William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

On the seventh day of March, one hundred and twenty-five sick and wounded soldiers were placed on board a steam transport, by order of General Burnside; and Dr. Hitchcock was placed in charge of them, with full power to provide for their wants, and procure transportation to their several homes. They reached Baltimore on the evening of the 9th of March. On arriving at New York, the wounded soldiers were welcomed by Colonel Frank E. Howe, our Massachusetts agent, and amply supplied with whatever was necessary for their wants. The Massachusetts men, seventy-one in number, were at once forwarded by rail, and reached their homes or hospitals before the thirteenth day of March. At the New-York and New-Haven depot, in New-York City, a cruel and unjustifiable detention occurred in the embarkation of these wounded men, which elicited some very sharp criticisms in the loyal papers of that day, and in letters of Dr. Hitchcock and Colonel Frank E. Howe to Governor Andrew.

Colonel Howe writes to the Governor, from New York, March 11, ‘Received telegram from Dr. Hitchcock at two o'clock at night, got up immediately, did all I could for him and his poor men. Dr. Hitchcock is a remarkable man. It was very rough for him and all his men. I have spent a good many dollars to-day.’ Also telegraphs the Governor the same day, ‘Dr. Hitchcock leaves with his men in halfpast-three-o'clock train. They will need litters, carriages, and refreshments.’

During the month of March, a large number of other sick and wounded soldiers were forwarded by General Burnside. March 25, Colonel Howe telegraphs to the Governor, ‘One hundred wounded men from Burnside left Baltimore this morning, mostly Massachusetts men. Shall take good care of them.’ Same day, he writes to the Governor, ‘Dr. Upham has just arrived, with thirty Massachusetts men,—Major Stevenson, Lieutenant Nichols, Lieutenant Sargent, Sergeant Perkins, and others. We shall get them off to-morrow morning by the eight-o'clock train. A hundred and fifty men, who left Baltimore ’