Once more the Old First Regiment of Massachusetts was off for service. Thirty-seven years earlier, on May 27th, 1861, it had completed its muster into the volunteer army of the United States, leaving Boston on June 15th, and proceeding at once to Washington, where it had the high honor of being the first of the three-years' regiments to report, armed and equipped, for duty. Since that time the changes had been many; officers and men had come and gone; batteries had been transferred, disbanded, or reorganized, until there remained but six out of the twelve ("B," "D," "E," "G," "H," and "K") whose records showed service in the previous war, while of these only three ("D," "G," and "H") had campaigned with the old War First from '61 to '64. But through all the vicissitudes of over a third of a century the traditions and spirit of the early days had been reverently cherished and kept sacred, until now, when the latest call had come, the young men whose pride it was that they bore the veteran name and number were again first in ready response to the summons.
Sheltering themselves as best they could from the biting wind, for the cabins could accommodate but a portion of the regiment, the men prepared to make the best of their hour's trip down the harbor. They were in the highest of spirits, for the orders to move had come as a relief to the previous strain of waiting for the expected to happen. The singing men promptly got to work, while the rest either listened, or, true to the immemorial trait of the newly enrolled volunteer, started cheers for every passing craft. Meanwhile the colonel had assembled his battalion and battery commanders to receive their final instructions looking towards the comfort of the men when the fort should be reached.
The regiment had been hurriedly called out, and at an inclement season of the year, but its officers felt that it was fairly ready, so far as equipment went, for any service that might be expected in the immediate future. In the matter of small-arms there was little to be desired, since an issue of the latest model Springfield rifle—fresh from the national armory, and in perfect condition—had been made during the winter previous. Uniforms and great-coats, if lacking in smartness, were at least serviceable. Many batteries owned their blankets, and in addition to these there was on hand a full supply for the regiment, both woolen and rubber, which only awaited issue. The medical department had well-filled chests, with the necessary equipment and furniture for a small field hospital. Each battery had started from its station with full travel rations for forty-eight hours, which would tide over the interval required to set in operation a consolidated regimental mess. Several cases of heavy shoes had been ordered, to have at hand in case delay should be experienced in filling requisitions for foot-gear. There were on hand twelve thousand rounds of small-arm ammunition—not enough to go far in an infantry fight, but sufficient for supplying the belts of sentries and patrol-boat crews at a coast fort.