Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Massachusetts in the Army and Navy during the war of 1861-1865, vol. 1: prelminary narrative

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[14] 7th Regiment to the 6th, reached him at 2 A. M. He said to the messenger, ‘Tell His Excellency that I shall be at the State House with my full company by 11 o'clock to-day,’ and he was there. Captain Pratt of the 3d Battalion of Rifles was also assigned to the 6th, as was the company of Captain Sampson of Boston. Captain Pratt received his order late in the afternoon of the 16th, and was in Boston with his company early on the 17th. These were but examples of the promptness to be seen almost everywhere.

The first regiment to leave the State was the 4th M. V. M. (Colonel Packard), which went by afternoon train (April 17) to Fall River, to take the steamer for New York and thence to Fortress Monroe. The 6th (Colonel Jones) left for Washington by rail, but at a later hour. The 3d (Colonel Wardrop) was embarked on the steamer Spalding for Fortress Monroe, but remained in the harbor till morning. The 8th¹ (Colonel Munroe) was delayed by the desire to attach to it other companies; it was not ordered to proceed until April 18, and was then accompanied by Brig.-Gen. (afterwards major-general) B. F. Butler, the instructions from Washington having now been modified to include four regiments and a brigadier-general. This regiment went through Philadelphia, after being, like the 6th, warmly received in New York, it being the second regiment that had marched through that city in advance of all others, while two other regiments were on the sea for Fortress Monroe.² In addition, on April 19, Col. S. C. Lawrence of the 5th M. V. M. was ordered to report for duty, and five companies of the 7th M. V. M. were added to his command (B, E, F, G, H), one of which, however (E), was disbanded for insubordination, and a new company (Captain Wardwell) substituted. Maj. A. F. Cook's company of light artillery was also attached to Colonel Lawrence's command. The 3d Battalion of Rifles of Worcester, Major (afterwards general) Devens, received its orders on April 20, and was in line on the afternoon of that day; and was joined later (May 1) by Capt. Albert Dodd's company from Boston. This completed the list of the three months volunteers, whose statistics were as follows:—