The 12th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Formed on June 14, 1861, in Boston, Massachusetts, it was nicknamed the âÂÂWebster Regimentâ after its first colonel, Colonel Fletcher Webster, son of U.S. Senator Daniel Webster.
Recruitment began in April 1861 under Col. Fletcher Webster. Massachusetts Governor John Albion Andrew initially designated most volunteers to existing militia regiments, delaying full muster of the 12th until mid-June. Training commenced at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor, where the regiment received its colors on July 19, 1861, in a review on Boston Common. Two companies, organized via the town of Acton, were mustered in immediately, and the remainder joined over the following weeks. On July 23, the 12th Massachusetts departed Boston for Washington, D.C.
Initially assigned to the Army of the Shenandoah under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, the regiment spent the remainder of 1861 on picket and guard duty around Frederick, Maryland and along the upper Potomac River. Disease was a significant threat in winter quarters: by December 31, a quarter of its enlisted men had been hospitalized with measles or dysentery.
In early 1862, the 12th Massachusetts joined Brig. Gen. John AbercrombieâÂÂs brigade in Maj. Gen. BanksâÂÂs V Corps. In March, it moved into the Shenandoah Valley and engaged in reconnaissance near Front Royal and Winchester. On April 18, the regiment exchanged sporadic fire across the Rappahannock River with Confederate pickets, its first combat. By June, the unit was part of Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowellâÂÂs forces near Warrenton.
Attached to Brig. Gen. HartsuffâÂÂs brigade of Maj. Gen. McClellanâÂÂs I Corps, the 12th Massachusetts moved toward Culpeper Court House in July. During the Battle of Cedar Mountain on August 9, 1862, the regiment arrived late and suffered minor artillery casualties. On August 30, Col. Fletcher Webster was mortally wounded near Bald Hill; the regiment sustained 25 killed or mortally wounded that day. Lt. Col. James L. Bates assumed command following WebsterâÂÂs death.
After reorganizing in September 1862 under Maj. Gen. Joseph HookerâÂÂs I Corps, the 12th Massachusetts joined HartsuffâÂÂs brigade, 1st Division, I Corps. On September 14, at the Battle of South Mountain (TurnerâÂÂs Gap), the regiment helped assault Confederate defenses. Casualties were relatively lightâÂÂ18 wounded out of 300 engaged.
At the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, the 12th Massachusetts fought in HartsuffâÂÂs brigade during the morning push into the MillerâÂÂs Cornfield. The regiment lost 224 of 334 men engagedâÂÂ67 percent of its strengthâÂÂthe highest percentage loss of any Union regiment that day. It captured the colors of the 1st Texas Infantry but withdrew under heavy fire. Both Bates and several junior officers were wounded; command fell to Captain David A. Jones until the fighting subsided.
After rebuilding, the 12th Massachusetts joined Brig. Gen. Henry BaxterâÂÂs 2nd Brigade, Maj. Gen. John C. RobinsonâÂÂs 2nd Division, I Corps. At the Battle of Fredericksburg (December 13, 1862), it assaulted the heights near MaryeâÂÂs Heights, suffering 37 killed, 94 wounded, and 30 missing. During the Battle of Chancellorsville (May 1âÂÂ4, 1863), the regiment held reserve positions along the Rappahannock and incurred fewer than twenty casualties. Command passed to Lt. Col. Jones after Bates was wounded again on May 3.
On June 10, 1863, the 12th Massachusetts left camp near Stafford, Virginia, for the Gettysburg Campaign. Arriving July 1, it deployed on Oak Ridge as part of BaxterâÂÂs brigade. In fierce fighting against IversonâÂÂs North Carolina Brigade, the regiment lost 5 killed, 52 wounded, and 62 missing out of 301 menâÂÂnearly 40 percent casualties. Lt. Col. Jones was taken prisoner; command fell to Major Andrew Bulkeley on July 2âÂÂ3.
After Gettysburg, the 12th Massachusetts pursued Confederate forces through Maryland and joined the Mine Run Campaign in late November 1863, suffering no significant losses before wintering near Culpeper Court House.
During the Overland Campaign, the 12th Massachusetts, as part of RobinsonâÂÂs division in VI Corps, fought at the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5âÂÂ7) along the Orange Turnpike and at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House (May 8âÂÂ12) around the Bloody Angle. It suffered heavy casualtiesâÂÂ42 killed, 98 wounded, 53 missingâÂÂout of roughly 250 engaged. On May 23, the regiment took part in the North Anna River engagement; on June 1 at Cold Harbor, it spiked several Confederate guns under fire.
In the early stages of the Siege of Petersburg, it saw skirmishing near PetersburgâÂÂs outer defenses. By June 25, the regimentâÂÂs three-year enlistments had expired. Those men who re-enlisted transferred to the 39th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, and the remainder marched back to Boston, arriving July 1. The 12th Massachusetts was officially mustered out on July 8, 1864.
Over its service, the 12th Massachusetts mustered 1,522 men. Total casualties included:
The 12th MassachusettsâÂÂs 67 percent casualty rate at Antietam remains the highest among Union regiments in that battle, and its stand in the Cornfield exemplifies the regimentâÂÂs gallantry under fire.