The preceding chapters of this regimental history have recorded the story of the year of preparation and discipline, and the year of trial, suffering, and winnowing. We now approach what may well be called the year of sacrifice and martyrdom. We are to recount the story of the organization so dear to all our hearts, so much, in fact, a portion of our very existence, which was now to undergo its most fearful trials, and, by the sacrifice of its noblest blood, to maintain and enhance a reputation for courage and devotion which had been won in summer's heat in the fields and swamps of Mississippi, and in the winter's cold in the mountain wilds of East Tennessee.

At Annapolis we found a large force encamped, the post being commanded by Colonel Hartranft, of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, as Provisional Commander. The Ninth Army Corps, relieved from duty in the Department of the Ohio, had been ordered to rendezvous at this place for reorganization. On the 7th of January, soon after his departure from East Tennessee, General Burnside was reassigned to the command of the Ninth Corps, with instructions to "recruit and fill up the old regiments," and to increase the strength of the corps to fifty thousand men, for such service as the War Department should especially designate. The great popularity of General Burnside in New England, and the other States represented in the old Ninth Corps, secured the cordial coÖperation of the authorities, and recruiting was carried forward with gratifying success. Massachusetts pledged her four veteran infantry regiments, already in process of organization, and all the New England States, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan, sent forward many new regiments which had been recruited during the winter under the personal supervision of General Burnside. Although the destination of this force remained a mystery, it was confidently expected throughout the corps that General Burnside was to be assigned to an independent command, and that a coast expedition was to be organized. The general impression prevailed that the corps was to be sent to North Carolina, or to the Virginia peninsula to coÖperate with the Army of the Potomac in the campaign about to open. With this prospect in view the men were highly elated.

The camp at Annapolis was delightful, and revived the pleasant memories of Newport News and Camp Dick Robinson,—the only places where we had ever "played soldier." It was laid out with military precision, in accordance with army regulations. The company streets were wide and well-policed, the new white A tents were decorated with evergreen and holly, and the grounds, laid out in tasty squares and centre-pieces, presented a beautiful appearance. Contrasted with what had preceded, and what was about to follow, it was a genuine holiday camp,—a bright oasis in the desert of a soldier's life. The burning sun of Mississippi, the deadly malaria of the Yazoo, the freezing cold and corn-cob rations of Tennessee, were soon forgotten in the general happiness and comfort of this delightful camp. Following those long and rigorous campaigns, the rest and abundant rations were gratefully enjoyed. Many of the "absent sick" who had been left in general hospitals in Kentucky and Ohio to recover from the effects of the former severe campaigns, returned to duty. New clothing and equipments were issued, and the regiment soon regained something of its familiar appearance. Company and regimental drills, inspections, parades, and reviews, together with the work of reorganizing and equipping the regiment, caused the time to pass rapidly and pleasantly. We were also visited by many citizens of Massachusetts,—friends of the regiment,—who brought with them, not cheering words only, but many substantial tokens of the good-will and affectionate remembrance of the dear ones at home. Here, also, many of the officers and men received furloughs for a few days' visit home; and the fact is worthy of record, that all the men who were accorded this privilege returned promptly and cheerfully to duty.

In obtaining these furloughs some amusing incidents occurred. One member of Co. B, impatient at the long delay attending his application, determined to see "Old Burnie," as he called him, in person, and plead his own cause. By a little shrewd management, or strategy, as it was termed, he surprised the General at his breakfast one Sunday morning. Being outflanked, the General listened patiently to the veteran's story, then called for the papers and endorsed on the application, "Approved for seven days. A. E. Burnside," in characters that defied forgery, doubtless little dreaming that this man was only a skirmisher from quite a line of men outside, waiting to "see how the thing worked." The happy soldier "retired in good order," and, as soon as the success of his daring attack was known, the General's house was besieged by many others who could not wait for "red tape" and "regular channels." There were but few general officers against whom it would be prudent or safe to advance a second such line; but the boys said they knew their man, and that "Burnside remembered Knoxville!"

On the 13th of April the entire corps then in camp was reviewed by Generals Grant and Burnside. The day was delightful, and, as they rode in front of the long, imposing lines, greeted by cheers and strains of martial music, and the waving of tattered and blood-stained banners, the enthusiasm of the men was unbounded.

On the 15th, Lieut.-Col. Goodell, who had been with the regiment during the journey from Cincinnati, was obliged, on account of the troublesome nature of his wound, to return to Massachusetts, receiving leave of absence for fifteen days, leaving the regiment in command of Major Draper.

