Chapter I: Preface

In the following pages, an attempt has been made to present a connected and reliable account of the movements of the Thirty Eighth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers during its term of service in the army of the United States. It has not been the purpose of the writer to describe the movements of armies, or chronicle the results of campaigns, except to illustrate more fully the doings of the regiment. Even in the record of battles, he has rather endeavored to confine himself to the particular part taken by the regiment, than to any more extended view; and has preferred to give more prominence to those smaller matters peculiar to its experience. Nothing has been drawn from imagination, and no attempt made at word-painting. Neither has it been attempted to describe the scenery of the country, or the manners of the people, in the region where the regiment performed its service. The scope of the work would not allow of this.

Where all, or nearly all, did their duty to the best of their ability, it would be invidious to single out a few, and bring them into prominent notice. Consequently, individual names seldom occur in the text; and where they do, it is only to illustrate some movement, or give a clearer idea of the occurrences alluded to. During thirty-two of the thirty-five months’ service here recorded, the writer was constantly with his regiment, and noted down the daily events, for the benefit of friends at home. For the remaining time, including a large part of the campaign in the Shenandoah, when he was sick in hospital, he is indebted to the letters, diaries, and conversations of his messmates, Messrs. Joseph G. Bartlett, Richard A. Fitzgerald, and Nathaniel Monroe. He would also return his thanks to Adjutant Wellington, for valuable official papers, and for assistance, and to Lieut.-Col. Richardson, and Captains Rundlet, Bennett, Jewell, Howland, and Davis, for the muster-out rolls of the regiment.

The writer is well aware that the same objects are seen by different parties in a widely different light; and he has had a lively illustration of the fact while endeavoring to learn the movements of the regiment during his absence; for, while all agreed as to the main points, as soon as details were entered upon there was a wide difference of opinion, or of memory. However, he trusts that nothing essential has been misstated.

The roll of the regiment was compiled from duplicate copies of the muster-out rolls taken at Savannah, with the exception of Companies B and H, which were copied from the rolls in the office of the Adjutant General, whose assistants courteously permitted them to be used. These rolls contain the particulars relating to each man as far as known at the muster-out of the regiment. Additional items have been obtained from the non-commissioned officers of the various companies, and much care taken to have this portion of the work correct. But owing to the frequent carelessness and neglect of hospital officials in sending returns to the regiment, and from other causes, errors may have crept in, which will not be wondered at, considering the numerous dates and other minutiæ recorded. With all its faults, the author commends it to his comrades and to the friends of the regiment, with the hope that it may occasionally revive old associations, and keep alive old memories.

G. W. P.

BOSTON, December, 1865.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

State of the country in the summer of 1862—Call for six hundred
thousand volunteers—The Thirty Eighth rendezvous at Lynnfield and
West Cambridge—Visit of Cos. A, B, and F, to the City of
Cambridge—Departure of the Regiment from the State—Passage through
Philadelphia—Arrival at Baltimore—Camp Belger, 1

CHAPTER II.

Leave Belger—Visit of Baltimore Ladies—Camp Cram—Religious
Services—Drills—Band—Marching Orders—Camp Emory—Return of Co. K to
Regiment—Cold Weather—Departure from Emory—Take Transports—Fortress
Monroe—Target-Shooting—Washing in Salt Creek, 15

CHAPTER III.

Departure from Fortress Monroe—Sea-voyage—Arrival at Ship
Island—Christmas Day—Embark for New Orleans—Up the Mississippi—Land
at Carrollton—Camp Kearney—Col. Ingraham in command of
Brigade—Plaquemine Expedition—Unpleasant Duty—Break Camp preparatory
to taking the Field, 26

CHAPTER IV.

Baton Rouge—Review by General Banks—March on Port Hudson—Passage
of the Batteries by Hartford and Albatross—Burning of the
Mississippi—Return to Baton Rouge—Wood-chopping—Embark for
Algiers—Easter Incident—Take Cars for Brashear—Berwick City, 49

CHAPTER V.

On the March again—Co. F Detached to guard Bridge—Centreville—Battle
of Bisland—Pursuit of the Enemy—Franklin—District of the
Tèche—Neutral Flags—A Day’s Rest—Fording a Bayou—Opelousas, 63

CHAPTER VI.

