On April 22, 1861, General Order No. 6 was issued by Maine Governor
and Commander-in-Chief Israel Washburn, Jr. Typically, the order was
issued by his Adjutant General, John L. Hodsdon, and was addressed to
Major Generals James H. Butler, 1st Division; William H. Titcomb, 2nd
Division; and William Wirt Virgin, 3rd Division. The order directed that
they enlist "TEN THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS, to be organized into Ten
Regiments, without regard to present military districts, immediately
enlisted and mustered into the active militia service of the State."
Each company was to consist of one captain, two lieutenants, four
sergeants, four corporals, one fifer, one drummer, and not less than
fifty nor more than eighty-five privates. Men below the rank of
commissioned officer were not accepted if they were above forty-five or
under eighteen years of age, or if they were not in good physical
health. Interestingly, the order also stipulated "When practicable, you
will detail a commissioned or non-commissioned officer to drill,
discipline and instruct such recruits." 1The very broad
wording of this order supports the urgent atmosphere and the popular
notion that the majority of the soldiers left their farms, businesses,
and families to serve with only the most limited training to prepare
them for war.
The following represents the staff of the 1st Regiment, Maine
Volunteers: 2
Nathaniel J. Jackson, Lewiston, Colonel
Albion
Witham, Portland, Lieutenant Colonel
George G. Bailey, Portland,
Major
James S. Fillebrown, Lewiston, Adjutant
William S. Dodge,
Portland, Quartermaster
Wentworth P. Richardson, Portland, Surgeon
A.A.C.
Williams, Brunswick, Assistant Surgeon
George Knox, Brunswick,
Chaplain
Foster Randall, Lewiston, Sergeant Major
Stephen H.
Manning, Brunswick, Quartermaster Sergeant
George J. Northrop,
Portland, Hospital Steward
David Jones, Westbrook, Drum Major
Cyrus
Freeman, Lewiston, Fife Major
The following soldiers were raised and mustered May 3, 1861 by Capt. J
W Gardiner, for three months service at Portland, for service in
Company "A," 1st Regt of Maine Volunteers, commanded by Capt. Tukey.
| Rank |
Name |
Age |
Residence |
| Captain |
George W Tukey |
44 |
Portland |
| Lieutenant |
George H. Chadwell |
30 |
do |
| Lieutenant |
Charles L McAllister |
28 |
do |
| Sergeant |
John M. Beal |
32 |
do |
| Sergeant |
Alex. Bell |
44 |
do |
| Sergeant |
Perez B. Burnham |
26 |
do |
| Sergeant |
Simeon B. Wiggin |
36 |
do |
| Corporal |
Charles A. Chellis |
32 |
do |
| Corporal |
James Berry |
45 |
do |
| Corporal |
Charles H. Scott |
22 |
do |
| Corporal |
Benjamin F. Witham |
25 |
do |
| Musician |
William H. Sewell |
34 |
do |
| Musician |
Joseph H. Graham |
22 |
Fall River |
| Private |
George M. Adams |
26 |
Westbrook |
| do |
John R. Begg |
19 |
Portland |
| do |
Davis C. Bowker |
35 |
do |
| do |
John E. Barnard |
34 |
do |
| do |
Thomas Barry |
19 |
C. Elizabeth |
| do |
Freeman N. Boynton |
22 |
do |
| do |
John B. Bowie |
22 |
Portland |
| do |
John F. Copp |
20 |
do |
| do |
John F. Collins |
22 |
Philadelphia |
| do |
Benjamin S. Cushman |
18 |
Portland |
| do |
Thaddeus W. Coolbroth |
21 |
do |
| do |
Charles B. Chamberlain |
18 |
C. Elizabeth |
| do |
Edmund W. Dyer |
22 |
do |
| do |
