The story of the Thirty Eighth regiment of Massachusetts volunteers

by George Whitefield Powers

Nothing further transpired until the 6th of the month, when the paymaster arrived, and the division received four months’ pay, to its own satisfaction and to the great profit of the sutlers, who gathered as turkey-buzzards to a feast. With the exception of several reviews, for the gratification of travelling generals, the regiment remained in camp, sending out a picket every day, and drilling in the morning, until June 19, when it embarked on the steamer Starlight, and proceeded up the river as far as Fort Adams, in the State of Mississippi, the guerillas having made their appearance in that vicinity. This excursion was a pleasant one, the regiment bivouacking under the trees on the bank of the river during the day, and retiring on board the transport when the mosquitoes became troublesome at night. No enemy being discovered, the troops returned to Morganza on the 21st, and occupied their old camps.

From this time until the 1st of July, about all the volunteer labor performed by the men consisted in writing the two words “very hot” in their diaries, although there was some involuntary work, such as corps reviews, inspections, etc., with the thermometer up to 100° in the shade, and the sand blistering to the feet; while the picket had a nightly contest with the mosquitoes,—Louisiana mosquitoes, be it remembered. On the 1st of July, the Sixth Massachusetts Cavalry (formerly the Thirty First Infantry) passed by Morganza in a transport, on their way home on furlough, having re-enlisted; and the Thirty Eighth formed in line on the river-bank, and gave them a farewell cheer.

The camp as usual was full of rumors with regard to future movements; and one day the brigade would be going to Texas; then to New Orleans to do provost duty; then they were to be transformed into marines, and patrol the river on steamboats; again, Col. Ingraham had procured a “soft thing for the regiment in Washington.” On the 3d of June, however, the brigade, now increased by the addition of the One Hundred and Seventy Sixth New York, embarked on board of the City of Memphis, and the next day (July 4), landed at Algiers, and went into camp, where it remained until the 20th. On the march to Morganza, for some frivolous pretext, the brigade commander, who was disliked by the entire brigade, had put the lieutenant-colonel of the Thirty Eighth under arrest. The charges were investigated by a court-martial, and Lieut.-Col. Richardson was honorably acquitted and restored to his command. The entire absence, in this officer, of that pomp assumed by many of the Eastern officers, and which was seldom found in the Western regiments, together with his desire to make the duties of the rank and file as agreeable as was compatible with good discipline, and his superior military acquirements, had won the attachment of the regiment; and, upon his being restored to the command, the men procured a band, and serenaded him in his quarters, to which he replied in a neat speech.

The regiment remained at Algiers, trying to keep cool during the day, and fighting mosquitoes at night, until the 20th of July, when it took passage on the Karnack, with two companies of the Thirteenth Connecticut, and squads belonging to other regiments, and, bidding good-by to the Mississippi, was once more on the blue water. Fortunate was it for the Thirty Eighth that no storms disturbed the Atlantic during this passage, or their history would have had a sudden termination; for the vessel on which they embarked was old, and had been on the Florida reefs the previous voyage; the crew scarcely knew one rope from another, and their officers knew very little more; the troops were packed so close, above deck and below, that there was barely room to turn over; the cooks, even by working all night, could not supply the men with half rations; and there was no protection whatever from the sun or the rain.

CHAPTER XV.

Arrival at Fortress Monroe—Washington—Georgetown Heights—Monocacy Junction—Up and down the Valley of the Shenandoah—Battle of Opequan Creek.

ON the eighth day after crossing the bar off the Mississippi, the ship reached Fortress Monroe, where Lieut.-Colonel Richardson received orders to proceed to Washington immediately. Entering the Potomac, the men realized that they were no longer on Louisiana waters; the hills stretching up from the river, the hay and grain fields just reaped, and the scattering farm-houses, being in striking contrast to the low banks of the Mississippi, with its plantations, its negro cabins, its orange-trees, and its alligators.

The steamer came to anchor off Alexandria; and was subsequently towed up to a wharf in Washington, the regiment remaining on board till morning, when it landed and marched through the city to Georgetown Heights. While resting on the sidewalk in Pennsylvania Avenue, the regiment received a visit from Col. Ingraham, who appeared glad to see the boys, and who must have been struck with the great change in the appearance of his old command since he had last seen it.