no war of sections, no war of North and South.
It is waged to avenge no former wrongs, nor to perpetuate ancient griefs or memories of conflict.
It is the struggle of the people to vindicate their own rights, to retain and invigorate the institutions of their fathers.
He then recapitulated the services of the Massachusetts troops,—their prompt response to the call of the President; the march through Baltimore; the garrisoning of Fortress Monroe; the advance by way of Annapolis and the Potomac River; the saving of Old Ironsides; the activity of General Butler and of the State officers; the cost of equipping and provisioning the regiments, which, up to that time, amounted to $267,645.18, exclusive of the fifty thousand pounds sterling drawn in favor of Mr. Crowninshield, for the purchase of arms in Europe, and of contracts made, which, when fulfilled, would amount to $100,000 more.
Up to that time, one hundred and twenty-nine new companies had been organized.
The Governor recomme
th Michigan, Forty-Second New York (Tammany), Captain Saunders' Company of Sharpshooters (First Company of Massachusetts Sharpshooters) and Captain Vaughn's battery of Rhode Island Artillery.
Small bunches of recruits were received from various sources while here, 43 being added from the 14th of September to the 27th.
Shortly after the command was located at Camp Benton, six companies of the regiment, Companies A, B, C, D, E and F, were detailed, at various times, as pickets along the Potomac River, between Shelden's Island and Conrad's Ferry. Companies B, C, and E, were stationed below the crossing at Edward's Ferry,—D, above it, and, still further to the right, opposite Harrison's Island, were companies F.
and A.
On their right was the line of the Fifteenth Massachusetts.
They continued on this duty until the disaster at Ball's Bluff, three weeks later.
The rebel pickets were on the other side of the river, within easy hailing distance, and the music of their bands, playing D
