Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and the splendid naval achievements of the fleet under Admiral Farragut. The regiment was ordered back to the Gulf, to land in the rear of Fort St. Philip, and take it by storm, but the surrender of the fort to the fleet, soon after the regiment reached the shore, rendered this service unnecessary. The regiment then returned to their transports, and with Major-General Butler and staff on board, ascended the Mississippi, and arrived at New Orleans on the 1st of May, in time to witness the surrender of that city to the Union forces.

The Thirty-First was the first Union regiment to land and take possession of the city; and it had the honor to clear the levee, and escort the Major-General and his staff to their headquarters, through the crowds of traitors who filled it, and lined. the streets of the city. This duty was at once of vast importance and surrounded with great peril. The landing was effected without difficulty, though threats and insults met these brave and devoted Massachusetts boys as soon as they put their feet upon the soil of Louisiana. But they moved on. The duty of clearing the levee, and making a clear passage for the Major-General and his military family, and the formation of the regimental line, was assigned to Company D, commanded by Captain, now Major Hopkins, of Northampton, son of the Hon. Erastus Hopkins, widely known and honored as one of our most distinguished fellow-citizens in the western part of the Commonwealth.

Upon its entrance to New Orleans, the Thirty-First was quartered first at the Custom House, afterwards at Annunciation Square. Detachments were constantly detailed on provost duty. The Thirty-First was an eminently working regiment all the time it remained in New Orleans.

Sometime in August the regiment was divided; the larger portion was sent to garrison Forts Jackson and St. Philip, under command of Colonel Gooding; another portion was ordered to garrison Fort Pike, under command of LieutenantColonel Whelden, of Pittsfield; and the remainder was held for picket duty at New Orleans.

The latest intelligence we have from the regiment is, that it was about to be relieved from its isolated duties, and be again united, and brigaded with other regiments for service in the

field. Among the regiments with which it was to be associated was the One Hundred and Seventy-Fourth New York-the destination of the brigade being Baton Rouge.

I am informed by Major Strong, U. S. A., Assistant AdjutantGeneral on Major-General Butler's staff, that during its term of service in garrison and outpost duty, the Thirty-First did much valuable service in driving back and defeating guerrilla parties, and taking possession of much valuable confiscated

and contraband property which had been owned by Louisiana rebels.

The following is an abstract of the roster :

1 Surgeon died at Ship Island, April 3, 1862. 1 Assistant-Surgeon promoted Surgeon.

1 Captain promoted Lieutenant-Colonel.

2 First Lieutenants promoted Captains.

43 Commissions have been made for this regiment during the year 1862.

The basis of this regiment was the First Battalion Massachusetts Volunteers, composed of six companies of infantry, organized for garrison duty at Fort Warren in the winter of 1861-2.

It was first recognized as the Thirty-Second Regiment, May 25th, 1862, when, upon the telegraphic requisition of the Secretary of War, it received orders to take the field at the earliest possible moment. On the 26th of May, in twelve hours after receiving these orders, the corps was en route for Washington, arriving there on the 28th. For four weeks it remained encamped on Capitol Hill, at "Camp Alexander." It was then ordered to Alexandria, where it encamped near Fairfax Seminary, forming a part of Sturgis's Reserve Corps.

In a few days the regiment was ordered to embark in all haste at Alexandria, to join the army of the Potomac, then on the James River.

It marched June 25th, and arrived at Harrison's Landing July 3d, 1862, about ten o'clock, A. M., where under previous orders it landed without knapsacks or baggage, and being assigned to General Griffin's brigade, Morell's division, Porter's army corps, was stationed throughout the day in line of battle. in the reserve.

The regiment has since shared in the marches and trials of Porter's corps: the march down the Peninsula, (leaving Harrison's Landing on the 15th of August,) via Williamsburg,