The 12th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment lost 18 officers and 175 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 83 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It was named after its first colonel, Fletcher Webster, and in honor of his father, Daniel Webster.

The regiment is honored by a monument at Gettysburg (right). Colonel Webster is honored by a monument on the battlefield of Bull Run.

1861

June 26

Organized at Fort Warren and mustered in under Colonel Fletcher Webster

July 23-27

Moved to Sandy Hook, Md. and attached to George H. Thomas' Brigade, Dept. of the Shenandoah

August

Operations on the Upper Potomac

October

Abercrombie's Brigade, Banks' Division, Army of the Potomac

October 21-24

Operations opposite Edward's Ferry

1862

March

Assigned to 2nd Brigade, Williams' 1st Division, Banks' 5th Army Corps

March 24 - April 27

Operations in the Shenandoah Valley

March 27

Strasburg

April 1-2

Edenburg

April 18

Rappahannock Crossing

May

Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock

June

Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia

August 6

Captain James Bates of Company H promoted to major of the 33rd Massachusetts Infantry

August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain

August 16 -
September 2

Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia

August 20-23

Rappahannock Station

August 28

Thoroughfare Gap

August 30

Bull Run

Colonel Webster is killed, and Major Elisha Burbank takes command of the regiment

September 1

Chantilly

September

Assigned to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac

September - October

Maryland Campaign

September 14

Battle of South Mountain

September 16-17

Battle of Antietam

Major Elisha Burbank commanded the 334 men of the regiment until he was mortally wounded in the Cornfield. The regiment lost 49 killed and 165 wounded. Captain Benjamin F. Cook took command after Major Burbank fell.

September 18 - October 30

Duty at Sharpsburg

September 19

Major Bates of the 33rd Massachusetts Infantry returned to the regiment and promoted to colonel

October 30 - November 19

Movement to Warrenton, thence to Falmouth, Va.,

November

Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps

December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

1863

January 20-24

"Mud March"

Janury 25 - April 27

At Falmouth and Belle Plain, Va.

April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

April 29-May 2

Operations at Pollock's Mill Creek

April 29-30

Fitzhugh's Crossing

May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

Commanded by Colonel James L. Bates until he was wounded on July 1. Lieutenant Colonel David Allen, Jr. then took over the regiment. The 12th brought 301 men to the field, losing 5 killed, 52 wounded and 62 missing.

July - October

Picket duty on the Rapidan

October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign

November 7-8

Advance to line of the Rappahannock

November 26- December 2

Mine Run Campaign

Commanded by Major Benjamin Cook

1864

February 6-7

Demonstration on the Rapidan

March

Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Army Corps

May-June

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James

May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

May 8

Laurel Hill

May

Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps. Colonel Bates commanded the brigade while Major Cook commanded the regiment.

May 8 - 21

Battle of Spottsylvania Court House

May 12

Assault on the Salient

May 23-26

North Anna River

May 23

Jericho Ford

May 26-28

Line of the Pamunkey

May 28-31

Totopotomoy

June 1-12

Cold Harbor

June 1-3

Bethesda Church

June 13

White Oak Swamp

June 16-18

Before Petersburg

June 25

Ordered home for muster out

July 8

Mustered out under Colonel Bates and Lieutenant Colonel Cook

John E Gilman