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A COMBINED attack upon Fort Fisher, below Wilmington, had been for some time under consideration, and Gen'l Wild appeared at New Berne, with orders from Gen'l Butler requiring that a co-operative movement be made from this department. The instructions were: "Rendezvous a sufficient land force at Plymouth, N. C., and, after effecting arrangements with our fleet, co-operate with them in an advance to Rainbow Bluff and a joint attack upon Fort Branch. Succeeding in this, the land force will make a forced march upon Tarboro as its objective point, destroy the railroad bridge, and fall back under cover of the gunboats. Should any part of this plan fail, the commander will maintain secrecy, that the same may be open for future movements."

In the absence of Gen'l Palmer from the department, Brig. Gen'l Edward Harland designated for this movement the Twenty-Seventh Mass., Ninth New Jersey, Sixteenth Conn., Eighty-Fifth New York, and One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth Penn. Regiments; Battery A, Third N. Y. Artillery; and the Twelfth N. Y. Cavalry. Col. Savage, the commander of the last-named regiment, was to command the expedition. Battery A, Capt. Russell, one hundred and ninety men, dismounted, and armed with rifles, were for the time consolidated with the Twenty-Seventh Mass. Regt. For reasons unknown, the Twelfth N. Y. Cavalry failed to report at Plymouth, and the command of the expedition devolved upon Col. Jones Frankle, of the Second Mass.

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Heavy Artillery, as senior officer. He was at this time Military Governor of the Department of the Albemarle, with headquarters at Plymouth. Lieuts. Cogan, of the Ninth New Jersey, and E. L. Peck, of the Twenty-Seventh Mass., were appointed aides-de-camp to Col. Frankle. Joint arrangements were effected with Commander Macomb; and at five A.M., December 9th, the column moved from Plymouth, the Twenty-Seventh Mass. and Ninth New Jersey Regiments in advance.

The enemy were encountered five miles out, but fell back with light skirmishing to Gardner's Bridge, where they made a stand the morning of the 10th. They were strongly posted on heights across a creek, supported by artillery and cavalry, and were attempting to destroy the bridge. The Twenty-Seventh Mass. and Ninth New Jersey charged, driving them from the bridge, and routing the forces on the heights. Sharp skirmishing continued until reaching Foster's Mills, where the enemy took position on bluffs skirting the opposite side of the stream, with the intervening bridge dismantled. This position was the one known as Rhall's Mills on the Tarboro Expedition, from which the Twenty-Fourth and Forty-Fourth Mass. dislodged the enemy on that occasion. Four pieces of artillery were brought into position upon the road, with the Second and Twenty-Seventh Mass. and Ninth New Jersey Regiments deployed above, and the remainder of the force below the road. The enemy were engaged for half an hour, under cover of which Lieut. Reed, of the Second Mass., repaired the bridge sufficiently for the passage of troops, when the foe suddenly retreated. The Twenty-Seventh Mass. lost in this engagement Thomas Shea, Company K, of Northampton, killed, and Ezra Lovering, Company G, Northampton, wounded in the hand.

After a delay of five hours repairing the bridge, we again advanced, the rebels retreating stubbornly beyond Williamston,

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which place was occupied the evening of the 10th. Sunday, the 11th, we remained at this place, awaiting arrival of the navy, reports as of heavy guns reaching us from down the river. As the day declined, it was decided to move on, leaving the Eighty-Fifth New York to guard and forward supplies when they arrived. At midnight the column advanced, avoiding the river road, reaching Spring Green Church, one mile from Butler's Bridge, at one A.M. the 12th. At the latter place the enemy were intrenched and Col. Frankle decided to divide his force, ordering the Twenty-Seventh Mass. and Ninth New Jersey to make a detour to the right, reach the rear of the enemy's position, and join in a simultaneous attack upon the intrenchments.

The night was bitterly cold, the water in our canteens chilled to ice, and the frozen ground jagged and rough. The moon shone with a flood of light, requiring great care and secrecy in our movement to prevent discovery. Our guide led us to the right, across wooded fields and through a deep, dry ditch, and ravines shaded by overhanging cliffs, to a stream over which the bridge was destroyed The stream was at flood height,--a roaring torrent,--but by the aid of flood-wood and brush against the piers, a crossing was effected. The setting moon was now obscured by clouds and the waning light enabled us to see the outlines of Fort Branch as we passed. Crossing the fields, we struck a road connecting Fort Branch with the Hamilton road, via Butler's Bridge, and followed it to their intersection. Having gained the rear, we advanced a short distance down the road to the cover of a forest, and rested, while a reconnoissance was made to determine the enemy's position and force.

We had been observed by Col. Hinton, commandant at this post, whose headquarters were at a house just above the intersection of roads. Supposing us to be reinforcements he had expected, he mounted his horse and rode up to Capt. Russell (Third N. Y. Artillery), who was holding the rear

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of the Twenty-Seventh, and accosted him, "Good morning, Captain! Never so glad to see any one in my life!" and turning to the men, added, "Had a pretty rough jaunt, ain't you, boys? You are most there, though!" There was hardly light enough to discern colors in the gray of dawn, but Capt. Russell scented the fun, and replied, "Good morning! Colonel is just ahead, and would be glad to see you!" Reaching Col. Bartholomew, Hinton extended his hand, saying, "Good morning, Colonel! just in time! There's fun ahead!" Col. Bartholomew had walked just far enough to particularly admire the gray steed before him, and his love for horseflesh (never at low ebb), was now "at the bulge," as the natives had it. Grasping Hinton's hand and the horse's bits most affectionately, Col. Bartholomew exclaimed, "Ah! Good morning! I'm awful glad to see you! You may get off that horse! you won't need it any longer, as you are my prisoner!" "Wha--What!" exclaimed the astonished rebel officer, "What regiment are you?" "Twenty-Seventh Mass.," was the prompt reply. "The d--l you are! I thought you were the Weldon Junior Reserves," was Col. Hinton's disconsolate rejoinder.

We had now, not only the commander of the post, but the key to the position; we were now the "Weldon Junior Reserves." Advancing to three or four log barracks a short distance ahead, we saluted the sentinel, "Turn out the guard for the Junior Reserves!" These came tumbling out, grumbling at being disturbed, and were seized without the firing of a gun, and before they could realize the situation. Advancing towards the intrenchments, Capt. Hufty, of the Ninth New Jersey, was challenged by two sentinels, but kept on, saying in a drawling tone, "Come ah-n, boy-es; come ah-n! we-ur Weldon Reserves; they uns won't hurt us. Come ah-n!" and before the sentinels could decide what to do, they were prisoners.

Surgeon Fish now reported that there was a squad of

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cavalry, with infantry, approaching from the rear (this was the Junior Reserves), and Col. Stewart of the Ninth New Jersey, who was in command of the force, deployed his own regiment facing the approaching column, and the Twenty-Seventh Mass. in reverse, facing the intrenchments, and gave the order, "Charge!" In getting into position a shot was fired by a rebel guard, which was responded to by the "artillery boys" just as the order to charge was given. The Junior Reserves broke in all directions before the impetuous rush of the Ninth New Jersey, while the Twenty-Seventh Mass. charged down the corduroy road upon the astonished enemy in the intrenchments. The Johnnies abandoned their works in utter rout, some taking to the woods, others with three pieces of artillery rushing down the road to Tarboro Forks, making good their escape to Tarboro. A large number were captured by us. Several of our men were also captured by the enemy, but made their escape.

Lieut. E. L. Peck, of Company F, Twenty-Seventh Mass. Regt., acting aid to Col. Frankle, with Lieut. Reed of the Second Mass. Heavy Artillery, were, at this juncture, vainly endeavoring to urge the skirmishers of the Second Artillery forward to occupy the forks of the road. The failure at this point robbed the expedition of the fruits of victory. In justice to these officers, and to the Second Mass. Heavy Artillery as an organization, it should be said that the detachment present in this engagement, was composed of unassigned conscripts, substitutes, and recruits recently arrived and temporarily assigned to the Second Mass. Heavy Artillery. They were in no sense representative of that regiment, many of whom were men of experience and meritorious service.

Col. Frankle, on learning the difficulty with the skirmishers, went to the front and endeavored to urge the troops forward, and at the same time sent an order to Capt. Graham to move forward and occupy the forks of the road with his cavalry. While the skirmishers were being pressed forward,

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a piece of artillery was brought across Butler's Bridge and opened upon them, wounding Lieut. Spencer and four men. While Col. Frankle was deploying his men to engage this gun, our charge from the rear was made, as already narrated, so that neither the infantry nor cavalry succeeded in reaching the point necessary to cut off the rebels' retreat.

The understanding was, the forks of the road should be occupied in force; but Col. Frankle rejoins, "Col. Stewart's orders were to gain the rear and await his attack in front." Such instructions were not unfrequent during the war, and often resulted in brilliant success. There are, however, so many contingencies permitting no delay, with flanking columns, that it would seem to be a more judicious arrangement to hold the force in front ready to co-operate in the attack from the rear. Justified by many successful examples, and by the personal efforts of the commander to press to success each detail of the movement, whatever disappointment we had, must rest upon the character of the force in front.

Col. Frankle immediately ordered Graham's Cavalry to follow the fleet-footed enemy toward Tarboro, but this failed of material results. The Twenty-Seventh Mass. and Ninth New Jersey returned to Col. Hinton's headquarters and reconnoitred towards Fort Branch, discovering the Junior Reserves drawn in line before the fort. These two regiments desired to assault the fort; but, "having only four rounds of ammunition for the artillery, after consultation with Gen'l Wild, Col. Frankle ordered the troops to withdraw to Williamston." The failure of the navy, which had our extra ammunition, to connect and co-operate, and the lack of information from them, was the ground of withdrawal. The injunction of secrecy in the orders prevented any explanation by Col. Frankle. While resting upon the field, Col. Bartholomew decoyed a quartermaster-sergeant and captured him. He mourned sorely over this untimely misfortune,

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as he had been married only the night previous. The result of the expedition was the capture of one hundred and twenty-nine prisoners, including Col. Hinton, two field and two line officers, and one hundred and twenty stand of arms. Gen'l Wild writes in commendation of this movement: "The whole affair and all the details were planned with judgment and carried out with coolness and steadiness."

