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29th Massachusetts Infantry
in the Civil War

Regimental History
Twenty-ninth Infantry. — Cols., Ebenezer W. Pierce, Thomas W. Clarke ; Lieut.-Cols., Joseph H. Barnes, Willard D. Tripp, Charles D. Browne; Majs., Charles Chipman, Charles T. Richardson, John M. Deane. This regiment was formed by the addition of three new companies, Dec. 13, 1861, to Jan. 13, 1862, to the seven companies called the 1st battalion, Mass. infantry, which was among the first three years' troops to leave the state and reinforced the 3d and 4th regiments. It was mustered out at Tenallytown, Md., July 29, 1865. The total membership was 919, of whom 30 were killed or died of wounds and 31 died of disease. The regiment was posted at Newport News until May 10, 1862, when it embarked for Ocean View and marched to Norfolk. Though an American regiment, it was assigned to the "Irish brigade," encamped at Fair Oaks and was engaged at that place, Gaines mill, Savage Station and Malvern hill, in all of which the conduct of the troops was praised by Gen. Meagher. The regiment then moved by way of Yorktown and Fredericksburg to the support of Gen. Pope at Centerville and was engaged at Fairfax Court House. At Antietam it made a gallant charge. It next moved south with the Army of the Potomac and encamped a short time at Falmouth, where it was transferred from the Irish brigade to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 9th corps. At Fredericksburg it was held in reserve and it escaped the "Mud March." Ordered west in March, 1863, the 29th was located at Paris, Ky., during April. In May proceeded to Vicksburg, where it arrived at the end of the siege and joined in the pursuit of the Confederate forces at Jackson, Miss. The next field of action was in East Tennessee in the battles of Blue Springs, Campbell's station and the siege of Knoxville. The marches in East Tennessee were difficult and the men suffered from cold, insufficient clothing and lack of food, yet in Jan., 1864, a number of them reenlisted and became a veteran regiment. The remainder was attached to the 36th Mass. infantry. After a short furlough the veterans arrived in Washington on May 18, 1864, and were assigned to the Army of the Potomac. At Cold Harbor their duties were comparatively light, but at Petersburg 3 color-bearers were shot in quick succession during a gallant charge and volunteers rescued the flag. The winter of 1864-5 was spent at Battery No. 11, in the vicinity of Fort Stedman and in the battle there on March 25, 1865, the battery was taken and retaken. Color-bearer Conrad Homan received a medal of honor because he was the first to enter when the battery was recaptured. On the journey home the regiment paraded in New York at the request of the New England society and was given a dinner and a complimentary address by Gen. Burnside. The seven original companies served the Union cause in the field longer than any other regiment, always with honor to themselves and to their country.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1

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