Statewide County MD Archives Military Records.....A Brief Retrospect 
Civilwar - Rosters 
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A Brief Retrospect
A BRIEF RETROSPECT OF THE HISTORY OF MARYLAND'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ARMY 
AND NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE GREAT CIVIL WAR, A. D. 1861 TO 1865. 

THE State of Maryland responded promptly to the call for the preservation of the
Federal Union. While her people were divided in sentiment, many of them being
connected by social and business ties with the Southern States, which attempted
to divide the Union and set up a separate Confederacy, nevertheless the dominant
sentiment was in favor of the Union. The Union people, especially in the western
section of the State, in the early days of 1861, without waiting for the
authorities to act, took initiatory proceedings to form military organizations
to protect themselves and preserve order. 

    They subsequently, upon the call of the proper authorities, enlisted
regularly in the Army or Navy of the United States. 

    A considerable number of the people of Maryland who sympathized with the
Southern Confederacy, and who had the courage of their convictions, promptly
left the State and joined the Confederate troops. 

    Maryland was on the border land, and in the early days of the Civil War,
before the Government was apparently making any serious effort for its own
maintenance, and while Confederate troops were stationed on the banks of the
Potomac (on her borders), with a full knowledge that her territory would become,
in part, the seat of war, her people did not hesitate as to their duty. 

    They enlisted in the regular Army or Navy of the United States, and in
regiments from other States of the Union. They formed military organizations,
and the Union Home Guards, of Western Maryland, armed and equipped, protected,
confirmed and strengthened the Union sentiment in that section of the State. No
appeal made to them, even when their territory was occupied by Confederate
armies, or their fair fields desolated by contending hosts, property seized,
appropriated, consumed, burned or destroyed, could make them waver in their
allegiance to the Union. 

    The sacrifices made by the people of Maryland for the preservation of the
Union have never been properly understood or appreciated. 

    The first naval contingent which manned the fleet of Commander Foote, in the
year 1861, on the Mississippi, and which did such splendid service, was composed
in part of Baltimore sailors, descendants of that gallant body of men who
carried the American flag to victory on the high seas in the famous Baltimore
privateers during the war of 1812-1815. 

    Maryland sailors helped man the fleets of Admirals Farragut and Porter at
New Orleans, Mobile Bay, Charleston and Wilmington. In fact, wherever a naval
engagement was had during the Civil War, you could "find the Baltimore sailor"
on the shipping lists. 

    The First Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, was organized at
Baltimore in May, 1861, composed not only of citizens of Baltimore, but from a
number of the counties, especially Frederick, Howard and Baltimore counties.
Major John R. Kenly, a veteran soldier of the Mexican War, was commissioned
Colonel. Colonel Kenly was subsequently promoted Brigadier-General and Brevet
Major-General. 

    The regiment promptly proceeded to the front, and at Front Royal, Virginia,
May 23, 1862, it emulated the old Maryland line of yore, by the terrible
sacrifice it made to save General Banks' Army of the Shenandoah from
annihilation, as its progenitors had done at Long Island, New York, in the War
of the Revolution, to save the army of General Washington. 

    This regiment maintained its reputation for gallantry all through the Civil
War; re-enlisted for the war and veteranized upon the expiration of their
original terms of enlistment, and was at the front, with the 5th Army Corps of
the Army of the Potomac, at the final surrender of General Robert E. Lee's
Confederate Army at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865. 

    The Second and Third Regiments of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, were
organized in June, 1861, and rendered splendid service in the States of North
Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as on the sanguinary
battlefield of Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862, where the Second Regiment
particularly distinguished itself in the charge at the Burnside Bridge, as it
also did at the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., November 18 to December 6, 1863. 

    The Third Regiment acted with conspicuous gallantry at the great Battle of
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863. 

    The Fourth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Regiments of Infantry, Maryland
Volunteers, were organized from June to September, 1862. 

    The Fifth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, was organized in
September, 1861. 

