[
224]
Sixteenth regiment Massachusetts Infantry.
（1)
Col. Powell T. Wyman.
（2)
Col. Thomas R. Tannatt.
（3)
Col. Gardner Banks.
| Field and Staff. | Line. | Band. | companies. | Unassigned Recruits. | Totals. |
| | | | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | K |
| Number on regimental rolls,— |
| Officers, | 14 | 61 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 75 |
| Enlisted men,1 | 14 | – | 23 | 126 | 134 | 123 | 121 | 136 | 129 | 124 | 119 | 127 | 131 | 6 | 1,313 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,388 |
| Enlisted men (included above) commissioned in regiment.2 | 6 | – | – | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | – | 30 |
| Enlisted men (included above) serving elsewhere within regiment. | – | – | – | – | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 8 |
| Totals, | 6 | – | – | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | – | 38 |
| Actual total of members of regiment,— |
| Officers, | 14 | 61 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 75 |
| Enlisted men,3 | 8 | – | 23 | 123 | 130 | 121 | 118 | 134 | 127 | 122 | 112 | 123 | 128 | 6 | 1,275 |
| Totals, | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,350 |
The companies forming the 16th Mass. Infantry had mostly been recruited singly in April and May, 1861, and being united at Camp Cameron,
Cambridge, were mustered into service on dates varying from June 29 to July 12, 1861.
Under command of
Col. Powell T. Wyman, a graduate of
West Point, who had returned from
Europe to offer his services to the government, the regiment left the
State Aug. 17, 1861, and was stationed in camp near
Baltimore, Md., until September 1; moving then to
Fortress Monroe, it encamped near
Hampton, Va., during the
autumn and
winter of 1861 and 1862.
In May, 1862, it moved successively to
Portsmouth and
Suffolk, Va., and June 12 joined the army of the Potomac at
Fair Oaks.
While encamped at
Fair Oaks the regiment made a reconnaissance on the
Williamsburg Road, June 18, with great loss.
It took part in the
battle of Oak Grove, June 25; and at
Glendale, June 30,
Colonel Wyman was killed.
It was engaged at
Malvern Hill July 1, and again on August 8 in the reconnoissance from the camp at
Harrison's Landing.
The regiment, in command of
Major Banks, and forming part of
Hooker's Division, arrived at
Alexandria, Va., August 22, on its way to join the Army of Virginia, reaching
Centreville August 28, and took part in the charge made by
General Grover's Brigade in the afternoon of August 29 at
Groveton.
On the return of the forces to
Washington the regiment remained engaged in its defences until November, then moved to Warrenton Junction as part of
Colonel Blaisdell's Brigade.
It took part at
Fredericksburg in December, 1862, and occupied winter quarters at
Falmouth, engaging in the ‘mud march’ of January, 1863.
At
Chancellorsville, May 3, the regiment met heavy loss, and its division commander,
General Berry, was killed.
It was closely engaged at
Gettysburg in command of
Lieutenant-Colonel Merriam.
In December it went into winter quarters at
Brandy Station, having taken part in the movements about the
Rappahannock and at
Mine Run.
In the campaign of 1864 the regiment formed part of the 2d Corps, and was engaged at the
Wilderness May 5 and again on May 6, taking part at
Spotsylvania May 10 and in the
battle of Spotsylvania Court House May 12, when
Lieutenant-Colonel Merriam was killed.
It engaged in the actions about
North Anna and Cold Harbor, and, moving to
Petersburg, it took active part in the assaults of June 16-18, and remained afterward engaged in the siege until the expiration of its term of service, July 11; withdrawing from the front, it reached
Massachusetts July 22, and was mustered out of service July 27, 1864.
Many members of the regiment had re-enlisted during the previous winter for an additional term, and these, with the recruits, were attached to the 11th Mass. Infantry, and remained in service until the close of the war.