Returning to Williamston, and finding no tidings of the fleet, couriers were dispatched to Jamesville, who returned with the information that the river was so full of torpedoes it was uncertain when the navy would be able to arrive. Seventy torpedoes had already been removed; the "Otsego" and "Bazely" gunboats sunk, several vessels injured, and the fleet was still near that place. On the 14th we fell back to Jamesville to secure supplies and render the navy such assistance as they might need. At Jamesville the Twenty-Seventh Mass. and Ninth New Jersey Regiments were ordered to Cedar Landing, to cover the navy, returning the 17th inst. On the 21st, Commander Macomb sent word from Poplar Point that the enemy were concentrating upon the bluffs; and desired aid to dislodge their sharpshooters. By this time our supplies were exhausted, and the men so chafed and footsore that fully one-half the force had been placed upon the sick list by the surgeons. Word was sent Commander Macomb to that effect, when both forces returned to Plymouth, awaiting supplies; but before another advance could be arranged the entire force was recalled to New Berne.

The waning days of 1864 completed a year of struggles which materially advanced the prospects of peace. The defeats of the Union army at Olustee, Paducah, Fort Pillow, Plymouth, Red River, Drewry's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Mine, and Hatcher's Run, had been of temporary, if not of questionable, benefit to the enemy; while the victories of Farragut at Mobile, Sheridan in the Shenandoah, Steele in

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Missouri, Schofield at Franklin, Thomas at Nashville, and Sherman at Atlanta, were crushing defeats to the enemy. Grierson's march from Tennessee to Louisiana, and Sherman's from Atlanta to Savannah, showed the exhausted and hopeless condition of the Confederacy, -- "a shell with nothing in it," -- while the iron grip of Gen'l Grant held its best general and army with a tenacity which paralyzed its power. These results had been obtained with a terrible cost of life and limb, over one hundred and twenty thousand men having been placed hors de combat in Virginia alone, and two hundred thousand on all the fields of battle. If the loss had fallen most heavily on the Union arms, the benefits had proportionately accrued to them.

The sad results of service had told fearfully upon the numerical strength of the Twenty-Seventh Mass. Regt., the tri-monthly report of December 19th showing:--

Officers upon the rolls present, ........  15
Officers upon the rolls prisoners, ......   7
                                          ---  22
Enlisted men on the rolls present,  ..... 234
Enlisted men upon the rolls sick, ....... 101
Enlisted men on the rolls prisoners, .... 241
                                          --- 576
                                              ---
       Total upon the rolls, ................ 598

On the 7th of January, the regiment received orders to return to Beaufort, and sailed from Plymouth the 8th inst. The trip was rough and sloppy, a cold wind and rain, with a lack of blankets, rendering it chilly in the extreme. Several bales of cotton aboard were appropriated to our comfort, occasioning considerable mourning and bluster by a quasi citizen and resulting in the presentation of a bill of several hundred dollars to Major Moore for settlement. The major had been used to wordy contests, and being of the legal fraternity, believed he understood the "true inwardness" of this

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"cotton speculation," and rather wished to focus matters. Hence he replied: "If this is your cotton, what business has it on a government transport, and how came you by it? If it is government cotton, what right have you to demand pay for it? Let Gen'l Palmer demand pay, and I will make answer to it!"

January 10th we arrived at New Berne, and proceeded by rail to Beaufort, but on reaching Morehead City, found telegraphic orders to return to New Berne. We had been absent since December 4th, without blankets or change of any part of our clothing; but military orders were inexorable, and though within sight of Beaufort, we returned without visiting our camp. During the interim of absence we had turned our shirts several times, wearing one side until the other appeared the cleanest, when we put that outside. This was soldiering indeed! Arriving at New Berne, we found no provision made for our supply or comfort, and were forced to bivouac in an open field and in a pouring rain until the morning of the 11th, when some plain, incisive "words" from Col. Bartholomew to negligent authorities, secured permission for us to go into the depot for shelter. Here we were joined by those we had left with the camp at Beaufort December 4th, and on the 12th were assigned to outpost duty, relieving a detachment of the Second Mass. Heavy Artillery. Companies B, D, F, G, I and K were stationed at Rocky Run, under command of Col. Bartholomew, and the remainder at the Red House, three miles nearer the railroad, under Capt. McKay. We were here initiated into a new feature of picket duty, the cavalry videttes being stationed at the rear of the picket-line. We were also made glad by a sight of the "longed-for paymaster," having been without pay since the previous February. Some little dissatisfaction existed when it was found the payment was to cover only to August 31st; but the clothing account being included, it passed satisfactorily.

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The expedition against Fort Fisher, with which our advance above Plymouth was intended to co-operate, proved a miserable failure. The troop transports did not arrive at Beaufort until December 18th, and were detained at that port by a gale, arriving off Fort Fisher the evening of the 24th. Fifty-three of our best naval vessels, mounting five hundred and thirty-nine heavy guns, had assaulted the fort for five hours that day, not a hostile gun replying beyond an hour and a quarter after the opening of the engagement. The 25th inst., landing was effected five miles east of Fort Fisher, under cover of the navy. Gen'l Weitzel advanced his skirmishers within fifty yards of the fort (which was under a heavy fire from the fleet), and three or four men went upon the parapet, and captured the garrison's flag; but Gen'l Butler deemed the fort susceptible to capture only by siege, and, claiming that that was not included in his instructions, he re-embarked his troops and returned to Fortress Monroe.

This failure was the occasion, rather than the cause of Gen'l Butler's removal, for it was no secret that the commanding general had long been dissatisfied with him. The order for him to report at Lowell was universally approved by the army and the country. It is but just to concede Gen'l Butler's ability as an executive officer; his shrewdness and skill in diplomacy and statecraft. He was at his best as the military governor of New Orleans. His success during the rebellion was in this direction. It was not discreditable that he was not a successful field general; that he was not equal to besieging, or to defending besieged places, to planning battles, or to directing assaults. His prominence during the war, arose from his use of favoring events; his signal failure and the country's disappointment from the fact that he had military greatness thrust upon him, but was nowhere equal to it.

January 6th, Maj. Gen'l A. H. Terry left Fortress

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Monroe, with eight thousand men under Gen'ls Ames and Paine, and Col. Abbott, to renew the assault upon Fort Fisher, the navy co-operating. The troops landed the 13th, as before, and constructed a line of defence against a possible rear attack. Gen'l Paine's and Col. Abbott's Brigades (forty-five hundred men) were left to defend this line, while Gen'l Ames' Brigade (thirty-five hundred men) was the assaulting column. The assault was made at three o'clock the 15th, and lasted until about nine o'clock, when the fort and outlying works were captured, with a Union loss of eighty-eight killed, five hundred and one wounded, and ninety-two missing. The Confederate loss in killed and wounded was about four hundred; besides which we captured one hundred and twelve officers, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-one men, one hundred and sixty-nine pieces of artillery, and two thousand stand of arms. Fort Caswell and the river batteries opposite, were evacuated, and blown up by the enemy during the night.

Maj. Gen'l John M. Schofield, stationed at Eastport, Miss., and the Twenty-Third Corps, were ordered to the Department of North Carolina; but it was not until about February 19th this force arrived in the State, a part of it being sent to New Berne, and the remainder to Fort Fisher. Gen'l Sherman was at this time moving upon Columbia, S. C., and the strengthening of this department was for the purpose of co-operating with him, and of uniting forces at Goldsboro, at which place Gen'l Sherman expected to arrive about the middle of March. On the 22d of February, Gen'l Schofield captured Wilmington, with a loss of less than two hundred men, the enemy being flanked, and the place captured with but little resistance.

February 11th Capt. J. W. Trafton returned from duty at Boston Harbor, and relieved Capt. McKay at the Red House. Companies C, D and I were joined to this command, and Company H returned to Rocky Run. Quite an

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excitement was created, a few days later, by a full company of the Sixth North Carolina Cavalry, with horses, arms and equipments, deserting, and coming within our lines. After being disarmed, they were given the freedom of New Berne, many of them in their new-found freedom, remarking, "If the Confederate army knew they would be treated like this, you would have the whole army here in a few days." February 12th Capt. J. H. Nutting and Lieut. W. G. Davis returned to the regiment, having escaped from prison as before narrated. On the 15th, thirty recruits were received, and were assigned to Company C, increasing the effective strength of the regiment to about two hundred and sixty-four men. Company C now returned to Rocky Run, and was replaced at the Red House by Companies B and F.

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February 25th, Gen'l Palmer received instructions from Gen'l Schofield to move at once upon Kinston, but being dilatory, was superseded March 3d by Gen'l J. D. Cox and assigned to a subordinate command. He was soon relieved from this also, and retired from the front. New Berne was at this time overrun with convalescents, recruits, and conscripts who were being crowded to the front, and these represented nearly every organization in the Tenth, Eighteenth and Twenty-Third Corps. Many of them, unable to find their regiments, had collected at Camp Chattanooga, but were now assigned to various regiments forming Carter's Provisional Corps.

