The story of the Thirty Eighth regiment of Massachusetts volunteers

by George Whitefield Powers

Co. F marched up the next day. Before leaving Camp Belger, this company was visited by some Union ladies from Baltimore, who regaled them with roast meat, peaches, tomatoes, and biscuits.

The new camp, called Camp Cram, was about seven miles from Baltimore, near the village of Powhattan, and in a position to guard the Liberty turnpike. The rebels were then threatening Maryland with a large force; and strict orders were issued regarding vigilance on guard and picket, and the importance of keeping a sharp look-out for spies. One day, a vigilant sentinel seized a suspicious-looking personage, and brought him to the officer of the guard. He proved to be a Baltimore clergyman, and preached to the regiment the following Sunday.

The tents were pitched on a rising ground, shaded by large trees. In front of the camp, the ground sloped down to the Powhattan Creek; and the battalion drills up and down this declivity developed the muscles of the men, who were then little aware of the need they should have of good, stout limbs to carry them through the pine woods of Louisiana.

The regiment having no chaplain, religious services were performed on the Sabbath by Col. Ingraham, according to the Episcopal usage; and social religious meetings were conducted by Private Mudge, of Co. E. The Sabbath services were attended by citizens from the surrounding country, and they usually stopped to see the parade. Some of the companies had not been furnished with uniform pants in Massachusetts, and as it was a good while before any could be procured, it may be imagined that these necessary articles of apparel began to show signs of wear, and it required some manœuvring on the part of line officers to get presentable men in the front rank. Any other view of the regiment on one of these parades might not have added to its reputation. When the new pants arrived, they were received with a round of cheers.

A thorough system of drills began at Camp Cram,—squad, company, battalion, and skirmish; and, at the close of those warm October days, the arbitrary “taps” fell on willing ears. The skirmish drills were conducted by Lieut.-Col. Wardwell, and were a relief to the monotony of the battalion and company drill.

The subject of a band had been agitated in the regiment from the time of their first going into camp; and measures had been taken to procure instruments. They were received during the last week in September, and the band made their first appearance on parade, Saturday, Sept. 27. This attraction drew an increased number of visitors from the surrounding country, especially on the Sabbath; and the camp was enlivened by the presence of country dames, in their holiday attire, who, during the week, had done a thriving business in selling pies and apple-butter to the soldiers. Co. K, in the meantime, having performed the duty required of them very acceptably, had returned to the regiment, with an improvement in drill which caused increased emulation among the other companies, and raised the standard of military acquirements still higher in the command.

While the Thirty Eighth were thus acquiring proficiency in drill, and inuring themselves to life in the open air, stirring scenes were being enacted within cannon sound. The distant boom of the guns at Antietam were heard in camp; and orders were looked for every day, which would send the regiment to the front. One gallant Massachusetts regiment (the Thirty Fifth), that had left the State but a few days previous to the Thirty Eighth, had already been in the thick of the fight, and had lost heavily.

In a few weeks, the tide of war again rolled northwards, and the troops of Stonewall threatened Pennsylvania. On the 11th of October, the Thirty Eighth received orders to be ready to move the next day. Tired of the monotony of camp-life, the news was received joyously; and the camp rang with the shouts of those to whom the unknown perils of the battle-field had a strange fascination. Far into the night, busy hands were at work packing knapsacks; and many an article which kind but inexperienced friends at home had considered indispensable to their soldier-boy’s comfort was left behind.

Early Sunday morning, Oct. 12, the regiment broke camp, and began the march toward Baltimore. No one would have recognized this body of drilled soldiers, with neatly packed knapsacks, marching with steady step and closed ranks, as the procession of awkward recruits who passed through the same streets less than six weeks previously; and in after times, when disease and battle had reduced them to a remnant, the survivors of the column looked sadly back in memory upon that October morning, when the long line followed its commander over the Maryland hills.

Marching through the city of Baltimore, the regiment took the cars for Chambersburg, but had not proceeded a mile, when the orders were countermanded, the train called back, and the troops disembarked. Quarters were procured in the machine-shops for the night; and the next morning, after breakfasting at the Union Relief Rooms, the regiment marched to Camp Emory, on the outskirts of the city, on property owned by the relatives of Charles Carroll, of Revolutionary fame. The One Hundred and Twenty Eighth New York had been encamped on a part of the ground, but had gone to Chambersburg, leaving a lofty flagstaff and a pile of boards for tent-floors, both of which were appropriated at once by the Thirty Eighth; but upon the return of the former regiment, the flagstaff was returned, and a loftier one procured, which was afterwards transferred to the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York.