Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-23
The First Ma ..ehus.tt. R.s,mtn,.

The term OF service OF the lst Massachusetts
regiment has expired, and the remnant suryi-
wing after thoir many bloody battles are on their
way home. This was the fret three years.
regiment that arrived in Washington, and 1t
has participated in the battles OF the Army Of
the Potomac, from the nrst Bull Run to the
last " Wilderness battle. Again and again
has il been decmated. During the three years
Of It's hard service Il has had in all over two
thousand men. It now musters, officers and
all, less than four hundred and nfty, In march
ing order
Having belonged 10 Hooker's original brig
ade and Hooker'I old division In the old Sd
army corps, and since the reorganization TO
Hancock's corps, the regiment has of neees-
sity been in the hardest battles OF the different
campaigns Of the Army Of the Potomac. Their
hardest fighting was reserved TO the last. The
description given by the officers OF the fighting
on the 18th instant exceeds anything we have
read in history. They were near the right oil
Hancock's corps, at point where the contend
Ing forces were within eight yards Of each
other, defended by hastily constructed breast
works. The position was maintained with the
most obstinate bravery for twenty four hours,
the firing being almost incessant. Col. Nc
laughln, OF the lst Massachusetts, who was
In command OF a brigade, says that his guns
were so fouled by the long g-continued firing
that the muskets OF 50 cAlibre would not re.
ceiye cartridges Of 81 callbre. In the Right he
managed to get relief for half an hour and
washed ont the guns in a neighboriHg creek
and resumed firing.
Whoa a soldiers piece became too foul TO be
tired, he was kept al his post with his blyonet
10 repel the continuous assaults of the enemy.
At one time a battery was attempted TO be
placed In position to assist this part Of the
line, but when II was driven up every rider was
shot from his saddle before he could diSmount,
and every horse killed by the murderous lrs.
Nen became exhausted TO that degree that they
would drop asleep under the firing. The on
GERS were obliged to traverse the line 10 wake
up the seeperS as well as to encourage the
wakeful, and in doing this they often shook
those who reposed in their last sleep. Col
Mclaughlin informed US that in this way
passing along the rows Of the quick and tn,
dead, he Jostled fifteen or twenty poor fellow
who had "fought their last battle, )" aud woult
never awaken to glory again
The effects Of the firing al that part Of ou
line were terrible. The statements made b,
the officers are almost Incredible, but are vel
Attested. Men who fell with feet exposed t.
the lre OF the opposing line "sre found wit
Ihelr upturned boot soles pierced by fourtee
or afteeu bullets. Young oak trees wer
clipped of and cut away by bullets until the
loppled over. Some Of them measured twenty
two inches Verify the survivors OF such bal
tes deserye the fatted calf when they get HON
once more.
The let Massachusetts have gone home wit
only the following Geld and staff officers Col
Y. B. Mclaughlin, Surgeon Edward A. Whls
ton, QuArtermAster Miles TSrWell, AsslstAn
surgeon Isaiah L. Packard and Chaplain W
n. CudWorth. They ere 10 be entertained II
Boston by the AncleRt and Honorable ArtIl
lery, commanded by Gen. CoWdIn, formerl,
oft.e lst, and their oficers are likewise 10 b.
feasted by the Boston Independent Cadets
after which they will repOse awhile upon thsi
well-earnsd lsures. We shall expect to in,
them In the seld again, In one way or another
ere long.