Gen. Schofield's first plan against the enemy was to make the movement from New Berne subsidiary to more important ones from Wilmington, via the Weldon Railroad. The enemy's forces were, however, strongly posted before Kinston, and were reinforced by Hoke's, Cheatham's and a part of S. D. Lee's Divisions; and the whole command placed under Gen'l Braxton Bragg. Their plan was clearly to hold Kinston and Goldsboro at all hazards, to crush each advance from New Berne and Wilmington in detail, and then to unite with Johnston in a combined attack upon Sherman's victorious host. This necessitated making the movement via New Berne most prominent; and a part of the Twenty-Third Corps was hastily removed by transports from Wilmington to that place. The advance towards Goldsboro was made under the watchful eye of Gen'l Schofield; while Gen'ls Terry

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and Couch co-operated from Wilmington, with instructions to join our column at the earliest moment possible.

March 4th the Twenty-Seventh Mass. was brigaded with the Fifteenth Conn. Regt., under command of Col. Charles L. Upham, and the brigade was designated as the Second Brigade, Second Division, District of Beaufort. The Fifteenth Conn. was a veteran regiment, much reduced by service, to which so many men from Camp Chattanooga had been temporarily ordered that it had nearly its original numbers. Of necessity it lacked the cohesion and spirit resulting from a union of service.

The force under Gen'l Cox moved from New Berne March 3d; and two days later, the Twenty-Seventh received orders to "report at Core Creek in light marching order, with four days' rations and sixty rounds." Early the morning of the 5th we rendezvoused at Bachelor's Creek, and advanced by the Neuse and Dover Roads -- the old Gum Swamp route -- reaching Core Creek about four P.M. At half-past six the morning of the 6th a general movement began, the Twenty-Seventh Mass. upon the advance as skirmishers. The roads were muddy, and heavily blockaded by the enemy, so that our progress was slow and tedious, and we halted for the night on a field near the scene of our old Gum Swamp conflict. Before being dismissed, Col. Bartholomew addressed the regiment as follows: "Boys, we are going into another fight, and I expect you will maintain the honor of the old Twenty-Seventh. Don't run until you see me run, and be sure you mistake no other man for me. When you see me going, run like hell!"

The pioneer and construction corps were busy the entire night, clearing and constructing roads, and it was nearly noon of the 7th before orders to advance were received. The Ninth New Jersey and One Hundred and Thirty-Second New York took the advance as skirmishers, the enemy opposing them sharply with musketry and artillery. Reaching

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Wise Forks, the force under Col. Claassen charged the enemy's skirmishers, driving them across South-West Creek at Jackson's Mills, -- four and a half miles from Kinston, and one and a half miles from the Forks. A considerable artillery engagement took place, under which the Ninth and One Hundred and Thirty-Second were withdrawn, and half

[image: (chart) Gum Swamp and Vicinity]

of the Fifteenth Conn. moved forward and took position across the road one hundred yards from the creek. The other half was marched south into a field to protect the left flank, while the Twenty-Seventh Mass. was posted in the woods on the right of the Jackson Mills road, supporting

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the pickets. Thus situated, the Twenty-Seventh spread their blankets for the night, their rest being disturbed at intervals by shots from the enemy's battery across the creek.

The grounds were mostly a dead level, covered with partially reclaimed swamps, or thickets of woods and marsh, while the roads were mud-holes of uncertain depths. Palmer's Division held the right along the railroad two miles distant, while Carter's Provisional Division occupied Wise Forks, one and a half miles to the rear. Between these forces was a gap of nearly half a mile, depending upon its marshy character for defence against rebel incursions. At the rear of our position, the Old British Road, from the railroad, cut the Jackson Mills road at right angles, at the south-westerly corner of which was an earthwork, occupied by Company D, Seventeenth Mass. Regt., Capt. Cann. A detachment of the Twelfth N. Y. Cavalry were on the British Road south of the corners, as videttes; while a section of Batter I, Third N. Y. Artillery, Lieut. Seymour, was stationed on Jackson Mills Road, at the rear of the Fifteenth Conn. Regt.

At seven A.M., the 8th of March, rumors reached us that "the enemy were attempting a flank movement at our left," and the Twenty-Seventh Mass. were ordered to take position across the British Road, south of the Corners, which they did, while two cavalry videttes were thrown half a mile in advance to warn of danger. We were holding this position about eleven o'clock A.M., when an old man, upon horseback, and in citizen's dress, rode up, saying to Col. Bartholomew, "You are being flanked, and may expect the enemy in that direction at any moment," pointing towards the woods in the direction of Wise Forks.

This was really our rear, and separated us from our supports. Col. Bartholomew immediately changed front, bringing the regiment on the easterly side of the road (facing east), and advanced the left flank company under Adjt.

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J. W. Holmes and Lieut. L. A. Holmes, as skirmishers. They were moving too far to the right, when Col. Bartholomew advanced to a slight rise and ordered them farther to the left, pointing with finger, and following with his eye the desired direction. As he did so, the enemy suddenly emerged from the whole line of woods, and charged double-quick towards our position, and the intersection of the roads. The woods were literally full of them, from which they swarmed with yells, until they covered our front and flanks.

Col. Bartholomew returned to the regiment, and as soon as the skirmishers had returned, ordered us to open fire. The two pieces of Seymour's Battery, after firing a few rounds, rushed down the road in the direction of Wise Forks, one of its guns falling into the enemy's hands; while the detachment of the Seventeenth Mass. made good its escape by the British Road. The Twenty-Seventh Mass., by its morning report, March 7, 1865, numbered nine (it should have been ten) officers and one hundred ninety-one men, of whom Col. Bartholomew writes: "I felt as much confidence in them as in a whole regiment of new troops, and that confidence was never misplaced."

The enemy captured the detachment of the Twelfth N. Y. Cavalry, who were upon the British Road below us, and charged our skirmishers, driving them back three hundred yards upon the regiment. Here we delivered a rapid and effective fire, causing their massed troops to recoil from our front. The Confederates covered our position with shrieking shot, amidst which Col. Bartholomew moved back and forth along the line, encouragingly saying, "You are doing well, boys; keep cool! Don't waste your ammunition!" We kept our position, giving them the best we had, again and again causing their lines to halt, until their shots came quartering from the rear, and we could see them in nearly three-quarters of a circle around us. Our colonel again moved along the line, saying, "Boys, I want to face you

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to the rear; march back a little, and turn around and give it to them again. Keep cool and steady: About -- Face! -- Forward!" and the regiment moved compactly across the road, forming in the field beyond the enemy's flanks.

It was a trying movement, and none but men of sterling courage and coolness could have executed it so well; for the prevailing impulse in retiring from danger is excessive haste, which in such a moment easily becomes a total rout. Every man stopped at the order "Halt!" and faced about, concentrating a well-directed fire upon the rebels' advance. From front and flanks a converging fire swept our position, and the enemy closed upon us, yelling, "Surrender! Surrender!" for they were in overwhelming force. Hoke's entire division of five thousand five hundred men was there, with its assault concentric upon us. Again and again our fire swept the field, cutting fearful winrows in the enemy's ranks, which, massed in column by division, was pressing down upon us. The contest deepened, dealing death and destruction along our line, and the light faded almost to twilight, under the battle-cloud of smoke which covered the sky with its murky hue. Again the enemy enveloped our flanks, and shots came quartering from the rear, and our invincible line again faced about, marched out of the encircling line and formed behind an old rail fence. Here we found the half of the Fifteenth Conn., which had been placed in reserve the night previous. Once more our column faced the foe, returning defiant answer to their fire and demand for surrender. Many of the Fifteenth Conn. joined manfully in the fray, and the enemy again and again recoiled before our trusty rifles.

In this uneven contest, unaided by a single piece of artillery, there could be only one issue; but we hoped to prolong the contest until our forces at Wise Forks could afford relief. From the first there had been for us no way of escape, and each man had resolved that, if overpowered, it would be

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with exhausted ammunition, and with commensurate loss to the enemy. The tide of battle swept mercilessly along our front; both of our color-bearers had been shot down, and the colors picked up and defiantly flaunted by others. Again the rebels had reached our rear and were endeavoring to complete their cordon of investment around us, when Col. Bartholomew, as a last resort, gave the order, "Twenty-Seventh! rally round your colors!" Many of the Fifteenth Conn. rallied with us, and on that storm-rent field the devoted band emulated the courage and valor of Thermopylæ and Marathon, and desperately contested the advance of the enemy. With a frenzy born of despair, they defied the enemy's fire, refused to surrender, and plied their faithful rifles until their ammunition was nearly spent. Could it be that aid would fail? and only two miles distant! Was this the reward of valiant service? "They must hear, and, knowing the weakness of our column, must understand that such a clash of arms must be from an overwhelming foe," were thoughts that crowded the mind.

The enemy now came pouring over South-West Creek in our rear, seeing which, the Fifteenth Conn. broke, the panic carrying many of the Twenty-Seventh with them. Just at this moment a Minie-ball crushed through Col. Bartholomew's leg, shattering the fibula, or small bone below the knee, and he fell helpless to the ground. The enemy, quick to discern the temporary faltering of our fire, rushed upon us, and with one sweep crushed our column, and the conflict was over. Col. Zachary, of the Twenty-Eighth Georgia, received Col. Bartholomew's sword, while the enraged foe threatened vengeance on us for their terrible loss. Adjutant Holmes was looking at his watch when our colonel fell, finding we had then been contending, single handed, fifty-five minutes. He immediately went to Col. Bartholomew, caring for his wound, when a rebel captain came up ordering both our officers to pull off their boots, overcoats and hats,

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give up their money, and even took the handkerchief with which the adjutant had commenced to dress the colonel's wound. It is a pleasure to add, this act was severely condemned by Col. Zachary, who was a soldier and gentleman of honor. A few weeks later, Col. Zachary visited Col. Bartholomew while in hospital at High Point, N. C., and generously returned him his sword, as a tribute to his bravery upon the field. By permission from Gen'l Hoke, Adjutant Holmes remained with Col. Bartholomew two days, and through entreaties with Surgeon Mathus of the Twenty-Eighth Georgia, saved the colonel's limb from amputation.

