USA > Massachusetts > Record of the service of the Forty-fourth Massachusetts volunteer militia in North Carolina, August 1862 to May 1863 > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NORTH CAROLINA, April 23, 1863. Special Order No. 117.
In accordance with the custom of the department, the regiment now doing provost duty will be relieved.
206
FORTY-FOURTII MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.
The commanding general, on changing the guard of the town, desires to convey to Colonel C'odman, and through him to his officers and men, his high appreciation of the manner in which the duties of the guard have been performed ; and he has noticed with great pleasure the drill, disci- pline, and general cificienry of the regiment.
The Forty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia will relieve the Forty- fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia on Saturday, 25th inst., at 9 A. M.
By command, JOHN G. FOSTER,
Major-General Commanding Department. SOUTHARD HOFFMAN, A. A. G.
On returning from Washington we had all hoped we should go directly to our old barracks; but finding these in possession of the Ninth New Jersey, we were temporarily assigned to those formerly used by the Tenth Connecticut, very near the ones we had previously occupied, only a short distance farther from the Neuse River. The few days that intervened before we as- sumed our new duties were spent by the men in recovering from the fatigue of the siege of Washington, in letter-writing, mend- ing clothes, etc.
Early on Saturday morning the regiment, in full-dress uniform, equipped in heavy marching order, was formed in line and pro- ceeded to the city, where it relieved the Forty-fifth. After the usual exchange of salutes, the guard for the day, which had been detailed before we left camp, relieved the sentries of the Forty- fifth, and then the rest of the regiment proceeded by companies to the quarters in the town to which they had been respectively assigned. They were the same occupied by the different regi- ments which had done provost duty previous to our turn. Each company had one or more houses allotted to its use, and among them were some of the pleasantest residences in the city. The Forty-fifth had left them in good condition, decorated them pret- tily, and many little tokens of welcome greeted our arrival. It was a debatable question among our boys-one which we believe was never satisfactorily settled - whether it was more enjoyable to be quartered in a large room with from ten to fifteen compan- ions, or in a small one with from three to five.
The change from camp life was pleasant in the beginning, but it soon became very monotonous. There was a freedom in the
PROVOST DUTY, VOYAGE HOME, AND MUSTER OUT. 207
former, where we were allowed to appear in undress uniform, - a uniform which at times was decidedly undress, -and do about as we pleased when off duty, compared with the constraint we felt when it was found to be an unpardonable offence to appear on the street except in full-dress suit, with boots nicely polished, belts blackened, and brasses brightened. Provost duty, unlike the usual camp duty of "two hours on and four hours off," was " four hours on and eight hours off." It was an advantage to those who were fortunate enough to be on between 8 and 12 P. M., as they could enjoy uninterrupted sleep till 8 A. M. the following day; but four hours scemed a long time to the poor sentry pacing his beat, and many of the boys would gladly have changed to the old hours.
The duties of a provost guard are - to preserve order in the town; see that no enlisted man passes unless provided with a written permission suitably signed, indorsed, and dated; pre- vent fast riding or driving through the streets; act as guards at the railway station and the wharves; and to do anything and everything required of them of a similar nature. Most of the boys thought the principal duty of a sentry was to salute com- missioned officers; and it is conceded by all who have ever stood four hours on a post that this work consumed no small part of the time.
For a few days the novelty was pleasing. There was a great deal of excitement compared with the routine of a strictly camp life. Soldiers are in some respects veritable children, and they hailed the promise of a furlough for a day in town with as much pleasure as would a small schoolboy that of a day's holiday. It was quite a common occurrence when some member of another regiment visiting the town was stopped by a sentry for examina- tion, to have the latter, after reading the name on the pass, and finding it to be familiar, glance up, and recognizing the bearer. remark, "Why, Tom, when did you come to New Berne? Bill and George and Charley are all in our company, and we are quartered in Craven Street. Go down and see the boys. I shall be off duty to-morrow, and will try and get over to your camp." Such meetings were happening continually, and none but those who have shared in them can realize the pleasure they bring.
208
FORTY-FOURTH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.
