United States Regiments & Batteries > Massachusetts > 11th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment 


The 11th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment lost 11 officers and 153 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 95 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
June 13 The 11th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was organized at Readville and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel George Clark, Jr.,  Lieutenant Colonel W. Blaisdell, and Major G.F. Tileston. Much of their training was held at Fort Warren.

  • Company A – Captain M. Moore
  • Company B “Paul Revere Guards – Captain J.H. Davis
  • Company C “Clark Light Guards” – Captain P.D. Tripp
  • Company D – Captain J.W. Butters
  • Company E “Boston Light Guards” – Captain J.R. Bigelow
  • Company F – Captain L. Gordon
  • Company G – Captain W. Allen
  • Company H “Sanford Light Guards” – Captain S. Page
  • Company I “Bunker Hill Volunteers” – Captain Benjamin F. Wright
  • Company K – Captain Benjamin Stone
June 29 – July 2
Left Massachusetts for Washington, D.C.

The regiment was transported by rail on the Fitchburg Railroad, Old Colony and Fall River Railroad to Fall River. They then boarded the steamer Bay State to New York City. They took the steamer Kill van Kull to Elizabethtown, New Jersy, and boarded cars on the New Jersey Central Railroad, the Lebanon Valley Railroad, and the Northerrn Central Railroad to Baltimore. The men then marched through Baltimore and boarded the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for the final stage to Washington. They were then stationed at Camp Sanford at the White House.

Attached to Franklin’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia

July 14 Crossed the Potomac River on the steamers Baltimore and Philadelphia, leaving from the Navy Yard and landing one mile west of Alexandria at Camp Wilson, near Fort Ellsworth.
July 17-18
Advance on Manassas, Virginia.

Captain Benjamin Stone of Company K was too sick to command his company, and First Lieutenant William V. Monroe took temporary command.

Ordered on the road ar 5 a.m. Arrived at Failrfax Station at 3:30 p.m., and reachedvCentreville at 9 p.m.

July 21

Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

The 11th Massachusetts, commanded by Colonel Clark, marched at 5:30 a.m. for Sudley Springs Ford. They  forded Bull Run and continued the march to Dogan’s Ridge, arriving in the afternoon. The men were then ordered to advance to Henry Hill. The regiment then engaged in heavy fighting at the base of Henry Hill.

As the Union Army retreated the regiment was ordered to withdraw to Centreville, and then to Fairfax, returning to Fort Ellsworth by the next morning.

The 11th Massachusetts lost 7 men killed, 41 men wounded, and 40 men missing/captured. Captains L. Gordon of Company F and W. Allen of Company G were captured.

July 22-August 10 The regiment was stationed at Camp Wilson, near Fort Ellsworth, one mile west of Alexandris.
August 10 Ordered to Bladensburg and attached to Hooker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac
September 13 Captain J.W. Butters of Company D was discharged.
October Attached to 1st Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac
October 12 Colonel George Clark was honorably discharged. Lieutenant Colonel Blaisdell was promoted to colonel, Major Tileston to lieutenant colonel, and Captain P.D. Tripp to major.

Colonel W. Blaisdell

Colonel W. Blaisdell

October 27 To Budd’s Ferry and duty in that area
October 28 Captain M. Moore of Company A was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 28th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.
November 28 Captain B.F. Wright of Comoany I was discharged.
1862
March, Assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac
April 7

Peninsula Campaign

Ordered to Fortress Monroe, Va.

April 16-May 4

Siege of Yorktown

April 26 Affair at Yorktown (Cos. A and G)
May 5

Battle of Williamsburg

May 31-June 1

Battle of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines

June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond

June 25

Oak Grove, near Fair Oaks

June 29

Savage Station

June 30

White Oak Swamp and Glendale

July 1 and
August 5

Malvern Hill

August 6 – 15 At Harrison’s Landing
August 15-26 Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville
August 26-27 Bristoe Station
August 27 Kettle Run
August 28 Catlett’s Station
August 29

Groveton (Brawner Farm)

August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run

The regiment was part of Brigadier General Cuvier Grover’s bayonet charge against the Confederate positions on the unfinished railroad bed. It was one of the few attacks that succeeded in breaking the enemy lines, but was not supported and the men were forced to retreat. They suffered 40% casualties in the twenty minute attack.

September 1

Battle of Chantilly

September 2 – 13 Camp near Fort Lyon
September 14 –
October 20
Near Fairfax Seminary
October 21 -November 1 At Munson’s Hill
November 2-25 At Fairfax Station
November 10-12 Operations on Orange & Alexandria R. R.
December

Rappahannock Campaign

December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment was assigned to guard the pontoon bridges and did not take part in any of the costly attacks that day.

