Home / Civil War Genealogy / Massachusetts / 15th Massachusetts Infantry
15th Massachusetts Infantry
Company Unknown
Henry A. Collar - Corporal
Henry was killed in September, 1862 at Antietem, Maryland
Contact Name: John Ted Collar
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 7/24/2009

Company Unknown
Charles Henry LambRank Unknown
On 12 Jul 1861 Charles mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, being credited to the quota of Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 24 years, 4 months and 24 days old
On 15 Jul 1862, Charles was detached to Battery I, 1st US Light Artillery
He was declared missing in action on 2 Jul 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg
On 5 Feb 1864, Charles was reenlisted for a bounty of $325.
He was wounded on 12 May 1864 at Spotsylvania, Virginia
On 27 Jul 1864 ended military service with the 15th Massachusetts by transfer to the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
Contact Name: Tom Wetherell
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 10/5/2007

Company Unknown
Marcus Morton Parmenter - Private
Marcus raised in Shirley, Massachusetts was killed in action at Battle of Antietam and has no known grave. Reported as left on the field with head and chest wounds. Previously served as a sharpshooter at Battle of Yorktown, Virginia.
Contact Name: Ralph Bennett
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/10/2005

Company Unknown
marcus morton parmenter - Private
Pvt. Marcus Morton Parmenter was born Sudbury, Massachusetts and raised in Shirley, Massachusetts where he was employed as a farm worker. Trained at Camp Wrightman he joined the 1st Andrew Sharpshooters attached to the 15th Massachusetts Regiment which saw action during the 1862 York Peninsula Campaign. During the Battle of Antietam the 15th Massachusetts attacked the West Woods area on the morning of September 17, 1862. Marcus was killed during that action with reported wounds to the head and chest. Combat reports suggest that Marcus and many others may have been killed by friendly fire from a green New York regiment located behind them in the attack toward the West Woods. The 15th Massachusetts suffered the highest casualties of any regiment at Antietam. Marcus body was lost on the battlefield and he lies in an unknown grave.
Contact Name: Ralph Parmenter Bennett
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 10/16/2021

Company A
Robert Newell Kendall - Private
Enlisted as a Private on 12 July 1861 at the age of 24
Enlisted in Company A, 15th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 12 July 1861.
Received a disability discharge Company A, 15th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 29 October 1862 in Near Bolivar, VA
Contact Name: Fred Rose
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 11/1/2005

Company B
Franklin Ebenezer Cobleigh - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Jessica C. Smith
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/13/2006

Company B
Wallace William Holman - Private
Pvt. William Wallace Holman was taken prisoner at the Battle of Balls Bluff on October 21, 1861. He was held prisoner at Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia until March 23, 1862. The following is (1)his personal war sketch; (2)pension notes; (3) his obituary.

(1)
Headquarters
Gilman C. Parker Post Number 153
Department of Massachusetts
Grand Army of the Republic
Personal War Sketch of Comrade William W. Holman who was born the 11th day of March A.D. 1834 in Winchendon, County of Worcester, State of Massachusetts
Entered the service as private in Company B. 15th Regt. Mass.Vol. Inf, July 12, 1861. Was discharged from the service January 14th 1863 for disability.
Was engaged in the battle at Balls Bluff and was wounded and taken prisoner. Was confined in Libby Prison from October 21st 1861 to Mar. 23rd 1862. Was released on parole and sent to Annapolis, Md. Battle of Balls Bluff, Sunday, October 22nd 1861.
We started from Poolsville, Md., marched 7 miles to Potomac River. We reached the river about 4 p.m. and were called out about 12 o'clock at night to cross the Potomac, there was an island about midway call Hanninousis Island, there were two flat bottom boats, one on each side of the island, these would hold 30 men at a time, in this way we crossed to the Virginia side, ascended the bluff and were ordered to scout towards Leesburg, met the enemy about 7 a.m. and fought until dark, retreated to the edge of the bluff. The rebels charged on us, we surrendered. I was struck in the stomach by the butt of a gun. The rebels picked me up and marched me with the rest all night and the next day and night. We arrived at Manassas Junction. He we were loaded in freight cars which conveyed us to Richmond where wer were confined in Libby Prison. Two meals per day. hossmeat and bread sometimes beef, soup full of maggots, filth on the floors two and three inches deep and alive with vermin. If any of us would look out or pass a window the rebel guard would shoot us. I lay on my back for 2 months. The guard came in every morning to call the roll. If one did not stand up or be held up by hjis comrades when ordered to do so the guard would shoot them through the head. There were over 200 in our room. We had just room to sit up and lie down. I saw seven shot for looking our or passing the windows. There I saw seven men shot one day.. They were carried to the dead house and carted off each morning to the Yankee burying ground where they were put into a long trench and buried. There were some 20,000 Union soldiers buried there. They offered to set any of us free if we would join their army. Took everything we had with us but our clothing. When I was there about 2 months they brought in some thirteen prisioners captured at Gerryandotte, Ohio while they were in church by Mosby's men. They lost all their clothing and of us who had on an underclothes took them off and gave it to cover them. We lived this life about six months when they let over 600 of us out on camp parole March 23, 1862. We went to Annapolis, Md. we were all given furloughs for 30 days. I came home and staid 4 months then went back to Annapolis where I was put on detached service until I was discharged.
I certify that the sketch of my war service as above written as I verily believe.
We certify that comrade William Wallace Holman joined Gilman C.Parker Post No. 153 Department of Massachusetts July 6th 1883.




