Here, as proper in point of time, I desire to chronicle a fact highly creditable to the regiment, and refutive of slander in newspaper columns against nine-months' troops in reference to their discontent in the matter of determining the date of the expiration of their term of service. The nine months of service, reckoning from the date of their muster into service of five of the companies of the Forty-sixth Regiment, expired on the 25th day of June. It had been decided at the War Department that the term must be reckoned from the day of muster-in of the last or tenth company. This rule lengthened the term of service of five of the companies nearly five weeks, of four others two weeks, and also materially lengthened the terms of several other of the nine-months' regiments.

Gen. Foster being apprised of this, and understanding that it was considered unfair by some of the men of the various regiments affected, issued a circular, stating that, " in order that no ground of complaint or dissatisfaction might exist, any company of any regiment that should make a request therefor through its captain, and approved by its colonel, should be sent home in season to be mustered out at the expiration of nine months from the day of its muster-in," irrespective of the day of muster-in of any other company. This offer, to men longing for home, and home friends (many sick, and all weary and worn, the most unhealthy season of the year upon them, a decimating epidemic raging in their midst), was tempting; but I am proud to say that Massachusetts was not disgraced by its acceptance: the offer was declined.

At this period of the history of the regiment, Col. Frankle commenced at Newbern to recruit his regiment of heavy artillery (Second Massachusetts); and something over one hundred of the Forty-sixth re-enlisted under his command. At midnight of the 23d of June, orders were received for the regiment to prepare to embark at four hours' notice, with necessary equipage only, for Fortress Monroe, there to report to Gen. Foster, who had already gone on; or, in his absence, to Gen. Prince; and, in the absence of both, to report by telegram to Gen. Halleck at Washington for orders. The Pennsylvania raid of Gen. Lee having been commenced, and Gen. Dix being engaged in a demonstration on Richmond by way of the Pamunkey River, the destination of the Forty-sixth was to join him. But it was ascertained that he did not desire troops whose term of service had so nearly expired, and Gen. Naglee proposed that the regiments volunteer for service in Pennsylvania during the emergency. The suggestion was adopted; and the Forty-sixth, Fifty-first, and Eighth Massachusetts were ordered to report to Gen. Schenck at Baltimore. Arriving July 1, they were assigned to the brigade of Gen E. B. Tyler, and stationed at Camp Bradford.

July 6, the Forty-sixth was attached to a brigade under com

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mand of Gen. H. S. Briggs, and ordered to report to Gen. French at Frederick, Md. It was sent thence to Maryland Heights, where it arrived July 7, and remained until July 11, when, with the rest of the brigade, it was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac at Funkstown, and was attached to the First Corps. The Forty-sixth continued with the First Corps until the morning of the day that the army crossed the river at Berlin; when, while on the march, orders unexpectedly came for it to immediately proceed by the shortest route to the place of general rendezvous of regiments in Massachusetts, its term having expired, there to be mustered out of the service. Within fifty miles of the river, the regiment filed out of the column, and its campaigning was

over.

Proceeding by the shortest route, viâ Baltimore and New York, it reached Springfield on the morning of the 21st of July; and the regiment was furloughed for one week, to give time for the preparation of the muster-rolls; at the expiration of which the regiment assembled at Hampden Park, in Springfield, and was duly mustered out of service by Capt. Gardner, United-States mustering-officer.

FORTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.

The Forty-seventh Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers was recruited chiefly by Lucius B. Marsh, Esq., a well-known Boston merchant. It received marching-orders at Camp Meigs, Readville, Nov. 29, 1862; proceeded to New York, and took shipping for New Orleans. Its officers were,

The Forty-seventh, with other regiments and Gen. Banks's staff, nearly two thousand persons in all, embarked on board the steamship "Mississippi" Dec. 21, and sailed from New-York Harbor next day. The colonel was military commandant. We quote Col. Marsh's report, omitting unimportant particulars :

After a very pleasant voyage of eight days, we arrived at Ship Island, and immediately sailed for New Orleans. Arrived there the evening of the thirty.

first day of December, and reported to Gen. Banks the morning of the 1st of January, 1863. The command was then referred to Gen. Auger, who gave verbal orders to proceed to Carrollton, and report to Gen. T. W. Sherman. We arrived the evening of the same day, and the next morning reported in accordance with orders; disembarked, and went into camp at Carrollton, Jan. 2. The colonel was in command of this camp (Camp Kearney). The regiment was ordered, Jan. 11, to proceed to the United-States barracks; and immediately marched there, a distance of thirteen miles, and were hospitably received by Lieut.-Col. Bullock, who, with the Thirtieth Massachusetts Volunteers, was stationed at the barracks. The regiment received orders, Jan. 12, to move to the Louisiana Lower Cotton Press; and arrived there the afternoon of the same day, a distance of about three and a half miles.

Jan. 14, received orders to relieve the Thirtieth Massachusetts Regiment at the United-States barracks; and we took possession of them the same day. The colonel was put in command of the post. The place was of some importance, being in command of the lower part of the city. A company was detailed by Gen. Banks as guard for commissary and ordnance stores, reporting daily; and did not join the regiment until it was ordered home.

