17th Maine Volunteer Infantry
The 17th Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry was a three-year volunteer infantry regiment from southern Maine that served primarily with the Army of the Potomac in the eastern theater of the American Civil War.
| 17th Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry | |
|---|---|
 1st Division, III Corps | |
| Active | August 18, 1862, to June 10, 1865 |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Union |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Engagements | Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Gettysburg Battle of the Wilderness Battle of Spotsylvania Battle of Cold Harbor Siege of Petersburg Appomattox Campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Colonel | Thomas Roberts |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Charles B. Merrill, |
| Colonel | George Warren West |
| Lieutenant Colonel | William Hobson |
17th Maine Infantry position marker at Gettysburg National Military Park
May 3, 1864, 17th Maine. At left is the regimental band. In the front is Col. George Warren West of Portland. The photo was taken in Northern Virginia on the day the regiment broke camp to begin its summer campaign.
Service
Organized at Camp King, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, it was mustered in for three years' service on August 18, 1862, and was mustered out on June 10, 1865. Recruits still liable to serve were transferred to 1st Maine Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment. The regiment was one of five[1] raised in answer to the July 2, 1862, call by Lincoln for 300,000 volunteers for three years. The state of Maine's quota was 9,609.[2]
The regiment was recruited in southern Maine from Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, and York counties.[3] As recruits entered training camp, the regiment quickly fleshed out to ten companies, A through K. Upon muster into federal service, each recruit received a federal bounty of $27.00.[2]
Detailed Service
1862
- Left State for Washington, D.C., August 21. — Commanded by Colonel Thomas Roberts
- Attached to Defenses of Washington to October 7, 1862.[4]
- At Upton's Hill, Va., until October 12 — Attached to Berry's 3rd Brigade, Birney's 1st Division, Hooker's III Corps, Burnside's Army of Potomac
- Edwards Ferry October 12–28.
- Advance to Warrenton, thence to Falmouth, Va., October 28 – November 22.
- Battle of Fredericksburg December 12–15.
- To winter encampment, Falmouth, Va., December 16[2]
1863
- "Mud March" January 20–24 [1]
- Back to encampment, Camp Sickles, Falmouth, January 25 — Hooker takes command of Army of the Potomac, January 26
- Chancellorsville Campaign April 27 – May 6. — Attached to Hayman's 3rd Brigade, Birney's 1st Division, Sickle's III Corps, Hooker's Army of Potomac
- The Plank Road, April 29–30
- Battle of Chancellorsville May 1–5. — Lost 113 men killed, wounded, and missing out of about 625 in action.[5]
- Return to Camp Sickles, May 6 — Roberts resigned command due to illness. Relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Merrill
- Gettysburg Campaign June 13 – July 24. — Attached to de Trobriand's 3rd Brigade, Birney's/Ward's 1st Division, Sickle's/Birney's III Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac.[1]
- To Manassas. June 11–16
- Centerville, June 17–25
- Edward's Ferry, June 26
- To Middletown, Maryland, June 28
- To Frederick, Maryland, June 28[1]
- To Taneytown, Maryland June 29
- T0 Emmetsburg, June 30[1][2]
- To Gettysburg, July 1
- Battle of Gettysburg July 2–3. — As part of Sickles Corps, took position in the Union line on Cemetery Ridge north of Little Round Top around 15:00. Sickles felt the slightly higher ground forward of his placement by Meade was better ground to defend and pushed units forward several hundred yards. This put him in a situation where there was a significant gap between his left flank and Sykes' V Corps right flank. This gap made the holding of the federal line a close-run thing. The 17th as part of Birney's Division was pushed forward to occupy the stone wall at the western edge of the Wheat Field abutting the woods there. Only the intervention of the V Corps saved the II Corps from annihilation. 17th Maine saw hot and heavy action being attacked from two sides. Seven of the color bearers were shot down before the order to retreat back to Cemetery Ridge was given.[1] The regiment retreated in good order and drove the pursuing rebels from the field with a bayonet counterattack once they reached Cemetery Ridge. Lost 132 men killed, wounded, and missing[2][5][6]
- Pursuit of Lee July 5–24.
