The Fifteenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 15th regiment saw action in nearly all the major battles that took place in the Eastern Theater of the war, and was among the 6 regiments in the Union army that sustained the heaviest losses throughout the entire struggle.

This distinguished regiment is included as one of William F. Fox's (circa 1889) top 300 Union Fighting Regiments.

• 12/20/1860 - South Carolina declared her connection with the Union dissolved
• Fort Sumter was attacked - 4/12/1861, Fort Sumter fell, 4/14/1861
• Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 troops, 4/15/1861
• The Massachusetts 6th Regiment was attacked in the streets of Baltimore on 4/19/1861
  These were the conditions under which the 15th Massachusetts Infantry was born

The Brookfields - Company F

When the news of the attack on the Massachusetts 6th reached North Brookfield on April 19, placards were prepared with words like these: "War! War!! War!!! "Our Massachusetts citizens have been murdered in the streets of Baltimore, while marching on their way to Washington to protect the capitol of our country. All our citizens are requested to meet at the town hall this evening to see what can be done."

At this meeting the hall was filled with men eager for action. The first steps were taken for forming Company F, and a number of names were enrolled. The next evening there was another crowded meeting, and citizens of the neighboring towns were present. The Brass Band from Brookfield played national songs, and amid bursts of patriotic eloquence new names were added to the roll. A town meeting , held on the earliest practical date, April 29, 1861, furnished the necessary supplies for volunteers and Sardus S. Sloan of Brookfield, who had served in the militia, was made Captain of Company F.

Company F was the first company to arrive at Camp Scott, Worcester, MA., on June 28, 1861, and all the newly formed companies united to become the Fifteenth Massachusetts Infantry. The characteristics of this 15th Regiment belonged to New England, to Massachusetts, to Worcester County.

The Regiment was composed of young men from farms, factories, mills, stores, and shops of Worcester County. Most had received at least a district school education. They had all been accustomed to social equality and a considerable portion of these young men of the 15th were descended from men who had fought in the Revolution. When the crisis came, the determination to maintain the integrity of the Union proved a strong incentive to action.

On July 12, 1861, the 15th Regiment was mustered into the United States service with Charles Devens, Jr., as its Colonel.