Massachusetts Twenty-Sixth regiment enters Camp Cameron

The 26th infantry was originally known as the Sixth in the Massachusetts Militia. It was still known by this name when it first reported to Camp Cameron. The regiment was organized by Col. Edward F. Jones of Pepperell. His officers mostly came from the old Sixth. They reported to Cambridge on August 28th, 1861. (1) The various companys were from: Companpies A, D, H, Lowell, Company B, Groton, Company C, Pawtucket, Company E, Acton, Company F, Lawrence, Company G, Fall River, Company I Lawrence and Company K Wrentham. (2) The Twenty-Sixth remained in Cambridge until September 23rd when it was moved to Camp Chase in Lowell. It remained in Lowell until Nov. 19. (3)

(1) Massachusetts in the War, 1864-1865, Bowen, Clark W. Bryan & Co., 1869, pg. 393
(2) Massachusetts Registry, Serial number 94, pg. 374-378
(3) Massachusetts in the Rebellion, P.C. Headley. pg 309

DAN SULLIVAN

The Massachusetts Sixteenth leaves Camp Cameron

The Sixteenth left Cambridge on Aug. 17. At eight o’clock in the morning, of the day of departure , the troops were drawn up in line on the parade ground, and their arms and equipments carefully inspected, after which they left the camp shortly before noon, in heavy marching order. Each soldier had forty rounds of cartridges in his cartridge-box, and two days rations in his haversack; altogether they took seven days’ cooked rations and 60,000 cartridges. “The streets of Cambridge and Boston were occupied by many people to see them off. “ Soon after three o’clock, the train of twenty-one cars started, leaving Boston and home behind.” (1) June saw three different regiments in the camp. The regimental chaplain was Arthur Buckminster Fuller (2) who gave his service every Sunday at 5:00 P.M. both here and at the front. (3)

 

(1)    Massachusetts Register, 1862 serial Number, Ninety-Four, Adams, Sampson, & Co. Boston. Pg. 314

(2)    Harvard Memorial Biographies, Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, Sever & Francis, Cambridge, 1866, pg. 85

(3)    Chaplain Fuller: Being a Life Sketch of a New England Clergyman and Army Chaplain, Fuller, Richard F., Walker, Wise, and Company, 1863, Boston. Pg 175.

DAN SULLIVAN