1st Battalion, Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

Brief History
The 1st Battalion, Massachusetts Heavy Artillery was organized April, 1865, from 1st, 2nd and 4th Unattached Companies Heavy Artillery,and mustered out May 25, 1864. Expiration of term.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, 1st Battalion Heavy Artillery, (accessed 9 July 2012).


 * The Wikipedia article, 1st Battalion Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery, (accessed 9 July 2012).

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.


 * Company A - The 1st Unattached Company was organized from several unattached companies of heavy artillery already raised.


 * Company B - The 2nd Unattached Company was organized joining the 1st.


 * Company C- The 4th Unattached Company


 * Company D - This battalion was formed by the three unattached companies. They were later joined by the 5th Unattached Co.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 1,589 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Massachusetts in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Massachusetts in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Massachusetts, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * Google Books online,Massachusetts in the army and navy, (accessed 5 April 2013).


 * Civil War in the East, Independant Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, (accessed 5 April 2013).