38th Massachusetts Infantry

Regimental History and Service Record

Organized and mustered in August 24, 1862. Moved to Baltimore, Md., August 26-28, 1862. Attached to Defences of Baltimore, Md., 8th Army Corps, Middle Dept. to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Army Corps, to February, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, and Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to January, 1865. 3rd Brigade, Grover's Division, District of Savannah, Dept. of the South, to March, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 10th Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to April, 1865. District of Savannah: Ga., Dept. of the South, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--Duty at Baltimore, Md., until September 8, 1862; at Powhattan Dam until October 12, and at Baltimore until November 10. Embarked on steamer "Baltic" for Ship Island, Miss., November 10, arriving there December 14. Moved to New Orleans, La., December 29-31, and camp at Carrollton until February 11, 1863. Expedition to Plaquemine February 11-19. At Carrollton until March 6. Moved to Baton Rouge March 6-7. Operations against Port Hudson March 7-27. Moved to Algiers April 1, thence to Berwick City April 9. Operations in Western Louisiana April 9-May 14.

• April 11-20, 1863 - The (I) Bayou Teche Campaign

Fort Bisland April 12-13. Expedition from Opelousas to Alexandria and Simsport May 5-14. Moved to Bayou Sara, thence to Port Hudson May 22-25, Siege of Port Hudson May 25-July 9. Assaults on Port Hudson May 27 and June 14. Expedition to Clinton June 3-8. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Moved to Baton Rouge July 11, with Artillery train; thence to Donaldsonville July 15, and duty there until August 1. At Baton Rouge until March 23, 1864.

• March 23-May 22, 1864 - The Red River Campaign
  • At Alexandria until April 12.
  • Monett's Bluff, Cane River Crossing, April 23.
  • Construction of dam at Alexandria April 30-May 10.
  • May 13-20, 1864 - Retreat from Alexandria, Louisiana to Morganza, Louisiana

At Morganza until July 3. Reconnoissance to Atchafalaya May 30-June 6. Moved to New Orleans, La., thence to Fortress Monroe, Va., and Washington, D.C., July 3-29. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to December. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. At Kernstown and Winchester until January 5, 1865. Moved to Savannah, Ga., January 5-22, and duty there until March 5. Moved to Wilmington, N. C., March 5; thence to Morehead City March 10, and duty there until April 8. Moved to Goldsboro April 8, and duty there until May 2. Moved to Savannah, Ga., May 2-7, and duty there until June 30. Mustered out June 30, 1865. Moved to Boston Mass., June 30-July 5. Discharged July 13, 1865.

Regimental Roster

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Regiment Statistical Information

• Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 73 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 151 Enlisted men by disease. Total 228.

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 645, 650, 753, 1262-1263)