from White's Bayou to a position within range of the enemy's batteries, on May 26, 1863. On the twenty-seventh the regiment was engaged in the assault on Port Hudson. The casualties during the engagement, were one private mortally, and three slightly wounded. From the twentyseventh of May until June fourteenth the regiment was engaged supporting batteries. On the fourteenth, it was ordered to engage in the assault on Port Hudson, but was held in the reserve column, and did not participate in the fight. From this date the regiment was engaged wholly in supporting batteries during the bombardment, until the ninth of July, when the fortress surrendered."

The Fiftieth Regiment did garrison duty within the fortifications, from the eighth to the twenty-ninth, when it took passage up the Mississippi, per steamer Omaha, which reached Cairo on the fifth of August. The route was then by railroad to Boston, which was reached on the eleventh. On the twenty-fourth, the regiment was mustered out of the service of the United States, at Wenham.

CHAPTER XI.

MILITARY HISTORY OF WORCESTER IN EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR.- RECEPTION OF REGIMENTS. RE-ENLISTMENTS.

THE year 1864 opened auspiciously for our country. The success of our arms, in the preceding year, on land and sea, had made it morally certain that foreign powers would not interfere in behalf of the "Southern Confederacy." The Mississippi was under our control from its sources in the far north to the gulf. Grant, with his valiant lieutenants, had triumphed at Chattanooga and Knoxville. Meade had pursued the baffled hosts of Lee into Virginia, on the way to Richmond. Soon came the thrilling news of the decisive blow dealt by General Thomas on the army of Hood at Nashville. Sherman was on his triumphant march from Chattanooga to Atlanta. At the same time, it was known that the resources of the south were becoming exhausted, while our treasury was full; our granaries were crowded with the products of a rich harvest, and our workshops and manufactories were bringing in almost fabulous wealth. Besides, the ranks of our armies were filling with new recruits and veterans, who were bound to advance our standards along the whole line of war. At the same time our navy blockaded the coast from the capes of Virginia to the mouth of the Rio Grande. The government went forward with increased vigor, inspired by the great-hearted resolution of the people, and the earnest prayers of the Christian Church.

The people of Worcester were in earnest sympathy with the most resolute and high-principled portion of their countrymen, and while giving money and men to aid in suppressing

the rebellion, were no less earnest in laboring for the overthrow of slavery. They felt that the object of the war, on our part, would fail, if the Emancipation Proclamation was not made the irrepealable law of the land. These sentiments inspired them, when on the very last day of the year 1863, they warmly responded to these words of Dr. Sweetser.

"This is not a war of pleasure or choice, but of compulsion. The issue is forced upon us, and we must accept it. It is our only method. There is no room left for compromise. The day of concession is past. It is the will of the people, which of itself constitutes the government, that our flag must and shall be sustained. It was idle to talk of failure. There can be but one way out of this trouble, and that is to establish the authority of the government from the lakes to the gulf, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The question is not so much when the war shall end, as how it shall end? We should see to it that the principles of freedom are thoroughly established as a result of this contest. We should not leave a burden for our children, but rather bequeath to them an inheritance clear in its title, and clear in its character."

Such feelings impelled them when the following appeal of Mayor Lincoln was made to their love of country and of freedom, on the first day of January, 1864.

To the Citizens of Worcester:

"MAYOR'S Office, January 1, 1864.

Believing that the good of the country as well as the interests of the people of Worcester demand that every exertion in our power should be made to fill up our quota under the president's call, and fully believing that the work can be accomplished by an earnest and united effort, I respectfully but earnestly request every citizen to close his place of business at three o'clock, P.M. during each day until the sixth of January, and devote his time as much as possible to aiding in obtaining recruits. It is hoped that every patriotic citizen will see the propriety of this request, and will cheerfully and unhesitatingly respond."

At this time the number required to fill the quota was three hundred and forty-seven. A meeting was held the next afternoon, January 2, in the City Hall, while cannons were firing on the Common. Samuel Davis presided, and earnest addresses were made by Rev. T. E. St. John, Lieutenant Gird, J. M. Childs and R. R. Greene, Esq. In the evening of the same day another public meeting was held, when the Hon.