13th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment

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The 13th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was a Union Army unit that fought in the American Civil War. It was formed on July 16, 1861, at Fort Independence in Boston, under its first commander, Colonel Samuel H. Leonard. The regiment left Boston for Washington, D.C., on July 30, 1861.

In its early months the 13th Massachusetts did patrol and outpost duty on the Upper Potomac. Its first combat came at Beller’s Mill near Harper’s Ferry on September 2, 1861. It then fought at several engagements in the following months, including Pritchard’s Mills and Bolivar Heights, and helped occupy Winchester, Virginia, in March 1862. The unit pursued Confederate General Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley from March to April 1862 and guarded the Orange & Alexandria Railroad in May.

Major battles for the regiment soon followed. It fought at Cedar Mountain (August 9, 1862), and took part in the campaigns around Northern Virginia, including Thoroughfare Gap (August 28), Second Battle of Bull Run (August 30), and Chantilly (September 1). During the Maryland Campaign it fought at South Mountain (September 14) and Antietam (September 16–17). After Sharpsburg, the regiment moved to Virginia and fought at Fredericksburg (December 12–15, 1862).

In 1863 the 13th Massachusetts joined the Chancellorsville Campaign and the Battle of Chancellorsville (May 2–5). It then participated in the Gettysburg Campaign (June–July 1863) and spent time on picket duty along the Rapidan before taking part in Bristoe and Mine Run operations later that year.

In 1864 the regiment fought in the Wilderness (May 5–7), Spotsylvania Court House (May 8–21), North Anna, and Totopotomoy. It also saw action at Cold Harbor (June 1–12) and participated in the siege of Petersburg (June 16–July 14). The 13th Massachusetts mustered out on August 1, 1864.

Casualties for the regiment included four officers and 117 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, plus 40 enlisted men who died of disease. Total deaths were 161.