This duty was of short duration. On the 5th January, the third brigade was ordered to Baltimore, and encamped a few days at Camp Carrollton. On the 13th, the Thirty-eighth embarked on board the "Oriental" for Savannah, and arrived there on the 19th. The regiment remained encamped on the outskirts of the city until the 5th of March, when, embarking on board a steamer, it reached Morehead City on the 8th. In the evening, it took the cars for Newbern, where it arrived just too late to be needed there.

From Newbern it was sent back to Morehead City, at that time the base of supplies for Sherman's army. April 7, intelligence of the defeat of Gen. Lee before Richmond and Petersburg was received; and, on the 8th, the regiment took cars for Goldsborough. Here six companies were detailed for provost-duty, and the rest to guard commissary-stores.

On the 2d of May, they all returned to Morehead City, and, on the 4th, embarked again for Savannah. They were here assigned light provost-duty.

June 9, the order came for mustering out the regiment. All the papers, however, were not completed until June 30, when the welcome order was received to strike tents and go home. By an order from the War Department, the men were permitted to retain their arms.

Leaving Savannah on the 30th, they reached home on the 7th of July, and, on the 13th, received an ovation from the authorities of Cambridge, in which city three companies of the regiment had been enlisted.

Warm welcomes were also extended to the men from Lynn, New Bedford, and Abington.

CHAPTER XX.

THIRTY-NINTH, FORTIETH, AND FORTY-FIRST REGIMENTS.

The Camps, and the Departure of the Thirty-ninth. - Guarding the Potomac. - Marches and Battles in Virginia. Before Petersburg. With Sheridan. Mustered out.The Fortieth Regiment goes to Washington, and protects the Capitol. On the March. The Affair at Baltimore Cross-roads. The Sixth Brigade. Gen. Devens's Letter. -The Forty-first sails with Gen. Banks for New Orleans. Arrival and Service there. The March to Port Hudson. The Regiment changed to the Third Massachusetts Cavalry.

THE

THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT.

HE Thirty-ninth removed from Springfield, Sept. 1, to Camp Stanton, Boxford, Mass.; which place it left on the 6th, and arrived at Washington on the 8th. Its officers at this time were,

Assistant Surgeon
Chaplain

James L. Chipman.

Edward Beecher French.

From the time of its arrival at Washington until January, 1863, the Thirty-ninth was engaged at various points in guarding the Potomac. The daily detail from the regiment for picket-guard was two officers, eight non-commissioned officers, and ninety men.

On the 11th of November, by order of Gen. Heintzelman, Brig.-Gen. Grover relinquished the command of the brigade to Col. Davis, devolving the command of this regiment upon Lieut.Col. Peirson. In accordance with instructions from Gen. Heintzelman, Col. Davis moved the brigade, the regiments of which were scattered from Seneca Creek down the Potomac, a distance of six miles, to Offutt's Cross-Roads, sixteen miles from Washington, where it was consolidated in a camp of instruction on the 14th of November.

On the 21st of December, the regiment marched to Poolesville, where it remained in camp during the winter.

April 15, it marched for Washington, D.C., where it performed guard and patrol duty until the 9th of July.

On the 10th, it proceeded to Maryland Heights. Here the regiment joined Gen. Briggs's brigade, as part of the second division, First Corps, Army of the Potomac. July 14, the Thirty-ninth crossed the river, and commenced its march southward, arriving at Rappahannock Station July 27. The regiment supported the crossing of Buford's cavalry at this point, Aug. 1; itself making the passage during the day, and fortifying a position on the right bank of the river. On the 8th, it recrossed, and, on the 16th of September, went into camp at Stevensburg. On the 24th, the march was resumed. Several positions were successively taken and abandoned during these weeks of marching and camping. No incidents worthy of particular note are mentioned by the officers. At Mine Run, a slight skirmish took place with the enemy's pickets. One man was wounded. From the 29th of November to the 1st of December, the division to which the Thirty-ninth belonged lay in line of battle near the enemy's works. The army then commenced its retreat towards the Rapidan.

The First Corps covered the crossing of the Fifth and Sixth. On the morning of the 2d, this regiment, being the last to cross the river, marched to Stevensburg, and bivouacked for the night; and, on the 3d, went into camp about one mile from Kelley's Ford, on the right bank of the Rappahannock River, where it occupied log-houses built by Gen. Lee's force for winter-quarters, from which they were dislodged by our army on the 7th of November last. On the 24th of December, the regiment marched to Mitchell's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, where it formed the extreme outpost of the army. Here it built winterquarters, and remained during the winter, picketing the north bank of the Rapidan. On the 4th of May, 1864, the Thirty-ninth entered upon the spring campaign, which was inaugurated in the battle-ground of the Wilderness. Having crossed the Rapidan, it arrived there on the evening of the same day. The next morning, the regiment was ordered out on the Brock Pike, where it was formed, and advanced in line of battle through the woods to the support of a line in front that was being driven by the enemy. After checking this advance of the enemy, the regiment took position in the front, and remained in the edge of the wood till late in the afternoon; when a charge across the field was essayed, but, being unsupported, was unsuccessful; and the regiment resumed its

THE THIRTY-NINTH AT PETERSBURG.

