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7th Maine
Regiment Infantry
in the Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Seventh Infanry. — Col., Edwin C. Mason; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas H.
Marshall, Selden Connor, Thomas W. Hyde; Majs., Thomas W. Hyde, James P. Jones (known in
the army as the "fighting Quaker"), Stephen C. Fletcher. This regiment was
raised irrespective of divisional limits, and was organized at Augusta, Aug. 21, 1861, to
serve three years. It left the state Aug. 23, 1861 and arrived in Baltimore on the 25th.
It remained here until Oct. 25, when it was moved to Washington. Nov. 7th, it crossed the
Potomac into Virginia and went into camp near Lewinsville, Fairfax county, where it
remained until March 10, 1862, engaged in picket duty, scouting and drilling. Sickness and
death had been prevalent in its ranks, and Co. F became so reduced in numbers it was
disbanded, a new company raised by Capt. Fletcher of Skowhegan, being mustered into
service Jan. 23, 1862, in its place. March 23, 1862, the regiment embarked for Fortress
Monroe, preparatory to the Peninsular campaign. It was at this time in the 3d brigade, 2nd
division, 6th provisional corps, the division being under the command of Gen. Smith. On
April 4, 1862, it joined in the advance on Richmond, and led the advance on the Yorktown
line of defenses on April 5. The next day it was under the fire of Fort Lee on Warwick
creek, and afterwards participated in the siege of Yorktown, holding a position near Dam
No. 3, "the key of the line", until the enemy evacuated. For its gallantry at
the battle of Williamsburg, the 7th received the personal thanks of Gen. McClellan. On May
24, it won more glory at the first battle at Mechanicsville and during June it was almost
daily engaged with the enemy, who tried to shell it from its position on the left bank of
the Chickahominy. On the withdrawal of the army from Richmond, the 7th participated in the
battles of Savage Station, White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill. In the autumn it joined in
the Maryland campaign, took part in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, losing at
the latter battle, 11 officers and 100 enlisted men out of 15 officers and 166 enlisted
men present. In Oct., 1862, it became so reduced in numbers it was sent to Portland, Me.,
to recruit, and on Jan. 21, 1863, it left Portland with a battalion of five companies
filled by consolidation and rejoined its old command, 3d brigade, 2nd division, 6th corps,
at White Oak Church, Va. May 2, 1863, it was in the storming party which carried the
enemy's works on Cemetery and Marye's Heights near Fredericksburg, and engaged the enemy
on the 4th in a desperate struggle near Chancellorsville. On May 23, Co. F under Capt.
Fletcher, having been reorganized at Portland, rejoined the battalion. It participated in
the Pennsylvania campaign, taking part in the battles of Rappahannock Station, Locust
Grove, Mine Run and numerous skirmishes. The following year it was with Grant in the
relentless advance on Richmond, and was engaged in the battles of the Wilderness,
Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and the attacks on the Weldon railroad. July 11,
1864, the regiment returned to Washington, and assisted in the defeat of the enemy on its
nearest approach to the capital. On the 13th, it marched up the Potomac, through Snicker's
gap to the Shenandoah, and was back in Washington on the 23d. On the 26th, it again
started up the Potomac, crossed at Harper's Ferry on the 29th, and marched to the vicinity
of Charlestown, where it remained until its original term of service expired on Aug. 21,
1864, when it returned to Maine and was mustered out of service Sept. 5, at Augusta. The
reenlisted men and recruits of the regiment were consolidated with battalions of the 5th
and 6th regiments to form the 1st veteran infantry in Sept., 1864. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 1
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