1861.

July 23.

song in a spirited manner with full band accompaniment. The song originated in the Second Battalion of Infantry while it was in the fort, and had been enthusiastically adopted by the Webster Regiment. All who were present and saw the regiment on this occasion acknowledged that it was unexcelled in discipline and quality.

The Webster Committee were losing patience, and for good reason. The regiment seemed doomed to dwell forever in Fort Warren. Seven regiments had gone to the front, yet the Twelfth still drilled and waited in Boston Harbor. So the committee induced the Hon. Henry Wilson, Chairman of Committee on Military Affairs, to visit Fort Warren and see the Webster Regiment. He came, and declared it the best-drilled organization he had thus far seen. On his return to Washington an order came, "Add to the seven other regiments the Twelfth ; " and the Webster Regiment prepared to leave the State.

On Tuesday, July 23, the regiment was reviewed by Brig.-Gen. Andrews, commander of the garrison, and was escorted by the Fourteenth Regiment, Col. Greene, to the landing. On its way to Boston it was saluted by the school-ship "Massachusetts," and the ships "Pembroke" and "Cambridge." At 6.30 P.M. the regiment reached Boston. The men wore white "havelocks," and had their overcoats neatly folded on top of their knapsacks, the bright red lining being outward, which contrasted oddly with their tanned faces and blue coats. The strength was 1,040 men, armed with the Enfield rifle. Escorted by the Second Battalion, the regiment marched in quick time, via State, Court, and Tremont Streets, to the Old Colony Depot. While marching up State Street, and again near the Common, the men sang with much spirit the famous "John Brown" song. The march was one grand ovation. At every available point streets and windows were literally packed. Not a man was left behind all were in good condition and ready for any duty. The Massachusetts Register" says,

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"So eager were the brave fellows to serve their country, that they actually signed three sets of papers.”

1861.

July 24.

They never received any pay for the time previous to date of muster into the United-States service.

At eight P.M. the train moved out of the Old Colony Depot. It consisted of twenty-one passenger-cars, drawn by two powerful engines. Following it came the campequipage, twenty baggage-wagons, two hospital-wagons, five ambulances, one powder-wagon, and ninety-six horses. The horses had been picketted on the old battle-ground at Lexington, and trained by the teamsters. Every man in the regiment had ten rounds of ammunition, and fifty thousand rounds were carried on the baggage-train.

"The Massachusetts Register" says,

"The departure of the Webster Regiment will long be remembered by those who witnessed its birth, growth, and education. The relation which it maintained to the city, and the reputation which it achieved, secured to these troops an ovation second to none which preceded it."

The passage to Fall River was marked by bonfires, fireworks, and other illuminations all along the route. Fall River was reached at 10.30 P.M., and at 1.30 A.м. of July 24 the steamer " Bay State carried the Webster Regi

ment from the shore of Massachusetts.

The passage down the Sound was pleasant. From Hell Gate to the landing at New York the regiment was lustily cheered by thousands. At Fourteenth Street a delegation of Massachusetts gentlemen, accompanied by the Seventh New-York Regiment Band, were in waiting; and the regiment was escorted to the Park Barracks, where dinner was provided by the Military Agent for Massachusetts, the officers dining at the Astor House. At seven P.M. the regiment marched down Broadway to Pier No. 2. At the order "route-step," the band struck up "John Brown: "" the men joined in singing, and the citizens of New York were electrified by the weird chorus. It had never before been sung in New-York City. The steamer "Kill von Kull" carried the regiment to Elizabethport, where, after a delay of three hours, caused by disembarking the baggage-wagons, cars were taken for Harrisburg, Penn.

1861. July 25.

July 26.

On through the lovely scenery of Eastern Pennsylvania, halting occasionally for some coming train, and improving the time by picking blackberries; stopping for lunch at Reading; waiting two hours at Newmantown, for an express train; received with open arms by the thrifty and hospitable inhabitants of Lebanon, and reaching Harrisburg at six P.M.; waiting there two hours; then still on through York, to Glen Rock.

