Saturday (30th), the regiment remained in the rear; and many were made glad by receiving letters from home, brought by Mr. Stacy Read, of Cambridge, who had come from Massachusetts to make inquiries into the situation of the various regiments from the State. At the same time, Maj. Richardson returned to the regiment, although not having recovered from the severe illness with which he had been suffering.
The Thirty Eighth was not allowed to remain long in the rear. As soon as the approach of night shrouded the movement from the foe, the line was formed in the edge of the woods; and, cautiously marching past the batteries, taking especial care that no loose dipper should notify the enemy of an approach, the regiment passed unharmed over the road where it had met with such a hot reception, and took its old position in the ravines. This time, the blankets and shelter-tents were taken; and they were arranged so as to afford some protection from the rays of the sun. Upon entering the woods on the morning of the assault, the knapsacks had been left in charge of a guard, and the men had gone into the fight with no incumbrance but their haversacks and canteens; and thus for three days they remained in the ravines in front of the works, with no shelter from the sun or rain.
The rations were cooked in the woods; and volunteers went from the quarters, and carried them to the several companies. While doing this, they were exposed to the fire of sharpshooters from behind the works, who had obtained a complete range of the road travelled by the ration-bearers, and who never failed to send their compliments, when they saw the coffee and meat on its way to the ravines; and in this way one member of the regiment was killed, and one wounded.
Not knowing at what moment the enemy might sally out from his works, and attempt to force his way through the lines, and thus escape an inevitable surrender from want of food, the troops in the ravines were obliged to exercise strict vigilance, especially during the night. Pickets were thrown out on the road, and one-half of the regiment kept awake while the other slept, all with their equipments on, and with loaded rifles by their side, ready for battle at the first note of alarm; but the rebels, either doubting the practicability of a successful attack upon the Union lines, or waiting for outside assistance from Johnson, remained in their works, contenting themselves with sending a few shells and shot occasionally over the heads of the troops in the ravines. One rebel gun, the “Lady Davis,” was particularly active in this work, and generally sent a few of her noisy messengers in the vicinity of the Thirty Eighth every evening.
CHAPTER VIII.
Relieved—March to Clinton—Great Heat—Deserting a Plantation—Return to Port Hudson—Assault on the 14th of June—Heavy Loss in the Thirty Eighth.
WHEN the regiment went to the front the second time, the men expected to be relieved in twenty-four hours; but the fourth day found them still there. On the evening of that day, they were relieved, and enjoyed another day’s rest in the woods. What followed may be learned from the following extract from a letter:—
“Saturday, June 6th, 5 P. M.—We are now out of the din of battle which surrounds Port Hudson, and went to sleep last night, for the first time in twelve days, without the accompaniment of cannon and musketry. It appears that the rebels have been collecting a force at Clinton, about twenty or thirty miles from Port Hudson, and have recently defeated a portion of our cavalry, compelling them to retreat; and there was danger of our supply-trains being captured. In consequence of this, a force has been sent out, under command of Gen. Paine, to drive them off, or give them battle if they stand. We started early Friday morning; but several of the regiments took the wrong road, and we had to wait until they retraced their steps, and caught up with us. At noon, we halted for an hour or so, and then resumed our march; but, while we had been laying in front of Port Hudson, the sun had been climbing up in the heavens, and it was found that we could not march as we had done. Men began to fall, all through the line; and the hospital stretchers were soon filled with them, panting for breath. The whole force was at once taken into the woods, where it remained until six o’clock in the evening, when the march was resumed, and kept up till nine o’clock.... We started at six this morning, and marched till eleven, and have been in the shade since, near a swift-running bayou, which affords an excellent opportunity for bathing.”