ARRIVAL HOME OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH.

313 Creek, which took place shortly after, was in the beginning a surprise, and the army was driven in confusion four miles; when, having re-formed, it succeeded in routing the rebel forces under Gen. Early.

Oct. 24, the battalion was detached from its brigade to do provost-guard duty at Headquarters Middle Military Division by Special Order, Oct. 24, 1864.

While Lieut. Joseph McQuestion and forty-five men of the regiment were guarding a forage-train on the 26th, a short distance from Newtown, they were surprised and captured by rebel cavalry

The battalion left Cedar Creek on the 9th of November, and went into camp at Winchester on the 14th of December. Here it remained doing provost-duty at the Headquarters Middle Military Division until May 1, 1865; when, under orders, it proceeded to Washington, and was there assigned to the second brigade, first division, Army of the Shenandoah, and went into camp in the rear of Fort Stevens.

June 4, the battalion sailed in the steamer "Louisburg" for Savannah, Ga., which it reached after a pleasant voyage of four days; disembarked, and went into camp just outside of the city.

June 29, 1865, Gen. Davis, commanding the second brigade, was assigned to the command of the post of Savannah. The regiment, together with the remaining brigade, were assigned to duty at this post, where it remained, performing guard-duty in the city until Aug. 2, when the battalion received orders to be mustered out of service. Aug. 26, 1865, the battalion was mustered out; and Sept. 12, 1865, left Savannah, Ga., on steamer "Emily," en route for Boston, Mass.; and, arriving at Hilton Head the same day, disembarked, and went on board the steamer "Empire City." It arrived in New York the morning of the 16th, and embarked on the cars for Boston the morning of the 18th; and reaching that city at seven o'clock, P.M., the same day, went to Gallop's Island in the evening, there to receive final payment.

This regiment was a legitimate offspring of the old Sixth Regi ment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, which passed through Baltimore on the 19th of April, 1861, to the defence of Washington, and which shed the first blood in the Great Rebellion.

40

THE TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT

Was raised in the western part of the State, and was mustered into the service of the United States at Springfield on the 20th of September, 1861. It was known as the Second Western Regiment, and was officered by gentlemen who had received their military training in the school of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. They were as follow:

The regiment left the State on the 2d of November, and arrived at Annapolis, Md., on the 5th.

Here the troops remained until the 6th of January, 1862. In the mean time, they applied themselves closely, and with rapid improvement, to drill and a knowledge of field-movements, and the duties incidental to camp-life; when they embarked on transports, and proceeded to Fortress Monroe, where they arrived on the 11th. On the evening of the 9th, as a fatigue-party was returning to the transport from shore, the boat in which they were came in contact with a steam-tug, and was upset; and two men, Michael Cavannagh, of Company F, and James M. Hamblin, Company E, were drowned. On the morning of the 12th, they left Hampton Roads under sealed orders, and, on the following day, arrived at Hatteras Inlet, N.C. They encountered a severe storm on the passage, during which one of the transports became separated from her consort, and was unable, on account of the high sea, to enter over the shoals; outside of which she remained several days, in imminent danger of being wrecked.

On the morning of the 6th of February, having remained in the interim on board of the transports, which, owing to the length and severity of the storm, were prevented from joining each other and the remainder of the fleet, they started for Pamlico Sound, and duly arrived in sight of Roanoke Island. On the evening of the 7th, the gunboats having meanwhile engaged and partly silenced the enemy's batteries on the island, our forces, of which this regiment composed a part, landed, and bivouacked in an open

THE TWENTY-SEVENTH AT NEWBERN.

315

field in a cold, drenching rain. Early the following morning, the regiment, in company with the Twenty-third Massachusetts Volunteers, marched to the attack, passing in their course through miry swamps and almost impenetrable thickets, during which they were exposed to a severe fire from the enemy secured behind intrenchments, and in which they lost several killed and wounded. Our forces finally succeeded in turning the enemy's left flank, the right having been gained by another body of our troops; when they gave way, and were closely pursued by us, which finally resulted in an unconditional surrender to Gen. Foster, in command. During this engagement, the loss of the regiment was five killed and fifteen wounded. On the 11th, it was ordered again upon transports, where it remained for about a month, closely crowded on board three vessels: with impure air, the health of the men became visibly affected. Here, on the 12th, Capt. Henry A. Hubbard, of Company I, died.

March 11, the regiment, in company with the rest of our forces, left Roanoke Island, and on the morning of the 13th landed, and marched towards Newbern, N.C. Early on the morning of the 14th, it encountered the enemy strongly posted in the vicinity of Newbern, and immediately attacked them. The fight was kept up, till, their ammunition being expended, they received orders to fall back, having been relieved by another regiment. During this engagement, the Twenty-seventh suffered a loss of fifteen killed and seventy-eight wounded. The enemy having been repulsed, our forces rapidly commenced the pursuit towards Newbern. Upon arriving in sight of the city, it was discovered to be on fire in several places; also the great bridge which crosses the Trent River. The regiment at once proceeded to cross the river in boats, and encamped on the other side, occupying the camp of the Seventh North-Carolina, about half a mile from the city, in which they found good quarters and abundant supplies. Here they remained five or six weeks.

The month of May was passed at Batchelder's Creck, eight miles from Newbern.

June 1, the regiment returned to its old camp, where it remained until about the last of July, most of the time under command of its lieutenant-colonel, the colonel being in command of a brigade.

For the purpose of ascertaining the force and doings of the enemy, the Twenty-seventh, with the brigade to which it was attached, made a reconnoissance to Trenton. Here they dis