12th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 12th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
in the Union
army during the American Civil War
. It was formed on June 14, 1861 in Boston, Massachusetts. Its original commander was Colonel
Fletcher Webster
, son of the famed U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Daniel Webster
. The unit was known as the "Webster Regiment" after its first colonel.
. At that time, most recruits in Massachusetts were used to fill up the ranks in the existing state militia regiments, therefore it was several weeks before Webster had managed to recruit a full regiment. The unit was trained at Fort Warren
in Boston harbor. On July 19, 1861, the regiment was reviewed by Governor John Albion Andrew
on Boston Common
and presented with its colors
. On July 23, the 12th Massachusetts departed Boston for the war front.
The regiment was first assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah under the command of Major General
Nathaniel P. Banks. Until the spring of 1862, the regiment was employed in uneventful picket
duty in the vicinity of Frederick, Maryland
. In late February, the 12th Massachusetts, as part of Brigadier General
John Abercrombie
's brigade, moved into Virginia. On April 18, 1862, while on picket duty along the Rappahannock River
the men of the 12th Massachusetts exchanged sporadic fire with Confederates
on the other side of the river. This was the first time the unit was engaged in hostile fire.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
army during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It was formed on June 14, 1861 in Boston, Massachusetts. Its original commander was Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Fletcher Webster
Fletcher Webster
Daniel Fletcher Webster, commonly known as Fletcher Webster was the son of renowned politician Daniel Webster and Grace Fletcher Webster...
, son of the famed U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
. The unit was known as the "Webster Regiment" after its first colonel.
Organization and early duty
Col. Webster began recruiting in April 1861 shortly after the attack on Fort SumterBattle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, that started the American Civil War. Following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the U.S. Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. On...
. At that time, most recruits in Massachusetts were used to fill up the ranks in the existing state militia regiments, therefore it was several weeks before Webster had managed to recruit a full regiment. The unit was trained at Fort Warren
Fort Warren (Massachusetts)
Fort Warren is a historic fort on the Georges Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor. The fort is pentagonal, made with stone and granite, and was constructed from 1833–1861, completed shortly after the beginning of the American Civil War...
in Boston harbor. On July 19, 1861, the regiment was reviewed by Governor John Albion Andrew
John Albion Andrew
John Albion Andrew was a U.S. political figure. He served as the 25th Governor of Massachusetts between 1861 and 1866 during the American Civil War. He was a guiding force behind the creation of some of the first U.S. Army units of black men—including the famed 54th Massachusetts Infantry.-Early...
on Boston Common
Boston Common
Boston Common is a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "Boston Commons". Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. The Boston Common consists of of land bounded by Tremont Street, Park Street, Beacon Street,...
and presented with its colors
War flag
A war flag is a variant of a national flag for use by the nation's military forces on land. The nautical equivalent is a naval ensign — the battle ensign...
. On July 23, the 12th Massachusetts departed Boston for the war front.
The regiment was first assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah under the command of Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Nathaniel P. Banks. Until the spring of 1862, the regiment was employed in uneventful picket
Picket (military)
In military terminology, a picket refers to soldiers or troops placed on a line forward of a position to warn against an enemy advance. It can also refer to any unit performing a similar function...
duty in the vicinity of Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
. In late February, the 12th Massachusetts, as part of Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
John Abercrombie
John Joseph Abercrombie
John Joseph Abercrombie was a career United States Army officer who served in numerous wars, finally reaching the rank of brigadier general during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
's brigade, moved into Virginia. On April 18, 1862, while on picket duty along the Rappahannock River
Rappahannock River
The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, across the Piedmont, to the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.An important river in American...
the men of the 12th Massachusetts exchanged sporadic fire with Confederates
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
on the other side of the river. This was the first time the unit was engaged in hostile fire.
See also
- Massachusetts in the Civil WarMassachusetts in the Civil WarThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts played a significant role in national events prior to and during the American Civil War. Massachusetts dominated the early antislavery movement during the 1830s, motivating activists across the nation. This, in turn, increased sectionalism in the North and South,...
- List of Massachusetts Civil War units