- Battle of Wapping Heights July 23.[1][2]
- To Sulphur Springs encampment, July 25
- To Brandy Station September 15
- Bristoe Campaign October 9–22. — Commanded by Colonel George Warren West.[7][8] Attached to de Trobriand's 3rd Brigade, Birney's 1st Division, French's III Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac
- First Battle of Auburn, October 13
- Second Battle of Auburn, October 14
- Battle of Bristoe Station, October 14
- Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7–8[2]
- Kelly's Ford November 7
- Mine Run Campaign November 26 – December 2
- Battle of Payne’s Farm[9] November 27. Lost 52 men killed, wounded, and missing[5]
- Battle of Mine Run November 28–30.[9] — Division reserve and then flank skirmishers.
1864
- Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6–7.[1]
- Overland Campaign May 3 – June 15. — Broke camp under command Colonel West, 21 commissioned officers, 5 acting officers, and 439 enlisted men.[2]
- Battle of the Wilderness May 5–7. — Commanded by West/Walker/Moore.[10] Attached to Hays'[11]/Crocker's 2nd Brigade, Birney's 3rd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac. Set up entrenchments May 5 along Brock Road. May 6, drove enemy from Brock one mile, and retreated unmolested to Brock Road works. Repulsed several unsuccessful assaults by Longstreet's Corps. Heavy fighting along fortifications set brush on fire. Lost 24 men killed, 147 wounded and 12 missing[2][5][4]
- Laurel Hill May 8.
- Spotsylvania May 8–9
- Skirmishing on Po River May 10. — Lost 10 wounded 2 missing.[2]
- Battle of Spotsylvania Court House May 11–21, — Attached to Crocker's[12]/Egan's 2nd Brigade, Birney's 3rd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac.[4][1]
- Skirmishing between Po and Brock Road, May 11 — While erecting works, lost 2 wounded[2]
- "Bloody Angle," Assault on the Salient, May 12. — With Corps, stealthily pulled at night from Union right wing to pass behind and to woods at left end of the line. At daybreak from these woods assaulted, captured, and held breast works. Sergeant Frank Haskell and Private John F Totman captured defending Confederate division commander, Edward Johnson (general).[1] Lost 3 killed, 41 wounded, and 10 missing.[2][5][4]
- Lieutenant Colonel Merrill returned from Maine, relieved Major Moore, and took command
- Harris Farm, Fredericksburg Road, May 19.
- Battle of North Anna May 23–26. — Attacked, took, and held rebel positions to south and west overlooking North Anna river. Lost 4 killed and 17 wounded.[1]
- Line of the Pamunkey May 26–28.
- Totopotomoy May 28–31.
- Battle of Cold Harbor June 1–12. — Attached to Egan's 1st Brigade, Birney's 3rd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac. Birney's Division anchored right wing of army. Lost 23 men.[2][4] On June 4, gained 129 men transferred from 3rd Maine whose enlistment still remained. In works skirmishing until 21:00, May 12 when repeating Spotsylvania move, shifted behind center and left of Army of Potomac, quietly took positions in the moonlight at new left wing.
- Wilcox Landing, June 14
- Before Petersburg June 16–19.
- Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. — Lost 84 men[2]
- Second Battle of Petersburg June 15–18 — Commanded by Captain John C. Perry[13]/Captain Benjamin C. Pennell[14]/Major Erasmus C. Gilbreath (of the 20th IN).[15][2] Attached to Egan's[16]/Madill's 1st Brigade, Birney's[17]/Mott's 3rd Division, Birney's/Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac. Made two unsuccessful assaults on Confederate entrenchments on June 16. On June 17 occupied the same works which had been captured the night before. On June 18, advanced and took defenses from enemy again. Lost 10 Killed, 46 wounded, and 9 missing.[2][4]
- Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road June 22–23. — Commanded by Gilbreath. Attached to de Trobriand's 1st Brigade, Mott's 3rd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac. Occupied second line during June 22 and watched Mahone's attack stall at first line as well as 2nd brigade's unsuccessful attack to recapture first line. Attacked and retook front line morning June 23, which had been abandoned early morning by rebels.
- Fatigue duty dismantling rebel fortifications, extending Union entrenchments, July 4–26
- First Battle of Deep Bottom, north of the James, July 27–28. — Commanded by Gilbreath. Attached to de Trobriand's 1st Brigade, Mott's 3rd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac. Held in reserve for Mott's 3rd Division. Deployed as skirmishers to protect right flank to Bailey's Run.
