CLOSING SCENES.
Heavy skirmishing was kept up during the night along the Ninth-Corps
line, and the batteries on our right opened at short intervals,
according to orders. The regiments of our brigade which had borne the
brunt of the fighting the day before were relieved, and returned to
their former positions in the main line about midnight. The evacuation
of Petersburg was anticipated, and General Parke instructed the troops
to exercise the greatest vigilance, in order to detect at the earliest
possible moment any movement of the enemy. Soon after midnight the
skirmishers advanced, but found the enemy's pickets still out in strong
force. Explosions occurred in the city, and all indications pointed to
a speedy retreat.
After an anxious, wakeful night to the garrison of Fort Rice, the
morning of the 3d of April dawned clear and beautiful. With the first
approach of day the troops in front advanced, found the enemy's works
deserted save by a few pickets, who were captured, and pushed forward
toward the city only to find that it had already been abandoned. The
first sound that greeted our ears was the glad cry, "Our flag waves
over Petersburg!" It was, indeed, true. The sound of battle had died
away. The enemy, who had withstood our advance for so many months, had
vanished from our view. Ely's brigade of the First Division was the
first to enter Petersburg. The formal surrender was made to Colonel
Ely at twenty-eight minutes past four A.M., and the flag of the Second
Michigan was hoisted over the Court-House. Great cheering followed,
which was renewed later by the receipt of the glorious tidings that
our army was in possession of Richmond, and that the enemy was in full
retreat.
Soon after daylight the troops returned from the city to their former
positions, to prepare for a forward movement. Orders were received to
break camp, and be ready to march at a moment's notice. Haversacks were
filled, and everything was prepared for an immediate advance. Never
were marching orders more cheerfully obeyed. The day, for which we had
toiled, and fought, and prayed so long, had dawned upon us, and few,
indeed, of that garrison resisted the impulse to ascribe all the glory
to the God of battles. Soon after sunrise the regiment partook of its
last breakfast in the bomb-proofs of Fort Rice, which had been its home
for four months. At nine o'clock orders were received to move in the
direction of Petersburg, and in a short time the command moved over
the breastworks, across the picket line, through the enemy's defences
which had been the scene of the sanguinary battle of the day before,
and marched to Cemetery Hill, where a halt was ordered. While resting
here a cavalcade approached. It was the escort of Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States. As the men recognized Mr. Lincoln their
enthusiasm could not be restrained, and amid the thundering cheers
which he graciously acknowledged, the President rode on toward the
city, where he received a grand ovation.
At eleven o'clock the column marched into the city, by the main street,
and we were soon surrounded by the colored people, who gave expression
to their joy in tears and smiles and shouts of welcome. Hundreds of
children thronged around the soldiers, and many asked for bread, which
was freely given to them by the happy men. Many of the soldiers divided
their substance with the poor whites remaining in the town, and one
of our men was seen feeding five little children at one time with the
rations which he carried, leaving him a short supply for the next
three days. We were soon informed that the reason of this keen desire
for food was owing to the fact that for some time previous the price
of flour had been $1,050 a barrel! At such a price, with scarcity of
Confederate scrip, it is not to be wondered at that many poor people
were made happy at the sight and taste of bread.
At noon the corps was concentrated in the city proper. The remainder of
the Army of the Potomac, without even entering the city which it had
besieged for ten weary months, had hurried westward, to intercept the
retreating enemy, and was marching on the river road. General Parke was
ordered to leave one division to guard Petersburg and the railroad,
and move with the rest of his corps, as guard for the wagon-trains,
on the Cox road. At one o'clock the preparations were completed, and
the Second and Third Divisions resumed the march, the Second having
the right, leaving the First Division to guard the city. About a mile
and a half west of the city the road forks: the northern road (nearest
the Appomattox) being called the river road; the southern, which runs
parallel with the Southside Railroad and crosses it many times, being
called the Cox road. Just west of Sutherland Station, where Sheridan's
force struck the railroad, the river road forks, the southern fork
being known as the Namozine road, named from the stream whose course
it follows. The regiment marched all the afternoon, and at night
bivouacked beyond Sutherland Station, twelve miles from Petersburg, on
the Southside Railroad. Generals Grant and Meade slept there that night.
On the 4th the march was resumed. The roads were badly cut up, and the
enormous trains, with the reserve artillery, moved slowly, rendering
the march difficult and tedious. The country improved in appearance
as we advanced westward. The peach-trees were in full blossom, and
everything about us tended to inspire hope and courage. We passed
several hospitals filled with the enemy's wounded, and during the day
many rebel prisoners passed to our rear _en route_ for Petersburg
under guard. Nearly all of them were worn down with hard fighting
and hunger, and many were fed from the commissary supply train. At
night the regiment bivouacked near Beasley's,--a great tobacco
plantation,--about twenty-five miles from Petersburg, the division
occupying a line seventeen miles in extent, covering an extended front,
and picketing all the roads leading south.
On the 5th the march was resumed. The movement was from left to right,
covering the entire line of road occupied by the moving trains.
The division on the left of the line moved first to the right, and
extended the line in that direction, covering the Southside Railroad.
At night the regiment bivouacked at Black's and White's Station,
thirty-five miles from Petersburg. On the sixth, at noon, the regiment
left camp and marched ten miles, to Nottaway Court-house, where corps
head-quarters had been established. Here the regiment was detailed
to guard a supply train to army head-quarters, which were supposed
to be at or near Jetersville, a station on the Richmond and Danville
Railroad, about fifteen miles north of Nottaway Court-house. We marched
all night over a rough road, and reached Jetersville at eight o'clock,
on the morning of the 7th, to find that army head-quarters had moved
during the night to High Bridge, on the Southside Railroad, and were
still some fifteen miles in advance of us.
After a short halt, for the men to make coffee and the teams to be
fed, we moved forward, following the line of the Danville Railroad
in the direction of Burkesville. Arriving within five miles of the
latter place, our direction was again changed to the north-west, and
the regiment proceeded across the country to Rice's Station, on the
Southside Railroad, which place was reached about eight o'clock on the
morning of the 8th. The regiment had now been marching two days and
nights in search of army head-quarters, without sleep, having halted
for refreshment but twice since leaving Black's and White's, and then
only long enough to make coffee. At Rice's Station the regiment was
relieved from further guard duty with the train, and went into camp.
In the meantime the remainder of the brigade had moved forward to
Burkesville, about eight miles in our rear. A despatch was at once
sent to General Curtin, commanding the brigade, informing him of
our position, and asking for orders; in reply to which we received
orders to proceed to Farmville, ten miles in advance, on the Southside
Railroad, and relieve the provost-guard at that place.
On the morning of the 9th, the regiment marched to Farmville, a town
situated on the Appomattox river, five miles west of High Bridge,
and fifteen miles north-west of Burkesville. We reached this place
about noon. The regiment was at once detailed as provost-guard, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Barker was appointed provost-marshal. The town
contained a population of about two thousand; and here we found a large
number of wounded Confederate soldiers, and many prisoners captured in
the movement to this place a day or two before. The troops relieved by
our regiment moved westward, to join their commands in the pursuit of
Lee's army. This was the ever memorable day when, at half-past three
o'clock in the afternoon, General Lee, at Appomattox Court-House,
twenty miles distant, surrendered the remnant of the army of Northern
Virginia to General Grant.
Intelligence of the surrender was quickly transmitted to head-quarters,
and no pen can portray the effect upon the men as the glorious news
spread from camp to camp like a conflagration. Men who in the stern
hour of battle had been unmoved and undaunted; in gloom and disaster
cheerful and hopeful; in hunger, privation, weariness, and sickness
calm and unruffled,--now shouted and wept in turns like children, and
gave expression to their feelings in yells of delight. The goal had
at length been won; the trials and hardships and sufferings of weary
years had culminated in victory. Some of the men of our regiment, on
duty at the church, entered it for the purpose of ringing the bell,
but could find no bell-rope. Not to be baffled in his purpose, Michael
Sullivan, of Company F, climbed up through a scuttle-hole over the
gallery, and found a ladder under the seats, by which he ascended into
the belfry. There remained about six inches of rope attached to the
tongue of the bell, which he seized and struck with all his force, his
head meanwhile being inside the bell. He rang the bell as long as his
strength would permit, and its joyful peal was heard with astonishment
by the town's people, and great delight by the troops. At night
bonfires were blazing everywhere, and a long time elapsed before quiet
was restored.
The next day the remainder of the brigade moved to Farmville, and
encamped south-west of the town. General Curtin was assigned to duty
as post commander. Division and corps head-quarters remained at
Burkesville. Lieutenant-Colonel Barker, as provost-marshal, established
his head-quarters in a large building formerly used as a store,
situated on the main street, in the central part of the town. The
regiment was quartered in the town, and furnished safeguards of from
one to five men to protect the property of the citizens in various
places in the surrounding country. Guard duty in the town was also
performed by the regiment. The duty was arduous and wearisome, as it
included not only the regular guard duty, but the labor of issuing
rations to the impoverished citizens, who poured into the town from
all directions for food. A careful record was preserved of all to
whom relief was afforded, with the quantity of rations issued to
each, involving a vast amount of clerical labor. In addition to this
duty paroles were made out for all the Confederate prisoners found in
the place, and for hundreds of others who came to the village from
Appomattox Court-House. During the stay of the regiment at this place
the following number of Confederate soldiers were paroled by the
provost-marshal:--
Officers and men in the General Hospital 582
Officers in the Institute 22
Detailed Hospital Attendants 34
Hospital Stewards 4
From the field of Appomattox 1,742
------
Total 2,384
On Saturday, April 15th, Captain Henry S. Burrage, who had been absent
since November 1st, when he was captured in front of Petersburg,
returned to the regiment, and on the following day he was appointed
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General on General Curtin's staff. Late in
the afternoon of that day a telegram was received from Washington,
announcing the assassination of President Lincoln. At first this
information was regarded as a hoax or a camp rumor; but all doubt was
soon banished, and the sad intelligence was confirmed in the formal
announcement of his death by General Meade.
The sad intelligence cast a shadow of gloom over the entire nation;
but nowhere was the sorrow more profound than among the soldiers of
the army of the Potomac. The closing days of that wonderful life had
been spent in its camps, and within sound of some of its last terrible
battles. The heart almost crushed by the burden of responsibility and
care, borne throughout the long years of war, had been lightened and
cheered by its glorious victories, and the men were bound to him by
ties of admiration and affection. The general sorrow which pervaded the
army was shared by the citizens of Virginia. They felt that the South
had lost its best friend, and while they appreciated and applauded the
magnanimity of General Grant, now that the war was virtually ended,
they relied upon the warm heart of the President to inaugurate measures
for reconstruction which should unite the hearts of the people of
the North and the South. Nowhere was this feeling more general than
among the people of Farmville. As soon as the death of the President
was formally announced the Mayor, in accordance with the generally
expressed wish of the citizens, convened the Common Council, and the
following official action was taken:--
TOWN HALL, FARMVILLE, VA., April 18th, 1865.
A called meeting of the Common Council of Farmville was held this
day at Town Hall.
The object of the meeting being explained, and an official
communication from General Curtin, commanding this post, having
been read, announcing the death by assassination of President
Abraham Lincoln, and the orders of the General commanding this
department as to the proper observance of the day of the funeral
obsequies of the late President, the following action was taken:--
_Resolved_, That the Common Council of the Town of Farmville have
heard with profound regret the tragic fate of the late President
of the United States; that we regard the event as a great national
calamity, particularly and especially to the South; and while we
deplore the country's loss, we at the same time feel the warmest
sympathy for the family whose head has been so suddenly and
ruthlessly hurried into eternity.
_Resolved_, That we cordially approve and will conform to the order
of the Commanding General in the proper observance of the day of
the burial of the late President, and recommend to the citizens
suspension of all business operations, and unite in the common hope
that this afflictive dispensation of Providence may not impede the
restoration of peace and happiness to our country.
_Resolved_, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished General
Curtin, commanding post.
(Signed) W. W. H. THACKSTON, _Mayor_.
J. H. MOTTLEY, _Clerk_.
The day following (April 19th) being the day appointed for the
funeral obsequies of the lamented President at the national capital,
in accordance with general orders from the commanding General, all
unnecessary labor was suspended. It was a day of sadness in the camps,
though the sun shone brightly and the songs of birds filled the air. In
the afternoon a memorial service was held in the Presbyterian church,
which was very largely attended by the citizens and soldiers, and a
memorial discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr. Severance, of Farmville.
As the congregation sat in reverent attitude, listening to the solemn
music and the words of prayer and eulogy, it was hard to realize
that the beloved President had indeed finished the work of life. We
remembered him then as we had seen him on that triumphant morning,
only sixteen days before, when, in response to our thundering cheers,
the careworn face was lighted with joyful smiles as he rode into the
city which the victorious army of the Potomac had won.
Now a whole nation was in tears. In one short week it had been plunged
from the summit of happiness into the valley of mourning. Flags, lately
mast-head high in every breeze, were trailing, and joyful hearts were
in sorrow at the great calamity which had befallen the nation. Nowhere
was Lincoln more beloved and honored than in the army, and nowhere that
day were there deeper expressions of sincere and poignant grief.
On the 21st of April our stay at Farmville came to a sudden end,
upon the receipt of orders to march to Petersburg and City Point.
The brigade, with the exception of the Thirty-sixth, had marched the
day before. At half-past seven A.M. the regiment left Farmville and
marched, _via_ Rice's Station, to Burkesville, where we arrived at four
P.M. Here we received the gratifying intelligence that the remainder
of the journey was to be made in cars, and not on foot. A train was
soon in readiness, and at eight o'clock P.M. we left Burkesville, and,
at a rate not exceeding five miles an hour, proceeded to City Point,
which place was reached at four o'clock on the morning of the 22d. As
the journey was made direct, passing through Petersburg in the night
by rail, we had no opportunity of looking again upon the scenes of
our battles and hardships for ten weary months. It would have been
gratifying had we been permitted to survey the scene of the battles
in June, the crater and the lines of earthworks, undisturbed and in
security from the deadly bullet; but it was destined that our latest
recollection of that war-scarred ground should be associated with the
scenes of strife and carnage.
Upon reaching City Point the regiment went into camp not far from
the landing, to await the arrival of the remainder of the brigade,
which was marching by the highway. On the 24th, at noon, the brigade
arrived, and went into camp near by, and on the 26th, at ten o'clock
at night, we went on board the steamer "Vidette," and lay at the wharf
until daylight, when we steamed down the James river, past historic
scenes, reaching Fortress Monroe at two P.M. The journey was continued,
and Alexandria was reached at noon of the 28th. The brigade marched
through Alexandria in column of companies, and proceeded to the high
ground beyond the city, in front of Fort Lyon, where we found, in a
comfortable camp, that portion of the corps which had preceded us.
On the 30th, Private James Dolligan, of Company K, one of the men
transferred from the Twenty-first, was instantly killed, while sitting
in his tent, by the careless firing of some colored troops, who were
discharging their pieces near by. This was the last casualty in the
regiment.
Camp-life near Alexandria was comparatively easy and pleasant. Many of
the restraints of the service were removed, although the discipline was
fully maintained. The men were allowed more personal liberty; many were
permitted to visit Washington, and many others availed themselves of
the opportunity of visiting Mount Vernon, which, throughout the war,
had been regarded as sacred ground, and had not been molested by either
Confederate or Union troops.
Occasionally the camps were brilliantly illuminated at night. On the
night of the 12th of May an unusual scene was witnessed in a torchlight
parade. The men had carefully saved all the candles that could be
obtained. These were placed in the muzzles of their guns, the muskets
being used as torches. After forming in line of battle many evolutions
were executed, and the various movements presented a novel and
beautiful spectacle to all beholders.
On the 21st of May the long-expected and eagerly awaited orders were
received from the War Department for the speedy muster-out of all
regiments whose term of service should expire before October 1st.
Preparations for this happy event began immediately. Soon the camp was
in a state of busy excitement. Cracker-boxes and barrel-heads were
converted into use as tables, and all the camp-writers were busily
engaged in preparing muster-out rolls and discharge papers.
This agreeable employment was interrupted temporarily by orders to
proceed to Washington, and participate in the grand reviews of the army
of the Potomac and the West. Early on the morning of the 22d of May
the regiment, with the entire corps, proceeded in light marching order
to Washington, and bivouacked for the night on the open ground east
of the capitol. On the morning of the 23d the men were astir early,
preparing for the review. The Ninth Corps followed the cavalry, having
the right of the column of infantry. The corps marched in column of
companies at half distance, with a front of eighteen files. The First
Division, constituting the garrison of the defences of Washington, had
the extreme right, and was followed by the Second and Third Divisions,
with their respective brigades, in numerical order. The day was superb.
Not a cloud obscured the sun, and none who marched in the ranks of the
veteran and victorious army of the Potomac on that brilliant day will
ever forget the splendid pageant.
The infantry, being in light marching order, presented a fine
appearance. The men were dressed in their best, wore white gloves,
and nearly all carried bouquets in the muzzles of their guns. The
tattered, blood-stained banners were garlanded with flowers, and many
of the officers' horses wore brilliant wreaths. Great preparation
had been made for this magnificent pageant. Stands for spectators
had been erected at every convenient spot, and the great crowds in
attendance were excited to the highest pitch of enthusiasm by the
martial display. Thousands of school-children sang patriotic songs and
showered bouquets of flowers as the column passed. At the White House
great stands had been erected on both sides of the avenue, and at this
point, amid immense cheering and the thunder of artillery, the army
passed in review before President Johnson, the leading Generals, and
the Governors of the States. Here one face was missing. Here all that
seemed wanting to complete the sense of triumph was the form of Abraham
Lincoln, at whose call these veterans had left their homes in defence
of their country, and who, since the close of the fighting, had been
called to his reward. Recollections of him, and the memory of comrades
who had fallen rushed upon us. Our feelings found fitting expression in
the language of Brownell's poem:--
"And in all our pride to-day,
We think, with a tender pain,
Of those who are far away;
They will not come home again.
"And, lo! from a thousand fields,
From all the old battle-haunts,
A greater army than Sherman wields,
A grander review than Grant's!
"Gathered home from the grave,
Risen from sun and rain,
The legions of our brave
Are all in the ranks again.
"The colors ripple o'erhead,
The drums roll up to the sky,
And with martial time and tread
The regiments all pass by,--
The ranks of our faithful dead
Meeting their President's eye."
For more than six hours the march continued through the streets of
Washington, amid scenes as magnificent as those when the armies of Rome
carried their victorious eagles through the streets of the Eternal
City. After passing in review, the regiment continued its march through
Georgetown, and at night occupied its regular camp.
After this all was bustle and activity in preparation for our
muster-out and return home. Day after day the air was filled with
the music, and cheers, and good-byes of the troops who had been
mustered-out, as they left their comrades in battle and the scenes of
war, to go to their homes and engage in the pursuits of peaceful life.
Reviews and parades were substituted for guard duty and drill. On the
3d of June, the anniversary of the terrible day at Cold Harbor, General
Parke reviewed the Second Division, and on the 5th General Curtin,
temporarily in command of General Hartranft's division, was tendered a
complimentary review by the regiments of his old (First) brigade. This
was the last parade of this veteran brigade, and elicited the following
commendation from General Curtin:--
HEAD-QUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
NEAR ALEXANDRIA, VA., June 6, 1865.
_To the Officers and Men of the First Brigade, Second Division,
Ninth Army Corps_:--
I desire to express to you, one and all, my heartfelt appreciation
of the kindly feelings which prompted the review of last evening.
On that occasion your appearance was as gratifying to me as
honorable to yourselves. In your movements you exhibited that true
soldierly bearing which, on the field and in the camp, has ever
distinguished the soldiers of this brigade. In the Carolinas,
in Maryland, in Kentucky, in Mississippi, in Tennessee, and in
Virginia, your valor and heroic endurance have won for you an
imperishable name. Victory has at length crowned your efforts, and
the efforts of the brave men associated with you.
In parting with you who are about to repair to your homes allow me
to express my sincere thanks for the prompt and cheerful manner in
which you have at all times performed every duty while under my
command. To those of you who remain allow me to say, be patient.
I trust the day is not far distant when it will be practicable
for you, also, to return to your homes. Until that day arrives
let your bearing be such as not to detract from, but to add to,
your present well-earned reputation. As you go to your homes you
will bear with you the proud consciousness of duty successfully
performed, and will receive from your countrymen the applause of a
grateful people; while in all the years to come, as you revert to
the scenes now so rapidly closing, it will be your pride to say,
"I fought with Burnside and the Ninth Army Corps," and there will
be associated with all this your part in the history of the First
Brigade, Second Division.
To the families and friends of your comrades, who have so nobly
fallen in the defence of their country, I tender my heartfelt
sympathy.
JOHN I. CURTIN,
_Brevet Brigadier-General_.
On the 6th all preparations for muster-out having been completed,
orders were received for the regiment to be in readiness to depart on
the following day. That evening the regiment organized a torchlight
procession, and, escorted by the brigade band, marched to the camp of
our comrades of the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania. It was the last time
these organizations, which had been so intimately associated since
September, 1862, were to meet as regiments. During the entire term of
the Thirty-sixth, through all the vicissitudes of its service, this
gallant regiment of Pennsylvanians had never been separated from it;
and in every battle in which we had been engaged we had felt their
strong support upon our right or left.
After a season of fraternal conversation Colonel Gregg, of the
Forty-fifth, delivered the following address:--
"_Officers and Men of the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteers_:--
"Nearly three years of toil and blood have passed since our first
acquaintance with you. Thinned in numbers, we had then just left
the victorious fields of South Mountain and Antietam. From that day
to the present--in camp, on the toilsome march, and in the conflict
of battle--you have stood side by side with us, contending for our
country against treason and oppression. Your record is one of which
the glorious old Bay State may well be proud; and we are sure she
will ever count your organization one of the noblest she has sent
to the field.
"Amid scenes of conflict we have learned to love and honor you;
and as the blood of our heroes has there mingled together, so have
our hearts been united in one fraternal bond of union, which time
cannot sever. With the brave men of the Thirty-sixth by our side,
we were always sure of hearty support and final victory; each vied
with the other in deeds of valor and trials of endurance, and both
shared equally the honors won.
"Together we have thus fought, together we have rejoiced and
wept,--rejoiced at the success of our united arms, wept for the
fallen brave around us.
"Now all is changed. The white-winged messenger of Peace beckons
us from scenes of conflict to once more resume the avocations
of industry and domestic tranquillity. You are about to leave
us and return to your homes in the old Bay State. We have met
probably for the last time. Here, under the folds of our colors,
let us strengthen these feelings of love and affection which have
so closely united our destinies in the field. Let us, also, in
remembrance of our comrades who have so nobly fallen, and whose
memory we will always cherish, pledge ourselves anew to the flag
and the country we love.
"Brave and faithful sons of Massachusetts, the victory is won!
Return to your homes, and, as you recount the valor of your arms,
say that the Keystone boys of the Forty-fifth, sons of your ancient
sires, defended with you the liberties of our fathers assailed by
rebellion and wrong.
"Comrades of the Thirty-sixth, we bid you an affectionate farewell!"
This address was received with great applause. Appropriate responses
were made by members of the Thirty-sixth; and we returned, late
at night, with the conviction that we bore with us the esteem and
affection of that gallant regiment.
On the march back to their quarters the regiment halted at the camp
of each regiment of the brigade, and exchanged farewell cheers and
greetings with our comrades, who were to remain in the service yet a
little longer.
On the eighth of June, in accordance with orders, the recruits and the
Twenty-first men were transferred to the Fifty-sixth Massachusetts,
and the regiment was mustered-out of the service of the United States
by Lieutenant Rose, division mustering-officer. At three o'clock
P.M., escorted by the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, Colonel Gregg, and
the brigade band, we marched to Alexandria. The Forty-fifth had
made special preparations for this parade. All the non-commissioned
officers carried small American flags on their bayonets, and the
regiment presented a splendid appearance. At Alexandria we bade our
comrades good-by with cheers, and embarked for Washington. After
considerable delay at the latter place cars were loaded with the
troops and baggage, and the homeward journey commenced. Many delays
and discomforts attended this journey; but they were all borne with
a spirit of equanimity and resignation, because we knew this to be
the last excursion of the kind we should ever make. Philadelphia was
reached at noon of the 9th, and the regiment enjoyed the hospitality
of the city at the famous Cooper Shop refreshment-rooms, receiving a
warm greeting, and obtaining abundant cheer, and much-needed rest. Late
in the afternoon the journey was resumed. New York was reached during
the night, and the regiment marched to the battery, where quarters
were provided. The next day, about noon, the regiment took the cars on
the Shore line. Soon we were within the limits of the dear old mother
Commonwealth, and on the evening of the 10th we arrived at Readville,
where we pitched our tents for the last time. During the following day,
Sunday, many friends and former comrades visited the camp, and warm
welcomes were extended. On Monday, the 12th, Company B received an
ovation from the citizens of Charlestown, and on Tuesday, the 13th,
the entire regiment visited the city of Worcester, and received a most
hearty and generous public greeting. The little band of bronzed and
hardy veterans presented a strange contrast to that regiment of more
than one thousand men, who, nearly three years before, had marched the
same streets on the journey to the front; but the reception compensated
for these years of toil and hardship.
The following account of the reception is taken from the "Worcester
Spy" of June 14:--
RECEPTION OF THE THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
The Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, Colonel T. L. Barker,
arrived in this city yesterday, and were formally received and
welcomed home by the city authorities in the afternoon. The State
Guard, Captain Fitch, and Captain Chamberlain's Company of State
Militia, with Goddard and Riedle's band, performed escort duty. The
line was formed on Front street, and the procession, accompanied by
the city government and a large number of past officers who have
been in the service from this city, marched down Main street and
countermarched to Mechanics' hall, where the formal reception took
place, and the returned veterans partook of a collation provided by
Hudson, under the direction of the city government.
Many of the buildings on Main street were decorated with the
national colors, and flags were flying in all directions. The
returned soldiers were welcomed with hearty cheers along the line
of march, and on entering the hall were greeted with waving of
handkerchiefs and prolonged applause by the crowd of ladies that
filled the galleries. After the veterans and their escort had taken
their places at the tables, His Honor Mayor Ball addressed the
regiment as follows:--
_Officers and Soldiers of the Thirty-sixth Regiment_:--
GENTLEMEN,--We are assembled to congratulate you upon your
auspicious return from the field of conflict, honor, and danger
which has witnessed your daring, your valor, and your heroism, for
the past three years. Now we see, consummated in your return, the
ardent longing of your hearts when you left us. In this we share
with you your joy. Joy, that you should have been preserved to
return once more to enjoy the blessings and humanities of civil
life, the fruits of your labors. For the honorable part you have
borne in the great civil war, accept our acknowledgments of high
appreciation of the noble service you have rendered a noble and
just cause. Allow us to share with you some of your intense joy at
the victories, in achieving which you have borne such a memorable
part. In these victories we have rejoiced, as the pealing bell, the
booming cannon, and the glaring bonfire have attested. These have
been our oratory and have furnished our eloquence. At your success
our joy has been too deep for human speech, and our elation too
excited to be bounded or measured by mere human speech. We know
this to be your joy, and in its realization we congratulate you
most cordially, most earnestly; and here we welcome you, in behalf
of the city, to this hospitality, in token of our appreciation of
the high service you have rendered the city, the State, and the
country. We welcome you cordially again to the bosom of civil life.
With you we rejoice again in the return of so many of you safe from
the perils of the camp and the battle-field to your homes and your
friends. With you we join in your sorrow for the noble and the
brave that you have left on the battle-field. Their eyes longed
to see this hour,--a privilege they have been denied. You have
been blessed in the seeing, and with you we will honor their names
and respect their memories. We welcome you again to the pursuits
of civil life, where victories attend activity, resolution, and
energy, as well as in the exciting scenes and service of the camp;
and we rejoice with you that you have aided in giving a new meaning
to the dear old flag, in whose defence you have endured so much. Be
it ours to cherish it evermore with vastly more increased love than
ever we did before. Great is our rejoicing that yours is the memory
of that great day when Richmond fell. Proud may you be of the
recollection of that mighty event; and long may the years remain to
you in which to enjoy the peace of your labors; and may we all be
one in purpose and aim, hero and civilian, to rightfully cherish
these memories, and to use, with pure motives, these blessings
vouchsafed to us by kind and indulgent Heaven, through your valor,
your sufferings, your patriotism.
The divine blessing was then invoked by Rev. Nathaniel Richardson,
Chaplain of the Thirty-sixth, after which the company did ample
justice to the collation. During the repast Mr. C. C. Starring
performed upon the organ a variety of national and patriotic music,
and a quartette of male voices from Dale Hospital, members of the
Warren Phalanx of Charlestown (Company B), gave two patriotic
songs, which were warmly applauded.
At the close of the repast, in behalf of the regiment,
Lieutenant-Colonel Smith returned thanks to the city authorities
for the courtesies and welcome extended to them. He said it
was a proud day for American soldiers, and a proud day for the
Thirty-sixth to return and to receive the approbation of the city
from which they went away three years ago to fight the battles of
the Republic. When we then left this city we received our flag from
the ladies of Worcester, and our commander pledged himself and us
that it should be honorably defended and returned. He has long
since left us; but the promise was binding, and to-day we return
it without dishonor. We count it a matter of pride that in all our
arduous service and on many hard-fought fields the Thirty-sixth
Regiment has never lost a color or a flag.
On account of the lateness of the hour the speech-making was
abbreviated; and after the soldiers had cheered for the mayor, the
ladies, and the citizens of Worcester, and the spectators had given
nine hearty cheers for the Thirty-sixth Regiment, the assembly
dispersed.
The following is a list of the officers who have returned with the
regiment:--
_Colonel._--Thaddeus L. Barker.
_Lieutenant-Colonel._--James B. Smith.
_Major._--Edward T. Raymond.
_Adjutant._--Thomas H. Haskell.
_Quartermaster._--Augustus H. Tuttle.
_Surgeon._--Albert H. Bryant.
_Chaplain._--Nathaniel Richardson.
_Captains._--Ames, Marshall, Hodgkins, Fairbank, Burrage, Davidson,
and Woodward.
_First Lieutenants._--Harwood, Perley, Cross, Osborne, Austin
Davis, Jonas H. Davis, Morrow, Mott, and Field.
_Second Lieutenants._--Goodell, Phelps, Babcock, and Howe.
On Monday, June 19th, at four o'clock P.M., the regiment assembled at
Readville, was paid in full, and discharged from the service of the
United States, and its record in the suppression of the Great Rebellion
passed into history.