Well may the 1st-42d Regiment feel interest in Edward Simmons’ splendid mural painting in the State House, the “Return of the Colors.” For on the day of that ceremony, Dec. 22, 1865, color-bearers of both regiments were present; and both are given place in the picture. The war was over. These symbols of patriotism for which brave men had sacrificed life were returning to the custody of the Commonwealth who gave them. Was ever Forefathers’ day more sacred than that? The “land of the Pilgrim’s pride” had now become the “land where” and for which “our fathers died.” CHAPTER V THE FIGHTING FIRST W. F. Fox, in his “Regimental Losses,” published in 1889, includes a chapter entitled “The three hundred fighting regiments,” and his list has subsequently become accepted as a semi-official roll-of-honor. Of the more than two thousand regiments on the Union side during the Civil War he found three hundred which lost over one hundred thirty each, killed or died of wounds. While the number of casualties might not always indicate fighting ability, or even fighting experience, still in the long run the blood-marked trail of killed and wounded does surely lead to where the battle was most severe. Amongst the three hundred fighting regiments stands the 1st Mass. Vol. Inf., three-year troops, another name for the Coast Artillery. Of our various companies who went out during the three wars in which we have participated, all losses by killed or died of wounds were confined to those in the Civil War. No such casualties occurred in 1814 or in 1898. The 3d Reg. lost 2, the one company in the 4th 1, the one company in the 13th 10, the single company in the 4th and 29th 5, the company in the 5th 4, the 42d 4, the 43d 3, or a total of 29. Of the regiments officered by us, the 24th lost 92, and the 44th 10; but it is not fair to reckon these as our casualties. In contrast with the total of 29, the 1st Mass. Vol. Inf. lost 144, besides 643 discharged for disease or wounds. There can be no question but that our companies constituting the 1st Mass. Inf., the three-year regiment, deserve the appellation, “the Fighting First.”