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45th Massachusetts Infantry
in the Civil War

Regimental History
Forty-fifth Infantry. — Col, Charles R. Codman; Lieut.-Col, Oliver W. Peabody; Maj., Russell Sturgis, Jr. This organization was known as the "Cadet regiment," from the fact that its field officers, and several of its line officers, were taken from the 1st corps cadets. It was recruited at Camp Meigs, Readville, and was mustered into the U. S. service for nine months on varying dates between Sept. 26 and Oct. 28, 1862. While the officers were from Boston and the immediate vicinity, the ranks were recruited from over 200 cities and towns in the state. It numbered 40 officers and 918 men. Its loss during service was 20 killed and 27 who died by accident or disease. It embarked for New Berne, N. C, Nov. 5, and on its arrival there was assigned to Col. Amory's brigade, consisting of the 17th, 23d, 43d and 51st Mass. infantry. It remained inactive until Dec. 12, when all but Cos. C and G (on detached service) participated in the Goldsboro expedition. It was actively engaged at the battles of Kinston and Whitehall, winning praise for its gallantry and efficiency in both actions, and suffering a loss of 15 killed and 43 wounded at Kinston, and 4 killed and 16 wounded at Whitehall, but was not in action at Goldsboro. In Jan., 1863, it took part, with two other regiments, in a five days' reconnaissance to Trenton, N. C., and on the 26th was detailed for provost guard at New Berne, in which capacity it served until April 25. With its brigade it took part in an expedition to Core creek, on the Atlantic & North Carolina railroad, on April 28, and engaged the enemy on the Dover road, where it met with a loss of 1 killed and 4 wounded. This ended its active campaigning, and it remained encamped in the neighborhood of Fort Spinola until June 24, when it broke camp and returned to Massachusetts, reaching Boston on the 30th. It was mustered out at Readville, July 8, 1863.

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

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