    The Purnell Legion, consisting of a regiment of infantry, three companies of
cavalry, and two batteries of artillery, was organized from October to December,
1861, through the instrumentality of the Hon. William H. Purnell, who was
Postmaster at Baltimore City at the time, and after whom it was named. Colonel
Samuel Graham, of this regiment, was a prominent Maryland lawyer. 

    The First, Second and Third Regiments of Potomac Home Brigade Infantry,
Maryland Volunteers, and Cole's Battalion, Potomac Home Brigade Cavalry,
Maryland Volunteers, were organized in the western section of the State between
August 1, 1861, and October, 1861, through the instrumentality of the Hon.
Francis Thomas, member of Congress, by special authority of the Secretary of War. 

    Like the famous Pennsylvania Reserves, this brigade was organized for
special service and contained excellent material, and from the battlefields of
Gettysburg, Pa. (where the First Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade Infantry, under
the command of Colonel William P Maulsby, a distinguished Maryland lawyer of
Revolutionary stock, rendered signal service and suffered severely), to
Lynchburg, Va., on the James River, they rendered gallant service, especially
the cavalry battalion, which was always known officially and otherwise as
"Cole's Cavalry," and which made quite a reputation for its daring and
successful raids. It was composed of farmers sons from the border land, who
owned their own horses and who were natural born cavalrymen. 

    For its gallant conduct in heading the cavalry column which cut its way
through the enemy's lines at Harper's Ferry, Va., prior to its surrender,
September 14, 1862, and for its splendid conduct at the midnight battle in the
snow on Loudon Heights, Va., January 10, 1864 (for which it received a
congratulatory order from the General-in-Chief of the Armies of the United
States), the battalion was augmented to a full regiment of three battalions in
the spring of 1864. 

    Lieutenant-Colonel Vernon, who lost an eye in this battle, was afterwards
Surveyor of Customs at Baltimore, Md., and Major Alexander Shaw, of Second
Regiment Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, who rendered gallant service with his
command in West Virginia, is at present one of the most successful financiers
and business men of Maryland. 

    The First and Second Regiments of Eastern Shore Infantry Volunteers were
organized from September to December, 1861, of excellent material, and many of
the officers, like Colonel Wallace, Colonel Wilkens and Captain W. D. Burchinal
(afterwards Surveyor of Customs at Baltimore, Md.), were members of the oldest
and best families of that section of Maryland. 

    The First Eastern Shore Regiment performed gallant service on Gulp's Hill,
at the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863, and the Second Regiment
was conspicuous for its soldiery qualities during the Lynchburg campaign of 1864. 

    The Thirteenth Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, was organized
March 1, 1865. 

    The First Regiment of Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers, was organized between
August, 1861, and June, 1862. A portion of this regiment came from the District
of Columbia and the State of Pennsylvania. They rendered invaluable service with
the cavalry corps of the Army of the Potomac, and particularly distinguished
themselves at the cavalry fights and victories of Brandy Station, Va., June 9,
1863, and Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3, 1863. Many of the officers were promoted
from the ranks for gallantry and meritorious conduct. 

    The Third Regiment of Cavalry was organized at Baltimore, Md., from August
8, 1863, to January 9, 1864, and performed good service in the States of
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. 

    The Patapsco Guards, Independent Company of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers,
was organized September 25, 1861. 

    Smith's Independent Company of Cavalry was organized October 15, 1862. 
The Baltimore Battery, Light Artillery (Alexander's), was organized August 18,
1862. It was composed of most excellent material; one of its former lieutenants,
Peter Leary, is now captain, of fine record, of Battery D, 4th Regiment, United
States Artillery. 

    It rendered splendid service at the battle of Winchester, Va., June 14 and
15, 1863, and at Monocacy, Md., July 9, 1864. 

    Battery D, Maryland Light Artillery, was organized June 24 to November 2,
1864, and assigned to the defenses of Washington. 

    Batteries A (Rigby's) and B, Maryland Light Artillery, were organized from
August to October, 1861, and originally constituted a part of the Purnell Legion. 

