HISTORICAL NOTES:
The 14th Regiment, Maine Infantry was organized at Augusta,and mustered in December 31, 1861. The regiment left the state for Boston, Massachusetts, on February 5, 1862, and there embarked on February 6 on the steamer "North America." They arrived at Ship Island, Mississippi, on March 8. The regiment was attached to Butler's New Orleans Expeditionary Corps, January 1862.
The Regiment remained at Ship Island until May 19, 1862, then moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, from May 19 to 25. They remained on duty there until July 7. They moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 7. An expedition to the Amite River was carried out between July 23 and 25 by Companies "F" and "K". The Regiment participated in the Battle of Baton Rouge on August 5. The 14th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment is the focus of the poem "On the Men of Maine killed in the Victory of Baton Rouge, Louisiana" written by Herman Melville.
They moved to Carrollton on August 20, and remained on duty there until December 13, 1862. During this time they went to Bayou des Allemands on September 4 to 5 and an expedition to St. Charles September 7 to 8.
On December 13, 1862, they moved to Bonnet Carre and remained on duty there until May 7, 1863. During this time, Company "H" detached at Frenier December 14, 1862, to January 6, 1863. Company "B" detached December 14 to February 20 and Company "E" January 6 to April 11. A detachment made a scouting expedition to Pass ManchacFebruary 8–11, 1863. There was an expedition to Ponchatoula March 21–24, which led to its capture on March 24 by Company E. The regiment made expeditions to the Amite River March 24–30 and May 7–19 and then on to Civiques Ferry on May 10 and Baton Rouge
The move on Port Hudson began May 20–22 with the siege of Port Hudson May 24-July 8. Assaults were made on May 27 and June 14 with the surrender of Port Hudson July 8. The regiment moved back to Baton Rouge on July 22.
The Sabine Pass Expedition took place September 4–11 and after that the Western Louisiana ("Teche") Campaign October 3-November 30. The Regiment was on duty at New Iberia, Louisiana, until January 7, 1864. They then moved to Franklin on January 7and on January 16 back to New Orleans where they remained on duty at Camp Parapet until May 5. Veterans were Furloughed between February 10 and April 19.
The Regiment moved to Baton Rouge on May 5 and remained on duty there until June 1. They moved to Morganza, Louisiana, and were on duty there until July 3.
Service in Virginia[edit]
Disembarking from Algiers, the regiment traveled to Virginia, first to Fort Monroe and then the Bermuda Hundred between July 3 and 22. They remained in the trenches at Bermuda Hundred until July 28.
A demonstration was made north of the James River July 28–29 prior to Deep Bottom July 28–30. The Regiment moved to Washington, D. C., July 31, and thereafter to Tennallytown, Maryland, on August 2.
The Regiment participated in Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign from August 7 to November 28, 1864, including Berryville September 3–4, the Battle of Opequan, Winchester on September 19, the Battle of Fisher's Hill on September 22, and the Battle of Cedar Creek October 19.
The Regiment remained at Cedar Creek until November 9, then moved to Kernstown, Virginia, until November 24.
After some time guarding trains at Martinsburg, West Virginia, they moved to Camp Russell on December 1, and remained on duty there until December 22.
Non-Veterans left front for muster out December 22. Mustered out January 13, 1865. Veterans and Recruits consolidated to a Battalion of four Companies, and duty at Stevenson's Depot till January 6, 1865. They then moved to Savannah, Georgia, between January 6 and 20. They were on provost duty there until May 6. They marched to Augusta, Georgia, from May 6 to 14, and then on to Savannah between May 31 and June 7. They then moved to Darien June 9–10.
The regiment was mustered out on August 28, 1865.
OFFICERS:
Thomas W Porter Rank in Colonel
Charles S Bickmore Rank in Lieut Col
Albion K Bolan Rank in Major
Joseph H Metcalf Rank in Adjutant
John H Crowell Rank in Qr Mast'r
Enoch Adams Rank in Surgeon
Elisha Hopkins Rank in Ass't Sur
William R Hawkins Rank in Sgt Maj
Edwin L Clark Rank in Q M Sgt
Henry C Snow Rank in Com Sgt
George McGaffey Rank in Hp Stew
Emory Hall Rank in Pr Mus'n
Warren I Dollof Adjutant
Alvan J Bates Chaplain
Warren Crowell Qr Mast'r
Peter Costello Hp Stew
George W Whittier Pr Mus'n ASSIGNMENTS:
Left State for Boston, Mass., February 5, 1862, and there embarked February 6 on Steamer "North America" for Ship Island, Miss., arriving March 8.
• Attached to Butler's New Orleans Expeditionary Corps, January to March, 1862.
• 3rd Brigade, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1862.
• Sherman's Division, Dept. Gulf, to January, 1863.
• 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. Gulf, to July, 1863.
• 1st Brigade. 3rd Division, 19th Corps, July, 1863.
