[
240]
Twenty-fourth regiment Massachusetts Infantry.
（1)
Col. Thomas G. Stevenson,
Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
（2)
Col. Francis A. Osborn,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
（3)
Col. Albert Ordway,
Bvt. Brig. 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 | 80 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 97 |
| Enlisted men,1 | 20 | – | 25 | 214 | 120 | 118 | 141 | 115 | 131 | 200 | 118 | 134 | 130 | 8 | 1,474 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,571 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.2 | 9 | – | – | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | – | 50 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | – | 11 |
| Totals, | 9 | – | – | 4 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 2 | – | 61 |
| Actual totals of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 17 | 80 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 97 |
| Enlisted men,3 | 11 | – | 25 | 210 | 116 | 110 | 136 | 107 | 127 | 194 | 110 | 131 | 128 | 8 | 1,413 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,510 |
The 24th Mass. Infantry, known as the
New England Guards regiment, had as its basis the 4th Battalion M. V. M., whose major,
Thomas Greely Stevenson, recruited and organized the regiment at Camp Massasoit, Readville, Mass., during the autumn of 1861, and became its colonel.
It left the
State Dec. 9, 1861, for
Annapolis, Md., and, being assigned to
Foster's Brigade, joined
General Burnside's expedition to
North Carolina, sailing for Hatteras Inlet Jan. 9, 1862.
It was present at the
battle of Roanoke Island, February 8, and had an advanced position at New Berne, March 14.
Occupying headquarters at Camp Lee, the regiment engaged during March in an expedition to
Washington, N. C., and in one up the
Neuse River. Three companies were sent to
Washington again in May; and the remainder of the regiment, moving there in June, met the enemy at
Tranters Creek June 5; two companies again serving on detached duty at
Washington, N. C., from July 8 to September 12, took part with loss in the engagement on September 6.
The first of November the regiment, with the exception of two companies, left on picket at New Berne, took part in the Tarboroa expedition, and engaged in the Goldsboroa expedition in December.
On Jan. 29, 1863, the command was ordered to
St. Helena Island, S. C., and was engaged July 16 and 18 on
James and
Morris Islands, engaging afterward in the siege of
Fort Wagner.
On August 26 the regiment charged and captured a line of Confederate rifle pits, suffering some loss in the engagement.
It was transferred to
Florida in September, and remained stationed at
St. Augustine during the
autumn and
winter of 1863-64; while here more than 400 men re-enlisted for another term and returned to
Massachusetts for thirty days furlough.
The remainder of the regiment, transferred to
Jacksonville, met the re-enlisted men at
Gloucester Point, Va., May 1, 1864, and, as part of the 10th Army Corps, the command moved to
Bermuda Hundred.
It took part at
Drewry's Bluff May 12-16, and, moving with the brigade to
Deep Bottom, June 20, met heavy loss in the engagement there of August 14-18.
Colonel Osborn being in command of a brigade, the regiment served under
Captain Maker on the 14th and under
Captain Gardner on the succeeding days.
On August 26 the regiment took position in front of
Petersburg and engaged in the siege.
On Dec. 9, 1864, the last of the men whose term of service under the original enlistment had expired were mustered out. The regiment returned to
Bermuda Hundred December 18, where it remained encamped until the fall of
Petersburg, in April, 1865.
Ordered to
Richmond, Va., it remained on guard duty in the city until January of the following year, having received two officers and 170 enlisted men from the 34th and 14 men from the 40th Mass. Infantry in June, 1864.
On Jan. 20, 1866, the regiment was mustered out at
Richmond, and returned at once to
Massachusetts for final dis. charge and payment.
