M1858 Smoothside Canteen Id’d on the Spout and on Canteen Cover – Jonathan G. Wight Co. D 42nd Massachusetts Infantry

Enlisted on 8/26/1862 as a Private.

On 9/20/1862 he mustered into “D” Co. MA 42nd Infantry

He was Mustered Out on 8/20/1863 at Readville, MA

He was listed as:

* POW 1/1/1863 Galveston, TX (Paroled)

* Paroled 2/18/1863 (place not stated)

units raised to fill the quota of Massachusetts under the call

of Aug. 4, 1862, for 300,000 men to serve nine months.  Its

nucleus was the newly organized 2d Regt. Mass. Vol. Mil.  As

there was already a 2d Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. in the service,

this new unit was named the 42d Regt. in order to avoid the

duplication of numbers.

The regiment was recruited at Camp Meigs, Readville, Brig.

Gen. R. A. Pierce being commander of the camp.  The various

companies were mustered in between Sept. 13 and Oct. 14, 1862,

while the field and staff were not mustered until Nov. 11.

Under command of Col. Isaac S. Burrell the regiment left, Nov.

21, for Camp Banks, Long Island, N. Y., where the expedition

for Louisiana was being organized.  Here on the 3d of December

it took transports for New Orleans.

Colonel Burrell and staff with Companies “D”, “G” and “I”

proceeded on the transport SAXON via Ship Island to New

Orleans, reaching that city Dec. 16.  On the following day they

arrived at Carrollton and went into quarters at Camp Mansfield.

Ordered to Galveston, Texas, to cooperate with the blockading

fleet, Colonel Burrell with his three companies arrived at that

city on Christmas Day, 1862.  Taking possession of the city and

erecting some works for its defense, on New Year’s Day, 1863,

they were attacked by a force which had crossed over from the

mainland.  Taking refuge on Kuhns’ Wharf, after a gallant

defense Colonel Burrell and his three companies were forced to

surrender to the Confederate commander General Magruder.  In

recognition of the gallantry with which he had defended his

post, Colonel Burrell was allowed to retain his sword.  The

enlisted men were paroled Feb. 18, but the officers were not

finally released and exchanged until July 22, 1864.

Lieut. Col. Stedman with Companies “A”, “B”, and “F” on

the transport QUINCY reached Camp Mansfield, Carrollton, Dec.

29.  Companies “E” and “K” on the CHARLES OSGOOD arrived Jany.

2, while Companies “C” and “H” on the SHETUCKET did not reach

camp until Jany. 15.  The seven companies which now composed

the regiment were made a part of Farr’s (2d) Brigade, T. W.

Sherman’s (2d) Division, l9th Corps.

Captain Leonard with Companies “C ” and “H ” was employed

during the first half of the year 1863 at Camp Parapet, the men

serving as engineers and constructing a redoubt at that place.

Here Captain Leonard organized a colored regiment largely

officered by men from the 42d Mass. and known as the 1st

Louisiana Engineers.

Companies “A”, “B”, “F”, and “K” under command of Lieut.

Col. Stedman were sent to Bayou Gentilly a dozen miles

northeast from New Orleans and near Lake Ponchartrain.  These

companies were detached at various times and assigned to duty

at different places.  In June a detachment of 100 men was sent

to Brashear City on the Opelousas Railroad and attached to a

battalion of the 47th Regiment.  On June 23 the garrison at

Brashear City was captured and with it forty-six men of the 42d

Regiment.  About June 21 the headquarters of the regiment were

transferred to Lafayette Square, New Orleans.  About the 1st of

July the regiment was transferred to the Custom House and there

remained until the middle of the month when it was moved across

the Mississippi River to Algiers and spent a fortnight

picketing the Opelousas Railroad.  On Aug. 1 it embarked on

the steamer CONTINENTAL bound for home.  After many

vicissitudes it reached Boston via Providence, R. I., Aug. 10.

Here the men were furloughed until the 20th when they assembled

for the last time at Readville where they were paid off and

discharged.

The Battle of Galveston

During the fall of 1862, President Abraham Lincoln ordered that all of the major ports along the Texas Gulf coast be blockaded to prevent the movement of supplies and arms to the Confederate Army. A squadron of eight Union ships entered Galveston’s harbor on October 4, 1862 and demanded the surrender of the city — the most crucial port in Texas at the time. Confederate troops retreated to the mainland, and by December, Union soldiers occupied Kuhn’s Wharf and patrolled the city streets.

General John B. Magruder became the new leader of the Confederate forces in Texas in November 1862. One of his top priorities was to regain control of Galveston and its bay. Magruder planned a two-sided attack. First, his infantry of 1,000 men would cross the railroad bridge and open fire on Union troops at the wharves. At the same time, two Confederate gunboats would attack the blockaded Union warships in Galveston Bay.

Just before dawn on New Year’s Day, 1863, Magruder ordered his men to attack. The Union soldiers on land were well-protected at their positions on the wharf, and their huge ship cannons succeeded in pushing Confederate troops back. The Union navy, however, was not prepared for the Confederate gunboats, the Neptune and the Bayou City. Men on both boats began shooting at the Union ship, the USS Harriet Lane. The Harriet Lane sank the Neptune, but was broadsided by the Bayou City. The crew of the Bayou City managed to overtake the Union gunners, and after boarding the enemy ship, Confederate soldiers forced its surrender.

After the Harriet Lane was captured, Union Commander William Renshaw made the decision to retreat. The Union ships left Galveston Harbor, but the foot soldiers at the wharves were left behind. The stranded men were also forced to surrender to the Confederate army. During the Battle of Galveston, the Confederates managed to capture six Union ships, sink one, and run another aground. A total of 300 – 400 Union prisoners were taken. In turn, the number of killed or wounded Confederate soldiers was less than 150, and only one Confederate ship was lost. Galveston remained under Confederate control until the Civil War ended in 1865.