    They had a splendid record, and particularly distinguished themselves at the
battle of Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862, as a part of that grand park of
artillery which drove back, with such severe losses, the victorious troops of
Lee and saved the Army of the Potomac. 

    Again, at battles of Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862, Fredericksburg, Va.,
December 13, 1862, and Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863, they were
conspicuous for their gallant and efficient service. 

    All of the aforementioned regiments of infantry and cavalry and batteries of
artillery enlisted for three years, or during the war that is, the First,
Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Thirteenth Regiments of
Infantry, Maryland Volunteers; the First Regiment of Cavalry, Maryland
Volunteers, and Cole's Cavalry (First Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade Cavalry,
Maryland Volunteers); Batteries A (Rigby's), B and D, Maryland Light Artillery;
and the Baltimore Battery, Maryland Light Artillery (Alexander's). 

    The older commands, as aforesaid, on the expiration of their terms of
enlistments, re-enlisted for the war that is, the First, Second, Third, Fifth
Regiments of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers; First, Second, Third Regiments of
Potomac Home Brigade Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, and the First and Second
Regiments of Eastern Shore Infantry, Maryland Volunteers; the First Regiment of
Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers, and Cole's Cavalry (1st Regiment, P. H. B.
Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers); Companies A, B and C Cavalry, Purnell Legion;
Patapsco Guards. Independent Company of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 

    The Ninth and Tenth Regiments of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, were
organized in July, 1863, to serve six months; they were really emergency men, to
aid in repelling the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania by General Lee's
Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both regiments rendered good service, and
the Ninth Regiment was surrounded and captured by an overwhelming force of the
enemy, after a gallant defense at Charlestown, Va., October 18, 1863. 

    The Eleventh Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, was organized June
16, 1864, to serve one hundred days, as emergency men, to repel the invasion of
the State by General Early's Confederate Army, and participated in the battle of
Monocacy, Md., July 9, 1864 a battle made necessary against odds, in order to
save the Capitol at Washington from capture. 

    The Eleventh Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers (one year's men), was
composed of the re-enlisted men of the Eleventh Regiment Infantry, one hundred
days men, and also of consolidations with seven companies of the re-enlisted men
of the First Regiment, Eastern Shore Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 

    Captain Charles Chaille Long, of this regiment, afterwards became a colonel
in the Egyptian army, and served on the staff of General C. P. Gordon during his
campaign in the Soudan. He is widely known for his literary and scientific
attainments. 

    The Twelfth Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, was organized July
30, 1864, as another emergency regiment for one hundred days, and was assigned
to guard duty to enable veteran regiments to proceed to the front. 

    The Second Regiment of Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers, was organized from July
1, 1863, to August 19, 1863, for six months, as an emergency regiment and for
special service in Southern Maryland. 

    Batteries A and B (Second), Maryland Light Artillery, were organized in
July, 1863, to serve six months, and were assigned to garrison duty in the
fortifications for the defenses of Baltimore, Md. 

    The Fourth, Seventh and Eighth Regiments of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers,
with the First Regiment of Infantry, constituted the famous Maryland Brigade.
This brigade, after rendering valuable service in Western Maryland and West
Virginia, became a part of the great Army of the Potomac, and from the year 1863
to close of the war was an integral part thereof, sharing all of its hardships,
marches, vicissitudes, reverses and victories until the close of the war. 

    The history of the Fourth, Seventh and Eighth Regiments of Infantry was
substantially the same. The gallant conduct of these regiments during the
campaign of 1864 and 1865, under General Grant, until the surrender of Lee at
Appomattox, reflected great honor and credit upon themselves and the State of
Maryland. 

