The 44th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was a

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

that served in the Union Army during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. Its nucleus was the 4th Battalion Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, known as the "New England Guards". An old state militia unit dating back to the

Revolution In political science, a revolution (, 'a turn around') is a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic or religious structures. According to sociologist Jack Goldstone, all revolutions contain "a common set of elements ...

, the 4th Battalion was called upon to serve

garrison A garrison is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a military base or fortified military headquarters. A garrison is usually in a city ...

duty at Fort Independence shortly after the beginning of the Civil War. After President Abraham Lincoln's August 1862 call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months the 4th Battalion was given permission to recruit to a full regiment and to muster into federal service. The regiment trained at

Camp Meigs Camp Meigs is a former American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ...

Readville, Massachusetts Readville is part of the Hyde Park, Massachusetts, Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Boston. Readville's ZIP Code is 02136. It was called Dedham Low Plains from 1655 until it was renamed after James Read, the owner of the Dedham ...

just outside of

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. They departed Massachusetts on October 24, assigned to Maj. Gen.

John G. Foster John Gray Foster (May 27, 1823 – September 2, 1874) was an American soldier. A career military officer in the United States Army and a Union general during the American Civil War, he served in North and South Carolina during the war. A recons ...

Department of North Carolina Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

, later designated as the XVIII Corps. The regiment was stationed in

New Bern, North Carolina New Bern, formerly Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 31,291 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is located at the confluence of the Neuse River, Neuse a ...

. They saw their first combat during the Battle of Rawl's Mills, North Carolina in November 1862. In December, the regiment took part in the Goldsborough Expedition. The objective of this maneuver was to disrupt the

Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

supply line along the

Wilmington and Weldon Railroad The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad (W&W) name began use in 1855, having been originally chartered as the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad in 1834. When it opened in 1840, the line was the longest railroad in the world with of track. It was constr ...

by destroying the Goldsborough Bridge. During this expedition, was lightly engaged in the Battles of Kinston and Goldsborough Bridge. In March and April 1863, they participated in the Siege of Washington, North Carolina. In late April, the regiment moved to New Bern where, for the next two months, they participated in patrols and reconnaissance expeditions. The regiment returned to Boston on June 10 and was mustered out on June 18. On July 14, the unit was called upon to enforce law and order in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

following the tumultuous New York Draft Riots. After a week of service there, they returned home. During their service in North Carolina, the regiment lost 12 men killed in action or mortally wounded and 29 by disease.

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Diary (February 16, 1863-May 16, 1863) and correspondence (September 14, 1862-September 15, 1864) written by an unknown private serving in Co. I of the 44th Massachusetts Volunteers
{{American Civil War , expanded=CTCBS Units and formations of the Union army from Massachusetts Military units and formations established in 1862 Military units and formations disestablished in 1863

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