the coast. The day was calm and delicious, and they drank in with delight the serenity of the scene. A hazy tent of blue was hanging over them. On one side the dim thread of shore hemmed in the sea. Flights of loons and ducks skimmed along the ocean, rising lazily, and dashing the waves as they flew against the wind, until they rose into the air, and wheeling, swept into calmer feeding grounds.

At 5 o'clock they passed a light-ship, and hailed her, their object being to discover whether any United States vessels were in the neighborhood, to convoy them up the Potomac River. They had heard that the forts at Alexandria were ready to open upon them, if they attempted to pass up, and the steamer was of such a build that, had a shell or shot struck her, she would certainly have been destroyed. It therefore behooved them to be cautious. Although the feelings of the men were unanimous in wishing to force the Potomac, wiser counsels, as it proved, were to prevail, and they kept on.

About this time, a curious phenomenon occurred. Some men in the regiment, who had fine voices, and there were many such, had been singing, with all that delicious effect that music at sea produces, several of the finest psalms in the liturgy. The ocean softens and delicately repeats sound, and those airs trembled along the almost unrippled surface of the sea. While they were singing, the moon swung clear into the air, and round her white disk were seen three circles, clear and distinct, red, white and blue! The omen was caught by common instinct, and a thousand cheers went up to that heaven that seemed, in its visible signs, to manifest its approval of the cause in which they that witnessed it were engaged.

All this time the troops were entirely ignorant of their destination. The officers kept all secret, and the conjectures of the men were vain. On the morning of the 22d, they were in sight of Annapolis, and there found the Eighth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers on board the Maryland. They were aground, owing, it was supposed, to the treachery of the captain, whom they put in irons and wanted to hang. During the greater portion of that forenoon, the Boston was occupied in trying to get the Maryland off the sandbar. The men on board the Maryland were without water and without food; but they were well-conducted and uncomplaining, and behaved in all respects like heroes.

On the afternoon of the 22d, the Boston arrived at Annapolis. "Then," says the narrator of these scenes and incidents, "for the first time in his life, your correspondent was put to the work of rolling flour barrels. He was entrusted with the onerous duty of transporting stores from the steamer to the dock. Later still, he descended to the position of mess servant, when, in company with gentlemen well known in Broadway for immaculate kids, he had the honor of attending on his company with buckets of cooked meat and crackers. After this, I had the pleasing office of performing three hours of guard duty on the dock, with a view to protect the baggage and stores. It was monotonous, being my first guard, but not unpleasant. The moon rose calm and white. A long dock, next to the one on which I was stationed, stretched away into the bay, resting on its numerous piles, until it looked in the clear moonlight like a centipede. All was still and calm, until, at certain periods, the guard

challenged persons attempting to pass. There was a holy influence in the hour, and somehow the hot fever of anxiety, that had been over us for days, seemed to pass away under the magnetic influence of night. The regiment was quartered in buildings belonging to the Naval School.

The same evening, the Massachusetts men landed, fagged, hungry, thirsty, but indomitable. The two days that were spent at Annapolis were welcome. The men had not enjoyed a fair night's sleep since they left New York; and even the hard quarters at Annapolis were a luxury, compared to the decks of the Boston. At 9 o'clock in the evening, April 23d, their repose was disturbed by rockets being thrown up in the bay. The men were scattered all over the ground; some in bed, others walking or smoking, all more or less undressed. The drummer beat the roll call to From the stroke of the drum until the time that every man, fully equipped and in fighting order, was in the ranks, was exactly, by watch, seven minutes. The alarm, however, proved to be false, so that, after an unpremeditated trial of their readiness for action, the men were permitted to retire to their various couches, formed by blankets spread on the floor, and military overcoats to cover them."

arms.

A soldier of the New York regiment speaks of a difference between the Massachusetts men and theirs. "The Massachusetts men," he says, "to whom all honor be given for the splendid manner in which they afterwards acted, in a most trying situation, presented a singular moral contrast to the members of the Seventh. They were earnest, grave, determined. Badly equipped, haggard, unshorn, they yet had a manhood in their look that hardship could not kill. They were evidently thinking, all the time, of the conflict into which they were about to enter. Their gray, eager eyes seemed to be looking for the heights of Virginia.

"With us, it was somewhat different. Our men were gay and careless, confident of being, at any moment, capable of performing, and more than performing, their duty. They looked battle in the face with a smile, and were ready to hob nob with an enemy, and kill him afterwards. The one was courage in the rough; the other was courage burnished. The steel was the same in both, but in the last a little more polished."

