Harvard memorial biographies ...

Edward Gardner Abbott.

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Concerning the strictness of his discipline the same officer
says:"He tolerated no departure, not even of a hair's breadth, from
his exact and literal orders, on the part of those under him. He
expected the same treatment from his superiors, and he always
obeyed in that spirit. He was just as rigid to himself in all the
duties he owed to his command, as he compelled his command to
be in all their duties to him, and that was to the very extent of both
spirit and letter. I can say with absolute certainty, that, during my
constant connection with him for fifteen months, he never neglected
one military duty or act that he owed to his company that was possible to be performed; and, on the other hand, I do not think that
any member of his company ever neglected a military duty without
being punished for it."
Abbott's commission as Captain was dated May 24, i86i;
and he was one of the very first volunteer officers of that
rank in the United States sworn into the national service
for three years. Three of Abbott's classmates, R. G. Shaw,
H. S. Russell, and C. R. Mudge, were lieutenants in this
regiment, while it was in camp at Brook Farm, and four
more were subsequently connected with it. Of the eight,
one half were killed, or died from the immediate effect of
wounds received in battle.
On July 12, 1861, the regiment joined the command of
General Patterson at Martinsburg, but was soon after transferred to that of General Banks. In October, Captain Abbott
was ordered home to obtain recruits. While here the news
from Virginia was such as to indicate an impending battle,
in which it was probable that his regiment would be engaged. He was very much excited at the thought of being
away at such a time. He chafed so much and his impatience
became so strong, that his father, fearing that he would go
back to the field without waiting for orders, and perhaps
thereby involve himself in difficulty, went to Major-General
Butler, who was at that time in Boston, and obtained from
him a military order commanding Captain Abbott to return
to the field. He went back taking with him forty recruits, and arrived in Washington just after the battle of