It was not long before the novelty wore off, and then provost duty became drudgery. As the town covered quite an area, it was divided into three guard districts, and details were assigned to the first, second, or third, as the case might be. No record has been found showing the exact number of sentries required in each district. Corporal l'itz of Company C had a plan of New Berne on which the number of each post was marked, but
unfortunately it has been lost or destroyed since his return. As nearly as can be remembered, there were about fifty posts in the first, from twenty-five to thirty in the second, and the same number in the third district, making about one hundred posts in all. There being three reliefs, a detail of 300 men, exclusive of commis- sioned and non-commissioned officers, would be required daily, or a total detail of about 325 men. The nominal strength of the regiment was at that time about goo; but so many had been per- manently or temporarily detailed, and there always being a per- centage in hospital or excused by the surgeon, the effective
PROVOST DUTY, VOYAGE HOME, AND MUSTER OUT. 209
strength was probably less than 650, obliging the privates to go on duty at least every other day, and sometimes two days in suc- cession. Commissioned and non-commissioned officers fared somewhat better, but they even were called upon much oftener than they wished.1 The demand being so severe, drilling was to a great extent discontinued, and the men excused from every- thing but policing quarters and the daily dress parade.
May 2, Companies B and F, which had been on picket duty at. Batchelder's Creek while the regiment was at " Little " Washing- ton, rejoined us at New Berne. This made the work somewhat easier for the others.
The instructions issued for provost duty laid a great deal of stress on the importance and proper manner of saluting commis- sioned officers. Sentries were required to car- ry their muskets at "shoulder " or "support; " but after dark, when they be- gan to chal- lenge, were per- mitted to carry them at "right shoulder shift." It is needless to say that these instructions were implicitly followed -whenever the sentry thought that he might be observed by a commissioned officer, or by a non- commissioned officer on duty. They may have done so at other times; but for the credit of the regiment it might be well not to investigate too closely.
So far as the commissioned officers were concerned, the change was undoubtedly agreeable. In camp, drills and other duties
1 Since writing the above a diary has been found which gives the number of men detailed for guard on April 25 as 200, and on April 26 as 102 privates, Io corporals, 3 sergeants, and 3 lieutenants. If the number of privates given is correct, the effect- ive strength must have been much less than estimated above, as the privates were certainly on duty almost every other day.
14
210
FORTY-FOURTH MASSACHUSETI'S INFANTRY.
demanded a great deal of their attention; while now, except when acting as officer of the day or officer of the guard, they had comparatively little to occupy their time. At any large military post there is always a great deal of social gayety, and our officers undoubtedly enjoyed the opportunities offered to their fullest extent.
The weather during May and June was very warm, and to those who had never been South before, the flies were an intolera- ble nuisance. "Corporal," in writing to the Boston " Herald," devotes a full paragraph to these pests : -
" The fly-statistics of your Port Royal correspondent must not lead your readers to suppose that the Department of the South enjoys a monopoly of this interesting insect. I allude to common house-flies. Fleas and mosquitoes do not greatly abound at New Berne, but house-flies swarm like the locusts of Egypt. The wood-ticks of Hill's Point, which adhered to the cuticle with a death-grasp, deserved a paragraph, but the house-flies of New Berne are even a greater nuisance. The printers will not fail to notice the peculiar manner in which they have punctuated this sheet of manuscript. Their tracks are visible upon every object which they can touch, - upon our plates, dippers, knives, forks, bread. They attack us with desperation at meal-times, and if we have anything better than usual they are sure to find it out, and rally upon the sweet point, so that while we convey the food to our mouth with one hand, we are forced to fight flies with the other. 'Tempus fugit,' commences a letter of your New Berne correspondent 'Tiger.' 'Fly-time - very appropriate,' parentheti- cally remarked the free translator Frederick, as he read, and described curves in the air."
May 24, Company F, Captain Storrow, was detailed to accom- pany a lot of Rebel prisoners to Fortress Monroe. This was an agreeable duty to the men of that company, and a very pleasant break in the monotony of their daily routine.
During our residence in the city quite a small-pox epidemic broke out among the negroes, and among the pleasant duties assigned to our regiment was that of searching for those afflicted with that disease and superintending their removal to the small- pox hospital, which was situated just outside the city limits. The negroes evinced great repugnance to being sent to it, and frequently had to be removed by foree. So far as is known, none of the boys caught the disease.
