The 16th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(Three Years)
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Unit History
The 16th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was made up of companies recruited in Middlesex County in April and May, 1861. By Special Order of June 17, 1861, it was ordered to assemble at Camp Cameron, North Cambridge, on the 2d of July.
Its companies were mustered in on various dates between June 29 and July 12, with Powell T. Wyman, a West Point graduate, as its colonel. It left the State August 17, and was in camp near Baltimore, Md., until Sept. 1, on which date it removed to Hampton, Va., where it was in camp during the autumn and winter of 1861-62.
In May, 1862, it was posted temporarily at Gosport Navy Yard and at Suffolk, Va., and on June 12 joined the Army of the Potomac near Fair Oaks. It there formed a part of Grover's Brigade, Hooker's Division, Heintzelman's (3d) Corps. It wag engaged with heavy loss on the Williamsburg road, June 18, and took part in the battle of Oak Grove, June 25. In the Seven Days fighting the 16th was heavily engaged at Glendale, June 30, losing its commander, Col. Wyman.
Transferred to Alexandria during the last of August, it proceeded with its corps to the vicinity of Warrenton Jo. In the 2d Bun Run campaign, on August 29 it was in the charge of Grover's Brigade on the Confederate position at the famous railroad embankment near Groveton, losing heavily. After this campaign the regiment remained in or near the defenses of Washington until November. About this time Gen. Carr succeeded Gen. Grover in com- and of the brigade. After the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, where the 16th was not heavily engaged, it went into winter quarters new Falmouth. At Fredericksburg it suffered one notable loss in the death of Chaplain Fuller who had resigned and was about to depart for home, but went into the fight as a volunteer and was killed.
At Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863 as a part of Carr's Brigade, Berry's Division, Sickles' (3d) Corps, the 16th was heavily engaged, suffering severe lose. At Gettysburg, July 2, it suffered still more heavily while defending the line of the Emmittsburg road. Gen. Berry having been killed at Chancellorsville, Gen. Humphreys now commanded the division.
In the fall of 1863 the regiment was active in the operations near the Rappahannock and Rapidan and in late November participated in the Mine Run campaign. The winter was spent in camp near Brandy Station.
When the 3d Corps was broken up in the spring of 1864, the 16th Regt. became a part of McAllister's Brigade, Mott's Division, Hancock's (2d) Corps. With this command it was engaged with loss at the Wilderness, May 5 and 6, 1864, on the line of the Plank road. Again at Spottsylvania on the 10th and 12th of May its losses were heavy, especially on the last named date when it participated in the assault on the Bloody Angle, where Lieut. Col. Merriam was killed.
After Spottsylvania Mott's Division had become so reduced in numbers that it was consolidated with Birney's Division. As a part of this division the regiment was engaged at North Anna, Totopotomoy, and in front of Petersburg until July 11, 1864, when it transferred its recruits and re-enlisted men to the 1 1th Mass. and started for home. It arrived in Massachusetts July 22, and on July 27 was mustered out of the United States service.
Regiment lost during service 16 Officers and 134 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 93 Enlisted men by disease. Total 245.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Garrison duty at Fortress Monroe, Va., September 1, 1862, to May 8, 1862. Occupation of Norfolk May 10. Moved to Suffolk May 17, and joined Army of the Potomac at Fair Oaks June 13. Nine-Mile Road, near Richmond, June 18. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Oak Grove, near Fair Oaks, June 25. White Oak Swamp and Glendale June 30. Malvern Hill July 1 and August 5. Duty at Harrison's Landing until August 15. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville August 15-26. Bristoe Station, Kettle Run, August 27. Battles of Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30; Chantilly September 1. Duty at Fort Lyon and at Fairfax Station, Defenses of Washington, until October 30, and at Munson's Hill until November 2. At Fairfax Station until November 25. Operations on Orange & Alexandria Railroad November 10-12. Rappahannock Campaign December, 1862, to June, 1863. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. At Falmouth until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 11-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Wapping Heights, Va,, July 23. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly's Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne's Farm November 27. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Duty near Brandy Station until May, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May-June, Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient, Spottsylvania Court House, May 12. Harris' Farm, Fredericksburg Road, May 19. North Anna River May 23-26. Ox Ford May 23-24. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16-July 11. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Left front for muster out July 11. Veterans and Recruits transferred to the 11th Massachusetts Infantry. Mustered out July 27, 1864.
