dragoon500ly
08-26-2011, 09:51 AM
Had a recent PM exchange about the losses suffered by the various units in T2K, I thought this real world example would be of interest…
Drawn from “The Armies of U.S. Grant” by James Arnold
The 57th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Militia was organized in 1863 in Fitchberg, Massachusetts.. Its initial strength of 1,038 officers and men were a typical cross-section of a Volunteer regiment. Less than 50% were native New Englanders. The remainder came from 18 states and 13 foreign countries. One in ten was a Canadian. One in five was Irish. The 57th was known as a “high-bounty” regiment, its men being paid a $100 bounty by the town of Fitchberg. Massachusetts paid a bounty of $325 and the Federal government added another $300 bounty, quite an attractive sum in 1863!
The 57th was also known as “Veteran Volunteer: regiment, composed of a number of experienced solders. In fact, only about 20% of its numbers were veterans and most of these were corporals or sergeants. Although the war had been ongoing for three years, the 57th practiced a drill little changed from that used in 1861. The School of the Soldier (squad drill) was practiced for ninety minutes every morning. The School of the Company was practiced for two hours every afternoon. They were taught how to stand at attention, dress ranks, salute and march in various directions. They learned the formal nine-movement method of loading their rifles as well as the more rapid four-movement method. They practiced firing while standing, kneeling or prone and they learned bayonet drill. Please note that the 57th never drilled as a regiment!
On 16 April, 1864 the men of the regiment received their bounties and the news that they would be leaving for the front in two day’s time. An enormous wave of desertion occurred led by bounty jumpers. During the two days, over 100 men deserted. The remainder traveled by rail and ship to Annapolis, Maryland, where they joined Burnsides IX Corps.
On the 23rd of April, the IX Corps marched for the front. The 57th suffered heavily from stragglers and desertions as well as ever increasing numbers of sick. On the 6th of May, the 57th joined the fighting in the Battle of the Wilderness. On this day, 548 men were present for duty when the 57th received its order to advance into the tangled undergrowth. Here, they were slaughtered.
In roughly one hour, the 57th Massachusetts lost 262 men. This included 54 men killed, 136 wounded, 20 wounded and captured, 10 missing and another 12 unwounded men who were captured.
On the 12th of May, the regiment, now reduced to a strength of 333 men delivered a spirited charge at Spotsylvania Court House. Here, they lost 12 killed, 5 mortally wounded, 56 wounded, 1 missing and 4 men captured.
On the 18th of May, the 57th, now at a strength of 250 men took part in another assault on the Confederate defensive line. Here they lost 3 killed, 6 mortally wounded, 13 wounded and 1 captured.
In twelve days, the 57th Massachusetts had lost two-thirds of its strength.
The regiment would fight again on the North Anna River with 237 men and losing 38 of them. It would take 184 survivors into an assault on Petersburg on 17 June and would lose 52 more. Reduced to a strength of 98 men, the 57th would take part in the Battle of the Crater, losing 51 men. 45 survivors would fight again at Weldon Railroad where 15 would become casualties. Reinforced to a strength of 93 men, the 57th would lose 9 men at Poplar Grove Church on 30 September. On the same field, eight days later, the regiment would send in 90 men and suffer 14 casualties.
Reinforce to a strength of 212 men for the 1865 campaign, the regiment fought at Fort Stedman on March 25th where 93 men would become casualties. By the end of the Civil War, the 57th Massachusetts would only have 11 men who had fought in all of the regiment’s actions.
Drawn from “The Armies of U.S. Grant” by James Arnold
The 57th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Militia was organized in 1863 in Fitchberg, Massachusetts.. Its initial strength of 1,038 officers and men were a typical cross-section of a Volunteer regiment. Less than 50% were native New Englanders. The remainder came from 18 states and 13 foreign countries. One in ten was a Canadian. One in five was Irish. The 57th was known as a “high-bounty” regiment, its men being paid a $100 bounty by the town of Fitchberg. Massachusetts paid a bounty of $325 and the Federal government added another $300 bounty, quite an attractive sum in 1863!
The 57th was also known as “Veteran Volunteer: regiment, composed of a number of experienced solders. In fact, only about 20% of its numbers were veterans and most of these were corporals or sergeants. Although the war had been ongoing for three years, the 57th practiced a drill little changed from that used in 1861. The School of the Soldier (squad drill) was practiced for ninety minutes every morning. The School of the Company was practiced for two hours every afternoon. They were taught how to stand at attention, dress ranks, salute and march in various directions. They learned the formal nine-movement method of loading their rifles as well as the more rapid four-movement method. They practiced firing while standing, kneeling or prone and they learned bayonet drill. Please note that the 57th never drilled as a regiment!
On 16 April, 1864 the men of the regiment received their bounties and the news that they would be leaving for the front in two day’s time. An enormous wave of desertion occurred led by bounty jumpers. During the two days, over 100 men deserted. The remainder traveled by rail and ship to Annapolis, Maryland, where they joined Burnsides IX Corps.
On the 23rd of April, the IX Corps marched for the front. The 57th suffered heavily from stragglers and desertions as well as ever increasing numbers of sick. On the 6th of May, the 57th joined the fighting in the Battle of the Wilderness. On this day, 548 men were present for duty when the 57th received its order to advance into the tangled undergrowth. Here, they were slaughtered.
In roughly one hour, the 57th Massachusetts lost 262 men. This included 54 men killed, 136 wounded, 20 wounded and captured, 10 missing and another 12 unwounded men who were captured.
On the 12th of May, the regiment, now reduced to a strength of 333 men delivered a spirited charge at Spotsylvania Court House. Here, they lost 12 killed, 5 mortally wounded, 56 wounded, 1 missing and 4 men captured.
On the 18th of May, the 57th, now at a strength of 250 men took part in another assault on the Confederate defensive line. Here they lost 3 killed, 6 mortally wounded, 13 wounded and 1 captured.
In twelve days, the 57th Massachusetts had lost two-thirds of its strength.
The regiment would fight again on the North Anna River with 237 men and losing 38 of them. It would take 184 survivors into an assault on Petersburg on 17 June and would lose 52 more. Reduced to a strength of 98 men, the 57th would take part in the Battle of the Crater, losing 51 men. 45 survivors would fight again at Weldon Railroad where 15 would become casualties. Reinforced to a strength of 93 men, the 57th would lose 9 men at Poplar Grove Church on 30 September. On the same field, eight days later, the regiment would send in 90 men and suffer 14 casualties.
Reinforce to a strength of 212 men for the 1865 campaign, the regiment fought at Fort Stedman on March 25th where 93 men would become casualties. By the end of the Civil War, the 57th Massachusetts would only have 11 men who had fought in all of the regiment’s actions.