Headquarters Second Mass. Infantry,
Washington, D. C, July 12, 1865.
General Orders,
No. 26.
To The Officers And
Men Of The Second Massachusetts InFantry :—
The Lieutenant-Colonel commanding takes this, his last,
opportunity to tender to you his congratulations, that, after more than four
years of hard service, you are enabled again to go to your homes, and resume
your peaceful avocations.
A brief review of your history in this regiment cannot fail
now to interest you.
At the very outbreak of the late rebellion, the Second
Massachusetts Infantry was organized. Its first year of service was not an
eventful one, and it became famous only for its good discipline and appearance.
In the campaign of 1862 it had a more distinguished part to
act. On the night of May 24, your regiment, by its steadiness and bravery, beat
back greatly superior forces of the enemy, and saved Banks' little army from
total destruction. All of honor that can be associated with the disastrous
retreat of the next day certainly belongs to you. Next came Cedar Mountain;
there, with the same determined bravery, this regiment faced and fought three
times its numbers ; and, in twenty minutes, lost more than one-third of its
enlisted men, and more than one-half its officers. Antietam, Chancellorsville,
Beverly Ford, Gettysburg, and the great campaigns of the West, with their
numerous battles and skirmishes, followed in quick succession; and the war
ended, leaving with you a most brilliant and satisfactory record, — a record of
courage, gallantry, and tenacity in battle, of unflinching steadiness in
defeat, of good discipline in camp, and of respect and prompt obedience to all
superiors; this is the record which you can take to your homes, and it is known
and acknowledged throughout the length and breadth of your State.
The Lieutenant-Colonel commanding does most sincerely
congratulate you who are now left in this command, on having passed safely
through this great struggle, which has terminated so gloriously. He feels sure
that no one of you will ever regret your part in this war. As long as you live,
and whatever your future in life may be, you will think of your soldier's
career with the greatest pride and satisfaction; its hardships and sufferings,
its dangers and glories, have made you all nobler, better, and more
self-reliant men.
It will not be with pleasure alone, that you recall the
events of the past four years. With sadness you will bring to mind the
appearance of this regiment as it marched out of Camp Andrew, July 8, 1861; and
will think how many of the noblest and best officers and men then comprising it
now fill soldiers' graves. You will cherish the memories of these gallant men; and
though you lament their loss, you will remember that they died in battle,
bravely doing their duty, fighting for their country and right; and you will
thank God, when you look about you, and see peace restored to this entire
country, that the sacrifice of their lives has not been in vain.
The Lieutenant-Colonel commanding thanks you for your adherance
to your duties, and your fidelity to him, since he has had the honor to command
you. He assures you, that, in taking leave of this old organization, he feels
more pain than pleasure; he has been with it since its first existence, has
shared its dangers, privations, and glories; and now that it has devolved upon
him to write these words of farewell he does so with unfeigned regret.
In conclusion, he hopes that the lessons taught by this war
will exert a beneficial influence on your future lives, and that you may become
good citizens and worthy members of society.
C. F. MORSE,
Lieut.-Col., Commanding
Second Mass. Infantry.
(Official.)
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 221-2
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