The men broke in all directions, hoping for some avenue of escape, but were speedily captured by forces advancing on all sides, only seven men, including Surgeon Fish and Hospital-Steward Parker, escaping from the field. These, however, were all members of the Ambulance Corps, and were cut off from the regiment early in the engagement. The captured men were hastily moved across the creek, and marched to Kinston, where they remained during the day, and at night were removed by cars to Goldsboro. The rank and file were thrust into a cattle-pen, and left for the night in a pouring rain, while the officers were confined in the court-house. The enemy had captured in this engagement twenty-six officers, and nine hundred and forty enlisted men from Upham's Brigade, the loss of the Twenty-Seventh Mass. being seven killed, forty wounded, and one hundred and forty-seven prisoners.

The following is our list of casualties:

KILLED.

Company A. -- Sergt. Bartholomew O'Connell, Whately.

Company C. -- Michael O'Conner, Fitchburg.

Company F. -- Corp. George W. Phillips, Sandisfield. Louis H. Fuller, Northampton.

Company G. -- Corp. William J. Paige, Chicopee.

Company H. -- Dennis Dillworth, Adams.

Company I. -- Harrison Rowe, Wilbraham.

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WOUNDED.

Lieut. Col. W. G. Bartholomew, Springfield; left leg, fibula broken.

Company A. -- Albert Holbrook, Huntington; contusion, leg. Brainard E. Taylor, Worthington; left arm, fatal.

Company B. -- Lieut. Daniel W. Larned, Athol; right side, left leg. John Clark, Phillipston; face, left arm, side, severe. Fernaldo L. Lord, Athol; right wrist.

Company C. -- Lieut. William G. Davis, Schenectady, N. Y.; left breast. Corp. John Shoals, Amherst; left leg, amputated. William Brace, Greenfield; through left lung. Jonathan Burroughs, Northampton; leg, severe. Orrin J. Eaton, Deerfield; left arm, severe. Oliver Woodbridge, Springfield; left leg. Charles F. Webster, Montague; jawbone broken. Frederick West, Canton; right shoulder.

Company D. -- Lieut. Charles H. Bligh, Pittsfield; right hip. Sergt. Warren C. Snell, Springfield; both hips and leg, severe. Corp. James D. Haskins, Granby; right thigh. Alvin R. Bradford, Florida; arm. Frank H. Leonard, Shutesbury; leg, slight. James H. Reed, Shutesbury; right thigh. William H. Snow, Springfield; foot, slight.

Company E. -- Corp. William W. Cummings, Warren; slight. George A. Martin, Windsor; leg, flesh wound. Henry V. Searle, Westfield; right leg, severe. Benjamin W. F. Smith, Great Barrington; right arm. William Smith, Great Barrington; right arm, amputated.

Company F. -- Sergt. Calvin J. Treat, Granville; right hip. Henry H. Underwood, Sandisfield; shoulder. Proctor Woodruff, Westfield; arm, fatal.

Company G. -- Patrick Coffee, Northampton; leg and left cheek. John L. Clark, Northampton; ear. Richard Curtis, Hatfield; leg. Edward Pendleton, Chicopee; left ankle, right leg and arm. Ephraim Wilson, Pittsfield; ear.

Company H. -- Color-Sergt. John McCleary, South Reading; right shoulder, severe. Corp. Horace A. Loomis, Williamstown; head, severe.

Company K. -- Lieut. William H. Cooley, Springfield; leg, contusion. Corp. William Watt, Belchertown; hand. Daniel E. Comstock, Springfield; right arm, severe. Jerre Harrington, 2d, Springfield; right leg.

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All of these, except Ephraim Wilson of Company G, fell into the enemy's hands with the following list of

CAPTURED.

Capt. William McKay, Adjt. Joseph W. Holmes, Lieut. Lyman, A. Holmes, Lieut. Edwin L. Peck, Chief Musician Lineus C. Skinner.

Company A. -- Sergt. Charles C. Loud, James Adams, Edward Merrigan, Alfred Pasnow, Simon Schaefer.

Company B. -- Sergt. Prescott M. Metcalf, Corp. William P. Huntoon, Corp. George E. Trask, Corp. Theodore Washburn, Corp. George D. Townsend, John Abbott, Thomas Barbour, James L. Bragdon, Martin O. Makeley, Dexter O. Oaks, Valentine O. Rathburn, John B. Slate, Michael Sullivan.

Company C. -- Sergt. George P. Holden, Corp. Levi Brizzee, Patrick Bayne, Jr., John Barry, Jesse D. Comstock, Thomas Craven, Donald Donovan, James C. Fletcher, Henry P. Hanchett, Hugh Kennedy, Patrick McCabe, Mozart E. Perry, John Pryor, James Smith, John Sullivan, Patrick Sullivan, William Taylor, Michael Talbot, Harrison H. White, Elijah S. Williams, Jr., Charles L. Wright.

Company D. -- Sergt. Jay E. Nash, Corp. Warren F. King, Corp. Newton Pease, Corp. Medad Vinton, Rawson C. Briggs, Dexter Burnett, George W. Coleman, John Eagan, George P. Field, John K. Freeman, Lewis H. Freeman, Eli H. Johnson, Frederick B. Kentfield, John H. Nichols, Cornelius O'Connor, Dwight A. Reed, Elmer P. Snow.

Company E. -- Sergt. Charles N. Cook, Sergt. Franklin Hurst, Sergt. Alonzo H. Conklin, Corp. Nelson L. Adams, Corp. Fred. A. Robbins, Henry C. Bacon, Sylvadore Beach, Charles Dennison, John W. Gilmer, Rufus Groat, Joseph W. Huntley, John Lander, Joseph Mattis, Dennis McDonough, Thomas W. Norton, George W. Parish, Alfred C. Turner, Isaac F. Woodward.

Company F. -- Sergt. George W. Cone, Sergt. Charles H. Pratt, Corp. Lafayette Babb, Henry W. Chatfield, Timothy C. Cooney, Alfred C. Crocker, John Gorman, Richard Miller, Ulysses H. Pierce, Amos B. Pomroy, Walter A. Richards, George Welcome, George Welcome, Jr., David Woodworth.

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Company G. -- Sergt. George Chalmers, Corp. John H. Hannum, Corp. John Ward, Corp. Lorenzo H. Yance, Avery Bryant, Edward Bride, George S. Corkins, Edward M. Cobb, Daniel Haney, James Lenahan, Elihu Smith.

Company H. -- Sergt. Sydney S. Terry, Corp. Charles H. Robertson, Charles G. Bennett, William Bowers, Franklin B. Brayton, Judge Bullard, Leverett Clarke, James Casey, Henry C. Crandall, John Q. Erwin, William J. Lowell, Nelson A. Randall, Albert A. Talham.

Company I. -- Corp. William Allen, Samuel Ashworth, Edwin H. Atwood, Henry Baker, Andrew Baird, Jacob Barton, William H. Chapin, James K. Crosby, William I. Joslyn, Elias S. Keyes, Horace Merritt, Gilbert McNall, Loren Wood.

Company K. -- Sergt. Joel Meacham, Corp. David H. Ingerson, Charles Baker, Hiram Burlingame, Jr., Harvey H. Converse, John R. Davis, Wilbur F. Davis, James Dimpsey, Francis Fisher, William Flynn, Patrick Hayes, Carl N. Lippman, John Mahoney, Andrew Marian, William Murphy, John McGowan, George R. Ring, Dennis Sheehan, William S. Tiffany.

The only members of the Twenty-Seventh Mass. who escaped were Surg. D. B. N. Fish, Hospital Steward Parker, Privates George A. Hill and William Bly, of Company A, Ephraim Wilson, Company G, Dwight E. Bruce, Company K, and one other, now unknown.

Col. Walter Gustin Bartholomew, son of Abiel and Sarah Gustin Bartholomew, was born at Colchester, Conn., June 26, 1826. His educational advantages were confined to the district schools. August, 1849, he enlisted in the U. S. Engineer Corps, served five years in Company A, Sappers and Miners, at West Point Military Academy, and was discharged as a corporal at the expiration of his term of enlistment. After his discharge he located at Springfield, Mass., and was employed in Thompson's Express Office until the opening

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of hostilities. On the organization of the Twenty-Seventh Mass. Regt., he was commissioned captain, with assignment to the North Adams company (H), which he soon brought to such perfection as to distance competition. He was assigned the post of honor, -- the right of the regiment, -- a position justly deserved, and unanimously accorded to him. On the resignation of Maj. William M. Brown, Dec. 6, 1861, he was promoted to fill the vacancy; and May 27, 1863, upon the resignation of Lieut. Col. Luke Lyman, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. He was discharged as lieutenant-colonel June 26, 1865, but for conspicuous and meritorious service, was brevetted colonel.

Col. Bartholomew was an ideal soldier in appearance, bearing, courage, and discipline. He was of commanding presence, securing obedience by acknowledged superiority rather than by brute force. He presented a somewhat rare combination of commander and comrade, but never belittled himself or dishonored his office. Though nowhere deficient, he excelled on the field of action. No heat of contest, nor extremity, seemed able to disturb his composure, while no venture was too great to be hazarded. While holding his men by a genial, personal magnetism, he met anything like disorder by an austerity sure to bring order out of chaos. At Roanoke Island he checked a detachment, showing undue haste in retiring, and brought them to an order and step recognized by military codes. At Goldsboro, to reassure his men, he probed the ground where a shell had just buried itself, and later, took position where one had just struck, saying, "They can't put another there." In fact some coolness or fearlessness exhibited itself in every engagement to enliven our story of the field, or to add lustre to our actions. The "Battle of South-West Creek, March 8, 1865," exhibited him advantageously. Although cut off from support and succor at the very outset, and knowing himself surrounded by an overwhelming force, he transformed his handful

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to a host and fought Hoke's entire division in four different positions, holding them at bay a full hour before surrender. So impressed were the enemy by the unwonted bravery and fortitude of Col. Bartholomew and his men, as before stated, that Col. Zachary, of the Twenty-Eighth Georgia Regiment, who received his sword, returned it to him in recognition of distinguished bravery.

