History of the Forty-Eighth Regiment M. V. M. During the Civil War — Edition Insights

Diary Structure and Chronological Frame

Plummer explicitly adopts a diary format, which shapes how the reader encounters the regiment's experience. The excerpts show entries that move from the initial outrage over Fort Sumter through the organization of the regiment in August and September 1862. The diary form imposes a day-by-day rhythm, but the surviving excerpts are incomplete; the full text likely includes gaps. Readers should note that Plummer does not claim to cover every incident—he acknowledges that more could have been written about individual companies. The chronology is the backbone, and the rosters serve as a reference for who served and when.

Rosters as a Window into the Regiment

The book devotes substantial space to company rosters, listing each soldier's name, hometown, enlistment date, muster date, and final status. For example, Company B includes Albert Plummer himself as 1st Sergeant, with his progression from sergeant to 1st sergeant on July 8, 1863. These rosters reveal patterns: most men enlisted in August and September 1862, mustered out on September 3, 1863, but a few died in service—like William F. Perkins, who died at the regimental hospital in Baton Rouge. The rosters also note transfers and desertions, such as Charles Walker, who deserted with "no further record." This data allows readers to trace individual trajectories within the unit's collective story.

Key Events: Port Hudson and Baton Rouge

The excerpts mention two critical locations: Port Hudson, Louisiana, and Baton Rouge. The regiment participated in the assault on Port Hudson on May 27, 1863, where Lieutenant-Colonel James O'Brien was killed and several enlisted men, including Charles W. Poor, died. The regimental hospital was at Baton Rouge, where William F. Perkins succumbed to illness. These details, drawn from the rosters and the narrative, indicate that the 48th Massachusetts saw combat and suffered losses in the Louisiana campaign. Readers should note that the excerpts do not provide a full account of the battle; the diary entries likely offer more context on the regiment's movements and engagements.

Plummer's Authorial Voice and Limitations

Plummer writes as a participant-historian, having served as 1st Sergeant in Company B. His preface thanks surviving comrades for assistance, including Lieutenant-Colonel Eben P. Stanwood. The tone is modest and collaborative, emphasizing a "true" record rather than a literary one. The excerpts show a preference for straightforward sentences and factual reporting. However, the text is not a complete battle history; Plummer acknowledges that many interesting particulars are omitted. Readers should approach the book as a primary source document—a veteran's compilation of official records and personal notes—rather than a polished narrative. The diary form may sometimes feel sparse, but it preserves the regiment's own chronology and priorities.

Plummer's history rewards readers who consult the rosters alongside the diary entries, as the names give human weight to the campaign timeline. The book is best read as a reference for the 48th Massachusetts' service, not as a standalone battle narrative. For those interested in the regiment's role at Port Hudson or the daily life of Massachusetts volunteers in Louisiana, the diary entries provide a skeleton that the rosters flesh out with individual stories of enlistment, survival, and loss.

I remember finding my grandfather’s old service diary, sparse entries about mud and waiting, and this regimental history felt similar—quiet names, careful dates, no grand words. It stirred something The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers, 1758-1775 With Numerous Illustrative Notes — A Closer Reading once did, that same plain ache of ordinary men marking time before the unknown.