This brief account, in which details are necessarily omitted, is a story of a regiment which never failed in its duty. Its characteristics were perfect instruction, thorough discipline, hardy endurance, and entire bravery. It was always a reliable regiment. "I want to spare it," said a corps commander; "but, when I come to a hard place, I have to put in the Second Massachusetts." The commanders of every grade, brigade, division, or corps, never admitted the superiority of any regiment in the army to this; and its position was, tacitly at least, admitted, wherever it served. -- CHAPTER VI. THE NINE-MONTHS' REGIMENTS. Formation. The Draft. -The Third Regiment volunteers. In Camp. In the Field. The Fourth W THE THIRD REGIMENT. ITH the return of autumn, 1862, the President's order for a draft of nine-months' men was published. This brought into the field the first Massachusetts troops for that period of service. The pioneer march of the Third Regiment has already been narrated in the record of the three-months' troops. Upon its return from Fortress Monroe, July, 1861, it was mustered out of service, and again took its place in the militia of the State. The Third did not wait for drafting, but, when the emphatic call came, immediately volunteered, and went into Camp Joe Hooker, at Lakeville. The first company arrived Sept. 16; and, before the week expired, the tenth company was also there. The organization was completed under the following officers : Oct. 8, orders were received to start for Newbern, N.C., and report to Gen. Foster; but the march was delayed, for the want of overcoats, until the 22d, when the steamers "Merrimac" and "Mississippi" sailed with the troops, in the quiet of evening, honored with the signals of a proud and tender farewell. After a passage of four days, they debarked at Beaufort, N.C.; were borne by the cars to Newbern, thirty-six miles distant, the same night, Oct. 26; and went into camp on the banks of the Neuse River, a mile from the city. The arms distributed on the 29th were poor "Austrian rifle muskets," and were received with marked dissatisfaction. Drilling, picketing, and short expeditions; garrison duty by Company I at Plymouth and Elizabeth City, N.C.; and a fight near the former place, in which two were killed, make up the outline of regimental history till Dec. 11. On that day, the Third moved with the expedition to Goldsborough, which occupied eleven days, and included a march of one hundred and fifty miles. The Third was in the fights of Kinston, Whitehall, and Goldsborough, and displayed such courage, that, by the order of Gen. Foster, those names, with the dates of the battles that made them historical, were inscribed on its banner. The remainder of the month was devoted to the almost unnoticed but perilous and indispensable picket-duty. The regiment was attached to Gen. Heckman's brigade, and the subjoined note from him tells the story of that connection: HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, NAGLEE'S DIVISION, To Col. S. P. RICHMOND, commanding Third Regiment M.V. M. Colonel, -In the report of my assistant adjutant-general, who inspected your regiment last muster, the arms you now have were condemned. I have made every effort since to have the arms changed, to retain you in my brigade; but time would not permit : another regiment has been assigned. Accept my regrets that your regiment was not in condition to remain (as regards equipments). The soldierly appearance and conduct of your officers and men have made a favorable impression; and I part with you with regret. Very respectfully yours, C. A. HECKMAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding 1st Brigade, Naglee's Division, 18th Army Corps. The regiment now became a part of Col. J. Jourdan's brigade for the rest of its term of enlistment. The commendation of Gen. Foster is a reliable estimation of the discipline and efficiency of the troops : 46 The Third Massachusetts Regiment always obeys orders, and performs all its duties promptly, and without grumbling." Gen. Prince says, "The Third Massachusets Regiment and its commander can be intrusted with important duties, with a certainty of their being performed promptly and well." The Third Massachusetts Regiment is always ready for duty.' When the troops were removed, Jan. 26, to Camp Jourdan, near Fort Totten, its horribly wretched condition was soon so completely changed by their cheerful hard work, that the medical director made special mention of it as "one of the cleanest, prettiest, and most healthy camps near Newbern, although formerly considered a very unhealthy locality." During March, important detached service was performed by the Third, in Gen. Prince's division: under arms at Deep Gully, and reconnoitring to Pollocksville, were the most important incidents in its army life. April brought work on intrenchments, an expedition across the Neuse River, exhausting marches, skirmishes with the enemy, successful co-operation with another column in driving the rebels from Washington, N.C., releasing the Forty-fourth Massachusetts from its unpleasant position, and picket-duty at Deep Gully. May repeated substantially this experience; and, June 6, the regiment escorted the Forty-fourth Massachusetts to the depot, on their homeward march. Writes an officer, Being ordered on the 11th to Boston, Mass., the regiment left Newbern. Three companies, with the sick, embarked on the "Tillie" at Newbern; and seven companies went by railroad to Morehead, and embarked on the "Spaulding." The regiment was escorted to the depot by the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth New-York Volunteers, preceded by the band of the Forty-sixth Massachusetts. Gen. Foster and Col. Jourdan honored the column by a standing review. The Forty-fifth and Fifty-first Massachusetts Regiments were in line on the south side of the Trent River, and cheered us with music and voice on our homeward journey. We landed in Boston the 10th, having had rather a rough passage; but the transports were very comfortable. We met with an enthusiastic reception in Boston, and were escorted to the Common by the Forty-fourth Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Rifle Club. The Governor being ab sent, Adjutant-Gen. Schouler reviewed the column from the State-House steps; after which we marched to Beach Street, and partook of a collation. At one, P.M., the regiment took the cars for Camp Joe Hooker, but were furloughed on the cars, being ordered to report in camp on the 22d. The regiment reported in camp on that day, where it remained until the 26th, when it was mustered out of service by Capt. J. K. Lawrence, UnitedStates army, and was dismissed by a complimentary and affecting order from the colonel. The men dispersed quietly, maintaining their excellent character for discipline to the last. During the campaign, the regiment was transported by steamers and railroad more than two thousand miles, and marched more than four hundred iniles over the swampy roads of North Carolina; most of it being done during the most inclement season. It bivouacked upon the ground, without shelter, when the water froze in canteens; and also marched when the thermometer ranged at one hundred and seven degrees in the shade. During a portion of the time, more than two hundred men were furnished for extra duty as mechanics, and quite a large number were detailed as overseers of "contrabands" and others. THE FOURTH REGIMENT. The Fourth Regiment was not tardy in answering to the renewed demand for troops. It promptly prepared to march. Its officers were, We give below, in a letter received from an officer of the Fourth, an authentic record of great interest. His glowing eulogy of the troops is not only pardonable, but, indeed, a commendable expression of appreciation of their gallant conduct. Upon Gen. Banks's retreat down the Shenandoah Valley, the Fourth, with other regiments, was ordered out. Lieut.-Col. Walker, late adjutant, living in Quincy, eight miles from Boston, read the order in the newspapers of the morning, while on his way to the depot. Setting the bells of his own town ringing, and arranging affairs there, he started, and drove through twenty miles of the country, setting all the church-bells ringing, appointing places of rendezvous, &c. In forty-eight hours, the regiment had eight hundred men in Boston. A question arising as to the term of service required under the then recent legislation of Congress, Lieut.-Col. Walker addressed the men, appealing to their patriotism, and sense of duty; and, in response, over two-thirds of those present promptly signed their names to an agreement to go, and trust to the justice of the Government. Out of all the other organizations in town, one only, the Fourth Battalion, took a like stand. Telegrams from Washington, stating that the troops were not needed, came the same day; and the four thousand men, who had gathered almost at a moment's notice, returned to their homes. In July, 1862, the call came for two hundred thousand nine-months' men. |