The story of the Thirty Eighth regiment of Massachusetts volunteers

by George Whitefield Powers

CHAPTER I.

State of the country in the summer of 1862—Call for six hundred thousand volunteers—The Thirty Eighth rendezvous at Lynnfield and West Cambridge—Visit of Cos. A, B, and F, to the City of Cambridge—Departure of the Regiment from the State—Passage through Philadelphia—Arrival at Baltimore—Camp Belger.

THE Thirty Eighth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers was organized in the summer of 1862, under the call, issued on the 1st of July, for three hundred thousand men to serve for three years. For a better understanding of the circumstances under which it was raised, a brief glance will be taken at the state of the country, and the feeling of the great body of the people in regard to the war. From the very beginning of the struggle, it was felt that Virginia was to be the scene of the severest conflicts; and, consequently, the movements of the Army of the Potomac had attracted a large share of public interest. That army, after a series of desperate battles, and an almost incredible amount of hardships, baffled in its attempts to capture the rebel capital, was recruiting its strength at Harrison’s Landing. The Union arms had been successful at various points in the West; but the batteries of Vicksburg and of Port Hudson still kept the Mississippi sealed to the passage of national vessels. Charleston and Savannah and Mobile boastingly bade defiance to the combined efforts of army and navy; and the blockade-runners stole in and out between the ports of the Atlantic seaboard and foreign parts, supplying the enemy with the materials of war,—some of them performing their voyages with almost the regularity of packets. The Confederacy, notwithstanding its severe losses, elated at having checked a movement from which the North had anticipated so much, and their whole available resources, both of wealth and population, wielded by a few bold, determined leaders, looked confidently forward to the final success of their arms. Foreign powers talked of the Union as a thing of the past; and even in the North, there were not wanting those, who, by word and deed, gave countenance to the foes of the country, and discouraged every loyal effort.

But neither defeat, mismanagement, foreign jealousy, nor domestic treason, caused the President to swerve from his determination to restore the supremacy of the government over the whole country. Availing himself of the power granted him by the Constitution and by Congress, he had called three hundred thousand volunteers into the field for three years; and, while each State was using all its energies in raising its quota, a new call was issued on the 4th of August for three hundred thousand volunteers for nine months. In Massachusetts, it seemed at first impossible to raise this additional force without resorting to a draft. But the towns vied with each other in filling their quotas. Public meetings were held; processions, with banners, and bands of music, paraded the streets; patriotic songs were sung in the churches, and stirring appeals made from the pulpit; and liberal promises were made to care for friends left behind.

The young men of Massachusetts responded promptly to the calls upon their patriotism. Leaving their counting-rooms, workshops, and studies,—with professions and trades half-learned, and business prospects broken up,—they went into the ranks, to undergo the hardships of a soldier’s life, and submit themselves to an unaccustomed and often irksome discipline.

Before the end of the year, Massachusetts had put twenty-one new regiments of infantry and several batteries into the field, beside sending a large number of recruits into all the old organizations. Among these regiments was the Thirty Eighth. Without claiming undue merit for the motives or the deeds of the members of this regiment, or exalting them at the expense of other troops, it may be said that few of them enlisted without making pecuniary sacrifices to a greater or less extent; and the local bounty of a hundred dollars did little more than provide them a comfortable outfit, and purchase the numerous articles then considered necessary for a soldier’s comfort.

The men composing the Thirty Eighth were gathered from various towns and counties; and the majority of them were brought together for the first time upon their arrival at camp. Seven of the companies rendezvoused at Camp Stanton, Lynnfield, and three (Cambridge companies) at Camp Day, in North Cambridge. Owing to this division of the regiment, a little confusion existed at first in regard to the letters by which the several companies should be designated; but this matter was amicably settled upon the arrival of the regiment at Baltimore; and, in speaking of the companies in this sketch, the letters by which they were finally known will be used entirely.

Co. A was raised in Cambridgeport; Co. B, principally in East Cambridge; Co. C, in Abington; Co. D, in various towns in Plymouth County; Co. E, in Lynn; Co. F, in Cambridgeport; Co. G, in various parts of Plymouth County; Co. H, in New Bedford and Falmouth; Co. I, in Milton, Dedham, Medway, Wrentham, and other places; and Co. K represented as many as fifteen cities and towns. In nearly all the companies there were men who belonged in places not mentioned here, as will be seen by the roster appended to this sketch. Although the regiment was thus collected from various localities, harmony always prevailed. Common dangers, common sufferings, and common triumphs, drew the members more closely together as the numbers decreased; and, when the final disbandment came, all separated with the most friendly feelings.