17th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment explained

Unit Name:17th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
Dates:July 22, 1861 - July 11, 1865
Country:United States
Allegiance:Union
Branch:Infantry
Battles:Battle of New Bern
Carolinas Campaign
Battle of Wyse Fork
Commander1:Thomas J.C. Amory
Commander1 Label:Colonel
Commander2:John F. Fellows
Commander2 Label:Colonel
Commander3:Henry Splaine
Commander3 Label:Lieutenant Colonel
Identification Symbol Label:1st Division, XVIII Corps
Identification Symbol 2 Label:3rd Division, XXIII Corps

The 17th Massachusetts was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service

The 17th Massachusetts was organized at Camp Schouler in Lynnfield, Massachusetts and mustered in for a three-year enlistment on July 22, 1861 under the command of Colonel Thomas J.C. Amory.

1864 Operations

Early in 1864 the 17th met with its first serious experience in action. On February 1, an attack was made by the Confederates under MGEN Pickett on the Union outpost at Batchelder's Creek, some eight miles from New Bern, and LTC Fellows with 115 members of the five companies located outside the city and a section of artillery set out for the support of the 132nd New York Infantry, then holding the threatened position.

The bridge across the creek had just been carried by the strong force of the enemy when the 17th detachment arrived, and Fellows placed his command to the front and left of the New York regiment. In that position they repelled the Rebels several times. The enemy's overwhelming numbers began to tell as they carried the bridge at Batchelder's Creek and soon crossed over. As the defenders began to run low on ammunition, COL Peter Claassen, commanding the 132nd New York Infantry, ordered his men back into New Bern. He detailed the 17th to provide cover for the battery and the 132nd made their withdrawal. The order was then given to fall back to the crossing of the Trent road to make another stand, but in heavy fog, the Confederates flanked the party and cut off a large portion of them before they could escape. Three had been killed and three severely wounded during the fighting, and 66 were made prisoners, including Fellows, Surgeon Galloupe, and Adjutant Henry A. Cheever — the latter severely wounded.

Those that made good their escape made their way back to New Bern and assisted in manning the works and picketing the approaches while the city was attacked over the next three days.

1865 Operations

The 17th Massachusetts mustered out of service on July 11, 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina.

Affiliations, battle honors, detailed service, and casualties

Organizational affiliation

Attached to:

List of battles

The official list of battles in which the regiment bore a part:

Detailed service

1861

1862

1863

1864

1865

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 172 men during service; 21 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 4 officers and 147 enlisted men died of disease.

Commanders

See also

References

Sources