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29th 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 Newport News, Va., December, 1861, from 1st Battalion Massachusetts Infantry (7 Cos.) and 3 new Companies (“F,” “G” and “H”) organized December 13-17, 1861, which Joined Regiment at Newport News, Va., January 17, 1862.1

Muster Out:  Mustered out July 29, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Barnes
JosephHBarnes29thMA3

Major Charles T. Richardson
Commander Image

Captain Willard D. Tripp
WillardDTripp29thMA4

Captain George H. Taylor
Commander Image

Captain John M. Deane
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army5

Second Offensive Order of Battle: Second Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army 7

Third Offensive Order of Battle:

Second Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (July 1-23, 1864)10

First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (July 23-31, 1864)11,12

  • Commander: Captain Willard D. Tripp (July 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

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

  • Commander: Captain Willard D. Tripp (August 31, 1864)16
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army17,18

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Barnes (September 27, 1864)19
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (September 30, 1864)20
  • Note: The 29th Massachusetts remained in Fort Howard during the Fifth Offensive and was temporarily attached to Ferrero’s command.21

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army22,23

  • Commander: Captain Willard D. Tripp (October 31, 1864)24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25

  • Commander: Captain Charles T. Richardson (December 31, 1864)26
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army27,28

  • Commander:
    • Captain George H. Taylor (January 31, 1865)29
    • Major Charles T. Richardson (February 28, 1865)30
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: Third Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army31,32,33

  • Commander: Captain John M. Deane (March 31, 1865)34
  • 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.35

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles36:

  • Before Petersburg, June 15-19.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Poplar Springs Church, Peeble’s Farm, September 29-October 2.
  • Reconnaissance on Vaughan and Squirrel Level Roads October 8.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Fort Stedman March 25, 1865.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Occupation of Petersburg April 3.

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. Thanks to reader Bernard Price.  He found a CDV of Barnes on an internet auction in 2016. Bernard writes: “I located the photo on the internet and it was for sale in 2016. The catalogue ad read: ‘Carte view of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Henry Barnes and Major Charles Chipman of the 29th Massachusetts Infantry. Barnes sits to the left. He would muster as a captain in May of 1861 with a promotion to lieutenant colonel in December of that year. Barnes would serve with the 29th until being mustered out during the fall of 1864. Chipman would also muster as a captain on the same day as Barnes and take a promotion to major in December of that year also. Unlike Barnes however he would not survive the war. Chipman would receive a fatal wound in front of Petersburg on August 8th, 1864. Identified on the reverse in modern pencil. Chipman was mistakenly identified as Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin. Back marked out of Boston. Very nice view!'” ↩
    4. Willard D. Tripp image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 117, Page 6021.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    5. 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 ↩
    6. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 29th 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. ↩
    7. 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 ↩
    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. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 29th 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. ↩
    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), page 259 ↩
    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), page 259 ↩
    12. 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 ↩
    13. 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 ↩
    14. 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” ↩
    15. 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)” ↩
    16. 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” ↩
    17. 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. ↩
    18. 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)” ↩
    19. Holmes, Orrin D. “Camp of the 29th Mass Vets.” Letter to “Dear Friend Sam” 27 Sept. 1864. MS. Camp of the 29th Mass Vets.: “Col. (Joseph H.) Barnes commands the regiment now. Col. McLaughlin of the 57th Mass took his place as Brigade Commander.” ↩
    20. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 29th 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. ↩
    21. 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. ↩
    22. 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)” ↩
    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), page 158: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    24. 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)” ↩
    25. 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) ↩
    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 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    27. 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) ↩
    28. 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) ↩
    29. 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) ↩
    30. 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) ↩
    31. 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) ↩
    32. 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)” ↩
    33. 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” ↩
    34. 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) ↩
    35. 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)” ↩
    36. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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