Company L, Lawrence—Captain, James Forbes; First Lieutenant, James H. Creig; Second Lieutenant, William H. Clendennin.
Company M, Somerville—Captain, Herbert W. Whitten; First Lieutenant, George I. Canfield; Second Lieutenant, Frederick W. Pierce.
With the muster out of Colonel Pew, the Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V., ceased to exist, after just a year's service, reckoning from the day the rolls were opened for volunteers. It was in the service longer than any other regiment from Massachusetts, and while it never took part in a battle or skirmish, its record stands second to no other volunteer regiment in the service of the United States.
[Welcome Home]
No fault could be found by the members of the regiment with the receptions they received upon the return of the companies to the home stations. Although it was Sunday night, the enthusiasm knew no bounds, and in most places a large procession awaited the arrival of the company, took it under escort and started for the armory. Later, in most every place, official receptions were held, but they lacked the spontaneous enthusiasm which marked the welcome home on the arrival of the companies from the South Armory, Boston.
As these receptions took place within the year covered by the service of the regiment, it seems fitting that a brief account of them should find a place in this history of the organization.