dow’s brigade. The brigade passed up river -May 21st; on the twenty-second the engineer regiment had its first -dress parade, with music furnished by the Forty-Seventh Massachusetts -regimental band, that regiment having arrived at the Parapet a few -days before. Without arms, clothed in straw hats and uncouth clothing -(regulation uniforms had not been issued), this regiment made an -appearance that agreeably disappointed the military spectator. - -On Sunday, May 24th, camp was struck, transports taken, and the First -Louisiana passed up the river for Port Hudson, where it did some hard -work, received well-merited praise for duty actually performed, and -praise for what it did not do. At Port Hudson this regiment did about -all of the engineer hard labor of the army, divided into detachments to -cover the whole Federal front (about five miles), to throw up temporary -fortifications, dig approaches and mines. On the extreme left a work -for twenty-one guns was made by these colored troops. In the first -assault this regiment carried fascines to fill the ditch, and to their -credit it must be said they ran forward, threw them in helter-skelter, -expecting to receive the enemy’s fire every moment. The enemy did not -fire on them (that was reserved for the assaulting columns of white -troops), and they got back without loss. During this siege the regiment -was as much under fire every day as any white regiment, suffered a loss -of about seventy men, and displayed good pluck for untrained men. - -While convalescent, Lieutenant White, disregarding the advice of -Surgeon Heintzelman, returned to his company in New Orleans the last -of June. From there he started for Port Hudson to report to Colonel -Hodge. At Springfield Landing, the base of supplies for the army, an -attack was made on the post July 2d, by a raiding party of Confederate -cavalry, just as a party, including Lieutenant White, were about to -start in a sutler’s wagon for Port Hudson, seven miles distant. - -The Confederates dashed through a force of some ninety men from a New -York regiment on duty at the landing, and then divided into squads. One -of these squads rode down to the river bank where White, with a dozen -other men, had taken refuge in an old trading boat. After discharging -a few volleys, from the saddle, they rode away. They did not dare to -dismount, because a sharp musketry-fire was springing up behind them -from the New York infantry-men, who rallied, behind shelter, by twos -and fours, as they saw a chance, until they drove the Confederates -away, after a half hour’s skirmish, and before the Thirtieth -Massachusetts, ordered down from Port Hudson, could intercept them. - -From the boat Lieutenant White witnessed the capture of his old -companion, Lieutenant Swift, by a Confederate squad who rode up to look -inside a tent occupied by Swift a few moments before busily engaged in -writing, and who had hid, with two men, in bushes close by. They would -have been safe had not one of the men incautiously looked out to see -what was going on and been seen by the enemy, who ordered them out and -made them prisoners. - -Lieutenant White was relieved from duty with the engineer troops July -7th, to rejoin his company. - -To sum up what these two companies did is to say that they done their -duty well. They were once, April 24th, under orders for Port Hudson, -and held in readiness for two days to proceed there; the nearest they -ever came to going into active field service. - -June 5th, Companies C and H were relieved from duty in the Engineer -Department, and marched seven miles to Bayou Gentilly, accompanied by -the regimental band (sent them at the request of Captain Leonard), and -rejoined the regiment. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -COMPANY K IN CHARGE OF PONTOONS--BATON ROUGE--TECHE CAMPAIGN--SIEGE OF -PORT HUDSON--DONALDSONVILLE--RETURN TO REGIMENT. - - -Company K, under command of Lieutenant Henry A. Harding, a talented -young officer, twenty-one years old, in obedience to Division Special -Orders No. 51, issued February 16th, proceeded to New Orleans on the -eighteenth from Gentilly Camp, and reported to Major Houston for duty -in the engineer service. Quarters were assigned in Shippers’ cotton -press, already partially occupied by the Twenty-Sixth New York Battery, -one hundred and fifty men, eight brass guns and one hundred and ten -horses. This battery remained at the cotton press until March 8th, the -two commands fraternizing without any trouble. - -Company K was ordered to take charge of the pontoon train. The -pontoons, in two sizes, were made of rubber, inflated with air by -hand bellows in lieu of air pumps, when all ready for use. Such -miscellaneous articles as planks, guy ropes, oars, etc., occupied a -large amount of space. Thirty wagons, drawn by four mules to each -wagon, were used to transport this bridge and material. Negroes were -employed as drivers, “bossed” by a large, powerful Irishman called “Big -Slattery.” Slattery was a bully, always ready to curse and whip his -negro drivers. His brutality assumed such proportions men of Company K -had to interfere and put a stop to it. The company wagoner, in charge -of the wagon used to convey company property, was Private Jotham E. -Bigelow, until Wagoner Porter Carter was ordered to join his company. - -At first sight the men made up their minds they were to see hard -service in handling this cumbersome, clumsy-looking pontoon bridge. To -bridge a river or bayou the requisite number of pontoons were inflated -by hand-bellows, then launched and placed in position, afterwards -planked, and fastened by ropes to remain steady. Company K had eighty -men for this duty, until sickness and death gradually reduced the -number to about fifty. They learned how to handle the pontoons without -instruction from an engineer officer, by practice drills with sections -of the bridge, and gained much valuable knowledge of the property -confided to their care by odd jobs of necessary work done to have -everything in complete order. - -Two accidents happened that, for a short time in March, left the -company without a commissioned officer. Lieutenant Harding, kicked by -a horse about a week previous, had to go into hospital March 1st, on -account of the injury. In the afternoon Lieutenant Gorham was thrown, -his horse fell upon him, and he was insensible until taken to the St. -James Hospital next day. He returned to duty March 9th, in season to -command the company ordered to Baton Rouge with the pontoons on March -10th. They went up river upon the steamer _Eastern Queen_ and arrived -at Baton Rouge March 11th at three o’clock P.M., going into -camp about half a mile from the river. - -All signs pointed to a forward movement by the large body of troops -massed at this place, commanded by General Banks in person. Great -activity was observed on board naval vessels, which caused the men -to understand they were about to do active field duty and gain some -practical knowledge how to use pontoon bridges for service. Early -on the twelfth the pontoon train was marched to Bayou Montesino, -five miles from Baton Rouge, and the men commenced to throw a -bridge seventy-seven feet long across this bayou. Picket lines -were established some two miles in front until next morning, when -the Forty-Eighth Massachusetts and Second Louisiana Infantry, with -unattached Massachusetts cavalry companies, commanded by Captains -Godfrey and Magee, were sent up river on transports to Springfield -Landing, proceeding to the junction of Springfield Landing and Bayou -Sara roads, driving in Confederate pickets and clearing the roads down -to where the bridge was thrown. At night, work was suspended, but -Company K kept on the alert, as pickets were firing throughout the -night and alarms frequent; the men were formed into line three times, -ready for a defence of the bridge. By noon of the thirteenth all was -made ready, and at night troops commenced to cross on the advance -towards Port Hudson. - -The men remained on duty at their bridge until the seventeenth, with -the Forty-Ninth Massachusetts Infantry on guard for a part of the -time, witnessing the constant movement of troops, accompanied by -baggage trains, and listening to the guns from the fleet while Admiral -Farragut succeeded in pushing two gunboats past Port Hudson batteries -March 14th. The retrograde march towards Baton Rouge commenced on the -fifteenth, a rainy day, and on the seventeenth Company K commenced to -take up, load their bridge upon wagons and go in the same direction, -ordered to accompany the Third Brigade, First Division, Colonel N. A. -M. Dudley in command, under orders to reconnoitre the west bank of the -river. - -On the eighteenth teams went to the levee and remained until five a.m. -the next day (all hands sleeping upon the levee), when they embarked -on the _Sallie Robinson_ and proceeded to within five miles of Port -Hudson, landing in the afternoon at Hunter’s Plantation. The brigade -foraged, scouted, and opened communication with Farragut, while naval -vessels below Port Hudson kept the Confederate steamers well under -the protection of their own forts. Without having to make any use of -the pontoons, the brigade returned to Baton Rouge on the afternoon of -March 22d, and Company K left the next day, still upon the _Sallie -Robinson_, for New Orleans, where they arrived on the twenty-fourth -at four P.M., and marched immediately, with their train, to -Shippers’ Cotton Press. Several men were taken sick from exposure to -damp atmosphere at night, which almost penetrated their blankets as -they slept upon the river bank. - -For two weeks the company was kept busy in making alterations in the -pontoons, found necessary during the short service they had seen, -preparatory to moving with the army, about to commence a campaign in -Western Louisiana towards Red River. - -Hospital-Steward Charles J. Wood was detached from the regiment -March 31st, by Department special orders, and joined April 3d, to -act as medical-officer. First-Sergeant J. Gilbert Hill and Sergeant -William H. Shepard were detached, by Department special orders, March -26th, and ordered to Baton Rouge to report to Captain Justin Hodge, -assistant-quartermaster, on recruiting service for the First Louisiana -Engineers, colored troops. They afterwards received commissions as -first- and second-lieutenants. The following sick men were sent to -hospitals: Sergeant George L. Johnson to St. James Hospital in New -Orleans; Privates W. J. Bacon, C. B. Bacon, Samuel Johnson and S. M. -Stafford to the regimental hospital at Gentilly Bayou. - -Preliminary movements of troops were in progress as follows: the -Second Brigade, First Division, under General Weitzel, had advanced to -Brashear City from Bayou Bœuff April 2d; the Third and Fourth Divisions -were _en-route_ from Baton Rouge by transports to Algiers, thence -by rail, a portion marching from Donaldsonville _via_ Thibodeaux, -when orders were received by Company K, April 5th, to move with the -pontoons. At eight o’clock P.M. next day, the detachment -took cars at Algiers for Brashear City, where they arrived early next -morning. The bridge was unloaded, piled compactly near the track, and -tents pitched close at hand. - -Weitzel’s brigade was transported across the river to Berwick on the -ninth, and the Third Division followed as fast as limited facilities at -hand would admit, occupying two days in crossing. The bridge was put -together about a mile from camp, below the city, on the ninth, using -all of the material, that made a bridge two hundred and eighty-seven -and ten-twelfths feet long. This took an entire day, and completely -tired out everybody. Next day an attempt was made to tow this pontoon -bridge to Bayou Teche, but the tide proved too strong for a tug-boat, -and the steamer _St. Mary’s_ was called on to render assistance, and -then the _Sykes_ had to assist before it could be moved and brought up -to the railroad wharf at Brashear. This day was lost. The _Sykes_, at -two P.M. on the eleventh, took the bridge in tow, with all -hands upon it, bound for Pattersonville, three miles above Brashear. -After a hard pull, obliged once to make fast to the shore, the bridge -reached Pattersonville in the evening and remained all night. The men -remained upon it, in readiness to obey any orders. On the twelfth the -bridge was thrown across the bayou, and one infantry regiment, one -cavalry company and five artillery guns crossed over. While at work -Company K was fired on, and seven men were thrown forward to ascertain -if a force was in the vicinity; a small guard was found, who beat a -hasty retreat. Lieutenant Harding, with a boat’s crew, went up river -at night for orders; Lieutenant Gorham, left in command, tried to -execute an order to bring up the bridge to a spot about three miles -from his position, where a bridge was destroyed by the enemy, but the -captains of steamers _Sykes_ and _Smith_ thought it unsafe to try it, -and the bridge was not towed up until next day, the thirteenth, when -it was placed in position about three-quarters of a mile from the -battle-field. Gorham was placed in arrest by Major Houston for the -delay, and released and ordered to duty on the fifteenth, as it was not -his fault. - -The Third (Emory’s) Division, the Second (Weitzel’s) Brigade, First -Division, advanced to Pattersonville, threw out pickets, and went into -bivouac on the eleventh. The enemy was posted behind breastworks on the -Bisland Plantation, about four miles above Pattersonville. On their -left were six hundred men, with six guns, defending the ground from -Grand Lake to the bayou. The gunboat _Diana_ defended the bayou main -road, and there were two 24 Pr. guns in position upon the bank, on -their right, to assist the _Diana_. Sixteen hundred men, with twelve -guns, held the line of their right to a railway embankment, where -General Green was posted with his dismounted men. - -After this position was reconnoitred on the twelfth, with skirmishing -and considerable artillery firing in the afternoon, an advance on -the enemy was made about ten A.M. April 13th, by a strong -line of skirmishers, supported by artillery. No attempt was made to -assault. This movement on the enemy was evidently made to occupy their -attention until Grover’s division could gain the roads in their rear -at Franklin. At noon the gunboat _Clifton_ pushed up river to aid the -troops, until she ran afoul of a torpedo. For fear of being blown up -by these machines, she anchored until afternoon, and then commenced -to throw shot and shell dangerously near the Federal troops. This was -soon stopped, for the _Clifton_ was not in a proper place to render any -service. The bridge was in constant use during the day, soldiers and -ambulances crossing and recrossing. The company remained under arms, -on guard, until the fourteenth, squads of men going up river in small -boats to witness the army movements on the twelfth and thirteenth, -collect small boats and carry orders. The enemy retreated to Franklin -on the fourteenth, after destroying their one gunboat on the bayou -(the _Diana_), to escape a threatened rear attack by Grover’s fourth -division, that had by way of Grand Lake, on transports, effected a -landing with difficulty near Hutchin’s Point, not far from Franklin, -and advanced to the Bayou Teche. - -In this first Western Louisiana campaign the pontoons did not see much -service. Bridges over the small watercourses General Taylor attempted -to burn or otherwise destroy were repaired without difficulty, as -the pursuit was close enough to prevent much destruction. A great -flood existed, but saving the bridges obviated a call for use of -pontoon-sections. The labor done by Company K was not heavy, but kept -them constantly at work on the river for ten days, exposed at night -to foul air and bad vapor from swamps. This exposure caused a large -proportion of the men to be taken sick. Serious cases were sent to post -hospitals at Berwick Bay, a portion distributed among hospitals in New -Orleans, and those who could travel were sent to Bayou Gentilly. - -The company proceeded to Franklin, April 14th, upon the _Sykes_, with -gunboat _Clifton_ for an escort, leaving their bridge where it was in -position, with a detachment on guard. From Franklin the men were kept -moving down and up the river, on the lookout for torpedoes, and at -work to try and remove the wreck of the Confederate gunboat _Cotton_, -blown up by the enemy in January, obstructing free navigation where -she sunk. Plenty of opportunities were found to go ashore on foraging -expeditions. - -Orders were received on the twenty-third to join the army, well on -its way towards Opelousas. Small boats took the men down to where -their pontoon bridge lay, when it was taken in tow for Brashear City, -and arrived there in the afternoon. The bridge was taken up on the -twenty-fifth, loaded upon wagons, and transported on the steamer -_G. A. Sheldon_, that left Brashear City on the twenty-sixth for -Barre’s Landing, _via_ Grand Lake, the Atchafalaya and the Cahawba -Rivers, stopping at Butte a-la-Rose to leave supplies for the gunboat -_Calhoun_. On arrival at Barre’s Landing on the twenty-eighth, wagons -were sent ashore and the command went into camp. Bustle and excitement -ruled the hours. A large amount of cotton kept coming in to the army, -and was stored or shipped by steamers to Brashear. - -From exposure upon the bayou Lieutenant Harding became sick with -malarial fever, that forced him to leave his company April 21st and -return to the regimental hospital for treatment. The command fell on -Lieutenant Gorham, who was not equal to the task. With a weakness for -liquor he could not control, this one fault completely unfitted him -for such a position as he held. He was reprimanded once by a general -officer, who noticed he was inebriated while on duty and cautioned him -not to repeat the offence. Gorham failed to obey the caution, was found -by the rear guard in a state of intoxication at a rebel’s house on -Carnell’s Plantation, and at Alexandria, May 9th, was placed in arrest. -Captain Smith, First Louisiana Engineers, was placed in command of -Company K until Lieutenant Harding should rejoin. The option was given -Lieutenant Gorham to resign or stand trial by court-martial. He chose -the former, and was discharged from the service of the United States by -Department Special Orders No. 115, issued May 13th. - -General orders were issued to prevent straggling and pillage. As these -orders were not promulgated to Company K, and many men never heard read -General Orders No. 29, it is here given: - - “HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF THE GULF, - “19TH ARMY CORPS, - “OPELOUSAS, April 21st, 1863. - - - “GENERAL ORDERS NO. 29. - -“The exigencies of the service, and safety of the troops, imperatively -demand that the disposable force of the corps shall march in column, -except where necessary detachments upon special duty are ordered by -superior officers. The desertion of the column upon the march, or -straggling, for the purposes of pillage and plunder, is an offence made -punishable with death by the Articles of War. The honor of the flag, -and the safety of the men who faithfully discharge their duty, demand -that this law be enforced; and the commanding general gives notice, -absolute and positive, that this punishment will be executed upon -those men, of whatever command, who violate the army regulations and -dishonor the service by inexcusable and atrocious acts of this kind. -All officers, of whatever grade, who shall allow the men under their -respective commands to leave the line of march or the camp, without -authority, will be summarily and dishonorably discharged the service, -as unworthy to participate in the triumphant march of this column. The -army is now hundreds of miles from its base of operations, in the -enemy’s country. The campaign may be made one of the most creditable of -the war, or it may disgrace the troops and dishonor the country. The -commanding general appeals to officers and men to reflect upon their -position, to consider their duties, and faithfully to discharge the -obligations which rest upon them, and is, for himself, determined to -execute the severest sentence of military law upon those who basely -betray the service and dishonor their country in this regard. Whatever -property may be necessary for the support of the army, or may be -prostituted to support the rebellion, will be taken by the Government, -and due reparation will be made therefor. But we do not war upon women -and children, however much and in whatever way they may have erred. Our -contest is with the men and the armies of the rebellion. - -“Information has been received at these headquarters that the lives -of officers as well as of the men of the line have been endangered by -the unauthorized and criminal discharge of firearms by persons engaged -in pillage. Notice is given to all officers and soldiers that the -parties engaged in these practices will be held responsible for the -consequences of their acts, and that such offences will be punished -with the severest penalties prescribed by the Articles of War. This -order is not a matter of form, but will be rigidly enforced during the -campaign. - -“Officers in every division, brigade and regiment of this command -are directed to place a rear-guard for the purpose of preventing -stragglers from falling to the rear of the column. Where men are sick -or foot-sore, upon the certificate of the surgeon, they will be allowed -such conveyance or provided with such hospital accommodations as their -situation may require. The captured straggler is the best source of -information that the enemy possesses. A soldier who deserts his column -in the face of the enemy will not hesitate to betray his comrades, and -deserves the penalty which the law provides for his great wrong. - - “By command of - “MAJOR-GENERAL BANKS. - “RICHARD B. IRWIN, - “_Assistant Adjutant-General_.” - -Several men of Company K got permission of Sergeant Johnson to forage, -and went down the river on the twenty-eighth for the express purpose of -pillage and plunder, returning next day with silver spoons and jewelry -they had taken from a dwelling, whose owner promptly reported this case -of burglary to General Grover. Lieutenant Gorham was ordered to parade -his company in front of Grover’s headquarters, where the property owner -identified Sergeant Baker, Corporal Bates, Privates E. G. Bacon, Luke -Bowker, A. J. Thayer, E. M. Thayer and James Mins as connected with -this affair. They were placed in arrest, sent to Algiers, and confined -for twenty days before released from their dilemma with a reprimand, -because they could give conclusive proof Orders No. 29 had not been -promulgated to them. - -Under orders to proceed to Alexandria the company and pontoon -train left Barre’s Landing May 5th, with a column of troops under -Grover, reaching Washington at half-past six in the evening, after a -twelve-mile march, and remained over night. On the sixth, after a march -of twenty-four miles over a rough road, a halt was made at a large -sugar-house for the night. This was a tough day for the men; wagons -broke through small bridges crossing ravines, had to be unloaded, -bridges repaired, wagons repaired and reloaded, fences taken down to -facilitate passing across plantations, and other innumerable vexatious -accidents that make soldiers swear. On the seventh an early start was -made; twenty miles marched before a halt for the night was made at a -sugar-house two miles from Chanaville. On the eighth the march was -continued to Carnell’s Plantation, sixteen miles from Alexandria, and -on the ninth, after an early start, Company K reached Alexandria at -noon. Nothing was done at this place except to guard a ferry across Red -River, where forage parties, negroes and horses were constantly coming -over. - -Ordered to Simmsport, with troops destined to invest Port Hudson, the -pontoon train again joined a column that left Alexandria May 13th, -about two o’clock in the afternoon. Fourteen miles were marched that -day; about twenty miles to Cheneyville on the fourteenth; eighteen -miles to Evergreenville on the fifteenth; to Moreanville on the -sixteenth, twelve miles from Simmsport. Simmsport was reached about -noon on the seventeenth, after an average march of fifteen miles a day. -Two pontoon rafts and an abutment were built next day for a part of -the army to cross the Atchafalaya River to take transports at points -on Red River for Port Hudson. The current was too strong and river too -wide to permit the bridge to be used, and flatboats had to be brought -into requisition. A portion of the troops marched to Morganza, on the -Mississippi River, and took transports there. - -Lieutenant Harding and Private Austin Hawes rejoined the company on the -twenty-first to find the army had departed that day, leaving a guard -over baggage and trains, that were moved as fast as transportation -could be provided. It was on Sunday, the twenty-fourth, before Company -K could proceed upon the steamer _Forest Queen_, arriving at Bayou Sara -about ten o’clock the same night. The pontoon teams did not arrive -until late in the evening of the twenty-fifth, when they were loaded, -ready for an early start next morning. - -The first assault on the enemy’s works at Port Hudson was arranged -for May 27th. On the twenty-sixth Company K, with the pontoon train, -started from Bayou Sara at four o’clock