(2)
Pension Notes
Suffered wounds in his left side just below the sternum made by a blow with the butt of gun in the hands of the enemy while engaged with the enemy in the Battle of Balls Bluff at or near Leesburg, Virginia on October 21, 1861 and said wounds caused internal hemorrage with internal rupture and 'the raising of blood from his vitals which still continues.' (Pension records)

In a request for pension rate increase submitted on April 7, 1904, W.W. Holman stated 'I was wounded in a charge at Balls Bluff, October 21, 1861, and was taken prisoner and sent to Richmond to Libby Prison. My wound was never dressed or treated as there was no hospital or surgeon every near me while I was a prisoner of war. I was thus held for about six months, suffering from fever, discharge of the wound, filth, want of food, wand of chance to wash or clean myself or my wound. I had disease of the mouth, jaws, gums, lips and throat, --of ears, eyes, scalp, joints, fingers and toes, which I suppose was scurvy and disease and flux of the bowels.'



(3)
The Winchendon Courier, April 26, 1923, Page 12

Wallace W. Holman

Wallace W. Holman, aged Civil War Veteran, died Wednesday week at his home on Central Street, following a long illness. He was born in Winchendon, March 11, 1834, son of Samuel and Betsey (Parks) Holman. His boyhood days were spent at the Holman farm, still a landmark in the west part of town. All but four years of his life, when he was in Frederickton, N. B., his home has been in this town. He studied music and in 1856 formed the Holman & Piper Orchestra, which had an enviable reputation in this and surrounding cities and towns for 50 years.
On June 28, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and on October 21, 1861, was wounded and with 632 others was taken prisoner and confined for nine months in Libby Prison near Richmond, Va.
Mr. Holman was past grand of Manomonack Lodge I.O.O.F., Gilman C. Parker Post G.A.R., and Morton E. Converse Camp, S. of V. He was three times married and is survived by his wife and four sons, Samuel B. Holman of Keene, N.H., Harry O. Holman of Worcester, Elnor W. Holman and Mitford Holman of Winchendon.
The funeral services were held from the home with Rev. G.W. Jones officiating. The G.A.R. ritual was used, and the I.O.O.F. commitment service at the cemetery. Burial at Riverside.