On the 19th the corps was reorganized. The old First Division, with which we had been identified during all our service, was almost entirely broken up. General Ferrero, our former commander, was assigned to command the new Fourth Division, composed entirely of colored troops, and most of the regiments were assigned to the new Second and Third Divisions. The new First Division was composed chiefly of regiments recently organized, and those not previously connected with the corps. The Seventy-ninth New York, One Hundredth Pennsylvania, and Seventeenth Michigan, were sent to the Third Division, commanded by General Willcox. It was a severe disappointment to be thus separated from the brave men with whom we had shared a common danger and won a common glory; but, as if to compensate us for this trial, and to render the separation less painful, we were not parted from our old, well-proved, and dearly beloved comrades,—the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania. These two regiments, the Forty-fifth and Thirty-sixth, henceforth to be more closely attached, and more than ever brothers, were assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division. Major-General John G. Parke was announced as Division Commander and Brigadier-General Robert B. Potter as Commander of the brigade, consisting of the Forty-eighth and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, Seventh Rhode Island, Fifty-first New York, and Fifty-eighth Massachusetts,—the latter not yet reported,—six regiments, numbering, present for duty, one hundred and seven officers, and two thousand five hundred fifty-one enlisted men. With the exception of the Fifty-eighth Massachusetts, all these regiments had served long in the Ninth Corps, and had made enviable records. The Fifty-first New York had been commanded by Generals Ferrero and Potter as Colonels, and at Antietam Bridge, with the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, had won a reputation for distinguished bravery and soldierly bearing second to none in the army. Of our division and brigade commanders we were justly proud. They had been identified with the corps during its entire existence, and both had commanded the corps, reflecting credit upon themselves, the corps, and the service.

At the date of the reorganization of the division both Generals Parke and Potter were absent, on account of sickness; and that portion of the order relating to commanders in the Second Division was never carried into effect. Colonel S. G. Griffin, Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers, commanding the Second Brigade, was placed in temporary command of the division, and Colonel Joshua K. Sigfried, of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, assumed command of our brigade. Both these officers were able and distinguished soldiers. Upon his return to duty, at the close of the month, General Potter was placed permanently in command of the division, and General Parke returned to duty to be assigned as chief of the Ninth Corps staff.

Under date of April 21st, Surgeon James P. Prince was assigned to duty as Chief Medical Officer of the Fourth Division; Captain Raymond as Inspector of First Brigade, Second Division, on the staff of General Potter; and Lieutenant Emory as Assistant Commissary of the Fourth Division. On the 23d of April, Captain S. C. Warriner, Company E, and First Lieutenants Samuel A. Goodspeed and John A. Rice, tendered their resignations, which were accepted, and they left for Massachusetts, much to the regret of their commands and their comrades in the regiment.

The work of reorganization went forward very rapidly. Although the destination of the corps remained as great a mystery as ever, it was evident that preparations for an important movement were being perfected, and that we might be ordered suddenly to leave. On the evening of the 22d the command was ordered to be in readiness to march, and before daylight of the 23d the delightful camp was broken up, and the corps took up its line of march, not toward the harbor, but in the direction of Washington, following the line of the Elk Ridge and Annapolis Railroad. After a march of thirteen miles the corps bivouacked in the fields for the night. Very early on the 24th the march was resumed. In about six hours we reached the Baltimore and Washington turnpike, and at nightfall the corps went into camp near Bladensburg, distant about eight miles from the city of Washington. At four o'clock on the morning of Monday, the 25th, reveillÉ was sounded; but, owing to a severe shower, the regiment did not march until about eight o'clock. When the march was resumed the corps passed through Bladensburg and continued in the direction of the city. We reached the outskirts of the capital about noon, and halted on New York avenue for the command to close up, as we were to pay a marching salute to the President and General Burnside, who were to review us from a balcony of Willard's Hotel. It soon became known that the corps was to pass through the city, and the streets along the line of march were densely packed. The column was greeted with cheers and applause. Many spirited descriptions of this imposing scene were published at the time in the journals of the day; but none is more graphic than the following, taken from a Memorial-Day Address, at Beverly, Mass., by Honorable R. S. Rantoul, May 30, 1871, seven years after the scene narrated:—

Chaplain Woodbury says, "It was a spectacle which made many eyes grow moist and dim. And thus the corps that had never lost a flag or a cannon marched through Washington. Crossing Long Bridge the troops went into camp about two miles from Alexandria."

Even then many of the men still cherished the hope that transports would be in readiness for them at Alexandria. But these notions were soon put to flight. To the corps was assigned the duty of guarding the Orange and Alexandria Railroad from the Potomac to the Rapidan; and reluctantly the fond hopes of a coast expedition and an independent movement were abandoned.

