The 13th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(Three Years)
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Unit History
The 13th Regt. Mass. Vol, Inf. had for its nucleus the 4th Battalion Rifles, M. V. M., which furnished Co's. A, B, C, and D of the regiment. These companies with Co. E, Roxbury Rifles, were ordered to Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, May 25, 1861. On June 29 two companies were added from Marlboro and one each from Natick, Stoneham, and Westboro. The regiment was mustered into the service July 16, 1861, with Samuel H. Leonard, formerly commander of the 4th Battalion, as its Colonel.
The regiment left the fort July 29, 1861, and was sent immediately into Maryland. During the late Summer and fall it did guard duty on the upper Potomac between Hagerstown and Darnestown, Md., then went into winter quarters at Williamsport. All the troops in this region belonged to the division of Gen. Banks.
The regiment crossed the Potomac March 1, 1862, and by the President's General War Order No. 2, issued March 8,1862, became a part of Abercrombie's Brigade, Williams' Division, Banks' (5th) Corps, Army of the Potomac. The spring and early summer were spent reconnoitering in various parts of northern Virginia. May, 1862, found the regiment a part of Hartsuff's Brigade, Ricketts' Division, McDowell's (3d) Corps, Army of Virginia. It reached the field of Cedar Mountain, August 9, just after the battle had ended, and suffered no loss. In the Second Bull Run campaign, on August 28, it was engaged at Thoroughfare Gap resisting the advance of Longstreet's Corps. On August 30, Gen. Z. B. Tower being in command of the brigade in place of Gen. Hartsuff who was ill as the result of wounds, the 13th was very heavily engaged near Bald Hill, on the Chinn farm, losing 36 officers and men killed or mortally wounded. The 12th Massachusetts was in the same brigade.
Early in September, 1862, Ricketts' Division became a part of Hooker's (1st) Corps. Still as a part of Hartsuff's Brigade, the 13th took part in the advance to South Mountain, where it was engaged Sept. 14, 1862, without loss. At Antietam Sept. 17, it fought in the Bloody Cornfield and near the Dunkard Church, losing heavily. At Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, the 13th was a part of Taylor's Brigade, Ricketts' Division, Reynolds! (1st) Corps. In the great attack on the Confederate right two miles below the city of Fredericksburg the 13th occupied an exposed position but did not suffer severe loss. The winter of 1862-63 was spent in camp at Fletcher's Chapel near Belle Plain.
At Chancellorsville, May 1 to 4, 1863, Col. Leonard commanding the brigade, and Gen. Robinson the division, the 13th Regt. suffered small numerical loss. At Gettysburg, July 1, as a part of Paul's Brigade, Robinson's Division, Reynolds' (1st) Corps, the 13th was posted on the right of the corps line near Oak Hill and lost heavily, especially in prisoners. During the late summer and early fall the regiment was active in the region of the Rappahannock, and in the latter part of November took part in the Mine Run campaign. About Christmas, 1863, it went into winter quarters at Mitchell's Sta. near the old Cedar Mountain battlefield.
In the spring of 1864 Robinson's Division was assigned to the 5th Corps. In the battle of the Wilderness, May 5 and 6, the 13th was engaged on the Orange turnpike and later near the Plank road, being commanded by Lieut. Col. Hovey. At Spottsylvania, May 8 to 12, it was in action near the Alsop, Jones, and Spindle farms with considerable loss. At North Anna, Cold Harbor, and on the lines in front of Petersburg the regiment continued to perform active duty until July 14, when, its term of service having ended, its recruits and re-enlisted men were transferred to the 39th Regt., and it was withdrawn from the front and sent to Washington. Reaching Boston, Maas., July 21, the members of the regiment were furloughed until August 1, on which date they reassembled on Boston Common and were mustered out of the 'United States' service.
Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 117 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 40 Enlisted men by disease. Total 161.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Patrol and outpost duty on the Upper Potomac until March, 1862. Action at Beller's Mill, near Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September 2, 1861. Pritchard's Mills September 18 (2 Cos.). Bolivar Heights near Harper's Ferry, October 16. (Cos. "C," "D," "I" and "K" detached at Hancock, Md., January 5-30, 1862.) Operations in the Shenandoah Valley March and April. Occupation of Winchester, Va., March 12. Pursuit of Jackson up the Valley March 24-April 27. Guard duty on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad May 3-18. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Thoroughfare Gap August 28. Battle of Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September-October. Battles of South Mountain September 14, and Antietam September 16-17. At Sharpsburg until October 30. Movement to Warrenton, thence to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth and Belle Plain until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Operations at Pollock's Mill Creek April 29-May 2. Fitzhugh's Crossing April 29-30. Battle of Chancellorsville May 2-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Picket duty along the Rapidan until October --. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahanock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Duty on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad until April, 1864. Demonstrations on the Rapidan February 6-7. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 23. Line of the Pamunkey June 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. White Oak Swamp June 13. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16-July 14. Mustered out August 1, 1864.
