The 30th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(aka Eastern Bay State Regiment)
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Unit History
The 30th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was raised by Gen. Butler in the fall of 1861 and the early part of the winter following. It was originally known as the Eastern Bay State Regiment. It was organized at Camp Chase, Lowell, and its members were mustered in on various dates from Sept. 15 to the close of the year. A controversy having arisen between Governor Andrew and Gen. Butler over the latter's authority to raise troops in Massachusetts, the regiment left the State Jany. 13, 1862, under command of Acting Lieut. Col. French. Remaining at Fort Monroe until Feb. 2, on the 12th it reached Ship Island in the Gulf of Mexico, where Gen. Butler was assembling his forces to operate against New Orleans. Nathan A. M. Dudley was commissioned colonel, Feb. 8, and most of the other field and staff and line officers were commissioned Feb. 20. It was now officially the 30th Regiment.
After the Mississippi was opened by Farragut's fleet in the latter part of April, 1862, the 30th was sent to New Orleans and thence to Baton Rouge, arriving June 2. It made several expeditions into the country in pursuit of guerrillas, then was sent to the front of Vicksburg but returned to Baton Rouge, July 26. It was now in the 2d Brigade commanded by Gen. Thomas Williams. It participated with loss in the battle of Baton Rouge, Aug. 5, 1862. During most of the remainder of the year it was posted at Carrollton near New Orleans. In the middle of January, 1863, it was again transferred to Baton Rouge, where it became a part of Dudley's (3d) Brigade, Grover's (1st) Division, Banks' (19th) Corps. It was in action at Plains Store May 21, then took active part in the siege of Port Hudson, twice furnishing volunteers for storming parties. During the last part of the siege it was on picket at Plains Store.
After the fall of Port Hudson July 9, the 30th marched through the town, then took boat for Donaldsonville. At Rock's Plantation or Bayou La Fourche, July 13, 1863, the regiment was engaged with severe loss. August was spent at Baton Rouge. In September the regiment was in the expedition to Sabine Pass, and later moved from Algiers to Brashear City, Camp Bisland, New Iberia, Vermillionville, Opelousas, and beyond. This was known as the Teche region. Leaving Opelousas Nov. 1, the regiment fell back to New Iberia, where it went into winter quarters on the 9th.
Here it remained until Jany. 7, 1864, in the meantime 357 members of the regiment having re-enlisted. From Jany. 9 to Feb. 18 it was at Franklin. Feb. 19 it reached Algiers, and March 5 the re-enlisted men left for Massachusetts on veteran furloughs. These men returned to New Orleans May 16.
From June 12 to July 3 the regiment was on an expedition up the Mississippi to Morganzia. Returning to New Orleans July 3, it embarked at once for Fort Monroe, Va., arriving July 12, and being immediately hurried to Washington City, which was menaced by a Confederate army under Gen. Early. Gen. Early having been repulsed July 12, the 30th joined in the pursuit, proceeding through Leesburg and Snicker's Gap to Berryville. Returning to Washington, it now marched through Maryland to Harper's Ferry. Near this place it joined Gen. Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah. It participated in the battle of Winchester Sept. 19, and that of Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22, suffering little loss. It joined in the pursuit of the Confederates as far as Harrisonburg. It was engaged at Cedar Creek Oct. 19, losing 127 men, its largest loss in any one action. Soon after this battle the regiment received 178 recruits. A little later it took position about six miles south of Winchester. On Dee, 30 it was sent to guard the crossings of the Opequan east of Winchester, where it remained until April 1. On the 21st it entrained for Washington, where it remained until June 1, when it was sent to Savannah, Ga. During the remainder of the year 1865 it was posted at Georgetown, Florence, Sumpter, and other places in South Carolina doing provost duty. This work continued until the middle of the year 1866, when on July 5 the regiment was mustered out at Charleston, S. C., the last Massachusetts regiment to leave the service.
Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 57 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 341 Enlisted men by disease. Total 404.
Assignments
SERVICE.--Operations against Forts St. Phillip and Jackson, Mississippi River, April 15-28, 1862. Occupation of Fort St. Phillip April 28. Moved to New Orleans April 29-30. Occupation of New Orleans May 1. Expedition to New Orleans & Jackson Railroad May 9-10. Moved to Baton Rouge May 30-31. Expedition from Baton Rouge June 7-9. Williams' Expedition to Vicksburg, Miss., and operations in that vicinity June 18-July 23. Ellis Cliff June 22. Hamilton Plantation, near Grand Gulf, June 24. Moved to Baton Rouge July 23-26, and duty there until August 21. Battle of Baton Rouge August 5. Moved to Carrollton August 21-22, and duty there until November 4, Garrison duty at New Orleans until January 13, 1863. Moved to Baton Rouge January 13-14. Expedition to Port Hudson March 7-27. Operations against Port Hudson May 12-24. Monett's Plantation and on Bayou Sara Road May 18-19. Plain's Store May 24. Siege of Port Hudson May 24-July 9. Assaults on Port Hudson May 27 and June 14. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Cox's Plantation, Donaldsonville, July 12-13. Camp at Baton Rouge August 1-September 2. Sabine Pass Expedition September 4-11. Moved from Algiers to Brashear City September 16, thence to Berwick and to Camp Bisland September 26. Western Louisiana ("Teche") Campaign October 3-November 30. At New Iberia, until January 7, 1864, and at Franklin until February 18. Veterans on leave February 18-May 3. Moved to New Orleans May 3-16, and to Morganza June 13. Moved to New Orleans, thence to Fortress Monroe, Va., and Washington, D.C., July 2-13. Snicker's Gap Expedition July 14-23. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to December. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Mr. Jackson September 23-24. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty at Winchester, Kernstown and Stephenson's Depot until April 1, 1865. Moved to Washington, D.C., April 21-22, and duty there until June 1. Grand Review May 23-24. Moved to Savannah, Ga., June 2-6, thence to Georgetown, S.C., June 13, and to Florence June 27. To Sumpter July 9. Duty in 3rd Sub-District Eastern South Carolina until December. Mustered out December 1, 1865.