- Battle of the Crater July 30. — 'Commanded by Gilbreath. Attached to de Trobriand's 1st Brigade, Mott's 3rd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac. Held in trenches byu brigade commander when intel reported opposite works fully manned. Lieutenant Colonel Merrill takes command July 31.
- Second Battle of Deep Bottom August 13–20. — Commanded by Merrill. Attached to de Trobriand's 1st Brigade, Mott's 3rd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac. Embarked on steamers to make show of sailing away, but returned under nightfall to Deep Bottom.
- Strawberry Plains August 14–18. — Enemy taken by surprise and driven from positions. Captured coastal defense batteries. Kept up constant harassing fore from skirmishers to pin down rebel forces.
- Second Battle of Ream's Station August 25. — Brigade under arms as Corps reserve[2]
- In entrenchments to the right of Fort Sedgewick, August 29 – September 28[2]
- Poplar Springs Church September 29 – October 2.
- Colonel West returns and takes command October 12.[2]
- Battle of Boydton Plank Road October 27–28. — Commanded by West/Captain William Hobson. Attached to de Trobriand's 1st Brigade, Mott's 3rd Division, Hancock's II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac. Repulsed breakthrough on Egan's division October 27. Colonel West wounded again. Entrenched and held off Hampton's division on October 28.
- Garrison at Fort Rice October 30 – November 29
- To left flank at James River, November 30 – December 6
- Raid on Weldon Railroad December 7–11. — Commanded by Hobson. Attached to de Trobriand's 1st Brigade, Mott's 3rd Division, Warren's V Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac (Raiding force consisted of V Corps plus Mott's Division, 3rd Division II Corps and Division of Cavalry).[2][5][4] Marched 40 miles south to Jarratt to cut rail link between Petersburg and Wilmington From Nottaway River to Bellfield. On return to siege lines found stragglers and sick members of raiding party who had fallen behind murdered by local civilians along route. Burned houses in retaliation.[2]
- Winter encampment in the lines before Petersburg until February 4, 1865
1865
- William Hobson promoted to Lieutenant Colonel January 18. Retained command 17th Maine.
- Battle of Hatcher's Run February 5–7 — Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Hobson[18]). Attached to Pierce's 2nd Brigade, Mott's[19])/de Trobriand's 3rd Division, Humphreys' II Corps, Meade's Army of Potomac.[4] Advanced and captured enemy entrenchments at Hatcher's run on left wing of Union lines and turned enemy flank February 5. Captured 100 prisoners. Pulled reserve February 6. Sent to left flank again February 7.[3][2]
- In entrenchments until March 25
- Appomattox Campaign March 28 – April 9.
- South Side Railroad March 29.
- Boydton Road and White Oak Ridge March 30–31.
- Fall of Petersburg April 2.
- Jettersville April 5. — Captured colors of 21st North Carolina and 150 prisoners.[3][2]
- Dentonville April 6. [4] — Division charged over two miles and captured part of rebel wagon train. Hobson wounded. Captain Green took command. Over 300 prisoners taken. Lost 5 killed, 27 wounded. Noted that one in five officers were wounded and one in ten enlisted wounded during the day.[3][2]
- High Bridge April 6–7. — Major Charles P Mattocks takes command evening April 6[3][2]
- New Store April 8.
- Appomattox Court House April 9. [4] — Surrender of Lee and his army. [3][2]
- At Burkesville April 11 – May 1.
- March to Washington, D. C., May 1–15.
- Grand Review May 23.
- Mustered out at Bailey's Cross Roads June 4, 1865.
- Recruits transferred to 1st Maine Heavy Artillery.
- Discharged at Portland, Me., June 10, 1865.
Armament
1853 Enfield rifle-musket
Springfield Model 1861
The 17th Maine was an 1862, Army of the Potomac, three-year regiment, that greatly increased the number of men under arms in the federal army. As with many of these volunteers, initially, there were not enough Model 1861 Springfield Rifles to go around so they were instead issued imported British Pattern 1853 rifles. These were the standard rifle for the British army having performed well in the Crimean War. The Enfield was a was a .577 calibre Minié-type muzzle-loading rifled musket. It was used by both armies and was the second most widely used infantry weapon in the Union forces.
