The 10th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was composed of companies 

from the Connecticut Valley and the western part of the State.  

Five of these companies were in existence before the Civil War 

broke out, and five were recruited in May and June, 1861.  The  

regiment rendezvoused at Hampden Park, Springfield, Mass., and 

Henry S. Briggs, a Pittsfield officer who had commanded a 

company in the 8th Regt. Mass. Vol. Mil., was made its colonel.



     The regiment was mustered into the service June 21, 1861.  

On July 10 it was reviewed by Gov. Andrew, and on the 15th 

received its colors presented by the ladies of Springfield.  

July 16 it entrained for Medford, Mass., where it remained at 

Camp Adams until the 25th, when it proceeded to Boston and took 

boats for Washington.



     Arriving at the capital on the 28th, it first encamped at 

Kalorama Heights, Georgetown, where it remained until August 6, 

when it was brigaded with the 7th Mass., 2d R. I., and 36th 

N.  Y. Inf., and two days later removed to Brightwood.  Col. 

Darius N. Couch, formerly commander of the 7th Mass., now 

commanded the brigade.  At Brightwood the regiment spent most 

of the winter of 1861-62.  Here it assisted in building Fort 

Massachusetts, later known as Fort Stevens.



     On March 27, 1862, the regiment left Washington by boat 

for Hampton Roads.  On the 29th it disembarked at Hampton, Va., 

and soon joined in the advance toward Yorktown.  During the 

succeeding weeks it participated in the Peninsular campaign, 

losing heavily at Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill.  Here it formed a 

part of Devens' Brigade, Couch's Division, Keyes' (4th) Corps.



     Recalled from Harrison's Landing the last of August, on 

Sept. 1, it arrived at Alexandria and united with Gen. Pope's 

army at Chain Bridge on the following day.  About the middle of 

the month it joined in the advance toward South Mountain and  

Antietam, but did not reach these fields until the fighting was 

over.  Later in the fall it became a part of the 2d Brigade, 3d 

Division, 6th Corps, and remained with this corps until its 

termination of service.  It was present without loss at 

Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, then went into winter quarters 

between Falmouth and White Oak Church.



     Early in May, 1863, it took part in the operations of the 

6th Corps near Fredericksburg in cooperation with Hooker's 

flank movement to Chancellorsville.  On May 3, it assisted in 

the capture of Marye's Heights, and had a part in the battle at 

Salem Heights on the same afternoon.  Its loss in these 

engagements was very heavy.  Its colonel, Henry L. Eustis, now 

became commander of the brigade.



     The 10th participated with the rest of the 6th Corps in 

the Gettysburg campaign, suffering only slight loss.  After 

being present at the battle of Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 

and participating in the Mine Run campaign during the latter 

part of the same month, the regiment retired to Brandy Station 

and went into winter quarters.  It now belonged to Eustis' 

(4th) Brigade, Getty's (2d) Division, Sedgwick's (6th) Corps. 

Colonel Parsons now commanded the regiment.



     On the first day of the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 

1864, Getty's Division, detached from its corps, held the 

crossing of the Plank and Brock roads and performed most 

gallant service, the 10th suffering severe loss.  On the 8th, 

10th, 12th, and 18th of May it was engaged at Spottsylvania, 

suffering very severely on the 12th, when it helped to support 

Hancock's assault on the Bloody Angle.  Between May 5 and May 

18, the regiment lost 220 officers and men, 45 of these being 

killed or mortally wounded.



     After participating with slight loss in the operations 

around Cold Harbor, the regiment crossed the James River, June 

16, and advanced toward Petersburg, being engaged for the last 

time June 18 with slight loss.  On the 19th it was withdrawn 

from the front, and its recruits and re-enlisted men were 

transferred to the 37th Regt.  On June 21 it began its voyage

homeward.  Washington was reached June 22, and Springfield, 

Mass., on the 25th.  On July 1 and 6, 1864, the regiment was 

mustered out of the United States service.   



Source:  Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War