2nd Massachusetts Infantry Regiment

Initial organization and training

The 2nd Regiment was the first volunteer organization in the state to begin to take form after the dispatch of the Massachusetts militia to the front in April, 1861.^[4] Under the direction of Major George H. Gordon of the United States Army, recruiting offices for the 2nd Massachusetts were opened in Boston immediately after the first group of volunteer regiments departed Massachusetts for Washington on Thursday, April 18. This enthusiasm was quickly dampened and the offices closed due to the fact that Massachusetts had filled its quota and therefore could neither recruit nor send any additional volunteer units until a call was issued by the U.S. War Department.^[4] The unit's future second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel George Leonard Andrews,^{[note 2]} made a trip to Washington to meet with Secretary of War Simon Cameron and obtained special permission to recruit a new three-years' regiment and wait until such time as it would be summoned by the federal government.^[4]

The welcome permission was telegraphed home, the recruiting offices were re-opened, and others were added in different cities throughout the state, Major Gordon's headquarters being at Boston. To his discretion much-practically everything-concerning the composition of the regiment was entrusted, both men and officers being selected by him. Recruiting proceeded and the regiment began training at Camp Andrew, named in honor of the governor, located at Brook Farm in West Roxbury, on the estate of Rev. James Freeman Clarke. Company A was the first to reach the spot, on Saturday, May 11, and was rapidly followed by other companies and detachments, so that a week later, May 18, four companies and parts of others had been mustered into the national service by Captain Amory of the United States Army. The commissions of the officers began to be issued the following Friday, May 24. There were the usual flag presentations, the first being battle flag on Wednesday, June 26, followed by a state banner the next Monday, July 1.^[7] At this time, the regiment was structured in ten companies with a 24-man regimental band. Major Gordon was promoted to Colonel and appointed commanding officer.^[8] The regimental staff was led by Lieutenant Colonel, George L. Andrews. The professional Gordon and Andrews commenced a strict, disciplined course of constant drill.^[9]

Prominent families were represented by Major Wilder Dwight, Adjutant Charles Wheaton, Jr., and Surgeon Lucius M. Sargent, Jr. The companies were recruited from two existing militia company and eight raised new. Company A was from the Abbott Grays of Lowell commanded by Captain Edward G. Abbott;^{[note 3]} Company B commanded by Captain Greely S. Curtis; Company C was from the Andrew Light Guard of Salem commanded by Captain William Cogswell; Company D commanded by Captain, James Savage, Jr.; Company E commanded by Captain Samuel M. Quincy; Company F commanded by Captain, J. Parker Whitney;^{[note 4]}Company G commanded by Captain Richard Cary; Company H commanded by Captain, Francis H. Tucker; Company I commanded by Captain Adin B. Underwood;^{[note 5]} and Company K commanded by Captain Richard C. Goodwin. A band of 24 members from different towns and cities was led by Charles Speigle of Boston.^[10]

Initial deployment and service

On Saturday, July the well-drilled 2nd Massachusetts received orders to report as soon as possible at Williamsport, MD, as reinforcements of General Patterson.^[11][12] That Monday morning, July 8, the regiment entrained for South Station in Boston, and then took the Boston and Providence and New York, Providence and Boston Railroads to New London, CT, and by New York and Norwich Transportation Company paddlewheel steamers to New York.^[13] After the regiment disembarked near Battery Park and marched up Broadway to the armory for the night.^[14] The next morning, on the Hudson riverfront, they boarded ferries which took the across the river to Elizabethport, NJ. The 2nd Massachusetts then took the Pennsylvania Railroad across New Jersey and through Pennsylvania, and then on the Western Maryland Railway (WMRR) until on Thursday afternoon, July 11, it reached Williamsport on the Potomac.^[10]