John Green |
31 |
Portland |
| do |
Stephen H. Guptill |
21 |
Fryeburg |
| do |
Rufus W. Hyde |
33 |
Portland |
| do |
Webb Hall |
30 |
do |
| do |
Nils A. Hanson |
23 |
do |
| do |
Henry D. Hall |
27 |
|
| do |
Charles L. Holbrook |
19 |
Starks |
| do |
Thomas Hanley |
19 |
Cumberland |
| do |
Edward J. Hockley |
23 |
Portland |
| do |
Charles E. Illsley |
23 |
Harrison |
| do |
George S. Jordan |
21 |
C. Elizabeth |
| do |
Andrew B. Jordan |
23 |
do |
| do |
Frank S. Kennard |
21 |
|
| do |
Merritt A. Kennard |
19 |
|
| do |
William Lovitt |
21 |
C. Elizabeth |
| do |
James Lovitt |
19 |
do |
| do |
Edward R. Lincoln |
22 |
Portland |
| do |
John H. Munsey |
23 |
do |
| do |
George H. McKenney |
23 |
do |
| do |
Angus McDonald |
27 |
do |
| do |
Albion Murray |
21 |
Westbrook |
| do |
Charles P. Norton |
21 |
Portland |
| do |
Charles H. Newell |
20 |
do |
| do |
Charles H. Osgood |
26 |
East Boston |
| do |
John B. Pike |
31 |
Portland |
| do |
Tobias Pillsbury 2d |
20 |
C. Elizabeth |
| do |
Albert H. Purinton |
23 |
Portland |
| do |
Frank G. Rich |
26 |
do |
| do |
George H. Ross |
21 |
|
| do |
Edward Roach |
29 |
do |
| do |
Albert W. Smith |
25 |
do |
| do |
Thomas W. Soule |
27 |
do |
| do |
George Strong |
32 |
do |
| do |
Charles W. Stockman |
24 |
do |
| do |
Daniel W. Stackpole |
24 |
do |
| do |
George W. Swett |
20 |
Gorham |
| do |
John B. Swett |
23 |
Portland |
| do |
Albert H. Swett |
21 |
do |
| do |
George L. Stevens |
27 |
Westbrook |
| do |
Edw. G. Schoonmaker |
22 |
Cleveland |
| do |
George R. W. Thaxter |
22 |
Portland |
| do |
William D. Tyrrell |
23 |
C. Elizabeth |
| do |
Samuel O. Waterhouse |
22 |
Portland |
| do |
Edward P. Wyer |
29 |
do |
| do |
Oliver G. Whitten |
26 |
do |
| do |
Benjamin F. Whitten |
39 |
do |
| do |
John Witham |
|
|
| do |
Albert S. Watts |
22 |
N. Gloucester |
| do |
Henry E. Willard |
23 |
C. Elizabeth |
| do |
Alvan S. Wilson |
19 |
Portand |
| do |
Alfred R. Wormwood |
21 |
N. Gloucester |
An appendix contained in the same volume provides more personal
detail of individuals, such as their name; age; residence; marital
status; date mustered into service; the date of death, imprisonment, and
discharge, if applicable; place of illness, if applicable, and remarks.
Not all of the information is complete for each individual, but the
range of information that is available in these volumes is evident. The
following are selected excerpts: 3
- Private Jeremiah C. Gilman, age 20, was of Milo, single, and was
mustered into service 28 May 1861, in Company D, 2nd Inf. Regt. He was
wounded at Bull Run, and died November 1861 at Richmond, VA.
- Corporal Lewis R. Haskell, age 25, was also of Milo, single, and
also mustered into service 28 May 1861, also in Company D, 2nd Inf.
Regt. He was taken prisoner at Richmond Va., on 21 July.
- Sergeant Stephen D. Millett, age 38, married of Milo, was mustered
into service on 28 May 1861, and was promoted to 2d Lieutenant 2 Oct. He
may have served with a brother, also Sergeant, Samuel V. Millett, age
43, married, also of Milo who was discharged 4 Oct with a disability.
In addition to the published volumes relating to the service of
individuals, there are other military records that can provide still
further information about our ancestors.