On Wednesday, April 27th, at ten o'clock A.M., the brigade left Alexandria to follow the divisions which had been advanced toward the Rappahannock, and after a fatiguing march of sixteen miles encamped at night three miles beyond Fairfax Court-House. The next day the march was continued over the ground made historic in 1861, through Centreville, and past the old earthworks at Manassas. At noon we halted an hour for dinner on the Bull Run battle-field. Afterwards we forded the Run, and at six o'clock, having marched eighteen miles, went into camp at Bristow Station, on the field where the Second Corps achieved a brilliant victory the autumn before.

At six o'clock the next morning the brigade was in line, but did not move out of camp until half-past nine; marched then about half a mile, and countermarched, and marched again, until finally, about three o'clock, we went into camp near the railroad, on new ground, which was ordered to be laid out according to army regulations. The corps was being distributed along the line of the railroad in supporting distance, and the progress was very slow.

On the 30th it became necessary to make another change, and our "Regulation Camp" was abandoned to others. We marched at half-past five o'clock in the morning, crossed Kettle Run at noon, and relieved the Seventeenth Regular Infantry, of the Fifth Corps, taking possession of the splendid camp near Catlett's Station, which they had occupied during the winter. Captain Morse, with Co. C, was sent forward to Catlett's, to guard the station and water-tanks, while the remainder of the regiment went into camp. The larger portion of the regiment was accommodated in the barracks of the Seventeenth Regulars, but the three left companies were obliged to occupy their shelter-tents.

Upon reaching this place, it being the last day of the month, the regular monthly return of the regiment was made up and forwarded to head-quarters. As being the inventory of the effective strength with which we entered the campaign it may be interesting, for the purpose of comparison, to include a synopsis of the report. At that date we had present for duty fourteen commissioned officers, and four hundred and twenty-six enlisted men, belonging to the regiment, including ninety-one men transferred from the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers, or four hundred and forty in all. In addition we had fifty-six effective men belonging to the Forty-sixth New York, assigned for duty to our regiment, making a total of four hundred and ninety-six, of whom three hundred and thirty-five were members of the Thirty-sixth. In addition there were forty-two enlisted men on extra or daily duty, and thirteen sick in the hospital, making a total present with the brigade of five hundred and fifty-one. Three officers and eighty-five enlisted men were on special duty with the corps, and five officers and two hundred and ninety-two enlisted men were absent beyond the limits of the department, making the whole number on the regimental rolls, present and absent, twenty-two commissioned officers, and nine hundred and fourteen enlisted men.

The following officers were present for duty with the regiment: Major Draper, Adjutant Hodgkins, Assistant Surgeon Bryant, Quartermaster Tuttle, Captains Barker, Smith, Buffum, Bailey, Morse, Holmes, and Ames; First Lieutenants Daniels, Fairbank, Burrage, and Marshall, or the average of but one commissioned officer for each company in the line. Company I was commanded by Orderly Sergeant Alonzo A. White, who had received a commission as Second Lieutenant and was awaiting muster-in. Second Lieutenants White, Hancock, Wright, and Davidson had been unable to muster in the grade to which they had been commissioned, their companies being below the minimum, and had already, under date of April 26th, been recommended for promotion to fill the vacancies caused by the promotion of First Lieutenant Daniels (who was to succeed Captain Warriner), and the resignations of Lieutenants Cross, Goodspeed, and Rice. The following officers were absent from the regiment: Lieutenant-Colonel Goodell, from disability resulting from wounds; Surgeon Prince, Captain Raymond, and Lieutenant Emory, on special duty with the corps; Captain Smith, Lieutenants Davis and Brigham, on special duty, recruiting; First Lieutenant Robinson, absent by reason of wounds.

The Ninth Corps was now in position, scattered along the line of railroad from Fairfax to the Rappahannock, and had relieved all the troops of the Army of the Potomac which were now concentrated near the Rapidan. The duty of guarding the railroad was not arduous, but it required constant vigilance, and the troops were continually on the alert lest a band of rebel guerillas which infested the region should make a sudden dash, destroy a portion of the road, and thereby seriously interrupt communication with the main army, encamped near Brandy Station. To guard against an incursion of this body, a strong picket force was stationed along the railroad, and a portion of the troops in camp were kept in readiness to repel an attack. The defences consisted of a formidable abatis surrounding the entire camp. The situation was very pleasant, and the daily duties and routine of camp were performed. On the 2d of May a large reconnoitring party was sent out, under command of Captain Holmes; but no trace of an enemy could be discovered.