William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 1

The Fifty-third Regiment was recruited at ‘Camp Stevens,’ at Groton. It left Massachusetts on the eighteenth day of November, for New York, under command of LieutenantColo-nel Barrett, with orders to report to Major-General Banks at New Orleans. John W. Kimball, who had served with distinction as major of the Fifteenth Regiment, three years service, was commissioned colonel of the Fifty-third. Before he could get home from the front, and take command, the regiment had left the State. He joined it, however, at New York, and went with it to Louisiana.

The Eleventh Light Battery, to serve for nine months, was recruited by Captain Edward J. Jones, at ‘Camp Meigs,’ at Readville. It left Massachusetts on the third day of October, under command of Captain Jones, with orders to report for duty to the Adjutant-General of the army at Washington. This was the only nine months battery raised in the State.

Thus, in December, 1862, Massachusetts had in active service fifty-three regiments of infantry, one regiment and three unattached companies of cavalry, twelve companies of light artillery, two companies of sharpshooters, and three companies of heavy artillery, which were distributed as follows: Twenty-seven regiments of infantry, seven companies of light artillery, two battalions of cavalry, and two companies of sharpshooters, in the Army of the Potomac, and in Virginia and Maryland; thirteen regiments of infantry in North Carolina; thirteen regiments of infantry, five companies of light artillery, and three unattached companies of cavalry, in the Department of the Gulf; one battalion of cavalry at Hilton Head, S. C.; and three companies of heavy artillery doing garrison duty in the forts in Boston Harbor. The number of three years volunteers who had entered the service from Massachusetts from the commencement of the war to Dec. 31, 1862, was 46,920; number of nine months men, 19,080; number of three months men, 3,736,—making a total of 69,736 men. During the year 1862, the number of men who entered the navy in Massachusetts was 5,960, which, added to the number who shipped from April 15 to Dec. 31, 1861 (7,658), makes a total of 13,618 men for whom Massachusetts received no credit, and who were not