At Gettysburg, on the evening of July 3, General Birney wanted to standardize the weapons in his division.[2] That evening, he had the 17th and other Enfield-equipped units in his command exchange their arms for the standard muzzle-loading rifled musket of the Union Army, the Springfield Model 1861 Rifled Musket. It fired a .58 inch Minie Ball. and came with a square socket bayonet. They would carry their Springfields until their end of service.[4]
Casualties and total strength
The 17th Maine enrolled 1,371 men during its existence.[3] It lost 12 officers and 116 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds received in battle and an additional 4 officers and 159 enlisted men died of disease.[1] 31 men died in Confederate prisons.[4] Total fatalities for the regiment were 370.[2][3]
Notes
- Dyer
- Houghton
- http://www.state.me.us/sos/arc/archives/military/civilwar/17meinf.htm Archived 2006-12-30 at the Wayback Machine State of Maine Civil War Records Website
- "A Compilation of the Official Records of the American Civil War of the Union and Confederate Armies, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880-1901". cdl.library.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
- Jordan
- Huntington
- Promoted from Major to Colonel by governor.
- Swartz, Brian. "The 17th Maine backstabbers, part 2". maineatwar.bangordailynews.com/. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
- James K. Bryant II. "The Mine Run Campaign - Essential Civil War Curriculum". www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com.
- Col West seriously wounded by bullet in his right thigh May 6. Colonel Walker of 4th Maine relieved him to command both regiments. May 7, Birney appointed Major Moore of 99th Pennsylvania to command.
- Killed in action May 5, near the junction of the Brock and Plank Roads in the Wilderness, being struck in the head by a Minié ball.
- Crocker wounded May 12.
- June 15–16, 1864, wounded early morning of June 16
- June 16–17, killed June 17
- Took command June 18
- Egan wounded 16 JUne
- Birney promoted to II Corps commander, June 18
- Hobson wounded April 6
- Mott wounded April 6
Bibliography
- Civilwarhome - Gettysburg Union order of battle
- Civil War Trust - Gettysburg Union order of battle
- Coates, Earl J., and Thomas S. Dean (1996). An Introduction to Civil War Small Arms. Gettysburg,, PA: Thomas Publications. ISBN 978-0939631254.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Dyer, Frederick H (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co. ASIN B01BUFJ76Q.
- Federal Publishing Company (1908). Military Affairs and Regimental Histories of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, And Delaware. The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States, 1861–65 – Records of the Regiments in the Union army – Cyclopedia of battles – Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. I. Madison, WI: Federal Publishing Company. p. 555. hdl:2027/wu.89059483339. OCLC 694018100.
- Eicher, David J. (2002). The Longest Night: A Military History of the Civil War. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0684849454.
- Eicher, John H. "Gettysburg Order of Battle" at Gettysburg Discussion Group website.
- Flatnes, Oyvind (2013). From Musket to Metallic Cartridge: A Practical History of Black Powder Firearms. Marlborough, UK: Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1847975935.
- Gettysburg Discussion Group - Union order of battle
- Gettysburg National Military Park - The Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg
- Gilbreath, Maj. Erasmus Corwin (2015). Clarke, Kenneth A; Lane, Susan (eds.). Dignity of Duty: The Journals of Erasmus Corwin Gilbreath 1861-1898. Chicago, IA: Pritzker Military Museum and Library. ISBN 978-0-9897928-5-1.
- Hodsdon, John L, Adjutant General (1864). Appendix D. Annual report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine, December 31, 1863. Augusta, ME: Stevens & Sayward. p. 1346. OCLC 866320784.
- Houghton, Edwin B (1866). The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine. Portland, ME: Short & Loring. ISBN 978-0469474062..
- Huntington, Tom (2018). Maine Roads to Gettysburg: How Joshua Chamberlain, Oliver Howard, and 4,000 Men from the Pine Tree State Helped Win the Civil War's Bloodiest Battle. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-1840-9..
- Jordan, William B., Jr. (1996). Red Diamond Regiment: The 17th Maine Infantry, 1862-1865. Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Pub. ISBN 978-0942597721.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- Swartz, Brian (2019-02-13). "The 17th Maine backstabbers, part 2". Bangor, ME: Bangor Daily News.
- U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1880–1901.
See Also
- List of Maine Civil War units
- Maine in the American Civil War
- State of Maine Civil War Records Website
- Photograph of the 17th Maine Infantry from the Maine Memory Network
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