This regiment took a complicated path to being formed. Four of the companies that where originally intended for this regiment ended up being disbanded because of lack of recruits. Two other companies received the orders to disband and then had that order countermanded. This left the Lexington & Newton company to scramble to regroup as fast as they could. (1) The men of the Sixteenth did not receive all their arms until early in August, when the Fifth, a three month regiment, returned to the state and turned over their muskets. (2) Two men of some note where attached to the Sixteenth. The first was Arthur Bucminster Fuller of Watertown, the chaplain. He was brother of a noted Trancendentalist of the day and grandfather of the famous architect. Just before the Battle of Fredricksburg, Fuller resigned and readied to return home for his health. At Fredricksburg he took up a musket and joined the fight. He did not return alive. The other member of some note was Captain Gardner Banks of Waltham. He was the brother of General Banks, former governor of Massachusetts. The departure of these men was held up a few days because of a reason as simple as rain. It rained so hard that they had to wait for the tents and other equiptment to dry out. (3) Finaly on Aug. 17 at noon they left Camp Cameron, many never to return. (4)

(1) Boston Evening Transcript, July 2, 6 & 8, 1861

(2) Boston Evening Trancsript, July 31, 1861 pg. 4

(3) Boston Evening Trancsript, Aug. 15, 1861 pg. 2

(4) Massachusetts Register, #94, pg. 314