A.M., under orders to -bridge Bayou Sandy (or Sandy Creek) on the Federal right. They arrived -at two o’clock P.M., after a terrible hot and dusty march of -sixteen miles. A light footbridge had been built over the bayou by -pioneers, and one colored regiment was on the other side skirmishing -with the enemy in a cool, collected manner. Work was at once commenced -on a pontoon bridge two hundred and eighty feet long. Shot and shell -from the Confederate works, less than a mile away, would occasionally -fly over the heads of men at work, who ran for shelter when they could. -The enemy’s infantry retired when the Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts -Infantry and Eighteenth New York Battery put in an appearance. At -night the Third and Fourth Regiments Louisiana (colored) Native Guards -relieved the Thirty-Eighth and the battery. Everybody not obliged to be -on picket or guard, slept through the night as only worn-out men can -sleep, without a thought of the morrow, undisturbed by the continual -boom from heavy guns fired by naval vessels bombarding the enemy. - -Next day, Wednesday, at half-past five o’clock A.M., two negro -regiments (First and Third Louisiana Native Guards), with other troops -from Colonel Nelson’s brigade and two brass guns Sixth Massachusetts -Battery, crossed both bridges to assault a redoubt. The battery-guns -were handled in the road until withdrawn, with a loss of three horses -killed and two men wounded. The infantry, with great bravery, pushed -up close to the earthworks, where they found an overflow of water from -the bayou a serious obstacle to success, and were obliged to retreat -to cover of woods. One brave mulatto officer was left dead in the -water near the redoubt. Five ineffectual advances through this water -were made by Nelson’s colored brigade to scale a high bluff on which -the redoubt stood, suffering heavily (about four hundred in killed -and wounded), before approaches could be commenced on advanced ground -that was gained and held. A cavalry detachment arrived late in the -afternoon, dismounted and skirmished forward without any result. On -their return an orderly-sergeant was killed while recrossing the -bridge. During the day shells from the enemy came fast, and were -exploding lively among the tree tops about Sandy Creek, where Company -K remained as a bridge-guard. The enemy had the range, but could not -depress their guns to make shot do any execution. - -Corporals Lovegrove, Alden and a private were stationed at night on the -exposed end to cut the lashings, so the bridge could be swung to the -other shore by guy ropes, in case the enemy came down in force. The -men not on guard slept in sheltered places, behind trees, anywhere to -escape from shells fired by the enemy throughout the night. Early in -the evening Lovegrove picked out a place, spread his blanket and was -about to lie down when a shell went under his temporary sleeping bunk -without exploding. - -In this general assault of May 27th the following (nine months) -Massachusetts troops were engaged at various points on the lines, with -credit to themselves: - -Forty-Eighth Infantry, in First Brigade, First Division, had seven -killed, forty-one wounded. - -Forty-Ninth Infantry, in First Brigade, First Division, seven companies -engaged, had sixteen killed, sixty wounded. - -Fiftieth Infantry, in Third Brigade, First Division, had one killed, -three wounded. - -Fifty-Third Infantry, in Third Brigade, Third Division, had none -killed, several wounded. - -The Thirtieth, Thirty-First and Thirty-Eighth Infantry (three years -troops) were also in the action. - -After this first assault the pontoon bridge was taken up, loaded upon -wagons for an immediate start to any portion of the lines, and Company -K went into camp, near other camps, about one and one-half miles to the -rear. In preparation for a second assault the entire train was moved, -June 4th, to a position near General Banks’ headquarters. On the tenth -three detachments from the company, with sections of bridge work, were -detailed to several division commanders, with orders to be prepared to -bridge the ditch in front of the enemy’s works. Lieutenant Harding, -with about twenty men, remained in camp near general headquarters as a -guard over material not in use. - -Corporal Lovegrove, with three men of Company K, was assigned to the -First Division, General Augur. Forty-two men from the Forty-Ninth -Massachusetts and One Hundred and Sixty-First New York Regiments were -sent to him and placed under his orders for practice. - -Corporal Bates, with a squad of nine Company K men, was assigned to the -Second Division, General Dwight, until the fourteenth, when Corporal -Hall relieved him. - -Sergeant Howe, with about fifteen men of Company K, was assigned to the -Fourth Division, General Grover. Forty men from other commands were -detailed to assist Howe. - -A flag of truce was sent to General Gardner on the thirteenth, -demanding a surrender of Port Hudson, which he refused, and the -bombardment recommenced along the entire line from new batteries, a -prelude to an assault on the fourteenth, when an attempt was made by -the Second Division to work up quietly through a ravine and rush over -the works, while the Fourth Division assaulted the enemy’s left, near -Sandy Creek. At daylight Corporal Lovegrove was ordered to load his -bridge on a wagon, and the detachment went to within a short distance -of the works, where they waited for orders. A siege battery in front -and two light batteries maintained a fire nearly all day. The smoke -became so dense nothing could be seen in front. No assault in force -was ordered, and at five o’clock P.M. this detail returned to -camp. Sergeant Howe and his detachment was with a brigade commanded by -General Paine, in the third line, ready to bridge the ditch immediately -after the storming party obtained a foothold within the intrenchments. -This assault was repulsed. After General Paine was wounded, just as -the ditch was reached, the men were ordered to lie down until chance -enabled them to creep away in safety towards the rear. For hours the -men lay in a burning hot sun, shot and shell flying thick around -them. Fortunately none of Company K were killed or wounded; three -men received slight scratch wounds. Two men of other regiments, in -the bridge detail, were killed. Some of the men of Company K with -Sergeant Howe on this day were: Privates Giles Blodgett, Warner E. -Bacon, Benjamin F. Bacon, Amos D. Bond, Asa Breckenridge, Austin Hawes, -R. W. Homer, Samuel King and Charles S. Knight. The Thirty-Eighth -Massachusetts took two hundred and fifty men into this assault, and -lost one officer, seven men killed; five officers, seventy-seven -men wounded; or about thirty-five per cent. of its strength. Eight -companies of the Fifty-Third Massachusetts were engaged, three hundred -men, and lost one officer, thirteen men killed; six officers and -sixty-six men wounded; or about thirty per cent. of its strength. - -Other Massachusetts troops at Port Hudson, in this second assault, -suffered as follows: - -Fourth Infantry, in First Brigade, Third Division, had two companies -detailed, with three companies from other regiments, to carry hand -grenades in advance of the attacking column. Captain Bartlett, Company -K, had command, and was mortally wounded upon the breastworks. Other -companies of this regiment were in the reserve line. This regiment -lost six killed, sixty-two wounded, a number mortally. Most of the -casualties were in Companies A and K. Captain Hall, Company A, was -wounded. - -Thirtieth Infantry was in the reserve column and did not participate. -The color-sergeant was wounded. - -Thirty-First Infantry was in the Third Division assaulting column. Lost -thirty men out of two hundred and fifty engaged. - -Forty-Eighth Infantry was in the assaulting column and lost two killed, -eleven wounded. - -Forty-Ninth Infantry was in the brigade, First Division, that made a -feigned assault, losing eighteen killed and wounded. - -Fiftieth Infantry was in the reserve column and did not participate. - -Fifty-Second Infantry was deployed as skirmishers between Weitzel and -Grover, to prevent any flank movement on the assaulting columns. Lost -three killed, seven wounded; one officer mortally. - -For these two assaults many gallant men volunteered to lead the several -columns. After the second failure it was at once decided to try a third -time, and orders were issued to organize a storming column, after this -style: - - - “HEADQUARTERS 19TH ARMY CORPS, - “BEFORE PORT HUDSON, June 15th, 1863. - “GENERAL ORDERS NO. 49. - -(_Extract._) - -“For the last duty that victory imposes, the commanding general summons -the bold men of the Corps to the organization of a storming column of a -thousand men to vindicate the Flag of the Union and the memory of its -defenders who have fallen; let them come forward. - -“Officers who lead the column of victory in this last assault may be -assured of the just recognition of their services by promotion, and -every officer and soldier, who shares its perils and its glory, shall -receive a medal fit to commemorate the first grand success of the -campaign of 1863 for the freedom of the Mississippi. His name will be -placed in General Orders upon the Roll of Honor. - - - “By command of - “MAJOR GENERAL BANKS. - “RICHARD B. IRWIN, - “_Assistant Adjutant-General_.” - -Between the three years and nine months troops from Massachusetts, -engaged at Port Hudson, there was no choice as to which behaved the -best. They all did well in the positions they were placed. - -The entire day of the fifteenth was occupied in removing dead -and wounded men to the rear. All sick and wounded who could bear -transportation were sent to Springfield Landing, thence by steamers to -New Orleans, for distribution in the general hospitals. Hot weather -made heavy inroads on the effective strength of besieged and besiegers. - -Sergeant Perry, Corporal Bryant, Privates McIntosh, Johnson, Bruce, -Desper, L. Barnes, Wheeler, Flagg and Sibley, who had been in hospital -at Gentilly Bayou, with six other men that were in New Orleans, -rejoined Company K June 15th, in obedience to orders issued June 11th. -Hospital-Steward Wood was sent with them from the camp at Gentilly. -The effective strength on duty during June was: one officer, four -sergeants, seven corporals, one musician and fifty privates--total, -sixty-two enlisted men. - -From June 14th to July 8th the duties of Company K were easy. Several -men volunteered and served in the batteries, while the detailed -detachments and sections of bridge work remained with each division, -ready for any movement that should be ordered. News that Vicksburg -surrendered July 4th was heralded to the troops early on the morning of -July 7th, by a heavy artillery salute given by the left battery. This -was followed by an intended salute to the enemy, at noon, by all of -the Federal batteries engaged in the siege. The Confederates answered -by displaying a flag of truce, and an armistice for twenty-four hours -was arranged between the two commanding generals. Soldiers on each side -then met each other half way between their respective lines, without -arms, during the night and morning, and had a jolly good time together, -until a formal surrender took place in the afternoon of July 8th. - -Receiving orders to get ready to take the field, the bridge was packed -upon the wagons, and Company K marched into Port Hudson at five -P.M. July 9th, all ready to embark at once on transports from -the landing. For three days, under orders and counter-orders, the -company remained in Port Hudson, while other troops were embarked and -sent down the river. - -To open river communication, the entire First Division, General Weitzel -in command (General Augur was ill), was embarked at Port Hudson upon -transports, at night, July 9th, and sent down to Donaldsonville, -disembarking on the morning of July 10th. Other troops marched to Baton -Rouge, for transportation to the same place, and the pontoon train was -ordered to follow at midnight July 12th. Roused from slumber the men -worked hard until morning, when the steamer _St. Maurice_ carried them -to Donaldsonville, arriving in the evening, July 13th, too late to take -part in a reconnoissance made that day by the Third Brigade, First -Division, under Colonel N. A. M. Dudley, Thirtieth Massachusetts. - -What few particulars can be gathered of this second action on the -La-Fourche are here recorded: - -General Taylor heard of the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson during -the night of July 10th. He immediately concentrated his troops on the -La-Fourche, at Labadieville and Donaldsonville, to offer resistance if -pressed, until sufficient time was gained to clean out his spoils in -Brashear City. - -July 11th, the Thirtieth Massachusetts skirmished down Bayou La-Fourche -about four miles, when they met the enemy’s cavalry in force, and -returned to Donaldsonville towards night. At noon the next day this -regiment again marched down the bayou road about one mile before -meeting the enemy’s pickets, who retired after an exchange of shots, a -lieutenant of the Thirtieth being wounded. After proceeding nearly four -miles, this regiment, with four guns Sixth Massachusetts Battery, went -into bivouac on Kock’s Plantation. - -Early on the morning of July 13th a few shells dropped into the woods -where General Green’s dismounted cavalry and Semmes’ battery were under -cover, served to elicit a reply from that battery; an artillery-fire -was maintained on both sides for about two hours. Under orders not to -bring on an engagement, the First and Third Brigades advanced down -the right side of the bayou, accompanied by an additional battery -(First Maine), while a detachment from Grover’s division, commanded by -Colonel Morgan, Ninetieth New York, advanced down the left bank. Had -the pontoon bridge been on hand to facilitate the carrying of orders -across, perhaps the disaster of this day would not have occurred. The -bayou was not wide, but no boats or skiffs were to be found. There was -a stupid disposition of the Federal forces, who must have outnumbered -the Confederates, with an absence of intelligent orders from the -colonel in command, that has never been satisfactorily explained. - -Upon the left bank, in front of Colonel Morgan, was a wide, open -plain. In front of troops upon the right bank were sugar-cane fields, -the stalks grown about seven feet high, with scattered trees, thick -shrubbery and houses, both on and off the road, completely obstructing -a view of what was taking place along the line. The Thirtieth -Massachusetts, covering the bayou road, could not see beyond two -hundred yards or so. While artillery-fire continued the men were -nonchalant, paying little attention to shells, as they did no material -damage. Some of the men improved the opportunity to bathe in the bayou -and wash their underclothing. - -Until two o’clock P.M. skirmish lines engaged the enemy; -companies from the Thirtieth Massachusetts supported a section First -Maine Battery, the One Hundred and Seventy-Fourth New York supporting -another battery. At two o’clock Confederate cavalry on the left bank -were seen to deliberately form line on the open plain and swoop down in -fine style, with a continual yell, on the men under Colonel Morgan, who -fell back rapidly, exposing Federal troops on the right bank to a flank -fire. About the time this cavalry charge was made Confederate infantry -and dismounted men, without the customary yell, carefully skirmished -through the cane fields on the right bank, towards the Federals, who -opened an infantry-fire in support of the artillery. No connected -account of what happened along the line can be obtained, but it is -well known that the Thirtieth Massachusetts suddenly found themselves -receiving a sharp fire from across the bayou, a hot fire in front, and -stray bullets from the cane fields to their right. Part of the regiment -lay down behind a provisional breastwork made by the levee bank, which -was also extended by them over the bayou road, and tried to silence the -enemy seen in their wide-brim slouch hats on the other bayou side. - -Though the enemy steadily crept along in front, to rise, fire and drop, -to continue creeping up, no one seemed to think of a retreat. The two -guns, First Maine Battery, were in an open space between the bayou road -and levee bank, just back of the Thirtieth Massachusetts men. Exposed -to the enemy’s fire from across the bayou, the cannoneers sought -shelter by laying upon the ground under their guns. Lieutenant Healy, -in command, was obliged to use his sword on his men to force them up -and serve the pieces; without aid, he loaded and fired a gun several -times. This state of things continued until about three o’clock, when -these guns became heated and could not be used; all the artillery -horses were killed or disabled, with but four artillery-men left fit -for duty, as the rest were killed or wounded. - -Orders had been given to retreat, obeyed by some men who heard them, -while others did not obey because they did not hear on account of the -noise made by the musketry, artillery and bursting shells. The men -who remained fought on for a short time, when two small companies -One Hundred and Seventy-Fourth New York Infantry crowded in on them, -pell-mell from the right, and completely filled the space that -sheltered the Thirtieth Massachusetts, leaving bare enough elbow -room to work in; still they kept on fighting (these One Hundred and -Seventy-Fourth New York and Thirtieth Massachusetts men) to hold their -ground, and at this time the heaviest loss of the day occurred. - -When it was seen men were in retreat and the enemy was closing in -rapidly, Captain Fiske, Lieutenant Barker, with some dozen men of the -Thirtieth Massachusetts, endeavored to save the battery-guns by hauling -them over a levee bank to the roadway with drag ropes. One gun was -saved; one gun was abandoned, or thrown into the bayou. All of the -troops upon and near the road then retreated in good order, exchanging -shots from behind house corners and such shelter as could be found; in -a few cases individual soldiers almost crossed bayonets with men of the -enemy. The Thirtieth Massachusetts colors were defended by a handful of -men until safe to the rear. - -Colonel Dudley endeavored to rally his men for another stand, or -check the enemy’s advance, and succeeded in forming a line of about -seventy-five men. This line fired a few rounds and then continued -the retreat. On the retreat Private Horace F. Davis, Thirtieth -Massachusetts, was cut off in a cane field by Confederate cavalry, made -a prisoner about six o’clock, and with about fifty more prisoners was -corralled under a cluster of trees, guarded by sentries. A rain-storm -set in at night, accompanied with heavy thunder and sharp lightning, -which enabled Private Davis to pass between two Texans, who were -leaning upon their rifles on guard, and escape by crawling along in -the darkness between the lightning flashes, avoiding the enemy, whose -location was shown by their camp fires, around which they congregated, -until he joined a flag-of-truce party, sent out after the dead and -wounded. With this party he remained on duty, no one supposing he did -not come out with them, finally rejoining his regiment at one o’clock -A.M. - -Private Davis, while firing from behind the breastwork across the road, -was in range of a battery-gun First Maine. His attention was called -to the fact, and at the moment he looked behind a shell was fired -from this gun, the concussion as it passed over him causing a prickly -sensation in his right eye. Nothing was thought about it at the time, -or for some time after, until he discovered the sight was gone. Not -daunted by this discovery, Davis remained on duty with his regiment, -and reënlisted, with one eye, when his first term expired. The sight to -his right eye has never been restored. - -Other Massachusetts troops in this action were the Forty-Eighth and -Forty-Ninth Regiments, attached to the First Brigade, and the Sixth -Battery. - -The Forty-Eighth was posted in sugar-cane fields to the extreme right, -with a skirmish line out. In retreating, no orders were sent to the -skirmishers, who were surrounded before they knew it, and lost two -officers and twenty-one men taken prisoners. - -The Forty-Ninth was posted in a lane that ran at a right angle with -the bayou, and were lying down when the fight commenced. The regiment -was soon ordered to a sugar-house, seen above the sugar-cane, about -five hundred yards to the right and front, to reënforce a regiment and -battery supposed to be there. No troops were found on arrival at the -place. This regiment caught a moderate infantry-fire from the front, -and saw a mounted force upon its right. Confederate infantry got in on -the left of them, when the regiment fell back to the lane, and there -remained until a staff-officer, Lieutenant Weber, got to them by the -rear and ordered the regiment to save itself, as it was cut off. This -was done by making a detour of some three miles through cane fields -before it could rejoin the command. - -The Sixth Battery lost one gun, dismounted and carried a short distance -to the rear for repairs, where it had to be left, because sudden orders -to retreat were given before it could be mounted to bring away. - -Total casualties to Massachusetts troops in this action were: - -Thirtieth Infantry--Eight killed; thirty-seven wounded; one missing. - -Forty-Eighth Infantry--Three killed; seven wounded; twenty-three -missing. - -Forty-Ninth Infantry--One killed; twenty wounded; one missing. - -Sixth Battery--One wounded. - -Other regiments in the two brigades and Colonel Morgan’s detachment -lost in about the same ratio as above, because the enemy must have -captured at least two hundred prisoners, probably more, and men in -Company K saw at Donaldsonville, laid out for burial, about forty -Federal soldiers, picked up on the field by a flag-of-truce party. Most -of these men were shot in the head. - -July 14th and 15th baggage and teams were unloaded from the steamer. On -the sixteenth two hundred and thirteen feet of bridge was thrown across -Bayou La-Fourche, under the direction of Sergeant Austin Hawes. The -company remained on guard until July 20th, when they parted from their -pontoons, relieved from further engineer duty by Captain John J. Smith, -with one company First Louisiana (colored) Engineers. - -Camp was struck July 21st, when the company proceeded to New Orleans -upon the steamer _Sallie List_ and reported to the regiment at Algiers -late in the afternoon. Department Special Orders No. 181, issued July -25th, formally relieved Company K from detached duty in the engineer -service. - -During this tour of active field service sick men of Company K were -left in hospitals at Berwick, Brashear City, New Orleans, and many men -were sent to Gentilly Bayou regimental hospital. Deaths from sickness -were as follows: - -March 31st--Private Albert N. Bliss, fever, at Marine Hospital, New -Orleans. - -April 26th--Private Charles L. Atwood, fever, at Brashear City Hospital. - -May 1st--Private Charles B. Bacon, fever, at Brashear City Hospital. - -May 3d--Corporal George H. Shepard, congestion of bowels, at Berwick -City Hospital. - -May 24th--Private Samuel A. Knight, ----, at Baton Rouge Hospital. - -May 28th--Private Elias H. Cutler, fever, at Brashear City Hospital. - -July 4th--Private George H. Allen, dysentery, at New Orleans Hospital. - -July 5th--Private William Stone, typhoid fever, in camp at Port Hudson. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -AUGUST--AT ALGIERS--BOUND NORTH--ON BOARD “CONTINENTAL”--ARRIVAL -HOME. - - -Major-General Banks having decided to send the regiment home in a -few days, July 29th was devoted to cleaning guns and equipments, and -turning over material to the regimental quartermaster. Orders came -on the thirtieth to embark August 1st on the steamer _Continental_ -for New York, thence proceed to Readville, Massachusetts, and report -to the United States mustering officer in Boston. The thirtieth and -thirty-first July were busy days for the quartermaster, who turned over -to proper Department officers arms, ammunition, equipments, camp and -garrison equipage, unissued clothing, transportation and quartermaster -stores, surplus medical and hospital stores. Twenty-five muskets and -five hundred rounds of ammunition for the guard was retained. - -All detached service men and convalescent sick men able to travel -were ordered, by Department orders, July 25th, to join the regiment. -Surgeon Hitchcock and Lieutenant Proctor reported back to the regiment. -Major Stiles and Lieutenant Duncan, Company F, were relieved from -court-martial duty July 30th. The detachments from Companies A and F -reported July 25th from picket duty at Bayou St. John and Lakeport, -relieved by Company H, Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers. The sick -in regimental hospital not able to travel were removed to New Orleans -and distributed among the general hospitals. - -The reveille was sounded at three A.M. August 1st, and every -man was busy putting his personal effects in shape until the time -arrived to eat his last breakfast in Louisiana. At eight o’clock the -embarkation commenced. The _Continental_ lay alongside the levee, near -the warehouse, so no difficulty was experienced in placing aboard what -little baggage was to be transported and the sick men supposed to be -able to undergo the voyage. After all had got aboard, the _Continental_ -steamed up to New Orleans for Brigadier-General Cuvier Grover and his -staff officers, Brigadier-General Paine, and a number of officers going -North on leave of absence. - -An attempt was made by General Grover to have his horses and those of -his staff sent North upon the steamer. The only place where they could -be accommodated was below the upper deck, where all available space -was already taken up by the men, crowded well together, while space in -immediate vicinity of the main hatch had been fitted up to accommodate -the sick, as it was handy to have communication with the cabin; yet -General Grover insisted that his horses should be taken on board. -No amount of expostulation would change his determination. Captain -Cogswell, Company F, swore that if they did come on board not one would -be alive after one day at sea. His men below deck, packed like sheep -in a railroad car, would have made short work with the animals before -they would suffer the nuisance to remain. By a united remonstrance to -General Banks, from surgeons and officers of the regiment, a Board of -Survey was ordered and soon decided the matter. The horses did not get -on board. General Grover’s conduct in this affair was not humane. - -While tied up at the levee until a decision was reached on this horse -business, Sergeant Vialle, who was ashore on some errand, saw a drunken -cavalry-man fall from his horse, and in a kind manner assisted him. -The fellow was on a troublesome drunk, and turned on Vialle, accusing -him of stealing his property. This was all that was wanted to set the -devil at work in a patrol-guard from the Ninth Connecticut, who had a -guard-station near the spot. They arrested Vialle and conducted him to -this station, with an intention to hold him until after his regiment -left. Word reached the boys that one of the regiment had been seized -by the Ninth Connecticut, and on shore a drove of them rushed and -went direct to the guard-station and demanded his release. This was -refused, with a threat to fire into the crowd if they did not go away; -but the boys held their ground, coming in contact several times for a -scuffle with men on the patrol, who used their bayonets once or twice. -While in the act of tearing up paving stones from the street to hurl -at the guard, for the Forty-Second men were now thoroughly aroused, -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, in a carriage, drove between the two bodies -of men and put a stop to it. The patrol-guard set Vialle free by a -back-door entrance of their quarters, when they saw what threatened -them. - -Hawsers were finally cast off, and the _Continental_ headed down river -bound for South West Pass. No cheers were given as the steamer got -under way; all hands felt too happy now they were bound home to care -a picayune for Louisiana. The following officers and men were left in -Louisiana sick or on detached service: - -Captain George P. Davis, Company K, on provost-marshal duty. - -Lieutenant Augustus L. Gould, Company H, acting-quartermaster of a -colored engineer detachment, to render his final accounts. - -Private William H. Gilman, Company C, as hospital-steward in General -Ullman’s brigade colored troops. - -Private Everett A. Denny, Company E, on duty at division headquarters. -He came North by way of the river, in charge of a sick officer. - -Private John Nolan, Company B, sick in hospital with chronic diarrhœa. -Died in New Orleans. - -Private Lewis Buffum, Company B, on detached service as locomotive -engineer. - -Private Jonathan Brown, Company C, in hospital with both ankles broke. -Came North by way of the river. - -Private Charles McLaughlin, Company H, sick in hospital with dysentery. - -Sergeant Chauncy B. Sawyer, Company I, was sent to St. James Hospital -July 31st, sick with typhoid fever. He was sent to New York, August -17th, on the _Cahawba_. - -Private Thomas P. Contillon, Company I, sick in hospital. - -Private Thomas F. Igo, Company I, sick in hospital. - -Private Amos B. Howard, Company G, sick in hospital with a fever. - -Private Franklin Hall, Company E, sick in hospital. - -After remaining all night at South West Pass, for a high tide to cross -the bar, early on the morning of August 2d the _Continental_ put to -sea. Fine weather the entire trip, with scarcely a cloud to be seen -in the sky and a sea almost as smooth as glass, was what kind fortune -favored the Forty-Second this time. In spite of all this, Lieutenant -Powers, Company F, was again very sea-sick. He lay day and night upon -the deck, close by the cabin’s side, covered by his blanket, not -wishing any nourishment, and took very little of what was forced on -him, the picture of misery. Not another man on board suffered much from -sea-sickness; a slight nausea for one day. - -Mounting a guard every day was the only duty done on board ship. The -men were allowed to enjoy themselves in any proper manner without -restraint. Many of them slept on deck at night, instead of in the -close, crowded deck below. The food furnished was plain, though not so -good as when on land, while the drinking water was bad. Without storage -capacity for enough fresh water to last the trip for the number of men -on board, condensed sea-water had to be used. When drank fresh from -the condenser it was not palatable, but if left to stand ten to twelve -hours was not bad to the taste, and answered for drinking purposes. The -difficulty was to get enough supply ahead to let it stand these hours, -consequently most men had to drink it warm or get none at all. Music -was freely given by the regimental band during the trip, and enjoyed -for the want of better. - -Details on board ship were: Lieutenant White in charge of receiving and -delivering rations and of men detailed to assist the cook. Lieutenant -Tinkham had charge of giving out water. - -The strength of the regiment on board was--twenty-two officers and -four hundred and six men for duty; three officers and one hundred and -thirty-three men sick, with two hundred and seventy-two men paroled -prisoners of war. - -During seven nights the _Continental_ was at sea, gambling was carried -on in the cabin by a few young officers on leave of absence. The hours -chosen were between ten P.M. and two A.M., when those not interested -in the game had retired. Rolls of bills and small piles of gold -pieces upon the table was not an unusual sight, while any one who had -any curiosity, by lying upon the floor (a custom followed by some, -instead of sleeping in their cabin berths), could witness the double -dealing done by all the players and the passing to and fro of cards -underneath the table between partners. It was interesting to witness, -by outsiders, but the players frequently lost their temper as the play -went against them, and open accusations of cheating and fraud were -frequent, sometimes almost leading to a fight. - -In the improvised hospital every attention possible was given sick men -by the surgeons. The following deaths occurred however, and the bodies -were committed to the deep ocean with usual appropriate ceremonies, -viz.: - -August 5th--Private Patrick O’Day, Company H, of acute dysentery. - -August 6th--Private Charles H. Poole, Company I, of dysentery. - -August 6th--Private Andrew J. Fisher, Company F, of heart disease. - -In the cases of Poole and Fisher, their comrades did all in their power -to give them comfort, but O’Day was shamefully neglected by his company -officers and comrades, none of whom took the slightest interest in his -case. - -On the trip Corporal Andrew P. Olson, Company C, sick with chronic -diarrhœa, and Private James A. Knight, Company F, sick with dysentery, -rapidly grew worse. By their will power, they lived to reach New York. -Corporal Olson died August 9th, Private Knight, August 10th, Private -Benoni H. Calvin, Company E, August 12th, and Private Thomas Curran, -Company C, August 19th, after they reached home. - -Cape Hatteras was passed on the night of the sixth; a pilot was taken -on board the next evening, and the _Continental_ arrived in New York -Harbor early on the morning of August 8th. The sick were at once -transferred to the New England rooms. The steamer _Commodore_ came -alongside the _Continental_ in the afternoon, and men and baggage were -transferred, to proceed on to Boston, _via_ Providence, Rhode Island. - -As the _Commodore_ did not start until seven o’clock in the evening, a -day was passed in New York. Most of the men remained quietly on board -these steamers, or upon the pier. Permits to pass the guard, stationed -at head of the dock, were granted in cases where it was well known the -privilege would not be abused. The guard, Lieutenant Martin Burrell, -Jr., in command, was under strict instructions, and did their onerous -duty well. All precautions taken did not prevent some turbulent spirits -from getting beyond the dock and supplying themselves with liquor. -No serious cases of intoxication were to be noticed, however, until -late in the afternoon, when Private Con. Dougherty, of Company C, was -rolling about the dock, insulting everybody in his way, and spoiling -for a fight. About the same time the guard passed in from the street -Private John Davis and Sergeant Joseph J. Whitney, both of Company H, -very drunk and very ugly. Before many minutes elapsed the three men -came in contact, and a savage fight took place. - -Nobody seemed to have the courage to put a stop to it. As it -occurred in the immediate vicinity of the guard, a few officers -near by presumed Lieutenant Burrell would at once arrest the men. -Unfortunately he was absent from his post, and the sergeant on duty -lacked proper knowledge of what he had authority to do. Word was -sent to the lieutenant-colonel, who immediately came on the scene, -accompanied by Major Stiles. Davis and his companion were ordered -to stop their rioting, as Dougherty was badly punished and at this -time upon his back. Davis, now full of fight, savagely turned upon -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, and threatened to serve him in the same -way he had Dougherty, at the same time shaking his fist very close to -Stedman’s face. For at least a minute the parties looked at each other: -the colonel pale in the face, without showing signs of fear, only a -little hesitation as to what was the proper thing to do; Davis and -Whitney uttering blasphemous and insulting language, with threatening -manners. The sergeant-major drew, cocked his pistol, and held it behind -his person ready for use, and if either of the men had struck their -lieutenant-colonel one blow they would have been shot down. Lieutenant -Burrell soon arrived; he ordered a detail of his guard, with fixed -bayonets, to arrest the three men--if they resisted, to use their -bayonets freely. This diverted the attention of Davis, who at once -started for the steamer; the other two men were arrested, but soon -after released on promise of their company companions to take care of -them. - -The principal offender, Private Davis, on reaching the _Continental_, -proceeded to whip the steward of that boat, whom he owed a grudge, and -for a time made things hot for everybody. He was not taken in charge -at this time, nor during the night, notwithstanding he made himself -very offensive until the effects of bad rum were gone. This leniency -towards Davis should not have been permitted. He had placed himself -in just such positions many times during his service, and should have -been taught a lesson. As far back as when in camp at Readville, he was -reduced from the rank of corporal on account of his rowdyism. - -A heavy fog set in before the steamer was well in Long Island Sound, -continuing all night. The men slept in every nook and corner they could -obtain a chance to lie down. General quiet prevailed, except such -noises as were made by a few drunken men, the aforesaid Davis among the -number. - -Using due care, with a thorough knowledge of Sound navigation, the -pilot supposed Point Judith was passed and steered a course to carry -the steamer up Narragansett Bay, when at five o’clock A.M. -Sunday, August 9th, the _Commodore_ struck upon the rocks of Point -Judith, hard and fast. When she struck it was with sufficient force to -throw men partly from their berths. There were two distinct shocks, -with a grating sound as if timbers were being crushed and broken. No -confusion followed the event; every one was cool and collected as -though nothing had happened; when it was definitely ascertained that -the steamer was fast upon the rocks, many men went to sleep again. - -Upon deck it was impossible to see a hand or any object a few feet -distant, the fog was so dense. The water was smooth and at high tide. -After ineffectual attempts to back off, boats were lowered to make an -examination of the hull near the water line, and a careful inspection -made of the hold. While making water freely there was no danger, for -the bow was hard and fast upon the rocks, and when the tide receded -would leave her hull upon solid bottom; still all was done that could -be to stop the leak. - -The fog lifted gradually and by seven o’clock A.M. entirely -disappeared, when the steamer’s position was seen to be within a -stone’s throw of the shore. Adjutant Davis and Quartermaster Burrell -went ashore, got conveyance to Kingston, and with some difficulty -opened telegraphic communication with Providence, for assistance, also -sending word to Boston. Fortunately the commissariat was in condition -to keep the men from hunger. With the exception of grumbling on account -of disappointment at not being able to eat a good breakfast in Boston, -the men took the accident philosophically. The morning passed without -any event of importance. - -Early in the afternoon steamer _City of Newport_ arrived from -Providence, and after attempts were made at high tide to float the -_Commodore_ into clear water, without success, numerous heavy hawsers -being broken, it was decided to transfer the men to the _City of -Newport_ by life-boats from both steamers, each boat-load hauled hand -over hand along a hawser prepared for the purpose, instead of using -oars. This operation was slow, the boats carrying a small number at a -time. As darkness came on the tide receded and obliged the _City of -Newport_ to let go her end of the hawser and keep farther off from -shore, to prevent grounding; the wind freshened up and caused a heavy -swell on the sea and surf on shore. This took place before the transfer -of men was complete, and made the rest of the operation tedious and -tiresome, as oars had to be used to pull more than a mile. - -Officers and men behaved admirably until afternoon, when boats were -ready to transfer men; then came the tug of war in an endeavor to -fill these boats. Orders and in some cases entreaty had to be used in -forcing men into them. Men who would face an enemy without fear were -afraid to trust themselves in small boats upon the water. The last boat -to reach the _City of Newport_ contained seven or eight men, who were -saved from capsizing, in an insane endeavor they made to reach the -steamer’s deck together, by the coolness of two men. - -When all were on board that could be induced to take to the boats, -the _City of Newport_ proceeded to Providence, arriving there at two -o’clock Monday morning, August 10th. No time was lost in taking cars, -held in readiness, and the train started for Boston without delay, -arriving at the Boston and Providence depot at five o’clock. Had -the regiment arrived home on Sunday morning, as expected, a rousing -reception was ready for it. - -The Forty-Second marched to Faneuil Hall, where breakfast was waiting, -and the regiment formally welcomed home by prominent citizens. At -half-past ten o’clock A.M. the regiment formed line and -marched to the parade ground on Boston Common, where the men were -dismissed until the twentieth. - -August 20th, 1863, one year after the first detachment went into camp -as a nucleus to organize the regiment, the men assembled upon the old -ground at Readville and were mustered out of the United States service. - -The following officers and men remained in the enemy’s hands, prisoners -of war: Colonel Burrell, Surgeon Cummings, Captains Sherive, Proctor -and Savage, Lieutenants Cowdin, Eddy, Bartlett, S. F. White, Newcomb -and Stowell, Corporal H. W. McIntosh, Privates Dennis Dailey, Edwin -F. Josselyn, Francis S. Morrill, James O’Shaughnessy, of Company D; -Corporal David L. Wentworth and Private Joseph W. D. Parker, of Company -G; Private Joseph W. McLaughlin, Company I; and Private Samuel R. -Hersey, Company C. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -ADVENTURES OF CORPORAL WENTWORTH AND PRIVATE HERSEY. - - -Corporal David L. Wentworth, Company G, Private Samuel R. Hersey, -Company C, and Frank Veazie, officers’ cook, with about three hundred -men (including Lieutenant Hamilton, Master Hannum, Engineers Plunkett -and Stone, of the _Harriet Lane_), left Camp Groce, December 9th, -for Shreveport. Long captivity in restricted quarters left them in -such a debilitated condition that a march of any duration completely -prostrated them. - -The guard, some fifty men, under a good officer, was composed of a -clever set of men, who made it easy for the prisoners so far as lay in -their power, occasionally helping some poor fellows along by allowing -them to ride their horses. Those too ill to walk (Hersey was among -them, and towards the journey’s end Wentworth, sick with dysentery) -were allowed to ride in the baggage wagons, five in number, an -uncomfortable conveyance, none provided with springs, and the roads in -poor condition. - -Cooking utensils were scarce. Living principally upon “mush,” each -mess, when they arrived at camping places, would try all sorts of -tricks to secure a “dodger-pan” from some other mess, in spite of -orders, “first come, first served.” Some would have to wait until late -at night for their turn to come, while others, too tired, would retire -to their bed of leaves and go to sleep hungry. - -Every morning a start was made soon after daybreak, in order to reach -each day’s destination as early as possible. On an average fifteen -to twenty miles constituted a day’s march, and was done every day -until December 22d, when a halt for several days was made, one mile -beyond Tyler, to rest the weary prisoners. While here the officers -left at Camp Groce passed them on their way to Camp Ford, without -an opportunity being given to converse. Pleasant, cool weather was -experienced the first four days, then came cold, windy weather for two -days, then rain for one day, clearing off cold and windy and remaining -so until the march ended, varied with a few rainy and many cloudy, damp -and freezing cold days. It took six days to reach Trinity River, and -several days more before arriving at Tyler. The march was resumed on -Sunday, December 27th, crossing Sabine River during the morning, and -continued each day until about sunset December 30th, when it ended, -after an eighteen days’ tramp, and four days’ rest at Tyler, twenty-two -days after leaving Camp Groce. - -Even the negro drivers, rollicking jolly as they appeared to be, -singing and yelling all day long, could not enliven this small regiment -of marching sufferers. A favorite song, because it was constantly sang, -and in a manner impossible for any white man to imitate, “Rock me -Julie, rock me,” rang in the prisoners’ ears long after they had parted -company with their ebony-colored singers. - -The following account of what occurred while at Shreveport was written -by Private Hersey, who claims that there is no exaggeration in his -statements--facts alone are stated: - - -STATEMENT OF PRIVATE HERSEY. - -“The last two days of the year 1863 will long be remembered by those -members of our regiment who, with some three hundred other Federal -prisoners, were wending their toilsome way over the rough, frozen roads -leading from Marshall, Texas, to the Louisiana border, in expectation, -when arriving there, of being exchanged or paroled. December 29th -a fierce ‘Norther’ set in, which was soon accompanied by a severe -storm of rain, hail, snow and sleet. Through this terrible storm we -plodded on over a dreary region of woodland and prairie, with the icy -hurricane piercing our tattered, scanty garments, the pelting rain and -sleet drenching us to the skin. At night there was no shelter from the -pitiless storm, excepting such as we could find under the wet, dripping -branches of the forest trees, or form by twisting their limbs into -arches and covering them with moss gathered from the cypress trees. -Those who could creep in under the awnings of the army wagons, which -the guard had appropriated for their own quarters, were fortunate -indeed. Sleep or rest there was none, and for two days and nights our -lives dragged on in utter misery. - -“A dozen or more of our number were shoeless, and many a footprint -stained with the blood of these unfortunate ones could be traced along -the snow-covered ground. A score at least had no clothing, except an -improvised suit made by tieing their well-worn army blankets around -their waists. The hope of release urged many a poor captive forward, -who otherwise would have succumbed to the fatigues and hardships of the -long marches. Even the Confederate soldiers who guarded us, although -much better provided for than ourselves, were scantily and meanly -clothed, and suffered severely. - -“On the thirtieth of the month, after a day of intense suffering from -the severity of the weather and the length and fatigues of the march, -we reached the end of our journey, or rather the place where we were to -await the arrival of the agents of exchange or parole. We were halted -in the depths of a snow-covered wood; there left to ourselves to find -such shelter as leafless, dripping branches of the trees afforded. This -locality was known as ‘Four Mile Springs.’ - -“Beyond this wood was a camp of Federal prisoners, who had arrived some -time before us, occupying long, frame barracks, crowded so as to afford -no shelter for fresh arrivals. The appearance of these prisoners was -wretched, and so filthy were their quarters our men declared that some -of the vermin, or ‘graybacks’ as they were called, had inscribed upon -their backs the words, ‘in for the war.’ These poor fellows had been -quartered since their capture, some six months previous, at Camp Ford, -Texas, but were marched to their present quarters a few weeks previous -to our arrival, to await exchange. They were chiefly Indiana troops. - -“The weather was extremely cold for this latitude, resembling more -the rude, bleak winter of our Northern clime than the soft, genial -atmosphere we had always associated in our minds when thinking of the -sunny South, and was said to be the severest ever known in this region. - -“For a few days after our arrival we were allowed to roam at will -through the woods and vicinity without a guard, for the reason that in -daily expectation of proceeding to our lines the men were not likely to -attempt any escape. Days passed by in this partial state of freedom, -until finally, as the days passed into weeks without any indications -of a speedy release, our hopes again began to darken; the men grew -restive, and numbers of them were daily missing at roll-call. Every man -who attempted escape was recaptured before he got far away and brought -back to be placed under guard. - -“During our long captivity in Texas our hopes and expectations had -so often been raised only to fall again, we got somewhat accustomed -to disappointments of this nature, but never since our capture had we -been quite so sure of immediate release, or felt the bitterness of -‘hope deferred,’ as we did then. In our prison days at Houston and Camp -Groce we had regular _quotations of exchange_, and the stock was as -fluctuating as any in the markets of Wall or State Streets; our days -were made cheerful or gloomy according as the stock advanced or fell. - -“One morning, at roll-call, we were all summoned to the headquarters -of Colonel Théard, commanding the prison-guard, and informed that our -Government refused to receive us as paroled prisoners, also refusing -to negotiate for our exchange. The colonel made us a neat little -speech, in which he expressed his sympathy for us in our deplorable -condition, and informed us he had sent a letter to General Kirby Smith, -commanding the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department, asking him -to issue clothing, and describing our destitution and sufferings. He -also stated he had written to the general, that in case he could not -comply with the request for clothing he should feel impelled, from an -aversion to seeing so much distress continually before his eyes, to ask -to be relieved of his duties as commander of the prison camp. As we -never received any clothing from General Smith, or any other quarter, -and as the Confederate soldiers were sadly in need of supplies, I was -convinced that the Quartermaster Department of the Trans-Mississippi -army was in a wofully depleted condition. - -“In front of Colonel Théard’s headquarters was an extensive plateau, -and here we were ordered to encamp, a guard again placed over us and -the dead line traced out. This broad plain was perfectly barren of -shrubbery or trees; not even a plot of grass could be found upon it. -To make shelter for ourselves we were allowed to go into the woods -in squads, under guard, and cut timber and gather leaves. In a few -days there sprung into existence, upon this plateau, a village of -huts and nondescript structures of the quaintest and most original -designs imaginable. Many of these habitations consisted simply of a -few bent twigs, arched so as to form a burrow just large enough to -creep into head foremost, suitable only to sleep in. Those who from -sickness or weakness were unable to erect a domicile depended upon the -generosity of their more fortunate comrades, or slept in the open air. -Our rations consisted chiefly of coarse corn meal, coarse salt, sugar, -and occasionally beef. Having a limited number of cooking utensils, we -were often obliged to wait for hours before we could cook our food. Our -guards at this camp were a good-hearted set of fellows, and, with a few -exceptions, inclined to favor us whenever they could. - -“About the middle of January Colonel Théard was relieved of his -command, much to our regret, for his treatment of us had been kind and -considerate. His heart was evidently not much in sympathy with the -rebellion, for we heard a short time after his removal he had left -the Confederate army and taken the oath of allegiance to the Federal -Government, in New Orleans. He was succeeded by Colonel Harrison, whose -administration of affairs while not particularly harsh was lacking in -the kindliness which we had always met with under Théard. - -“Rumors of the opening of cartels for exchange were as rife here, -and received almost as often, as in our former days at Houston -and Camp Groce. ‘Exchange stock’ rose and fell with almost its -former regularity; our daily advices from Shreveport caused a -constantly-fluctuating stock board. Our own Government was universally -condemned for its indifference or neglect of our welfare, and many -an imprecation was hurled against those who had it in their power -to exchange or parole us and would not. We frequently heard of the -exchange of other Federal prisoners, and knew that the Confederates -captured at Vicksburg and Port Hudson had all, long ago, been released, -and therefore it was we complained so bitterly against our fate. - -“About the middle of March rumors of General Banks’ advance towards -Shreveport with a large army came thick and fast, greatly elating us -with a hope they might soon encircle the place of our imprisonment. -Suddenly, on the morning of March 26th, the prison camp was broken up -and the prisoners, excepting Wentworth, Williams and I, were started on -the road towards Texas, destined for Camp Ford. - -“Upon our arrival at Four Mile Springs Wentworth and I discovered on -the roadside, in the woods and beyond the place where the command had -been halted, a log hut, in which we found quarters for the night. The -hut was a small, dilapidated structure, like old log cabins of the -early settlers, and evidently been standing for many years. We found it -occupied by three Confederate soldiers, fitted up as a blacksmith shop -for the cavalry forces in the vicinity. The exposed condition of the -building rendered it only a partial shelter from the storm, for through -chinks in the roof and walls the wind and sleet came in freely, and -the smoke from the smouldering fire filled the space within almost to -suffocation; however, it was a better refuge than the other prisoners -could find. Upon lumps of coal and bits of iron on the rude forge I -endeavored to find rest in vain; the wind blew through the log crevices -in furious blasts, and that side of my clothing exposed to the hut -walls was covered with a thin coating of ice, making sleep or comfort -impossible. It was a terrible night for the half-clad, shivering -wretches outside, and a most cheerless, uncomfortable one for those -inside. - -“The next morning broke clear, but cold and windy. A thin surface of -sleety snow covered the ground, causing the landscape around us to look -anything but Southern. The men were huddled around slowly burning camp -fires, waiting patiently for the distribution of their meagre rations -and trying to get warmth into their almost frozen limbs. - -“The three soldiers occupying the hut were no better off as to -accommodations, and not a whit better provided with rations than -ourselves. We lived with them during our stay at Four Mile Springs, and -became in that time greatly attached to them. Their names were Ramsey, -Dick Fickling, and Stanley. Mr. Ramsey, or ‘Pap’ Ramsey, as he was -familiarly called, was an old man, about sixty years of age, a splendid -specimen of our ideal western backwoodsman. His life had been passed -on the wild borders of the Indian Territory and Western Louisiana, -knowing little of life in cities and towns. He had never strayed beyond -his native prairies and forests until the Southern Confederacy, in -its distress for every able-bodied man, brought him forth from his -peaceful cabin, compelled to enter its service. He was conscripted -some few months previous to our arrival, but being too old for the -routine duties of a soldier’s life was detailed to serve as blacksmith -for the regiment in which he was placed. A tall, broad-shouldered, -well-built man, with gray hair and beard, and an eye as bright and -keen as any young person; he was simple-hearted, unskilled in the ways -and observances of the world, but with a vast experience of the rough, -free, adventurous life of a pioneer. Stanley, his assistant, was a -young man, about twenty-five years old, large-hearted, good-natured, -and always ready for sport, but with a natural aversion to work. His -comrades gave him the name of ’Fox,’ on account of the cunning and -shrewdness he displayed in stealing away from camp to visit his home, -sixteen miles away, on every possible occasion. He seldom applied for -a furlough, deeming such sort of discipline, as he said, entirely -unnecessary and too much like slavery. When called to account by his -officers for his absence from his regiment, he generally appeased their -wrath by presenting them with a fine turkey or shote. A conscript, he -managed to evade camp duty by getting detailed as assistant-blacksmith, -though wherein his assistance was of any value or service to Mr. Ramsey -would have been difficult for an observer to tell. The only labor he -was ever known to perform was to occasionally wield the sledge, when -the other assistant was absent. His ideas in regard to the cause or -object of the war were vague and indefinite, but as far as he knew them -they were altogether opposed to the Southern Confederacy. He was the -owner of one slave, who took charge of his little farm while he was -away. - -“Anxious to continue our abode with these kind-hearted soldiers, -Wentworth and myself called upon Colonel Théard, when the prisoners -were again placed under guard, prevailing upon him, after considerable -pleading, to allow us a _pass_, granting the liberty of the camp -until further orders; a phrase we construed to mean any distance -within five miles of the hut. When Colonel Harrison succeeded Colonel -Théard he was disposed to revoke this _pass_, condescending, after -some persuasion, to let the order ‘remain for the present.’ He was a -strict disciplinarian, severe and often harsh in his treatment of the -prisoners and his own men; it was a surprise to all that we had won -such favor. - -“Time wore on pleasantly; the weather grew mild and genial, and about -the middle of January the short Southern winter was over. Our hut was -romantically situated, and since our occupation of it we had closed up -the chinks in the sides and patched the roof, so that the rain could -no longer gain entrance. The road in front of us wound through a broad -tract of beautiful woodland, and stretched on in one direction to -Shreveport, in the other to the prison lines. Beyond this forest was a -vast waste of swamp land, covered with a prolific growth of cypress and -gum trees, and intersected in every direction by dark, coffee-colored -bayous, in which the finest species of the ’Buffalo’ fish were found. -Along the banks of these streams and scattered over the bottom-lands -were clusters of impenetrable thickets, where countless numbers of -bright-plumaged birds made their nests, and where the venomous mocassin -and deadly scorpion found hiding places. All day long, in the deep -recesses of these lonely wilds, the air was resonant with the music of -feathery warblers. We caught many of them in traps, which Stanley was -expert at making, but remembering our own prison experience we never -kept them long ‘in durance.’ - -“The hut soon became a popular rendezvous for Confederate soldiers -passing to and from their camp, and we became acquainted with most -every one belonging to the regiment acting as prison-guard. With some -we formed friendships that lasted long after the war closed. Political -questions were seldom argued, but when they were it was always with -good humor on their part at least, and we were invariably treated with -courtesy and kindness, often with generosity. - -“Life at the hut was by no means monotonous; each day found us enjoying -ourselves in a free and easy way. Mr. Ramsey was owner of a fine horse, -and valued him highly. The old man gave me permission to ride the -animal whenever I felt inclined, leaving the whole care of the horse to -me. With Stanley, always ready for a drive, I took many an excursion -through the woods and swamps and to the different plantations in the -neighborhood; thus became acquainted with about every planter within -a radius of five miles from camp. Amongst them was Mr. Elliot, owner -of a plantation at Bayou Pierre, with whom I formed a most intimate -and pleasant acquaintance. With him and his family I often passed a -delightful hour, always entertained as a welcome guest. Mr. Elliot -had formerly been in the Confederate army. While with his regiment -in Tennessee, just after the battle of Perryville he purchased a -furlough for a large amount of money, returning home, and had not again -rejoined his command. In order to obtain exemption from conscription he -purchased the position of superintendent of a Government planing-mill -in Texas, but had not reported at his new field of service. He was -a thorough Union man, and a bitter enemy of the Confederacy. His -service in the army was compulsory, and although engaged in several -battles said he had never fired a gun during the actions except in -the direction of the sky. He was, like many others of the South, an -owner of slaves, but not an advocate of slavery. Through him I became -acquainted with many loyal men, and was surprised to find the Union -sentiment so strong. Of the half-dozen or more planters living within -four miles of the camp not one was an advocate of secession, but all -were anxiously longing for the approach of our army to this portion of -the State. Even amongst our prison-guard we found many a secret friend -of the Union, who only waited for an opportunity to place themselves -in the ranks of its army. The number of such was by no means small, -although the great majority were loyal to the ‘Stars and Bars.’ - -“During the latter part of January I obtained of Colonel Harrison -permission for two other prison comrades to live with us at the hut. -They were Williams, whom we called ‘Transport,’ and the carpenter -of the United States ship _Morning Light_, who went by the name -of ‘Chips.’ Their arrival rendered it necessary for us to enlarge -our dwelling. Through the soft persuasiveness of Wentworth, the -quartermaster was prevailed upon to grant us a small supply of timber -and nails, and in a short time we built a small addition to the hut, in -which we erected sleeping bunks for the accommodation of us all. - -“My acquaintance with the quartermaster’s clerk, young Finney, enabled -me to obtain a much larger supply of rations than I was lawfully -entitled to, and, as I was usually allowed to attend to the weighing of -them, I did not hesitate to take advantage of this privilege for the -benefit of us all. By going a short distance into the woods we were -sure to find a stray hog or pig wandering around, and our stock of pork -was always well kept up. It being against orders to kill any of them, -the undertaking was always attended with considerable difficulty, and -we were obliged to hunt our game at night. As we never could get near -enough to kill them by any other means than shooting, the report of our -gun at midnight was frequently heard at camp, the officers invariably -causing inquiries to be made concerning the reason of the untimely -firing. To prevent discovery we concealed our game in a small cellar, -dug under the floor of our hut annex, with the boards so arranged that -they appeared nailed down to the uninitiated. Our cooking of this -food was done when no prying eyes were upon us and the savory odor -would not be likely to betray us. Besides this sort of fare, costing -nothing, we had frequent opportunities of purchasing sweet potatoes, -eggs and butter, with money obtained by the sale of our _tricks_ and -watches when leaving Camp Groce. Our table was unrivalled by any of the -‘messes,’ either of the prisoners or the guard. The _ne plus ultra_ of -cookery were the ‘corn-dodgers’ Wentworth made to perfection, and which -were certainly worthy the skill of the finest French cook. Old ‘Pap’ -Ramsey refused to indulge his appetite with this rich food, claiming -that such delicacies would inevitably bring on gout or dyspepsia, -and that his palate, accustomed to the coarse, homely fare of the -backwoods, was unfitted for the luxurious compound which Wentworth -made. Through the colonel’s orderly, George Cole, I was usually the -recipient of some dainties from his table, after an entertainment had -been given by that officer to visiting friends. - -“One day during February Wentworth obtained permission of Colonel -Harrison to visit Shreveport on one of the army wagons, which made -daily trips to that place. His stay there, for a few hours only, was -quite long enough for him to get disgusted with the appearance of the -city, and especially with the fabulous price they charged him for his -dinner; a small piece of pork, with bread and butter, and a tiny cup of -coffee cost him six dollars. - -“A few days after Wentworth’s return ‘Transport’ made the same trip -without obtaining the requisite permission. The day previous, while -strolling in the woods, he met in a quiet nook a few Confederate -teamsters with a supply of Louisiana rum, which they invited him -to drink. The temptation was too strong for his feeble powers of -resistance, and the potations were so deep and frequent that he was -soon exalted to a state of complete recklessness. In this condition -he remained with his jovial friends over night, accompanying them the -next morning to Shreveport. On reaching the city he was so muddled -for awhile he was unable to clearly comprehend the state of affairs, -and even in doubt as to his own identity, whether he was a Federal -prisoner or a Confederate soldier. The following morning he was found -at the entrance to a hospital, standing guard for a soldier whom he -had succeeded in making even drunker than himself. An hour or so later -he found himself on board the ram _Webb_ (then lying in the river -abreast of the city), in the presence of a recruiting officer, who -endeavored to persuade him to join the vessel, by offering him tempting -inducements in the shape of pay and bounty. ‘Transport,’ though very -drunk, was not to be enticed by any proffers which they could make him -to desert his flag. - -“Late that evening he returned in company with his convivial friends, -reckless of consequences and unable to give a satisfactory account -of his trip. That same night he was sent for, to explain his absence -without leave, failing in which he was deprived of his liberty and -placed under guard again. The next morning I met him in camp, and a -more pitiful-looking object I could hardly have imagined; no wonder the -poor fellow was disconsolate after his recent experience of partial -freedom with us. He begged me to intercede with Colonel Harrison -and obtain his release, swearing eternal gratitude if I would, and -promising not to be overcome by such a temptation again. I found the -colonel in good humor and had no difficulty in persuading him to grant -‘Transport’ a new lease of freedom; only he proposed, he said, to -hold me personally responsible for my comrade’s good behavior in the -future. His demonstrations of joy, when I carried him the good news, -were unbounded, but his promises of good behavior were short-lived, for -the same day he again fell in with his festive friends, and during his -spree so far forgot himself as to make a visit to the colonel, at his -headquarters, to request the loan of a horse. The utter ridiculousness -of such a request, coupled with the jovial good nature with which he -made it, so amused the colonel that he allowed him to return to the hut -with a slight reprimand. A few days after this ‘Chips’ was remanded to -the lines for drunkenness and insulting an officer of the guard while -in that condition. - -“For several days during the latter part of March the prison camp was -kept in a continuous state of excitement by a variety of conflicting -rumors concerning the disposition to be made of us, on account of -the approach of our army up the Red River, under General Banks. An -occasional report would reach us that we were to be sent at once to -our lines and transportation down the river was being prepared; but -the gist of these rumors indicated a removal of all prisoners in this -vicinity to Camp Ford, in Texas. We were on the alert for any news of -a definite description; our only fear was that we would be suddenly -ordered into camp with the other prisoners. - -“While standing by the fire-place in the hut, early on the chilly -morning of March 26th, I saw a squad of cavalry pass along the road -in front, and a few of their number dismounted and entered, to warm -themselves by the fire. I saw at once they were not Colonel Harrison’s -men, and inquired where they were going so early in the morning. Not -knowing I was a ‘Yankee’ prisoner, they replied that they had come from -Shreveport for the purpose of taking the ‘Yanks’ to Camp Ford, and -said the ‘Yankee’ army was _booming_ along up the Red River and had -already reached Natchitoches, and would soon reach Shreveport unless -defeated. The prisoners were to start at nine o’clock, under orders to -make forced marches until their destination was reached. I pretended -to be much pleased at the idea of being relieved from guard duty, and -gave utterance to a few other justifiable prevarications to conceal my -identity, fearing all the while a guard or summons should come for us -from the camp. - -“When they had gone I went to the bunk where Wentworth, who heard the -conversation, was lying, and urged him to start immediately for the -swamp in rear of Elliot’s Plantation. As he was undecided what to do, I -started for the woods, meeting ‘Transport,’ who joined me, until a deep -ravine near the swamps was reached. I left ‘Transport’ and started for -the hut for my money I forgot to bring away. Meeting Mrs. Gupton, an -acquaintance, she volunteered to procure my money while I awaited her -return. She soon came back with it and the information that Wentworth -was alone at the hut, still undecided what to do. I made my way to -Elliot’s Plantation, and waking Elliot up, for it was yet early, I -explained the situation of affairs and asked his advice. He told me to -return to the ravine, secrete myself until I should hear from him, and -that he would visit camp to obtain all the information he could. - -“Finding ‘Transport’ where I left him, we lay for hours expecting -every moment to be discovered or trailed by hounds, which we could -hear yelping in the distance. Late in the afternoon Mr. Elliot sought -us, bringing a substantial supply of food, the more welcome because we -had eaten nothing since the day previous. He reported that on his way -to camp he found the prisoners already drawn up in the road, near the -hut, answering to roll-call. He was unable to state whether our names -had been called, but thought they had been omitted or some one had -responded for us. He found Wentworth inside the hut, seated upon a log, -smoking, and apparently in deep thought. He advised him to strike for -liberty at once, and Wentworth jumped out of the window in the rear, -hurrying to a thicket that bordered a small stream back of the hut. -Shortly afterwards line was formed and the command given to start. We -passed the night in a woody hollow between the trunks of two fallen -trees, every now and then alarmed by a pack of hounds barking near by, -who we feared were on our track, but we afterwards learned belonged to -a neighboring planter, a Union man. - -“Early next morning Mr. Elliot sent a servant to us with breakfast, -and shortly after appeared himself. We held a consultation as to the -best mode of procedure, and concluded that the safest plan would -be to remain concealed near or in the swamp-lands, until Banks’ -army approached, which we then had no doubt would soon be in this -vicinity. Mr. Elliot offered to supply us with food and to give us -such information as he could obtain. The weather being now mild and -pleasant, our open-air quarters were rather pleasant than otherwise.” - -The statement of Private Hersey ends here. The following account of -wanderings and adventures in the attempt of Wentworth, Hersey and -Williams to reach the Federal lines is compiled from Private Hersey’s -diary, and verified by him: - -Hersey and Williams remained concealed in the swamp, at “Fort Hersey” -(so named), until April 17th, their wants provided for by Mr. Elliot, -when they found Wentworth, who had been kindly befriended by a -Confederate soldier named Leeds, afterwards by a Mr. McGee, owner of a -plantation. They knew of reënforcements for the Confederates arriving -from Texas and Arkansas, and saw a portion of General Price’s Arkansas -men marching along a road crossing the margin of the swamp, on their -way towards Mansfield. They heard heavy firing in that direction April -8th, and the next day were informed by Mr. Elliot of the total defeat -of the Federal troops at _Sabine Cross-Roads_ and their retreat to -Alexandria. - -At McGee’s Plantation a conference was held by Hersey, Wentworth, -Williams and several Unionists, Mr. Elliot, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Bell, -and Mr. McGee, when it was decided the safest course was for them to -make their way down the country by following the river until Alexandria -was reached, and watch for an opportunity to cross into the Federal -lines. This meeting was held April 17th, and the _tramp_ was commenced -April 20th (declining to allow a deserter from the Confederate army -to join them), by Wentworth, Hersey and Williams, who crossed the -Red River to the north bank at Bell’s Plantation, to follow the plan -decided upon, viz., to cross the river, follow its course down, -keeping in the swamps and woods as much as possible, claim to belong -to Harrison’s regiment if questioned or suspected, and that they were -on their way to rejoin from the hospital at Shreveport. Harrison’s -regiment was then on the north bank operating against the Federal navy, -under Admiral Porter. They felt confident their clothing would not -betray them, as it was entirely of homespun material. - -The first day, while being entertained by Union people, Monsieur -Lattier and his two granddaughters, Mrs. Scopenie and Miss Sophia Hall, -they escaped capture by three cavalry-men, who rode up to the house, by -hiding in one of the rooms until they had departed. The ladies thought -it was a very romantic episode, but the prisoners did not. Travelling -sometimes all night, or all day, or partly by day and night, in the -swamps, with their course lying in a south-easterly direction, they -were guided by the North Star when the nights were clear, occasionally -losing the way when the sky was clouded. Food was obtained by going -to houses and asking for it; water, by filling their canteens at -rain-water cisterns; and sleep, in deserted cabins, corn cribs, or -under trees. - -They were always enabled to trace the windings of the Red River by -tall trees that grew along its banks and marked its course. Most of -the planters’ residences were situated near the river road, facing the -river; the plantations extending back to the swamp-lands or forests. -The land in this region was as level as a prairie, and the soil of -the farms a rich, black earth, with scarcely the smallest pebble to -be found upon it. They crossed Loggy Bayou on the twenty-second, went -through Springville Village at night on the twenty-fourth, reaching -the pine woods on the twenty-fifth, where it was almost impossible -to conceal themselves from the eyes of anybody they chanced to meet, -on account of the absence of undergrowth or shrubbery. In passing -through the town of Compti, on the twenty-sixth, recently burned by the -Federals, Hersey says: “We stopped in a ravine on the edge of the town -until after midnight, and then quietly and cautiously went forward. -The few houses remaining look deserted, and the whole scene, as we -viewed it in the darkness of the night, was the picture of desolation. -The silence of death reigned over the place, except now and then when -an owl would hoot in the woods that fringed the suburbs. We had just -reached a bridge crossing a little stream in the centre of the town -when we were terribly alarmed by the sudden sound of horses hoofs on -the road behind us. On looking back we saw through the darkness a -number of horses galloping towards the bridge at a terrific rate, so -rapidly as to give us no chance to escape them. The scare was of short -duration, for when they rushed by we saw that they were riderless, and -probably had taken us for their masters. The shock produced a sense -of timidity upon us we could not shake off with all the assumption of -gayety and laughter that we outwardly manifested, and we felt greatly -relieved when we reached the woods and left the desolate town far -behind us.” - -They frequently saw officers and men, but managed to evade them, until -on the night of April 27th they reached a bayou and were dismayed to -find a soldier on guard at the only fording place they could discover. -Hersey says: “This was the worst obstacle we had yet encountered, -and we were at loss to find a way to overcome it. The banks of the -stream were high and steep. We crept onward to get a better view of -the situation, and could plainly see the sentry by the light of his -bivouac fire. He was sitting or reclining upon an old log with the -light shining upon his face, his gun across his shoulder. We soon saw -he was fast asleep, and decided to cross while he was wrapt in slumber. -The distance from bank to bank was short, but the fording place was -narrow and almost barred by the form of the guard. The undertaking -was venturesome, but there was no other way out of the difficulty, -so we determined to run the gauntlet. Arranging to go one at a time, -Wentworth started first, passed the sentry safely, climbing the -opposite bank. As I drew near I felt a strange fascination which almost -deprived me of action, and when I reached him was compelled to stop -and gaze into his face before the spell was dissolved. Williams, who -came last, was also successful, but we could not resist our suppressed -laughter at the comical figure he cut in his endeavors to deaden the -sound of his footsteps. With a sense of relief we made haste to gain -the woods, and travelled on until morning.” - -On the twenty-ninth of April, when within thirty miles of Alexandria, -they accidentally stopped at the house of a Jayhawker (a name given -to those secret bands of Southern Unionists who resisted by force the -conscription acts and were the deadliest foes of the guerrillas), who -provided _them_ with food and excused himself from giving breakfast to -a Confederate lieutenant of cavalry and three privates, who rode up -while the three escaped prisoners were talking with their host upon the -door-porch. By advice of this Jayhawker they endeavored to find a Madam -Nowlan, who lived near the river, and who, he said, would find a way to -assist them across the river into the Federal lines. - -The next day, April 30th, while proceeding in the direction given -them how to find Madam Nowlan’s Plantation, they encountered an army -wagon and learned from a soldier that Harrison’s cavalry was not far -away, stationed on that side of the river. This fact decided them to -represent Texans, knowing they were on the south side, and they were -well acquainted with the history of many Texas regiments. About noon -they called at a house to procure a dinner, introducing themselves -as Texas soldiers attached to Captain Clipper’s company, of Elmore’s -regiment, on their way from Shreveport hospitals to rejoin their -company. While awaiting dinner, conversation was carried on with the -host, under some shady trees, about army matters, until Williams asked -the nearest way to reach Madam Nowlan, when a red-headed man came from -the house and demanded in a rough tone: “What do you know about Madam -Nowlan?” The question was so abruptly asked, Wentworth and Hersey were -disconcerted for a moment. They were subjected to a series of questions -and cross questions, which were answered as best they could; Hersey’s -information, gathered while visiting Colonel Harrison’s headquarters, -about the Confederate troops in Louisiana and reënforcements expected -from Texas and Arkansas coming in very opportune. - -The red-headed man was a “courier,” named Harris, attached to the -“courier line” carrying despatches between army headquarters and -Shreveport, on the north bank of Red River. He suspected the three -prisoners were spies, and was not to be duped. Disappearing for a short -time, he returned followed by three soldiers, who apparently dropped -in one at a time, as if by chance. Courier Harris laid his plans well. -Offering no opposition to their departure, they started for the river -road, when he followed them and began conversation, intimating a desire -on his part to desert. They were not to be caught by this trick and -resented such proposals, when he rode away, after directing them how to -reach the river crossing. Feeling that the end was near, they kept on -until a deserted log house built upon piles, beneath which was a little -grass plot, tempted them to rest under its cool shelter. - -While resting a pack of hounds surrounded them, soon followed by a -cavalry squad, headed by Harris, who levelled their guns and ordered a -surrender. The prisoners were taken to the house of Mr. Swafford, said -to be the headquarters of the courier line, and there kept until their -case was reported to Brigadier-General Liddel, commanding Confederate -forces. - -On Monday, May 2d, Captain Micot, chief of the courier line, arrived -to take them to General Liddel, whose camp was about twenty-five miles -distant, opposite Alexandria. Captain Micot was sociable and friendly, -expressing his sympathy and promising to do what he could for them. He -did so, returning from an interview with his general exclaiming: “Well, -boys, I’ve got good tidings for you,” handing them a piece of paper, -torn from the blank leaf of a printed book, upon which the following -lines were written in pencil: - - * * * * * - -“Guards and pickets will pass Samuel R. Hersey, David L. Wentworth and -Charles Williams outside the Confederate lines. - - “BRIGADIER-GENERAL LIDDEL, - “Per ----, _A. A. A. G._” - -A verbal provision was attached to the pass, that they must not -attempt to reach the Federal lines on Red River, but return by way of -Harrisonburg, thence to the Federal forces on the Mississippi River. -This pass, Captain Micot informed them, would be respected by all -regular Confederate soldiers, but probably not by the guerrillas, as -they were not subject to the discipline of the army. Thus was Williams’ -oft-repeated prediction, “Our journey is only a round-about road to -Texas again, it would be better for us if we had gone with the crowd,” -not likely to be realized. - -The three prisoners returned to Swafford’s house, accompanied by -Captain Micot and a private named Meecum. Meecum, who found an -opportunity to unbosom himself, advised them to call upon his father, a -Baptist clergyman and member of a league of Jayhawkers, residing about -seventeen miles from Swafford’s, directly on their way, who would mark -out a course to pursue that would be of assistance. He had a brother -serving in the Federal army, and his sympathies were with the Union -cause; his service was compulsory with the Confederates. - -Wednesday, May 4th, Wentworth, Hersey and Williams again commenced a -tramp of one hundred and seventy-five miles, after an adieu to their -Confederate friends who had treated them very kindly; since their -recapture it appeared to them as though they were friends upon a visit, -so considerate had been the treatment they received from everybody with -whom they came in contact. Mr. Swafford presented Wentworth with a -blood-hound “pup” of fine breed, as a remembrancer of him, and also as -a reward for those songs Wentworth sang at his house and the marvellous -yarns he told, the like of which they never heard before and will -probably never listen to again. - -They were hospitably entertained that night by Rev. Mr. Meecum, the -next night by Mr. Paul, twenty miles beyond, and then travelled onward -carefully in order to avoid guerrillas, especially a band known as -“dog” Smith’s (a name given them on account of their use of bloodhounds -in hunting victims), until May 8th, stopping each night with some -friendly Unionist, to whom they were directed by the preceding host. - -It was on Sunday, May 8th, after remaining over night with a Mr. “Jack” -Wharton, as he was called, they walked into a guerrilla camp, situated -in the dense woods near Tensas River. The “pass” did not satisfy the -motley crowd of ill-clad, villainous-looking men, who heaped the vilest -epithets upon them, and several men threatened to shoot them down but -were held back by their comrades. - -The guerrilla chief, Captain Smith, was absent, and the prisoners were -taken before a Lieutenant Eddington, a young man about twenty-five -years old, tall and well shaped, with features indicative of refinement -and intelligence, whose parents lived in Missouri. The prisoners told -their story and plead for their lives. After talking the matter over, -Eddington was satisfied the “pass” was genuine, and told them the only -thing he could do was to pass them out of his tent by the rear, while -his men were ordered away, and advised them to “run for it” to the -river bank, where they would find a regular company of Confederate -cavalry, commanded by a Captain Gillespie. His men, so he said, were -much exasperated over the loss of some of their comrades, captured in a -recent skirmish with colored troops, and who had been shot. - -A Colonel Jones, an officer in the Confederate service, wounded at -Shiloh, owner of some four thousand acres of cleared land along the -Tensas River and vicinity, invited them to his house and provided -supper and sleeping apartments. Colonel Jones knew they were paroled -Federal prisoners on the way to Natchez, and the reason of his -hospitality was unfolded when he called Hersey aside and requested him -to inform General Tuttle at Natchez, with the utmost secresy, _that -three hundred bales of cotton were on the way down Black River, coming -from Colonel Jones_. - -The three men started shortly after sunrise, on Monday, May 9th, for -Natchez, expecting to walk the distance that day. The danger of again -encountering guerrilla bands was all they had to fear. By nightfall -they were within hearing of the evening guns from the forts around -Vidalia. While walking rapidly along the road three United States -colored cavalry-men, in a menacing manner, ordered them to halt, and -demanded to know who they were. No explanation would be believed by -these wide-awake soldiers, who marched the prisoners into town to the -provost-marshal’s office, where the mistake was rectified, and they -received good treatment at the only hotel in the place. At Natchez, -the following morning, their appearance in such ridiculous clothes -as they wore created considerable commotion in the streets. Whenever -they stopped a crowd of curious people gathered around, enabling -Wentworth, with his fertile genius for story telling, to relate in a -most thrilling manner the story of their escape, embellished with a few -deeds of bloodshed and heroic action. A Mr. Marsh, in charge of the New -England Aid Society store, offered to clothe them, but the offer was -declined, as the Quartermaster Department provided for them. - -From Natchez the three escaped men were sent to Vicksburg, and from -there got transportation to Washington, by way of Cairo. Williams -parted company with Wentworth and Hersey at Cairo, not desirous -to go on to Washington, and remained to seek employment upon the -transport-steamers on the river; Wentworth and Hersey proceeded to -Washington, obtained their pay without trouble, and reached Boston, -home again, June 1st, 1864, having passed over sixteen months of their -lives as prisoners of war. - -Charles Williams, “Transport,” was last heard from May 24th, 1864, -when he was furnished transportation from Chicago to Utica, New York, -by a United States quartermaster, as Williams claimed to be a private -of Company D, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, on sick -leave, granted by Brigadier-General Tuttle. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -OFFICERS IN CONFEDERATE PRISONS--HOUSTON--STATE PRISON--CAMP -GROCE--CAMP FORD--EN-ROUTE HOME--AT HOME. - - -Soon after the enlisted men (Galveston prisoners of war) were paroled -and left for the Federal lines, the officers retained at Houston were -joined (January 25th) by one hundred and nine prisoners taken at Sabine -Pass, officers and crews of the U. S. sailing vessels _Morning Light_ -and _Velocity_. Among them were Acting Masters Dillingham, Fowler and -Washburn, Masters-Mates Chambers and Rice, Acting Assistant-Surgeon J. -W. Shrify, and Captain Hammond of the _Velocity_. - -These two successful ventures (Galveston and Sabine Pass) elated the -Texans, giving them a confidence in their prowess that expressed itself -in constant jubilations. “We Texans are whales,” remarked by one of -them to a prisoner, was but an index of opinions they all entertained. - -The officers were allowed liberty of the city, on their -parole-of-honor, for about a week or ten days after reaching Houston, -when this privilege was withdrawn, and they were kept in close -confinement. This freedom was not improved further than to purchase -supplies. Union men had secretly cautioned them not to go out in the -then excited state of feeling among the people, who thought hanging -was good enough for Federal officers. A watch was upon every one -who evinced a desire to show the Federals any attention. One man, -who gave them a stove, was thrown into confinement. Another man, a -storekeeper, had Colonel Burrell dine with him at home, but did not -dare to visit the officers in their quarters. In conversation with -the provost-marshal on this state of feeling, that official said they -were safe from any trouble while under guard, for the army did not -wish any harm to come to them, because there was no telling when they -would find themselves in the same predicament; still the prisoners were -chary of trust in either army or people, and at night barricaded their -prison-apartment door with what chairs they had; each man armed himself -with a stick of wood for defence, if an occasion arose. - -There were men in Houston who secretly passed into the officers’ hands -a sufficient amount of Confederate bills to supply their needful -wants. Prominent in this good work was a Mr. H. W. Benchley, who was -lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts in 1855. The money thus obtained -was of the greatest benefit at the time, enabling many necessaries to -be procured. The names of all these men are not known. Many were former -citizens of Massachusetts, whose hearts were not alienated from the -old Bay State. There was a slumbering affection for the United States -Government, kept in abeyance from fear of the Confederate authorities, -who, it has been proved beyond a question, were wont to treat with -severity every man suspected of sympathy with the Federal Government. - -The prisoners’ quarters would have been tolerable comfortable had any -decent arrangements been made to take care of excrements, made by -Confederate soldiers and Federal prisoners. The lower stories were -occupied by troops, the upper story by prisoners, who had to stand -all bad odor that ascended from below. Rations issued, while not what -the prisoners would like, nor, in fact, such as Northern people would -consider fit to eat, were quite as good as the authorities issued to -their own troops, accustomed to that kind of food. To become accustomed -to “corn-meal coffee” and coarse “corn-dodger” was hard work. Food -was issued to last ten days at a time, and had to do so. Each man was -expected to fare no better than his fellows. No trouble occurred until -Stone and Dillingham helped themselves one day, out of meal hours, to -ginger-bread laid aside. Some personal feeling was engendered when they -were remonstrated with, and the Confederate provost-marshal issued an -order that made Colonel Burrell commander of the Federal prisoners. An -effort was made to draw up a code of regulations all would agree to be -governed by, but no committee could be found to do this duty. Colonel -Burrell was obliged to exercise a supervision over all matters material -to their welfare until he left Houston. - -_Ennui_ of confinement, in January, February and March, was somewhat -abated by singing, card playing, drills in sword exercise, with sticks -of wood for weapons, and gymnastic exercises. On and after February -12th they were allowed two hours a day, under guard, to stroll around -the city and outskirts, generally to cross Buffalo Bayou and play ball -upon the prairie land, free of annoyance from citizens. This privilege -was granted on a medical certificate from Surgeon Cummings, stating -such liberty was absolutely necessary, and consent obtained of General -Magruder, through Surgeon Peples, medical director of the Department, -with whom Cummings was on intimate terms. - -The _Houston Telegraph_ was eagerly read every morning, and each item -relating to exchange of prisoners or their parole was sought for and -noted. They could get little satisfactory information from its columns -concerning the situation of military affairs; according to its “pony -express news,” victories were always with the Southern arms, and such -victories! _Bombastes Furioso_ could not have done better than did the -publisher of this newspaper. - -Among the frequent visitors was Major Shannon, C. S. A., who did his -best to make everything pleasant, also a Captain Chubb, formerly from -Charlestown, Mass., then a resident of Texas. Chubb was captured early -in the war by Federals, and confined in Fort Lafayette for over a -year. He was much given to boasting, and could utter more oaths in one -sentence than any man the prisoners ever heard. Notwithstanding his -boasts, bluster, and intense fire-eating proclivities, he was always -found to be pleasant, agreeable company, kind and generous at heart, -ever ready to do the prisoners a favor. He did contribute money to the -officers’ fund in a quiet way. Other visitors were a Mr. Whitcomb, -formerly of Roxbury, Mass., and a Mr. Stearns, of Waltham, Mass., then -an engineer on the Galveston and Houston Railroad. - -Acting-Master Munroe, wounded upon the _Harriet Lane_, died January -30th, and was buried next day, the funeral being attended by all of the -naval officers present. Corporal McIntosh, Company D, died February -10th, in hospital, at six P.M., and was buried next day in -the afternoon. The officers made a neat head-board to mark his grave. -March 26th Private O’Shaughnessy, Company D, made his first appearance, -on crutches, since losing his leg at Galveston. April 6th Private -Josselyn, Company D, wounded at Galveston, was discharged from hospital. - -On the twenty-ninth of April an order came from General Magruder to -send all commissioned officers to the State Penitentiary at Huntsville, -there to be kept in close confinement until further orders. This order, -so it was stated, came from Richmond, and was to place in confinement -all captured officers that were in General Butler’s army, and was said -to be in retaliation for a similar act of the Federal authorities. None -of the officers came from Butler’s army; General Banks had superseded -him, and the 42d Mass. was acting under Banks’ orders. Without any -regular order from General Banks in his possession, Colonel Burrell was -unable to make the authorities understand this fact, or more likely -they chose not to understand it. All colored men in the captured crews -of the _Harriet Lane_ and _Morning Light_ had previously been sent to -this prison, to do convict duty. An intimation of some proceeding like -this was given on the nineteenth. - -Under escort of a cavalry detachment the officers proceeded to the -Texas Central Railroad depot to take a special freight car, at nine -o’clock A.M. Dinner was eaten at Cypress City, twenty-five -miles from Houston, and at half-past four P.M. they reached -Navasota, where quarters were provided for nineteen officers in one -room eighteen feet square, at the Morning Star Hotel. Supper and -breakfast cost them two dollars each. After breakfast next morning, and -a friendly shake of the hand by General Sam. Houston, who promised to -call at their new quarters and see them, at quarter-past six o’clock -they took four wagons, with mule teams, provided to make the journey to -their destination, forty-five miles distant, and arrived at the prison -about noon May 1st, where the information was imparted that they were -to be confined in separate cells. A protest was drawn up, signed by -all, and Surgeon Cummings, with Frank Veazie, non-combatants, returned -with the same to Houston. This was not a May-day festival for the -prisoners. - -In this old-fashioned prison, with none of the conveniences now in -use, convicts were employed at the shop in manufacturing cotton cloth -for the Confederate Government, a Mr. Chandler, from Massachusetts, -acting as superintendent of the factory. Life was enjoyed somewhat -after this routine: after the convicts had gone to work, the officers -were released from their cells and allowed to do as they pleased in -the yard until dinner hour, when they returned to their cells, to be -released again after the convicts had eaten their dinner and returned -to work. This rule was in force for nine days only, when Colonel -Carruthers obtained a supply of lumber, had cots made in a room in the -upper story of the prison building facing the street, and this room, on -and after May 9th, was occupied by all of the officers for a sleeping -apartment. Regular prison fare was provided on the first day, when -Colonel Carruthers, in charge of the prison, a humane man, informed -his military prisoners he would shoulder the responsibility and give -them meals at his own table, although without authority to do so. After -this no complaint could be made on that score. Confined a few nights in -small, hot cells, afterwards in the large room, was the extent of their -inconvenience until released from prison June 27th, nearly two months -from the day they entered prison walls. General Houston, Mrs. Houston, -their two daughters and son, Andrew Jackson Houston, frequently visited -the officers and entertained them so far as lay in their power. Old -Sam, seventy years old, straight as an arrow, was a very interesting -entertainer, with enlivening conversation of his experience in the -United States Senate. - -The officers subjected to the indignity of a prison confinement by -the Confederate officials were: Colonel Burrell, Captains Sherive, -Proctor and Savage, Lieutenants Cowdin, White, Eddy, Newcomb, Bartlett -and Stowell, 42d Mass. Vols.; Masters Hamilton and Hannum, Engineers -Plunkett and Stone, of the _Harriet Lane_; Masters Dillingham, Fowler -and Washburn, Masters-Mates Chambers and Rice, Purser’s Clerk Van -Wycke, of the _Morning Light_; Captain Hammond, of the _Velocity_. The -three last-named were not brought to prison until May 14th. - -Engineers Plunkett and Stone were taken to court, held in Houston June -10th, to testify in the case of a man who was on trial for repairing -the boilers of the _Harriet Lane_ while she lay in front of Galveston. -Plunkett refused to testify and was placed in jail for contempt of -court, but soon after released. - -After Magruder sent these officers to Huntsville prison, with orders to -have them treated as prisoners of war in confinement and not as felons, -a controversy arose between the State and military authorities over the -right of the latter to send prisoners of war to the penitentiary. The -result was their transfer to a new camp established for war prisoners -at Hempstead, called Camp Groce. - -Leaving behind Colonel Burrell, sick with rheumatism, under care of -Captain Sherive, the other officers left Huntsville June 27th for -Camp Groce, under escort of a cavalry guard commanded by Captain -Cundiff. Transportation back to Navasota was in wagons, with three -extra wagons, hired at ten dollars a day from each man, to carry -their baggage. Twelve miles were made on the first day, and sleeping -accommodations found at night in an old school-house, having dinner and -supper from rations provided by kind Mrs. Carruthers. Twenty-one miles -were travelled the second day, at night bivouacking under trees in a -splendid moonlight, and Navasota was reached on the twenty-ninth, about -noon. There they remained until the thirtieth, when cars were taken for -Camp Groce, which place was reached at eleven o’clock in the forenoon. - -Until removed to Camp Groce the few enlisted men 42d Mass., left behind -at Houston, were quartered in a large warehouse used for storage of -general merchandise, in company with sailors composing the _Morning -Light_ crew. These sailors were a motley crowd, comprising men from -nearly every nation: Irish, English, Dutch, Spanish, Greek, Italian, -and two South Sea Islanders. They did not mind captivity, apparently -thought of nothing beyond amusement. Occasionally they got put in irons -for some misdemeanor or violation of rules, but no sooner were the -irons riveted upon their ankles than off they were filed by comrades, -to be again put on when an officer of the day came around to call the -roll. One night three of these rollicking sailors broke away from the -building and went on a spree, with some of Captain Clipper’s