The 44th Massachusetts Regiment was mustered into service for nine months on September 12, 1862. On October  22nd, the soldiers embarked on the steamer “Merrimac” heading for Beaufort, North Carolina. They landed at Morehead City on October 28, and then traveled by train to Newbern, where the regiment became a part of Stevenson’s Brigade.  In June of 1863, the regiment returned to Massachusetts, where they were mustered out of service on June 18.