Contact Name: Elaine Holman (Wilson) Benjamin
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 5/23/2008

Company B
Charles William Kendall - Private
Enlisted in Company B, Massachusetts 15th Infantry Regiment on 12 Jul 1861.
Mustered out on 28 Jul 1864 at Worcester, MA.
Contact Name: Fred Rose
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 9/27/2011

Company B
Edward Sylvanus Kendall - Private
Enlisted as a Private on 12 July 1861 at the age of 19
Enlisted in Company B, 15th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 12 July 1861.
Received a disability discharge Company B, 15th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 05 November 1862
Contact Name: Fred Rose
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 1/16/2009

Company B
George J Spooner - Private
Enlisted as a Private on 27 August 1862 at the age of 32.
Died of disease on 27 December 1862 at Philadelphia, PA.
Contact Name: Eric Stone
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 6/7/2010

Company C
Charles Lyman Shaw - Corporal
Enlisted as a Private on 12 July 1861 at the age of 28.
Promoted to Corporal.
Captured on 22 June 1864 at Petersburg, VA.
Confined at Andersonville, GA.
Transferred while a prisoner into Company E, 20th Infantry Regiment Massachusetts on 12 July 1864.
Contact Name: Eric Stone
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 6/13/2010

Company D
Warren H. Alger - Private
Warren mustered into 15th Mass. Vol. Inf. on 12 July 1861; taken prisoner at Battle of Ball's Bluff; paroled from prison at Newport News 23 Feb. 1862. Reported as missing at Gettysburg. Reenlisted on 8 Feb 1864 for a bounty of $325. Taken prisoner on 22 Jun 1864 at Jerusalem Plank Road, Petersburg, Va. Died on 14 Aug 1864 at Camp Sumpter, Andersonville, GA, as a prisoner of war of 'starvation by rebels' according to the entry in the Worcester, MA, death register. He was the brother-in-law of Joel H. Prouty of the 6th (Pvt) and later the 51st (Lt.)Mass. Inf. both were married during the war to sisters Ellen and Emma Patch of Worcester.
Contact Name: Ronald Prouty
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 12/19/2008

Company F
Albert Watson Livermore - Private
Enlisted as a Private on 12 July 1861 at the age of 18.
Wounded at Sharpsburg, MD on 17 September 1862.
Died of disease on 18 January 1863 at West Brookfield.
Contact Name: Eric Stone
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 6/5/2010

Company F
Edward W Prouty - Private
Killed in action at Gettysburg on July 2nd, 1863. He was from West Brookfield, Massachusetts. He was born in 1830.
Contact Name: Shawn Verdine
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 6/28/2006

Company I
Rufus Ephraim CorbinRank Unknown
15th_Mustr* 1 Jul 1861
15th_End* by transfer to the Veterans' Reserve Corps at a date not given in the 1870 roster
Witness: 8 May 1865 Death; Lucian Bonaparte Corbin; Hampton, Virginia, his brother, in hospital, while serving with in Co. G, 4th Mass. Cavalry.
Pens_Vet* ca. 19 Feb 1869 and received certificate number 69735. (date difficiult to read)
Contact Name: Tom Wetherell
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 9/10/2007

Company I
Edwin L Parmenter - Sergeant
Sgt. EDWIN L PARMENTER, was born July 25, 1842 in Worcester County Massachusetts, the son of Joel and Henrietta Parmenter. He was mustered into Co. I, 15th Massachusetts Regiment at Camp Wrightman, Worcester on July 12, 1861. Prior to enlistment in the Union Army, Edwin's employment was listed as 'Operative".
Edwin was a POW at the Battle of Ball's Bluff, Virginia on October 21, 1861 then a Corporal. He was paroled for exchange and rejoined Company I, April 1862.
Edwin suffered a severe leg on the morning of September 17, 1862 during the Battle of Antietam. He was removed to a field hospital at Smoketown, Maryland where his leg was amputated. Edwin succumbed to his wounds and died on October 15, 1862 and was buried near the Antietam battlefield. His family later had his remains transferred to Massachusetts where Edwin is buried in the Mount Zion Cemetery in Webster, Massachusetts.
Contact Name: Ralph Parmenter Bennett
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 10/25/2021

Company I
Alonzo A. Sabin - Private
Alonzo A. Sabin went into Co. I, 15thMA Vol. Inf., 12 July 1861. Mustered out 28 July 1864. He died 14
April 1897 at Springfield, Mass.
Contact Name: Donald W. Read
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 11/29/2005

Company K
Adolphus Howe - Private
see website search 15th MA volunteer infantry for more details on Adolphus.
Contact Name: L Waller
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 12/30/2007

An error has occurred. This application may no longer respond until reloaded. Reload 🗙