United States Regiments & Batteries > Connecticut


The 27th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry Regiment formed in the fall of 1862. They fought with the the Second Corps of the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg and had most of the regiment captured at Chancellorsville. The regiment lost half the the survivors killed or wounded at Gettysburg before mustering out at the end of its enlistment in July 1863. The 27th Connecticut lost 4 officers and 42 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 22 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by two monuments at Gettysburg.

1862
October Organized at New Haven for nine months service under Colonel Richard S. Bostwick
October 22 Left State for Washington, D.C. Attached to Military District of Washington and duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
November 7-19 Assigned to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac; Advance to Falmouth, Virginia
December 12-15
Battle of Fredericksburg

The regiment lost 110 casualties

1863
January 20-24 “Mud March”
January – April At Falmouth; attached to 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps
April 27-May 6 Chancellorsville Campaign
May 1-5
Battle of Chancellorsville

Eight of ten companies were captured in a desperate rearguard action. Colonel Bostwick ordered the color guard and the colors to stay behind, saving them from capture.

June 11-July 24 Gettysburg Campaign
July 1-3
Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment lost 10 killed, 23 wounded and 4 missing at Gettysburg out of 75 men – almost 50% casualties. It was only three companies strong after its losses at Chancellorsville. When Lieutenant Col. Mervin fell, Major James H. Coburn took command of the regiment.

From the regiment’s monument at Gettysburg:

The 27th Regt. Conn. Vols. commanded by Lieut. Colonel Henry C. Merwin and forming a part of the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps charged over this ground the afternoon of July 2, 1863.

The 4th Brigade forced the enemy from the Wheat Field and beyond the woods in front where the advanced position of the 27th Regt. is indicated by a tablet on the crest of the ledge. On this spot Lieut. Col. Merwin was killed while gallantly leading his command of 75 officers and men 38 of whom were killed or wounded in the charge. Eight companies of the regt. captured at Chancellorsville were still prisoners of war.

Capt. Jedediah Chapman Jr. was also killed in the charge while commanding a company organized from detached members of the eight companies taken prisoner at Chancellorsville.

Monument to the 27th Connecticut at Gettysburg

One of two monuments to the 27th Connecticut at Gettysburg

July 18 The regiment left the army to be discharged. They were reunited on the way home to New Haven with the 279 men captured at Chancellorsville, who had been parolled.
July 27 Mustered out