* *

"The First Massachusetts Infantry was the first regiment to leave the
State for three years' service in the national cause; and, indeed, is
said to have been the first three years' regiment in the service of the
United States." To the call from the War Department of May 8, 1861, for
volunteers for three years, "the First Regiment immediately and
unanimously responded," though the other regiments which had gone from
the State were enlisted for three months only. The First left Boston on
June 15, 1861, and reached Washington on the 18th, and the next day
marched, with the temperature at 90 deg., to a camp beyond Georgetown and
was at once put under strictly military discipline, being there in the
enemy's country. It was not till July 16 that the regiment marched into
Virginia with three other regiments, and the next night bivouacked at
Centreville.

The battle of Blackburn's Ford, July 18, in which the Chelsea soldiers
fell, was an affair of outposts, resulting from General McDowell's
purpose to "feel of the enemy." It was begun by shots from the Rebels
posted in the woods bordering Bull Run. Both sides were soon at work
with artillery. Companies G and H of the First Regiment had advanced
through a gully, or dry ravine, leading into Bull Run, until they found
themselves exposed to a murderous fire from three different directions.
For at least half an hour they remained in this position unable to
advance or retreat. The New York Twelfth on their flank fell back, and a
general retrograde movement soon followed, with a stand taken at
Centreville. The only valuable result of the reconnoissance was the
bringing under fire for the first time of some thousands of raw troops.
Thirteen men of the First Regiment were killed, and as many more wounded
and taken prisoners. Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, chaplain of the regiment,
published in 1866 a very full and lively history of its operations.

* * * * *

THE BULL-RUN MUSKET.

A single dead soldier of the Union army was an object of
intense public interest up to the date of the battle of
Bull Run in July, 1861.

There were two lads of us who left Boston to visit our
brothers--both of whom were in the army and in the same
company. We expected to find the Army at Washington; and
we each carried a box of dainties to delight our brothers
with. On reaching Washington, we were