The 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served from the State of Massachusetts during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1864. A part of the II Corps of the Army of the Potomac, the regiment was engaged in many battles from Ball's Bluff to Petersburg, and suffered the tenth highest fatality rate amongst Federal regiments. The regiment was composed almost entirely of men from Worcester County, and was mustered in on July 12, 1861.
Attached to Gorman's Brigade, Stone's (Sedgwick's) Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1864
Historyedit
The regiment was mustered into Federal service on July 12, 1861, and left for the seat of war, arriving along the Potomac on August 25. On October 21, it was engaged with the heaviest loss among all Federal regiments at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. In the spring of 1862, it was made a part of the II Corps of the Army of the Potomac and accompanied it during the Peninsular Campaign, being engaged at the Battles of Seven Pines, Savage's Station, and Glendale with modest losses. In April 1862, the 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters was attached to the regiment, serving with it until the spring of 1863. Spending most of the summer at Harrison's Landing, it departed in August just in time to miss the Battle of Second Bull Run. The regiment then embarked upon the Maryland Campaign, where it was savagely flanked by the Confederates at the Battle of Antietam, losing over 50% of its 600 men. During the Battle of Fredericksburg, it was kept out of the main assault on Marye's Heights and suffered relatively few losses. The Battle of Gettysburg found the regiment engaged against the assaults of the Army of Northern Virginia on July 2 and 3, 1863, with heavy loss. By 1864, the regiment's strength had dwindled, but it still faced rigorous campaigning with action at The Battle of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and the Siege of Petersburg. By June 22, the regiment could field only 75 officers and men. This small group was captured en masse that day when they were outflanked by a Confederate force on the Jerusalem Plank Road. The survivors and parolees mustered out of Federal service on July 26, 1864, with its recruits and re-enlistees being transferred to the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Casualtiesedit
During the war, the 15th Massachusetts Regiment sustained the 10th-highest number of men killed or fatally wounded in action among all 1,200 Federal regiments. Its losses at several engagements are as follows:
Ball's Bluff, Va., October 21, 1861: 40 killed or fatally wounded, 70 wounded, 202 captured (312 out of 650 engaged)
Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862: 104 killed or fatally wounded, 206 wounded, 14 captured (324 of 600 engaged)
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2–3, 1863: 37 killed or fatally wounded, 94 wounded, 24 captured (155 out of 239 engaged)
Wilderness, Va., May 5–6, 1864: 16 killed or fatally wounded, 51 wounded, 17 captured (of whom 6 died in prison)
In sum, 14 officers and 227 enlisted men were killed or fatally wounded during the course of the war.
15th, massachusetts, infantry, regiment, 15th, massachusetts, volunteer, infantry, regiment, infantry, regiment, that, served, from, state, massachusetts, during, american, civil, from, 1861, 1864, part, corps, army, potomac, regiment, engaged, many, battles, . The 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served from the State of Massachusetts during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1864 A part of the II Corps of the Army of the Potomac the regiment was engaged in many battles from Ball s Bluff to Petersburg and suffered the tenth highest fatality rate amongst Federal regiments The regiment was composed almost entirely of men from Worcester County and was mustered in on July 12 1861 15th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer InfantryActiveJuly 12 1861 July 26 1864Country United States of AmericaAllegianceUnionBranchUnited States ArmyTypeInfantrySize1 701Part of1st Brigade 2nd Division Gibbon s II Corps Army of the PotomacEngagementsBattle of Ball s BluffBattle of Malvern HillBattle of AntietamBattle of FredericksburgMud MarchBattle of GettysburgBattle of the WildernessBattle of Spotsylvania Court HouseBattle of Cold HarborSiege of PetersburgCommandersNotablecommandersCol Charles DevensLt Col John W KimballInsigniaII Corps badge 2nd Division Contents 1 Brigade Divisional and Corps attachments 2 History 3 Casualties 4 See also 5 External linksBrigade Divisional and Corps attachments editAttached to Gorman s Brigade Stone s Sedgwick s Division Army of the Potomac to March 1862 1st Brigade 2nd Division 2nd Army Corps Army of the Potomac to July 1864History editThe regiment was mustered into Federal service on July 12 1861 and left for the seat of war arriving along the Potomac on August 25 On October 21 it was engaged with the heaviest loss among all Federal regiments at the Battle of Ball s Bluff In the spring of 1862 it was made a part of the II Corps of the Army of the Potomac and accompanied it during the Peninsular Campaign being engaged at the Battles of Seven Pines Savage s Station and Glendale with modest losses In April 1862 the 1st Company Massachusetts Sharpshooters was attached to the regiment serving with it until the spring of 1863 Spending most of the summer at Harrison s Landing it departed in August just in time to miss the Battle of Second Bull Run The regiment then embarked upon the Maryland Campaign where it was savagely flanked by the Confederates at the Battle of Antietam losing over 50 of its 600 men During the Battle of Fredericksburg it was kept out of the main assault on Marye s Heights and suffered relatively few losses The Battle of Gettysburg found the regiment engaged against the assaults of the Army of Northern Virginia on July 2 and 3 1863 with heavy loss By 1864 the regiment s strength had dwindled but it still faced rigorous campaigning with action at The Battle of the Wilderness Spotsylvania Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg By June 22 the regiment could field only 75 officers and men This small group was captured en masse that day when they were outflanked by a Confederate force on the Jerusalem Plank Road The survivors and parolees mustered out of Federal service on July 26 1864 with its recruits and re enlistees being transferred to the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Casualties editDuring the war the 15th Massachusetts Regiment sustained the 10th highest number of men killed or fatally wounded in action among all 1 200 Federal regiments Its losses at several engagements are as follows Ball s Bluff Va October 21 1861 40 killed or fatally wounded 70 wounded 202 captured 312 out of 650 engaged Antietam Md September 17 1862 104 killed or fatally wounded 206 wounded 14 captured 324 of 600 engaged Gettysburg Pa July 2 3 1863 37 killed or fatally wounded 94 wounded 24 captured 155 out of 239 engaged Wilderness Va May 5 6 1864 16 killed or fatally wounded 51 wounded 17 captured of whom 6 died in prison In sum 14 officers and 227 enlisted men were killed or fatally wounded during the course of the war See also edit nbsp American Civil War portalList of Massachusetts Civil War units Massachusetts in the Civil WarExternal links edithttp www civilwararchive com Unreghst unmainf2 htm 15th https archive org stream massachusettssol21931mass page 131 mode 1up https books google com books id IhxCAAAAIAAJ Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 15th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment amp oldid 1166411391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
