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Federal Regiment

12th Massachusetts Infantry

"Webster Regiment"
Organized: Fort Warren, MA; mustered in 6/26/1861
Disbanded/Mustered out: 7/8/1864

 

Commanding Officers on the Antietam Campaign:
  Maj. Elisha Burbank
  Capt. David Allen, Jr.
  Capt. Benjamin F. Cook

 

This Regiment's Chain of Command:
  Army - Army of the Potomac
  Corps - First Army Corps
  Division - 2nd Division, 1st Corps
  Brigade - 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps


Unit history

Named for their first commander, they were organized at Boston in 1861. Colonel Fletcher Webster (son of Senator Daniel Webster) was killed in command of the Regiment at 2nd Bull Run on 30 August 1862.

On the Antietam Campaign

A three-year unit recruited largely from Boston, the 12th suffered the highest percentage of casualties among all Federal Regiments at Antietam.

"The reorganization of the army in early September, 1862, made Ricketts' Division a part of Hooker's (1st) Corps, and as a part of Hartsuff's Brigade the 12th Regt. joined in the operations which forced the Confederates out of Frederick, Md., and on toward South Mountain. The 12th was engaged in the battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14, suffering only slight loss. On the 17th, at Antietam, it fought in the [Miller's] Bloody Cornfield, losing 224 officers and men, of whom 74, including Major Elisha Burbank and Assistant Surgeon A. A. Kendall, were killed or mortally wounded. Here it came into conflict with the famous Texas Brigade and captured the colors of the 1st Texas Infantry"1.
Colonel Coulter, in his after-action report for the Brigade said
"The Twelfth Massachusetts had killed and disabled eleven officers of fifteen taken into the field. The loss of this regiment, owing to its position, was by far the most severe in the brigade. Major Burbank commanded at the commencement of the action and was disabled early. He performed his whole duty while in the field. Captain Allen, who next assumed command, was also severely wounded. I cannot express too high an opinion of this officer. He has proved himself one of the most gallant officers in the brigade. The command of this regiment next devolved upon Capt. B. F. Cook, who commanded during the reminder of the action, and brought the regiment off the field."

Statistics

Initial Strength: 334; Killed in Action (KIA): 49; Wounded (WIA): 165;
Losses, % of Initial Strength: 64.1%

Maps Showing this Unit

Battlefield Tablets for this Unit

Tablet #1: First Army Corps - 16 Sep, 2 PM to 16 Sep, 6 PM
Tablet #14: Ricketts' Division, First Army Corps - 16 Sep, 2 PM to 16 Sep, 8 PM
Tablet #120: Army of the Potomac - 17 Sep, 5 AM to 17 Sep, 12 PM
Tablet #7: Ricketts' Division, First Army Corps - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 5 PM
Tablet #10: Hartsuff's Brigade, Ricketts' Division - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 8 AM
Tablet #81: Ricketts' Division, First Army Corps - 17 Sep, 6 AM to 17 Sep, 9 AM

We have 223 individuals in the AotW database who were on the Maryland Campaign with this unit:

 