    These regiments were made up of Marylanders from all sections of the State.
Many distinguished and representative Marylanders were officers in these
regiments, amongst whom might be mentioned Colonel Harrison Adreon, of the
Fourth Regiment of Infantry, afterwards Postmaster at Baltimore, Md. The Hon.
Edwin H. Webster, a prominent lawyer of Harford County, a member of Congress for
several terms, and afterwards Collector of Customs at Baltimore, was the first
colonel of the Seventh Regiment. He was succeeded by the Hon. Charles E. Phelps,
also a member of Congress, who was severely wounded, and breveted
brigadier-general for gallant and meritorious conduct on the battlefield, and
who is at present one of the Justices of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City,
highly respected and honored by all classes of our people as a jurist and a
citizen. Colonel Andrew Dennison, of the Eighth Regiment, came of an old
mercantile family of Baltimore, Md., lost an arm in battle, and was breveted
brigadier-general. He was afterwards Postmaster at Baltimore. 

    The Sixth Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, known as "The Fighting
Sixth," was one of the two Maryland regiments (the First Regiment of Infantry
being the other) classified by Colonel Fox as one of the three hundred fighting
regiments of the war who suffered the severest losses. 

    The Sixth Regiment had certainly a very brilliant record, and during a long
period of its service was a component part of the Sixth Army Corps, which
rendered such splendid service to the Union cause, both under Sheridan in the
Shenandoah Valley campaign, and under Grant in the Wilderness and through to the
end. Colonel John W. Horn, of this regiment, was promoted brigadier-general, and
was afterwards at the head of several Maryland institutions, displaying rare
executive ability in their management. 

    The Fifth Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, fought at Bloody Lane
on the Antietam battlefield, September 17, 1862, with distinguished gallantry,
and its commanding officer, for the time being, Major Leopold Blumenburg (a
representative of that enterprising and useful German-American element who have
done so much to build up the material interests of Maryland), was shot down
whilst leading his regiment. 

    The Purnell Legion, infantry regiment, rendered gallant service in the
Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and with the Army of the Potomac. 

    The companies of cavalry originally attached to the Legion rendered good
service all through the war, and especially Company A, at the Battle of Gettysburg.


    The Fourth, Seventh, Ninth, Nineteenth, Thirtieth and Thirty-Ninth Regiments
of United States Colored Troops were recruited in Maryland from July, 1863, to
March, 1804. While these regiments were not raised under the auspices of the
authorities of Maryland, or recognized by them as Maryland troops, nevertheless
they were essentially Maryland troops, to all intents and purposes, although
recruited and organized under the direct authority of the United States. These
regiments rendered good service and suffered severe losses. They always regarded
themselves as Maryland troops, and were proud of their native State. 

    A very large number of colored people were recruited in Maryland by
recruiting agents from other States, and assigned to regiments organized in and
accredited to other States. 

    A considerable number of colored people also shipped in the United States
Navy during the Civil War. A large proportion of these enlistments in the army
and navy were subsequently accredited to the quota of the State of Maryland. 

    Maryland furnished to the Union Army twenty (20) regiments and one
independent company of infantry; four regiments, one battalion and one
independent company of cavalry; and six batteries of light artillery; or a total
of twenty-four (24) regiments, one battalion and two independent companies,
designated as follows: 

    First Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Second Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Third Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Fourth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Fifth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Sixth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Seventh Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Eighth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Ninth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Tenth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Eleventh Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers (100 days' men). 
    Eleventh Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers (one year's men). 
    Twelfth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Thirteenth Regiment Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    First Regiment, Eastern Shore Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Second Regiment, Eastern Shore Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    First Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Second Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Third Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Purnell Legion Infantry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Patapsco Guards, Independent Company of Infantry. Maryland Volunteers. 
    First Regiment Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    First Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade Cavalry. Maryland Volunteers (Cole's
        Cavalry). 
    Second Regiment Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Third Regiment Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Smith's Independent Company of Cavalry, Maryland Volunteers. 
    Battery A, Maryland Light Artillery Volunteers (Rigby s). 
    Battery B, Maryland Light Artillery Volunteers (Snow s). 
    Battery D, Maryland Light Artillery. 
    Baltimore Battery, Maryland Light Artillery (Alexander s). 
    Battery A (Second), Maryland Light Artillery (Junior Artillery). 
    Battery B (Second), Maryland Light Artillery (Eagle Artillery). 

