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39th Massachusetts Infantry

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Muster In: Organized at Lynnfield August 13 to Septembr 2, 1862.1
Muster Out: June 1, 18652

Commander(s):
Colonel Phineas S. Davis
PhineasSDavis39thMAv93p47943

Lieutenant Colonel Charles L. Peirson
CharlesLPeirson39thMAv93p4795L4

Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Tremlett
HenryMTremlett39thMAv93p47955

Captain George S. Nelson
Commander Image

Captain Joseph J. Cooper
JosephJCooper39thMAv117p60406

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army7,8

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10,11

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

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Phineas S. Davis (at least July 11, 1864) (wounded July 11, 1864)16
    • Lieutenant Colonel Charles L. Peirson (at least July 11 & 31, 1864)17,18
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: Veterans and recruits of the 13th Massachusetts transferred to the 39th Massachusetts on July 13, 1864.19,20

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

  • Commander: Captain George S. Nelson (August 31, 1864)23
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army24

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

  • Commander: Captain George S. Nelson (October 31, 1864)27
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army28,29

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Tremlett (December 31, 1864)30
  • 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, 1864.31

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | Third Division | V Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army32,33,34

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Tremlett (January 31 & February 28, 1865)35,36
  • 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.37

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

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Tremlett (wounded March 31)(March 31, 1865)40
    • Captain Joseph J. Cooper (March 31-April 2, 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).
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Reconnoissance toward Dinwiddie C. H. September 15.
  • Warren’s Raid on Weldon Railroad December 7-12.
  • Dabney’s Mills February 5-7, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Davis Farm near Gravelly Run March 29.
  • White Oak Road March 31.
  • Five Forks April 1.
  • Fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.
  • Appomattox C. H. 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. Phineas S. Davis image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 93, Page 4794.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    4. Charles L. Peirson image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 93, Page 4795L.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    5. Henry M. Tremlett image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 93, Page 4795.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    6. Joseph J. Cooper image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 117, Page 6040.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA.
    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), p. 224
    8. 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. 546
    9. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 39th Massachusetts Entry, Page 88; 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.
    10. 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. 224
    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. 546
    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), p. 546
    13. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 39th Massachusetts Entry, Page 88; 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 256
    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 733
    16. Ayoub, Michael N. The Campfire Chronicles: The Words and Deeds of the 88th Pennsylvania, 1861-1865. Xlibris, 2010, p. 288: Davis was wounded by artillery fire during shelling of the lines.
    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 733
    18. Ayoub, Michael N. The Campfire Chronicles: The Words and Deeds of the 88th Pennsylvania, 1861-1865. Xlibris, 2010, p. 288: Peirson assumed command after Davis was wounded by artillery fire during shelling of the lines.
    19. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
    20. 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 256
    21. 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 615: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    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 124: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
    23. 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 615: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
    24. 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.
    25. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 39th Massachusetts Entry, Page 82; 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 461: “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 3 (Serial Number 89), page 461: “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 1118: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    29. 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).
    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 1118: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
    31. 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).
    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 329: “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 742: “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 1 (Serial Number 96), page 66: “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)”
    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 329: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 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 742: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
    37. 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 66: “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)”
    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 570: “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 586: “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 570: “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 570: “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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