[
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Eighteenth regiment Massachusetts Infantry.
(1)
Col. James Barnes,
Bvt. Maj. Gen. U. S. Vols.
(2)
Col. Joseph Hayes,
Bvt. Maj. Gen. U. S. Vols.
| Field and Staff. | Line. | Band. | companies. | Unassigned Recruits. | Totals. |
| | | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K |
Number on regimental rolls,— |
Officers, | 17 | 51 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 68 |
Enlisted men,1 | 12 | – | 23 | 134 | 127 | 129 | 127 | 133 | 136 | 131 | 113 | 140 | 118 | 10 | 1,333 |
Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,401 |
Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.2 | 7 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | – | 20 |
Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | – | 6 |
Totals, | 7 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | – | 26 |
Actual total of members of regiment,— |
Officers, | 17 | 51 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 68 |
Enlisted men,3 | 5 | – | 23 | 133 | 127 | 129 | 126 | 132 | 132 | 129 | 108 | 137 | 116 | 10 | 1,307 |
Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,375 |
The 18th Mass. Infantry was recruited in July and August, 1861, and on August 26 left the
State as a battalion of eight companies, in command of
Col. (afterwards brigadier general)
James Barnes, a graduate of
West Point.
The two additional companies necessary to complete the regiment joined the command in September and November, 1861.
The regiment, forming part of
Martindale's Brigade,
Porter's Division, 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac, was stationed for a time near Fort Corcoran, and September 26 was ordered to
Hall's Hill, where it remained until the spring of 1862.
In March, 1862, it moved to the
Peninsula, and April 5 took part in the assault at
Yorktown and was active during the siege; after the surrender the regiment moved by the way of
West Point and
White House to
Gaines's Mill, and, arriving May 26, went into camp.
June 26, detached from the brigade and forming part of the force under
General Stoneman, it was ordered to
White House, and moved later by the way of
Fortress Monroe and the
James River to
Harrison's Landing, where it arrived July 2.
Under command of
Capt. Stephen Thomas, the regiment took part in the
battle of Manassas August 30, with great loss.
It was engaged at
Antietam September 17, and in the action at
Shepherdstown September 20.
At the
battle of Fredericksburg, as part of
Griffin's Division, 5th Corps, the regiment was closely engaged on the afternoon of December 13 in a charge upon
Marye's Heights, and occupied an advanced position December 14.
The regiment moved to
Chancellorsville April 30, 1863, taking part in the battle on May 2 and 3.
It was engaged July 2 and 3 at
Gettysburg, and took part in the engagement at Rappahannock Station November 7.
It was active later in the
Mine Run campaign, and encamped for the winter at Beverly Ford.
As part of the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, the regiment went into action at the
Wilderness on the morning of May 5, 1864, was engaged at
Laurel Hill May 8, was active in the movements and engagements at
Spotsylvania and
North Anna, and was closely engaged at Cold Harbor June 1, taking part in the movements of the following days.
It crossed the
James River June 16 and served at
Petersburg during the assault of June 18-21, and engaged in the siege during the remainder of its service.
The regiment left the front July 20, 1864, and those whose term of service had expired returned to
Massachusetts and were mustered out September 2.
The re-enlisted men and recruits, forming a battalion under command of
Capt. Luther S. Bent, remained in service before
Petersburg.
On October 26, the officers' term of service having expired, the command was consolidated with the 32d Mass. Infantry.