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32nd Massachusetts Infantry

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Muster In: Organized as a Battalion of 6 Companies for garrison duty at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, November 25, 1861.1
Muster Out: June 29, 18652

Commander(s):
Colonel J. Cushing Edmands
JCushingEdmands32ndMA3

Lieutenant Colonel James A. Cunningham
JamesACunningham32ndMAv104p53694

Commander 3
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army5,6

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army9,10

Third Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army14,15

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel J. Cushing Edmands (July 31, 1864)16
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army17,18

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel J. Cushing Edmands (August 31, 1864)19
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 32nd Massachusetts was located just to the left of Fort Tilton on August 8, 1864.20

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army21,22

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army26,27

  • Commander:Major James A. Cunningham (October 31, 1864)28
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army29,30

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel James A. Cunningham (December 31, 1864)31
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This regiment participated in Warren’s Stony Creek, or “Apple Jack” Raid to Belfield and Hicksford, Virginia from December 7-12, 1864.32

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army33,34,35

  • Commander: Colonel J. Cushing Edmands (January 31 & February 28, 1865)36,37
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.38

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army39,40

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel James A. Cunningham (March 31, 1865)41
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles42:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-18.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864 (Reserve).
  • Six-Mile House, Weldon Railroad, August 18-21.
  • Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Expedition to Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
  • Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Lewis Farm, near Gravelly Run, March 29.
  • White Oak Road March 31.
  • Five Forks April 1.
  • Appomattox Court House April 9.
  • Surrender of Lee and his army.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    3. J. Cushing Edmands image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 93, Page 4780.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    4. James A. Cunningham image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 104, Page 5369.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 223
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 545
    7. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 32nd Massachusetts Entry, Page 87; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    8. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 32nd Massachusetts Entry, Page 87; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 223
    10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 545
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 545
    12. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 32nd Massachusetts Entry, Page 87; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    13. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 32nd Massachusetts Entry, Page 87; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 255
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 732
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 732
    17. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 123: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 614: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    20. Letter From Co. D, 32d Mass.” Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph. August 13, 1864, p. 2 col. 3-4: “Since I last wrote, our regiment has made a move a short distance to the right and rear, to a strong position. They are a little more exposed to the enemy’s fire than before, but we have a remedy for all such times as those; such as holes to crawl into, called bomb-proofs. There is one of our large forts just on the right of our regiment, which mounts 18 guns. It is called Fort Tilton…”
    21. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1300.
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 139: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)”
    23. General Meade’s Advance.” Philadelphia Inquirer. October 3, 1864, p. 1 col. 4: “Lieutenant-Colonel (J. Cushing) EDMONDS (sic, Edmands), Thirty-eighth Massachusetts (sic, Thirty-Second Massachusetts), was wounded.”
    24. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 32nd Massachusetts Entry, Page 81; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    25. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 32nd Massachusetts Entry, Page 81; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 156: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 460: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1117: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    30. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1117: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    32. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60).
    33. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 328: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    34. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 741: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    35. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 65: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    36. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 328: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    37. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 741: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    38. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 65: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
    39. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 569: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    40. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 585: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    41. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 569: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    42. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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