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28th Massachusetts Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this regiment’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: December 12, 18611
Muster Out: June 29, 18652

Commander(s):
Lieutenant Colonel James Fleming
JamesFleming28thMA3

Captain John Connor
JohnConnor28thMAv34p17004

Captain Patrick H. Bird
PatrickHBird28thMAv34p17005

Commander 4
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6

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

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

  • Commander: Captain James Fleming (at least July 26-31, 1864)16,17
  • Unit Strength:
    • 94 officers and men PFD (July 27, 1864)18
    • ~90 officers and men PFD (July 28, 1864)19
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army20,21

  • Commander: Major James Fleming (at least August 9 & 31, 1864)22,23,24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army27

  • Commander: Major James Fleming (October 31, 1864)28
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle:

First Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (November 1-5, 1864) (Need source)

Second Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (November 5-December 31, 1864)29

  • Commander: Captain John Connor (December 31, 1864)30
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 28th Massachusetts rejoined the Irish Brigade (2/1/II/AotP) on November 5, 1864. (Need source)
  • Note: The 28th Massachusetts consisted of five (5) companies at this time.31

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army32,33

  • Commander: Major (Lieutenant Colonel) James Fleming (January 31 & February 28, 1865)34,35
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 28th Massachusetts consisted of five (5) companies at this time.36,37

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army38,39

  • Commander: Captain Patrick H. Bird (March 31, 1865)40
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 28th Massachusetts consisted of five (5) companies at this time.41,42

Dyer’s Compendium Info:
Petersburg Campaign Battles43:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-19.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864.
  • Demonstration on north side of the James July 27-29.
  • Deep Bottom July 27-28.
  • Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18.
  • Ream’s Station August 25.
  • Boydton Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865.
  • Watkin’s House March 25.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Hatcher’s Run or Boydton Road March 31.
  • White Oak Road March 31.
  • Sutherland Station and fall of Petersburg April 2.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Links:

    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. Image from the personal collection of Joseph Maghe.  This image may not be reproduced without his written consent.  I’d like to thank Joe for his extreme generosity in providing this and many other images for commanders at this site.
    4. John Connor image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 34, Page 1700.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    5. Patrick H. Bird image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 34, Page 1700.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 219-220
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 334-335: Fleming reported on this offensive in the Official Records, but was he the commander at the time or was someone else a casualty before he took over the regiment?  More research needed.
    8. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 28th Massachusetts Entry, Page 86; 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), pages 219-220
    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. 543
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 334-335: Fleming reported on this offensive in the Official Records, but was he the commander at the time or was someone else killed before he took over the regiment?  More research needed.
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), page 543
    13. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 28th Massachusetts Entry, Page 86; 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 251
    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 729
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 334-337: “Captain Fleming advanced his line at a left half-wheel, thus throwing an enfilading fire into the enemy, and being the first to strike the enemy’s line, causing them to abandon the guns, which were taken safely to the rear.” and “About 3 p. m. of the 26th of July, 1864, the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Major James Fleming commanding, broke camp before Petersburg, Va., marched with the brigade (the First of the First Division. Second Army Corps) to Deep Bottom, Va.”
    17. 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 729
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 334-337: “There were but ninety-four men in this regiment, and the movement of the regiment at a half-wheel enabled them to pour in a flank fire, which was the immediate cause of the enemy abandoning the guns and position. In this affair the regiment lost but 3 men wounded and 1 killed.”
    19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 334-337: “There were but ninety-four men in this regiment (on July 27, 1864) , and the movement of the regiment at a half-wheel enabled them to pour in a flank fire, which was the immediate cause of the enemy abandoning the guns and position. In this affair the regiment lost but 3 men wounded and 1 killed.”
    20. 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 612: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 116, 129: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 334-337: Fleming wrote his report of earlier operations on August 9, 1864.
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 264-265
    24. 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 612: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    25. 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. 1298.
    26. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 28th Massachusetts Entry, Page 80; 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.
    27. 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 458: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 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 458: “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 1115: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    30. 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 1115: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    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 1115: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    32. 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 325: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    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 739: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 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 325: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
    35. 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 739: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 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 325: “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 739: “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 95), page 566: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 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 582: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 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 566: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 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 566: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
    42. 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 582: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
    43. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
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