The Sixth Massachusetts.
The Sixth Massachusetts regiment was the first regiment fully equipped and organized to respond to the
President's call for troops.
It had a full band and a regimental staff.
It was mustered at
Lowell on the morning of the 16th of April. Four companies were from that city, four were added from other cities, and when the regiment reached
Boston, about midday, a company from that city was added, bringing up the strength of the regiment to about 700 men. They were drawn up before the
Governor of
Massachusetts, who addressed them, and then they left for the
South, their whole journey until they had left
Philadelphia behind being an ovation.
On the 18th the regiment marched down
Broadway, New York, from the railroad station to the upper part of the city to the
Jersey City ferry.
The march was like a holiday parade, and the troops were cheered by thousands of citizens who filled the sidewalks.
In passing through
New Jersey towns and through
Philadelphia there was the same enthusiasm.
At or near
Philadelphia an unarmed and ununiformed
Pennsylvania regiment was added to the force, bringing the total number of the troops up to about 1,700 men. After leaving
Philadelphia the cheering ceased and the atmosphere changed.
It was no longer a holiday trip, for there was every evidence that the troops were approaching the enemy's country.
Soon after leaving
Philadelphia the commander of the regiment received an intimation that the passage of his men through
Baltimore might be resisted.