397

position in the edge of the wood, and remained there through the night.

The loss of the regiment in this, its first engagement, was slight, one killed, and eighteen wounded.

On the morning of the 6th, the regiment was relieved by other troops, and passed back to the reserve; but the stay was short. After an hour's rest, it was sent to the front, and, after many changes of position, was finally sent to the left to take position on the Mine-run Mud-pike, where works were built; and the regiment occupied them till the night of the 7th, when the march to Laurel Hill was made. Early on the morning of the 8th, after a hard night's march, the enemy's cavalry were found in front, disputing the road to our cavalry. The regiment, with the rest of the brigade, was ordered to the support of the cavalry; and, after fixing bayonets, a charge was made, driving the cavalry, then a battery, and finally meeting the infantry of the enemy strongly posted be hind breastworks. Here the enemy's force was found superior to our own; and, after a hard fight, the regiment was obliged to fall back over an open field. In this action the regiment lost a brave and efficient officer, First Lieut. Isaac D. Paul, who was wounded and taken by the enemy, and died on the way to the hospital. Lieut. L. F. Wyman was also taken prisoner, and Lieut. J. A. Merrifield wounded.

On the night of the 13th, the march to Spottsylvania was made through deep mud and pitchy darkness, reaching that place a little after daylight. Here we remained till the 20th, with frequent changes of position; at no time actually engaged, although frequently exposed to artillery-firing.

The crossing of the North Anna was effected on the 23d, with out any serious opposition; and the march was continued, with frequent skirmishes and but little rest for the troops, until they reached Cold Harbor, where they arrived June 5. Here a halt of five days was made, and a supply of clothing distributed.

On the 12th, the march was resumed. Crossing the Chickahominy at midnight, the regiment, with the rest of the division (Gen. Crawford's), pushed on after the army, which was overtaken at St. Mary's Church, and continued until the afternoon of the 14th, when a halt was ordered near Charles-City Court House. On the 16th, the army reached the James. The regiment crossed in a transport, and was hurried off towards Petersburg. Arriving there at daylight on the 17th, the day was spent in getting into a position. On the morning of the 18th, an advance was made, and the ene

my driven out of his works, across the Norfolk Railroad, into his inner line of works. The troops were massed in a ravine, preparatory to a charge; but the order was countermanded, and the regiment remained near Petersburg, doing picket and other duty, until June 25, when the Twelfth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers left the line, their term of service having expired, and the veterans and recruits of that regiment were transferred to the Thirty-ninth. By this transfer, the regiment received two hundred and forty-one men,- one hundred and twenty-five present for duty.

While doing picket-duty in the front, July 11, a shell, thrown from the enemy, burst in the head-quarters of the regiment, wounding Col. Davis. He was immediately taken to the rear, but died before reaching the hospital. Referring to this severe blow to the regiment, in a letter written at that time, Col. Pierson says,

This regiment has met with its greatest loss. His place cannot be filled to us, and the service has lost an officer who cannot well be spared at this time. No purer patriot, no more brave or faithful soldier, no more honorable gentleman, has Massachusetts sent to represent her in this struggle, and none have been more conspicuous for entire devotion to duty, none more respected among his fellow-soldiers, than Col. P. S. Davis.

July 12, the regiment moved into Fort Davis, so called in honor of its late colonel; and remained there a month, picketing the front, and working on the fort. On the 13th of July, the veterans and recruits of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers were transferred to the regiment, one hundred and three in number.

On the 18th of August, the regiment accompanied the advance to the Weldon Railroad. In a vigorous attack made by the enemy, Col. Pierson was seriously wounded, and helped off the field; and the command devolved on Capt. F. R. Kingsley. The enemy were driven back, the line advanced, and the position held during the night.

The next day, the 19th, the enemy made a heavy attack on our position, and, although repulsed in our own front, succeeded in breaking the line both on the right and on the left, and formed a line in rear of our works. Our batteries opened a vigorous shelling, which drove the men out of the works, only to fall into the hands of the enemy in the rear. The greater part of the regi ment engaged was captured. Among the prisoners were Capt. F. R. Kinsley, commanding the regiment; Capt. E. J. Trull, then on