The Civil War in the East

12th United States Infantry Regiment

The 12th United States Infantry Regiment lost 8 officers and 118 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 officers and 190 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

 

It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg. (right)

Monument to the 12th United States Infantry Regiment at Gettysburg

1861

May 4

Organized by direction of the President

July 29

Confirmed by Act of Congress

 

Organized at Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Harbor

1862

March 5

Moved to Washington, D.C. Attached to Sykes' Regular Infantry, Reserve Brigade, Army Potomac

March

Moved to the Virginia Peninsula

April 5-May 4

Siege of Yorktown

May

Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps

June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond

June 26

Battle of Mechanicsville

June 27

Gaines' Mill

June 30

Turkey Bridge

July 1

Malvern Hill

July-August

At Harrison's Landing

August 16-28

Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centerville

August 28-September 2

Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia

August 29

Battle of Groveton

August 30

Bull Run

September 6-22

Maryland Campaign

September 16-17

Battle of Antietam

Commanded by Captain M.M. Blunt

From the battlefield marker:  
"At sunset September 16, 1862, the First Battalion, Twelfth Infantry relieved the Fourth Infantry, guarding the Middle Bridge over the Antietam and remained on that duty until after noon of the 17th, when it advanced in support of the Horse Batteries posted on the crest of the ridge crossing the road a few feet west of this point. Winthrop's Company (G) was deployed in skirmishing down the road and in the fields south of it to drive the Confederate Sharpshooters, who were annoying the gunners, and continued on this dutv until late in the day, when it was relieved by the Fourth Infantry, the Second and Tenth Infantry and the Second Battalion of the Fourteenth Infantry."

September 19-20

Shepherdstown Ford

September 21

At Sharpsburg, Md.

October 16-17

Kearneysville and Shepherdstown

October 29-November 19

Movement to Falmouth, Va.

December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

January 20-24

"Mud March"

1863

April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg


Commanded by Captain Thomas S. Dunn, the regiment brought eight companies to the field.

 

From the monument on Houck's Ridge at Gettysburg:
"July 2. Arrived in the morning and took position with the Brigade and Division near the Twelfth Corps on the right. Moved with the Division from the right to the left of the line and at 5 p.m. with the Brigade moved across Plum Run near Little Round Top and supported the Second Brigade in its advance to the crest of the rocky wooded hill in front and facing left engaged the Confederates but returned under a heavy fire on both flanks and from the rear after the Confederates had gained possession of the Wheatfield in the rear of the Brigade and went into position on Little Round Top.

July 3. Remained in the same position

July 4. Regiment with the 14th supported the 3d 4th and 6th U.S. Infantry in a reconnaissance and developed a force of the Confederate Infantry and Artillery in front.


Casualties: killed 1 officer and 7 men, wounded 4 officers and 67 men, missing 13 men.

July 5-24

Pursuit of Lee

July

Companies F and H, 2nd Battalion, in N.Y. riots

August 16-19

Moved to New York

August 19

Duty at New York attached to Dept. of the East

September 14

Left New York for front

September 22

Rejoined army at Culpeper, Va. and attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps

October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign

November 7-8

Advance to line of the Rappahannock

November 26-December 2

Mine Run Campaign

1864

March

Attached to 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps

April

Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps

May 5-7

Rapidan Campaign, Battle of the Wilderness

May 8-21

Spotsylvania Court House

May 22-26

North Anna River

May 26-28

On line of the Pamunkey

May 28-31

Totopotomoy

June 1-12

Cold Harbor

June 1-3

Bethesda Church

June

Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps

June 16-18

Before Petersburg

June 16 to November 2

Siege of Petersburg

July 30

Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve)

August 18-21

Weldon Railroad

September 29-October 2

Poplar Springs Church, Peeble's Farm

October 27-28

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run

November 2-6

Moved to New York

November 1864-

July 1865

Attached to the Dept. of the East

1st Battalion on duty at Elmira, N.Y.

2nd Battalion at Fort Hamilton. N.Y. Harbor