Early Friday morning, the regiment forded the river into Virginia and marched to Martinsburg, where it joined Patterson's main body, and was assigned to the 6th Brigade under Patterson's son-in-law Col. Abercrombie. Early Friday morning, the regiment forded the river into Virginia and marched to Martinsburg, where it joined Patterson's main body, and was assigned to the 6th Brigade under Col. Abercrombie. On July 3, Patterson had occupied Martinsburg, but remained inactive until July 15 when he marched to Bunker Hill.^[7] Instead of continuing to Winchester, Virginia, Patterson turned east and then retreated to Harpers Ferry. This took pressure off of Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in the Shenandoah Valley and he was able to march his troops and reinforce the Confederates under P.G.T. Beauregard at the First Battle of Bull Run.^{[15][note 6]} Thursday, the 2nd Massachusetts was sent back to Harpers Ferry and three days later, Patterson learned Johnston had eluded him and gone to Bull Run, he fell back with his whole force. Col. Gordon was made commander of Harpers Ferry, with the regiment as garrison. While the 2nd Massachusetts was in the mill town, the loyal women of the town presented the regiment with a flag, which they had secretly made and kept for such an occasion.^[19]

Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks succeeded Patterson in command of the forces around Harpers Ferry on Thursday July 25, withdrawing to Pleasant Valley on the Maryland side with the few troops that remained after the departure of the three-months' men. Gordon remained in command at Harpers Ferry, with three companies of the 2nd Massachusetts, while the other six companies bivouacked on Maryland Heights securing the artillery there.^[19] Soon afterward Banks' command was extended down the Potomac covering the different fords and crossings. The 2nd Massachusetts was relieved on August 20, and marched three days and rejoined the brigade near Hyattstown, MD on Friday, August 23. The 2nd Massacusetts camped nearby at Darnestown for even more drilling,^[20] and the brigade remained for about two months. Soon after Gordon took temporary command of the brigade, which at that time consisted of the 12th Massachusetts, 12th and 16th Indiana Infantry Regiments, in addition to the 2nd Massachusetts. Reinforcements soon arrived and necessitated a reorganization, in which the 2nd Massachusetts went to the 3rd Brigade and joined the 5th Connecticut, 9th and 28th New York, 46th Pennsylvania, and Battery A, 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Regiment.^[19]

On Tuesday, Octobert 15, Brig. Gen. Williams took command of the brigade. After several preliminary orders during the following Monday, October 21, one came in the early evening to march immediately 11 miles (18 km) upriver, and the 2nd Massachusetts led the column, which moved rapidly toward Leesburg, meeting on the way survivors from across the river at Ball’s Bluff. These men had been defeated on Monday, and the survivors were struggling to escape capture and get back across the Potomac. Before daylight, Tuesday morning, the column had reached Conrad’s Ferry, and the regiment manned the riverbank, where during the cloudy day they helped rescue comrades who were still trapped on the opposite side.^{[21][note 7]}In the evening, the regiment was sent to Edwards Ferry to reinforce the brigades covering the withdrawal. During the night, the 2nd Massachusetts marched there.^[21] The weather cleared Wednesday morning, and the Rebels realized the U.S. forces had been reinforced and withdrew. The AoP commander, McClellan arrived at Edwards' Ferry to take personal command, and that evening he ordered all forces on the Virginia side of the river at Edwards' Ferry to withdraw. The regiment joined the column and marched back to camp.^[22]

Winter camp

On Saturday, the regiment rejoined back to Abercrombie’s brigade now numbered the 1st. On the same day, the entire division went back to Darnestown, and the 2nd Massachusetts encamped after two days' march at Seneca Creek, 3 miles (4.8 km) from the town. For the remainder of the fall, the regiment picketed the upper Potomac and again continuing the constant drilling.^[23] The health of the men suffered from malaria due to the mosquito-infested creek, but a change of camp shortly after gave no relief from the disease.^[19]. Amid the hardships in the camp, the regiment managed to observe Thanksgiving due to the kindness of friends at home and the care the officers took to ensure a “very creditable feast. with proper accompaniment of devotion and recreation, made the day memorable.”^[21]

The brigade was relieved on Wednesday, December 4, and set out for Frederick, where after three days of marching and waiting, their winter camp, Camp Hicks, was pitched in a pleasant wood where warm huts had been built with fireplaces, four miles east of the city beside the macadamized Baltimore pike, where the winter months passed with very little to break the monotony of camp life, though the proximity of Frederick and the friendliness of the people, as well as the ease of communication with their families and friends back home made the situation agreeable.^[21]

On Saturday, January 4, “the very coldest part of the winter,” the chain of command ordered the regiment should cook two days' rations and get ready to march. The order came in writing on Sunday, and the 2nd Massachusetts was still on alert to move a week later on January 12.^[24] For the remainder of the month, the men kept their two days' rations cooked and in readiness.