PROVOST DUTY, VOYAGE HOME, AND MUSTER OUT. 211
There were two jails in town, one used mainly as a place of safe-keeping for Rebel prisoners, the other for the detention of those, soldiers or civilians, who needed such a place of confine- ment. We had to furnish guards for these, in addition to our regular street patrol.
There was a marked difference in the discipline in various regi- ments, being so slack in some as to be scarcely worthy of that name. The guard-house at Station One was a very large build- ing, to which was attached an ell containing a single room capa- ble of holding a great many men. It was in this room that were confined soldiers who had been found in town without proper permission, who had been indulging too freely in " commissary," and who were punished for the infraction of some of the minor rules of the department. One day an officer wearing the uni- form of a colonel approached the non-commissioned officer on duty at this guard-house and asked if he could tell where any of his regiment were. "What regiment do you command?" in- quired the "non-com." "The -th New York," was the answer. " Yes, sir," the " non-com." replied. "Where are they?" interrogated the colonel. "A few of them are in the guard-house." "May I see them?" "Certainly, sir," was the answer; and leading the colonel towards the ell in the rear, al- lowed him the opportunity of looking through the door. The room was crowded almost to the point of suffocation, and among its inmates were very few that did not belong to the -th New York, commanded by the anxious colonel. As soon as he was recognized by those in confinement there was a general cry, "Hullo, colonel, let us out! We want to go back to camp." The colonel considered a minute. " On the whole, boys, I think you will do very well where you are for to-night. I have just come from camp, and the major, one lieutenant, and five pri- vates are all there are within its limits. I want to go off to-night myself; so I think I will go back and furlough these, and then I shall have no one to look after until you are released at guard mounting to-morrow morning. Good-by; " and off he went. The boys passed the night in the guard-house, but the little sleep that any of them succeeded in getting was not very sound.
212
FORTY-FOURTH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.
Shortly after our return to New Berne, Corporal Lawrence of Company C created quite a sensation by marrying a resident of that town. Those who were fortunate enough to receive " cards" were objects of envy to their less favored comrades. Mrs. Lawrence, since her husband's death, has resided in Boston with Corporal Lawrence's father.
One advantage we had while on duty in town was the privilege of buying fresh eggs, vegetables, etc., from boats which used to come in from the country just outside of the lines. Under what regulations the trade was allowed we never discovered, but some one person in each boat was provided with a duly authorized permit. No sales were allowed until the officer in charge had made his appearance, and then to no one except commissioned officers or their servants. After these had carefully selected such portions of the cargoes as they wished, certain civilians were allowed to make their purchases, and when they were sat- isfied, if anything was left, private soldiers were at liberty to buy. It was a singular fact, however, that it almost invariably happened some of the choicer articles had been accidentally mislaid or covered up, and the fact was not discovered until the sentries on the wharf began trading, when they would suddenly be found; but it was just as singular that the discovery was never made while a commissioned officer was in sight. On the whole, the boys fared very well.
During the time we were in town an attempt was made to re- produce " Il Recruitio," with an additional act descriptive of our adventures in Washington. The lines were all written and the parts assigned; but the arduous duty of provost prevented us from giving much time to preparation, and the design was finally relinquished.
Our band seemed to be thoroughly appreciated by our general and staff officers. Daily at guard mounting and dress parade it made its appearance with the regiment, but at other times it was fully occupied at some of the various headquarters in the town. The players probably enjoyed it, although they were not always allowed to retire at taps. William F. Ingraham, who was the first leader, died in January, and in May his brother, A. W. Ingraham, a noted bugle-player, came out to go home with us. On May 19
PROVOST DUTY, VOYAGE HOME, AND MUSTER OUT. 213
an order was issued defining the duties of those sharing the man- agement of the band. Babcock was to direct rehearsals, arrange programmes, conduct the band on all parades, etc., and select the music. Ingraham was to perform the duties of leader, and fix the hours and length of practice. Corporal Hovey was to act as business manager. In the concluding paragraph of this order the colonel complimented the band highly, and expressed the hope that it would do credit to itself and the regiment when it reached Boston. We are glad to say that this hope was realized. Late in the winter and early in the spring of 1863 Mr. P. S. Gilmore had given a series of concerts for the benefit of the Massachusetts regiments in the Department of North Carolina. Among the list of subscribers were some of the most influential and best- known merchants of Boston. The different military associations, such as the New England Guards Association, Tigers, Cadets, and Lancers, took a warm interest in the success of the enterprise. Hallett & Cumston contributed a grand piano, which yielded the handsome sum of $1,691. The total receipts were $5,772.65; and on May 18 an order was read at dress parade thanking Mr. Gilmore, and acknowledging the receipt of $500, -our share of the net proceeds.