By the misfortunes of war he was twice a prisoner and once severely wounded (March 8, 1865). It was at first decided that amputation must be made, but the present of a silver-mounted revolver to the surgeon by Adjutant Holmes, made him kindly disposed toward the colonel, who was given extra attention in consequence; and after the wound had been examined by a council of surgeons, they decided that the limb could be saved. The colonel was overjoyed at this conclusion and made a present of his gold watch chain, previously concealed on his person, to the surgeon. The wound was unskilfully dressed by Surgeon Mathus of the Twenty-Eighth Georgia Regiment, and continued to ulcerate and to break out at intervals, until February, 1881, when it discharged a piece of leather an inch square, since which, it has permanently healed. Col. Bartholomew enjoyed the unbounded confidence of his men, and had equal confidence in their courage and ability. He now resides at Tampa, Fla., and is high sheriff and United States marshal for that vicinity.

Sergt. Bartholomew O'Connell had been temporarily placed in command of Company A, but was in reality a member of Company C. He was wounded at the battle of Roanoke, taken prisoner at Drewry's Bluff, escaped from his captors by cutting a hole through the cars as the train approached Andersonville, made his way with Corp. Brizzee to the Union lines, rejoined his company, and died upon the field of South-West Creek. His acts best enshrine his virtues.

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Color-Sergeant John McCleary and Color-Corporal William W. Cummings had both fallen wounded upon the field of South-West Creek, when our colors were caught up and borne by Comrades Lafayette Babb of Tolland and Leverett Clarke of Newburyport, during the continuance of the engagement. Seeing the battle was likely to end disastrously, they rolled the colors on their standards, thrust them under the side of an old rotten log, and scraped leaves and swamp grass before them to hide them from sight. Upon the exchange of our men a month later, they forwarded information of this to New Berne, and the colors were subsequently recovered by some of our men and brought back to the regiment.

Capt. J. W. Trafton of the Twenty-Seventh, had been detached for staff duty with Col. Upham, and was present on the field when the enemy first appeared in our rear. Taking in the situation at a glance, he hastily rode to Gen'l Palmer's Division by the only avenue of escape, informing him of the situation and asking for aid. This general, however, was too fully occupied by the enemy on his front, to be able to furnish relief.

Surgeon Fish had established quarters on the field, a little to the left of the regiment, and was at the line jestingly trying to effect an exchange with Lieut. Davis, -- familiarly known as "Jeff Davis,"-- of a piece of cake for his splendid meerschaum pipe, saying, "You might as well do it, Jeff, that Johnnies are after it, and you won't get even a piece of cake." At that moment a volley from the enemy swept the field, and Surgeon Fish returned to his position. Finding that place too exposed for surgical practice, he retired to the earthwork at the corner, but finding this deserted, with vicious Minies clipping around his ears, and a line of anxious Johnnies in full charge toward him, he evacuated the work without a contest, and retreated towards the railroad. He writes, "The memory of the Twenty-Seventh was always

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dear to me, and I felt I showed a willingness greater than that of any other man, to preserve its name and organization. I was the only officer who had courage to run out of, and away from a fight, that the regiment might not be blotted out. I did it in good style, too, from South-West Creek, with yellow kids on my hands and a piece of cake in my mouth." This should not be construed too literally of Surgeon Fish, for it was only as a last resort, when success had been reduced to an impossibility, that the surgeon laid aside his surgical appliances and sought the rear. He was uniformly successful in his ventures, as well as his practice, though we are obliged to record a failure in his negotiations for the pipe. Jeff had but lately returned from an extensive Southern trip, and with keen recollection of Southern hospitality, he was in no mood to sacrifice either himself or his pipe. It was of no use, however; the rebs were after it, and, as Surgeon Fish predicted, Jeff parted with it without even a piece of cake in return.

Adjutant Joseph W. Holmes

rendered conspicuous service during the engagement of South-West Creek. Fearless of personal danger, and realizing the desperateness of the conflict, he was through it all invaluable to Col. Bartholomew in carrying out his orders. When the colonel was wounded he stayed by him ministering to his comforts until forced by his captors to join his fellow-officers for removal to Richmond. Adjutant Holmes was born at Windsor, Conn., Aug. 31, 1833; was for a time clerk in hotels at Madison, Wis., Louisville, Ky., and afterward became landlord of the Union House, Springfield, Mass. At the opening of the war he was in business in New York City, and enlisted at Springfield, Mass., as a private under Capt. Wilcox, Aug. 25, 1862. He joined the regiment in North Carolina, and, being a good penman and systematic in his

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work, he was appointed adjutant's clerk, holding that position until the battle of Drewry's Bluff, when he was promoted from a private to first lieutenant, and appointed adjutant of the regiment. His services to the end of the war were rendered in this capacity. He was exchanged from Richmond, March 26, 1865, and gave personal attention to the intricate details incident to the settlement of accounts and the mustering out of the regiment. He retired to Springfield where he engaged in the insurance business. Meeting misfortune in 1873 he refused to bow to it, and labored hard to meet his obligations. He was a warm friend, generous to a fault, and none loved the old regiment better than he. He died at his home Jan. 24, 1881, leaving a widow and three children. The flags captured at Drewry's Bluff had just been recovered, and our national colors enfolded the casket during the funeral obsequies. Dr. D. B. N. Fish, of Amherst, wrote of him; "We have met a great loss in the death of Adjutant Holmes; I shall never forget how we skirmished about in the rear of the regiment at Arrowfield Church, where he had been sent; how we moved to the left, then to the right, and again to the left to avoid the thickly falling shell, till he, with rifle in hand, started for the front, where he had no more business than I; while I, true to my sense of duty, started for the rear."

James H. Trask, of Company B, at this time upon the Ambulance Corps, attempted to reach the regiment with an ambulance from Wise Forks. He continued to advance, under the impression that it was only a line of skirmishers, until the enemy jumped out of the woods for his horse, when the latter suddenly wheeled and bore him away in safety, though the ambulance was riddled with shot.

Everybody in the regiment, and a good many outside of it, knew "old George W." He could play "poker" with the most expert, and, it was said, made enough in this way to afford him unusual luxuries, and yet to enable him to

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send home to his good wife more than his wages. If George got full, he always had a ten-dollar bill in his "west pocket," to bet that he could whip any man in the regiment. He got into another camp one day, and when he made his usual bet, fell among the Philistines. He was used up badly, and when he returned to camp, bleeding and sore, said, "-- -- boys, they didn't use me fair; they doubled up on me!" He was very careful after this about going among strangers for a fight. He went through nearly four years of service; never shirked; and when captured at South-West Creek, still had a ten-dollar bill in his "west pocket," and was willing to bet any rebel in the Confederacy he could whip him if there was no doubling up on him.

Of the contest of South-West Creek the "New York Herald" correspondent wrote, under date of March 11th: "They (the enemy) came upon them (Upham's Brigade) furiously, and the consequences were, a large portion of the two regiments were captured, being outflanked by the rebels, who crowded upon their rear and sides. The Twenty-Seventh Mass. numbered less than two hundred men, Lieut. Col. Bartholomew being in command. He is a most worthy officer, and his command fought like heroes before surrendering; but it was against odds far too great. When they found themselves surrounded they fought like Spartans, resorting to the bayonet when their ammunition was exhausted. They deserved a more glorious fate than they met." The "Army and Navy Journal" in commenting on the engagement in its issue of March 18, 1865, says: "The Twenty-Seventh Mass. Regt. resisted the shock with admirable gallantry, the enemy confessing that we disputed the ground obstinately."

Having compassed our defeat, the enemy assailed the columns of Palmer and Carter with temporary success; but the obstinate contest of Col. Upham's brigade and our misfortune, became their salvation, in giving them warning of and

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time to prepare for the rebel onset. Palmer's column was forced back; but when the enemy attempted to pierce the gap between the two divisions, they were met by fresh troops under Gen'l Ruger, who arrived about 4 P. M. The combined Union forces now re-established their lines and waited till the 10th with some slight skirmishing. The morning of the 19th, the enemy, being reinforced by the remainder of S. D. Lee's Corps from Hood's army, made a bold and determined attack to crush the Union forces before the arrival of Couch's Division from Wilmington. Three assaults were made, but they were decisively repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy, while our total loss was less than five hundred men. So complete was the repulse that upon the arrival of Couch's Division on the 11th, the enemy abandoned the field and withdrew to the north of the Neuse at Kinston, destroying the bridge and an iron-clad steamer. Bragg evacuated Kinston the 13th, without a contest, and Gen'l Schofield occupied it the same day.

The story of our men captured at South-West Creek, is briefly this: We were placed upon cars at Goldsboro, the afternoon of the 11th, arriving at Weldon about dusk. Here we bivouacked in the open air, guarded by the "North Carolina Reserves." At noon, the 12th, we took cars for Clarksville Turnout, marched ten miles, bivouacked, and arrived at Clarksville the evening of the 13th. The next morning a crowd of young women, came down to gaze upon the "forlorn Yanks." Mrs. Mahone, wife of the rebel Gen'l Mahone, -- now United States Senator from Virginia -- and her two sons, visited us also, her whole action bespeaking ladylike refinement and gentleness. Marched twenty miles the 14th, and bivouacked for the night on the banks of the Dan. At 11 A. M., the 15th, we moved forward, reaching the Danville Railroad at Wolf Trap, having crossed the Dan at Nichols Ferry. The 16th, marched ten miles to "Clover Station," where Lieut. Edwin L. Peck records:

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"Bought forty dollars worth of grub for supper and am hungry yet." This march and the bivouac for the night was in a drenching rain.