Feb. 4, the regiment moved in obedience to orders to the Louisiana Cotton Press. Company E was detached for provost-duty at Thibodeaux. On representation of the colonel, to the commanding general, of the legal and military ability of Lieut.-Col. Stickney and Major Austin S. Cushman, they were detailed for special duty. Lieut.-Col. Stickney, who was most of the time in active service in the field, was for a time in command of the United-States forces at Brashear City, and distinguished himself in two engagements at Thibodeaux on the 20th and 21st of June, completely routing the enemy, whose forces greatly outnumbered his command. His loss was ten killed, and forty wounded; that of the enemy, above four hundred killed and wounded. Major Austin S. Cushman had an important position upon the Sequestration Committee, where his legal ability and business qualifica tion made him eminently useful to the Government.

March 12, the regiment was ordered to the Metarie Race-course; a delightful spot to look upon, but considered one of the most unhealthy in all the South. It is four miles from the Mississippi, and three from Lake Pontchartrain, and is regarded as the strategic point of the city.

The colonel was in command of this post. Here the Forty-seventh gained a most excellent reputation for discipline and drill. Companies D and H were twice across Lake Pontchartrain, and were successful in capturing a steamboat and schooner, also a large amount of cotton, &c. Having remained at this post ten weeks, and all the time without a guard to keep the men inside the lines, and using its guard for its protection from without and for pickets, it was, on the 19th of May, ordered to Camp Parapet; the colonel to relieve Gen. Dorr, and take command of the United-States forces at that place and the defencs.

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The colonel recruited a company of colored men to be used in the swamps, which became the nucleus of the Second Regiment Engineers, which was nearly full when the Forty-seventh returned home. This regiment was largely officered by members of the Forty-seventh. There was at this post a large contraband camp. The lines of defence were about thirty miles. The immediate defences consisted of the parapet, two and a half miles long, situated on the east side of the river, running from the Mississippi to the swamps and Lake Pontchartrain; and, on the west side of the river, Fort Banks, and a canal and a military road to be guarded and scouted, a distance of twelve to seventeen miles, through the swamps to the lake. This important post was held under peculiar circumstances during the siege of Port Hudson. As there were six hospitals belonging to the different regiments represented above, the services of Drs. Blackmer and Mercer cannot be too highly spoken of; also that of the chaplain, the Rev. E. W. Clark, who was constantly with the regiment and with the command at this post, doing what he could for the moral and religious welfare of the officers and men. He devoted himself to the sick in the different hospitals, encouraging the men by act and word with all the kindness and affection of a true minister of our holy religion; receiving the last words and writing letters to friends, which, to dying soldiers, was a cordial to their fainting spirits. Deaths here were of daily occurrence; and sometimes he was called upon to officiate several times on the same day, committing the bodies of the noble Northern boys to sleep in the soil of the sunny South. All soldiers connected with the Forty-seventh, or under the command of its colonel, received at their decease a Christian burial. The regiment was ordered home on the third day of August, and sailed in the steamer "Continental," Aug. 5, from Carrollton. Arrived at Cairo Aug. 13. Proceeded to Boston by rail: arrived on the morning of the 18th, and received a most gratifying reception by the city of Boston, with a warm welcome by his Honor the Mayor. The regiment was furloughed for thirteen days, and was mustered out of service at Readville, Sept. 1, by Capt. Brown. The regiment lost by death, during its absence, twenty-three, and left fortyseven at New Orleans who were thought to be unable to come by land. One of them died: the others came home safely. The regiment had about one hundred and ten officers and men detailed on special service most of the time, and filled some of the most important and useful positions in connection with the department. Quite a number have became officers in the Corps d'Afrique.

FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

The Forty-eighth Regiment was intended originally to be an Essex-County regiment; and eight companies were raised for it in that county, and were sent to Camp Lander, Wenham: but, before it was completed, an urgent call was made to forward the troops intended for the Banks Expedition.

Some five hundred men for an Irish regiment had been recruited at Camp Joe Hooker. These men were ordered to join the Forty-eighth, and fill it up; and two companies were detached from the Forty-eighth, and attached to the Fourth, thus completing the organization of the Fourth and Forty-eighth. This arrangement was made that the Irish recruits might serve in the same regiment. Through the unmilitary conduct of some of the officers in the Irish companies, dissatisfaction was created, and many of the men deserted; but enough were held to complete the regiment. Mr. O'Brien, a brave and patriotic gentleman, was elected lieutenant-colonel. The officers who created the dissatisfaction were dishonorably dismissed the service. This will account for the many desertions which appear on the rolls of this regiment. Most all of them took place before the regiment left the State. Its officers were as follows:

This regiment left Camp Meigs, to take shipping for New OrOrleans, Dec. 27, 1862. It embarked on board "The Constellation" at New York, and sailed Jan. 4, 1863. After a detention at Fortress Monroe of seven days, it reached New Orleans Feb. 1, and, on the 3d, was sent to Baton Rouge as part of the first brigade, first division, Major-Gen. Augur commanding. March 13, the Forty-eighth took part in an important reconnoissance towards Port Hudson. Proceeding by transports to Springfield Landing, the troops disembarked under cover of the guns of a portion of Commodore Farragut's fleet; waded from the landing to the bluff through water waist-deep; formed upon the bluff; marched to the junction of Springfield Landing and Bayou Sara Roads, and returned to Baton Rouge. The expedition was successfully accomplished. The next day, the regiment formed the rear-guard of a baggage-train; the whole Nineteenth Corps having marched towards Port Hudson to make a diversion while Commodore Farragut attempted to pass a portion of his fleet above the batteries. This passage was effected by "The Albatross" and "The Hartford," and the army was withdrawn for a few days, encamping at Montecino Bayou.