1863

January 20-24

“Mud March”

February 5-7 Operations at Rappahannock Bridge and Grove Church
February 8 –
April 27
At Falmouth
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment suffered heavy casualties in heavy fighting.

June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign

June 11 Left camp about 3 p.m., and marched to Hartwood Church
June 12 Proceeded toward Beverly Ford. Arrived at 10 p.m.
June 14 Left Beverly Ford at about 8.30 p.m. and proceeded to Warrenton Junction.
June 15 Arrived at Warrenton Junction at 8:30 a.m. Marched to Manassas Junction at 1 p.m. and continued to to Centreville Heights.
June 17 Arrived at Centreville Heights at 5 p.m.
June 19 Marched toward Gum Springs at 1 p.m. Arrived at 8 p.m. and was assigned picket duty.
June 20 Relieved from picket duty and rejoined brigade.
June 25 Marched to Poolesville, Md., by way of Goose Creek and Edwards Ferry, arriving after midnight.
June 26 Moved to Point of Rocks, Md.
June 27 March at 8 a.m. for Jefferson, and from there to Burkittsville.
June 28 Continued at 8 a.m. to Middletown, and from there to Frederick. Encamped 1 mile outside the town for the night.
June 29 Marched at 6 a.m. to Taneytown, arriving at 6 p.m.
June 30 MarcContinuedhed to Bridgeport and halted for the night.
July 1 Moved at 7 a.m. through Emmitsburg to Gettysburg
July 2

Battle of Gettysburg (Second Day)

The 11th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Porter D. Tripp. It arrived on the Gettysburg battlefield at 2 a.m. At 8 a.m. they received orders to move to the front to support a line of skirmishers.

It was then ordered into line of battle to withstand a charge led by General Barksdale of Mississippi. Engaged until 8 p.m., having made two distinct charges and helping to repulse the enemy from that point. The regiment was then ordered to fall back to the edge of the woods,

From the monument along Emmitsburg Road at Gettysburg:

Upon this spot stood the 11th Mass. Regt. during the second day battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863 

July 3-4

Battle of Gettysburg (Third Day)

At 3 p.m. the regiment moved at the double-quick to the front and lay in line of battle of brigades. At 6 p.m. they again fell back to the edge of the woods

The regiment brought 286 men to the field and lost 1 officer and 22 enlisted men killed, 7 officers and 89 enlisted men wounded, and 2 officers and 10 enlisted men missing.

< See Lieutenant Colonel Tripp’s Official Report for the 11th Massachusetts in the Gettysburg Campaign >
July 5 Marched 18 miles back through Emmitsburg, and encamped for the night at Mechanicstown.
July 6 Continued through Frederick, Md., and encamped about 2 miles outside of the city.
July 7 Moved through Fox’s Gap, a mile beyond South Mountain, amd encamped for the night,
July 23
Wapping Heights
July 30-August 1 Moved to New York during the draft riots.
October 17 Rejoined Corps at Union Mills
November 7-8 Advance to the Rappahannock
November 7

Kelly’s Ford

November 26-
December 2

Mine Run Campaign

November 27 Payne’s Farm
December Duty near Brandy Station

1864

February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
March Assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Potomac
May Assigned to the 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
May-June

Rapidan Campaign

June Assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

May 8-21

Battle of Spottsylvania Court House

May 12

Assault on the Salient at Spottsylvania Court Hpose

May 19

Harris Farm, Fredericksburg Road

May 23-26
North Anna River
May 26-28 Line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31

Totopotomoy

June 1-12

Battle of Cold Harbor

June 12 Old members left front. Veterans and Recruits consolidated to a Battalion of 5 Companies.
June 16-18

Before Petersburg

June 16

Siege of Petersburg begins

June 22-23

Jerusalem Plank Road

June 24 Old members mustered out
July 11 Veterans and Recruits transferred from 16th Massachusetts Infantry
July 27-29 Demonstration on north side of the James
July 27-28 Deep Bottom
July 30

Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve)

August 13-20 Demonstration on north side of the James River
August 14-18

Strawberry Plains

September 29-
October 2

Peeble’s Farm, Poplar Grove Church

October 27-28

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run

November 5 In front of Fort Morton
December 7-11

Expedition to Weldon Railroad

1865
March 25 Watkin’s House
March 31 Crow’s House
April 2

Fall of Petersburg

April 6

Sailor’s Creek

April 7

High Bridge and Farmville

April 9

Appomattox Court House

Surrender of Lee and his army.

April 11-13 March to Burkesville and duty there
May 2-15 March to Washington, D.C.
May 23 Grand Review
June 14 The 11th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment mustered out at Washington D.C. under the command of Lieutenant Colonel T. H. Dunham.