18th Massachusetts Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized at Readville and Boston and mustered in August 27, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., August 28. Attached to Fort Corcoran, Defenses of Washington, to October, 1861. Martindale's Brigade, Porter's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, to October, 1864.

SERVICE.--Duty at Fort Corcoran, Defenses of Washington, D.C., until September 26, 1861, and at Hall's Hill, Va., until March 10, 1862. Advance on Manassas, Va., March 10-16, 1862. Moved to Alexandria, thence to Fortress Monroe March 16-23.

• March 23-September 2, 1862 - The Peninsula Campaign
  • Reconnaissance to Great Bethel March 27.
  • Warwick Road April 5.
  • April 5-May 4, 1862 - Siege of Yorktown, Virginia
  • May 27-29, 1862 - Operations about Hanover Court House, Virginia
    • May 27, 1862 - Engagement at Hanover Court House, Virginia
  • June 25-July 1, 1862 - The Seven Days Battles before Richmond, Virginia
    • Operations about White House Landing June 26-July 2.
  • At Harrison's Landing until August 15.
  • Retreat from the Peninsula and movement to Centreville August 15-28.
• Battle of Bull Run August 30.
• September 3-20, 1862 - The Maryland Campaign
  • September 17, 1862 - Battle of Antietam, Maryland
  • September 19, 1862 - Actions at Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown/Blackford's/Boteler's Fords, Maryland

Shepherdstown, W. Va., September 20. At Sharpsburg until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. Expedition to Richards and Ellis Fords December 29-30. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. Duty at Falmouth until April 27.

• April 27-May 6, 1863 - The Chancellorsville Campaign
  • May 1-5, 1863 - Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia
• June 11-August 1, 1863 - The Gettysburg Campaign
  • July 1-3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• July 14, 1863 - Skirmish near Williamsport, Maryland

At Warrenton and Beverly Ford July 27 to September 17, and at Culpeper until October 11. Bristoe Campaign October 11-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. At and near Brandy Station and Stevensburg until May, 1864.

• May 4-June 12, 1864 - The Overland Campaign
  • May 5-7, 1864 - Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia
  • May 8-21, 1864 - Battles of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
    • May 8, 1864 - Combat at Laurel Hill, Virginia
    • May 12, 1864 - Assault on the Salient at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia
  • May 22-26, 1864 - Operations on Line of the North Anna River, Virginia
    • May 25, 1864 - Engagement at Jericho Ford, Virginia
  • May 26-28, 1864 - Operations on Line of the Pamunkey River, Virginia
  • May 28-31, 1864 - Operations on Line of the Totopotomoy River, Virginia
  • June 1-12, 1864 - Battles of Cold Harbor, Virginia
    • June 1-3, 1864 - Battle of Bethesda Church, Virginia

Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16 to October 21. Weldon Railroad June 21-23. Old members left front July 20 and mustered out September 2, 1864. Veterans and Recruits consolidated to a Battalion. Poplar Springs' Church, Peeble's Farm, September 30-October 2.

• October 21, 1864 - Consolidated with 32nd Massachusetts Infantry

Regimental Roster

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Regiment Statistical Information

• Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 114 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 127 Enlisted men by disease. Total 252.

Legacy

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Sources

• Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. The Dyer Publishing Company (Des Moine, 1908). (Pages 758, 761, 763, 827, 897, 902, 905, 916, 933, 934, 936, 937, 938, 939, 941, 1254)