Camp at Opelousas—Cotton versus Potatoes—Fourth Wisconsin
Cavalry—Term “boys” not to be used in Third Brigade—Arrival of
Grierson’s Cavalry at Baton Rouge—The March resumed—Alexandria—Red
River—Start for the Mississippi—Morganza, 80

CHAPTER VII.

Cross the Mississippi—Bayou Sara—Storm—St. Francisville—Approach
Port Hudson—Skirmish on the 25th of May—Negro Soldiers—Battle
of May 27—Death of Lieut.-Col. Rodman—The Ravines, 88

CHAPTER VIII.

Relieved—March to Clinton—Great Heat—Deserting a Plantation—Return
to Port Hudson—Assault on the 14th of June—Heavy Loss in the
Thirty Eighth, 101

CHAPTER IX.

After the Battle—Great Mail—Burial of the Dead—Remove into the
Ravines—Deserters—Fall of Vicksburg—Surrender of Port Hudson—A
Disappointment—Stores Plains—Night March to Baton Rouge—Embark
for Donaldsville—Dress-Parades—Six Months’ Pay, 112

CHAPTER X.

Back to Baton Rouge—The Highland Road—Camp Rodman—Bivouac on the
Boulevards—A and K detailed for Provost Duty—Co. I sent to
Plaquemine—Camp Banks—Picket Duty—Cold Weather—New Year’s
Ball—Visit of Mr. Wellington—Flag-Raising—Recruits, 119

CHAPTER XI.

The Spring Campaign—Leave Baton Rouge—Port Hudson again—Fort de
Russy—Red River Country—Alexandria—Departure of the Army for
Shreveport—The Second Division left at Alexandria—Disaster—The
Thirty Eighth embark on the Mittie Stephens—Guerilla Attack—Grand
Ecore, 126

CHAPTER XII.

Grand Ecore—What caused the Repulse?—Retreat through the Pine
Woods—Battle of Cane River—Rear-Guard—The Retreat continued—
Arrival at Alexandria, 133

CHAPTER XIII.

The Fleet in Danger—Red River Dammed—Foraging Expedition—Departure
from Alexandria—Captured Mails—Battle of Mansura Plains—Scarcity
of Water—On the Old Road—Reach the Atchafalaya—Engagement in
the Rear, 143

CHAPTER XIV.

Cross the Atchafalaya—The Fleet and Army part Company—Morganza—
Saw-mill Expedition—Up the River—Embark for Algiers—Serenade the
Lieutenant-colonel—Good-by to Louisiana, 150

CHAPTER XV.

Arrival at Fortress Monroe—Washington—Georgetown Heights—Monocacy
Junction—Up and down the Valley of the Shenandoah—Battle of
Opequan Creek, 158

CHAPTER XVI.

The Pursuit—Congratulatory Order—Fisher’s Hill—Gen. Emory—Mount
Jackson—Mount Crawford—Cedar Creek—Build Breastworks—Surprise—
Battle of Cedar Creek—Fall back to Kearnstown—Martinsburg—
Thanksgiving, 168

CHAPTER XVII.

Preparations for Winter—Log-huts—Break Camp—Winchester—Provost
Duty—Baltimore—The Stables—Visit of Rev. Dr. Ware—Extracts
from Letters, 178

CHAPTER XVIII.

Departure from Baltimore—Arrival at Savannah—Desolation of the
City—Sherman begins his March through the Carolinas—Conflagration—
Gen. Grover in Command of the Post—Music in the Park—Marching
Orders, 190

CHAPTER XIX.

Hilton Head—Cape Fear River—Paroled Prisoners—Wilmington—Morehead
City—Newbern—Back to Morehead—Fatigue Duty and Oysters—An
Alarm—Battle of Petersburg—All aboard for Goldsborough—Sherman’s
Army—Surrender of Lee—Assassination of the President—Surrender
of Johnston—Morehead again—Transport—Rubber Coffee—Savannah, 197

CHAPTER XX.

Change in Savannah—Southern Ladies and Clergy—Portion of the
Brigade go to Augusta—Habits of the Country People—Jeff.
Davis—Cos. C and G go to Darien—Arrival of First Division—Scarcity
of Muster Rolls—Want of Transportation—Start for Home—Gallop’s
Island—Reception in Cambridge, 209

IN MEMORIAM, 233

ROLL OF REGIMENT, 242

THE

STORY OF THE THIRTY EIGHTH.