First, I am grateful that Higginson makes these out of print books available. I can't afford to go to the Library of Congress to read it and it's cheaper to have them make me a copy. Second, the 52nd Massachusetts was one of the nine month regiments that was assigned to the XIX Army Corps under Banks. Banks had to train them for three months, leaving him only six months to capture Port Hudson and unite with Grant at Vicksburg. Like other nine month regiments, their term of service expired during the siege of Port Hudson. The men of the 52nd remained on duty until the mission was complete.