The 36th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
(Three Years)
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Unit History
The 36th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was composed of eight companies from Worcester County, one from Hampden, and one from Suffolk. The first recruits to arrive at Camp John E. Wool, Worcester, the place of rendezvous, came from Fitchburg under Capt. T. L. Barker, and reported August 1. By the 27th of the month practically all the regiment had arrived and the muster in was completed on that day, Henry Bowman, formerly a captain in the 15th Regt., being commissioned colonel.
On Sept. 2, the regiment left Worcester for the seat of war. Proceeding by boat to Alexandria, Va., it reached that place Sept. 6. Ordered at once to join the Army of the Potomac, it reached Sharpsburg, Md., the day after the battle of Antietam, and was attached to Welsh's (3d) Brigade, Willcox's (1st) Division, 9th Corps.
After various movements in Maryland and northwestern Virginia it reached a position opposite Fredericksburg, Va., November 19. It was present at the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, with little loss. The early part of the winter was spent at Falmouth.
On Feb. 10, 1863, the regiment started for Newport News. Here it remained six weeks, when it was sent with the 9th Corps into Kentucky, arriving at Covington, March 28. After being stationed at various places in Kentucky, early in June it was ordered to the Vicksburg front to reinforce Gen. Grant. It was stationed at Snyder's Bluff on the Yazoo River until Vicksburg surrendered, July 4, then participated in the pursuit of Johnston to Jackson, Miss., being present at the capture of that city. Returning to its old camp near Vicksburg, on the 4th of August it started again for Kentucky, passing through Covington and on to Nicholasville, where it arrived on the 18th.
After various movements the 36th was sent to join Burnside in East Tennessee, Reaching Knoxville Oct. 3, it proceeded to Bull's Gap on the railroad 60 miles to the northeast, engaging the enemy at Blue Springs on the 10th with slight loss. Returning to Knoxville the 14th, it proceeded 30 miles southwest to Loudon. Retiring again toward Knoxville, it was attacked at Campbell's Station, Nov. 16, by Longstreet's advance and suffered some lose. It participated in the defense of Knoxville, Nov. 17 to Dec. 4, and soon after the siege was raised went into winter quarters at Blain's Cross Roads. Here the men suffered much from want of proper supplies and clothing.
Breaking camp the last of January, after much marching and countermarching the regiment reached Nicholasville, April 1, where it took train for Baltimore, Md., and proceeded thence by boat to Annapolis. Here the 9th Corps was reorganized, the 36th becoming a part of the 1st Brigade, 2d Division.
Major Draper now commanded the regiment, which had been strengthened by detachments of 100 men from the 29th Maw. Regt. and 56 from the 46th N. Y. Regt.
At the Wilderness, May 6, it lost 85 men, of whom 23 were killed or mortally wounded. At Spottsylvania, May 12, it lost 107, of whom 25 were killed or mortally wounded. At North Anna the loss of the regiment was slight. At Bethesda Church near Cold Harbor, June 3, it lost 17 killed and 33 wounded. Crossing the James to the front of Petersburg and carrying into action but 90 men, in the assaults of June 17 and 18 it lost 10 killed and 18 wounded.
After ten weeks before Petersburg, during which time it lost heavily from sharp shooting by the enemy, it was engaged with loss at Poplar Spring Church, Sept. 30. It then performed trench and garrison duty in or near Fort Rice through the remainder of the fall and winter. On November lit was reduced to 7 companies by consolidation, but received at the same time the three companies of the 21st Mass. Battln., thus preserving an organization often companies. In April, 1865, it joined in the pursuit of Lee's retreating army as far as Farmville. Returning to Alexandria, Va., after the surrender, it went into camp near Fort Lyon. On June 8, its recruits and re-enlisted men having been transferred to the 56th Regt., the 36th was mustered out of the service. Returning to Massachusetts, on June 19, it was assembled at Readville for the last time and paid off and discharged.
Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 105 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 160 Enlisted men by disease. Total 274.
Assignments
Organized at Worcester and mustered in August 30, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 2, thence moved to Leesburg, Md., September 9, and to Pleasant Valley. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to April, 1863, and Dept. Ohio, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Dept. Ohio, and Army Tennessee, to August, 1863, and Dept. Ohio, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.--Duty at Pleasant Valley, Md., until October 26. March to Lovettsville, Va., October 26-29, and to Warrenton October 29-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. Moved to Newport News, Va., February 10, thence to Lexington, Ky., March 19-23. Duty at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., April 9-30, and at Middleburg until May 23. March to Columbia May 23-26. Expedition toward Cumberland River after Morgan May 27-30. Jamestown June 2. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., June 7-14. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., June 14-July 4. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 5-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. At Milldale until August 5. Moved to Covington, Ky., August 5-12, and to Crab Orchard August 17-18. March across Cumberland Mountains to East Tennessee September 10-22. Near Knoxville September 27-October 3. Action at Blue Springs October 10. At Lenoir October 29-November 14. Knoxville Campaign November-December. Lenoir Station November 14-15. Campbell's Station November 17. Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 4. Pursuit of Longstreet December 5-19. Operations in East Tennessee until March 21, 1864. Strawberry Plains January 21-22. Moved from Knoxville, Tenn., to Covington, Ky., thence to Annapolis, Md., March 21-April 6. Rapidan Campaign May-June, Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. Stannard's Mills May 21. North Anna River May 23-26. On 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, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. At Fort Rice until April, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. March to Farmville April 3-9. Moved to Petersburg and City Point, thence to Alexandria April 20-28. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 8, 1865, and discharged from service June 21, 1865.
