THE THIRTY-FOURTH AT PETERSBURG.

369 next day, and sent home. Thus gallantly fell one of the ablest officers in the service, at a time when the honors he had so long deserved were about to be conferred on him. His name and record will not be forgotten when Massachusetts shall have occasion to recount her costly sacrifice and the deeds of her brave sons.

On the 11th, the Thirty-fourth was again engaged with the enemy, and narrowly escaped capture by a division of the enemy which had come up in its rear. On the 19th, the regiment was ordered to Newtown, Va., to guard the hospital, resting there for a while after a campaign of severe hardships and unsurpassed brilliancy. Its colonel, major, two captains, three lieutenants, and seventy-three men, had met a soldier's death upon the battle

field.

The monotony of camp-life was, however, broken up by the receipt of marching orders, Dec. 18. The next day, the regiment set out for Washington, and from there embarked on board a steamer; and on the 25th reached Aiken's Landing, on the James River. It was here assigned to the Army of the James, as part of independent division, Twenty-fourth Corps, and pitched its camp on the extreme right of the line.

March 25, the regiment broke camp; on the 30th, crossed Hatcher's Run, and next day engaged in skirmishing with the enemy.

April 1, the regiment repulsed a sharp attack on its lines by the enemy. Next morning, it moved along the line six miles towards Petersburg. Here a temporary halt was ordered. quote from Col. William T. Lincoln's report:

We

Attention!" was soon called; our ranks were dressed; and, through the din of the opening battle, we marched to our work. Our brigade the third-and one brigade of the first division were ordered to assault Battery Gregg, an advanced rebel fort which commanded their line directly in front of Petersburg. At the order, the line advanced steadily under a terrific fire of musketry and artillery. When within about a hundred yards of the fort, an order was given for the men to lie down; and crawling upon their hands and knees, through the storm of grape and canister hurled against our ranks, the advance continued. At a signal, our men regained their feet, and with a rush the obstructions were passed, and the ditch gained. The water was waist-deep, and for a moment we were apparently foiled. The stars and stripes were planted almost side by side of the rebel rag. The fort was held with all the energy of despairing men; and the rebel shouts of "Never surrender! never surrender!" were distinctly heard above the roar of conflict.

For twenty-seven minutes, our men hung upon the works. To advance seemed impossible; retreat was equally so. One more rush, and with a deafening cheer the parapet was gained; and, after a short hand-to-hand struggle, the fort and its garrison were captured. Not a man escaped. Capt. Goodrich of the Thirty-fourth, with a few men, turned the captured guns upon the nearest fort, and returned them their own shells. Our loss was slight when the length of time, and severity of the engagement, is considered; being four killed and thirty-six wounded. Arms were now stacked, intrenchments thrown up, and we held what we had gained.

April 3, the regiment joined in the pursuit of the rebels, now in full retreat. On the morning of the 9th, encountered the enemy under Gen. Gordon, who were endeavoring to gain the Lynchburg Railroad; and compelled them to fall back on their main line. In the afternoon, intelligence of Gen. Lee's surrender was received. On the 12th, the regiment broke camp, and started for Richmond, and on the 25th, passing through the city to the north side, encamped.

On the 16th of June, such of the original members of the Thirty-fourth as were present with the command were mustered out of the service of the United States, and, at early dawn next day, took up their line of march for home. The men were hospitably entertained at Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Arriv ing at Readville, Mass., the public property, without delay, was turned over to Government officers; and on the 6th of July, having completed within twenty-five days the period of their enlistment, the men received their final pay and discharge.

THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.

This regiment was mustered into the service of the United States at Camp Stanton, Lynnfield, Aug. 21, 1862; and left the State for the seat of war, Aug. 22, under the command of Col. Edward A. Wild. The regiment was especially fortunate in its officers, both field and staff.

THE BATTLE AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN.

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In his report of this regiment for the year 1862, Col. Wild says that it left the State very imperfectly fitted out, owing to the urgency of the demand for fresh troops at Washington. It was armed with Enfield rifles of a very poor quality, and dangerous to handle.

Arriving at Washington Aug. 24, the regiment, by order of Brig.-Gen. Casey, crossed the Potomac, and encamped beyond Arlington Heights. Aug. 30 it was assigned to the command of Brig.-Gen. Van Volkenberg, and Sept. 6 it was transferred to that of Major-Gen. Burnside, and by him assigned to the brigade of Gen. Ferrero in connection with the Twenty-first Massachusetts. Continued short marches and bivouacs until the battle at South Mountain, Sept. 14. Col. Wild writes,

We entered the fight at about half-past four, P.M. It lasted till after dark. Were first ordered to clear the rebel sharpshooters from an extensive tract of forest, and a very rough ground indeed. This was done. Afterwards resisted an unexpected attack upon the position held by our brigade, made suddenly in the dusk. At that time I received a wound-losing the left arm at the shoulder- from which I am still suffering. The remainder, therefore, of this account must of necessity be incomplete. In this battle, the first ordeal of the Thirty-fifth, their behavior was excellent. Considering their total inexperience, their very brief period of mutual acquaintance, the nature of the battle-ground, their want of confidence in their weapons, and especially their utter want of drill, it was very remarkable that they should have held together so well as they did. The lack of drill was severely felt, as we had had no opportunity at all for battalion drill, and that of companies had been quite limited. They were ready to do any thing they were ordered, if they only knew how to do it.