Compiled Military Service Records: Each individual who served
during the Civil War had a Compiled Military Service Record (CMSR) for
each regiment in which he served. The Civil War section of the National
Archives website describes it in detail: "The CMSR contains basic
information about the soldier's military career, and it is the first
source the researcher should consult. The CMSR is an envelope (a jacket)
containing one or more cards. These cards typically indicate that the
soldier was present or absent during a certain period of time. Other
cards may indicate the date of enlistment and discharge, amount of
bounty paid him, and other information such as wounds received during
battle or hospitalization for injury or illness. The soldier's place of
birth may be indicated; if foreign born, only the country is stated. The
CMSR may contain an internal jacket for so-called 'personal papers' of
various kinds. [Note] however that the CMSR rarely indicates battles in
which a soldier fought; that information must be derived from other
sources." 4
Pension Records: Most Union soldiers or widows or minor
children applied for a pension. In other cases, a dependent father or
mother would apply. There are 544 rolls of film that are indexed and
available for viewing through the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA) (T288, General Index to Pension Files 1861-1934).
These records can be accessed in person at the National Archives (700
Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001). No prior arrangement is
necessary. Copies of records are available by mail, by using NATF Form
85 (Pension) and NATF Form 86 (CMSR) for each soldier. The forms can be
requested by sending an email that includes your name and address, form
number, and number of copies requested to mailto:inquire@nara.govor by writing
to:
National Archives and Records Administration
Attn: NWDT1
700
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001
The National Archives and Records Administration also has a branch
office at the Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center, (380 Trapelo Road,
Waltham, Mass., 02452-6399; phone [781] 647-8104; email:waltham.center@nara.gov. It serves the New England
states, and is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m,
and Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. No original records are
pulled after 4 p.m. Civil War Pension records are not available at this
branch, but there are a host of New England records available there,
and researchers are best advised to call first.
Records of Events: Information about a soldier's war
activities can be deduced from the activities of each company. These
were compiled from the original muster rolls and returns, and vary in
content. Some give day-by-day narratives of a company's activities. They
rarely name individuals. The records of Union regiments are reproduced
on microfilm (225 rolls, M594, Compiled Records Showing Service of
Military Units in Volunteer Union Organizations). Confederate regiments
are reproduced in 74 rolls (M861, Compiled Records Showing Service of
Military Units in Confederate Organizations). These rolls are arranged
by state, by regiment and by company, and are being published as Supplement
to the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 51
volumes (Wilmington, NC: Broadfoot Publishing Co., 1994-97).
Most states have published volumes of material that show infinite
detail about those who served from their state. There are six volumes
issued by the Maine Adjutant General that provide much detail about the
individuals who served from that state:
- Annual Report of the Adjutant General of State of Maine, for
the Year ending December 31, 1861
- Annual Report of the Adjutant General of State of Maine, for
the Year ending December 31, 1862
- Annual Report of the Adjutant General of State of Maine, for
the Year ending December 31, 1863
- Annual Report of the Adjutant General of State of Maine, for
the Year 1864 and 1865, Vol 1.
- Annual Report of the Adjutant General of State of Maine, for
the Year 1864 and 1865, Vol 2.
- Annual Report of the Adjutant General of State of Maine, for
the Year ending December 31, 1866.
Unfortunately, these annual reports are difficult to navigate, owing
to the lack of an index. It is therefore absolutely essential that
researchers know the military organization of the person being
researched. The alternative is to spend hours pouring over these
four-inch thick volumes. Even that may never yield the name of an
ancestor because he may appear in another volume, or in the same volume
but in a different company to which he may have been transferred. The
state of Maine recognized this, and issued a supplement 5containing
five different indices. Of particular note is the initial index of Volunteers
in Maine and U.S. Organizations:
Volunteers from April 1861 to 1 Jan 1863
Volunteers from 1 Jan
1863 to the close of the war
The other more singular reference is of Persons Drafted, Furnished
Substitutes in 1863. Two remaining indices are of individuals: Transferred
and omitted [and] Additional. These provide a smoother
transition into the earlier volumes and should permit more rapid
identification of ancestors.
1. Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine
for the year ending December 31, 1861 (Augusta: Stevens & Sayward,
printers to the state, 1862):81.
2. Ibid, 52-53.
3.
Ibid, Appendix D:10.
4.
http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/civilwar.html.
5.
Supplement to the Annual Reports of the Adjutant General of the State of
Maine for the years 1861, 62, 63, 64, 65, and 1866 (Augusta: Stevens
& Sayward, printers to the state, 1867).