[
238]
Twenty-third regiment Massachusetts Infantry.
（1)
Col. John Kurtz.
（2)
Col. Andrew Elwell.
| Field and Staff. | Line. | Band. | companies. | Unassigned Recruits. | Totals. |
| | | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K |
| Number on regimental rolls,— |
| Officers, | 16 | 79 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 95 |
| Enlisted men,1 | 21 | – | 20 | 124 | 120 | 116 | 123 | 125 | 128 | 147 | 129 | 124 | 119 | 3 | 1,299 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,394 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.2 | 9 | – | – | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | 49 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | – | 4 | 1 | 2 | – | 2 | 1 | 3 | – | 16 |
| Totals, | 9 | – | – | 6 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | – | 65 |
| Actual total of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 16 | 79 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 95 |
| Enlisted men,3 | 12 | – | 20 | 118 | 115 | 110 | 113 | 120 | 123 | 142 | 124 | 120 | 114 | 3 | 1,234 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,329 |
The 23d Mass. Infantry was organized during the
summer and
autumn of 1861, many of the companies being recruited by men who had returned from three months service in the militia regiments.
Under
Col. John Kurtz the regiment left the
State Nov. 11, 1861, for
Annapolis, Md., and was mustered into the
United States service December 6, a portion of the men having been mustered as early as September 28.
Forming part of
Foster's Brigade and taking part in
General Burnside's expedition to
North Carolina, it was engaged at the
battle of Roanoke Island February 8, and took part, with loss, at New Berne March 14, 1862.
Forming part of the 1st Brigade under
Col. T. J. C. Amory, and assigned to
General Foster's Division, the regiment was stationed at New Berne until November, serving during a part of April and May at Batchelder's Creek. Five companies took part in the Tarboroa expedition in November.
In December the regiment took part in the Goldsboroa expedition, being present at the
battle of Kinston and engaged with great loss at
Whitehall.
It left New Berne in January, 1863, to take part in the movement against
Charleston, S. C., but returned to
North Carolina in April, having spent a month in camp at
St. Helena Island and much of the remaining time on transports.
It remained encamped near New Berne, engaging in picket duty and reconnoitering expeditions, during the
summer and
autumn of 1863.
On October 16 it sailed for
Fortress Monroe and went into camp near Newport News; while here over 200 members of the regiment re-enlisted, and in January returned to
Massachusetts for furlough.
The regiment moved to
Portsmouth in January, 1864, engaging under command of
Colonel Elwell in an expedition to
Smithfield in April.
As part of
Heckman's Red Star Brigade, and serving with
General Butler's forces at
Bermuda Hundred, it was present at the engagement at Walthal Junction and active at Arrowfield Church; it took part early in the morning of May 16 at
Drewry's Bluff, with great loss;
Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers was mortally wounded,
Captain Raymond taking command of the regiment.
It formed part of the forces sent to join the Army of the Potomac, and, reaching Cold Harbor June 1, took active part in the operations there, moving afterward to
Petersburg, and taking part in the siege.
On September 4 it was ordered to New Berne and stationed on the south side of the
Trent River.
On September 26 those of the regiment whose term of service had expired were ordered to
Massachusetts for muster out. In March, 1865, the regiment took part in a movement into the interior, engaged with loss at
Kinston, and was stationed near the town on the
Neuse River until ordered to New Berne, May 2; here, on June 25, 1865, it was mustered out of service, and, returning to
Massachusetts, received its final discharge and payment at Readville, Mass., July 12.
