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39th Massachusetts Infantry
in the Civil War

Regimental History
Thirty-ninth Infantry. — Cols., Timothy Ingraham, P. Stearns Davis, Charles L. Peirson, Henry M. Tremlett, Frederick R. Kinsley; Lieut- Cols., Charles L. Peirson, Henry M. Tremlett, John Hutchins; Majs., Henry M. Tremlett, Charles J. Payne, Frederick R. Kinsley, William W. Graham. The 39th was mustered in at Lynnfield in July and Aug., 1862, to serve for three years, and was mustered out at Washington, June 2, 1865, when the recruits and reenlisted men were transferred to the 32nd Mass. infantry. The total number of members was 1,432, of whom 66 were killed or died of wounds and 83 died by accident or disease. The command left Boxford Sept. 6 for Washington, and was immediately posted along the Potomac near Edwards' and Conrad's ferries, on guard duty. From Dec, 1862, to April, 1863, winter quarters were occupied at Poolesville, Md. It was stationed at Washington on guard duty from the middle of April to July 9, when it left the city and moved to join the Army of the Potomac, then at Funkstown, Md. It participated in the Mine Run campaign and spent the winter of 1863-64 at Mitchell's station. In the battle of the Wilderness its loss was light, but at Laurel hill, it was less fortunate. From the opening of the spring campaign of 1864, there was plenty of hard service for the 39th. Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, the operations against the Weldon rail-road, Hatcher's run, Gravelly run, and Five Forks, all were tests of the mettle and endurance of the men, to which they responded nobly, performing every service required of them without faltering. On May 1, 1865, the regiment left the Southside railroad for Arlington heights, participated in the grand review at Washington and left for Boston, June 4. It is worthy of mention that the loss of the regiment by death in prison was two-thirds as great as its other death losses, viz: 102 men.

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

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