As the term of our enlistment drew near its close, the boys began to count the remaining days as anxiously as do boys of a younger age the hours before vacation begins. Many were the rumors rife in barracks ; and no matter how improbable one might be, there were always some who believed it. At last the following welcome order was read on dress parade : -
HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, NEW BERNE, N. C., June 4, IS63.
Special Order No. 159.
2. It is hereby ordered that the Forty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia be relieved by the Twenty-seventh Regiment Massachu- setts Volunteers, as provost guard of this town, on Saturday morning next, June 6, at 6 o'clock.
By command of
Major-General JOHN G. FOSTER.
S. HOFFMAN, A. A. G.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE.
[Official.]
E. C. JOHNSON, Adjutant.
214
FORTY-FOURTH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.
Although we did not regret that the term of service was so near its close, there had been, after all, a great many pleasant cir- cumstances connected with our enlistment, and we had actually enjoyed this brief service in the employment of Uncle Sam. We had a great many friends in the other regiments, and a large part of our leisure during the days that intervened between the reading of this order and our departure was spent in bidding good-by to these acquaintances.
The night before our departure General Foster gave a recep- tion to the officers of our regiment. As the writer of this chapter was not fortunate enough to hold a commission, he cannot speak from personal knowledge of the proceedings, but he is assured by all who attended that they had a most delightful time. The rank and file were also determined to enjoy themselves, and various were the schemes adopted by the boys. Although as a general rule but very little " commissary " was to be found in our camp, that night was an exception, and there were not many, except those who were consistent total-abstainers, who did not drink at least one toast to the friends they were to leave behind and to a safe passage home. Notwithstanding this, there was no unseemly conduct, so far as known, on the part of any of the men. They were simply enthusiastically jolly. One of the boys, feeling his clothing too oppressive, and having no fear of being called upon to receive visitors, appeared in his quarters in a state of nature, but fully equipped with belt, cartridge-box, and knapsack, carry- ing a piece of old stove-pipe on his shoulder. While engaged in this amusement his captain suddenly came on the scene, and with a good deal of indignation in voice and manner, inquired what he meant by appearing in such a condition. "I am a heavy artillery-man in light marching order," was the ready reply. The captain quietly remarked that he was unaware that the man had been transferred from the infantry, and advised him to return to his own room and resume the regulation uniform. It is needless to add that the captain's advice was promptly followed.
An excellent locality on Broad Street was assigned for our dress parades, and the last one held by us in New Berne we think would have done credit to any regiment in the service.
.
215
PROVOST DUTY, VOYAGE HOME, AND MUSTER OUT.
Each man tried to do his best. At this parade the following order was read : -
HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, NEW BERNE, N. C., June 5, IS63.
Special Order No. 160.
17. The commanding general, on bidding farewell to the Forty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, conveys to them his high appre- ciation of and thanks for their services while in this department.
As a part of the garrison of Washington, and in the various duties to which they have been assigned, they have always done their duty as soldiers.
The commanding general, in parting, expresses his hopes to officers and men that he may have the pleasure of welcoming their return here, and tenders them, one and all, his best and kindest wishes for their future.
By command of
Major-General J. G. FOSTER. S. HOFFMAN, A. A. G.
General Wessells, an old regular army officer, and a strict dis- ciplinarian, to whose division we had been assigned, also took occasion to issue the following : -
ยท
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION, EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, PLYMOUTH, N. C., June 10, 1863.
General Order No. 7.
III. Having learned that the Forty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Militia is about to leave the department, its term of service being ful- filled, the brigadier-general commanding the division cannot allow the occasion to pass without expressing his sincere regret at thus losing one of its brightest ornaments.
The gentlemanly deportment and soldierly bearing of all grades have rendered his intercourse with the regiment, both socially and officially, peculiarly agreeable ; and in changing the rough duties of camp for the peaceful pursuits of civil life, the commanding general desires them a safe return to the green hills of New England, with his best wishes for their future happiness and prosperity.
