1st Lieutenant Shoulder Straps and Albumen Photograph of Eugene J. Mason 6th Massachusetts and 40th Massachusetts Infantry / SOLD
1st Lieutenant Shoulder Straps and Albumen Photograph of Eugene J. Mason 6th Massachusetts and 40th Massachusetts Infantry - Inventory Number: IDE 214 / SOLD
Double-bordered infantry 1st lieutenant shoulder straps embroidered in gold bullion with twisted brass wire borders and blue velvet centers worn by Eugene J. Mason, a 26-year-old merchant that enlisted in the 6th Massachusetts Militia on April 15, 1861. After the 6th mustered out in August, Mason was commissioned into the 40th Massachusetts. He was discharged for disability in January 1863. Mason is wearing these straps in the Albumen photograph at the center of the display. The straps and portrait are professionally mounted in a 19 ½” by 15 ½” frame. A wonderful display for any Civil War collection.
Eugene J. Mason - Residence Lawrence MA; a 26 year-old Merchant. Enlisted on 4/15/1861 as a 4th Lieut. On 4/22/1861 he was commissioned into "I" Co. MA 6th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 8/2/1861 at Boston, MA. On 9/1/1862 he was commissioned into "C" Co. MA 40th Infantry. He was discharged for disability on 1/26/1863. Promotions: 1st Lieut 8/19/1862 (As of Co. C 40th MA Inf).
SIXTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA (INFANTRY) THREE MONTHS
The 6th Regt. Mass. Vol. Mill, "Minute Men," was summoned to Boston by Special Order No. 14, issued on the afternoon of April 15, 1861, from the office of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts. At 7 o'clock on the evening of the 17th the regiment, fully armed and equipped, entrained for Washington. While passing through Baltimore, Md., April 19, a detachment of four companies, C, D, I, and L, under Captain Albert S. Follansbee, was set upon by a mob, and in the street fighting which followed four members of the detachment were killed and thirty-six wounded, the first soldiers to fall in the Civil War.
This regiment was the first to arrive in Washington completely uniformed and equipped for service. It was at first quartered in the Senate Chamber in the Capitol. Mustered into the service April 22, it was soon transferred to the Relay House near Baltimore. In the occupation of Baltimore and in doing guard duty at or near the Relay House the regiment was occupied until July 29, when it entrained for Massachusetts. Reaching Boston on the 1st of August, on the following day it was mustered out of the service.
FORTIETH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY THREE YEARS
The 40th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was recruited at Camp Edwin M. Stanton, Lynnfield, in August, 1862, Lieut. Col. Joseph A. Dalton being in command during the recruiting period. The companies were mustered in on various dates from August 22 to September 5. Major Burr Porter, U. S. A., who had won distinction while serving on the staff of Gen. John C. Fremont, was commissioned colonel, but did not join the regiment until after its arrival in Washington, Sept. 11, 1862. Here the 40th occupied Fort Ethan Allen near Chain Bridge, and during the fall and winter did guard and picket duty near Miner's Hill, Mills' Cross Roads, and Hunter's Chapel. During this period it was attached to Cowdin's (2d) Brigade, Abercrombie's Division. About Mar. 4, Col. Porter succeeded Col. Cowdin in command of the 2d Brigade, and Lieut. Col. Dalton took command of the regiment.
On April 15, 1863, the 40th was ordered to Alexandria, Va., and there took transport for Suffolk, which city was menaced by a Confederate force under Gen. Longstreet. Here as a part of Keyes' (4th) Corps it took part in several reconnaissance’s prior to May 4, on which date, the siege havingbeen raised, the regiment was ordered to West Point, Va., where it arrived May 7.
After various movements in the vicinity of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Jamestown, and White House Landing, the regiment proceeded to Baltimore Cross Roads. Near this place on the night of July 2 it was engaged but without loss. Having advanced to within 15 miles of Richmond the regiment returned to Yorktown where it took transport for Washington. From here it was sent immediately to Frederick, Md., arriving July 11. Temporarily attached to the 11th Corps it joined in the pursuit of Lee into Virginia.
