13th Massachusetts Infantry

Thirteenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry: Three Years

     The 13th Regt. Mass. Vol, Inf. had for its nucleus the 4th Battalion Rifles, M. V. M., which furnished Co's. A, B, C, and D of the regiment. These companies with Co. E, Roxbury Rifles, were ordered to Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, May 25, 1861. On June 29 two companies were added from Marlboro and one each from Natick, Stoneham, and Westboro. The regiment was mustered into the service July 16, 1861, with Samuel H. Leonard, formerly commander of the 4th Battalion, as its Colonel.

     The regiment left the fort July 29, 1861, and was sent immediately into Maryland. During the late Summer and fall it did guard duty on the upper Potomac between Hagerstown and Darnestown, Md., then went into winter quarters at Williamsport. All the troops in this region belonged to the division of Gen. Banks.

     The regiment crossed the Potomac March 1, 1862, and by the President's General War Order No. 2, issued March 8,1862, became a part of Abercrombie's Brigade, Williams' Division, Banks' (5th) Corps, Army of the Potomac. The spring and early summer were spent reconnoitering in various parts of northern Virginia. May, 1862, found the regiment a part of Hartsuff's Brigade, Ricketts' Division, McDowell's (3d) Corps, Army of Virginia. It reached the field of Cedar Mountain, August 9, just after the battle had ended, and suffered no loss. In the Second Bull Run campaign, on August 28, it was engaged at Thoroughfare Gap resisting the advance of Longstreet's Corps. On August 30, Gen. Z. B. Tower being in command of the brigade in place of Gen. Hartsuff who was ill as the result of wounds, the 13th was very heavily engaged near Bald Hill, on the Chinn farm, losing 36 officers and men killed or mortally wounded. The 12th Massachusetts was in the same brigade.

     Early in September, 1862, Ricketts' Division became a part of Hooker's (1st) Corps. Still as a part of Hartsuff's Brigade, the 13th took part in the advance to South Mountain, where it was engaged Sept. 14, 1862, without loss. At Antietam Sept. 17, it fought in the Bloody Cornfield and near the Dunkard Church, losing heavily. At Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, the 13th was a part of Taylor's Brigade, Ricketts' Division, Reynolds! (1st) Corps. In the great attack on the Confederate right two miles below the city of Fredericksburg the 13th occupied an exposed position but did not suffer severe loss. The winter of 1862-63 was spent in camp at Fletcher's Chapel near Belle Plain.

     At Chancellorsville, May 1 to 4, 1863, Col. Leonard commanding the brigade, and Gen. Robinson the division, the 13th Regt. suffered small numerical loss. At Gettysburg, July 1, as a part of Paul's Brigade, Robinson's Division, Reynolds' (1st) Corps, the 13th was posted on the right of the corps line near Oak Hill and lost heavily, especially in prisoners. During the late summer and early fall the regiment was active in the region of the Rappahannock, and in the latter part of November took part in the Mine Run campaign. About Christmas, 1863, it went into winter quarters at Mitchell's Sta. near the old Cedar Mountain battlefield.

     In the spring of 1864 Robinson's Division was assigned to the 5th Corps. In the battle of the Wilderness, May 5 and 6, the 13th was engaged on the Orange turnpike and later near the Plank road, being commanded by Lieut. Col. Hovey. At Spottsylvania, May 8 to 12, it was in action near the Alsop, Jones, and Spindle farms with considerable loss. At North Anna, Cold Harbor, and on the lines in front of Petersburg the regiment continued to perform active duty until July 14, when, its term of service having ended, its recruits and re-enlisted men were transferred to the 39th Regt., and it was withdrawn from the front and sent to Washington. Reaching Boston, Maas., July 21, the members of the regiment were furloughed until August 1, on which date they reassembled on Boston Common and were mustered out of the 'United States' service.