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30th
Massachusetts Infantry
in the Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Thirtieth Infantry.— Cols., Nathan A. M. Dudley, Francis H.
Whittier; Lieut.-Cols., William Warren Bullock, Horace O. Whittemore, Francis H. Whittier,
Samuel D. Shipley; Majs., Horace O. Whittemore, William F. Clark, Francis H. Whittier,
Samuel D. Shipley, Edward A. Fiske, Brent Johnston. This regiment, known as the Eastern
Bay State regiment, was mustered in at Lowell in the autumn and early winter of 1861-62.
Owing to a difference of opinion between Gov. Andrew and Gen. Butler, for whom the
regiment was raised, it left the state, Jan. 2, 1862, without officers having been
commissioned but a satisfactory understanding was soon reached. It enlisted for three
years but remained in the service as a veteran battalion until July 5, 1866, when it was
mustered out at Fort Sumter after four and one-half years' service and was the last
Massachusetts regiment to return home. It embarked on Jan. 13, 1862, for Fortress Monroe,
where it reembarked for the south and arrived at Ship island, Miss., Feb. 12. It continued
up the Mississippi river and landed at New Orleans, May 2, but soon reembarked for Baton
Rouge. An expedition further up the river was undertaken and the troops landed at
Vicksburg, where they endeavored to dig a canal to divert the river but failed. Returning
to Baton Rouge, it engaged the enemy at that place on Aug. 5, and then moved to the
vicinity of New Orleans. Much illness was the result of the hot climate and the duties of
the regiment during the winter of 1862-63 were comparatively light. In May, 1863, it took
part in the siege of Port Hudson and after the surrender moved to Donaldsonville, La. It
spent the month of August at Baton Rouge. After various minor duties the beginning of 1864
found the regiment in camp at New Iberia, La., where many of the men reenlisted and the
regiment became the 30th veteran volunteers. On July 5 it sailed for Fortress Monroe, Va.,
proceeded to Washington, thence through Harper's Ferry to Bolivar heights. Various
strategic movements in Virginia followed, including an engagement at Winchester, followed
by constant skirmishing while in pursuit of the enemy and battles at Fisher's hill and
Cedar creek. Winter quarters were built near Middletown in the Shenandoah Valley but on
Dec. 30, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Winchester and posted at the Opequan crossing
to guard two important bridges. Here camps were built and the regiment remained here until
April 1, 1865, when a movement up the Shenandoah Valley was commenced, but the surrender
of Lee's army ended it. The 30th participated in the grand review at Washington and was
ordered to Savannah, Ga., thence to Georgetown, S. C., then to Sumter with various details
for garrison duty in the district. The total number of members of the regiment was 1,472,
of whom 50 were killed or died of wounds and 319 from disease or accident. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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