Aug. 26, with the Tenth Corps, and advanced to the front of Petersburg. Here Col. Osborn resumed command. The labor now devolving on the regiment was severe, and its camp constantly under the fire of the enemy.

On the 28th of September, the regiment, forming a part of Gen. Terry's division, participated in the advance of the Army of the James towards Richmond, and made a daring reconnoissance along the Central Railroad to within two and a half miles of the rebel capital. The Twenty-fourth was engaged subsequently in several similar demonstrations.

On the 4th of December, the term of service for the men who had not re-enlisted expired, and they were mustered out; leaving in the regiment four hundred and twenty-seven men, who, with few exceptions, were veteran volunteers.

From the 27th of October to the 18th of December, these troops were encamped at Four-mile Church, near Richmond: they were then ordered to Bermuda Hundred; which post they garrisoned until the 8th of April, 1865, when they were sent to Richmond to guard the city and military prisons.

In the month of June, they were consolidated into eight companies. They were mustered out of service at Richmond, Jan. 20, 1866 reached Boston on the 24th; and, on the 27th, marched to the State House, where the colors were received by his Excellency Gov. Bullock, a part of whose address on this occasion was as follows:

The limitations of this occasion will not permit me to recall, to those who are in attendance to witness the closing scene, your long and eminent services. Since you left the State, more than four years ago, the eyes of our citizens have followed you, with Burnside to Roanoke Island, Newbern, Kinston, and Goldsborough, in North Carolina; into South Carolina, to the assault on Fort Wagner and the siege of Charleston; to Florida, and back to South Carolina; to the Army of the James, engaged at Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom, and in the battles of the siege of Richmond; and retained among the last to crown the triumphs of the field with peaceful guaranties.

I welcome you home. But all have not returned. Eight officers of the line and two hundred and ten enlisted men have fallen in battle and by the casualties of war. The soldier's bed has been made for them; but their names shall be treasured on the official rolls and in the heart of the State, and they themselves shall live in immortal fame.

I count it among the remarkable proofs of the steadfast and persistent patriotism of this regiment, that after it had fully tasted the bitterness of war, then, even then, four hundred and twenty of its veterans re-enlisted to share in the conclusion of the conflict.

When I think of the discipline of the Twenty-fourth, distinguished among all the armies of the United States, I cannot forget him who recruited it and so long commanded it. It would be an omission ungrateful to you, and uncongenial to my own feelings, if, before your ranks dissolve for the last time, I were not to pronounce in your presence, with honor to the dead and with respect for the living, the name of Brig.-Gen. STEVENSON. Not a more heroic spirit has passed triumphantly the portals which this war has opened to so many young and noble and brave.

It only remains that I should now transfer your colors to the great companionship in which they shall henceforth be preserved; and that, in behalf of a grateful people, I should greet and honor your return.

After the reception of the colors, the regiment marched to Faneuil Hall, and partook of a collation provided by the city of Boston. The men then separated for their homes.

CHAPTER XV.

TWENTY-FIFTH, TWENTY-SIXTH, AND TWENTY-SEVENTH

REGIMENTS.

The March of the Twenty-fifth from Camp Lincoln, Worcester, to Roanoke Island. — Service there. In Gen. Foster's Expedition to Plymouth. Other Expeditions. - Return Home. The Twenty-sixth leaves Boston for Ship Island. - Sails for New Orleans. Services in Louisiana.-Furlough. - In Maryland and Virginia. - The Return to. Massachusetts. The "Second Western Regiment." - At Annapolis, Newbern, Goldsborough. Closing Service in the War.

TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.

HIS regiment was raised by authority of the State, Sept. 9, 1861, Edwin Upton was designated colonel; and Augustus B. R. Sprague, lieutenant-colonel. The next day, enlistments commenced; and by the 25th the regiment was in Camp Lincoln, at Worcester. On the 31st, the tents were struck, and the regiment, one thousand and thirty strong, started, via New York, en route for Annapolis, to join the Burnside Expedition. We add a roll of the principal officers :

Arriving at Annapolis Nov. 3, the regiment reported to Col. Morse, commanding the post. Jan. 7, embarked on board the propeller "Zouave" and the schooner "Skirmisher," of the Burnside Expedition; sailed on the 10th, and arrived at Hatteras Inlet the following Monday. Sharing in the delays and disasters of the voyage, this regiment was landed by the tow-boat "Pilot Boy" on Roanoke Island, Feb. 7, and, marching inland a mile, bivouacked for the night. Next morning, the Twenty-fifth took up the line of march; Capt. Pickett's company skirmishing in the advance.

