The Leominster Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of local history, through records, collections and properties. Organized January 31, 1906, and incorporated November 8, 1906, the Society promotes the history of Leominster and history in general, and has played an active part in the community throughout the years.
Letters written by Dr. Charles A. Wheeler, a Union soldier who served as assistant surgeon with the 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War are archived at the Pearce Civil War Collection...
(Copyright held by the Pearce Civil War Collection, Navarro College Archives)
Ancestor Links for Mom's side of the tree....
The regiment left Camp Scott for Washington, D. C., August 8, and on the 27th arrived at Poolesville, Md. where it was attached to Gen. Charles P. Stone's command. It was active in guarding the Potomac from Conrad's Ferry to Harrison's Island until October 21, 1861, when it led the advance to Ball's Bluff, losing in that action over 300 men of whom 44 were killed or mortally wounded. The winter of 1861-62 was spent near Poolesville, over 200 recruits being received before spring opened.
In February Gen. John Sedgwick was given command of the division, while Gen. Willis A. Gorman was assigned to the brigade. After a short time spent in the Shenandoah Valley the regiment was sent to the Peninsula, where Sedgwick's Division became a part of Sumner's (2d) Corps. It participated in the siege of Yorktown, and in the battle of Fair Oaks May 31, and was under fire at Savage's Sta., Glendale, and Malvern Hill with slight loss. The 1st Company of Sharpshooters became attached to the regiment at Yorktown and continued with it for over a year.
After spending most of July and August at Harrison's Landing, on the 28th of August the regiment reached Alexandria and helped to cover Pope's retreat from Second Bull Run. In early September it joined in the advance to Frederick and South Mountain. At Antietam, September 17, the 15th was outflanked in the West Wood and in twenty-seven minutes lost a total of 318 officers and men, or over 50% of the number engaged, 98 being killed or mortally wounded. During the Peninsular campaign and at Antietam the regiment was commanded by Lieut. Col. John W. Kimball.
Served 3 yrs with 12th Mass Infantry
Commissioned Dec 17, 1862, Mustered In: Dec 20, 1862, Wounded at Wilderness VA on May 5th 1864, Mustered out: July 8th 1864.
Following is a brief history of the 12th during CAW's service:
At Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, under command of Col. James L. Bates, as a part of Lyle's Brigade, Gibbon's Division, Reynolds' (1st) Corps, it participated in the attack on the Confederate right, losing heavily. Among the killed was First Lieutenant Arthur Dehon, who was serving on Gen. Meade's staff. no winter of 186243 was spent in camp near Belle Plain on the Potomac.
At Chancellorsville, May 1 to 4, 1863, the regiment as a part of Baxters Brigade, Robinson's Division, Reynolds' (1st) Corps was engaged with small loss. At Gettysburg, July 1, 1863, the 12th was in notion on the extreme right of the 1st Corps near Oak Hill, where it performed valuable service and suffered severe loss. In October it was active in the operations along the line of the Rappahannock, was in the advance to Mine Run in the latter part of November, and spent the winter of 1863-64 in the neighborhood of Culpepper, Va.
In the spring of 1864, Robinson's Division, now a part of Warren's (6th) Corps, was engaged on the Orange turnpike, May 5, and on the Plank road, May 6, in the battle of the Wilderness, suffering severely. At Spottsylvania, May 8 to 12, it fought on the Alsop, Jones, and Spindle farms on the Union right, again losing heavily. At North Anna, Cold Harbor, and in front of Petersburg it was in action with loss, remaining on duty until June 25, when it turned its recruits and re-enlisted men over to the 39th Regt., and started for home, reaching Boston, July 1, 1864. A week later the regiment was reassembled on Boston Common and was mustered out of the United Stater. service.
Mother & Child by Christine Hersey - wife of Dr. Charles A Wheeler.
Charles A Wheeler: Civil War assistant surgeon (age 26):
Served with Co B 15th Mass Infantry from 5 Dec 1861 until promoted to the 12th Infantry on Dec 17th 1862.
The 15th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was recruited in Worcester County, the Leominster and Fitchburg units being old militia companies, while the others were raised by voluntary enlistment in the early summer of 1861. On June 28 the various units were ordered to assemble at Camp Scott, Worcester, and there, July 12, the regiment was mustered into the United States service with Charles Devens, Jr., major of the old 3d Battalion Rifles, as its colonel.
