[3] The regiment was again activated in September 1862 for a term of nine months, training at Camp Joe Hooker in Lakeville, Massachusetts.

[4][5] The 3rd Massachusetts was stationed in New Bern, North Carolina, participated in several expeditions and saw minor combat including the Battle of Goldsborough Bridge and the Siege of Little Washington.

[1] The 3rd Massachusetts was organized for active service on April 15, 1861 in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 troops to put down the insurrection in the southern states.

Despite the various companies being dispersed over a large area of southeastern Massachusetts, Col. Wardrop managed to get word to the captains under his command during the night of April 15–16.

The 3rd Massachusetts returned aboard the Pawnee which towed the USS Cumberland to Fortress Monroe, saving the frigate from falling into enemy hands.

Confederate forces were massing nearby at Big Bethel and the post was considered a dangerous one due to the proximity of the enemy and the secessionist sentiments of the local population.

During this term, the regiment was commanded by Col. Silas P. Richmond who had trained in the Massachusetts militia for more than ten years and fought with John Brown during the Bleeding Kansas crisis.

[15] The unit trained at Camp Joe Hooker for roughly a month, moved to Boston on October 22, 1862, and that day boarded two ships bound for Beaufort, South Carolina.

The 3rd Massachusetts destroyed approximately three miles of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad outside of Goldsborough after which they were engaged with the enemy while part of a rear guard action.

[18] On December 30, 1862, the regiment was assigned to Brigadier General Charles A. Heckman's brigade and prepared to march for a southward expedition to South Carolina.

However, the weapons that the 3rd Massachusetts had been issued upon reaching North Carolina were of poor quality being antiquated Austrian muskets confiscated from a captured southern blockade runner.

The 3rd Massachusetts was stationed at Fort Totten, guarding the land approaches to New Bern and remained with Col. Jourdan's brigade until the end of their service.

[20] During their months serving garrison duty in the vicinity of New Bern, the 3rd Massachusetts was frequently employed in digging trenches and occasionally participated in brief expeditions and patrols.

On April 7, the regiment left New Bern, were shipped across the Neuse River and joined a column commanded by Brig.