Of the officers who had been left behind on account of sickness two died. Second Lieutenant Frederick H. Sibley, of Company A, died in hospital at Louisville, Ky., August 17th. He had been commissioned First Lieutenant, but died before receiving his commission. Captain Christopher S. Hastings, of Company I, died September 8th, in hospital at Mound City, Ill. Both were true, faithful men, and their loss was deeply lamented.
August 17th the regiment took cars, and, after riding all night, arrived at Nicholasville at daylight. Marching out about three miles from the town, we encamped in a fine shady grove, with plenty of water at hand. Here we remained ten days, and enjoyed a most welcome rest.
The paymaster arrived, and paid off the regiment, August 19th, and more than $3,000 of their pay was sent to Worcester, by the men, for their families. Dr. Bryant, the only surgeon present, being sick, the surgeon of the Seventy-ninth New York was detailed to attend the sick of the Thirty-sixth.
The regimental musicians, from the ravages of small-pox and other diseases, were now all gone, and for a time it became necessary to obtain the services of musicians of the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania to sound the calls for the Thirty-sixth.
August 27th reveillé sounded at three A.M., and at half-past five the regiment was on the march, a large number being left behind, too weak to march. We passed through Bryantsville at half-past nine o'clock A.M., and when the regiment halted for a rest, at ten o'clock, it stacked ninety-eight muskets.
One year ago this day the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts was mustered into the United States service, 1,040 strong. At eleven o'clock we went into camp, at Camp Dick Robinson where the regiment was encamped in the spring.
August 28th we were early on the march, and a very hard one it was for what was left of the regiment, and that was not much. We marched eleven miles, passing through Lancaster with colors flying, and the regiment stacked sixty-eight guns, when it halted at noon four miles beyond Lancaster.
This bare fact seems to render needless all further comment as to the condition of the regiment. It was no longer a regiment, but a worn and weary band, a squad of each company struggling on, fighting bravely against fatigue, and heat, and illness. But what was now left may well be called the very heart and soul of the Thirty-sixth,—men who had never flinched; who had borne all, thus far, cheerfully and bravely, with indomitable spirit. Very many were gone; but enough still remained to guard the colors, to escort them on many a long and weary march, and carry them in the front of many a battle yet to come.
August 29th the march was continued about six miles, to Crab Orchard, where the regiment encamped in the edge of a wood, and remained until September 10th. This brief period was occupied in various camp duties, and preparations for an active campaign, for the corps was under marching orders for Tennessee, and this halt was only to allow the remainder of the corps to come up. Each day there were drills and dress-parade, and men who had been left behind were constantly rejoining the regiment until it began again to present quite a respectable front.