Chapter I: Preface

Not long after the close of the war a plan was proposed, by some of the officers of the regiment, for the preparation of a history of the Thirty-sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers; but the plan was not carried into execution. At the regimental reunions, in subsequent years, parts of such a history were read by Comrades White, Ranlett, and Hodgkins, and the desire for a complete history of the regiment, which found expression on these occasions, was so strong that, at the reunion of the regiment at Worcester, in September, 1876, a committee, consisting of Comrades White, Ranlett, Burrage, and Hodgkins, was appointed to procure materials for a history of the regiment.

Some progress was made by the committee in the performance of the work thus assigned to them; but it was not so great as they, or their comrades of the Thirty-sixth, desired. At the reunion, September 2, 1879, the matter was again considered, and it was finally voted, "that Comrades White, Ranlett, Hodgkins, Burrage, and Noyes, be chosen a committee to have charge of the compiling, revising, and printing the history of the regiment, to be ready for delivery at our next reunion; and that the committee have power to procure any help they may need."

Many difficulties were encountered in the progress of the work, and it was found that it would be impossible to prepare, within the limit of time prescribed, such a history as would be worthy of the regiment. The different members of the committee, amid the activities of busy lives, could give to the work only such intervals of leisure as they could find amid their daily tasks. At the annual reunions of 1880, 1881, and 1882,--testing the patience of their comrades who had entrusted to them this important task,--they were compelled to report progress only. In September, 1883,--the last reunion,--however, they were able to say that the work was already in press, and would be ready for delivery in the course of a few weeks.

In the table of contents will be found the names of the authors of the different chapters. The work of Comrades White, Ranlett, Olin, and Noyes, entitles them to the hearty thanks of all their companions in arms. Especially, however, are such thanks due to Comrade W. H. Hodgkins, not only for his own contribution to the history, but also for his careful attention to the innumerable details which the preparation of such a work required. Indeed, without his unwearied endeavors in gathering materials, securing the coöperation of others, and attending to the business of publication, the history would not so soon, and might never, have been completed.

To the writer of these lines was assigned the editorial supervision of the work. From the materials placed in his hands he arranged the history of the regiment as it now appears. Two proofs of the entire work have passed under his eye, and in this part of his task he has had the invaluable assistance of Major Hodgkins. The history, of course, is not free from errors of statement; and it will doubtless be found that there are omissions which the writers of the different chapters, as well as their comrades, will deeply deplore. Yet, with all its imperfections, this volume is believed to be substantially a faithful history of the part which the regiment had in the great conflict for the preservation of the National Union, which was waged during the years 1862-1865; and, as such, it is certainly a history of which all those who participated in it may well be proud.

H. S. B.
PORTLAND, ME., Sept. 26, 1883.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT.--ALONZO A. WHITE 1-10

CHAPTER II.

TO THE FRONT.--ALONZO A. WHITE 11-18

CHAPTER III.

IN VIRGINIA.--ALONZO A. WHITE 19-36

CHAPTER IV.

THE KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN.--S. ALONZO RANLETT 37-48

CHAPTER V.

IN THE REAR OF VICKSBURG.--S. ALONZO RANLETT 49-57

CHAPTER VI.

THE MOVEMENT ON JACKSON.--S. ALONZO RANLETT 58-72

CHAPTER VII.

THE RETURN TO KENTUCKY.--S. ALONZO RANLETT 73-78

CHAPTER VIII.

IN EAST TENNESSEE.--S. ALONZO RANLETT 79-87

CHAPTER IX.

THE RETREAT FROM LENOIR'S AND THE BATTLE OF CAMPBELL'S
STATION.--HENRY S. BURRAGE 88-100

CHAPTER X.

THE SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE.--HENRY S. BURRAGE 101-122

CHAPTER XI.

SUBSEQUENT OPERATIONS IN EAST TENNESSEE.--HENRY S. BURRAGE 123-134

CHAPTER XII.

REORGANIZATION.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 135-145

CHAPTER XIII.

IN THE WILDERNESS.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 146-159

CHAPTER XIV.

AT SPOTTSYLVANIA.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 160-177

CHAPTER XV.

ON THE NORTH ANNA AND THE PAMUNKEY.--WILLIAM H.
HODGKINS 178-187

CHAPTER XVI.

AT COLD HARBOR.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 188-200

CHAPTER XVII.

THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 201-215

CHAPTER XVIII.

IN THE TRENCHES.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 216-222

CHAPTER XIX.

DIARY OF THE SIEGE.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 223-232

CHAPTER XX.

THE MINE AFFAIR.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 233-241

CHAPTER XXI.

THE SIEGE CONTINUED.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 242-252

CHAPTER XXII.

IN THE PINES.--EDMUND W. NOYES 253-257

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE ACTION AT PEGRAM FARM.--EDMUND W. NOYES 258-265

CHAPTER XXIV.

AGAIN IN THE TRENCHES.--EDMUND W. NOYES 266-275

CHAPTER XXV.

IN WINTER QUARTERS.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 276-281

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE FINAL ASSAULT AT PETERSBURG.--WILLIAM M. OLIN 282-291

CHAPTER XXVII.

CLOSING SCENES.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 292-311

CHAPTER XXVIII.

CONCLUSION.--WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 312-315

ROSTER AND RECORD OF THE THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT OF
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS, COMPILED AND CORRECTED
BY WILLIAM H. HODGKINS 316

RECAPITULATION 385

NAMES OF MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT WHO DIED IN REBEL
PRISONS 386

NARRATIVE OF ISRAEL H. SMITH 387

INDEX 391

THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS.