Back to Baton Rouge—The Highland Road—Camp Rodman—Bivouac on
the Boulevards—A and K detailed for Provost Duty—I sent to
Plaquemine—Camp Banks—Picket Duty—Cold Weather—New Years’
Ball—Visit of Mr. Wellington—Flag-Raising—Recruits.
August 1, the regiment embarked for Baton Rouge, landed, and went
into camp near the Highland Road, just outside of the city, when
clothing was issued, and the men once more had an opportunity to
appear decently. From this time until the following February, the
history of the regiment presents no striking features; but it was far
from being idle.
On the 2d of September, a large portion of the troops at Baton Rouge
embarked for what was then supposed to be a Texan expedition; and
the Thirty Eighth was ordered out to guard the streets leading from
the levee, and prevent any of the men from leaving their command,—an
unpleasant duty at all times. A few days after, the regiment changed
camp, moving near the city, on the ground recently occupied by the
Forty Ninth Massachusetts, and calling their new location “Camp
William L. Rodman.” This camp was just outside the line of works
surrounding Baton Rouge; and, upon a threatened attack one night from
the bands of guerillas who hovered around the lines continually,
the camp was abandoned, with the tents standing, while the regiment
bivouacked on the boulevards in the city until morning; when, there
being no prospect of an engagement, it once more returned to its
quarters.
The Thirty First Massachusetts having been sent to New Orleans for
the purpose of being mounted, the Thirty Eighth removed into the
vacant camp (Camp Banks) on the 10th of December. Cos. A and K were
detailed as provost guard, and had quarters in the city, where they
were efficient in preserving order, and gave satisfaction alike to
the commander of the post and to the inhabitants of the city, who
were protected in all legitimate business, and who ever found the
men of these two companies courteous and polite when on duty, and
quiet and peaceable at all times. Co. I was stationed at Plaquemine,
a portion of the company being mounted; and, in conjunction with the
Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, they did efficient service in guarding
that town against the incursions of the guerillas, who harassed
the few people disposed to render allegiance to the government, and
took every opportunity to capture wagon-trains, and shoot those who
ventured outside of the lines. The remaining companies picketed a
portion of the line, did guard-duty in the commissary and other
departments, and furnished men to act as clerks and orderlies, and do
other duties incident to the garrisoning of such an important post;
while a number of the officers held important positions on the staffs
of the post and brigade commanders.
No articles whatever were allowed to be taken outside of the lines
without a permit; and the pickets were instructed to use great care
in examining all parties; but it became a delicate task occasionally,
when some fair-looking dame, taking advantage of the respect ever
shown to woman by the members of the regiment, attempted to “run
the blockade.” On more than one occasion, where the suspicions were
unusually strong, a gentle shaking brought strange appendages to the
ground, to the confusion of the owner, and the amusement of the boys;
and a close examination of the seats and bottoms of vehicles often
brought to light articles not on the permits.
As the year drew to a close, the weather became cold; and, during
Christmas-week, the pickets often found the water in their canteens
frozen in the morning, and their beards white with the frost. The
citizens complained of the cold also, saying that such weather had
not been seen in Baton Rouge for twenty years, and that the Yankees
had brought their climate down with them; which may have been true,
for they had established some customs quite as uncongenial to the
South as the cold weather. It was reported that one chivalrous
citizen, after taking the oath, with the intention of supporting the
government, became so disgusted at seeing a sign hung out, stating
that doughnuts and baked beans were to be had within, that he
immediately left for some country where New England and her famous
dishes were unheard off.
The health of the regiment was remarkably good through the winter,
some companies reporting every man for duty, notwithstanding the
fact that they were on picket twice a week, exposed to all the
storms of the season; but the quarters in the camp were comfortable,
consisting of board shanties, three to four feet high at the sides,
with tent-roofs, and furnished with stoves, bunks, and stools. By
this time, the men began to consider themselves veterans, making it
a point to look out for personal conveniences; and, as a consequence,
“household stuff” accumulated, so that whenever the regiment broke
camp, they left a variety of articles, valuable in the eyes of the
contrabands.
On New Year’s, a ball took place under the direction of Co. A, then
doing provost duty in the city; but the sympathies of the people
were still with the bands of guerillas prowling about outside of
the lines, and they held themselves aloof from Union officers and
men; so that the ball was not graced by the presence of many ladies.
During the winter, J. C. Wellington, Esq., of Cambridge, who had
been commissioned by the governor of Massachusetts to visit all the
regiments from that State then in the Department of the Gulf, spent
a number of days in the camp, conforming to army life, and making
himself familiar with the condition of the regiment.
During the first week in January, the alarms occasioned by
guerillas were unusually frequent; and the regiment was under arms
several times, the pickets doubled, and preparations made to repel
an assault; but the enemy never came within musket-shot of the
breastworks, although they captured detached parties. For several
weeks, the brigade stood under arms from daylight until after
sunrise; while the pickets deployed in a skirmish-line; but the
guerillas never fulfilled their threat of dining in Baton Rouge.
Wednesday, Feb. 27, the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry raised a new flag in
their camp, celebrating the event with music and speeches, and the
Thirty Eighth were invited to be present, with other regiments. They
appeared with full ranks, to the evident gratification of the Fourth;
and from this time, the good feeling between the two regiments, which
had been partially interrupted by an unfortunate affair between a
member of the Fourth and one of the provost guards, resulting in
the death of the former, was restored. On the 3d of February, the
One Hundred and Twenty Eighth New York raised a new flag, with
appropriate ceremonies, reminding the spectators of the early times
of the war, when patriotism expressed itself in bunting.
The rebels still hovered around the picket-line; and on the 8th of
February, Lieut. Williams, one of the most daring of the Wisconsin
officers, was killed just outside of the lines, several of his men
being wounded at the same time, and the detachment which accompanied
him driven back. His regiment immediately started in pursuit, and
captured several of the enemy; while the third brigade were under
arms behind the breastworks.
Feb. 7, the Thirty Eighth and the One Hundred and Fifty Sixth
marched to the stockade, seven or eight miles from the city;
and, on the march back, a scrub-race took place between the two
regiments,—molasses _versus_ sour-krout, as the boys called
it,—molasses coming in slightly ahead.
March 11, a number of recruits joined the regiment, for the first
time in its history; the Department of the Gulf evidently not being
in favor among the latter volunteers.
It should have been mentioned before, that the ladies of Cambridge,
during the summer, had procured a very handsome silk flag, with the
name of the regiment, and the engagements in which it had taken part,
inscribed upon it in golden letters. This flag was forwarded to Baton
Rouge, and entrusted to the care of the regiment by Major Allen, who
read a very eloquent and patriotic letter from the donors, and also
read the reply which was to be sent in the name of the regiment. Five
more battles were afterward placed upon its stripes.