The 60th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
from 1864 to 1865.
History
The regiment began its organization at
Readville, Massachusetts
Readville is part of the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston. Readville's ZIP Code is 02136. It was called Dedham Low Plains from 1655 until it was renamed after the mill owner James Read in 1847. It was part of Dedham until 1867. It is served by R ...
during the summer of 1864, with the volunteers being mustered in from 14 to 30 July. On 1 August, they were ordered to report to
Washington, DC
)
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...
and from there to
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
. When their commanding officer,
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
Ansel Dyer Wass (formerly of the
6th Massachusetts Militia) joined them, the regiment was sent to
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...
. They were sent there "on account of the conspiracy of an extensive organization known as the
Knights of the Golden Circle or Sons of Liberty". They remained in
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
during their term of service, and were mustered out on 30 Nov 1864.
While camped in Indianapolis during an October 1864 gubernatorial election, some controversy with the regiment came about. It was claimed that some soldiers of this regiment "voted a dozen times each, and some claimed they had done so twenty-five times for the Republican candidate",
Oliver P. Morton, who was elected governor.
Casualties
They were not involved in any battles or skirmishes, but lost 11 soldiers to disease.
[Higginson, pg 311]
See also
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List of Massachusetts Civil War Units
Units raised in Massachusetts during the American Civil War consisted of 62 regiments of infantry, six regiments of cavalry, 16 batteries of light artillery, four regiments of heavy artillery, two companies of sharpshooters, a handful of unattach ...
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Massachusetts in the American Civil War
Notes
References
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External links
60th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry (Militia)60th Massachusetts
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{{American Civil War , expanded=CTCBS
Units and formations of the Union Army from Massachusetts
1864 establishments in Massachusetts
Military units and formations established in 1864
Military units and formations disestablished in 1865
Military units and formations disestablished in 1864