hardly formed before the enemy charged, at the same time advancing a dismounted force through the woods, and attacking the brigade on the flank. They were easily repulsed, and a countercharge ordered for the Thirty-first, which was gallantly made, driving back the enemy, and capturing a number of prisoners. In this charge, Capt. Nettleton was wounded; and, during the rest of the campaign, Capt. Fordham commanded the regiment. The fourth brigade relieved the First on the Opelousas Road, seven miles from Alexandria, where it remained doing picket-duty until June 14, when the army commenced its retreat from Alexandria. The Thirty-first acted as rear-guard, and were frequently engaged in skirmishes with the enemy. Capt. Fordham, commanding the regiment, expresses his warmest approbation of all the officers and men throughout the entire march. June 29, the, regiment turned over its horses and other Government property, preparatory to veteran furlough. July 3, the regiment occupied the old camp of two years before, opposite New Orleans, until July 21, when it started for Massachusetts, via Cairo, on the steamboat "Pauline Carroll." It arrived in Boston Aug. 4, and was received by the State and City authorities in Faneuil Hall; and furloughs were issued to the men until the 7th of September, when the regiment re-assembled at Pittsfield. On Sept. 8, it left for New York; whence it sailed on the 9th, and reached New Orleans on the 19th. Upon its arrival there, the regiment reported to Gen. T. W. Sherman, commanding the defences of New Orleans, and, in pursuance of orders from the War Department, was restored to its infantry organization. A few days after, however, by order of Gen. Canby, the regiment reported to chief of cavalry to be remounted, and was assigned to the Fifth Cavalry Brigade, commanded by Col. Gooding. Nov. 19, the three-years' term of service (original enlistment) of Companies A, B, C, and D, expired; and the now veterans were mustered out of service. The regiment was consolidated to a battalion of five companies. This reduction deprived the regiment of several valuable officers, among whom was Col. Gooding, under whose command it had acquired a high degree of military discipline, and had won an honorable name. At the close of 1864, it was the only Massachusetts regiment in the department of the Gulf, and the only regiment, save one, of the Old Nineteenth Corps that came to New Orleans THE THIRTY-FIRST IN LOUISIANA. 347 with Gen. Butler. It was on duty at Plaquemine, and along the coast opposite Donaldsonville, under orders from Gen. Sherman, commanding defences of New Orleans, to "protect the plantations lying between College Point and Pass Manchoe from the depredations of guerillas." This required the protection of a district extending about twenty-five miles on the Mississippi River, and running back to the Amite, from eight to fourteen miles distant. It embraced several Government plantations; a freedmen's school; the telegraph station opposite Donaldsonville, near which was a little settlement of loyal men and refugees; the New-River District, which was thickly settled by poor planters, and had furnished many soldiers for both armies; besides many fine plantations of loyal planters on the coast. The numerous bands of rebel soldiers and guerillas across the Amite often crossed into this district, and raided on the plantations, or carried off conscripts from New River. The post was considered a difficult one to maintain. The force, therefore, was strengthened by four companies of the Indiana Sixteenth from Donaldsonville. Scouting-parties guided by refugees were frequently sent out to capture guerillas who infested the neighborhood. One of these killed a noted leader of a guerilla band, one McRory, who had long been a terror to the Union men of this region. Jan. 30, a scout was organized across the Amite; and, proceeding to a settlement where there was a considerable band of guerillas, it dashed into the village just at dark, and captured seventeen men. The chase was continued through the country around the head of Bayou Colheil, and returned to camp. The result of this scout was to break up the guerilla bands in that section, and to put an end to the depredations that had so long disturbed the frontier. In acknowledgment of the services of this battalion while on the coast, Gen. Sherman issued the following General Order: GENERAL ORDERS, No. 6. HEADQUARTERS, DEFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS, The general commanding tenders his thanks to Capt. W. I. Allen, Thirtyfirst Massachusetts Volunteers, and the battalion of mounted infantry under his command, for their uniform good conduct since occupying their present position, and particularly for the unusual success which has thus far attended their operations in capturing the noted guerilla leader and desperado King, and, at various times, large numbers of the guerilla bands infesting that region; thus promoting security and good order upon that frontier, with the exercise of a good judgment that led to no unnecessary bloodshed. By command of FREDERICK SPEED, Assistant Adjutant-General. BRIG.-GEN. SHERMAN. On the night of the 3d of February, thirty men under Capt. Rice, doing picket-duty, were attacked by the enemy at the Park, ten miles from Plaquemine, at the junction of Bayou Plaquemine and Grand River. After a brisk little affair, lasting about half an hour, the "Johnnies" concluded that they wanted to go home; their decision being probably hastened by the timely and very noisy arrival of Lieut. Bond and eight men, who had come at a gallop three miles, having been aroused by the firing. Daylight revealed a loss of one man killed on our side, and eight prisoners taken from the enemy. Three of these were wounded, two of whom died the next day, and were buried by us. The prisoners stated the rebel force at from a hundred and twenty to a hundred and sixty men. The next week, the detachment was ordered to rejoin the regiment at Carrollton, La. Meanwhile the regiment was ordered to be consolidated; and Feb. 8, with three other cavalry regiments, the Thirty-first was formed into a brigade, to be commanded by Brig.-Gen. T. J. Lucas. Next day, this brigade received orders to assemble at Carrollton, La., and prepare for the campaign against Mobile. Orders to march were received on the 19th of March, and the advance commenced. This was continued, without any striking incidents, until the 2d of April, when sharp firing took place on the picket-line. The cavalry, which had held the advance throughout the march, were now relieved by infantry. This force moved in front of, and at a safe distance from, the enemy's works at Sibley's Mills. The report records that The rebels had provided for an advance from the opposite direction. The bridge had been splintered and pitched. Hundreds of torpedoes were planted in the road; but though many exploded, and several horses were killed, only one man was killed, and another wounded. Over a hundred of these infernal machines were safely unearthed during the day. Met the advance of Gen. Canby's columns from the bay. Spanish Fort and Blakely are now completely besieged. Mobile is ours when they fall. April 4, the Thirty-first was detailed for duty at headquarters. THE THIRTY-FIRST MUSTERED OUT. 349 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. |