• 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Corps, to February, 1864.
• 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Corps, Dept. Gulf, to July, 1864.
• Army Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to January, 1865.
• District of Savannah, Ga., Dept. South, to March, 1865.
• 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 10th Army Corps, Army Ohio, to April, 1865.
• District of Savannah, Dept. of the South, to August, 1865. SERVICE:
Duty at Ship Island, Miss., until May 19, 1862.
Moved to New Orleans, May 19-25, and duty there until July 7.
Moved to Baton Rouge, La., July 7.
Expedition to Amite River July 23-25 (Cos. "F" and "K").
Battle of Baton Rouge August 5.
Moved to Carrollton August 20, and duty there until December 13.
Bayou Des Allemands September 4-5.
Expedition to St. Charles Court House September 7-8.
St. Charles Court House September 8.
Moved to Bonnet Carre December 13, and duty there until May 7, 1863.
Company "H" detached at Frenier December 14, 1862, to January 6, 1863.
Company "B" detached at Frenier December 14, 1862, to February 20, 1863.
Company "E" detached at Frenier January 6 to April 11.
Scout to Pass Manchac February 8-11, 1863 (Detachment).
Expedition to Ponchatoula March 21-24.
Capture of Ponchatoula March 24 (Co. ,'E").
Expedition to Amite River March 24-30 (Cos. "A," "B," "C," "D," "G," "H" and "I").
Expedition to Amite River May 7-19.
Civiques Ferry May 10. Moved to Baton Rouge, thence to Port Hudson May 20-22.
Siege of Port Hudson May 24-July 8.
Assaults on Port Hudson May 27 and June 14.
Surrender of Port Hudson July 8.
Moved to Baton Rouge July 22.
Sabine Pass Expedition September 4-11.
Western Louisiana ("Teche") Campaign October 3-November 30.
Duty at New Iberia until January 7, 1864.
Moved to Franklin January 7, thence to New Orleans January 16.
Duty at Camp Parapet until May 5.
Veterans on furlough February 10 to April 19.
Moved to Baton Rouge May 5, and duty there until June 1.
Moved to Morganza, La., and duty there until July 3.
Moved to Algiers, thence to Fort Monroe and Bermuda Hundred, Va., July 3-22.
In trenches at Bermuda Hundred until July 28.
Demonstration north of James River July 28-29.
Deep Bottom July 28-30.
Moved to Washington, D.C., July 31, thence to Tennallytown, Md., August 2.
Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28.
Berryville September 3-4.
Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19.
Fisher's Hill September 22.
Battle of Cedar Creek October 19.
At Cedar Creek until November 9.
At Kernstown until November 24.
Guard train to Martinsburg.
Moved to Camp Russell December 1, and duty there until December 22.
Non-Veterans left front for muster out December 22.
Mustered out January 13, 1865.
Veterans and Recruits consolidated to a Battalion of four Companies, and duty at Stevenson's Depot until January 6, 1865.
Moved to Savannah, Ga., January 6-20, and provost duty there until May 6. (Two new unassigned companies joined March 30, and four companies joined April 10.
Assigned as "E," "F," "G," "H," "I" and "K".)
March to Augusta, Ga., May 6-14, and to Savannah May 31-June 7.
Moved to Darien June 9-10, and duty there until August 28. (Co. "B" at Walthamville and Co. "H" at Brunswick.)
Mustered out August 28, 1865. ROSTERS:
The composite rosters of this unit contain the names of 3929 men.
Captain Charles Barnard's Company A
Captain Richard W. Mullen's Company B
Captain Andrew F. F. Hall's Company C
Captain James W. Wiswell's Company D
Captain Orlando W. Trask's Company E
Captain John K. Laing's Company F
Captain George H. Cheney's Company G
Captain Winslow Robert's Company H
Captain Ira B. Gardiner's Company I
Captain Edward A. Skinner's Company K BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Vol. 2. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 1998. Ref. See p. 1222 (1 photocopied page) for a concise summary of the regiment's service.
Edwards, Abial H. "Dear Friend Anna": The Civil War Letters of a Common Soldier From Maine. Orono, ME: U ME, 1992. 161 p. E601E38.
Maine. AGO. Annual Report...for the Years 1864 and 1865. Augusta, ME: Stevens & Sayward, 1866. Cartersville, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2010. UA43M2.1864-1865.AppD. See pp. 379-86 (5 photocopied pages) for a roster of the regiment. Although regimental rosters appear in earlier Annual Reports, that found in this edition is the most complete for the unit's wartime service.
Whitman, William W.S. Maine in the War for the Union: A History of the Part Borne by Maine Troops.... Lexington, ME: Nelson Dingley, 1865. Powder Springs, GA: Eastern Digital Resources, 2010. E511W61. See pp. 225-60 (19 photocopied pages) for a brief history of the regiment.
REFERENCES: Dyer, Frederick H. - A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
The Union Army by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1