The 27th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(Three Years)
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Unit History
The 27th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was raised in the western counties of Massachusetts by Horace C. Lee of Springfield, who became its colonel. The companies reported at Camp Reed, Springfield, between the 19th and 24th of September, and three quarters of the regiment had been mustered in by September 27. On November 2 the regiment entrained for Annapolis, Md., where it arrived on the 5th. January 9, 1862, as a part of Foster's Brigade, Burnside's Coast Division, it embarked with the Burnside expedition to North Carolina.
It was engaged with loss at Roanoke Island, Feb. 8, and with greater loss at Newbern, March 14. In May, 1862, Burnside's force was organized into three divisions, the 27th be, coming a part of Stevenson's (2d) Brigade, Foster's (1st) Division. Expeditions or reconnaissances were made to Batchelder's Creek, Trenton, Washington, and almost to Tarboro during the summer and fall. Plymouth was visited Nov. 10, and on Dec. 3, the regiment returned to Newbern. From Dec. 11 to Dec. 21, the 27th was on the Goldsboro expedition, but suffered only slight loss. The winter was without event of importance after the return from Goldsboro.
From March 30, 1863, to April 16, eight companies were shut up in Washington, N. C., which was then besieged by Gen. D. H. Hill. The siege being raised, they returned to Newbern, April 25. Two days later they were sent to Core Creek on the Gum Swamp expedition, again returning to Newbern where the regiment stayed most of the time until October.
On October 17, the regiment embarked under orders to proceed to Newport News, Va., arriving on the evening of the 18th. Here it became a part of Heckman's Star Brigade, 2d Division, 18th Corps, Army of the James. During the early winter of 1863-64, 220 members of the regiment re-enlisted and on Jany. 15 went home on a veteran furlough, remaining until Feb. 19. During the winter months 213 recruits joined the regiment, so that it entered the spring campaign with 933 officers and men.
After fruitless expeditions to Yorktown and Williamsburg in May, 1864, the regiment returned to Fort Monroe and embarked May 5 for Bermuda Hundred. It was engaged at Port Walthall Junction, May 6 and 7, losing 22 men, 5 of whom were killed or mortally wounded, also at Arrowfield Church, May 9, with a loss of 38, of whom 10 were killed or mortally wounded. At Drury's Bluff, May 16, in the dense fog of early morning the regiment was outflanked and lost over 300 officers; and men, 17 of whom were killed or mortally wounded and 259 taken prisoners, many of them dying in Andersonville. In this action Gen. Heckman, their brigade commander, was captured. Transferred to the north side of the James, the regiment was engaged at Cold Harbor, June 2 and 3, losing 104, of whom 30 were killed or mortally wounded. In the four weeks ending June 3 the regiment suffered 488 casualties, 62 being officers and men killed or mortally wounded.
The 27th now recrossed to the Petersburg front, being in action June 15, on the very day of its arrival, and again on the 18th, when it lost 11 killed and 28 wounded. August 25 it was withdrawn to the Bermuda Hundred region. In September 179 men whose term of service had expired were sent home to Massachusetts. The rest of the regiment was transferred to North Carolina, where it had seen its first service. After various experiences at Carolina City, Williamston, Newbern, and elsewhere, early in March, 1865, the regiment proceeded to Southwest Creek near Kinston, where it was surrounded by the Confederates March 8, losing 7 killed, 40 wounded, and the rest of the regiment numbering over 200 taken prisoners.
The prisoners were taken to Libby Prison in Richmond, Va., and soon paroled and sent home. A fragment of the regiment still performed guard duty at Newbern until June 26, 1865, when it was mustered out and sent home. The survivors reached Readville, Mass., July 7, and on the 19th were paid off and discharged.
Of the members of this regiment who were taken prisoners, mostly at Drury's Bluff and Southwest Creek, 142 died in Confederate prisons.
Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 128 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 261 Enlisted men by disease. Total 401.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Burnside's Expedition to Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N. C., January 7-February 7, 1862. Battle of Roanoke Island February 8. Moved to New Berne March 11-13. Battle of New Berne March 14. Duty at New Berne until May; at Batchelor's Creek until June 1, and at New Berne until September 22. Expedition to Trenton and Pollocksville July 24-28. Expedition on Neuse River Road July 28 (Cos. "D," "G" and "H"). Companies "A," "C" and "I" at Washington, N. C., and five Companies at Newport Barracks September 9 to October 30. Expedition from New Berne November 2-12. Kinston Road November 11. Foster's Expedition to Goldsboro December 11-20. Kinston December 14. Whitehall December 16. Goldsboro December 17. Moved to Washington, N. C., January 4-5, 1863, and duty there until April 24. Near Washington February 13. (Cos. "G" and "H" detached for duty at Plymouth January 27 to May 8, then rejoined Regiment at New Berne.) Demonstration on Plymouth March 10-13. Siege of Little Washington March 30-April 20. Rodman's Point April 4-5 (2 Cos.). Moved to New Berne April 24. Expedition toward Kinston April 27-May 1. Dover Road and Wise's Cross Roads April 28. Demonstration on Kinston May 20-23. Gum Swamp May 22. Provost duty at New Berne June 5 to October 1. Expedition to Trenton July 4-8. Quaker Bridge July 6. Expedition to Swift Creek July 17-20, and to Winton July 25-30. Moved to Newport News, Va., October 16-18, thence to Norfolk November 18, and Provost duty there until March 22, 1864. Companies "A," "D" and "K" at Portsmouth, and "F" at Norfolk until April 15. Demonstration against Portsmouth March 4-5. Expedition to Isle of Wight County April 13-15. Smithfield, Cherry Grove, April 14. Camp near Julian Creek until April 26. Moved to Yorktown April 26. Butler's operations on south side of the James and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4-28. Port Walthal Junction, Chester Station, May 6-7. Swift Creek or Arrowfield Church May 9-10. Operations against Fort Darling May 12-16. Drewry's Bluff May 14-16. On Bermuda Hundred front May 17-28. Moved to White House, thence to Cold Harbor May 28-June 1. Battles about Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 15-18. Siege of Petersburg June 15-August 24. On Bermuda front August 24 to September 17. Moved to Carolina City, N. C., September 17-21, and duty there until November 28. Moved to Beaufort, N. C., November 28; thence to New Berne December 4, and to Plymouth December 7 and duty there until January, 1865. Moved to New Berne January 8-11 and duty there until March 3. Moved to Core Creek March 4. Movements on Kinston March 4-12. Southwest Creek March 7. Wise's Forks March 8-10. Ordered to New Berne March 12 and duty there until June --. Mustered out June 26, 1865. Old members mustered out September 27, 1864.