men. While -on a raid through the city, mounted on horses, they all rode into -a bar-room and were captured by the provost-guard, brought back to -quarters, and placed in irons that had no terrors for them. - -Several prisoners recently captured in Louisiana were brought in June -1st, and three more June 9th, taken at Franklin, La. One of these -new prisoners, Hugh Dolan, became a great favorite with the sailors -immediately on arrival on account of his wonderful vocal abilities, -so they thought, and light-hearted manner. One of his favorite songs -was “Bowld Jack Donahoe,” and whenever he sang this song his nautical -audience would listen with the most profound attention. - -What the “boys” considered an affliction was the removal of their -kind-hearted and friendly “old guard,” Captain Clipper’s company, -ordered to Galveston June 9th. Another company, commanded by Captain -Buster, had for some time assisted Captain Clipper in guarding the -prisoners, and remained to do that duty. The men of this company were -not liked very much by any of their charge; none of that cordial -feeling existed as had been the case with the “old guard.” They were -a despicable set of fellows. Captain Buster, a mild, pleasant man, -lacked energy and was too indolent to pay much attention to the -discipline of his men. His first-lieutenant, Morgan, was a bombastic -and disagreeable man, who paid little attention to his prisoners. This -guard remained on duty until September 18th, when militia relieved them. - -Floating rumors in regard to removal up country were verified on -the thirteenth of June, when all prisoners in Houston were taken by -railroad to Camp Groce, enjoying an all-day ride upon platform freight -cars, without shelter from a hot sun. Their new home was a long, narrow -frame barrack, leaky in rainy weather, divided into three compartments, -situated about three hundred yards from the railroad, in the centre -of a dry, sandy clearing, with a few trees left for shade. This -clearing was surrounded by a belt of woods on all sides but one, and -near by was a sluggish body of swamp water bordered by cypress trees. -The place was supplied with bad water from two deep wells. Another -row of barracks, occupied by the guard, ran almost parallel to those -occupied by prisoners, at about two hundred yards distance. A few frame -buildings between these barracks and the railroad served as quarters -for Confederate officers. - -The location of Camp Groce was decidedly unhealthy, and had been -abandoned by Confederate troops as a camp of instruction for this -reason. Arrangement of sinks was bad, not at all conducive to health. -Sickness prevailed to such an extent there were not enough men able to -watch and properly attend their sick companions. When a person stops to -think of what has to be done in cases where patients are too weak to -move themselves, with primitive utensils at hand to perform necessary -acts, it is a wonder how prisoners in this hospital camp managed to -exist. Each sick man remained with his mess for care and attention. -Hospital accommodations were not provided, except what was in the town -reserved for exclusive use of Confederates. - -All through August, September, October and part of November, the dull -monotony of prison life wore on unattended by any hopeful news or -enlivening sensations. Communications were forwarded to General Banks, -the Secretary of War, and General Meredith, Federal Commissioner -for the exchange of prisoners, on the subject of being paroled or -exchanged. None of the prisoners then understood why the Federal -Government did not do something in their behalf. They were informed by -Colonel Sayles, who formerly commanded at Camp Groce, that repeated -efforts had been made by the Confederate authorities to induce the -Federal Government to exchange them, but the Federal authorities -repeatedly refused to listen to any propositions towards that end, -also stating that the Confederates were as anxious to get rid of their -prisoners as they were to go, and placed the responsibility for their -continued captivity on the Federal Government. This misstatement of -facts naturally caused some animosity of feeling among the prisoners -towards their own Government, losing strength each day, with sickness -and death constantly staring them in the face. They were not aware of -the obstruction existing to interrupt an exchange of prisoners; that -the Government was fighting with the enemy for a principle, the placing -of negro soldiers on a par with white troops, entitled to the common -usages of war when taken prisoners. - -On the eighteenth of October a strict search was made through the -barracks, for what purpose the prisoners were not informed, but -surmised it was to ascertain if any parties in the State, Houston -in particular, had compromised themselves by writing them. News of -the arrest of Union men, especially in Houston, was often heard. In -this search all money was taken away under a promise of return, and a -receipt given. Writings, diaries and letters were seized, never to be -seen again. - -A stockade was built in October completely encircling the camp, made -so high escape by climbing would be impossible, and the prisoners -became down-hearted at this indication of a possible lengthy stay, -when, on the sixteenth of November, after most of the men had retired -for the night, Colonel Burrell entered the barracks with news that -all were to be paroled as soon as the papers could be made out. Wild -excitement prevailed on the announcement of these joyous tidings, and -the night was passed without sleep, amid cheers, yells, and frantic -demonstrations of delight. - -All hands commenced to get ready, by disposing of “traps” they could -spare to purchasers easily found among the guard and citizens. Parole -papers were signed by the enlisted men November 20th, and the march -for three hundred miles to Shreveport, La., commenced December 9th. -On December 11th the officers were removed to Camp Ford, Tyler, Smith -County, Texas, well understanding they must keep up courage until the -new year came in, and manage in some way to get through approaching -winter, ill-prepared as they were to stand cold weather, from having -disposed of many necessary articles of clothing to obtain money to -purchase food while on their way to the Federal lines, when they -expected to go with the enlisted men. - -The following record of sundry events at Camp Groce was culled from -several diaries: - -“July 4th--Celebrated in the best manner possible under the -circumstances, and was dull enough. The day was not recognized by the -Confederates. July 11th--A battalion of conscripts arrived in camp; -most of them Germans and Mexicans. July 30th--Barracks look like a -hospital. Six officers sick abed, and out of one hundred men sixty are -in the same condition. Not a man is in good health; all are ailing, -though those not in bed have to keep up and about to attend the others. -Impossible to procure suitable medicines even with money collected -among the prisoners to obtain medical supplies; none furnished by the -authorities. August 1st--Colonel Nott, Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne -and Lieutenant Sherman, 176th N. Y.; Captain Van Tyne, 131st N. Y.; -Lieutenants Bassett and Wilson, 48th Mass.; Lieutenant Humble, 4th -Mass.; and seven civilians, captured at Brashear City and on the -La-Fourche, arrived in camp. After these arrivals Sunday services -were held, Colonels Nott or Duganne officiating. August 6th--Colonel -Burrell and Captain Sherive arrived from Huntsville State Prison. -September 14th--Two hundred and twenty prisoners arrived in camp, taken -at Sabine Pass on the tenth instant. The wounded arrived September -30th. Particulars of this engagement, furnished by the captives, -caused everybody to feel sorrowful and chagrined. September 26th--A -sailor was fired on while playing ball, because he went too near the -picket line; he was not hit. October 5th--Twenty officers attached to -the U. S. gunboats _Clifton_ and _Sachem_ arrived in camp from Sabine -Pass and were confined in separate quarters, not allowed to hold any -conversation or communication with other prisoners for some time. -October 27th--Four prisoners arrived, captured in Louisiana. - -A total of four officers and eighteen men died at Camp Groce; ten or -twelve were sailors. Ship Carpenter Morris, of the _Harriet Lane_, -sixty years old, died July 19th. Lieutenant Ramsey, 175th N. Y., died -October 11th; he was sick with consumption, but dysentery was the -immediate cause of death. Lieutenant Hayes, 175th N. Y., was found -dead in his bunk October 16th. - -The following officers and men of the 42d died at Camp Groce, viz.: - -August 1st--Private Dennis Dailey, Company D. He was a great favorite -with sailors of the _Morning Light_, with whom he generally associated. - -August 22d--Lieutenant Bartlett, Company I, at one o’clock -A.M., of dysentery, after a short illness. - -September 3d--Private E. F. Josselyn, Company D, in the afternoon, of -dysentery, after a long illness. - -September 9th--Surgeon Cummings, in the afternoon. He was in failing -health for a month, and was unconscious for some days previous to his -death. The burial took place next day with Masonic rites, attended -by Federal and Confederate Freemasons. Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne -conducted the ceremonies. - -Private Parker, Company G, was left sick in Hempstead Hospital. He died -December 14th, 1863. - -The guard over the officers who marched from Camp Groce to Camp Ford -was commanded by Captain Davis, who marched them sixteen to seventeen -miles a day over the sandy and hilly roads. The march usually commenced -at seven A.M. and ended for the day between two and three -o’clock P.M. The weather was pleasant and cool nearly every -day, but cold at night. They got caught in two rain-storms, and -wet through. The officers arrived at Camp Ford about two o’clock -P.M., December 22d, after a twelve days’ tramp. - -At Camp Ford the prisoners already there, mostly Western men, had built -log cabins and were quite comfortable under the circumstances. The -so-called 42d mansion was built in a few days, with help and aid from -two officers of the 19th Iowa who understood the way to construct log -cabins. Within this cabin, before a roaring log fire, while rain, snow -and hail reigned without, were passed the closing days of 1863. Snow -blew into the cabin, wetting blankets through, and fell an inch deep -upon the ground outside. - -The first three months of 1864 were wearisome, with constant and -conflicting rumors of parole or exchange, and occasional news of -officers who had been exchanged, a subject of all-absorbing interest to -everybody. No description of the life they led can afford an adequate -idea of the torments to mind and body, their hopes and fears for the -future, and constant struggle to make the best of their situation until -a change came. Northern papers frequently found their way inside the -stockade to be greedily devoured for news, as they were passed around -from one to another. A newspaper from home was like a visiting angel. -Southern papers were in camp every week. A tolerable correct idea -of what was going on in the outside world, political and military, -was sifted from these papers, aided by information obtained from -Confederate officers. - -To kill time the prisoners occupied themselves in repairs and -improvements on quarters for business, and visits to brother -officers, singing and dancing, for recreation. A violin, purchased by -subscription for one hundred and ten dollars Confederate money, Captain -May, 23d Conn., as violinist, and a banjo made in camp and played by -Engineer R. W. Mars, of the gunboat _Diana_, accompanied by a flute -manipulated by Captain Thomason, 176th N. Y., and a fife by E. J. -Collins, made a select orchestra to furnish appropriate music for the -dances. Gardens were started early in February, when corn, mustard, -lettuce, watermelons, squashes, onions and cotton was planted. Corn -and onions showed above ground early in March. A system of barter and -exchange in various articles was carried on among the prisoners, -affording a means to keep their wits at work if no money was made out -of the transactions. A newspaper was published, _The Old Flag_, edited -and printed by Captain May, the printing done with a pen. Editions were -issued February 17th, March 1st and 13th, that afforded great interest -to the camp. Only one copy was issued of each number, to be passed -around, read and returned to the captain. It has yet to be recorded at -what post, where Confederate prisoners were confined, did they show -so much versatility in amusing themselves as was shown by Federal -prisoners in all parts of the South. - -The birthday of Washington, February 22d, was duly celebrated. All -expenses were met by a subscription among the officers in confinement. -Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Leake, 20th Iowa, delivered an oration, -followed by an original poem, written in camp by Lieutenant-Colonel -Duganne. In the afternoon an election was held for Governor, -Lieutenant-Governor, and Inspector of Insane Asylums of Camp Ford, to -carry on a species of fun concocted at the expense of half-witted Sam -Morton, a Kansas soldier. Sam was elected Governor, and then taken in a -chair through the camp with great _eclat_. Fine singing by a glee club -and a grand ball in the evening closed the celebration. - -Pending the result of efforts constantly made to obtain a parole or -exchange, attempts to escape were made at various times. Two officers -of the 26th Indiana, Lieutenants Greene and Switzer, were missed at -roll-call January 12th, and a pursuit made. The escape of these two -officers, some two weeks before this, was known to a few comrades, who -concealed their absence from roll-calls by answering for them. At last -it was decided to let their escape become known. At roll-call their -names were not answered, when a Confederate officer innocently asked: -“Does any one know where Greene and Switzer are?” An answer was given, -with a laugh, “Guess they have gone for a pair of shoes.” The two -officers were afterwards heard from as having arrived in New Orleans -after a walk of some three hundred miles, done in a month and two days. -They gave newspaper men, for publication, a detailed account of their -tramp, with names of parties who had helped them along. This published -account came into Confederate hands, and was used as an excuse for -persecuting those Union friends. - -On a rainy night, March 24th, Colonel Rose and fourteen other officers -escaped early in the evening, by sliding aside a stockade post. From -a neglect to replace the post discovery of the escape soon followed, -and an alarm at once sounded. Mounted men, with bloodhounds, were -immediately on their track. Four men were brought back next day, -recaptured after they had walked twenty miles, and nine more were -retaken on the twenty-seventh. One man succeeded in making good his -bold dash for liberty. This attempt to escape was contemplated for some -time; those in the plot secretly prepared parched meal and dry beef to -carry for food. Another attempt was in progress, suggested by reading -in a paper of an escape by officers from Libby Prison, Richmond, -Va., by the tunnel process. From the 42d cabin, it was calculated a -tunnel fifty feet long would carry them outside of the stockade. It -was a double cabin, one-half occupied by Captain May’s mess, also the -editor’s _sanctum_ of the _Old Flag_. A commencement was made March -21st, the earth taken out secreted underneath bunks and carried outside -when an opportunity offered; the opening was covered by a bunk when -work was suspended. Men in this plot had worked a hole twenty-one feet -under ground March 24th, when the original stockade line was removed -to enlarge the camp, and an order was received by Colonel Allen, the -commandant, to shoot at sight any prisoner caught in attempting escape. -These two facts caused the attempt to be abandoned. - -Colonel Allen was an old engineer officer in the United States Army, -and like all regular army officers disposed to treat his prisoners -as men. This disposition to do all in his power to ameliorate their -sufferings probably caused his removal May 27th, a Colonel Anderson -assuming command of the post. The policy pursued by Anderson, or rather -a drunken lieutenant-colonel under him who took charge of all matters -appertaining to the prisoners, was in an opposite direction. - -Camp Ford was blessed with good water and situated upon high ground, -an improvement over Camp Groce. Yet the stockade interior was filthy, -without any system of sinks or police of grounds. This was the fault -of the prisoners, a lazy, careless, motley crowd, not disposed to take -hold of such work. Colonel Allen left such matters to those inside -the stockade. Officers who saw the necessity of a system in hygienic -matters soon gave up in disgust the attempt to force an organization -for this purpose. As is usual in such a collection of men, refusing to -recognize any superior authority except their guards, it was each man -for himself and the devil take the hindmost. - -Among the imprisoned officers were several lieutenant-colonels and -majors. Colonel Burrell was one of the three officers of his rank. -As a matter of pride, to uphold the dignity of his commission, what -many officers signally failed to do, Colonel Burrell was always -scrupulously polite to Colonel Allen, never visited him except in full -uniform, transacting all business with that officer in a business -manner, and so gained his esteem and regard. Burrell maintained that -the rules in force should be respected and obeyed--he would insist on -their obeyance were he in command of such a camp--and by maintaining -dignified relations with the commandant was enabled several times -to secure a rescission of harsh orders issued by Colonel Allen, in -consequence of foolish speeches and acts done by brainless fools in the -stockade. - -No medicines, no special accommodations nor post surgeon were provided -at Camp Ford. Surgeons Sherfy, 1st Indiana, and Hershy, U. S. Colored -Volunteers, did all in their power for the sick, and that could not -be much. An old surgeon in the Confederate service, formerly of the -U. S. regulars, would occasionally visit the stockade and render some -service. To him Colonel Burrell owes his life, when threatened with an -attack of typhoid fever. - -The commandant’s wife, Mrs. Allen, was a visitor to the officers’ -quarters at various times, frequently accompanied by other ladies. -The good impression this lady made by her visits resulted in a poem, -written by Lieutenant-Colonel Duganne, published in _The Old Flag_, -issue No. 3, March 18th, 1864. - -The arrival of captured prisoners to increase the inhabitants of this -stockade town, taken from various soldiers’ diaries, were: January -22d--Captains Coulter and Torrey, 20th Iowa, captured at Arkansas Bay, -Texas, December 19th, 1863. March 5th--Six enlisted men captured at -Powder Horn, January 22d. March 30th--Between six and seven hundred -prisoners arrived from Shreveport, where they were awaiting exchange. -They were a hard-looking lot of human beings, many without shirts or -shoes, with trousers torn, ragged, or hanging in shreds. Among them -were Privates Morrill, O’Shaughnessy and McLaughlin, of the 42d. They -left Shreveport March 26th. Frank Veazie was sick in a Shreveport -hospital. He died the following May. - -About sixteen hundred prisoners, captured at Pleasant Hill, La., -arrived April 16th, 17th, 18th and 20th. To accommodate these hungry -men all hands had to keep their cooking apparatus at work on corn meal -until they were fed. The appearance these prisoners made could not have -been equalled in Falstaff’s time. Confederate soldiers robbed them of -clothing, sometimes with threats of violence if property wanted by -these greedy men was not handed over for the asking. The prisoners did -not seem to mind it, and laughingly said they would square accounts -whenever the Confederates fell into their hands as prisoners of war. -They thought it rather rough to be placed in a pen like a flock -of sheep, without food or shelter. Still, nothing better could be -expected, because the Confederates had no other safe place to guard -their prisoners. When arrangements could be completed, they were made -as comfortable as the limited means at hand would allow. - -During May about eighteen hundred prisoners came in, thirteen hundred -captured in Arkansas; June 6th, one hundred; and July 6th, another -batch of one hundred and eighty prisoners from Banks’ army were brought -in. The old prisoners commenced to think, from the continued arrivals -of officers and men of the 19th Army Corps, perhaps the entire corps -would eventually be captured. - -Through May, June, and up to July 9th, it cannot be said the death rate -was large, received as the men were in all conditions of health and -sickness. Six privates died in May, and one was killed by a sentry; -five died in June; five died July 1st. - -With the prisoners were Chaplains Robb, 46th Indiana Vols., Hare, ---th Iowa Vols., and McCulloch, 19th Kentucky Vols., who labored hard -among the men to excite a religious sentiment, holding frequent prayer -meetings, and administered the rites of baptism to several, among them -Lieutenant Brown P. Stowell, 42d Mass., on May 22d. These religious -services met with the approval of Colonel Allen, who was a devout Free -Will Baptist. - -Some talk was made about overpowering the guard, nearly one thousand -men, composed of poor material. An insurmountable difficulty was to -provide a store of food, for use when free, and a sufficient supply -of arms and ammunition, for they were nearly three hundred miles from -any safe place. Nothing was done, as it was useless to try it. Next -to parole or exchange the idea of escape occupied the most attention. -Naturally officers in command of guards were always on the lookout for -anything tending towards preparations in that direction. In February -about one hundred officers were drilled in the sabre exercise by Major -Anthony, 2d R. I. Cavalry, for instruction and pleasure, using sticks -in lieu of swords, but the post-commander summarily put a stop to it -within a few days after these drills commenced. - -Attempts to escape commenced again with fresh arrivals; five men got -away at night June 9th, to be recaptured and returned next day. Several -officers succeeded in making a break for freedom at night, July 2d, -but were discovered and fired on by the guard. Nearly all of them were -recaptured next day. Captain Reed, Missouri Vols., was made to stand -bare-headed upon a stump near the guard-house for several hours in the -hot sun, as punishment for his attempted escape. - -Early in June rumors of parole and exchange again began to be -circulated within the stockade. Confederate officers from Shreveport -visited the prison camp more frequently than they had heretofore -done, to make out lists and rolls of prisoners and time of capture. -News brought by Colonel Allen and the tenor of letters received from -surgeons, gone forward for exchange, raised a hope within the breasts -of those long confined that there would not be a disappointment this -time. When the chaplains, surgeons, and citizens not connected with -the army, were paroled and started for Shreveport June 19th, hope -grew into certainty. On the fifth of July, after what was termed a -glorious Fourth-of-July celebration, the joyful news was brought in the -stockade, by Colonel Burrell, that a paroling officer had arrived, and -their day of deliverance was at hand. - -Through this captivity letters from home came at long intervals, with -news they were anxious to receive. Dates when letters were received by -the 42d officers are as follows: March 12th, July 29th and August 26th, -1863; March 18th, June 10th, 13th and 23d, 1864. Letters received June -10th were for Captain Savage and Lieutenant Newcomb, dated February -28th and March 4th. Captain Proctor had letters from his father and -wife dated May 12th and 23d, 1863, over a year old, as they were not -delivered to him until June 13th, 1864. After men arrived from Banks’ -army, men who belonged in Boston and vicinity made themselves known to -Colonel Burrell and brother officers, some of whom had within a few -months arrived from home and could give them tolerably late news from -that section. - -Clothing was furnished once by Confederate officers, at Hempstead, -October 17th, 1863; from that time onward what the prisoners wore -had to stand the wear and tear of time and use. Previous to July, in -anticipation another winter would not be passed as prisoners, whoever -had overcoats and extra clothing sold the garments for high prices in -Confederate money, and thus obtained means to purchase extra supplies -for their messes. - -One thing should not be forgotten in connection with this long, -tedious imprisonment: the love of country existing in every manly -heart, despite his feeling at times the Government did neglect -him. This patriotism was not the kind flaunted before audiences by -spread-eagle political orators, all froth and no substance, but an -honest, earnest, deep-seated love, ready to suffer for her cause at all -times, resenting any flings or insults to its flag, giving voice to -sentiments within them by singing national songs and celebrations of -important days in her history. - -July 7th and 8th were devoted to baking hard bread, for use on the -march, and at last the prisoners, who were up at three o’clock in -the morning preparing breakfast and getting their few “traps” ready, -left the stockade to march for Shreveport, homeward bound. There were -nine hundred and thirty officers and men, divided into one column of -officers and two columns of enlisted men, with a kind and considerate -Confederate cavalry guard, commanded by Major Smith and Captain Tucker. -Guard and prisoners fared alike in food and slept in the open air at -night: tents were not carried with them. Extreme hot weather prevailed, -yet the prisoners managed to cover a respectable number of miles each -day, crossing the Sabine River on the first day and sleeping upon its -banks at night, with a record of twenty-one miles. The marching column -reached Shreveport about noon on the thirteenth, without the loss of a -man by death, having made nineteen miles July 10th, twenty-three miles -on the eleventh, twenty-four miles on the twelfth, and sixteen miles -on the thirteenth. Sick and worn-out men were sent by the Marshall and -Shreveport Railroad on the twelfth, and this railroad also transported -a portion of the prisoners on the thirteenth. About twenty officers -hired a six-mule team for five hundred Confederate dollars, to carry -them on the last day’s journey, and rode into camp in great style. Each -morning the men were up between three and four o’clock, commenced the -march within an hour after, plodding steadily along until eleven, when -a rest was taken until two o’clock, then the march again resumed until -evening. - -At Mugginsville, one mile from Shreveport, the prisoners remained until -July 16th, when they were sent on board steamers _Osceola_, _General -Hodges_ and _B. L. Hodge_, bound for Alexandria, where they arrived at -dusk July 18th, above the dam built by Federals to save their naval -vessels in April and May, 1864, and were disembarked to camp in woods -by the river side until the twenty-first, when steamers were ready -below the dam to carry them on to the journey’s end. Three men died -July 18th, and were buried near a spot upon the banks where lay the -remains of several Federal sailors. - -All hands were up at daylight July 21st. At seven o’clock they marched -two miles to Alexandria, crossed Red River on a pontoon bridge and -embarked upon steamers _Champion No. 3_ and _Relf_, bound for the mouth -of Red River. An extract from a diary, kept by an officer of the 42d -Mass., is here given: - -“July 22d, 1864--We started about noon yesterday, and ran all night; -arrived at the mouth of Red River as the sun was about one and one-half -hours high, and were brought to a stop by a shot from one of our -gunboats on blockading service. None of our transports were there, -and we began to have some misgivings. All eyes were turned down the -Mississippi, with anxiety depicted on many faces. About one o’clock -smoke was seen coming up river, indicating a river steamer was on her -way, and the prisoners began to cheer. Soon, sure enough, there was -our flag flying within hailing distance, but we are still prisoners; -perhaps no exchange after all, but be turned back to the tender care of -“Johnny Reb” again. But no, it proves to be the _Nebraska_ with rebel -prisoners on board. We landed and went aboard the _Nebraska_ as soon -as we could, and gave six rousing cheers for the ‘Old Flag.’ Stop and -look at the comparison of the two squads of prisoners. Those coming -from our lines for the Confederacy are loaded down with clothing, boots -and trunks. Our men are bare-footed, shirtless and hatless; but I thank -God I am once more a free man. None but those that have been placed in -like circumstances can appreciate the change. We were given a feast -on the _Nebraska_. We had plenty of coffee, real ‘Lincoln’ coffee, no -parched rye; and butter! real butter, and bakers’ bread! Well! I have -had some good dinners before and since then, but that feast took the -cake. Good-by to corn-dodger and bull-beef. It all seemed like a dream. -The boys were up until about three o’clock next morning, singing and -enjoying themselves.” - -The exchanged officers of the 42d Regiment arrived in New Orleans -at midnight July 23d, where they remained until the thirty-first, -receiving two months’ pay from a paymaster to meet their immediate -wants. None of the officers got back their swords they were entitled to -retain by the terms of surrender. The swords were taken from them by a -provost-marshal at Houston, properly marked with each man’s name, with -an understanding they would be given up when each officer was paroled -or exchanged. It is needless to say they were soon appropriated by any -Confederate officer who was in need of one. - -Taking passage upon the steamer _Matanzas_, July 31st, bound for New -York, after a pleasant run of seven days they were once more within -easy communication with families and friends, who met them on arrival -in Boston, August 9th, _via_ the Fall River route from New York. All -were in tolerable fair health except Lieutenant Stowell, who was in -bad condition, and Lieutenant Cowdin, sick with chronic diarrhœa. An -escort in waiting, with music, consisting of past and present officers -and men of the 42d Regiment and the Boston Independent Fusileers, -escorted their guests to the American House, where breakfast was served -and a cordial welcome tendered by His Honor Mayor Lincoln and the -military committee of the City Government. - -Governor Andrew could not be present, and sent the following letter: - - - “COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, - “EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, - “BOSTON, August 9th, 1864. - “COLONEL W. W. CLAPP, JR., &c., &c.: - -“_My dear Colonel_,--I have this moment received your note of -invitation to attend the breakfast at ten o’clock this morning, given -in welcome of Colonel Burrell and his associates. The long captivity of -those brave and patriotic men has earned for them every consideration, -even if their qualities as soldiers had been less conspicuous than -they are. In all respects, however, deserving gratitude and honor, -and deserving all the sympathy of true and manly hearts for what they -have suffered in our common cause, I shall, though absent in person, -unite in heart with your expressions of grateful applause and welcome -for these honored guests. My return to headquarters yesterday, after a -valuable work of service elsewhere, leaves me, for the present, not an -hour which during the daytime I can withdraw from the accumulated work -which brooks no delay. - - “I am faithfully your friend and servant, - “JOHN A. ANDREW.” - -With repeated disasters attending expeditions to Western Louisiana and -Texas, that are a part of history, and failures attending every attempt -to permanently occupy such territory, the following remarks at this -breakfast, made by Colonel Burrell, are not without reason. He said: “I -hardly know what to say. I thank your Honor for your kind expression -of welcome. We have suffered long, but I do not know as we have done -more than our duty. I can hardly be expected to make a speech, for I -have been living a half-civilized life among half-civilized people for -nearly the last two years. I know our friends at home were doing all -in their power to obtain our release, but fate has seemed to be always -against us. For my soldiers and officers I can say that they have -behaved with courage and cheerfulness; their fortitude has been worthy -of men of Massachusetts. They have behaved with credit to their state -and to their country. I come home prouder than ever of my native city. -As soon as we are somewhat recovered from our fatigues and sufferings, -we will be ready to put on the harness and return to the field again. - -“I have enjoyed much opportunity of communication with men from all -parts of the Southern Confederacy, and I believe that you entertain -an erroneous opinion of them. You believe that there exists among the -masses an extended Union sentiment. It is not so. They go into this war -with all their heart and soul. The little Union feeling among the class -of poor whites amounts to nothing. They are opposed to us, man, woman -and child. They are fighting with the spirit of ’76, for their rights, -homes, liberties. They put up with every privation to sustain their -army--and every man is in the army. The quicker we understand this the -better for us. I do not think we shall accomplish much until we take -hold of the work in earnest. - -“In the section where I have been the enemy is three times stronger -than they were two years ago. Now an army of 40,000 men cannot -penetrate the country one hundred miles. They have an army of 40,000 -men. They carry no equipage--they sling their blankets with a bit of -cotton rope, and are all ready for an expedition. We must take our -blankets on our shoulders--we cannot fight with army trains. I repeat, -in order to carry on this war to a successful termination, we must -fight them on their own ground and fight them in earnest.” - -After this breakfast Colonel Burrell and his officers were escorted to -Roxbury by the Roxbury Artillery Association, where another reception -was given them by their townspeople. - -August 10th the officers met at the Parker House, proceeded to the -State House and reported to Adjutant-General Schouler, then to -Major Clarke, U. S. Army, to receive their final pay, then to Major -McCafferty, U. S. mustering-officer, and were mustered out of service, -after being in “Uncle Sam’s” employ about twenty-one months--eighteen -months and twenty-one days of the time as prisoners of war. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -IN SERVICE FOR ONE HUNDRED DAYS--ORGANIZATION--READVILLE--OFF FOR -WASHINGTON--AT ALEXANDRIA--AT GREAT FALLS--RETURN HOME. - - -A scare existed in Washington, caused by Confederate operations under -General Jubal Early, who threatened an invasion of Pennsylvania in -order to mask a contemplated dash on Baltimore and Washington.[19] - -[19] Governor Andrew was in Washington at the time, and telegraphed -his adjutant-general (received July 5th) as follows: “I have arranged -with the Secretary of War that men who volunteer for one hundred -days’ service, as requested by him to-day, shall be exempted from -any draft that may be ordered during such hundred days’ service, not -from any future draft, but only from such as may be ordered during -the term of hundred days for which they are asked. I direct you, at -request of Secretary, to issue an order calling for four thousand -one-hundred-days’ infantry, on the terms above mentioned. The details -in connection with the project will not differ materially, otherwise, -from those heretofore prescribed in like cases. I shall have another -consultation to-morrow. Have sent home Peirce to-night.” General Orders -No. 24, calling for five thousand hundred-day men, was issued July 6th, -1864, by Adjutant-General Schouler. - -Adjutant-General Schouler casually informed Adjutant Davis, whom he met -on the street, a call had been received from Washington to send troops -immediately for one hundred days’ service. The adjutant had kept up -a correspondence with all of the old line officers, for an ultimate -purpose of again calling the regiment together when Colonel Burrell was -exchanged. Davis mentioned this fact to General Schouler, who at once -advanced the idea of again going into service and advised an attempt -to do so. The old line officers were consulted, and, as the idea was -favored by a majority of them, official orders were issued to go into -camp at Readville, Mass., July 18th, 1864. - -The following companies were designated to compose the regiment: - -Company A, Captain Isaac Scott, of Roxbury; Company B, Captain Benjamin -C. Tinkham, of Medway; Company C, Captain Isaac B. White, of Boston; -Company D, Captain Samuel A. Waterman, of Roxbury; Company E, Captain -Augustus Ford, of Worcester; Company F, Captain Samuel S. Eddy, of -Worcester; Company G, Captain Alanson H. Ward, of Worcester; Company -H, Captain F. M. Prouty, of Worcester; Company I, Captain James T. -Stevens, of Dorchester; Company K, Captain Benjamin R. Wales, of -Dorchester. - -Active measures were at once instituted to clothe, arm with Enfield -rifles, and equip these companies, to be in readiness for a quick -departure. Complete uniforms, with equipments, were issued at -Readville. Many companies went into camp several days previous to July -18th, gaining recruits every day until ready for muster in for service. -Captain Scott failed to recruit more than thirty men. Captain Prouty -failed to recruit his company, although at one time it promised well; -from some cause his men scattered to other companies or went home. -Companies commanded by Captains French and Stewart, already mustered -into service, were assigned to the regiment as Companies A and H. - -The first regimental morning report was made up July 20th, and showed -a strength of thirty-five officers, seven hundred and thirty-eight -enlisted men, present and absent. The regiment was ready for marching -orders July 23d, with the following strength: - - Officers. Enlisted men. Mustered in. - - Field and Staff, 5 3 July 22d. - Company A, 3 95 “ 14th. - “ B, 3 81 “ 22d. - “ C, 3 93 “ 14th. - “ D, 3 97 “ 20th. - “ E, 3 90 “ 22d. - “ F, 3 98 “ 15th. - “ G, 3 87 “ 21st. - “ H, 3 88 “ 16th. - “ I, 3 84 “ 19th. - “ K, 3 90 “ 18th. - -- --- - Total, 35 906 - -The roster of the regiment was as follows: - -Colonel--Isaac S. Burrell. - -Lieutenant-Colonel--Joseph Stedman. - -Major--Frederick G. Stiles. - -Adjutant--Charles A. Davis. - -Quartermaster--Alonzo I. Hodsdon. - -Surgeon--Albert B. Robinson. - -Sergeant-Major--Jediah P. Jordan. - -Quartermaster-Sergeant--Charles E. Noyes. - -Commissary-Sergeant--Augustus C. Jordan. - -Hospital-Steward--Robert White, Jr. - -Principal-Musician--Thomas Bowe. - -Company A--Captain, Warren French; Lieutenants, Charles W. Baxter and -Joseph M. Thomas. - -Company B--Captain, Benjamin C. Tinkham; Lieutenants, George W. Ballou -and George E. Fuller. - -Company C--Captain, Isaac B. White; Lieutenants, Joseph Sanderson, Jr., -and David C. Smith. - -Company D--Captain, Samuel A. Waterman; Lieutenants, George H. Bates -and Almon D. Hodges, Jr. - -Company E--Captain, Augustus Ford; Lieutenants, James Conner and Frank -H. Cook. - -Company F--Captain, Samuel S. Eddy; Lieutenants, Henry J. Jennings and -Edward I. Galvin. - -Company G--Captain, Alanson H. Ward; Lieutenants, Moses A. Aldrich and -E. Lincoln Shattuck. - -Company H--Captain, George M. Stewart; Lieutenants, Julius M. Lyon and -Joseph T. Spear. - -Company I--Captain, James T. Stevens; Lieutenants, Edward Merrill, Jr., -and Charles A. Arnold. - -Company K--Captain, Benjamin R. Wales; Lieutenants, Alfred G. Gray and -Charles P. Hawley. - -Officers who resigned and did not accompany the regiment on this second -term were: Quartermaster Burrell, Surgeons Hitchcock and Heintzelman, -Chaplain Sanger, Sergeant-Major Bosson, Commissary-Sergeant Courtney, -Hospital-Steward Wood, Principal-Musician Neuert.[20] Of the thirty -line officers who served during this second term, Captains Tinkham, -White, Waterman and Ford, Lieutenants Sanderson, Ballou, Smith, Cook -and Merrill were with the regiment in 1862 and 1863. Colonel Burrell -arrived home, from Texas, August 9th, was mustered in for this second -term August 10th, and reported at Alexandria September 1st. - -[20] Neuert was known as “Dick.” By mistake he was enlisted and borne -on the rolls as Richard A. Neuert. Young in years, he never thought of -correcting the error, and retained the name when he reënlisted in the -11th Battery as a bugler. His right name was Charles A. Neuert. - -The Dorchester Cornet Band volunteered to enlist and become the -regimental band. The members were: Leader, Thomas Bowe; Privates Conrad -H. Gurlack, Company A; Perham Orcutt, Company B; Horace A. Allyn, -George Burleigh, William A. Cowles, John W. Capen, Nathaniel Clark, -Lewis Eddy, Edward Lovejoy, Fred. H. Macintosh, Henry B. Sargent, -Phillip Sawyer, Andrew J. Wheeler, of Company D; Wells F. Johnson, -Company H; Jesse K. Webster, Company I; William A. Cobb and Edward H. -Marshall, of Company K. - -Two men deserted at Readville, viz.: Private Frederick D. Goodwin, -Company C, July 15th; Private Robert Bryden, Company D, July 22d. - -The rank and file were a true representative body of Massachusetts -citizen soldiery. Three-fourths of the men were born in the State; -seventy men were foreign born. Men from a great variety of professions -and trades enlisted. About one-half of the regiment were as follows: -one hundred and seventy-six salesmen, book-keepers and clerks; -twenty-seven students; one hundred and twenty farmers; one hundred -and twenty-four journeymen boot and shoe workmen; twenty-seven mill -operatives. - -The old regimental colors were received in camp July 23d, and under -orders to take transports for Washington, promptly at five o’clock -A.M., July 24th, the regiment left Readville by special -train for Boston, and marched down State Street, about half-past six -o’clock, to Battery Wharf, where Companies C, D and E, two hundred -and seventy-one men, under command of Major Stiles, embarked on -steamer _Montauk_. The other companies and the band, under command of -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, embarked on steamer _McClellan_. At nine -o’clock both steamers sailed for Washington, and arrived there at noon -July 28th, after a good passage, without an important event occurring. -This landing the regiment in Washington in ten days after being ordered -into camp to recruit and organize can be called quick work. - -Reporting to General Augur, commanding Department of Washington, the -regiment was sent to Brigadier-General Slough, Military Governor of -Alexandria, who ordered it into camp on Shuter’s Hill, near Fort -Ellsworth, about one mile from the city. On the morning of July 29th, -after breakfast was eaten at the Soldiers’ Rest, in Alexandria, the -regiment marched to the ground assigned and occupied log huts, built -by other troops when stationed on this hill. In Slough’s command were -Battery H, Indiana Light Artillery, one battalion First District -Columbia Volunteers, the Second District Columbia Volunteers, the -Fifth Wisconsin Volunteers, the Twelfth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps -and the Forty-Second Massachusetts Volunteers. These troops were soon -organized into a provisional-brigade and attached to the Twenty-Second -Army Corps. - -Details for guards and for provost duty were immediately ordered -by General Slough, as follows: July 29th--Two officers and one -hundred and fifteen men for provost duty. July 31st--Eighteen men -every day for patrol duty in Alexandria; thirty-one men to relieve a -detachment Veteran Reserve Corps at Sickel’s Barracks Hospital. July -30th--Lieutenants Sanderson, Company C, and Spear, Company H, were -detached for duty at headquarters provost-marshal-general, Defences -South of Potomac. - -At the close of July there was present for duty thirty-two officers -and eight hundred and seventy-three men; twenty-eight men sick; three -officers and six men absent. - -During August the officers and men were kept busy at drill, on guard, -provost and patrol duty, which inured them to endure fatigue and become -acquainted with the tedious side of a soldier’s life. Train-guards were -furnished for trains on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, to protect -working and construction parties in constant danger of attacks from -guerrillas and obstructions placed upon the track to delay trains; at -Fairfax Station, August 15th, the enemy greased the rails, and a train -could not proceed--the enemy decamped, not waiting for the train-guard -to get a blow at them. Details were sent to Burke’s Station and other -places for logs, used to build additional huts for the men. What duty -was done in August is shown by the following details, ordered by -General Slough: - -August 2d--One hundred and thirteen men detailed each day for -grand-guard line. - -August 6th--Two officers and one hundred and fifty-seven men relieved -the Twelfth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, in Alexandria; next day -this detachment was relieved by the Second Regiment District Columbia -Volunteers. - -August 7th--A regimental camp guard of fifty men was established. - -August 7th--Seventy-five men for train-guards to Fairfax Station, -detailed each day until the twenty-third. - -August 4th--Seventeen men were detached for permanent duty on the -military police in Alexandria. - -August 28th--Seventy-five men were detached for duty as hospital -attendants in the general hospitals in Alexandria. The hospitals were -full of patients. - -Details for August were: - -4th--Sergeant Alfred Davenport, Company K, clerk at headquarters -Department Washington, Twenty-Second Army Corps. Relieved October 29th. - -For duty at general court-martial rooms in Alexandria: 1st--Private -George S. Partridge, Company B, orderly. 3d--Corporal Thomas J. -Rooney, Company B, clerk. 4th--Corporal Edwin H. Holbrook, Company B, -clerk.--Private Alfred Noon, Company H, orderly.--Private Richard M. -Sabin, Company G, orderly. 9th--Private Ellery C. Bartlett, Company K, -clerk. 13th--Private J. H. S. Pearson, Company C, clerk. - -On detached service at headquarters provost-marshal-general: -1st--Private H. W. Tolman, Company A, orderly. 2d--Private William -S. French, Company F, orderly.--Private Alvin S. Pratt, Company -F, orderly. 10th--Private Jno. R. Graham, Company A, orderly. -24th--Private William G. Kidder, Company C, clerk.--Corporal George -Dunbar, Company D, clerk. - -On detached service at headquarters military governor: 4th--Private -Herbert W. Hitchcock, Company H, orderly. 5th--Private Fred. S. -Dickinson, Company G, orderly. 11th--Private Hiram E. Smith, Company H, -clerk. 13th--Private J. Clark Reed, Company C, clerk.--Private Thomas -J. McKay, Company F, clerk. - -The officers on detached service were: 2d--Lieutenant Shattuck, -Company G, on permanent duty with city patrol in Alexandria. -9th--Lieutenant Hodges, Company D, on permanent duty at headquarters -provost-marshal-general. 10th--Lieutenant Thomas, Company A, on -permanent duty in command of guard at Hunting Creek Bridge block-house, -under the orders of provost-marshal-general. 12th--Lieutenant Ballou, -Company B, was detailed for permanent duty with the military police -of Alexandria, to relieve Lieutenant Shattuck, who was not active and -experienced enough to suit General Slough. - -The officers detailed for general court-martial duty were: Captains -Tinkham, Waterman, Ford and Ward, from July 31st; Major Stiles, -Lieutenants Baxter and Jennings, from August 6th. - -The enlisted men on detailed daily duty were: Private W. A. G. Hooton, -Company A, nurse at regimental hospital; Private Mathias F. Chaffin, -Company E, nurse at regimental hospital; Private Albert H. Newhall, -Company E, nurse at regimental hospital; Private Henry C. Chenery, -Company F, nurse at regimental hospital; Private Seth Albee, Company E, -nurse at regimental hospital; Private Simon C. Spear, Company C, nurse -at regimental hospital; Private Ezra Abbott, Company A, chief wagoner; -Private George A. Harwood, Company B, wagoner; Private Thomas Belton, -Company C, wagoner; Private Elma H. French, Company F, wagoner; Private -Samuel W. Whittemore, Company I, wagoner; Private George W. Abbott, -Company I, wagoner; Privates Oliver C. Andrews, Alonzo D. Crockett, -Mark Heathcote, of Company G, as a permanent guard at the reservoir in -rear of camp near Fort Ellsworth, from August 6th; Privates William -G. Kidder, Company C, James Allen, Company E, Hermion J. Gilbert and -Charles E. Chase, of Company F, orderlies at regimental headquarters; -Private Henry R. Gilmore, Company F, acting drum-major. - -It was necessary to discipline one man in August--Private Samuel Young, -Company E, for firing his musket without permission or orders. He had -to carry a forty-pound log of wood tied to his back for a stated number -of hours each day for two days. - -At the close of August there was present for duty: twenty-nine -officers, seven hundred and forty-eight men; one officer, forty-two -men sick. Absent: five officers, one hundred and seven men on detached -service, four men sick, two men in arrest. - -Duty in September was about the same as in August, the regiment -constantly furnishing details of men for grand-guard and other guards. -Drills were maintained with what few men were in camp and some progress -made in this direction, but all efforts to advance the regiment in -drill could not be satisfactory to officers in command, because of this -absence of men each day. - -September 14th--Company G, Captain Ward, went on duty as a permanent -guard at the Soldiers’ Rest in Alexandria. - -September 16th--All troops in the command were paraded to witness -an execution of a private Fourth Maryland Volunteers, shot for -desertion, at eleven A.M., in the open field northwest of -Sickel Barracks Hospital. The negroes in and around Alexandria made -a gala occasion of the affair, with tents pitched near the spot for -sales of cake, pies, lemonade, etc. So far as appearances went the -man to be shot, a thick-set fellow, with heavy, black whiskers, was -more indifferent to his fate than the soldiers formed to occupy three -sides of a square, obliged to be unwilling witnesses. On the open side -were gathered a curious crowd of colored people. The condemned man was -marched upon the ground, a band playing a dirge. He was followed by a -faithful Newfoundland dog, who had to be taken away when his master -took position in front of his coffin, face to the firing party. In a -speech he confessed to being a professional bounty-jumper, worth at -that moment near twenty thousand dollars, the proceeds of his work in -jumping sixteen bounties. When the detail of soldiers fired upon him -he fell lengthwise upon his coffin. The troops were then filed past -him, and had just commenced the movement when signs of life were shown, -necessitating a second file of men to be ordered up and put another -volley into him. - -At nine o’clock P.M., September 22d, orders were received -to march four companies at once to Great Falls, on the Potomac, -above Washington, and relieve the Eighty-Fourth N. Y. S. V. Militia, -on picket duty for protection of the water works. This order came -from headquarters Department Washington, and urged promptness in its -execution. A guide was also sent to pilot the detachment. Companies -B, C, D and E, with enough detailed men to fill up the ranks, with -three days’ rations, and forty rounds of ammunition in the boxes, were -at once started on a march of about twenty-five miles, under command -of Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman. This march was not made in a manner -creditable to the regiment. At first it was believed a fight was in -progress or imminent, and while such belief lasted the men should have -been kept well in hand to be of any use. The facts are: a halt was -made about one o’clock A.M., and the men slept on the ground -until after daylight, and then straggled into Great Falls during the -afternoon and evening in a manner not suggestive of a well-conducted -march. Fortunately no fight took place, and no harm resulted. Officers -and men of this Eighty-Fourth New York (an Irish regiment) were -found loitering around a tavern, more or less under the effects of -liquor. This tavern was kept by a Mr. Jackson, brother to the Jackson -who killed Colonel Ellsworth in Alexandria at the commencement of -hostilities. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman reported on the twenty-fourth that so far -as he could ascertain the duty at Great Falls would be to take care -of themselves as well as they could, to keep a few pickets out on the -roads leading to his camp, with a few men on the canal to prevent -smuggling. The colonel Eighty-Fourth New York said he never had any -orders, and acted as his judgment dictated in all matters at the -post; he never made any reports to any one, and had been visited by -a staff-officer but once. Stedman also reported the place extremely -unhealthy, with chills and fever a prevailing complaint. Stedman’s -strength was then three hundred and fifty-six men. The Eighty-Fourth -numbered six hundred and fifty men, and did have, at one time, two -hundred and fifty men sick. - -Stedman wrote Colonel Burrell, on the twenty-fifth, as follows: -“Captain Stewart has arrived, and I learn that arrangements have -been made for four companies to remain here permanently, and that the -balance of the men belonging to these four companies are soon to be -sent here. Allow me to inquire if the balance of the officers have been -thought of--viz., Lieutenant Sanderson, Company C, Lieutenant Ballou, -Company B, and Lieutenant Hodges, Company D? I cannot get along without -the full complement of officers for these companies, and I trust they -will be relieved at once and ordered to report to me at this post. I -shall be obliged to have one for adjutant and one for quartermaster, -thus leaving me only ten others for duty; hence the necessity of these -officers above named being sent. - -“We shall have to secure some transportation here, but as yet I do -not know what arrangements we can make for this necessity. We have a -post-commissary here, but have to go eleven miles for soft bread. The -nearest post-quartermaster is six miles away, at Muddy Branch. After a -few days we can make the men quite comfortable, but the place is not a -very agreeable one to be in.” - -Company C, Captain White, was sent to Orcutt’s Cross Roads, three miles -away, September 30th, where was stored a quantity of quartermaster’s -property. Guerrillas were operating in the vicinity. A stockade was -set on fire and destroyed by them, and an attempt made to blow up the -aqueduct, frustrated by tavern-keeper Jackson, who was well known to -the Confederates and on good terms with them. General Sheridan, by -his operations in the Shenandoah Valley, caused a lull in the fun -carried on by these guerrillas, so that the Forty-Second Massachusetts -detachment did not have much to do beyond picket and guard duty. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman remained at Great Falls until October 15th, -when he was ordered back to his regiment with three companies. Captain -Tinkham, with Company B, was left at the post. A suggestion from -Colonel Burrell, October 18th, to build a stockade, as the position -invited an attack, brought the following reply: - - - “HEADQUARTERS COMPANY B, 42D MASS. VOLS., - “GREAT FALLS, MD., October 19th, 1864. - -“_Colonel_,--I received your dispatch of the eighteenth, for which I -am very grateful. My company is small, and what men I have are getting -sick very fast, so that I have not men enough to carry out your advice. -However, I will do the best I can, and shall not leave here until -I know what I leave for. There are several of my company still in -Alexandria, whom I wish could be sent to me. Would like to have General -Slough informed of my situation. - - “Very respectfully yours, - “B. C. TINKHAM, - “_Captain commanding post_.” - -The enemy began to make trouble immediately after the three companies -left. Guerrillas would stop canal boats, untie the horses and make off -with them, until this nuisance was partly abated by the use of old, -worn-out mules that did not present such temptation. The canal traffic -was seriously interrupted, and caused Captain Tinkham to picket the -canal for two miles, until ordered back to his regiment October 28th. -Pennsylvania troops relieved Company B, and a short time after were -attacked by the enemy. - -Cases for discipline in September were as follows: 1st--Private Martin -Monighan, Company E, for firing his musket without permission, was -sentenced to carry a forty-pound log of wood tied to his back for a -stated number of hours each day for three days. 17th--Corporal Pond, -Company B, and three privates on duty with him in Alexandria, were -sent to that city, by orders from General Slough, to serve sentences -for neglect of duty. 27th--Private Elisha Atwood, Company A, was sent -to Alexandria for confinement in the slave pen, for neglect of duty. -30th--Corporal William Bacon, Company A, was reduced to the ranks for -intoxication, by regimental Special Orders No. 78. - -This is not a bad record for a raw regiment of short-term men. A -practice had been in vogue for captains to assume the power to order -punishment of men in their companies guilty of trifling indiscretions. -Captain French was noted for this stretch of power. This was stopped by -the colonel on assuming command. He maintained that no man should be -punished without a hearing. - -Details in September were as follows: - -On detached service at headquarters military governor: 6th--Private -Sidney W. Knowles, Company C, clerk. 20th--Corporal John Stetson, Jr., -Company K, clerk.--Private Herbert W. Fay, Company F, clerk.--Private -Edward S. Averill, Company B, clerk. 22d--Private Frederick A. Clark, -Company K, clerk.--Private Christopher F. Snelling, Company K, clerk. - -On detached service at general court-martial rooms in Alexandria: -1st--Private Ansel F. Temple, Company I, clerk. 13th--Private Davis -W. Howard, Company I, clerk.--Private Edward L. Harvey, Company B, -clerk.--Private Benjamin W. Kenyon, Company E, clerk.--Private James -L. Martin, Company C, clerk.--Private Arthur E. Hotchkiss, Company B, -clerk.--Private William L. Gage, Company I, clerk.--Private George E. -Sparr, Company H, orderly. 14th--Private Charles Curtis, Company D, -clerk. - -On detailed duty with the regiment: 7th--Corporal James L. Prouty, -Company D, clerk at headquarters. 14th--Privates W. F. Adams, W. H. S. -Ritchie, George E. Buttrick, of Company A, were placed on permanent -guard at the reservoir, relieving Privates Edgerton, Heathcote and -Andrews, of Company G. 16th--Private George L. Simpson, Company -F, hospital attendant. 21st--Private George W. Brooks, Company K, -hospital attendant. 24th--Private Albert S. Barpee, Company E, hospital -attendant. 29th--Private Ezra K. Garvin, Company F, with quartermaster. - -Officers on detached service in September were: Lieutenants Sanderson -and Spear on permanent duty with grand-guard, a line of sentinels -stationed between the Forty-Second camp and Alexandria. Lieutenants -Hodges and Ballou on permanent duty with provost-marshal-general. -Lieutenant Thomas with a permanent guard at Hunting Creek Bridge, where -an artillery block-house was built. Lieutenant Hawley was detached on -mounted patrol service, in answer to a request from General Slough for -an experienced cavalry-officer. Captain Ward, Lieutenants Aldrich and -Shattuck, Company G, on guard at Soldier’s Rest since September 14th. -On detached service at Great Falls were Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, -Captains Tinkham, White, Waterman and Ford, Lieutenants Fuller, Smith, -Bates, Conner and Cook. Lieutenant Galvin was absent in Philadelphia on -sick leave. - -At the close of September there was present for duty: seventeen -officers, three hundred and seventy-eight men; twenty-six men sick. -Absent: eighteen officers, four hundred and sixty men on detached -service; one officer, twenty-two men sick; three men in arrest. - -There was no chance for any camp fun in October, for officers and men -were constantly on duty, day and night, in obedience to orders for -guards, patrols and pickets, that came thick and fast. Details of -men were called for by mounted orderlies, with verbal orders, at all -hours of the day and night, in addition to details mentioned later -on. Adjutant Davis, not in good health, manfully stood to his duty in -exceptionally trying circumstances. To fill these constant requisitions -from among grumbling men in a raw regiment, already overworked, was not -an easy matter. To do so, men who just reported in camp from some long -tour of guard or patrol service were obliged to again depart from camp, -swearing like troopers, on a like service. After four companies left -for Great Falls, members of the band were made to resume duty in the -ranks and go on the regular camp guard; at one time not relieved for -sixteen days, men were so scarce and the difficulty so great to comply -with these orders. - -Duty done by the regiment, required by written orders, was: September -29th and 30th--One officer and forty men sent to guard stores to -Fairfax Station. October 2d--One officer and fifty men as train-guard -on Orange and Alexandria Railroad. October 2d--Captain Ward, with fifty -men, to guard a telegraph construction party running a line of wire -from Manassas or Warrenton Junction, on the Manassas Gap Railroad. -Captain Ward and his men had a skirmish with the enemy’s cavalry, on -the fourth, near Gainesville, and drove them back without loss. October -3d--One officer and fifty men, with detachments First and Second D. C. -Volunteers, as guard for a construction train on Orange and Alexandria -Railroad. October 4th--One officer and forty men on same service. -October 5th--One officer and fifty men on same service. October -5th--Seven men as permanent guard at coal wharf. October 6th--One -officer and twenty-five men to guard a special train. October 12th--One -officer and thirty picked men on duty for three days with mounted -patrols and pickets, to be relieved every three days. This order was -in force until October 27th. October 13th--One officer and twenty-five -men for train-guard. October 17th--Four officers and one hundred men, -with two days’ rations, were sent every day, until October 27th, for -train-guards. Of this detail two officers and fifty men went on duty at -3.45 A.M., and two officers and fifty men at ten A.M. - -These details were in addition to the regular camp-guard, men for -grand-guard duty and men for the pickets stationed outside the -grand-guard line. Nearly all the trains were freighted with supplies -for General Sheridan, after communication with him was opened. -Every two or three miles along the railroad were guard-stations, in -block-houses, on account of the guerrillas who infested the line of -road. None of the Forty-Second detachments had a chance to test their -mettle with the enemy, except the slight skirmish by Captain Ward’s -men. At Rectortown one train came along just in time to allow the -Forty-Second guard to help get a cavalry-post out of an unpleasant -position; the enemy retreated without a fight. - -Details in October for daily duty with the regiment were: 1st--Private -Peter Broso, Company F, on duty with quartermaster. 1st--Private A. W. -Mitchell, Company A, orderly at headquarters. 1st--Private Edwin H. -Alger, Company D, as wagoner. - -One case for discipline occurred: Corporal Albert F. Burnham, Company -A, was reduced to the ranks October 24th, for leaving camp without -leave. On an appeal for a hearing, made by Burnham, an inquiry was held -in his case by officers detailed for the purpose. They justified the -degradation. - -The officers detailed on court-martial duty in September were: -Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, Captains French, Eddy, Stewart, Stevens -and Wales, and Lieutenant Gray. Every captain in the regiment, except -White, did service on general court-martial duty. Major Stiles was -constantly on general court-martial duty by details of August 6th and -September 20th, and not relieved until October 15th, when the following -order was issued: - - - “HEADQUARTERS MILITARY GOVERNOR, - “ALEXANDRIA, VA., October 15th, 1864. - “GENERAL ORDERS NO. 84. - -“1--The general court-martial convened by paragraph 2, General Orders -No. 57, headquarters Military Governor, Alexandria, Va., dated -September 20th, 1864, of which Major Frederick G. Stiles, Forty-Second -Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, is president, is hereby dissolved. - -“2--This court has since its first organization (August 8th, 1864), -disposed of over six hundred cases, and the general commanding desires -to compliment the members composing it for the energetic, faithful and -satisfactory manner in which they have transacted the business referred -to them. - - “By command of - “BRIGADIER-GENERAL SLOUGH, - “W. M. GWYNNE, - “_Captain, and A. A. A. General_.” - -At the close of October there was present for duty (all officers and -men were relieved from detached or detailed service) thirty-five -officers, seven hundred and ninety-nine men; one officer, seventy-five -men sick. Absent: nine men sick in hospitals. - -The term of service expired October 29th. A request was made for -transportation _via_ Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston to -place of muster out, instead of returning home by a sea voyage. The -regiment vacated camp and quartered in the Soldier’s Rest, Alexandria, -October 28th, until relieved from duty in the command. This was on -Sunday, October 30th, after a review by General Slough. Monday morning, -thirty-first, the regiment marched to Washington, and was received by -President Lincoln in front of the White House at nine o’clock. Cheers -from the men, a few remarks by the President, and then the march was -resumed to the depot to take cars _en-route_ home, arriving in Boston -late on Thursday evening, November 3d, and quartered in Faneuil Hall. -After breakfast next morning the regiment marched to Boston Common and -was there dismissed, to assemble on Friday, November 11th, for muster -out of service.[21] - -[21] Before dismissal on Boston Common, Governor Andrew requested -Colonel Burrell to take the telegraphic address of every officer, -and instruct his officers and men (the men retained their arms -until mustered out of service) to hold themselves in readiness for -further service. The Governor telegraphed to New York he had a -reliable regiment, just arrived home, at the service of the military -authorities, if wanted to preserve order. No further service was -required. - -This journey home was full of discomfort for those officers who did -their duty. It was a time of great political excitement in New York -City. On this account the regiment retained its arms, and twenty rounds -of ammunition was in each cartridge-box. In New York the regiment -remained at the Battery all day, and marched up Broadway about five -P.M. Crowds of people lined the street and cheered alternately -for Lincoln and McClellan, the men answering these cheers impartially -to avoid trouble. While in Forty-Second Street, where the men remained -until late next morning, when a train was made up to proceed on to -Boston, there was bad behaviour by various men of the regiment, who -became drunk and disorderly. Some of these men fired their muskets, -which, coupled with a fire that broke out in the vicinity, was -sufficient to cause considerable alarm among people who resided near. -Much blame is attachable to officers for their lukewarm endeavors to -stop this unsoldierlike conduct. - -About one hundred sick men were brought home, some of whom ought not -to have left Alexandria, but they were anxious to go home with their -comrades. To properly look out for these men was no easy matter. A -delay of several hours occurred in Baltimore before transportation -across the city could be found for the sick, Colonel Burrell positively -refusing to move his regiment and leave them to follow after, as he was -advised to do by some of his officers. Orders were given that in case -any sick man was obliged to be left at any place _en-route_, one man -was to be detailed to remain with him. - -At Alexandria the aqueduct was out of order, and well-water was used -for drinking purposes; but so bad was this water, a limited quantity -of beer was allowed to be sold in camp. Train-guards, hurriedly called -for and immediately sent away, had no time to fill haversacks with -ample rations, often obliged to start with hard bread as their chief -eatable. Of course, this had an effect on the men, a large proportion -being under twenty-five years of age, many of them under twenty years, -who did not have the advantage of a few months in a camp of instruction -and get well seasoned to a soldier’s life before they were called upon -to endure the arduous and exacting service they saw in Virginia.[22] -During the last weeks in September and through October there was -an average of fifty men sick in camp, and forty men absent sick in -Alexandria hospitals. - -[22] The colonel called the attention of General Slough to the fact -that his regiment was overworked, and flesh and blood could not stand -the strain without some rest, which the general admitted, but claimed -he could rely on the Massachusetts men, while some raw Pennsylvania men -in his command (there were several full regiments just arrived), were -not reliable. - -The regimental hospital tent, of limited accommodations, was always -full, and all surplus sick men who required hospital care were sent to -Alexandria. The weather was favorable in August and September; October -was stormy, and nights cold. - -The regiment lost sixteen men by death during this term of service. The -bodies of those men who died in Alexandria were sent home. The deaths -were: - -August 14th--Private George H. Rich, Company B, in third division -hospital, from accidental wounds while on guard. - -August 24th--Private Richard M. Sabin, Company G, in third division -hospital, from acute dysentery. - -September 11th--Private Edwin A. Grant, Company B, in third division -hospital, from typhoid fever. - -September 11th--Private Lyman Tucker, Company F, in regimental -hospital, from typhoid fever. - -September 18th--Private Samuel Stone, Company F, in third division -hospital, from typhoid fever. - -September 20th--Private George G. Harrington, Company F, in third -division hospital, from typhoid fever. - -September 23d--Private Herman J. Gilbert, Company F, in third division -hospital, from typhoid fever. - -September 25th--Private Edward H. Aldrich, Company G, in Soldier’s Rest -Hospital, from typho-malarial fever. (Aldrich was a student, borne on -the rolls, but never mustered in.) - -October 4th--Private Patrick Riley, Company G, in third division -hospital, from pyæmia. Riley was shot in the leg by a secessionist of -Alexandria, on August 27th. Amputation was necessary, from which he did -not recover. - -October 5th--Private Henry H. Lowell, Company F, in second division -hospital, from typhoid fever. - -October 8th--Private Walter Foster, 2d., Company D, in second division -hospital, from suicide by drowning; insanity. - -October 24th--Private William T. Cutler, Company F, in third division -hospital, from typhoid fever. - -October 26th--Private Calvin S. Haynes, Company C, Slough Barracks -Hospital, from typhoid fever. - -October 30th--Private John J. Bisbee, Company H, Slough Barracks -Hospital, from chronic diarrhœa. - -November 7th--Private Thomas E. Flemming, Company A, at Roxbury, Mass., -from sore leg. - -November 17th--Private William H. Perry, Company A, at Boston, Mass., -from consumption. - -There were eight men discharged from service, by Major-General Augur, -Twenty-Second Army Corps, for disability, viz.: Sergeant William H. -Alexander, Company C, September 10th; Private Willard L. Studley, -Company D, September 10th; Private Wendell Davis, Company H, September -13th; Corporal Jerome P. Thurber, Company G, September 13th; Private -Nathan Washburne, Company C, September 16th; Private Jason Whitaker, -Company E, September 19th; Private Henry W. Dean, Company I, September -20th; Private Albert E. Frost, Company K, September 20th. - -One man reënlisted for one year in the Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts -Volunteers: Private Andrew C. Hale, Company H, September 8th. - -By regimental General Orders No. 111, issued November 6th, at Roxbury, -Mass., the following men were relieved from detailed daily duty at -headquarters, with a complimentary notice for their faithful service: -Private Ezra Abbott, Company A, chief wagoner; Private James Allen, -Company E, orderly; Private Ellery C. Bartlett, Company K, clerk. - -As Chaplain Sanger could not get permission from his church people -in Webster, Mass., to serve one hundred days with his regiment, an -attempt was made to obtain a commission for Second-Lieutenant Galvin, -Company F, a regularly ordained clergyman from Brookfield, Mass., who -was unanimously elected by his brother officers, August 10th, to fill -that position. Through unavoidable delays and informality in the proper -papers, no progress was made towards securing his appointment until -late in September. Lieutenant Galvin was then absent in Philadelphia -on sick leave, and it was doubtful if he would be able to rejoin his -regiment before the term of service expired. Difficulties also existed -in obtaining a muster dated back, so his appointment was abandoned. He -officiated as chaplain for a few weeks only. - -One payment was made to the regiment, the last week in September, when -the men were paid for July and August. The following ladies, wives of -officers, boarded at a hotel in Alexandria, and saw what constitutes -camp life in time of war: Mrs. Burrell, Mrs. Stedman, Mrs. Stiles, Mrs. -Robinson, Mrs. Ford. - -This brief sketch is sufficient to prove that the one-hundred-day men -did not have a picnic during their service. To be sure, the regiment -did not get into an action: a stroke of good luck. The various -train-guard detachments were liable to have a fight at any moment, and, -until back in camp, were kept ready for such a contingency. - -In conclusion the writer would add: Let no man who enlisted in a -three years regiment sneer at the nine months troops, or those who -served a shorter term. A large number reënlisted later on in other -organizations, and served to the end of the war. Their previous service -was of great benefit wherever they went; in fact, they were not raw -recruits. The three years man who served continuously with his colors -is a rarity. - -It does not follow that every man who enlisted in the army is entitled -to credit for so doing. “Bummers” and shirks were plenty. When a -thousand men are got together there must be a percentage of this -element among them. The most worthy and deserving men do not have much -to say about their army experience, and never drag it into prominence -for selfish reasons. - -No undue importance is intended in naming men who were on detached -daily duty as clerks, orderlies, etc.; such places were considered -“soft berths,” although much hard work was done by many of the detailed -men. The soldier who remained with his colors, and did duty like a man, -is the one to whom most praise is due. - - -[Transcriber's Note: - -Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.] - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Forty-second regiment -infantry, Massachusetts volunteers, , by Charles P. 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