Mississippi campaign; others, by unremitting service, sharing every duty, have been obliged to succumb. A few remain, whose iron constitutions seem proof against vicissitude. Retrospection brings its pleasant as well as disagreeable phases: short rations, long marches, sleepless nights, are, as it were, momentary pains. Many pleasant associations are often formed, which may last long after trials shall be forgotten.

Early in 1864, the Thirty-fifth, with other regiments was ordered from Tennessee to the Army of the Potomac.

March 21, the army corps left Knoxville, and arrived at Annapolis, Md., April 7. The Thirty-fifth was now made a part of the first brigade, first division, Ninth Corps; and on the 29th, after a laborious march via Washington and Warrenton Junction, it went into camp at Bealton Station, relieving a force of the Fifth Corps. Detached to guard the wagon-train of the division, the Thirty-fifth began its march from Bealton Station May 4; on the 5th, forded the Rapidan; and, on the 6th, was at the battle of the Wilderness. Says one of its officers,

This march, ending May 15 at the heights behind Fredericksburg, the very ground we had contended for in 1862, and giving us opportunity to revisit the historic fields of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville after having been favored spectators of the second day's fight at the Wilderness, and observers of what transpired in the rear at the great battle of Spottsylvania, was perhaps the most instructive performed by us up to that time.

On the 17th, the regiment rejoined the brigade, and, next day, participated in the second battle of Spottsylvania. It was also engaged in several of the succeeding battles of this campaign; e.g., North Anna, Shady Grove, Bethesda Church, and Cold Harbor. Crossed the James River June 15, and marched for Petersburg.

From June 21 to Aug. 15, encamped in the woods before Petersburg, within easy rifle-range of the enemy's works. Late in the evening of Aug. 15, the regiment, with the division under Gen. Julius White on the 19th, moved to the support of Gen. Warren on the Weldon Railroad. It here became engaged with the enemy just as the connection with Warren was effected.

The operations at the Weldon Railroad occurred near the end of a drenching rain-storm, which converted roads into sloughs, level fields into beds of soft mud, and wooded ravines into wet swamps. The rations (issued four days in advance) with which the men's haversacks were stuffed, were, in many instances, lost in

THE BATTLE OF FORT STEDMAN.

375

the bushes, or ruined by mud and water. The fighting was very severe, but the result most satisfactory. A sketch like this sug gests no conception of the discomforts and straits of such an expedition, unless to one who can summon his experience to the aid of his imagination.

Sept. 2, the first division having been broken up, the Thirtyfifth Regiment was assigned to the first brigade (Col. Curtin's), second division. About three hundred and seventy foreign substitutes, with a few American recruits, were now added to the regiment; so that it turned out more muskets than at any time since the battle at Antietam. On the 30th of September, at Poplar-spring Church, the division was suddenly attacked upon the right and rear, and driven from the field, the Thirty-fifth losing about a hundred and fifty prisoners.

Oct. 27, the regiment took part in the Hatcher-run reconnoissance, and, on the 28th, returned to Church Road. Nov. 27, the regiment encamped as support one-fourth of a mile in rear of Fort Sedgewick, within range of the enemy's picketfire. Here a log-house camp was built under direction of the colonel; and the men were better housed than at any time previous during the service.

March 7, 1865, the Thirty-fifth changed camp, relieving the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, of the same brigade, in the right and more exposed section of Fort Sedgewick. On the 25th of March occurred the battle of Fort Stedman, a mile to the right. This was followed by a constant round of shelling, standing to arms, and turning out at midnight prepared to move; very fatiguing, and costing the regiment some lives.

April 2, at gray dawn, in a thick haze, all the troops of the Ninth Corps, excepting the garrisons of the forts, were led to the assault of Fort Mahone, and the hostile lines to the right and left of the Jerusalem Plank-road. The assault was successful: a portion of the enemy's works was captured and held. Artillerymen from Fort Sedgewick dashed into a captured fort with their accoutrements and primers; and Col. Carruth immediately put his whole regiment to carrying ammunition for the battery and the infantry, which several of the company officers saw delivered at the new line. The men traversed the field several times while the contest still raged. Their bearing was witnessed by several officers who were impartial observers of the scene, and completely dispelled all doubts as to the courage and discipline of the foreigners. During the night, Petersburg was evacuated.

April 3, the Thirty-fifth marched with the brigade through Petersburg, band playing and colors flying. From the 4th to the 10th, the regiment was on the march to Farmville, when it received the news of Lee's surrender. It left for Washington on the 20th, and on the 23d, with the Army of the Potomac, passed in review before the President.