Sept. 17 came the battle of Antietam. Here the regiment bore a conspicuous part. They entered the fight under Lieut.-Col. Sumner Carruth, who was soon shot through the neck, and obliged to retire. The major being absent upon special duty, the command devolved upon Capt. William S. King, of Company K, who nobly sustained his part, until seven wounds forced him also to withdraw, which he did, bearing off the colors to a place of safety; for by that time the whole color-guard were disabled. At the decisive moment of this great battle, it became necessary to take and hold the bridge over Antietam Creek and its approaches. Our regiment supported the Fifty-first New-York; made a charge over the bridge; drove the enemy from the top of the first rising ground, and likewise from the second, never stopping till themselves occupied the crest of the second bill, — which position they held for some time, though subjected to slaughtering cross-fires, with a steadiness that veterans might be proud of, until ordered to retire a little to a more sheltered spot. Their behavior was admirable throughout.

In the two battles, South-Mountain and Antietam, our loss was severe. We had two captains killed (Bartlett of Newburyport, and Niles of Randolph), and four wounded; of lieutenants, one killed (Williams of Salem), and ten wounded; of enlisted men, two hundred and fifty killed and wounded. Thus, of those present, we had two-thirds of the officers, and very nearly one-third of the men, disabled.

After encamping for some weeks at Pleasant Valley, on the Upper Potomac, the whole army of M'Clellan crossed at and near Harper's Ferry, and marched southward into Virginia, our regiment among the rest taking their share of the fatigues and dangers. On Burnside taking the chief command, the route was changed for an easterly one.

Nov. 15, we were on the Upper Rappahannock. Lieut.-Col. Carruth, who had then recovered from his wound and resumed command of the regiment, crossed the river, taking with him the adjutant, Nathaniel Wales, for the purpose of visiting our wagons, engaged in taking in forage. On the way back, they stopped at a house to take dinner, when they were surprised and captured by a party of rebels, who had been lying in ambush in the hope of cutting off

our wagons.

Major Sidney Willard then took command; and some days after, while on the march, our regiment in the rear was guarding the wagon-train, when they were attacked by a strong force of rebels with artillery, who evidently hoped to cut off the supply-train. We held our ground, protected the wagons, and ultimately drove off the enemy. In this affair, the Thirty-fifth Regiment, who bore the brunt, were under artillery-fire nearly four hours, and again behaved well, both officers and men. This being the major's first experience in action, his conduct was highly creditable, both for coolness and for good management.

Dec. 13 occurred the great battle at Fredericksburg. On this bloody day, our regiment fully acted up to its high reputation so early acquired. They were among the most advanced troops in position, and exposed to a deadly fire at short range; yet they held their ground after their ammunition was all expended, and did not retreat until their whole brigade was relieved by fresh troops, when they retired in good order, under the lead of Capt. Andrews of Company A; Major Sidney Willard having been mortally wounded during the heat of the conflict, while cheering on the men with the utmost gallantry. Lieut. Hill of Dedham was also killed while at the head of Company K. Our loss in killed and wounded was about sixty.

On the withdrawal of the whole army across the Rappahannock, the Thirtyfifth was the last regiment but one to leave Fredericksburg.

The regiment remained encamped at Falmouth until Feb. 9, when it was ordered to report at Newport News, which it reached on the 14th, and encamped. While here, Lieut.-Col. Carruth and Adjutant Wales, having been exchanged, returned to the regiment.

THE THIRTY-FIFTH AT VICKSBURG.

373

March 26, leaving Newport News, the regiment proceeded to Kentucky, via Baltimore, Pittsburg, and Cincinnati, and, on the 4th of April, encamped near Mount Sterling. About this time, Lieut.-Col. Carruth was promoted to the colonelcy, Col. Wild having been appointed brigadier-general.

The regiment was employed in this State in various duties until the 3d of June, when it proceeded under orders to Vicksburg, viâ Cairo and the Mississippi River. From Vicksburg it advanced on board transports up the Yazoo River to Haine's Bluff, where it disembarked, and encamped at Milldale, Miss., four miles distant.

On the 29th, the Thirty-fifth resumed its march. On the 6th of July, crossed the Black River; and on the 10th, in line of battle, became engaged as support of the Second Michigan, who were skirmishing. It was similarly engaged on the 12th and 13th, and, on the 14th, fell back to the extreme rear, to allow the men, who were much exhausted, to rest.

On the 16th, the Thirty-fifth was again engaged as skirmishers or supports until it entered Jackson, the capital; it being the first regiment to plant its colors inside the fortifications of that city. During these six days of skirmishing, the regiment took about a hundred and fifty prisoners.

On the 23d, it again reached the camp at Milldale, terminating as tedious a march as ever regiment participated in.

Aug. 6, embarking on board a transport, the Thirty-fifth returned to Covington, Ky., having been absent two months. Leaving here Aug. 18, the regiment was almost continually on the move until it reached Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 19. From this date until the close of the year, it was actively engaged in field-duty in Knoxville and vicinity.

In concluding his report of this regiment for the year 1863, the officer records,

Our experience during the past year has partaken largely of danger and trial. Though our number is decimated by contact with the enemy and disease, yet the remnant is in excellent spirits, able and willing to do a soldier's duty. It has been our fortune to face the enemy often, and as often has he felt our presence. The honor of Massachusetts is before us, and shall remain unsullied by any act of ours. Fully awake to the exigency for which we peril our lives, we press onward, always hoping for a speedy consummation of our object.

It has been our great misfortune to lose efficient and valuable officers. Our colonel, who commanded universal respect, fell under the severe ordeal of the