CHAPTER X.
Back to Baton Rouge—The Highland Road—Camp Rodman—Bivouac on the Boulevards—A and K detailed for Provost Duty—I sent to Plaquemine—Camp Banks—Picket Duty—Cold Weather—New Years’ Ball—Visit of Mr. Wellington—Flag-Raising—Recruits.
Back to Baton Rouge—The Highland Road—Camp Rodman—Bivouac on the Boulevards—A and K detailed for Provost Duty—I sent to Plaquemine—Camp Banks—Picket Duty—Cold Weather—New Years’ Ball—Visit of Mr. Wellington—Flag-Raising—Recruits.
letter A
AUGUST 1, the regiment embarked for Baton Rouge, landed, and went into camp near the Highland Road, just outside of the city, when clothing was issued, and the men once more had an opportunity to appear decently. From this time until the following February, the history of the regiment presents no striking features; but it was far from being idle.
On the 2d of September, a large portion of the troops at Baton Rouge embarked for what was then supposed to be a Texan expedition; and the Thirty Eighth was ordered out to guard the streets leading from the levee, and prevent any of the men from leaving their command,—an unpleasant duty at all times. A few days after, the regiment changed camp, moving near the city, on the ground recently occupied by the FortyNinth Massachusetts, and calling their new location “Camp William L. Rodman.” This camp was just outside the line of works surrounding Baton Rouge; and, upon a threatened attack one night from the bands of guerillas who hovered around the lines continually, the camp was abandoned, with the tents standing, while the regiment bivouacked on the boulevards in the city until morning; when, there being no prospect of an engagement, it once more returned to its quarters.
The Thirty First Massachusetts having been sent to New Orleans for the purpose of being mounted, the Thirty Eighth removed into the vacant camp (Camp Banks) on the 10th of December. Cos. A and K were detailed as provost guard, and had quarters in the city, where they were efficient in preserving order, and gave satisfaction alike to the commander of the post and to the inhabitants of the city, who were protected in all legitimate business, and who ever found the men of these two companies courteous and polite when on duty, and quiet and peaceable at all times. Co. I was stationed at Plaquemine, a portion of the company being mounted; and, in conjunction with the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, they did efficient service in guarding that town against the incursionsof the guerillas, who harassed the few people disposed to render allegiance to the government, and took every opportunity to capture wagon-trains, and shoot those who ventured outside of the lines. The remaining companies picketed a portion of the line, did guard-duty in the commissary and other departments, and furnished men to act as clerks and orderlies, and do other duties incident to the garrisoning of such an important post; while a number of the officers held important positions on the staffs of the post and brigade commanders.
No articles whatever were allowed to be taken outside of the lines without a permit; and the pickets were instructed to use great care in examining all parties; but it became a delicate task occasionally, when some fair-looking dame, taking advantage of the respect ever shown to woman by the members of the regiment, attempted to “run the blockade.” On more than one occasion, where the suspicions were unusually strong, a gentle shaking brought strange appendages to the ground, to the confusion of the owner, and the amusement of the boys; and a close examination of the seats and bottoms of vehicles often brought to light articles not on the permits.
As the year drew to a close, the weather becamecold; and, during Christmas-week, the pickets often found the water in their canteens frozen in the morning, and their beards white with the frost. The citizens complained of the cold also, saying that such weather had not been seen in Baton Rouge for twenty years, and that the Yankees had brought their climate down with them; which may have been true, for they had established some customs quite as uncongenial to the South as the cold weather. It was reported that one chivalrous citizen, after taking the oath, with the intention of supporting the government, became so disgusted at seeing a sign hung out, stating that doughnuts and baked beans were to be had within, that he immediately left for some country where New England and her famous dishes were unheard off.
The health of the regiment was remarkably good through the winter, some companies reporting every man for duty, notwithstanding the fact that they were on picket twice a week, exposed to all the storms of the season; but the quarters in the camp were comfortable, consisting of board shanties, three to four feet high at the sides, with tent-roofs, and furnished with stoves, bunks, and stools. By this time, the men began to considerthemselves veterans, making it a point to look out for personal conveniences; and, as a consequence, “household stuff” accumulated, so that whenever the regiment broke camp, they left a variety of articles, valuable in the eyes of the contrabands.
On New Year’s, a ball took place under the direction of Co. A, then doing provost duty in the city; but the sympathies of the people were still with the bands of guerillas prowling about outside of the lines, and they held themselves aloof from Union officers and men; so that the ball was not graced by the presence of many ladies. During the winter, J. C. Wellington, Esq., of Cambridge, who had been commissioned by the governor of Massachusetts to visit all the regiments from that State then in the Department of the Gulf, spent a number of days in the camp, conforming to army life, and making himself familiar with the condition of the regiment.
During the first week in January, the alarms occasioned by guerillas were unusually frequent; and the regiment was under arms several times, the pickets doubled, and preparations made to repel an assault; but the enemy never came within musket-shot of the breastworks, although they captured detached parties. For several weeks,the brigade stood under arms from daylight until after sunrise; while the pickets deployed in a skirmish-line; but the guerillas never fulfilled their threat of dining in Baton Rouge.
Wednesday, Feb. 27, the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry raised a new flag in their camp, celebrating the event with music and speeches, and the Thirty Eighth were invited to be present, with other regiments. They appeared with full ranks, to the evident gratification of the Fourth; and from this time, the good feeling between the two regiments, which had been partially interrupted by an unfortunate affair between a member of the Fourth and one of the provost guards, resulting in the death of the former, was restored. On the 3d of February, the One Hundred and Twenty Eighth New York raised a new flag, with appropriate ceremonies, reminding the spectators of the early times of the war, when patriotism expressed itself in bunting.
The rebels still hovered around the picket-line; and on the 8th of February, Lieut. Williams, one of the most daring of the Wisconsin officers, was killed just outside of the lines, several of his men being wounded at the same time, and the detachment which accompanied him driven back. Hisregiment immediately started in pursuit, and captured several of the enemy; while the third brigade were under arms behind the breastworks.
Feb. 7, the Thirty Eighth and the One Hundred and Fifty Sixth marched to the stockade, seven or eight miles from the city; and, on the march back, a scrub-race took place between the two regiments,—molassesversussour-krout, as the boys called it,—molasses coming in slightly ahead.
March 11, a number of recruits joined the regiment, for the first time in its history; the Department of the Gulf evidently not being in favor among the latter volunteers.
It should have been mentioned before, that the ladies of Cambridge, during the summer, had procured a very handsome silk flag, with the name of the regiment, and the engagements in which it had taken part, inscribed upon it in golden letters. This flag was forwarded to Baton Rouge, and entrusted to the care of the regiment by Major Allen, who read a very eloquent and patriotic letter from the donors, and also read the reply which was to be sent in the name of the regiment. Five more battles were afterward placed upon its stripes.