A letter from New Orleans says :—“There are few regiments of nine months’ volunteers which have met with greater discomfitures during their short term of service than the 42d Massachusetts, Col. Burrill. Divided at New York and embarked on four transports, the colonel was separated from his command, and the companies from one another. Those who were favored with an expeditious voyage were captured by an overwhelming force of the enemy at Galveston; these who were spared that fate narrowly escaped shipwreck and death, through the criminal negligence of those charged with engaging transports, to provide sea-worthy steamers for the Banks expedition. I believe that three out of the four transports on which the 42d embarked at New York were compelled to put into ports for repair. One of them, at least, the Shetucket, touched at nearly every open port on the Atlantic coast, between Hampton Roads and Tortugas. The steamer, the safety of which the greatest apprehensions have been felt, left New York on the 5th of December, the day after the departure of the North Star, having on board company C, Capt. Leonard, and company H, Capt. Bailey—who came out himself on another steamer—the whole under command of Major Stiles of the 42d. On the 7th the Shetucket struck on Hog Island Reef, off the coast of Delaware, but was got off the following day, when she put into Norfolk with rudder disabled and otherwise damaged. The troops disembarked and remained at Norfolk eleven days, while the steamer was undergoing repairs. She left Norfolk on the 21st; but put into Hilton Head on the 24th for coal and water, and also into Key West for the same purpose on the 4th inst. The steamer was four and a half days in steaming from Key West to Ship Island, and arrived here on Monday morning last after a wearisome passage of thirty-eight days. The men are all well and have gone into camp with the other companies at Carrollton. The regiment is at present under command of Lieut. Col. Stedman. Adjutant Davis and quartermaster Burrill, who escaped from Galveston, have joined the regiment. The two sets of colors presented to the regiment by the state, all the adjutant’s books and quartermaster’s accounts fell into the hands of the enemy at Galveston. Cannot Gov. Andrew send the regiment another state flag?”
Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester, MA