Here the regiment breakfasted, loaded muskets, and filled canteens from a "boiling spring; on at a snail's pace to Hummelstown; passing Mason's and Dixon's Line, and entering “Dixie” at 9.30 A.M., July 26, - such was the journey.

The regiment was five and one-half hours travelling from Glen Rock to Hummelstown, a distance of twentyfive miles. Suspicion being aroused of something wrong, Col. Webster dismissed the engineer; and one of our own men, Nathan L. Revere of Company G, was placed in charge of the engine, with manifest good results in the item of speed.

At noon the regiment reached Baltimore; the baggage was drawn across the city by horses, and guarded by Companies H and B; a few moments were devoted to a hasty meeting with the Eighth Massachusetts, and quietly and peacefully the Webster Regiment passed "through Baltimore." At ten P.M., singing "John Brown," the regiment left Baltimore, and, packed in cattle-cars, rode on past camp and guard, till, on the morning of July 27, Sandy Hook, Md., opposite Harper's Ferry, was reached.

1861. July 27.

July 28.

July 29.

July 30.

July 31.

Aug. 1.

Aug. 2.

THE

CHAPTER III.

THE FIRST YEAR'S DUTY.

THE regiment pitched tents on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, about a mile from Harper's Ferry; and, being assigned to Abercrombie's brigade of Banks's division, the camp was named in honor of the division commander. The "twin regiments," Second Massachusetts and Third Wisconsin, greeted our arrival; and, after detailing portions of Companies B and D to guard a building at division headquarters, filled with ammunition, the remainder of the Twelfth was, with the Thirtyfourth New York, assigned to guard-duty along the Potomac.

During the night the regiment struck tents and awaited orders. Fifteen extra rounds of ammunition were issued to each man. At daylight pitched tents again.

In the afternoon Companies B and H were sent to Maryland Heights on scout-duty, where they met the Third Wisconsin building an observatory. At night Doubleday's battery and several infantry regiments camped beside the Twelfth.

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Regimental drill, the rest of the day being spent in fixing up" tents and camp. The three months' regiments were steadily "marching home again," and three years' regiments continually arriving.

Hot weather. Gen. Banks was expected to visit the camp for inspection, but failed to put in an appearance. Rained at nightfall.

Rain and shine. The Fifth Connecticut arrived, and camped near by.

A man was drummed out of camp.

1861. Aug. 4.

Aug. 5.

Aug. 6.

Aug. 7.

Aug. 9.

Aug. 14.

Aug. 15.

Sunday. Chaplain Clark preached from text, "No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.” The band played "Old Hundred," all who could joining in singing. Fernando d'Argome, a drummer in the band, was accidentally wounded by a pistol-ball, which, glancing on a tree, lodged in his neck. A member of D company was reported "missing." Three of F company visited Harper's Ferry, returning with news of one thousand rebel conscripts being at Winchester; while an indefinite number were said to be at Manassas. Harper's Ferry they reported to be "a filthy place.”

Rain. One of the companies, being out target-firing, occasioned quite an alarm: the noise being mistaken for an engagement near by, the whole division turned out under arms ere the mistake was discovered. Shortly afterward the Twelfth Indiana discharged its muskets to see what the effect would be, with very gratifying results in the item of creating an alarm. Companies F and H were detailed for a two days' scout, but B contrived to take F's place. Gen. Abercrombie witnessed the regimental drill during the afternoon, and a newspaper correspondent wrote,

"Gen. Abercrombie gives it as his opinion that the Twelfth is the best-drilled regiment in the brigade, and cannot be excelled by any in the division.”

At 9.30 A.M. shifted camp to a very pleasant grove, with abundance of good water.

Battalion drill. At dress-parade Gen. Banks and staff, with other visitors, were present.

A rattlesnake was killed. It was three feet nine inches long, and had six rattles.

A severe north-east storm raging. At seven P.M. received orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice, with two days' cooked rations.

Was spent in conjectures as to when and where the regiment was to move. At ten A.M. the whole brigade marched to Weaverstown, halted there half an hour; then on through Knoxville and Petersville, halting at Skedunkski Creek; then through Jefferson to Buckeyston, where