    A total of thirty-three (33) commands regularly organized, recognized and
credited to the State of Maryland. 

    The regiments authorized to be known as the Fourth Regiment, Potomac Home
Brigade Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, the Baltimore or Dix Light Infantry, and
the German Rifles never completed their organizations, and, before entering
active field service, were assigned to and consolidated with other Maryland
regiments. 

    If these three regiments were added to those already specified, as well as
the six regiments of colored troops recruited and organized in Maryland, viz.,
the Fourth, Seventh, Ninth, Nineteenth, Thirtieth and Thirty-Ninth Regiments of
the United States Colored Troops, it would make a grand total of forty-two (42)
organizations furnished by Maryland to the cause of the Union during the Civil War.


    Many of these regiments re-enlisted for the war and recruited their depleted
ranks by consolidations and otherwise repeatedly, and while a regiment of
infantry may have entered the service with ten companies and a maximum strength
of 1070 men, and a cavalry regiment with twelve companies and a maximum strength
of 1276 men, a battery of artillery with a maximum strength of 103 men,
nevertheless, from the commencement to the end of the war, over double the
number of men would often actually appear upon their muster rolls, and did
actually serve in the ranks, as was the case as shown by the official records of
the First Regiment of Infantry, Maryland Volunteers, with a grand total of 2541
men, the First Maryland Cavalry, with 2036 men, and Battery D, Maryland Light
Artillery, with 178 men. 

    These enlistments, re-enlistments, recruits, drafted men and substitutes
accredited to the quota of Maryland aggregated a very large number of men; in
fact, much larger than might have been supposed from the number of organizations
accredited to the State. 

    The total population of Maryland, male and female, according to the United
States census for the year 1860, was six hundred and eighty-seven thousand and
forty-nine (687,049), white and colored. 

    Maryland furnished, according to the official records of the War and Navy
Departments of the United States of America, from the year 1861 to the year
1865, fifty thousand three hundred and sixteen (50,316) white troops, eight
thousand seven hundred and eighteen (8718) colored troops, and three thousand
nine hundred and twenty-five (3925) sailors and marines, or a grand total of
sixty-two thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine (62,959) men, nearly one-tenth of
its entire population at the time thereof, or over fifteen per cent, of its male
population. 

    A perusal of the different regimental histories in this publication will
show the serious losses, in killed and wounded, suffered by the Maryland troops
during the Civil War. 

    It is but proper to state that the histories of the Maryland troops would
not be complete without mention of the War Governors of Maryland, viz., the Hon.
Thomas Holiday Hicks and the Hon. Augustus W. Bradford, who manifested much
interest in the enlistment, organization and service of the Maryland troops.
Governor Bradford paid frequent visits to the troops in the field, with a view
to their betterment and efficiency, and was prompt to recognize efficiency, zeal
and gallantry by promotions, etc., when in his power to do so. 

    The history and record of the Maryland soldiers and sailors who fought for
the Union in the great Civil War is one of which every Marylander, no matter
what his opinion past or present may have been, should feel a just pride. 

    Let it teach a lesson to posterity of patriotism, self-sacrifice and
devotion to duty, as seen by their fathers, and may future generations be as
ready and willing to respond to the call of duty and patriotism when the Nation
and State demand, remembering at all times "that eternal vigilance is the price
of liberty." 


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY AND ROSTER OF 
Maryland Volunteers, War of 1861-5 
PREPARED UNDER AUTHORITY OF 
The General Assembly of Maryland, 
BY
L. ALLISON WILMER, 
J. H. JARRETT, 
GEO. W. F. VERNON, 
State Commissioners. 

VOLUME I. 
1898 
PRESS OF GUGGENHEIMER, WEIL & CO. 
BALTIMORE, MD. 
Electrotyped.





Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1898, 
by Geo. W. F. Vernon, L. Allison Wilmer, J. H. Jarrett, Commissioners for the 
State of Maryland, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, 
at Washington, D. C. 


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