The story of the Thirty Eighth regiment of Massachusetts volunteers

by George Whitefield Powers

SAVANNAH had changed essentially within the past two months. By the surrender of Lee and Johnston, all hopes of establishing Southern independence were at an end; and the people were evidently about to submit quietly, and make the best of their situation. The streets swarmed with paroled rebels; and the gold stripes and fine uniforms of the Union staff-officers had no attractions in the eyes of the ladies, compared with the simple gray jackets of those they had sent into the field, and whom they now warmly welcomed home, notwithstanding the failure of their arms. The tenacity with which the females of the Southern States clung to their cause, and the great sacrifices which they made for it, could not but win the respect of those who witnessed it; and seldom did a Union soldier, no matter what might be the provocation, treat them with other than the most respectful courtesy. But no such feelings were felt for the clergy, who were equally devoted to the rebel cause. Preachers of the gospel of peace, they had been foremost in fomenting the rebellion; they had never lifted their voices against the cruelties of the prisons,—which exceeded those of Morocco in her worst days,—or tried in the least to soften the barbarities of war; and now, when all hope of Southern success was at an end, and resistance to the government, either active or passive, a crime, they yielded a sullen submission, or opposed a petty resistance to the acts of the military rulers. And it is a strange fact, that, even in the Northern pulpit, the demands for vengeance against the military leaders of the Confederacy were greater than any that proceeded from the army; and more than one minister advocated the breaking of the agreement on the faith of which Lee surrendered to Gen. Grant,—a proceeding which would have been looked upon with disgust by every soldier in the army, as much as they detested Lee and his treason. As the Thirty Eighth Regiment never had the services of a chaplain, even to give their dead comrades a Christian burial, perhaps they were not properly instructed.

Not only in the appearance and sentiments of the citizens had a change taken place in Savannah; but the city itself had greatly improved under the auspices of Gen. Grover, and it had become one of the most desirable places in which to do garrison duty in the South. Time hung heavily, however, on the hands of the men of the Thirty Eighth. The war was over; the object for which they had volunteered was accomplished; and now they wished to lay aside their uniforms, and resume their citizenship. Beside, every mail from the North brought accounts of the mustering out of troops, and of the reduction of the army.

On the 11th of May, the second brigade and the Twenty Fourth Iowa and the One Hundred and Twenty Eighth New York broke camp, to march to Augusta, leaving the remaining regiments of the third brigade to do the light picket-duty, which was now merely nominal, and which was kept up chiefly to prevent an illicit trade between the city and the country before proper regulations were established.

The appearance and habits of the country people, who daily passed out and in the lines, were amusing to men who had been accustomed to the New England way of doing things. Some of them came thirty miles to market, with a dozen or two of eggs, a pair of chickens, and a few vegetables. It took them one day to come, another to do their business, and a third to return. And then such vehicles were never seen north of Mason and Dixon’s line. The women generally accompanied their husbands, and rode on the mule attached to the wagon, with a snuff-stick or a pipe in their mouth. Sometimes, on reaching the picket-fire, they would take the snuff-stick out, and get one of the pickets to light their pipe; and, if reports were true, when the pipe went out, a quid of tobacco would take its place. This custom of snuff-dipping appeared to be practised chiefly in Georgia and North Carolina,—in the latter State, ladies of intelligence and refinement indulging in the habit: it was not observed in Louisiana.

Little occurred during the remainder of the stay in Savannah to break the monotony of camp-life, or which is deserving of record. The regiment daily looked for orders which would send them home, and all the conversation and thought of the men turned to that theme. On the 16th, Jeff. Davis passed down the river, on the way to Hilton Head. A portion of the Sixth U. S. Regulars arrived on the 21st, and quartered in the town,—all branches of the service being now represented, regulars, volunteers, and colored troops. The dress-parades of the latter were attended by almost the entire colored population, who, upon the close of the parade, swarmed through the principal avenues, monopolizing the sidewalks, to the annoyance of the white citizens, and the amusement of the soldiers.

Thursday, June 1, Cos. C and G, under command of Capt. Bennett, started for Darien, Ga., with twenty days’ rations; and the regiment gave up all hope of getting home before their full time was served. The picket was taken off on the 2d, and restrictions to trade removed; and the only duty to be done consisted in furnishing a few guards to watch the breastworks.

The re-enlisted regiments of the first division of the Nineteenth Corps began to arrive in Savannah on the 5th of June, for the purpose of relieving those troops whose time would expire before the 1st of November; and the hopes of getting home in a few days arose again. On the 7th, the first brigade reached the city from Augusta; and, on the 9th, the Twenty Fourth Iowa, and the One Hundred and Fifty Sixth, the One Hundred and Seventy Fifth, and One Hundred and Seventy Sixth New York began the march for that place.

Time had never passed so slowly with the regiment before, as during this month of June, when there was nothing to do but to talk of home all the long summer-day. Some tried to pass the time in picking blackberries; some in manufacturing bone rings, corps badges, and other trinkets; while others, and in the afternoon this class included nearly the whole regiment, sought refuge in sleep. The occasional arrival of a mail brought a little change; but then the letters and papers were all filled with accounts of the return home of regiments, and with the anxiety with which friends awaited the Thirty Eighth. Attempts were made to excite an interest in drilling; but it was up-hill work, and officers and men alike soon tired of it.

Orders, at last, came from department head-quarters to muster out the regiment; and on the 9th, the officers began to work on a few copies of blank rolls that had been received; but Cos C and G were still absent, and delegations from the camp hourly visited the wharves, and closely scanned every approaching steamer, to be the first to herald their arrival. The first question upon awaking in the morning was, “Have C and G got back yet?” At length, the well known beat of drummer Howe was heard in the camp, and the men rushed out of their tents to greet their comrades, who were never so welcome before. Major Allen, who had been acting as provost marshal at Augusta, joined the regiment the same day, and other detailed men were returned to their commands.