2nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment (also known as the Second Maine Regiment, Second Maine Infantry, or The Bangor Regiment) was mustered in Bangor, Maine
for two year's service on May 28, 1861 and mustered out in the same place on June 9, 1863. This was the first Civil War regiment to march out of Maine (in 1861), and was greeted with accolades by civilians as it made its way to Washington. It engaged in "eleven bloody and hard-fought battles" including both the First Battle of Bull Run
, where it was the last regiment to leave the field, and Fredericksburg
, where it took its greatest number of casualties.
The first commander of the 2nd Maine was Col. Charles Davis Jameson
, a lumber merchant from Old Town, Maine
who later became a Brigidier General. He died of camp fever after being wounded in battle. Jameson's successor was Col. Charles W. Roberts
of Bangor, who had a horse shot out from under him at 2nd Bull Run. The last commander was Col. George Varney
.
Augustus Choate Hamlin of Bangor, nephew of Vice President Hannibal Hamlin
, was the regiment's Assistant Surgeon, and later Surgeon. He would write books about Andersonville Prison
and the Battle of Chancellorsville
after the war. Quartermaster Sargeant Luther H. Pierce became a wealthy Bangor lumber merchant in the post-war period and paid for the erection of a monument to the 2nd Maine at Mount Hope Cemetery
.
Five of the ten companies of the regiment were raised in Bangor, including a Gymnasium Company, the Grattan Guards, and a company of Ex-Tigers (firemen) under Capt. Daniel Sargent of Brewer, Maine
, who would be promoted to Lt. Col. (second in command) under Varney. Other companies were from Castine
, Milo, and Old Town
.
When the regiment was eventually mustered out in Bangor, huge crowds gathered to celebrate its return on Broadway
, and a ceremony was held at Norumbega
Hall downtown.
Survivors of the 2nd Maine who had enlisted for three, rather than two years were transferred to the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
under protest.
According to the History of Penobscot County, Maine, the regiment suffered 47 killed or wounded in the First Battle of Bull Run
and over 100 missing in action (presumably including those taken prisoner)
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
for two year's service on May 28, 1861 and mustered out in the same place on June 9, 1863. This was the first Civil War regiment to march out of Maine (in 1861), and was greeted with accolades by civilians as it made its way to Washington. It engaged in "eleven bloody and hard-fought battles" including both the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, where it was the last regiment to leave the field, and Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, where it took its greatest number of casualties.
The first commander of the 2nd Maine was Col. Charles Davis Jameson
Charles Davis Jameson
Charles Davis Jameson was an American Civil War general and Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Maine...
, a lumber merchant from Old Town, Maine
Old Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
who later became a Brigidier General. He died of camp fever after being wounded in battle. Jameson's successor was Col. Charles W. Roberts
Charles W. Roberts
Charles Wentworth Roberts was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War, who was awarded the rank of brevet brigadier general, United States Volunteers, in 1866, to rank from March 13, 1865. He was born in Old Town, Maine and graduated from Bowdoin College, but lived most of his...
of Bangor, who had a horse shot out from under him at 2nd Bull Run. The last commander was Col. George Varney
George Varney
George Varney was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War and was awarded the grade of brevet brigadier general, United States Volunteers, in 1867 for his gallant service at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862...
.
Augustus Choate Hamlin of Bangor, nephew of Vice President Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
, was the regiment's Assistant Surgeon, and later Surgeon. He would write books about Andersonville Prison
Andersonville prison
The Andersonville prison, officially known as Camp Sumter, served as a Confederate Prisoner-of-war camp during the American Civil War. The site of the prison is now Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville, Georgia. Most of the site actually lies in extreme southwestern Macon County,...
and the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
after the war. Quartermaster Sargeant Luther H. Pierce became a wealthy Bangor lumber merchant in the post-war period and paid for the erection of a monument to the 2nd Maine at Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor
Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine is the second oldest garden cemetery in the United States. It was designed by architect Charles G. Bryant in 1834, the same year that Bangor was incorporated as a city, and likely modeled after Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts...
.
Five of the ten companies of the regiment were raised in Bangor, including a Gymnasium Company, the Grattan Guards, and a company of Ex-Tigers (firemen) under Capt. Daniel Sargent of Brewer, Maine
Brewer, Maine
Brewer is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is part of the Bangor, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after its first settler, Colonel John Brewer. The population was 9,482 at the 2010 census....
, who would be promoted to Lt. Col. (second in command) under Varney. Other companies were from Castine
Castine, Maine
Castine is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States and was once the capital of Acadia . The population was 1,343 at the 2000 census. Castine is the home of Maine Maritime Academy, a four-year institution that graduates officers and engineers for the United States Merchant Marine and marine...
, Milo, and Old Town
Old Town, Maine
Old Town is a city in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,840 at the 2010 census. The city's developed area is chiefly located on a relatively large island, though its boundaries extend beyond that...
.
When the regiment was eventually mustered out in Bangor, huge crowds gathered to celebrate its return on Broadway
Broadway Historic District (Bangor, Maine)
The Broadway Historic District in Bangor, Maine is one of the residential neighborhoods most favored by the city's lumber barons in the early to late 19th century. A second and slightly later Bangor neighborhood of primarily elite houses, centered on West Broadway, is also listed on the National...
, and a ceremony was held at Norumbega
Norumbega
Norumbega was a legendary settlement in northeastern North America, inextricably connected with attempts to demonstrate Viking incursions in New England...
Hall downtown.
Survivors of the 2nd Maine who had enlisted for three, rather than two years were transferred to the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a combat unit of the United States Army during the American Civil War, most famous for its defense of Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg, July 1863.-Organization:...
under protest.
Casualties
The regiment lost 69 men killed in action or died of wounds received in battle and an additional 70 men died of disease and 15 men executed for mutiny.According to the History of Penobscot County, Maine, the regiment suffered 47 killed or wounded in the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
and over 100 missing in action (presumably including those taken prisoner)
See also
- List of Maine Civil War units
- Maine in the American Civil WarMaine in the American Civil WarDuring the American Civil War, the state of Maine was a source of military manpower, supplies, ships, arms, and political support for the Union Army...