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  HISTORY
  OF THE
  FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT
  _INFANTRY_,
  MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS,
  1862, 1863, 1864.

  BY
  SERGEANT-MAJOR CHARLES P. BOSSON.

  BOSTON:
  MILLS, KNIGHT & CO., PRINTERS, 115 CONGRESS STREET.
  1886.


  COPYRIGHTED BY
  CHARLES P. BOSSON.
  1886.




PREFACE.


This history of the regiment was undertaken by me at the special
request of several officers who knew I had written, soon after the term
of service expired, considerable matter relating thereto, for my own
amusement and instruction. Without this foundation to work on, written
when memory was fresh, it is doubtful if a history of the regiment
could be written, for references to many soldiers’ diaries disclosed
the fact that nearly all did not contain detailed accounts of events
occurring at the time entries were made. Few soldiers thought any
memorandum of theirs would ever become useful for a purpose of this
kind. Access to the regimental books and files of papers has greatly
facilitated this history.

I have not been able to write a satisfactory account of Companies C and
H on detached service, or of Company K on detached service, in charge
of pontoons. I found it impossible to obtain information in a way to be
of service.

I proposed to publish _Descriptive Lists_ of each company of the
regiment. Upon investigation, and a comparison of lists in possession
of the War Department, the regimental descriptive books, and orders
of detail, I found such a marked difference in Christian names and
surnames the idea was abandoned; besides, such lists would prove
misleading, as many men enlisted under a false age; those who were too
young gave in their age several years older than they were, others,
too old, made their age to meet the requirements of law. The original
_Descriptive Lists_ were made up in a hurried, loose manner, few
officers realizing their importance in after years.

It is probable certain facts in these pages will appear to some
readers at this day far different than they would had the history been
published within a few years after the war closed. We have grown older
and wiser than we were in 1862 and 1863.

If any of my old comrades in arms shall have passed a pleasant hour in
reading this history, I shall feel amply repaid for time and trouble in
its preparation.

  CHARLES P. BOSSON.




CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER I.

                                                                 PAGE.

  ORGANIZATION OF REGIMENT--CAMP AT READVILLE--DEPARTURE
    FOR NEW YORK                                                     1


  CHAPTER II.

  EN ROUTE--CAMP AT EAST NEW YORK--ON TRANSPORTS                    19


  CHAPTER III.

  ON BOARD TRANSPORTS--THE SAXON--QUINCY--CHARLES
    OSGOOD--SHETUCKET--QUINNEBAUG                                   38


  CHAPTER IV.

  GALVESTON                                                         61


  CHAPTER V.

  AT CARROLLTON--BOUND FOR GALVESTON--ARRIVAL OF COMPANIES--CAMP
    MANSFIELD--DETAILS                                             140


  CHAPTER VI.

  FEBRUARY--AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MORE DETAILS                        154


  CHAPTER VII.

  ENLISTED MEN PRISONERS AT HOUSTON--MARCH FOR THE FEDERAL
    LINES--ARRIVAL AT NEW ORLEANS                                  173


  CHAPTER VIII.

  AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MARCH--APRIL                                  197


  CHAPTER IX.

  AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MAY                                           226


  CHAPTER X.

  BAYOU GENTILLY--JUNE--FAREWELL TO GENTILLY CAMP--IN NEW ORLEANS  239


  CHAPTER XI.

  BRASHEAR CITY                                                    252


  CHAPTER XII.

  ACTION AT LA-FOURCHE CROSSING                                    286


  CHAPTER XIII.

  JULY--IN NEW ORLEANS--AT ALGIERS                                 310


  CHAPTER XIV.

  COMPANIES C AND H ON DETACHED SERVICE AT CAMP PARAPET            331


  CHAPTER XV.

  COMPANY K IN CHARGE OF PONTOONS--BATON ROUGE--TECHE
    CAMPAIGN--SIEGE OF PORT HUDSON--DONALDSONVILLE--RETURN
    TO REGIMENT                                                    352


  CHAPTER XVI.

  AUGUST--AT AL