Although all rebels pretended to hate Uncle Sam, still his promises to pay were held in high esteem by them. Understanding this, one of our officers took advantage of a good-natured Georgia lieutenant, and by cautious negotiations, induced him to try to get a supply of apple-jack, for medicine. His labor of love was successfully performed (for ninety dollars), and about midnight he returned with ten canteens full of "Southern comfort," himself well braced up by it. There were some twenty patients in the crowd. The medicine was given in ten-drop doses, and as no spoons were to be had, an officer stood near the patient, and every swallow counted for a drop. Most of the cases were desperate and required frequent doses. A thunder-storm deluged the tent and its occupants during the night, but the indications were that the crowd had given the storm but little thought, as they were wetter inside than out.

From Clover Station the rank and file continued their march to Richmond, arriving there Thursday, the 23d inst. On arriving at Manchester an officer rode along the line, threatening to shoot any one attempting to throw his personal effects into the river. One of the men had an elegant gold watch, given him by his mother, to save which he hid it in a piece of boiled pork, and passed the examination without its discovery. The officers boarded the roofs of freight cars at Clover Station, at eight A. M., the 17th, and after a slow, tedious, and rough ride, arrived at Manchester at three A. M., the 18th.

The officer in charge of the detachment was ignorant of the exact locality of the "Hotel de Libby," and Lieut. W. G. Davis, having once been escorted to that celebrated resort, had the pleasure of directing the column to its door. On arriving at Libby, all the men were stripped and relieved of

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money, jewelry, and clothing, by Sergt. Ross, acting for Dick Turner, but many recovered the money when exchanged. The prison rations issued were as filthy and meagre as ever, but the deficiency was in part made up by issues from the stores held by Capt. James Stewart of the One Hundred and Forty-Sixth New York Regiment, United States distributing agent at that place. This was a decided surprise and an improvement over the arrangements for comfort and supplies which our captives enjoyed the May previous. Shoes, socks, needles, thread, coffee, sugar, and the like, were issued to relieve immediate necessity, and were more than appreciated by our unfortunate men.

It was clear that an early release by parole would be granted, and upon the morning of Sunday, March 26th, we were aroused and ordered ready to leave for the Union lines. There was the greatest enthusiasm as we moved down the street and embarked. We soon passed Drewry's Bluff, the scene of our first disaster; later the rebel fleet of iron-clads below Chapin's Bluff, and at one P. M., arrived at Aiken's Landing. At two P. M. we were aboard the steamer "New York," en route to Annapolis, where we were allowed a thirty-day furlough, arriving in Springfield at eleven o'clock April 3, 1865, being furnished a collation and night accommodations at the "Soldiers' Rest."

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At the time of our disaster, March 8, 1865, Major Moore had just been mustered from service, and Capt. Nutting was on detached service as brigade quartermaster. Quartermaster George M. Bowker was discharged from service Feb. 11, 1865, and Lieut. Benjamin B. Peck, who had succeeded him, was at the rear, with the regimental and quartermaster stores; so that there were still in North Carolina, Surgeon Fish, Capt. Nutting, Lieut. B. B. Peck, and some thirty enlisted men. About forty more were sick, or upon sick furloughs at the North. March 11th, Capt. Nutting assumed command of the regiment, only eight men reporting for duty. The next day we received orders to report at New Berne for guard duty at the Foster General Hospital. March 15th, seven recruits joined the regiment. Our camp was near Fort Totten, and a portion of our men were temporarily attached to the Fifth Rhode Island Artillery at the Fort. April 1st, the regiment (thirty men) was ordered to Camp Distribution as guards. This camp, as its name suggests, was for the temporary accommodation of convalescents. At times it contained only a few, and at other times thousands of men en route to their regiments.

April 13th we received news of the surrender of Gen'l Lee and his army, and it was currently said, an order was issued that "if any member of the army was found sober at

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four P. M., he would be arrested and court-martialled." At least the spirit of such an order was to a large extent carried out. Fort Totten and the navy responded to our cheers with a national salute, and the day was generally celebrated with mock engagements, speeches, national and patriotic songs. April 26th, the festivities were again renewed over the surrender of Johnston's army and the virtual close of the war. A wilder set of men never existed, and the exhibitions of joy manifested never reached sublimer heights. The strifes of four long years, the sacrifice of blood and life, the measureless sufferings of the crippled and dead, now found fruition in victory and in an honorable peace.

The soldier's life was usually a very hard or a very easy one, and it was emphatically so with our regiment. Its days of ease in camp, garrison or provost duty, contrasted frequently and sharply with the siege, the forced march, the bivouac on the cold and wet ground, the deadly assault, or the horrors of a prison life. Whenever an assault must be made, or dangerous ground held, it fell to the lot of the Twenty-Seventh to find itself where shot and shell flew thickest and fastest, where death reaped its most abundant harvest. First on the field, and last off it at New Berne, Goldsboro, Walthall, and Arrowfield; in the thickest of the fight at Drewry's Bluff; one of the first to rush into the "jaws of hell" at Cold Harbor; pouring out its blood like water in the deadly charge at Petersburg, it at last sank in a sea of blood at South-West Creek. With such hardships and exposure, it is no wonder that the effective strength of the command was greatly weakened by disease, that the wounded were so many, and that the death list was the highest of any infantry regiment that left this State to suppress the rebellion.

As the furlough of the paroled men expired about the 1st of May, Adjutant Holmes received the following instructions: --

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Boston, May 1, 1865.

In reply to your inquiry relative to men of the Twenty-Seventh Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, now in the State as prisoners paroled, and whose furloughs from Camp Parole, Annapolis, are about to expire, it is deemed advisable -- to save expenses of transporting them to and from Annapolis again, -- that they should remain in the State, holding themselves subject to the orders of the War Department, and its action in this particular case.

F. M. Clark, Maj. and A. A. P. M. G.

The disbanding of the rebel army soon filled the country with "Johnnies marching home;" and as some of them were passing through New Berne, one of the Twenty-Seventh boys saw a sword upon a rebel captain which looked familiar, and, using a soldier's privilege, insisted upon seeing it, and thus discovered Adjutant Holmes' sword, which was promptly taken, and forwarded to its original owner. With the close of hostilities, Col. Bartholomew was brought to New Berne, and, under the watchful care of skilful surgeons, was soon after able to be sent North. There were now three hundred seventy-three men at the North and in the hospitals, and only thirty-three men on duty in North Carolina; and Adjutant Holmes applied to the War Department to have the latter sent home. On the 6th of June, before action had been taken on this request, Capt. McKay and Lieuts. Lyman, E. L. Peck, Bligh and Larned, with fifty enlisted men, returned to the command at New Berne.

June 26th the regiment was mustered out of service at New Berne by Capt. James D. Parker, Assistant Commissary of Musters, in accordance with orders from Department Headquarters. July 1st the regiment, with seven officers and one hundred and thirty-two men, sailed for the North, reaching Readville, Mass., July 7, 1865. Here, almost within sight of home, a tedious delay of twelve days occurred

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in closing the accounts of the regiment, when they were paid off by Paymaster Holman and the regiment disbanded. Many of those in hospitals at the North did not obtain discharges until some time later. The last man discharged was Spencer C. Wood of Company A, Easthampton. He went North on a sick leave in December, 1862, and was never able to return. His papers were forwarded for discharge, but were mislaid until found through the efforts of Senator Dawes. He received his discharge in January, 1881, to date from Nov. 27, 1862.

It is unnecessary to recount the successive brilliant achievements of the Union arms, by which in one short month after our last engagement, the rebel army in Virginia was forced to an unconditional surrender; or to note the march of Gen'l Sherman's victorous host and the capitulation of Johnston's army, April 25th. May 11th the last engagement of the war occurred near Palmetto Branch, Texas, where Col. Barrett and a portion of the Thirty-Fourth Indiana Regiment attacked a rebel camp. The object of the expedition was accomplished in the capture and destruction of the camp. The enemy, however, rallied, and forced our troops to retire on Brazos. The same day Jefferson Davis, the quasi president of the Confederacy, was captured by Col. Pritchard and the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, in that "last ditch" which with so much flourish the rebs had declared a purpose to defend; it was the shawl, raglan and hoop-skirt of Mrs. Davis. "Thus closed a war which," says Jefferson Davis, "commenced and ended with Confederate victories;" but as results were the fruits we sought, we do not care to quarrel over his innocent claims, for the Union was saved.

It was a strife which made insignificant the greatest wars of the past, and was waged with triple fury because of consanguinity; with forces and resources commensurate to the country and to the issues at stake. The magnitude of the struggle best appears as we recede from its military operations

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and more fully understand their details. To the anxious North, the Grant campaigns of 1864 and 1865 seemed slow and fruitless, but to-day we look back upon them with wonder. In eleven months the exultant army of Lee, which had tauntingly defied the Union arms before the Rappahannock, was reduced to abject surrender by the assaults, manœuvres, marches, and constant vigilance of this army, and Grant did "fight it out on that line," though it took almost a year. It cost the Union Army operating for the defeat of Lee's Army in Virginia, in 1864-5, twenty-five thousand slain and one hundred thousand wounded, but its spirit was equal to any sacrifice to accomplish its purpose. From the beginning of the war to its close two million six hundred and eighty-eight thousand seven hundred and twenty-three men had participated in the contest; this, reduced to the three years standard, gave an effective three years' force of two million one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred fifty-seven men. Of this number, it is estimated three hundred and five thousand men were buried upon or adjacent to the fields of battle, irrespective of those who died at home. Nearly an equal number were more or less severely wounded upon the field, while at least two hundred and eighty-five thousand were discharged for disability, and came back wrecks of their former selves, many of them only to die. These losses, coupled with the immense destruction of stores and supplies, and the outlay of billions of dollars, give a little idea of the magnitude of our struggle.