By orders from headquarters, foreigners and others whose terms of service would not expire before Oct. 1, 1865, were by their consent transferred with eleven officers to the Twentyninth Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, June 9. The remainder of the Thirty-fifth was mustered the same day for discharge. It left Washington for home on the 10th, was handsomely greeted and entertained at Providence on the 13th, and reached Readville, Mass., the same day, where the regiment staid until the 27th, when the men received their certificates of discharge.

CHAPTER XIX.

THIRTY-SIXTH, THIRTY-SEVENTH, AND THIRTY-EIGHTH

REGIMENTS.

The Thirty-sixth recruited in Worcester County. — In Virginia.

Ordered to the South

west. - Movements in Kentucky and Tennessee. In the Potomac Army. - The Return to Massachusetts. - The Thirty-seventh a Berkshire Regiment. — Marches to Virginia. - Efficient Services on the "Sacred Soil." — Gettysburg. - Petersburg. Home. Thirty-eighth Regiment leaves Lynnfield for Baltimore. Changes in Command. Sails for New Orleans. Port Hudson. - Death of Col. Redman. - Back to Virginia again. - Closing Scenes of Conflict.- Mustered out.

W

THE THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT

AS recruited in Worcester County; and left the State
Sept. 2, 1862, under command of Col. Henry Bowman.

Up to Oct. 29, the Thirty-sixth had not been engaged in any battle. On that day it left Lovettsville, Va., with the Army of the Potomac, and marched to Falmouth, arriving there on the 19th of November. One week of this time it was at Carter Bend. The supply-train having been cut off, two ears of corn per man was the daily portion received.

The regiment remained in Falmouth on picket-duty until the 12th of December, when it crossed the river. It was held in reserve on the bank of the river during the battle, and lost but two men, wounded by a shell. It recrossed on the 15th, and remained in Falmouth until Feb. 10, when it left for Newport News, where the Ninth Corps was encamped. At the end of six weeks, the first division, to which the Thirty-sixth belonged, was ordered West. It proceeded to Lexington via Baltimore, Parkersburg, and Cincinnati; and reached its destination March 29.

After one week in camp here, by special order of Gen. Burnside the regiment went to Cincinnati to guard the polls during the election of mayor. The regiment was then sent to Camp Dick Robinson, thirty miles from Lexington. For several weeks, the regiment was marching and camping at different points; nothing of interest transpiring, except the occasional pursuit of guerillas.

On the 1st of June, Col. Bowman was assigned to the command of a brigade, consisting of the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, Fortyfifth Pennsylvania, and Seventeenth and Twenty-seventh Michigan. On the 4th he received orders to march, and on the 7th embarked at Cairo for Vicksburg; arriving at Snyder's Bluff, on the Yazoo, June 17.

The campaign in Mississippi is officially described as follows:

The Ninth Corps took up a position near Milldale, ten miles in the rear of Vicksburg, in order to prevent Johnston from raising the siege.

Vicksburg fell July 4; and on the 5th we moved upon Johnston, who retreated to Jackson. The night of the 10th, we came up with his outposts, near Jackson, after marching sixty miles under a burning sun. The morning of the 11th, the first brigade advanced on the enemy. The Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, and Companies A and F of the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, being deployed as skirmishers in advance, drove him to his rifle-pits. Company F lost two men killed and six wounded. Occupied a position within range of the enemy till the 17th, losing five more men wounded; when the enemy evacuated Jackson. At noon of that day, the first division marched toward Canton, on the Mississippi Central Roads; where we arrived the night of the 18th, and tore up five miles of railroad track. Then marched back to Snyder's Bluff, about seventy miles, where we arrived the 23d.

This march was

shamefully managed, and fatal in its consequences to many of our men. Without rations, under a Mississippi sun, they marched till some dropped dead in the ranks, and nearly all fell out exhausted. Arrived at Milldale, nearly half the first division went into hospital. July 27, Col. Bowman was discharged, and, the 30th, Lieut.-Col. Norton. The 5th of August, under command of Major Goodell, the regiment embarked on the "Hiawatha" for Cairo.

The brigade arrived at Cincinnati on the 12th, crossed over to Covington, Ky., and went into barracks. As the effects of this Mississippi campaign, the regiment lost fifty men by death, and twice that number by discharge.

When, on the 10th of September, the Thirty-sixth left Kentucky for Tennessee, it numbered a hundred and ninety-eight guns out of nearly eight hundred enlisted men. On the 22d of September, the regiment had advanced as far as Morristown, Tenn.