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Fifty-third regiment Massachusetts Infantry (Militia).
Col. John W. Kimball,
Bvt. Brig. Gen. U. S. Vols.
| Field and Staff. | Line. | companies. | Unassigned Recruits. | Totals. |
| | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K |
| Number on regimental rolls,— |
| Officers, | 9 | 35 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 44 |
| Enlisted men,1 | 6 | – | 92 | 88 | 71 | 94 | 91 | 92 | 89 | 79 | 77 | 87 | – | 866 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 910 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment. | – | – | 4 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 7 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Totals, | – | – | 4 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 8 |
| Actual total of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 9 | 35 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 44 |
| Enlisted men,2 | 6 | – | 88 | 88 | 70 | 93 | 91 | 91 | 89 | 79 | 76 | 87 | – | 858 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 902 |
The 53d Infantry, Mass. Volunteer Militia, was composed of men from the towns of northern
Worcester and
Middlesex counties.
Organized at Camp Stevens, Groton Junction, and mustered during the latter part of October and November, 1862, it left the
State November 29, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Barrett, to join the Banks expedition.
John W. Kimball,
lieutenant-colonel of the 15th Mass. Infantry, was appointed colonel, and assumed command November 29, rejoining the regiment at New York on December 9.
Sailing for
Louisiana Jan. 18, 1863, the regiment reached
Carrollton the 31st, and was assigned to
Colonel Gooding's Brigade,
General Emory's Division, 19th Corps.
It moved to
Baton Rouge in March, took part in a reconnoissance up the
Bayou Sara road March 12, and joined in the movement to
Port Hudson on the 14th.
It engaged in the
Teche expedition, and was active at
Fort Bisland April 13, where, holding the most advanced position, it was first to enter the fort on the morning of the 14th.
Remaining behind at Simmsport for a day on guard duty on the return from
Alexandria, the regiment rejoined its brigade before
Port Hudson May 23.
Soon after its arrival it was detailed as guard to the engineer corps.
It took