The South mustered one million two hundred and eighty-seven thousand men into their army during the war, and surrendered at its close a total of one hundred and sixty-seven thousand three hundred and thirty-nine men. Most of the rebel troops, however, dispersed without giving parole. Lee's army, when it commenced its retreat from Petersburg, numbered about fifty thousand men, though but little more than half that number were paroled. The rebellion, then,

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called into the field nearly four millions of men. In its prosecution it cost the lives of nearly five hundred thousand men, and the health of four hundred and fifty thousand more. Out of this struggle, however, in the prophetic words of President Adams, came "a people fully initiated into the family of nations," with a unity and prowess commanding the honor and respect of the world.

Maj. John W. Moore was born in Tolland, Hampden County, Mass., March 12, 1830. His father, Elgin D. Moore, was a leading man of affairs in church and town, and, with his wife, Harriet Wadsworth, of Hartford, Conn., was of Puritan stock and of honorable connection with the wars of the Revolution and of 1812. Major Moore's educational advantages were limited, until, by his own effort, he was enabled to attend the Suffield (Conn.) Institute and the Westfield Academy, where he fitted for college. He entered Williams College, but at the close of the Freshman year went to California, remaining until 1859. Upon his return he entered the law office of Gillett & Stevens, Westfield, Mass., and was admitted to the "Hampden County Bar" a year later. Upon the outbreak of the rebellion he was attending Harvard Law School. When authority was given to Col. Lee to raise the Twenty-Seventh Regiment, Major Moore offered to assist in recruiting a company, and, succeeding, was commissioned as a first lieutenant in that company. Upon the resignation of Capt. Thayer, Lieut. Moore was promoted to captain. After the death of Major Walker, while upon the return to White-House Landing, June 12, 1864, he was ordered to the command of the regiment, and soon after received his commission as major, dated June 4, 1864. Major Moore participated in all the engagements of the regiment until June 18, 1864, at which time he was wounded, and went North. He returned to the

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regiment before Petersburg early in September, and commanded the Twenty-Seventh Mass. Vols. on its return to North Carolina, and until Lieut. Col. Bartholomew rejoined the regiment in the November following. Soon after the return of Col. Bartholomew, Major Moore tendered his resignation, because of ill-health, and because the few men connected with the regiment did not require the retention of two field officers; but, owing to the cotton difficulty (recorded on page 453), the resignation was not accepted until March 8, 1865. Major Moore flatly refused to be bled for the benefit of speculators within or outside of the army. Finally, upon a declaration that the entire correspondence would be sent to the Secretary of War, unless some decisive action was taken by Gen'l Palmer, Major Moore secured the acceptance of his resignation. Major Moore has lived in California, Moniteau County, Missouri, since 1865. He has served four years as a circuit attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Missouri, and has now a large and lucrative law practice.

Col. Joseph H. Nutting, of Greenfield, Mass., was a clerk in a grocery store, and after aiding in enlisting the Greenfield company (C) was commissioned first lieutenant Oct. 16, 1861. Upon the promotion of Capt. Walker to major, Lieut. Nutting was promoted to his place. May 11, 1865, Capt. Nutting was commissioned as major, and May 15, 1865, for conspicuous and meritorious action, was brevetted lieutenant-colonel. Col. Nutting was one of the few always to be relied upon, and his bearing upon the field was courageous and inspiring. He was present in all our contests until May 16, 1864, when, with nine other officers, he was made prisoner. He escaped from the enemy at Columbia, S. C., as already narrated. After a short leave of absence he rejoined the regiment, filling responsible positions with credit to himself, and giving special attention to

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the final mustering-out and discharge of the regiment. Col. Nutting's entire service reflected honor upon himself and the regiment. His sword, captured from him at Drewry's Bluff, May 16, 1864, was recaptured with Jefferson Davis and party, and was returned to Col. Nutting.

Capt. George W. Bartlett, first adjutant of our regiment, was a native of Bath, Me., and a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1856. He was principal of the Deerfield Academy in 1857; read law with Hon. Thomas Jenks in 1858; and graduated from the Albany Law School in 1859. He began the practice of law at Greenfield, Mass., and at various times was associated with Alvord & Wells, Judge C. C. Conant, and E. E. Lyman, Esq., all of that town. He received well-merited promotion to captain for gallantry on the field, while his legal abilities were recognized in appointments as judge-advocate and, later, as provost-marshal of the District of Beaufort. Capt. Bartlett possessed a well-balanced mind, with finished scholarly attainments. He was a self-made man, of good parts, close in application, patient in detail, and independent in thought. He was fearless upon the field and fond of adventure. At the close of his service he returned to his profession at Greenfield, and June 7, 1865, married Mrs. Frances Gregg Smith, a granddaughter of Hon. Daniel Webster. He served as a representative in the Mass. General Court in 1865, and subsequently as an assistant assessor of the Ninth District. He died Feb. 4, 1873, needing no better monument than the court records of Franklin County. The following resolutions were adopted by the court, March 23, 1873, and an adjournment ordered for the day, in honor of his memory: --

Resolved, That we, as his associates, bear testimony to his learning and ability as a lawyer, his uniform courtesy and uprightness in all his professional duties, as well as his untiring zeal and faithfulness to his clients and fidelity to the courts.

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Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Bartlett the county and community have lost a citizen of much enterprise and public spirit, a firm friend of education and progress, and that his memory will be kindly cherished.

Surgeon D. B. N. Fish. Jan. 23, 1863, the hospital staff was reinforced by Assistant Surgeon D. B. N. Fish, who had been appointed January 5th to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Assistant Surgeon Hunt. He remained with the regiment to the end, and was deservedly promoted until he stood in the place of our renowned Surgeon Otis. Although suffering much of the time from fever and ague, Surgeon Fish was with us on every march and in every battle from this time until our last engagement, March 8, 1865. Even during Surgeon Otis' and Assistant Surgeon Hubon's connection with us, he was for the greater part of the time in charge of the regiment, -- the former officers being upon detached service. During the trying campaign of 1864 he followed us with untiring zeal upon every movement, having plead for relief from a most flattering position as surgeon at the Corps hospital, that he might share the fortunes and lighten the misfortunes of our men. Surgeon Fish was born in Amherst, Mass., in 1838. He entered Amherst College in 1858, but on account of a hemorrhage of the lungs was obliged to leave at the end of the Freshman year. He graduated in medicine at Berkshire Medical College in 1862. He was soon after offered his choice of position as assistant surgeon either of the Tenth or Twenty-Seventh Mass. Regiments. He chose the latter, and became at once a most valued and trusted officer, and to his unremitting care many of our number owe their exemption from the disabilities incident to war. Surgeon Fish now resides in Amherst, Mass., and holds an enviable position as a physician and surgeon.

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Capt. Park W. McManus was from Davenport, Iowa, but in 1861 was a member of the Junior Class at Amherst College. He had no former military experience, and, for that matter, needed but little, as he was a born soldier, with a commanding presence and a courage equal to any emergency. He was commissioned first lieutenant, and assigned to Company B. Upon the death of Adjt. E. D. Lee he was appointed adjutant, and was serving as such when captured, May 16, 1864. After an extended acquaintance with rebel prisons he made his escape, as narrated in this work. Capt. McManus participated in all our battles, until his capture, and resigned his commission Dec. 31, 1864. He now resides at Davenport, Iowa, and has represented his constituents in the State legislature.

Capt. Gustave A. Fuller was for several years a noncommissioned officer in the Springfield City Guard, and was commissioned captain with an assignment to the Pittsfield company (E). His company was given the second position in rank -- the left of the line -- for proficiency in the school of soldiers. After passing through the battles of Roanoke Island and New Berne, he resigned his commission July 22, 1862. After the war Capt. Fuller became a prominent member of the Old Guard of New York City, and the proprietor of Fuller's Express. He died at New York City Jan. 18, 1883, and was buried with military honors by the Old Guard in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Capt. Horace K. Cooley served as a private in the Mexican war, and at the time of the organization of the Twenty-Seventh Mass. Regt., was a member of the Springfield City Guards. He assisted in the recruiting of the Springfield company (K), and was commissioned as captain. He was present in the battles of Roanoke Island, New Berne, Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, and the siege of Washington.

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In November, 1862, he was in command of the outpost at Bachelor's Creek, and though surrounded by the enemy, he defended his position until their retreat, for which he received special mention by the commanding general. He resigned his commission on account of disability, April 29, 1863, and now resides at Somerville, Mass.

Capt. R. Ripley Swift was for several years a sergeant in the Springfield City Guards, and previous to the outbreak of the rebellion was a photographer at Chicopee, Mass., and an agent of Thompson's Express Company. He recruited for his company at Chicopee, and was commissioned captain of the same, Oct. 16, 1861. He was severely wounded at the battle of New Berne, and though he never fully recovered from the consequent disability, he rejoined the regiment; and during the time it was scattered upon outpost duty, served as quartermaster for one of the detachments. Later, he entered the field with his company, and was captured before Drewry's Bluff, May 16, 1864. He was exchanged in March, 1865, and discharged from service March 12, 1865. Capt. Swift was accidently drowned at Springfield during the summer of 1879.

Capt. Timothy W. Sloan of Amherst, was formerly an officer in the Mass. State Militia, and when that town decided to raise a company for the Twenty-Seventh Regiment he was naturally selected as its leader. In company with Ami R. Dennison of Amherst College, and J. Leander Skinner, he raised a company of men, second to none in the regiment. He was commissioned as captain of this company, and after participating in the battles of Roanoke Island and New Berne, resigned by reason of disability, Nov. 15, 1862 Capt. Sloan is a shoe merchant, and resides at Amherst, Mass.

