Unattached Companies Massachusetts Volunteer Militia

The Unattached Companies of Massachusetts Volunteer Militia were units of infantry raised for the defenses of the eastern coast of Massachusetts during the American Civil War. Twenty-six companies were mustered into the Union Army during 1864-1865, several of them reorganizing for additional terms of service.

Gallops Island (center) as viewed from Fort Warren, two posts garrisoned by the Unattached Companies

History

Beginning in April 1864, companies of infantry were needed for guard and garrison duty along the coast of Massachusetts; to be stationed at the numerous military posts located there for a ninety-day period. With the Independent Division of Militia, a home guard militia organization, already established in the state in 1863, eight companies were recruited from their ranks, and mustered into United States service. Five other companies were detached from existing regiments of the Massachusetts Militia to finish the required roster.

Their term of enlistment soon ending, a call for 100-day companies was then ordered in July and August 1864 to fill the soon to be vacant positions at the coastal forts. Again, the state militia regiments were used to fill most of the quota, with a need to only recruit two new companies.

In late October 1864, the office of the Adjutant General released orders to the commanding officers of the "Companies of One Hundred Days Troops belonging to Massachusetts, now doing garrison duty at the forts on the coast",[1] to reenlist their commands for one year, and to fill with new recruits any positions held by those men not choosing to rejoin. Six of the 100-day companies were re-mustered, including the 2nd Unattached Company now beginning its third term. None of the one-year companies finished a full term, as the war had come to an end, and all were mustered out by July 1865.

Unattached Companies
Co Service Off Enl Died[2] Muster in Muster out Post ref
1st 90 day 3 97 0 29 Apr 1864 1 Aug 1864 Fort Independence, Boston [3]
2nd 90 day 3 88 0 3 May 1864 6 Aug 1864 Eastern Point Fort/Gloucester [3][4]
2nd 100 day 3 98 0 7 Aug 1864 15 Nov 1864 Gloucester/Gallops Island [3][4]
2nd 1 year 3 99 3 16 Nov 1864 7 Jul 1865 Eastern Point Fort/Gallops Island [3][4]
3rd 90 day 3 84 0 3 May 1864 5 Aug 1864 Fort Pickering, Salem [3]
4th 90 day 3 98 0 3 May 1864 6 Aug 1864 Fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford [5]
5th 90 day 3 98 0 4 May 1864 2 Aug 1864 Beech St Barracks, Boston [5]
6th 90 day 3 80 0 4 May 1864 2 Aug 1864 Camp Meigs, Readville [5]
7th 90 day 3 98 1 4 May 1864 5 Aug 1864 Gallops Island [6]
8th 90 day 3 94 0 May 1864 10 Aug 1864 Gallops Island [6]
9th 90 day 3 97 0 10 May 1864 11 Aug 1864 Gallops Island [6]
10th 90 day 3 98 0 10 May 1864 8 Aug 1864 Fort Warren, Boston Harbor [7]
11th 90 day 3 92 0 16 May 1864 15 Aug 1864 Fort Sewall, Marblehead; Eastern Point Fort, Gloucester [7]
12th 90 day 3 98 0 16 May 1864 15 Aug 1864 Long Point, Provincetown [7]
13th 90 day 3 89 0 16 May 1864 15 Aug 1864 Fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford [8]
15th 100 day 3 88 0 29 Jul 1864 15 Nov 1864 Fort Warren [8]
16th 100 day 3 83 0 6 Aug 1864 14 Nov 1864 Gallops Island [8]
17th 100 day 3 98 0 5 Aug 1864 12 Nov 1864 Fort Pickering [9]
17th 1 year 3 98 0 13 Nov 1864 30 June 1865 Fort Pickering [9]
18th 100 day 3 81 0 6 Aug 1864 14 Nov 1864 Gallops Island/Camp Meigs, Readville [9][4]
18th 1 year 3 98 1 6-7 Dec 1864 12 May 1865 Camp Meigs, Readville [9]
19th 100 day 3 80 0 9 Aug 1864 16 Nov 1864 Fort Warren [10]
19th 1 year 3 98 0 25 Nov 1864 27 Jun 1865 Fort Warren, Fort Winthrop [10]
20th 100 day 3 87 0 11 Aug 1864 18 Nov 1864 Fort Sewall, Marblehead [10]
20th 1 year 3 98 0 19 Nov 1864 29 Jun 1865 Fort at Salisbury Point [10]
21st 100 day 3 97 0 11 Aug 1864 18 Nov 1864 Long Point, Provincetown [11]
21st 1 year 3 97 1 23 Nov 1864 28 Jun 1865 Provincetown [11]
22nd 100 day 3 85 0 18 Aug 1864 25 Nov 1864 Camp Meigs, Readville [11]
23rd 100 day 3 98 0 18 Aug 1864 26 Nov 1864 Camp Meigs, Readville [11]
24th 1 year 3 98 0 16-22 Dec 1864 12 May 1865 Camp Meigs, Readville [12]
25th 1 year 3 98 0 9 Dec 1864 29 Jun 1865 Fort Miller, Marblehead [12]
26th 1 year 4 98 0 13 Dec 1864 12 May 1865 Camp Meigs, Readville [12]
27th 1 year 3 98 2 30 Dec 1864-9 Jan 1865 30 Jun 1865 Fort Standish, Plymouth [12]
  • No 14th Unattached Company was mentioned by Higginson, Bowen or Adjutant General records. The 90-day companies numbered 13, and the 100-day ones started with #15, the reenlisting 2nd Unattached numerically the 14th.

Massachusetts Volunteer Militia

Many of the new Unattached Companies were organized from companies previously in, or detached from, regiments of volunteer militia infantry units in Federal service from Massachusetts. They included:
3rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
Co A = 22nd Unatt., Co E = 15th Unatt., Co H = 18th Unatt., Co I = 23rd Unatt.
4th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
Co E = 20th Unatt.
6th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
Co I = 8th Unatt.
7th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
Co K = 17th Unatt.
8th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
Co C = 27th Unatt., Co E = 2nd Unatt., Co I = 11th Unatt.
42nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Co G = 7th Unatt.
50th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
Co A = 13th Unatt.

Citations
  1. Mass. Soldiers, pg 264
  2. Higginson, pg 325 and Bowen, pg 870 list all causes of deaths as disease, except for the 21st Unatt. Company (1 year), with one man being accidentally killed
  3. , Higginson, pg 318
  4. Online version of Higginson data at CivilWarArchive.com, from Dyer's Compendium
  5. , Higginson pg 319
  6. , Higginson pg 320
  7. , Higginson pg 321
  8. , Higginson, pg 322
  9. , Higginson, pg 323
  10. , Higginson, pg 324
  11. , Higginson, pg 325
  12. , Higginson, pg 326
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References
  • Headley, Phineas Camp (1866). Massachusetts in the Rebellion. Boston, MA: Walker, Fuller & Co.
  • Higginson, Thomas Wentworth (State Historian) (1896). Massachusetts in the Army and Navy During the War of 1861-65, Vol I. Boston, MA: Wright and Potter Printing Co, State Printers.
  • Bowen, James L (1889). Massachusetts in the War 1861-65. Springfield, MA: Clark W Bryer + Co.
  • Adjutant General (1932). Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, Vol V. Norwood, MA: Norwood Press. pp. 181–302.
  • Online version of Higginson data at CivilWarArchive.com, from Dyer's Compendium
  • This article contains text from a text now in the public domain: Dyer, Frederick H. (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Co.

See also
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