Co. Rank Name Casualty? Details*
APvtBurke, Dennis A.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtDwelley, George C.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ACorpDyer, Nathaniel H.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ACorpFerguson, William WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtHinds, Patrick WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtKelleher, Patrick WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtKimball, George         We have some details for this person
ACorpKimball, William LewisWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtKummer, Jr., Heinrich WilhelmAWOL   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtMcCabe, James WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtMcCarthy, Thomas F.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtMurdock, George WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtNorwood, james W.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtO'Brien, James KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtO'Donnell, Michael KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ALtOrne, George WashingtonMWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtSeavey, William H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ACorpSprague, Jr., Samuel WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ASgtTinkham, Cornelius GranvilleMWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
APvtTobin, John WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ALtWhite, William GreenoughMWIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
APvtWhitney, Edmund S.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtBaldwin, Joseph H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtCampbell, Patrick WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtCavanaugh, John WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtCollins, James WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtCronan, Daniel AWOL   09/12     We have some details for this person
BPvtCushing, Thomas J.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtDaley, James AWOL   09/16     We have some details for this person
BPvtDavidson, Herbert WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtDesmond, Bartholomew KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtDobson, William WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtDonovan, Patrick KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtDuran, Alonzo G.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtEdmester, Lemuel A.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtFernald, Robert KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtFoster, Ansel J.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BSgtFrench, George H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtGorman, James B.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BSgtHough, Palmer W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtIsaac, Alexander KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtKeefe, John A.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtKelley, Andrew WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtLittle, Milo G.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BSgtMann, Richard WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtMurray, Robert KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BCaptPackard, Charles T.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtPorter, George W.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtPrescott, Asa D.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtRogers, Nathan A.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtRyerson, John R.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtSargent, Walter H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtSavage, Miner W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtSmith, Granville HavenDied (d)   10/20     We have some details for this person
BPvtTuttle, Joseph P. S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
BPvtWentworth, George C. S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtClayton, William H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtDeere, Elias H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtGillespie, Robert WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CCorpHazeltine, Moses MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtJenks, John B.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtKiernan, Felix WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtLeatherman, Benjamin R.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtLeonard, James F.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtLyons, Branch WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtMcCaslin, Frank WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtMcLaughlin, Michael WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtMorrison, George H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtO'Toole, Patrick WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtPerry, James E.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtPreston, Michael WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtRand, William L.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtRandolph, Joseph J.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtRichardson, Sylvester B.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtRyan, James F.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtSimonds, Timothy MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtWhitmarsh, John Q.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
CPvtWhittier, Charles WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtCasperson, John P.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtDunlop, James WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtFrost, Edward M.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtFrye, Daniel M.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtGrant, Thomas WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtLewis, James WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtParker, Robert WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtPierce, Sidney C.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtRollins, Andrew J.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtSeymour, Robert J.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtTurner, Warren C.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DPvtWilley, Charles WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
DLtWilliams, Joseph OtisWIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
ECorpAyers, Benjamin F.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtBemis, Harry WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtBrown, William B.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ECorpCarey, Charles E.KIA   09/17
ECaptCook, Benjamin Franklin        We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
EPvtDavis, Franklin WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtDriscoll, Patrick WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtEllsworth, Daniel W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtFisk, Charles H.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtFitzsimmons, James H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtFletcher, Giles E.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtGale, Josiah B.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtGibbs, Benjamin S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtGrant, John S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ECorpGrover, Hazel L.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtHicks, Charles H.AWOL   09/10     We have some details for this person
EPvtHoyt, William C.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtJudson, Isaac D.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtKidder, Chauncey H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtLajoy, Joseph KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtMaguire, John WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtMcFarland, William H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtMurphy, James B.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtParker, Clark KIA   09/14     We have some details for this person
EPvtPeters, Adam WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtPeters, John H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtPlace, John WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ECorpRice, Sylvester H.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtRiva, Charles E.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ECorpSwarman, Frederick WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtThorne, Benjamin F.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
EPvtTower, Christopher P.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ESgtWehrum, Charles C.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FCorpAllen, James A.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtBunker, Eli WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtBurns, Henry WIA   09/17
FPvtChilds, George W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtDhalberg, F. MalcomWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtHurd, Hiram A.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtManchester, Francis A.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtPerkins, George A.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtSnell, Luther T.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtStevens, Harrison WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtStoddard, John S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtTinkham, George F.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
FPvtWall, Thomas W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GSgtArnold, Moses N.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtBirmingham, Michael WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtCobb, Charles H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtCurtis, Benjamin KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GLtCushing, Lysander F.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GCorpDamon, Henry WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtFitts, James MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtFoley, Maurice KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtFord, Elliott W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtFrisbie, Albert WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtGallagher, James H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtGilman, George H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtHooker, Edwin B.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtHowland, Charles A.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtJacobs, William F,KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtJenkins, Edward P.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtKenney, Rufus J.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtKnowles, Charles E.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GCorpMcGill, Florence WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtPerry, Jr., Josiah F.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtPool, Elbridge G.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GCorpPool, Francis W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtPorter, Richard KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtRamsdell, Seth WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GCaptReed, Edward PaysonWIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
GCorpReed, Lewis WIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
GSgtSmith, James G.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtWalker, William T.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
GPvtWilliamson, Franklin S.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtAdlington, Joseph S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtAustin, James H.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtBelcher, Edward E.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtBryant, Luther S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtBurnham, Isaac WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtCarey, Patrick WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtClark, Joseph I.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtClow, Charles W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtCrockett, Daniel T.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ICorpDarling, Harvey A.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtDyer, Abram B.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtFerris, Daniel WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtHarnett, Garrett WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtHayden, George WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtHayward, James S.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtHeath, George E.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtHenry, George P.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtHolbrook, Randall J.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtJaques, Charles H.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ISgtJohnson, Charles E.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtKimball, Charles H.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtPage, Walter S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtPeach, John WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtRandall, Peleg F.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtRickards, Alden KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ICorpRipley, Henry W.POW   09/15     We have some details for this person
ICaptRipley, John WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtShergold, Nehemiah S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtSherman, Henry C. R.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtSwallow, Alexander WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
ILtThompson, Warren POW   09/15     We have some details for this person
IPvtWentworth, Henry M.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
IPvtWood, William A.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtAllen, Edward F.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtAllen, Isaac F.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtAllen, William WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KCaptAllen, Jr., David WIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
KCorpCrouse, James T.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KSgtDoten, Edward W.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtDriscoll, John O.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtFarnsworth, Andrew J.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtForsyth, James WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtHaskell, Edward WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KCorpHaskell, William B.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KLtHazel, Edwin WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtIngersoll, Amos M.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtMaxwell, Charles L.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KCorpMorey, James N.KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtRabardy, Julius FelixWIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
KPvtSimonds, John S.WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtStaten, Henry KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtTracy, Charles KIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
KPvtWilson, George WIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
F&SMajBurbank, Elisha MWIA   09/17     We have a picture for this person We have some details for this person
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F&SASrgKendall, Albert A.MWIA   09/17     We have some details for this person
F&SSgtRussell, Charles G.        We have some details for this person

 

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Notes

1   Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Adjutant General, Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, 8 Vols, Norwood (MA): Norwood Press, 1931-35, Vol 2, pg. 1  [AotW citation 1223]