The Civil War in the East

18th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment

 

The 18th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment lost 9 officers and 114 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 127 enlisted men to disease in the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

Monument to the 18th Massachusette Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg

1861

August 27

Organized at Readville and Boston and mustered in

August 28

Left State for Washington, D.C.; attached to Fort Corcoran, Defenses of Washington

September 26

At Hall's Hill, Va.

October

Assigned to Martindale's Brigade, Porter's Division, Army of the Potomac

1862

March

Assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac

March 10-16

Advance on Manassas, Va.

March 16-23

Moved to Alexandria, then to Fortress Monroe

March 27

Reconnaissance to Great Bethel

April 5

Warwick Road

April 5-May 4

Siege of Yorktown

May

Assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac

May 27

Battle of Hanover Court House

May 27-29

Operations about Hanover Court House

June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond

June 26-July 2

Operations about White House Landing

July - August 15

At Harrison's Landing

August 15-28

Retreat from the Peninsula and movement to Centreville

August 25

Major Joseph Hayes promoted to lieutenant colonel

August 30

Battle of Bull Run

September 16-17

Battle of Antietam

Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Hayes, the regiment was in support of artillery but was not engaged

Ford September 19

Shepherdstown

September 20

Shepherdstown, W. Va.

September 21 -
October 30

At Sharpsburg

October 30-
November 19

Movement to Falmouth, Va.

December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

December 29-30

Expedition to Richards and Ellis Fords

1863

January 20-24

"Mud March"

January - April 27

Duty at Falmouth

April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign

June 21

Ashby's Gap

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The regiment was commanded by Colonel Joseph Hays. It brought 281 men to the field, losing 1 killed, 23 wounded and 3 missing.

July 14

Williamsport, Md.

July 27 -
September 17

At Warrenton and Beverly Ford

September 17 -
October 11

At Culpeper

October 11-22

Bristoe Campaign

November 7-8

Advance to line of the Rappahannock

November 7

Rappahannock Station

November 26-
December 2

Mine Run Campaign

December - May

At and near Brandy Station and Stevensburg

1864

March

Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps

May-June

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James

May 5-7

Battles of the Wilderness

May 8

Laurel Hill

May 8-12

Spottsylvania

May 12

Colonel Hayes promomted to brigadier general

May 12-21

Spottsylvania Court House

May 12

Assault on the Salient

May 23-26

North Anna River

May 23

Jericho Ford

May 26-28

On line of the Pamunkey

May 28-31

Totopotomoy

June 1-12

Cold Harbor

June 1-3

Bethesda Church

June 16-18

Before Petersburg

June 16 to
October 21

Siege of Petersburg

June 21-23

Weldon Railroad

July 20

Old members left front

September 2

Old members mustered out. Veterans and Recruits consolidated to a Battalion.

September 30-
October 2

Poplar Springs' Church, Peeble's Farm

October 21

Consolidated with 32nd Massachusetts Infantry