The story of the Thirty Eighth regiment of Massachusetts volunteers

by George Whitefield Powers

Thanksgiving Day found the regiment still at anchor, waiting. The men went on shore in the morning, and had the liberty of the beach and of the sutlers’ stores until afternoon. Many had received “boxes” from home; and turkeys and puddings graced impromptu tables, spread on the beach, the fresh sea-breeze giving a flavor superior to any gravy. Those whose boxes did not arrive in time picked up a dinner in private houses, saloons, and at the counters of the sutlers, who were liberally patronized, and who long remembered the Thirty Eighth.

At length, the “horses came on board,” and the signs of departure seemed to multiply. Lieut.-Col. Wardwell resigned before the regiment left Fortress Monroe; and his resignation was accepted, to take effect from Dec. 3. Major Rodman succeeded to the vacant lieutenant-colonelcy, to date from Dec. 4; and Capt. Richardson, of Co. A, was promoted major. The two companies of the One Hundred and Thirty First had been transferred to another ship, and the Thirty Eighth had the Baltic to themselves.

CHAPTER III.

Departure from Fortress Monroe—Sea-voyage—Arrival at Ship Island—Christmas Day—Embark for New Orleans—Up the Mississippi—Land at Carrollton—Camp Kearney—Col. Ingraham in command of Brigade—Plaquemine Expedition—Unpleasant Duty—Break Camp, preparatory to taking the Field.

THURSDAY morning, Dec. 8, everything was astir in Hampton Roads. Important little tug-boats sputtered and whistled; quartermasters’ boats brought off their last supplies of fresh bread and meat; and tardy officers joined their regiments. About nine o’clock, A. M., the Atlantic weighed anchor, and led the way to sea, followed, at intervals, by the Ericcsson, the Spaulding, the Arago, the Pocahontas, and others of the fleet. Slowly steaming between Fortress Monroe and the Rips Raps, their decks covered with troops, and their flags blowing out clear in the fresh breeze, the ships presented a fine sight. About four o’clock, the Baltic weighed anchor, and followed the fleet, the gun-boat Augusta bringing up the rear, as convoy. Of course, the destination was the great theme, and rumors flew thick and fast, but nothing definite was learned.

The weather was very beautiful; and the men thronged the deck, reading, writing, and watching the movements of the strange fishes and birds which occasionally made their appearance. There was comparatively little sea-sickness, and the general health of the regiment was good. The cooking facilities were poor. The galley, in which coffee was boiled, and salt-beef cooked for a thousand men, was of the smallest proportions; and those who went through that voyage have a vivid remembrance of “big Charlie” bending over the meat-boiler. Notwithstanding the inconveniences, there was little grumbling; and the division commander expressed himself well pleased at the orderly conduct of the men. Charleston, Pensacola, and Mobile were passed, and still the ship kept on her course. At length, the appearance of a large fleet, hovering around a low island, told that the destination was reached. The place of rendezvous proved to be Ship Island, much to the disgust of the regiment, who had conceived a strong dislike against this place. In truth, it looked as if a large wave might wash the whole concern, with its military storehouses and fort, into the Gulf of Mexico. Here it was learned that New Orleans was the destination; and, as the Baltic drew too much water to cross the bar off the mouth of the Mississippi, the Thirty Eighth had to land on the island, and await the return of some of the lighter draft transports. Part of the regiment disembarked on the evening of the 13th, and the remainder followed the next day; glad enough to be once more on terra firma, if this sand-bank could be so denominated. Although near midwinter, the temperature was mild; and the beach was soon covered with bathers, enjoying the luxury of a good plunge in the water after such a long sea-service. There was no chance to be dirty while here. Tin dippers and plates shone with a lustre that would have excited the admiration of a Knickerbocker housewife; and the muskets were bright and polished. The sand was everywhere, and must have assisted the stomach wonderfully in digesting the antediluvian hard-tack occasionally issued.

There was a good deal of fatigue work to do here, unloading stores, and transporting ammunition; and even the drilling through the sand was unusually fatiguing. At this time, there was a number of political prisoners on the island, rendering service to the government, and strengthening their own muscles, by pounding stones. Some of them had been prominent citizens in New Orleans, and had been banished to this place, by order of Gen. Butler, for acts of disloyalty to the Union. The soldiers of the Thirty Eighth looked upon these persons as “the right men in the right place,” and cordially endorsed the policy of “Old Ben.”

A number of the larger transports had been unable to cross the bar; and the island was dotted with canvas villages. Drilling was resumed by the various regiments, and prosecuted vigorously, although the marching in the sand was fatiguing. Christmas was now near at hand. On the evening of the 23d, after brigade drill, the colonel addressed the regiment briefly, stating that they would probably spend Christmas there, and that he wished them to enjoy the day as well as they could under the circumstances. The camp was to be given up to the regiment from ten o’clock, A. M., till “tattoo;” they were to elect their own field, staff, and line officers; make their own camp-regulations, and hold the regimental officers to a strict observance of them, punishing any violation of them with confinement in the guard-house. The men entered into the proposal with spirit. Committees were appointed from the different companies, line officers elected; and the camp scoured for materials with which to get up a mock parade. Santa Claus did not make his appearance. The jolly old saint, in his fur cap, would have been sadly out of place in that sunny clime. One poor fellow, in a fit of absent-mindedness, hung up his stocking in his tent, but indignantly rejected the idea that the army pastry found therein was from the old friend of his boyhood. He thought the other “Nick” had more dealings with the commissary department. The day opened with a good breakfast of baked beans. After breakfast, the regiment was drawn up around the colonel’s tent, when the Christmas service of the Episcopal Church was read by Col. Ingraham, the band and a volunteer choir assisting in making the service interesting. The camp was then “turned over” to the regiment, the colonel holding the power in reserve to check the proceedings if they became disorderly. The regular guard being relieved, a new guard and police detail was at once made out, selected from the ranks of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers. In the forenoon, a burlesque dress-parade took place, which furnished much amusement to all concerned; and, considering the limited materials on the island, was quite successful. The series of orders read by the adjutant’s clerk were slightly personal, and good-humoredly embodied the complaints of the men against certain obnoxious changes in the drill, and regarding other regimental matters. During the day, the officers were nearly all under arrest for some violation of the “orders of the day.” One Timothy Ingraham was taken to the guard-house for attempting to leave camp without a pass. Giving a satisfactory excuse, he was released. Other officers were not as fortunate; and some of them worked out the penalty of their offences with the shovel. The Christmas dinner consisted of a bountiful supply of salt-beef and hard-tack, washed down with cold water. The afternoon was spent in rambling over the island, each one enjoying himself in his own way. About five o’clock, a dress-parade took place, conducted exclusively by enlisted men, each company doing its best to make the parade creditable. The officers loaned their uniforms for the occasion to those selected to command the regiment and companies; and they acknowledged that the reputation for drill which the regiment enjoyed at this time did not suffer during the temporary transfer of authority. During the evening, some amusing courts-martial took place; but, as it is not the purpose of the writer of this sketch to “tell tales out of school,” the mere mention of it will be sufficient to bring the scene before the minds of those who participated in the events of the day. “Tattoo” dissolved the spell. The companies fell in for roll-call, the guard went on again, and shortly after nine o’clock, the lights were all out, and perfect quiet reigned in the camp. Nothing occurred during the entire day to mar the peacefulness of the festival. There had been no quarrelling, no drunkenness, and no infraction of military rule.