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19th Maine Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this regiment’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: August 25, 18621
Muster Out: May 31, 18652

Commander(s):

Colonel Isaac W. Starbird
Isaac W. Starbird3

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph W. Spaulding
JosephWSpaulding19thME4

Major David E. Parsons
Commander Image Needed

Captain Charles E. Nash
CharlesENash19thME5

 

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army6

  • Commander: Captain Charles E. Nash?7
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (June 30, 1864)8
  • Note: 75 men from the 4th Maine, which was leaving the front to muster out, were added to the 19th Maine on June 15, 1864.9

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army10,11

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army15,16

  • Commander:
    • Captain Joseph W. Spaulding (at least July 27-31, 1864)(away on court martial duty July 9-11, 1864)17,18
    • ? (July 9-11, 1864)
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army19,20

  • Commander: Captain Joseph W. Spaulding (at least August 9 22-23 & 30-31, 1864)21,22,23,24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army29,30

  • Commander: Major Isaac W. Starbird (at least October 24 & 31, 1864)31,32,33
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The Fifth Independent Company, Maine Infantry was assigned to the 19th Maine on October 22, 1864.34

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army35

  • Commander: Colonel Isaac W. Starbird (December 31, 1864)36,37
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army38,39,40

  • Commander:
    • Major David E. Parsons (January 31, 1865)41
    • Colonel Isaac W. Starbird (February 28, 1865)42,43
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, February 5-7, 1865, implying it was present during the Eighth Offensive and the battle.44

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Second Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army45,46

  • Commander: Colonel Isaac W. Starbird (wounded April 7, 1865)(March 31-April 2, 1865)47,48
  • Unit Strength: 350-375 officers and men (throughout early April 1865)49
  • Weapons:

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles50:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-19.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864.
  • Deep Bottom, north of the James, July 27-28.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve).
  • Demonstration north of the James August 13-20.
  • Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18.
  • Ream’s Station August 25.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Dabney’s Mills February 5-7, 1865.
  • Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9.
  • Boydton Road March 30-31.
  • Fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Sailor’s Creek April 6.
  • High Bridge April 6-7.
  • Farmville April 7.
  • Appomattox C. H. April 9.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

Sources:

  1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
  2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
  3. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). after p. 306.
  4. Carte de Visite of Capt. Joseph W. Spaulding, Co.A 19th Maine Infantry. Neg #1046. Digital image. Maine State Documents. Maine State Library, Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Mar. 2015.
  5. Carte de Visite of Capt. Charles E. Nash, 19th Maine Infantry. Neg #935. Digital image. Maine State Documents. Maine State Library, Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Mar. 2015.
  6. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 219-221
  7. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). pp. 200.: Captain Nash was in command on June 12, 1864, and the regiment saw no fighting between then and the Battle of Petersburg on June 15-18, 1864.  No direct mention of the commander is made for that time period, so it is assumed but cannot be proven that Nash was in command during the First Offensive.  More research is needed.
  8. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 19th Maine Entry, Page 78; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
  9. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). pp. 200201.
  10. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 219-221
  11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 543
  12. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). pp. 209.: According to Smith’s book, Spaulding had returned to the regiment two days earlier, or June 20, 1864.  This lends credence to the assumption of Captain Nash being in command on June 15-18, 1864, as Spaulding had not yet returned.
  13. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). pp. 209,213
  14. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 19th Maine Entry, Page 78; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
  15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 252
  16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 730
  17. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 221222.: Spaulding was detailed for court-martial duty on July 9, 1864, and remained on that duty until at least July 11.  It appears that Spaulding was again in command by the First Battle of Deep Bottom from July 27-29, 1864.
  18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 730
  19. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 613: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
  20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 117, 130: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)”
  21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 372: Spaulding wrote this report on August 9, 1864 and signed it as commanding the 19th Maine.
  22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 304-306: Spaulding wrote a series of reports on August 22, 23, and 30, and signs them as commanding the 19th Maine.
  23. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 226, 234, 235.
  24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 613: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864”
  25. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1298.
  26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 304-306
  27. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 259.
  28. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 19th Maine Entry, Page 72; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.
  29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
  30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 153: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864”
  31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 306-307
  32. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 244.
  33. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 459: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)”
  34. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 244.: The company contained three officers and 64 men.  In November this eleventh company was broken up and distributed among the veteran companies of the regiment.
  35. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1116: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
  36. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1116: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864)
  37. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 254.
  38. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 326: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
  39. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 739: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
  40. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 63: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
  41. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 326: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865)
  42. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 739: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865)
  43. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 264265.
  44. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 63: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road)… (February 5-7, 1865)”
  45. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 567: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
  46. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 583: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865”
  47. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 567: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865)
  48. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 293,295.: Lt. Colonel Spaulding wrote the official report of this last campaign because Starbird was wounded on April 7, 1865 and was absent when it came time to write the report.
  49. Smith, John D. The History of the Nineteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1865 (Great Western Printing Company, 1909). p. 295.
  50. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3)
{ 3 comments… add one }
  • Renee Boudreau February 17, 2013, 12:55 am

    My Great Grandfather’s Uncle served in the 19th Maine Inf. and was at the Battle of Petersburg. I have a photo of him (Copy of a newpaper photo); he later transfered to the Maine Heavy Artillery.
    He also Lead the largest Musical Organization for the Inaugural Parade (1905) and was at the head of Bay State Troops for it.

  • Renee Boudreau February 17, 2013, 12:56 am

    Sorry lol hit submit before realized I didn’t put his name in:
    Drum Major John B. Witham Service from April of 1864-1869

  • bschulte February 17, 2013, 10:27 am

    Renee,

    Thank you very much for your comments! If you are okay with seeing the photo published I would love to have a copy as well as your accompanying story of his life. These anecdotes of men who were present at the Siege of Petersburg fascinate me, and will make up a significant sub-section of the site in the future. I’m in the “story collecting” phase of that sub-section for the foreseeable future, but I hope to someday make it a reality.

    Brett Schulte
    The Siege of Petersburg Online

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