The 15th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was recruited in Worcester
County, the Leominster and Fitchburg units being old militia
companies, while the others were raised by voluntary assemble
at Camp Scott, Worcester, and there, July 12, the regiment was
mustered into the United States service with Charles Devens,
Jr., major of the old 3d Battalion Rifles, as its colonel.
The regiment left Camp Scott for Washington, D. C.,
August 8, and on the 27th arrived at Poolesville, Md. where it
was attached to Gen. Charles P. Stone's command. It was
active in guarding the Potomac from Conrad's Ferry to
Harrison's Island until October 21, 1861, when it led the
advance to Ball's Bluff, losing in that action over 300 men of
whom 44 were killed or mortally wounded. The winter of 1861-
62 was spent near Poolesville, over 200 recruits being
received before spring opened.
In February Gen. John Sedgwick was given command of the
division, while Gen. Willis A. Gorman was assigned to the
brigade. After a short time spent in the Shenandoah Valley
the regiment was sent to the Peninsula, where Sedgwick's
Division became a part of Sumner's (2d) Corps. It
participated in the siege of Yorktown, and in the battle of
Fair Oaks May 31, and was under fire at Savage's Sta.,
Glendale, and Malvern Hill with slight loss. The 1st Company
of Sharpshooters became attached to the regiment at Yorktown
and continued with it for over a year.
After spending most of July and August at Harrison's
Landing, on the 28th of August the regiment reached Alexandria
and helped to cover Pope's retreat from Second Bull Run. In
early September it joined in the advance to Frederick and
South Mountain. At Antietam, September 17, the 15th was
outflanked in the West Wood and in twenty-seven minutes lost a
total of 318 officers and men, or over 50% of the number
engaged, 98 being killed or mortally wounded. During the
Peninsular campaign and at Antietam the regiment was
commanded by Lieut. Col. John W. Kimball.
At Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, Gen. Sully commanded
the brigade and Gen. Howard the division, Gen. Couch
commanding the 2d Corps. Here the 15th was engaged but with
small loss. The winter of 1862-63 was spent in camp near
Falmouth.
During the Chancellorsville campaign in May, 1863, Gen.
Gibbon being in command of the division, the 15th was in the
reserve at Fredericksburg and suffered slight loss. At
Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, 1863, as a part of Harrow's Brigade,
Gibbon's Division, Hancock's (2d) Corps, the regiment was
heavily engaged on the Union left centre losing its colonel,
George H. Ward, and 36 officers and men killed or mortally
wounded.
On October 14, 1863, the regiment was engaged at Bristoe
Sta. covering the retirement of the army toward Centreville.
It was engaged near Robertson's Tavern in the Mine Run
expedition Nov. 27, and on its return from Mine Run went into
winter quarters near Stevensburg.
At the Wilderness, May 5 and 6, 1864, Gen. Webb being in
command of the brigade, the 15th was engaged on the Plank road
with loss. At Spottsylvania, May 12, it was in Hancock's
assault on the Bloody Angle again losing heavily. Its losses
at North Anna, Totopotomoy, and Cold Harbor reduced the
regiment to 5 officers and about 70 enlisted men. On June 22
when the 2d Corps was outflanked near the Jerusalem Plank road
the entire regiment save one officer and five men were taken
prisoners. These with those who returned from hospitals or
from detached service were attached to the 20th Mass. of the
same brigade until July 12, when the remnant of the regiment
was sent home, arriving in Worcester, Mass., July 21, where on
the 26th nine companies were mustered out of the service. Co.
I, which had a little longer to serve, was mustered out August
6, and the regiment ceased to exist. Few Massachusetts units
had as gallant a history as the 15th Infantry.
|