Early in August it was again detached and ordered back to Alexandria where on the 7th it embarked for Charleston, S. C., arriving on the 13th at Folly Island, and going into the trenches in front of Fort Wagner. Here during the days immediately following the regiment lost one officer, Lieut. Webb, killed and five men wounded. On Nov. 10 Col. Guy V. Henry took command, and immediately afterward the regiment took part in an expedition to Kraivah and Seabrook Islands, returning to Folly Island where it remained until Jany. 16, 1864, when it took transport for Hilton Head, S. C. At Hilton Head it was reorganized as a regiment of mounted infantry, and on Feb.4 embarked for Jacksonville, Fla. Here the 40th became a part of the so-called Light Brigade, having associated with it the Independent Battalion of Massachusetts Cavalry (Co's. "I", "K", "L", and "M" 1st Regt. Mass. Cav.), and Baty. "B" 1st U. S. Art. Col. Henry being in command as acting brigadier.
The Florida campaign which followed lasted from Feb. 8, when the advance began, until about Mar. 20, and was marked by engagements at St. Mary's Creek, Feb. 10, Olustee, Feb. 20, and Cedar Run, Mar. 1. The Light Brigade was then broken up and the 40th became an infantry regiment again. It now proceeded by transports to Hilton Head and thence to Gloucester Point, Va. Here it was assigned to Henry's (1st) Brigade. On May 6, it reached Bermuda Hundred, now being organized as a part of Alford's (1st) Brigade, Turner's (2d) Division, Gillmore's (lOth) Corps. May 9 the regiment proceeded with the 2d Division to Chester Station, an important railroad junction between Richmond and Petersburg, to assist in destroying the station buildings and railroad at that place, but was ordered to Swift Creek, near Arrowfield Church, in support of Heckman's Brigade of the 18th Corps on the afternoon of the same day. Three days later it joined in the advance of the Army of the James toward Richmond and on the morning of May 16 participated in the battle of Drury's Bluff, losing 10 killed, 42 wounded, and 22 missing. The killed and most of the wounded were left on the field. Four days later, May 20, the regiment was engaged near Bermuda Hundred in repulsing a Confederate attack on the Union picket line, losing six killed and 16 wounded.
On May 28 the regiment was sent by transport to White House arriving on the 30th. Here it was attached to Smith's (18th) Corps as a part of Henry's (3d) Brigade, Brooks' (1st) Division. Joining the Army of the Potomac near Cold Harbor, June 1, it was immediately ordered into action losing Lieut. Col. Marshall and 11 men killed and a large number wounded. It participated in the general assault on the Confederate lines on the morning of June 3 losing 10 killed and many wounded. On the 12th it was withdrawn from the Cold Harbor lines and transferred via White House, Bermuda Hundred, and Point of Rocks to the front of Petersburg. On the 15th in conjunction with Wild's Division of colored troops it drove the Confederates into the main line of fortifications at Petersburg. Posted on the extreme Union right near the Appomattox River, it assisted in the repulse of Hagood's Confederate Brigade June 24, suffering slight loss. On the east front of Petersburg, in the Bermuda Hundred lines, and in the vicinity of Fort Harrison north of the James the regiment was actively engaged during the summer, fall, and early winter of 1864. In December the 40th became a part of Roberts' (3d) Brigade, Devens' (3d) Division, Gibbon's (24th) Corps. In March 1865, the brigade was sent to Fredericksburg where it did provost duty for a short time and assisted in destroying the railroad to Richmond near Hamilton's Crossing. Another expedition up the Yeocomico River to Kinsale Landing was made later the same month. On March 26 the regiment returned to Signal Hill on the Richmond front where it remained until after the city fell. It was one of the first Union regiments to enter the city on the morning of April 3 after the evacuation. It now camped in various places near Richmond for about five weeks-on Mayo's plantation, on the Benson estate near Manchester, and elsewhere. On June 17 it was mustered out of the service and started for Massachusetts. June 21 found the regiment at Readville, Mass., where it remained in camp until its final payment and discharge, June 30.