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59th Massachusetts Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’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: Organized at Reedville December 3, 1863, to April 20, 1864. 1

Muster Out:  Organized at Reedville December 3,Consolidated with 57th Massachusetts Infantry May 26, 1865. 1863, to April 20, 1864. 2

Commander(s):
Colonel Jacob P. Gould
JacobPGould59thMAv104p53963

Lieutenant Colonel John Hodges, Jr.
JohnHodgesJr59thMAv104p53964

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Colburn
JosephColburn59thMAv103p53325

Major Ezra P. Gould
EzraPGould59thMAv131p6748L6

Commander 5
Commander Image

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

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army11,12

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army15,16

  • Commander:
    • Colonel Jacob P. Gould (July 30, 1864)(mortally wounded July 30, 1864]17
    • Lieutenant Colonel John Hodges, Jr. (July 31, 1864)18
  • Unit Strength: <100 officers and men PFD (July 31, 1864)19
  • Weapons:

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

  • Commander: Major Joseph Colburn (August 31, 1864)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army23,24

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

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Colburn (October 31, 1864)28
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

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

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Colburn (December 31, 1864)30
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army31,32

  • Commander: Major Ezra P. Gould (January 31 & February 28, 1865)33,34
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army35,36,37

  • Commander: Major Ezra P. Gould (March 31, 1865)38
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865, implying it was present during the battle.39

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles40:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-18.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Poplar Springs Church or Peeble’s Farm September 29-October 2.
  • Reconnaissance on Vaughan and Squirrel Level Road October 8.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Fort Stedman March 25, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Occupation of Petersburg April 3.
  • Pursuit of Lee April 3-9.

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. Jacob P. Gould image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 104, Page 5396.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    4. John Hodges, Jr. image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 104, Page 5396.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    5. Joseph Colburn image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 103, Page 5332.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    6. Joseph Colburn image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 131, Page 6748L.  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. 228 ↩
    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. 549 ↩
    9. “Letter From The 59th Mass. Reg’t.” Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph. July 9, 1864, p. 1 col. 5-6: “The 59th made a gallant charge on the rebel works on the night of the 17th of June, and captured two lines of breastworks and some prisoners. We went into the fight with one hundred and ninety men and lost seventy-four in killed and wounded.” ↩
    10. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 59th Massachusetts Entry, Page 89; 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. ↩
    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), p. 228 ↩
    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. 549 ↩
    13. 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. 549 ↩
    14. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 59th Massachusetts Entry, Page 89; 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. ↩
    15. 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 259 ↩
    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 734 ↩
    17. Freeman, Warren H. “In Camp Near Petersburg, Va.” Letter to “Father” 1 Aug. 1864. MS. In Camp Near Petersburg, Va.: “The Fifty-ninth (Massachusetts) Regiment was engaged ; they were commanded by Colonel Gould, formerly a major in our regiment. I was up to see them yesterday. They have lost heavily in this campaign. There were less than 100 men present. Colonel Gould was mortally wounded.” ↩
    18. 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 734 ↩
    19. The Fifty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment was engaged…I was up to see them yesterday. They have lost heavily in this campaign. There were less than 100 men present. ↩
    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 616: “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), page 126: “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 XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 616: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    23. 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. 1301. ↩
    24. 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 141: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    25. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 59th Massachusetts Entry, Page 83; 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 462: “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 158: “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 462: “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 1121: “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 1121: “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 XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 331: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    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 745: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 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 331: “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 745: “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 95), page 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    36. 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 70: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 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 95), page 589: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 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 573: “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 96), page 70: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)” ↩
    40. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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