The enemy was soon encountered, and pushed by our skirmishers back to his works.

The artillery was placed in position, supported by this regiment. By Gen. Foster's order, Col. Upton formed his troops across the road in line of battle, extending from a forest on the left to a clearing on which the right rested. Both sides opened fire, which continued uninterruptedly for nearly three hours; when, the ammunition of the Twenty-fifth being exhausted, it was formed in column by companies in the rear of the right, waiting for a fresh supply, until the enemy had left his position. The regiment then marched to Camp Foster, at the upper end of the island. In this engagement it lost six killed and forty-two wounded. From the camp it went on board transports; and on the 11th the fleet got under way, anchoring again on the 12th, within fifteen miles of Newbern. The next day, covered by a heavy fire from the gunboats, the regiment landed at Slocum's Creek; and marching ten miles through a drenching rain, and wading through mud, it lay down at night upon the cold, wet ground, exposed to the pelting storm. In the gray of early dawn, the "boys" formed into line, marched ten miles, and came in sight of the rebel works, where they were saluted by a shower of shells; but they pressed forward, and were soon in the midst of the battle.

After supporting a battery for some time, the Twenty-fifth was ordered to charge on the enemy's works; Gen. Foster himself leading in the assault. The enemy retired on his approach; and the regiment formed in line of battle within the intrenchments, and then moved along the road by the flank, in position for streetfiring. In this action the regiment lost four men in killed, and assisted in capturing one hundred and fifty. It then proceeded to Newbern, and that night was quartered in the city. Here it served as provost-guard until May 9, and, for the six weeks succeeding, was engaged in picket-duty.

July 24, it joined an expedition to Trenton and Pollocksville. Returning to Newbern, the remainder of the hot summer months offered little opportunity for valuable service. Oct. 30, the Twenty-fifth moved with the expedition of Gen. Foster to Washington and Tarborough, and thence to Hamilton, Williamston, and Plymouth; where, Nov. 10, the greater part of the troops embarked for Newbern, leaving the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-seventh to protect our artillery awaiting transportation. Returning from Plymouth, Nov. 10, the Twenty-fifth was attached to the Third

brigade, Col. Lee commanding, and left Newbern again on the 11th. On Sunday, the 14th, was fought the battle of Kinston; the Twenty-fifth supporting Belgier's Rhode-Island battery. After the battle, it crossed the bridge, and bivouacked that night in Kinston. On the 19th, marching by flank in the rear of the Union batteries, it advanced towards Goldsborough. One hundred men of the Twenty-fifth were now detailed as sharpshooters for duty on the banks of the river in clearing the woods of the enemy's riflemen. Next morning, the march was resumed; the third brigade having the advance. Skirmishing commenced, and was continued until the brigade came upon the main force posted near the railroad bridge, crossing the Neuse River. In the action which followed, near the close of the day, the Twenty-fifth supported Belgier's battery, losing one man killed and three wounded. Night ended the contest; and the regiment took up the line of march for Newbern, which it reached on the 21st. On the 6th of March, 1863, the regiment was ordered to the forks of the Trenton and Kinston Roads. Three companies under command of Capt. Denny attacked and routed the rebels, burning their camp, and destroying a large number of new knapsacks, arms, blankets, boxes of clothing, &c.; and returned by daybreak, with the loss of only two wounded. On the 8th, a part of the regiment returned to Newbern, leaving Capt. Denny with four companies in their position near Deep Gully. On the 13th, the six companies at Newbern were ordered to outpost duty near Deep Gully, that place having been attacked. Skirmishing with the enemy followed. In the evening, these companies were relieved by the Forty-third Massachusetts, and they marched back to Newbern.

Another expedition to Batchelder's Creek was undertaken on the 21st. On the 22d, the enemy, outflanked, and attacked in the rear, fled precipitately to the swamps; and the Twenty-fifth returned to camp, having enjoyed the pleasure of seeing their regimental colors floating over the enemy's intrenchments. Nothing of marked interest in the history of the regiment occurred until the 24th of July, when an expedition was undertaken to Winton, N.C. This resulted in the capture of several horses, mules, and bales of cotton, but no commissary-stores. On arriving at Newbern, these, with a few prisoners (sixty-nine), were turned over to the provost-marshal, and the regiment went into camp.

It was stationed in early winter at Camp Upton, Newport News.