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1st Maine
Regiment Infantry
in the Civil War
| Regimental History |
| First Infantry. — Col., Nathaniel J. Jackson; Lieut.-Col., Albion
Witham; Maj., George G. Bailey. This regiment was organized for active service on April
28, 1861, and was mustered into the United States service for three months, May 3, at
Portland. Its departure from the state was somewhat delayed by sickness and it did not
leave for the seat of war until June 1. It was raised at a time when Washington was in
great danger, when a feeling of gloom pervaded the North, and every man who enlisted fully
expected that the regiment would be called into active service at the front. It numbered
779 men. Eight of its companies were highly esteemed organizations in the state militia
before entering the service of the United States. Two were of recent organization and
enlisted to make up the quota of the regiment. Their camp was at Westbrook, near the
marine hospital, and was called Camp Washburn, in honor of the governor. On their way to
Washington, they were the recipients of marked attention at Newburyport, the birthplace of
Col. Jackson, at New York, Philadelphia, and in fact all along the route. Both at
Newburyport and New York they were presented with beautiful American flags. At Baltimore
they marched over the same route as the 6th Mass., but were not molested. Soon after their
arrival in Washington they went into camp on Meridian Hill. Though eager and ready, the
regiment was not allowed to participate in the first battle of Bull Run, as it was not
thought best to withdraw it from the defenses of Washington. The 1st Me. was noted for its
fine discipline and was regarded as a model regiment. After Bull Run it was stationed for
a time to guard the Long Bridge, which was considered the post of honor. It performed
necessary guard duty at exposed points in the immediate vicinity of the capital until Aug.
1, when the term of enlistment having expired it returned to Portland, and was mustered
out on the 5th. The men returned bronzed and healthy, not a single one missing. Though
enlisted in the state service for two years, they could not be moved outside the state
after the expiration of their three months' muster in, and they were disbanded. On the
formation of new regiments, a large proportion of the officers and men reenlisted in other
organizations. Col. Jackson was soon after placed in command of the 5th infantry and had a
long and honorable record. He was subsequently promoted to brigadier-general, and later
placed in command of the rendezvous camp at Ricker's island. New York harbor. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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