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

[383] latter part of December, it received orders to report to Brigadier-General Andrews at New York, who had been left in command by General Banks, to take charge of the transportation for the remaining Massachusetts regiments destined for the Department of the Gulf.

The Forty-ninth Regiment was raised in Berkshire County, and organized at ‘Camp Briggs,’ at Pittsfield. Captain William F. Bartlett, a young and gallant officer, who had lost a leg at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va., was elected colonel. It received marching orders on the twenty-first day of November, to report to Brigadier-General Andrews at New York. It remained in camp at Long Island several days, awaiting transportation to New Orleans.

The Fiftieth Regiment was recruited and organized at ‘Camp Edwin M. Stanton,’ at Boxford. The nucleus of the Fiftieth was the old Seventh Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. It left Massachusetts on the nineteenth day of November, with orders to report to Major-General Banks, at New York. The transports furnished for this regiment were three small vessels, two of which were nearly foundered at sea. One put in at Philadelphia, and another at Hilton Head. Both were pronounced unseaworthy, and new transports were obtained. No lives were lost, and the regiment eventually safely arrived at New Orleans. This regiment was commanded by Colonel Carlos P. Messer, who had commanded a company in the Fifth Regiment, in the three months service.

The Fifty-first Regiment was recruited at ‘Camp John E. Wool,’ in the city of Worcester. On the eleventh day of November, the regiment was ordered to Newbern, N. C. A few days afterwards, it came to Boston, and entered on board transport, and proceeded at once to its destination. Augustus B. R. Sprague, who had served as captain in the Rifle Battalion, in the three months service, was colonel of this regiment.

The Fifty-second Regiment was recruited at ‘Camp Miller,’ at Greenfield. Henry S. Greenleaf, was commissioned colonel. It left Massachusetts on the nineteenth day of November, for New York, where it embarked for New Orleans, with orders to report to Major-General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf.