The 17th Massachusetts was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

[3] On February 1, an attack was made by the Confederates under MGEN Pickett on the Union outpost at Batchelder's Creek, some eight miles from New Bern,[ii] and LTC Fellows with 115 members of the five companies located outside the city and a section of artillery set out for the support of the 132nd New York Infantry, then holding the threatened position.

The bridge across the creek had just been carried by the strong force of the enemy when the 17th detachment arrived, and Fellows placed his command to the front and left of the New York regiment.

[4] As the defenders began to run low on ammunition, COL Peter Claassen, commanding the 132nd New York Infantry, ordered his men back into New Bern.

The order was then given to fall back to the crossing of the Trent road to make another stand, but in heavy fog, the Confederates flanked the party and cut off a large portion of them before they could escape.