Spanish Fort fell on the 8th, and Blakely on the 9th. To this latter, on the 10th, the regiment moved to guard prisoners. On the 14th, the battalion crossed the river, and encamped, reporting direct to the commanding general, until the removal of his headquarters to New Orleans, when it reported to Major-Gen. Granger. May 4, a detail from the regiment attended Gen. Canby and staff to meet the rebel general, Dick Taylor, who surrendered that day on the same terms as Lee to Grant. June 3, it took part in a review of all the troops at this post in honor of Chief Justice Chase, and continued on duty in the department of Alabama until Aug. 23. The official record closes as follows: Aug. 23, order from department headquarters in compliance with directions from headquarters, military division of the Tennessee, for muster-out of the regiment. Horses ordered turned over at once to depot quartermaster, and all horse-equipments and arms to depot ordnance-officer. Sept. 6, Col. Nettleton relieved from duty as provost-marshal-general, in order to go home with the regiment; 9th, regiment mustered out of service by Brevet Major L. M. Hosea, chief commissary of muster department of Alabama. Sept. 10, received the following order, being the last issued to the regi ment: GENERAL ORDERS, No. 24. HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF MOBILE, The Thirty-first Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, having been mustered out of service in compliance with instructions from the War Department, is relieved from duty in this district, and will proceed to the State rendezvous, where the commanding officer will report it to the chief mustering-officer for payment and final discharge. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. By order of THOMAS THOMPSON, Captain and A. A. G. G. A. DE RUSSY, Brigadier-General. Sept. 11, the regiment left Mobile on transport" Warrior;" arrived in New Orleans on the 13th; embarked on steamship "Concordia " for Boston, and sailed at nine o'clock, P.M. Landed, Sept. 24, at Galloupe's Island, where the regiment was paid by Major Broadhead, and discharged Sept. 30, its work being done, and well done. All the officers save the assistant surgeon, and most of the men mustered out, had been in service with the regiment for three years and ten months. Our losses since Jan. 1 appear upon the monthly returns, which were made up by Capt. J. M. Stewart for more than two years, and until his late promotion; the faithful adjutant of the regiment, whose services have been invaluable to me while in command. As all regimental records were turned in at Galloupe's Island, I am unable to sum up these losses. THIRTY-SECOND REGIMENT. The basis of this regiment was the First Battalion Massachusetts Volunteers, composed of six companies of infantry, organized for garrison-duty at Fort Warren in the winter of 1861-2. Of the field and staff officers, Lieut.-Col. Francis J. Parker alone was in commission when it was first recognized as the Thirty-second Regiment. May 26, within twelve hours of its receiving orders from the War Department to take the field, the regiment was en route for Washington, arriving there on the 28th. It was encamped for some time near Fairfax Seminary, forming a part of Sturgis's reserve corps. Being ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, then on the James River, it marched June 25, and arrived at Harrison's Landing July 3, 1862. Here it was assigned to Gen. Griffin's brigade, Morell's division, Porter's corps, and was stationed throughout in line of battle in the reserve. Returning with the corps via the Peninsula and the Potomac River, the regiment took railroad transportation from the mouth of Acquia Creek to Stafford Court House, where it arrived Aug. 20. From this point it followed Gen. Pope's army toward Washington. Sept. 12, the regiment marched with Porter's corps through Georgetown and Washington northward: reached Frederick City, Md., on the 14th of September; and on the 15th, the day after the battle, passed over South Mountain. During the battle of Antietam, the regiment, still in reserve, supported Hazlitt's and other batteries of Porter's corps, but, from its position, was protected from the fire of the enemy. It followed the retreating rebels to the bank of the Potomac. Here it remained until the 30th of October, stationed in advance, and doing picket-duty on the bank of the river. Nov. 2, the regiment, still with Porter's corps, made a rapid march to Snickerville, opposite Snicker's Gap, and arrived there just in time to save the gap from Jackson's forces, who approached it from the other side of the ridge. Nov. 10, the regiment reached the camp at Warrenton. The Thirty-second up to this time had been frequently under casual fire, but had not been engaged, and had lost no men in battle. When the regiment left Fort Warren, May 26, 1862, it consisted of six companies. Another company joined at Harrison's Landing, July 23; and three more, Sept. 4, at Mine Hill, Va. Dec. 13 and 14, the regiment was engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg. Of this, the regiment's first experience in battle, Col. Parker writes, For the first time, this regiment was thoroughly under fire, and proved itself equal to my warmest expectations. Not an officer flinched a tithe of a hair during thirty hours of trying exposure, commencing with a rush to the front, over a plain, under hot fire of ball and shell; and the coolness evinced by officers and men has won the applause it richly merited. Companies B and C, on detached service, were not engaged. After the army recrossed the Rappahannock and returned to Falmouth, the Thirty-second remained quietly in camp until the 30th of December, when the division made a reconnoissance to Morrisville, and, having accomplished its object, returned to camp next day. Jan. 20, 1863, another movement against Fredericksburg commenced; but, the roads being found impassable for artillery, the expedition was abandoned, and the troops returned to Falmouth. In the latter part of April, the army, under the command of Gen. Hooker, crossed the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, and, on the 4th and 5th of May, fought the battle of Chancellorsville. In this battle, the Thirty-second was actively engaged. On the retreat of the army, the regiment recrossed the Rapidan at U. S. Ford early on the morning of the 6th, and returned to Falmouth. May 17, it was ordered to duty along the Acquia-Creek and Falmouth Railroads. Forts at Potomac-Creek Bridge were occupied, and guards stationed on the track. June 9, it crossed the Rappahannock, in support of the cavalry fight at Brandy Station, being drawn up in line two miles from the station. On the 19th, the regiment moved to Aldie; remained there until the 21st, when it moved in light marching order to Middletown, and threw out pickets beyond the town to protect the column advancing to Aldie Gap. It held this position until the object was accomplished, and then returned toward Aldie. |