4th Regiment, Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

Brief History
The 4th Regiment, Massachusetts Heavy Artillery was organized November 12, 1864, by consolidation of the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th Unattached Companies Heavy Artillery. It was organized August, 1864, for one year's service.. Mustered out June 17, 1865.

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


 * The Civil War Archive section, 4th Regiment Heavy Artillery, (accessed 9 July 2012),


 * The Wikipedia article, 4th Regiment 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.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 2,356 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.


 * Civil War in the East, 4th Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment, (accessed 11 April 2013).