The trip to Boston was uneventful, except that sea sickness among the cooks and the novelty of handling rations on board ship, somewhat disarranged the commissary department.

Early Sunday morning, April 9th, Boston Light was sighted. At quarantine, Governor Wolcott boarded the ship bringing the welcome of the Commonwealth. In the afternoon the regiment disembarked at the New England docks, and marched to the South Armory. A salute was tendered the Mayor at City Hall, and the Governor at the State House. There was a tremendous outpouring of people to welcome the troops, and their demonstration was magnificent. The soldiers marching with rhythmic swing and perfect alignment, and their brown, hearty and healthy appearance, testified to the drill and discipline they had undergone during their term of service. The regiment was furloughed to report at the South Armory on April 12th, and the companies were dismissed to their home stations, where they were received with great demonstrations of joy and many impromptu celebrations.

On April 12th the companies reported in Boston. The men were quartered in the South Armory. There was practically nothing for them to do except guard duty and evening parade on Boston Common. This parade daily attracted a large crowd of spectators. The clerical force of each company however, was busy on the muster out rolls, and the quartermaster's department was straightening out its accounts with the government, and getting ready for the final reckoning.

On April 19th the men were dismissed to report on April 28th, which was the day selected for mustering out the regiment.

A day or so previous to muster out a change occurred in the commissioned officers of the regiment. Captain Jacob C. R. Peabody of Company H, resigned to accept a position on General Ludlow's staff. First Lieutenant Augustus G. Reynolds was promoted to captain of the company, and Second Lieutenant William F. Young of Company D became first lieutenant of Company H, while Color Sergeant William F. Marston of Company G was commissioned a second lieutenant in Company D.

On the morning of April 28th the Eighth reported for its last day of duty. It did not take long to set the wheels of mustering out in motion. Every man discharged was given two months extra pay. One hundred eight thousand dollars in gold and silver representing the amount due the men was paid out. There was a large crowd present from all the towns represented by the companies. Captain Erastus M. Weaver officiated as mustering out officer. It took about half an hour to muster out each company, and the work was completed by 5.30.

At the time of muster out, the roster of the regiment was as follows, numerous changes having taken place during its term of service.

Colonel—William A. Pew, Jr. of Salem.

Lieutenant Colonel—William Stopford of Beverly.

Majors—Frank A. Graves of Marblehead, and Edward H. Eldredge of Boston.

Adjutant—Lieutenant Thomas H. Barroll of Boston.

Quartermaster—Lieutenant Charles F. Wonson of Gloucester.

Surgeon—Major William Cogswell of Boston.

Assistant Surgeons—Lieutenant Frank P. T. Logan of Gloucester and Lieutenant Horace Bird Frost of Boston.

Chaplain—Rev. George D. Sanders of Gloucester.

Company A, Newburyport—Captain, Alexander G. Perkins; First Lieutenant, George W. Langdon; Second Lieutenant, George H. Dow.

Company B, Amesbury—Captain, Horace S. Bean; First Lieutenant, Frank Stinson; Second Lieutenant, James W. Jackman.

Company C, Marblehead—Captain, James M. Pettengill; First Lieutenant, Frederic P. Smith; Second Lieutenant, Edgar J. Whelpley.

Company D, Lynn—Captain, Charles T. Hilliker; First Lieutenant, Thomas J. Coby; Second Lieutenant, William F. Marston.

Company E, Beverly—Captain, Frederick W. Stopford; First Lieutenant, Charles H. Farnham; Second Lieutenant, Loran J. Harvey.

Company F, Haverhill—Captain, William C. Dow; First Lieutenant, Per Justus W. Svanberg; Second Lieutenant, Alexander Robertson.

Company G, Gloucester—Captain, Edward J. Horton; First Lieutenant, Charles M. McIsaac; Second Lieutenant, Charles R. Warner.

Company H, Salem—Captain, Augustus G. Reynolds; First Lieutenant, William F. Young; Second Lieutenant, Thomas O. H. Pineau.

Company I, Lynn—Captain, John E. Williams; First Lieutenant, Francisco A. DeSousa; Second Lieutenant, William H. Perry.

Company K, Danvers—Captain, A. Preston Chase; First Lieutenant, David E. Jewell; Second Lieutenant, David F. Whittier.

Company L, Lawrence—Captain, James Forbes; First Lieutenant, James H. Creig; Second Lieutenant, William H. Clendennin.

Company M, Somerville—Captain, Herbert W. Whitten; First Lieutenant, George I. Canfield; Second Lieutenant, Frederick W. Pierce.

With the muster out of Colonel Pew, the Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V., ceased to exist, after just a year's service, reckoning from the day the rolls were opened for volunteers. It was in the service longer than any other regiment from Massachusetts, and while it never took part in a battle or skirmish, its record stands second to no other volunteer regiment in the service of the United States.