I—Capt. Wm. W. Smith, of Danvers (vice Capt. Thos. Weir)—Lawrence.

Co. K—Capt. Joseph R. Simonds, of Melrose—Malden, Medford and Saugus.

"Recruiting for this regiment commenced as early as the fall of Fort Sumter, but owing to the embarrassed condition of the State, the hesitation of the General Government in regard to accepting troops, and the want of authority on the part of the Governor to act, this regiment was obliged to wait from week to week without any decisive answer as to the intention of the Government, concerning its organization. The companies were formed on the militia basis, and were desirous of a regimental organization, and to be mustered into the service, but every effort which the company officers made in that direction, seemed to be counteracted by the dominant political and monied influence which was brought to bear in favor of other regimental organizations, to the disparagement and detriment of the companies comprising the 17th. While others were splendidly provided for by private munificence, and hurried off to the seat of war, this regiment was unprovided by the State with an organization, clothing, arms, equipments or rations. An opinion prevailed at one time, that all idea of a regimental organization must be given up, and the companies enter the United States service, through some other State organization. Captains Fuller of Danvers, and Day of Haverhill, determined on bringing the matter to a focus.

"They visited the Governor, and after several ineffectual efforts to get an audience, at length succeeded, and informed His Excellency that they were going into the army, and should take their commands with them; that they wanted to go in a Massachusetts Regiment, and unless accepted by the State, should go into the Mozart Regiment of New York, as one or two other companies from Massachusetts had already done. Orders were given them by the Governor to go into the camp at Lynnfield. The other companies of which this regiment is composed, were ordered to the same place, and all arrived there between the 10th and 12th of July. They were mustered into the United States service on the 22d, remained in camp until the 23d of August, when they were ordered to Baltimore, and arrived in that city on the 25th, at 4 o'clock P.M. The principal duty of the regiment thus far, had been of a police character, and it was moved about either as a whole or a part, from one portion of the city to another, as circumstances required.

"Nov. 15, Co.'s F, K, E, G, H, and C, with Captain Nims' Battery, were detailed to form a part of the brigade under command of General Lockwood, for an expedition into the counties of Accomac and Northampton, Va., for the purpose of breaking up a rebel force concentrating there. The expedition went on board a steam transport, and on the 17th arrived at Newtown. Here they pitched their tents for the night, and the next day marched a distance of sixteen miles into the country. The rebels had felled trees across the roads in many places to obstruct the advance of the troops, but they were cleared away with but little delay. One deserted rebel battery, pierced for four guns, was found on this day's march.

"On the 19th, the regiment reached Oak Hall, and on the 20th the men went out fowling, and were very successful, taking a large amount of game, which was dressed and partaken of by the men with double relish, as they were on short rations of hard bread and salt junk, and were much exhausted by the fatigues of their march. On the 21st marched to Drummondtown, a distance of twenty-seven miles, performing the journey in eight hours, notwithstanding the many obstructions thrown across the road by the rebels, and the burned bridges which required them to march round, following the bend of the streams. On this march, between Oak Hall and Drummondtown, another rebel battery was discovered, pierced for fourteen guns. The stars and stripes were at once raised over it, and three rousing cheers given.

"November 23, took from the rebels seven guns, 150 small arms, one barrel of powder, besides some swords, shot and shell. At the jail were stored 8,000 rounds of cartridges and 200 small arms, which were also taken. Two gun-carriages and one brass howitzer were also found secreted in the woods, and captured. On the 26th, marched to Pongoteague, a distance of twelve miles, and found another deserted battery.

"November 27th, marched from Pongoteague to Franktown, a distance of twelve miles; and on the 28th, marched to Eastville, thirteen miles, taking on the way one brass cannon, seven horses, some small arms and swords, besides several other articles contraband of war. The rebels had an unfinished earthwork here which they deserted on the approach of the Federal troops.

"A very large proportion of the arms and military stores captured were returned by Gen. Lockwood to the parties claiming them, creating great dissatisfaction among the troops, and rendering the General liable to the suspicion that he sympathized with the rebels.

"The object of the expedition having been attained, the brigade was broken up, and the Mass. 17th embarked at Cherrystone on the 1st and 2d of Dec., and sailed on the 4th for Baltimore, where they arrived the same evening, and went into their old quarters. On the 18th they commenced building barracks [on Stewart's Place] for winter quarters and moved into them on the 5th of January." (These barracks are still standing, and used as a general hospital.)

In February Co.'s F and H relieved the 6th Michigan at McKim's Place, and K and G the 4th Wisconsin at Patterson's Park, those regt's being destined to form part of Gen. Butler's force then about to sail for New Orleans. On the 14th of March four other Co.'s of the 17th were ordered to Fort Marshall, East Baltimore, to assist in defending that fortification from an attack by rebel sympathizers, who, emboldened by the destructive raid of the Merrimac in Hampton Roads, meditated a rising in Baltimore, if not throughout the State.

When the 17th arrived in Baltimore they found the people of that city nearly all 'secesh' in sentiment, and seeming only constrained from rising by the presence in, and passage through, the city, of large numbers of troops. It will then be readily inferred that the men of this regiment had no very enviable task to perform in endeavoring to keep the peace and making these disaffected people see the evil of their ways. In doing this, however, they were not fools enough to use moral suasion alone—that would be casting pearls before swine—No; they used arguments that were far more convincing, such as street drills, practicing at street firing, &c., all of which turned the hate of the 'secesh' citizens into fear—and, finally, their fear became a feeling of respect. What if the men were insulted every time they walked the streets—the women (who were the most outspoken) at length became weary of abusing them, and the men who attempted to insult them never tried that game a second time; for they found in the men of this regiment a spirit that would brook no abuse—an indomitable, dare-devil disposition that met them half way with a bowie knife as long and as keen as their own, and a pistol as deadly. Thus they fought their way to respect, and this latter feeling ripened into affection, which is shown by the fact that when the regiment was about to sail for North Carolina, the ladies of Baltimore presented it with a magnificent silk flag, upon which was painted a fine portrait of Washington.

On the 27th of March, '62, the regiment embarked at Baltimore for Newbern, North Carolina, which place they reached on the 1st of April, and encamped on a field to the west of the city,—near where Fort Totten now stands, and which was then in process of