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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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