“Headquarters Company B, 42d Mass. Vols.,
“Great Falls, Md., October 19th, 1864.
“Colonel,—I received your dispatch of the eighteenth, for which I am very grateful. My company is small, and what men I have are getting sick very fast, so that I have not men enough to carry out your advice. However, I will do the best I can, and shall not leave here until I know what I leave for. There are several of my company still in Alexandria, whom I wish could be sent to me. Would like to have General Slough informed of my situation.
“Very respectfully yours, “B. C. TINKHAM, “Captain commanding post.”
The enemy began to make trouble immediately after the three companies left. Guerrillas would stop canal boats, untie the horses and make off with them, until this nuisance was partly abated by the use of old, worn-out mules that did not present such temptation. The canal traffic was seriously interrupted, and caused Captain Tinkham to picket the canal for two miles, until ordered back to his regiment October 28th. Pennsylvania troops relieved Company B, and a short time after were attacked by the enemy.
Cases for discipline in September were as follows: 1st—Private Martin Monighan, Company E, for firing his musket without permission, was sentenced to carry a forty-pound log of wood tied to his back for a stated number of hours each day for three days. 17th—Corporal Pond, Company B, and three privates on duty with him in Alexandria, were sent to that city, by orders from General Slough, to serve sentences for neglect of duty. 27th—Private Elisha Atwood, Company A, was sent to Alexandria for confinement in the slave pen, for neglect of duty. 30th—Corporal William Bacon, Company A, was reduced to the ranks for intoxication, by regimental Special Orders No. 78.
This is not a bad record for a raw regiment of short-term men. A practice had been in vogue for captains to assume the power to order punishment of men in their companies guilty of trifling indiscretions. Captain French was noted for this stretch of power. This was stopped by the colonel on assuming command. He maintained that no man should be punished without a hearing.
Details in September were as follows:
On detached service at headquarters military governor: 6th—Private Sidney W. Knowles, Company C, clerk. 20th—Corporal John Stetson, Jr., Company K, clerk.—Private Herbert W. Fay, Company F, clerk.—Private Edward S. Averill, Company B, clerk. 22d—Private Frederick A. Clark, Company K, clerk.—Private Christopher F. Snelling, Company K, clerk.
On detached service at general court-martial rooms in Alexandria: 1st—Private Ansel F. Temple, Company I, clerk. 13th—Private Davis W. Howard, Company I, clerk.—Private Edward L. Harvey, Company B, clerk.—Private Benjamin W. Kenyon, Company E, clerk.—Private James L. Martin, Company C, clerk.—Private Arthur E. Hotchkiss, Company B, clerk.—Private William L. Gage, Company I, clerk.—Private George E. Sparr, Company H, orderly. 14th—Private Charles Curtis, Company D, clerk.
On detailed duty with the regiment: 7th—Corporal James L. Prouty, Company D, clerk at headquarters. 14th—Privates W. F. Adams, W. H. S. Ritchie, George E. Buttrick, of Company A, were placed on permanent guard at the reservoir, relieving Privates Edgerton, Heathcote and Andrews, of Company G. 16th—Private George L. Simpson, Company F, hospital attendant. 21st—Private George W. Brooks, Company K, hospital attendant. 24th—Private Albert S. Barpee, Company E, hospital attendant. 29th—Private Ezra K. Garvin, Company F, with quartermaster.