As has before been mentioned, the New York Seventh was composed almost entirely of young gentlemen of fortune, connected with the most distinguished families in the city of New York. The Massachusetts

Eighth, which the Seventh met at Annapolis, consisted almost exclusively of energetic, enterprising young mechanics and seamen, from the workshops and ports of Essex county, a noble band of intelligent, temperate, and religiously-disposed young men. Gen. Benj. F. Butler accompanied the regiment, over which Col. Timothy Munroe was in command. It is said that as they were contemplating a locomotive shattered by the rebels, Gen. Butler inquired if there were any machinists in the ranks who knew how to repair a broken-down engine. Half a dozen men immediately stepped forward, and offered their services. One of these men, after looking at the engine very narrowly, and examining the makers' mark, patted the iron horse fondly, and said, "I think I ought to know how to repair this engine, since I built it." In two hours, by the aid of such tools as

they found in the workshops of Annapolis, the engine was in running order.

And thus it was through all the perplexities of these disastrous days. The Massachusetts Eighth had mechanical skill, and power of endurance in labor, which enabled them to meet any emergency. Carriages were repaired, rails laid, bridges rebuilt, as by magic. The entire road from Annapolis to the Junction was placed in the hands of men from the Cushing Guard, of Newburyport. For two days the volunteers had nothing to eat but poor pork and hard bread. Two young men, butchers, took a tramp into the pastures, selected a fat ox, paid for him amply, and he was speedily butchered in truly scientific style. The troops were soon feasting upon the finest cuts of sirloins and steaks. The exploits of the Eighth Massachusetts in all the arts of utility rendered them quite famous.

The United States frigate Constitution was at Annapolis, in the service of the Naval Academy there, as a school-ship. The rebels had resolved to seize her. Though Maryland was, by an overwhelming majority, for the Union, slavery being weak in that State, there was still a numerous and very envenomed class of rebels, their leaders being men of property, who wielded the energies of as ferocious a mob as has ever been seen. The rebels hoped to drive the State into the rebellion, and had made thorough arrangements for stealing the most venerated ship in our navy, and delivering it to the Confederate Government. Treason in the cabinet had left the ship almost defenceless. There were but twenty men on board, officers included. The vessel was in a trap, as she was on the other side of a bar, over which she could only be drawn by a steam-tug.

Menacing troops were daily drilling upon the shore. Mysterious signals were made. Plans were manifestly maturing for an assault. Fortunately the officers and crew were loyal. For four days and nights they had stood at their quarters, with shotted guns. Affairs were in this condition when suddenly the steamer Maryland entered the harbor, with the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment, under the charge of the prompt and energetic Gen. Butler, ever ready for decisive action. He steamed up alongside. The Constitution had four anchors and seven chains out. One anchor was hove up for use. All the others were slipped. The Maryland performed the friendly services of a tug. There were but nineteen feet on the bar. By lightening and careening, the majestic ship was forced over. The captain, pilot, and engineers of the Maryland, which had been seized by Gen. Butler, were all secessionists, and refused to aid in the rescue of the Constitution. Gen. Butler put them under a guard of determined Massachusetts men, with revolvers, and by the influence of this moral suasion they were induced to do the work of patriots.

The ship being thus rescued, Gen. Butler inquired if there were any men in the ranks who knew how to navigate her. Fifty-four men immediately stepped forward, hardy seamen from Gloucester and other points upon the coast. The majestic frigate was thus speedily manned with all the necessary officers and crew, and sent in safety to New York.

On the morning of the 24th of April, the Seventh New York, accompanied by a portion of the Eighth Massachusetts, to assist in removing

obstructions and repairing damages, set out on its march for Washington. The Secessionists of Annapolis and its vicinity had uttered many threats that the troops should never reach Washington alive. It was well known that bands were armed to harass them on their march, and that ambuscades were to be placed in every defile, and well-mounted horsemen were prepared to cut through their line at every cross-road.

There never, perhaps, has been exhibited a more beautiful manifestation of man's fraternity, than in the brotherly relations which sprang up between the New York Seventh and the Massachusetts Eighth in these hours of trials. It was peculiarly fitting, that, on this occasion, the falsehood should be demonstrated of that insolent assumption of the slaveholders that there can be no sympathy between labor and capital-that one class of the community are destined by our common Father to degrading toil, to be stigmatised as "greasy mechanics" and "mudsills," while another class, in proud antagonism, as gentlemen and cavaliers are to live, sustained by unpaid labor in idleness and luxury. As the Seventh Regiment left Annapolis on its perilous march, the Eighth passed a series of resolutions, expressive of the most heartfelt affection.

