It was formed on July 16, 1861, at Fort Independence in Boston, Massachusetts.

Attached to Stile's Brigade, Banks' Division, Army of the Potomac, to October, 1861.

2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Banks' 5th Army Corps and Dept.

1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, to March, 1864.

1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to July, 1864.

The regiment was assigned to patrol and outpost duty on the Upper Potomac until March, 1862.

It first saw action at Beller's Mill, near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, on September 2, 1861.

Pursuit of Jackson up the Shenandoah Valley from March 24 to April 27.

Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16 to September 2.

Movement to Warrenton, thence to Falmouth, Virginia, October 30 to November 19.

The regiment was part of the infamous "Mud March" January 20–24, 1863.

The regiment lost during service four officers and 117 enlisted men who were killed or mortally wounded as well as 40 enlisted men by disease.