By command of
Brigadier-General H. W. WESSELLS. ANDREW STEWART, A. A. G.
HEADQUARTERS FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, June IS, IS63. [Official. ]
E. C. JOHNSON, Lieutenant and Adjutant Forty-fourth M. V. M.
We landed at New Berne in a rain-storm and we left there in a rain-storm, although the last was not as heavy as the first.
216
FORTY-FOURTH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.
Early on the morning of June 5 our regimental line was formed for the last time in North Carolina: and, escorted by the Third Massachusetts, ColonI Richmond, one of the regiments which accompanied us to that State, we took our line of march for the depot. There w. embarked on platform cars and started for Morchead City. Colonel Holbrook of the Forty-third had in- tended to have his regiment form part of our escort, but the shower interfered with the programme. Soon after starting, the rain ceased and we had a very pleasant trip to Morchead City. By noon the regiment was on board of the steamers and ready to proceed on its liomtward way. The right wing, Companies A, G, H, K, and E, were on the "Guide," accompanied by the colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, the regimental band, the sur- geon, and the sick. Colonel Sisson and other officers of the Fifth Rhode Island took passage on this steamer. The left wing was on the " George Peabody," and included Companies F, B, D, C, and I, under command of Captain Storrow. Quite a number of men from other regiments, who had been granted veteran fur- loughs on account of re-enlistment, were on this steamer. The passage was very pleasant, although on the first night out we had a heavy wind and sea. There was the usual amount of sea- sickness; but the sufferers invariably called it by some other name, and were very indignant if accused of succumbing to "Father Neptune's curse." As Mark Twain afterwards graphically de- scribed it, they had the "Oh, my!" badly. During the 9th of June we ran along the eastern shore of Cape Cod, and just before sunset dropped anchor in Boston Harbor. In passing Fort Warren the entire garrison turned out, the band at the Fort played " Home, Sweet Home," and we continued to exchange cheers while within hearing of each other. It was a beautiful evening, and how glad we were to reach dear old Boston, all our boys can bear witness. The dome of the State House loomed up in the evening light, and the sound of the nine-o'clock bells which reached us, mellowed by the distance, gave a home feeling that none of our men had known for nine long months. The " Guide " had not arrived, so we remained at anchor off Fort Independence till morning.
Just before dark a tug came down from the city and hauled
PROVOST DUTY, VOYAGE HOME, AND MUSTER OUT. 217
alongside the " George Peabody." Perhaps our officers can say what news its passengers brought; but the " being in command," who wore the shoulder-straps of a brigadier-general, evidently considered privates beneath his notice. As might have been expected, the ubiquitous representative of the press was on board and made " Corporal" the recipient of a bottle of choice whiskey. Another corporal, as chief of his squad, had the cus- tody of several lemons ; and so the two corporals combined forces and the result was a toothsome compound, in which several of us drank the health of " dear old Boston," and then retired to the softest spots we could find, "Corporal " stretching himself on a huge chest, about amidships on the main deck, and the others bunking within supporting distance.
As soon as it was known that we were homeward bound, it was proposed by the Reserve of the New England Guard and others of our friends to give the regiment a reception. A meeting was called to make the necessary arrangements, and after some dis- cussion, the date of our arrival being uncertain, it adjourned sub- ject to the call of the committee.1 When the " George Peabody " was reported in the harbor, all who were to participate were noti- fied as rapidly as possible. The " Guide " arrived during the night and steamed directly up to Central Wharf, where the men immediately disembarked. The " George Peabody " followed as soon as possible. Before we had made fast, Captain Jake Lom- bard of Company C, who had resigned from ill health, and Charley Ewer of Company D, who had been discharged in con sequence of severe wounds received at Whitehall, came on board of the vessel, and we were as glad to meet them as they were to meet us. On the wharf were many of the friends we had left behind nine months before, and pleasant the greetings and many the questions asked and answered. Messrs. Whall and Dyer, who had sons in Company E, and who probably had been informed from some source that almost any change of diet from that of "salt horse and hard-tack" would be agreeable, furnished a nice collation, which it is needless to say the boys appreciated. Some
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.