Capt. Adin W. Caswell was also connected with our

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State militia; and upon the opening of hostilities, was a shoe manufacturer at Gardner, Mass. He had recruited a company at Athol and Gardner, expecting to join some Worcester County regiment; but in the absence of such an opportunity the company was offered to and accepted by the Twenty-Seventh Mass. Regt. Capt. Caswell served his full term, and was present in all our battles save that at Drewry's Bluff, at which time he was disabled by a wound received at Arrowfield Church. As a remarkable fact he never asked for or received a leave of absence. He was discharged by reason of the expiration of his term of service, Nov. 19, 1864. He still resides at Gardner, Mass.

Capt. William H. Tyler, our first quartermaster, was in business at North Adams when appointed to that position by Governor Andrew. He had had no former military experience. It is a sufficient comment upon his worth to record that upon the organization of Stevenson's Brigade, Jan. 1, 1863, Lieut. Tyler was selected for his staff. He was promoted to captain and commissary of subsistence, U. S. V., and continued with that brigade until he was discharged from service. He died at North Adams near the close of the war.

Capt. Henry C. Dwight was a native of Northampton, Mass., and a descendant of a time-honored family. Though a young man with flattering prospects, he relinquished all at the call of his country, and was influential in recruiting the Northampton company. Moved by an earnest enthusiasm, he first took a subordinate position, but received the first promotion given in the regiment, and was rapidly advanced to captain, commanding Company A. In this position he served until May 16, 1864, with credit to himself and honor to the regiment. While lying with his company before Drewry's Bluff, the night previous to the battle, he received

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Special Order No. 27, Headquarters Eighteenth Army Corps. ordering him to report forthwith to Capt. John Hall, Chief Commissary of Subsistence. Although the order was complimentary to Capt. Dwight, he was indisposed to leave his command, feeling confident that a desperate battle was impending. The order, however, was imperative, and in obeying it, he escaped the consequences of that battle, and remained until the close of his term, Sept. 28, 1864, as captain and assistant commissary of subsistence, Eighteenth Army Corps. Capt. Dwight's intelligent, courageous, patriotic service, with his genial, self-forgetful spirit, inspired universal confidence and regard. He still is one of our most popular comrades, and has a keen interest in all that pertains to our regiment, He resides at Hartford, Conn., has been honored by his constituents with municipal and pecuniary trusts, and is now a large and successful manufacturer.

Capt. Peter S. Bailey was prominent in the enlistment of the Chicopee company, and was commissioned its first lieutenant. He was promoted to captain, Feb. 17, 1864, and assigned to the command of the Amherst company. He escaped the disaster which befell our regiment, May 16, 1864, being at the time upon the picket line. He was wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, and subsequently held command of the regiment before Petersburg, Va. He was discharged from service Dec. 17, 1864, and now resides at Springfield, Mass., holding the responsible position of treasurer of the Hampden Savings Bank.

Capt. J. Leander Skinner was born in Jamaica, Vt., Nov. 29, 1838. He afterwards removed to Brookfield and Ware, Mass., and at the opening of the war was a clerk in the store of A. & B. W. Allen, of Amherst. His first enlistment, from lack of numbers to organize a company, proved of no avail. Upon the next call for troops he himself determined

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to try to raise a company. In company with three associates, he canvassed Amherst and the adjoining towns, and in two weeks the ranks were full. Although fairly entitled to a commission, he accepted the position of first sergeant and by successive promotions was made captain, Sept. 29, 1864. As a matter of principle, Capt. Skinner never absented himself from duty. He shared in all our battles until May 16, 1864, at Drewry's Bluff, at which place he was captured, and suffered imprisonment at Macon, Ga., and Charleston and Columbia, S. C. He escaped from Columbia Nov. 4, 1864; was recaptured four days later, but re-escaped November 29th, and made his way to our blockading squadron off the mouth of the Santee River. He reached Fortress Monroe about Jan. 1, 1865. Jan. 21, 1865, by Special Order, No. 33, from the War Department, he was mustered out of service, to date from Dec. 31, 1864. Capt. Skinner subsequently served as the postmaster of Amherst and is now residing in Sacramento, Cal. He has recently received his sword, captured at Drewry's Bluff, through the kindness of a lady of South Carolina.

Lieut. James H. Fowler, son of Charles C. Fowler, Esq., of Westfield, Mass., was born at that place, Dec. 2, 1839. At the opening of the war, he was in the hardware business in Boston. He responded at once to the call for volunteers; but so general was the response, that but a small number of the companies offered to the Government were accepted. While connected with one of these unaccepted companies, he became an adept in the manual of arms and company movements, so that when he received his commission as second lieutenant in our regiment, Oct. 16, 1864, he had but few superiors as a drill-master. He was promoted to first lieutenant Jan. 2, 1862; served for a time as adjutant; and during the campaign of 1864, as commissary of subsistence upon Gen'l Stannard's staff. He was

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discharged Sept. 28, 1864; re-engaged in business at Boston, and died Oct. 12, 1877.

Lieut. William G. Davis was a resident of Schenectady, N. Y., but being at Greenfield at the time of the enlistment of Company C, joined the same as its first sergeant. He was promoted to second lieutenant, May 2, 1863, and to first lieutenant, June 4, 1864. He was captured at Drewry's Bluff and after six months' imprisonment made good his escape, as narrated in this work. He rejoined the regiment in North Carolina; participated in the battle of South-West Creek where he was again captured, and upon re-arriving at Richmond, had the pleasure of piloting the party to Libby Prison, the officer in charge of the prisoners not knowing its location. Comrade Davis was among those who suffered from "sunstroke" upon the Mary Dunn farm, May 7, 1864; the result of this has been a temporary insanity, and at the time of our writing he is an inmate of an asylum at Jacksonville, Ill.

Lieut. Justus Lyman, son of Waldo Lyman of Easthampton, was in direct descent from one of New England's earliest and best families. He enlisted in Company A, received a warrant as sergeant, and was promoted to second lieutenant, Feb. 17, 1864, and to first lieutenant, June 5, 1864. Two of his brothers enlisted in this regiment, one of whom died, December, 1862; the other was discharged for disability. Lieut. Lyman was assigned to Company B, and was in command of the same at Drewry's Bluff, where he was captured. After ten months' imprisonment he was exchanged at Wilmington, N. C. He rejoined his regiment but hostilities having ceased, he saw no further service. He now resides at Easthampton, Mass.

Lieut. Edwin L. Peck, son of Capt. Noah Peck -- a

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former officer of the State militia from Rehoboth, Mass., -- was born at Seekonk, Mass., Feb. 10, 1839. In 1859 he attended the Westfield Normal School, from which he graduated in 1860, and was residing in Westfield when the war broke out. He received a sergeant's warrant, but by conspicuous and gallant service won commissions as first lieutenant and brevet captain. Lieut. Peck was engaged in every battle and nearly every skirmish in which the regiment participated. With a great love for adventure, he was ready for any service; and with courage and coolness was equal to any emergency. He was not only a man of culture and of social parts, but in turn a Nasby and a Delmonico. He was in command of Company F during the last year of its service. He escaped capture at Drewry's Bluff, and was constantly at the front at Cold Harbor and Petersburg, but was captured at South-West Creek March 8, 1865. He now resides at Westfield, Mass.

Lieut. John H. Judd was a plumber at Easthampton, and received a warrant as second sergeant upon entering Company A. He was promoted to second lieutenant Jan. 2, 1863, and to first lieutenant May 17, 1864. By the order detailing Capt. Dwight to other service, he was left in command of the Northampton company before Drewry's Bluff, and suffered capture, with imprisonment for ten months. While being moved from point to point in advance of Sherman's victorious army, he eluded his guard and remained concealed until "Sherman's bummers" arrived, when he joined the victorious column and reached Goldsboro, N. C., the middle of March, 1865. Lieut. Judd now resides at Easthampton, Mass.

We have spoken freely of the officers of our regiment, and the many prominent places held by them. It would be gross injustice to neglect to say of our enlisted men, that, as a whole, they were men of sterling worth, many of whom in

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due time were advanced to commissioned officers in our own and other regiments, or held responsible positions in the departments with which they were connected. Among those prominent in responsible service were: Ashiel B. Norcross, of Company C, who was the military superintendent and master mechanic of the railroad from New Berne to Beaufort; and William P. Derby, of Company A, military postmaster, in charge of the mail service in the Department of North Carolina. Solon M. Allis was prominent in the engineer department; George O. Spooner in the commissary department; Albert M. Macomber in the ordnance department; Charles H. Rust in the provost marshal's office, and Luther W. Fisher, with a score of others, in the quartermaster's department. Many of the bravest and best of those serving in our regiment will unfortunately find no special personal mention herein, because of our lack of the needed information. So varied were the attainments and the previous callings of our rank and file, that from them any position could be filled, or any demand be satisfied, with competent men. We were able to furnish lawyers, teachers, clerks and musicians; to supply dentists, jewellers, artists, printers, tailors and barbers; and we had architects, builders, masons, machinists and engineers, with millers, bakers and farmers, to meet any possible requisition.

It was through noble emulation and courage along the line that success in battle was most often attained; and the deeds recorded in this work were those of men who were moved by an intelligent and consecrated patriotism. No bounty tempted them to enlist in 1861, but enthused by an intense love for their country, they rushed to arms at its first call, and held no service too arduous, and no risk too great, to rescue the land of their love. It was with such patriotism that the nations of the world were struck with wonder and awe; it was to such men that our Union looked with confidence for its redemption.