The Shenandoah Valley

This alert status at Camp Hicks, came to an end on Thursday morning, February 27, 1862, when the regiment was ordered to enter Frederick to entrain.^[25] The regiment had been on alert 53 days, a testament to its discipline.^[24] The regiment took the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&ORR) to Sandy Hook, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Harpers Ferry on the Maryland side. The men marched upstream and crossed a pontoon bridge into the mill town and found quarters in some of the deserted dwellings that afternoon.^[26]

Company F was detailed for provost duty and Lieut. Col. Andrews was made the base’s provost marshal. On the following day, Friday, the 2nd Massachusetts received orders to reconnoiter Charles Town, 7 miles (11 km) to the west-southwest, and the regiment entered that historic town to the music of "John Brown." McClellan at once ordered a permanent occupation of the place, and the following Sunday, the regiment held religions services in the courthouse where John Brown had been condemned to death, the chaplain occupying the seat used by the judge in the trial.^[27]

Banks's army began threatening Jackson at Winchester, in the Shenandoah Valley^{[note 8]} on Sunday, March 9; Jackson's remained confident and his troops were in "excellent spirits,"^[30] The 2nd Massachusetts moved toward the valley via Berryville, 12 miles (19 km) where they met the macadamized Berryville Pike running 12 miles (19 km) west into Winchester, which the regiment “with the usual contradictory orders, countermarches, and skirmishes”^[27], found that the Confederates had retreated to the west, leaving Berryville’s fortifications unmanned. The regiment remained there some ten days.^[27]

In the spring of 1862, the regiment served under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, unsuccessfully opposing Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. In June, the regiment was transferred to the Union Army of Virginia and participated in General Pope's Northern Virginia Campaign.^[12] During this time, Colonel Gordon was promoted to brigadier general and commanded the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Andrews was promoted to colonel and given command of the 2nd Massachusetts. Major Dwight was promoted to lieutenant colonel.^[12]

Battle of Antietam, and early 1863

In August, the regiment became part of the 3rd Brigade (commanded by Gordon), 1st Division (commanded by Major General Alpheus S. Williams), II Corps (commanded by Banks), of Maj. Gen. John Pope's Army of Virginia. On August 9, Banks's Corps fought at the Battle of Cedar Mountain as part of Pope's Northern Virginia Campaign, where the corps was again up against Jackson, and was again defeated, the 2nd Massachusetts suffering 173 casualties.^[31] However, the II Corps did not reach the Second Battle of Bull Run until after the battle was over.

On September 17, the II Corps was redesignated as the XII Corps, Army of the Potomac, with the 2nd Massachusetts remaining in the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division. During the Battle of Antietam, the XII Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Joseph K. Mansfield supported General Joseph Hooker's advanced through the cornfield during the morning phase of the battle and received heavy casualties including Lieutenant Colonel Dwight, who was mortally wounded. The regiment lost 12 killed and 51 wounded, among the wounded were Captains Francis and Robert Gould Shaw along with Lieutenants Crowninshield and Mills. General Mansfield was also killed in the battle and command of the XII Corps passed to General Henry W. Slocum.

Later in the year, they marched to Fredericksburg, Virginia, but did not participate in the Battle of Fredericksburg. During this time, at Stafford Court House, Captain Shaw left the regiment to become colonel of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry.

In May, 1863, the regiment participated in the Battle of Chancellorsville.^[32] In the battle, Stonewall Jackson's corps executed a surprise flanking movement and smashed into the right flank of the Army of the Potomac, severely damaging the unsuspecting XI Corps. The neighboring troops, including the XII Corps with the 2nd Massachusetts, entrenched hastily and was able to stop the Confederate advance before it overran the entire army.