| Unit Name: | 23rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry |
| Dates: | 28 September 1861 – 25 June 1865 |
| Country: |  United States |
| Allegiance: | Union |
| Branch: | Union Army |
| Type: | Infantry |
| Size: | 1,761 men and officers |
| Command Structure: |
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| Battles: | |
| Disbanded: | 25 June 1865 |
| Notable Commanders: |
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23rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. It was formed on 28 September 1861[1] in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, though some of the men were not mustered until the regiment's arrival to Annapolis, Maryland on 5 December,[1] and comprised 6 companies from Essex County, Massachusetts and 1 each from Bristol, Plymouth, Middlesex and Worcester.[2] An ex-militia officer, John Kurtz, was commissioned its colonel.[2]
On 11 November 1861 the regiment left Massachusetts to arrive at Annapolis establishing Camp John A. Andrew and remained there until January of the next year.[1] [2] Thereupon it was made part of Foster's Brigade embarking for North Carolina with Burnside's Coast Division.[1] [2] The regiment took part in Battle of Roanoke Island on 8 February 1862 and Battle of New Bern on 14 March suffering losses;[1] among the killed was Lt. Col. Henry Merritt of the regiment.[2]
In May 1862, as three new divisions were formed, it became part of 1st Brigade (Amory's), 1st Division (Foster's).[2] During Summer and Fall of 1862 the regiment was stationed in the vicinity or in New Bern, North Carolina[1] and engaged in 3 skirmishes suffering little loss.[2] On 10 December it was attached to the Goldsborough Expedition engaging the enemy at Kinston on 14 December and White Hall on 16 December losing 16 killed and fatally wounded.[1] [2] Though it ventured to Goldsborough it did not take part in the action at that place.[2]
Middle of January to middle of April 1863 the regiment took part in Charleston Expedition becoming part of Heckman's Brigade.[2] Upon returning in April it became part of the expedition to relieve Little Washington, Virginia; in July it was sent to Trenton.[2] On 16 October 1863 the regiment left New Bern and embarked for Fort Monroe where it arrived 3 days later and camped near Newport News.[2] In the early Winter more than 200 men and officers enlisted for 3 years.[2] On 23 January the regiment boarded a steamer bound for Portsmouth where it occupied fortifications not 3 miles away from the city itself.[2] In April it made an expedition to Smithfield where on the 16th it fought and suffered losses.[2] Gen. Heckman's 1st Brigade, 2nd Division of the XVIII Corps, known as the "Star Brigade", was ordered to proceed up James River to Bermuda Hundred.[1] [2] It was engaged at Port Walthall Junction on 6 and 7 May, then at Arrowfield Church on the 9th.[1] [2] On 16 May at Proctor's Creek Star Brigade was outflanked in heavy fog resulting in Gen. Heckman being taken captive, 23rd Regiment losing 23 killed, 20 wounded and 51 taken prisoners.[2] Among the mortally wounded was Lt. Col. John G. Chambers.[2]
After that battle the XVIII Corps was transferred to the north bank of James where it joined the Army of the Potomac.[2] The command of Star Brigade was given to Gen. George J. Stannard.[2] During the assault on Cold Harbor on 3 June the 23rd lost 10 men killed, 39 wounded and 2 missing.[2] Upon recrossing the river it was engaged in Siege of Petersburg until 25 August losing men frequently due to sharpshooter fire.[1] [2]
On 4 September the regiment crossed the Appomattox River and through Bermuda Hundred embarked for New Bern reaching it on the 10th and returning to the trenches on Trent.[2] In late September the men who did not re-enlisted were sent home. Autumn saw the arrival of yellow fever to New Bern resulting also in losses in 23rd.[2]
On 8 March 1865 the 23rd saw its last action at Wyse Fork losing 3 killed and 10 wounded.[1] [2] Until May the men remained near Kinston and then were returned to New Bern to provide military police services until 25 June when the regiment was decommissioned.[2] Men received their pay and final discharge upon arriving to Readville, Massachusetts on 5 July.[1] [2]
Regiment during service lost 218 men – 4 officers and 80 enlisted men killed and fatally wounded and 2 officers and 132 enlisted men by disease.[1] [2]
Regimental association was established at an 1871 reunion electing president, vice presidents, adjutant, treasurer, chaplain and secretary.[3] Its History Committee was tasked with maintaining regimental history and appointing members of each company to gather information relating to each company's history.[3] A regimental history book was published in 1886. Especially the F Company was active in gathering and keeping records – in 1896 it published the history of the company.[3]