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23rd
Massachusetts Infantry
in the Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Twenty-third Infantry. — Cols., John Kurtz, Andrew Elwell, John W.
Raymond; Lieut. -Cols., John Kurtz, Henry Merritt, Andrew Elwell, John G. Chambers, John
W. Raymond, Henry T. Woodbury; Majs., Henry Merritt, Andrew Elwell, John G. Chambers,
Ethan A. P. Brewster, Daniel W. Hammond. This regiment was mustered in at Lynnfield for
three years from Sept. 28 to Oct. 24, 1861, and was mustered out on Sept. 28, 1864, the
reenlisted men and recruits continuing in service under the same regimental name until
mustered out at New Berne, N. C, June 25, 1865. The total strength was 1,393. Co. C came
from Gloucester ; Co. D, New Bedford ; Co. E was made up of Davis Guards ; Co. F, from
Salem, and Co. G, Beverly. The 23d started on Nov. 11 for Annapolis and joined the
"Burnside expedition." The first expedition was against Roanoke island in Feb.,
1862, and was a success. Then followed the movement to New Berne, and several engagements
in that vicinity. The Goldsboro expedition in December was next undertaken, in which the
enemy was encountered at Southwest creek, Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro, where the
railroad bridge was burned and parts of the Wilmington railroad destroyed, the main
objects of the expedition. It next moved to Carolina City, thence to Hilton Head, and went
into camp at St. Helena island, where it remained until April 3, 1863, when it embarked,
expecting to go to Charleston, but was sent back to Hilton Head. Finally, however, it was
ordered to the relief of Little Washington and arrived at New Berne after the siege was
raised. The winter of 1863-64 was spent at Fortress Monroe and Portsmouth, Va. On April 13
an expedition was commenced which took the 23d up the James river to Smithfield. On April
26th it was sent to Yorktown and engaged the enemy at Port Walthall Junction, Hickman's
farm and Arrowfield Church. At the battle of Drewry's bluff the losses were heavy and the
army fell back to Bermuda Hundred. At Cold Harbor the regiment again lost a sad number but
its advance in the face of the enemy's fire was most gallant. From this time till late in
August of the same year the regiment was on duty before Petersburg, but was then ordered
to New Berne, where it remained until March 3, 1865. At New Berne it suffered from yellow
fever which caused great mortality. In March the regiment moved to Kinston, in which
vicinity it engaged the enemy several times and finally routed them. This closed its
active service, of every part of which they might justly be proud, and for which they
received well-earned praise. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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