The 28th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(Three Years)
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Unit History
The 28th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was composed mostly of men of Irish birth or parentage. It went into camp at Camp Cameron, North Cambridge, Sept. 22, 1861, and most of the men were mustered into the service Dec. 13. William Monteith of New York was its first colonel. From Jany. 11, 1862, until Feb. 14, it was stationed at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor. Here it embarked for Hilton Head, S. C., where it arrived Feb. 23. Here it was attached to Gen. T. W. Sherman's force which was operating against Fort Pulaski, Ga. It was posted on several islands near the mouth of the Savannah River until June 1, when it was sent to James Island near Charleston, S. C., where it became apart of the 1st Brigade of Gen. I. I. Stevens' Division. At James Island, S.C., June 16, eight companies wore engaged, losing 70 men, of whom 20 were killed or mortally wounded. Col. Monteith having left the regiment it was now commanded by Maj. Cartwright.
On July 6, the regiment returned to Hilton Head, S. C., from whence it was sent to Fort Monroe, arriving July 18. Gen. Stevens' command was now made the 1st Division of the 9th Corps. Early in August the regiment proceeded via Fredericksburg to Culpeper, Va., joining Gen. Pope's army near Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan, Aug. 16. At 2d Bull Run, Aug. 29, the 28th was heavily engaged near the railroad embankment, losing 135 men, of whom 26 were killed or mortally wounded. Here Major Cartwright was disabled. At Chantilly, Sept. 1, it sustained a further lose of 90 men, of whom 21 were killed or mortally wounded. Here Gen. 1. 1. Stevens was killed. The 28th was slightly engaged at South Mountain, Sept. 14, and heavily engaged at Antietam, Sept. 17, here losing 48, of whom 26 were killed or mortally wounded. In these actions it formed apart of Christ's Brigade, Wilcox's Division. Gen. Reno having been killed at South Mountain, at Antietam Gen. Cox commanded the corps.
In October Lieut. Richard Byrnes, of the 5th U. S. Cav., was detached from that regiment and made colonel of the 28th. The middle of November found the regiment at Falmouth where on the 23d it was transferred to Meagher's Irish Brigade - the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 2d Corps. In the assaults on Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, the regiment lost 110, of whom 30 were killed or mortally wounded. The winter was spent in the vicinity of Falmouth.
At ChancelIorsville, May 3, 1863, the 28th was present with slight loss. At Gettysburg, July 2, it was heavily engaged in the region of Devil's Den, losing 101, of whom 15 were fatally wounded, Here it formed a part of Kelly's (1st) Brigade, Caldwell's (1st) Division, Hancock's (2d) Corps. During the fall the regiment was engaged in the region of the Rappahannock, being present at Bristoe Station, Oct. 14, without loss. During the last of November it participated in the Mine Run Campaign. While at Stevensburg in the winter of 1863-64 enough men re-enlisted so that in the spring of 1864 the regiment numbered 505 officers and men.
As a part of Smyth's Brigade, Barlow's Division, Hancock's (2d) Corps it was in action at the Wilderness May 6 and 7, losing 97 officers and men, including Captains Me Intyre and Smith, both of these officers and 24 enlisted men being killed or mortally wounded. At Po River, May 10, the Bloody Angle, May 12, and in the general assault May 18 at Spottsylvania, the regiment lost 125, of whom 30, including Major Lawler, Captain Wagner, and Captain Cochrane, lost their lives. At Cold Harbor, June 3, the regiment suffered a further low of 57, of whom 12 were killed or mortally wounded.
Transferred to the Petersburg front, -on June 16 the regiment was heavily engaged with loss. Transferred to Gen. Miles' Brigade, It fought at Jerusalem Plank Road, June 22, at Darbytown Road, July 27, at Charles City Cross Roads, Aug. 16, and at Reams' Station, Aug. 25, suffering severely in all these actions.
On March 25, 1865, near Hatcher's Run, and on April 2, at Sutherland Station it fought its last battles. It was in the pursuit of Lee toward Appomattox, and after the surrender returned to Washington. Hereon June 30 it was mustered out of the service. Reaching Readville, Mass., July 5, a few days later the men were paid off and discharged.
Regiment lost during service 15 Officers and 235 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 136 Enlisted men by disease. Total 387.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Moved to Dafuskie Island, S.C., April 7, 1862, and duty there until May --. (Cos. "A" and "K" detached at Jones and Bird Islands April 18-May 6. Cos. "A," "C," "D," "F" and "K" moved to Tybee Island May 12 and duty there until May 28. Cos. "B," "E," "G," "H" and "I" moved to Dafuskie Island and to Hilton Head May 28.) Operations on James Island, S.C., June 1-28. Skirmishes on James Island June 3-4. Battle of Secessionville June 16. Evacuation of James Island June 28-July 7. Moved from Hilton Head to Newport News. Va., July 14-18; thence to Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg August 3-6. Operations in support of Pope August 6-16. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Battles of Groveton August 29. Bull Run August 30. Chantilly September 1. Maryland Campaign September-October. Battles of South Mountain September 14. Antietam September 16-17. March to Pleasant Valley September 19-October 2 and duty there until October 25. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 25-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg 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 July 2-4. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At Stevensburg until May, 1864. Demonstration 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; Po River May 10; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864. Demonstration on north side of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-28. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Ream's Station August 25. Boydton Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865. Watkin's House March 25. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Hatcher's Run or Boydton Road March 31. White Oak Road March 31. Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor's Creek April 6. High Bridge and Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville until May 2. March to Washington, D.C., May 2-15. Grand Review May 23. Duty at Washington until June 25. Mustered out June 29, 1865.
