The 22nd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(aka Henry Wilson Regiment)
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Unit History
The 22d Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf., the "Henry Wilson Regiment ", was raised through the personal efforts of Senator Henry Wilson of Massachusetts who served temporarily as its first colonel. It was organized at Camp Schouler, Lynnfield, the nucleus of the regiment being the Woburn company which was originally recruited for the 19th Regt. and which had been mustered into the service August 10. The first of the companies actually recruited for the 22d Regt., Co. "A", arrived at Lynnfield Sept. 2. The companies were mustered in on various dates during the month of September, the company officers Oct. 1, and the band Oct. 5. On Oct. 8, the 22d, with the 2d Company Sharpshooters and 3d Mass. Bat'y attached, proceeded to Boston on its way to the seat of war. Washington, D. C., was reached Oct. 11, and four days later the regiment marched to Hall's Hill on the Virginia shore of the Potomac, where it was assigned to Martindale's Brigade, Fitz John Porter's Division. Here it performed picket and outpost duty until March, 1862. On October 26, 1881, Col. Jesse Gove succeeded Senator Wilson in. command of the regiment. Col. Gove was a graduate of the military academy at Norwich, Vt., had been an officer in the Mexican War, and at the time of his appointment to the 22d was a captain in the 10th Regt. U. S. Inf.
On March 21, 1862, the 22d embarked at Alexandria for Hampton Roads. It arrived off Fort Monroe on the 23d. It was engaged before Yorktown in April and May with slight loss. It entered upon the Seven Days' fighting as a part of Martindale's Brigade, Morell's Division, Porter's (5th) Corps. At Gaines' Mill, June 27, it suffered the heaviest loss incurred in any action during its entire service, having 84 officers and men killed or mortally wounded, including Col. Gove, whose body was never recovered. At Malvern Hill, July 1, it lost 11 more, making a total of 95 officers and men killed or mortally wounded in this single campaign.
On August 14 it left Harrison's Landing and on the 21st was landed at Acquia Creek, from which place it proceeded to Fredericksburg and thence to Bristoe Sta., where it rejoined its corps. At 2d Bull Run, Aug. 29 and 30, it was only slightly engaged. At Antietam, Sept. 17, it was in the reserve, but on Sept. 20 it crossed the Potomac at Blackford's Ford in pursuit of Lee's army and was driven back with loss. At Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, in Barnes' Brigade, Griffin's Division, Butterfield's (5th) Corps, the 22d was heavily engaged. After this battle it went into winter quarters at Camp Gove near Potomac Creek a few miles north of Falmouth.
At Chancellorsville, May I to 4, 1863, the 22d was not in action. At Gettysburg, July 2, as a part of Tilton's Brigade, Barnes' Division, Sykes' (5th) Corps, the regiment was in the thick of the fight near Devil's Den on the Union left, losing 13 in killed and mortally wounded. During the late summer and fall following the 22d was engaged in maneuvers near the Rappahannock and was present with loss at the battle of Rappahannock Sta., Nov. 7, and in the Mine Run expedition during the last of that month. Its winter camp was near Beverly Ford.
In the spring of 1864 the regiment, now under Col. Tilton, numbered less than 300 officers and men. Attached to Sweitzer's Brigade, Griffin's Division, Warren's (5th) Corps, it fought on the Orange pike at the Wilderness, May 5, losing 17 men killed or mortally wounded. At Spottsylvania, May 8 to 12, it was severely engaged on the Jones and Spindle farms, on that part of the field known as Laurel Hill, losing 37 men killed or mortally wounded. It was present at the North Anna, May 23, and at Totopotomoy, May 30. At Bethesda Church near Cold Harbor, June 3, it again lost heavily, and again at Shady Grove Church Road, June 5.
Arriving in front of Petersburg the 22d participated in the assault June 18, losing 7 killed and 14 wounded- This was its last important combat service. On August 8 it was detailed for guard duty at City Point and there remained until orders came on October 3 to embark for Washington. The embarkation took place October 5. Washington was reached on the 7th and on the 10th the remnant of the regiment once more trod the streets of Boston. One week later the men were mustered out of the service. All recruits and re-enlisted men were transferred to the 32d Regiment.
Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 207 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 102 Enlisted men by disease. Total 319.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Duty at Hall's Hill, Va. Defenses of Washington until March, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-16. Moved to Alexandria, thence to Fortress Monroe, Va., March 16-23. Warwick Road April 5. Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4. Hanover C. H. May 27. Operations about Hanover C. H. May 27-29. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Mechanicsville June 26. Gaines' Mill June 27. White Oak Swamp and Turkey Bridge June 30. Malvern Hill July 1. At Harrison's Landing until August 15. Retreat from the Peninsula and movement to Centreville August 15-28. Battle of Bull Run August 30. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Shepherdstown September 19. At Sharpsburg until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. Expedition to Richards' and Ellis' Fords December 29-30. "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 July 2-4. At Warrenton and Beverly Ford until September 17. At Culpeper until October 11. Bristoe Campaign October 11-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Beverly Ford until May, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May-June. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Laurel Hill May 8. Spottsylvania May 8-12. Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16 to August 8. Relieved August 8 and guard duty at City Point until October 5. Mustered out October 17. 1864.