"We deeply appreciate," say these grateful men, "the hearty welcome extended to us on landing at Annapolis; especially are our thanks due to the noble Seventh for the generous entertainment, so spontaneous, so bounteous, so heartily appreciative of our condition, furnished on the afternoon of Saturday, April 24th, that no words can do it justice, or do justice to our gratitude. In one other and very especial particular does their generosity and benevolence touch our hearts. We refer to the voluntary subscription raised among them, for the benefit of one of our officers accidentally wounded. The term so often used in connection with the volunteer militia, 'holiday soldiery,' has, in all the conduct of the regiment, to which we are so much indebted, been triumphantly refuted. It will hereafter be worthy of the highest fame,-fame that will now attach to the name of the Generous, Gallant, Glorious Seventh. Wherever the Seventh may go, we would go. Where they lodge, we would lodge. If ever their colors go down before the hosts of the enemy, the Eighth of Massachusetts will be the first to avenge their fall, with the heart's blood of every man.

Some of the authorities in Annapolis, infected with rebel sympathies, ventured to call upon General Butler, and remonstrate against the passage of Massachusetts troops over Maryland soil. General Butler replied, in voice and manner so instructive and persuasive, that the remonstrance was never, to him, repeated:

"We came here, not as citizens of Massachusetts, but as citizens and soldiers of the United States, with no intention to invade any State, but to protect the Capital of our common country from invasion. We shall give no cause of offense; but there must be no fugitive shots or stray bricks on the way."

The secessionists in Maryland were quite overawed by the unexpected exhibition of energy and power which the United States Government had developed. A very gentlemanly, intelligent soldier was one day standing by the side of a 32-pounder, at Annapolis, over which floated the Stars

and Stripes. Several Secessionists came up to him, and entering into conversation, one of them said,

"I would just like to know now, what you all expect to do?"

The gentleman, who himself narrates the incident, says, "It was a civil question, and the answer was not difficult. But the thought came across me, that, for the first time in my life, I was perfectly secure in expressing, on Southern soil, and to Southern men, my exact sentiments. So, with the gun for a seat, the flag for my protection, and slaveholders for my audience, I replied,

"We expect to enforce the laws of the United States, in all the States. We intend, that persons living in Charleston, S. C., who desire to subscribe for any Northern paper, may, with perfect safety, take such paper from its wrapper, and read it with impunity in the public rooms of your hotels. And when vessels with colored sailors, having regular papers from the United States Custom Houses, go to Southern ports, we intend, that those sailors shall not be molested, in any manner whatever.'

6

"Why,' exclaimed the astonished auditor, 'you are an abolitionist.' "No, sir, not a bit of it,' was the reply. But I am an American cit izen, having certain rights, which have not, heretofore, been protected; but which hereafter, thanks to your folly, will forever be secured. Why, only a year ago, when I was at Wilmington, a colored man, who had bought himself and a small schooner, was engaged in the coasting trade hereabouts, and happened to find himself in trouble, not far from this very point. His vessel ran aground, and he was obliged to stay several days in this place. He was put in jail, had no funds to pay some infernal fine with, and would have been sold by the State into slavery, had not several of us, who happened to hear of it, raised $800, and secured his liberty.'

"Why, you surprise me,' rejoined the querist, 'I never heard of that.' "No,' was the reply, and you never would have heard of it under your state of things. But now you will find that papers will print different matter from what they used to. And that, my friend, is one of the things that we expect to do.""

The march from Annapolis to the Junction, like most of the other scenes and incidents which we have to describe, is brought very vividly before our minds by the words in which eye-witnesses relate it. The dawn found the camp in motion. Knapsacks, with blankets and coats strapped upon them, were piled on the green. A brief and insufficient breakfast was taken; the canteens were filled with vinegar and water; cartridges were distributed to each man, and, after mustering and loading, the regiment started on its first march through a hostile country. General Scott has stated, it is said, that the march they performed was one of the most remarkable on record. The tracks had been torn up between Annapolis and the Junction; and here it was that the wonderful qualities of the Massachusetts Eighth Regiment came out. Engineers were wanted. Nineteen stepped out of the ranks. The rails were torn up. Practical railroad makers, out of the regiment, laid them again. As the New York troops marched along the track that the Massachusetts men had laid, the