Draw the Sword

A Fighting 300 Regiment

Location: De Trobriand Avenue (Wheatfield) and Hancock Avenue. 39° 47.744′ N, 77° 14.665′ W

Order of Battle: 3rd Corps, 1st Division, 3rd Brigade

Number Engaged: 18 killed, 112 wounded, 3 missing of 292 engaged

Commander: Lt. Col. Benjamin Merrill (1827-1891)

Raised: Cumberland, Franklin, Oxford, York, and Androscoggin counties.

Monument Specifications: The monument stands at the spot where the colors of the regiment stood on July 2, 1863. 22 ft. 8 in. x 8 ft. x 8 ft. A granite monument comprised of a four-course rock-faced shaft topped by a sculpted infantryman behind a stone wall. Inscriptions are incised in shaft and red granite diamonds are inset in the middle course. The monument is set on a two-tiered base. The monument marks the position held by the 17th regiment during the afternoon of July 2, 1863.

Dedication Date: October 3, 1889

Main Inscription: The 17th Maine fought here in the wheatfield 2 1-2 hours, and at this position from 4:10 th 5:45 o’clock p.m. July 2, 1863. On July 3, at time of the enemy’s assault it reinforced the centre and supported artillery. Loss 132. Killed or mortally wounded 3 officers. 37 men. Wounded 5 officers 87 men. This regiment of volunteers from western Maine was mustered into U.S. Service at Portland August 18, 1862, for 3 years. It took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Auburn, Kelly’s Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, Fredericksburg Road, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Jerusalem Road, Deep Bottom, Peeble’s Farm, Fort Hell, Boydton Road, Siege of Petersburg, Hatcher’s Run, Fall of Petersburg, Detonsville, Sailor’s Creek, Farmville, Appomattox.

Other Monuments & Markers: Secondary marker on Hancock Avenue denotes July 3, 1863 position. Diamond-shaped sculpture with a square bottom stands on a low, rough-hewn base. The edges of the sculpture are also rough-hewn. There is a pink diamond with a polished surface set into the front face of the monument. Marks July 3 position in support of the 9th Michigan Artillery.

Supplemental Materials: After Action Report of Lieut. Col. Charles B. Merrill (will open a pop up window).

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:
Organized at Camp King, Cape Elizabeth, and mustered in August 18, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., August 21. Attached to Defenses of Washington to October, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army Potomac, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps, to March, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–Garrison duty in the Defenses of Washington August 23-October 7, 1862, At Upton’s Hill, Va., until October 12. At Edwards Ferry October 12-28. Advance to Warrenton, thence to Falmouth, Va., October 28-November 22. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24, 1863. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Battle of Chancellorsville May 1-5. Gettysburg (Pa.) Campaign June 13-July 24. Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Wapping Heights July 23. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Auburn and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly’s Ford November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Payne’s Farm November 27. Mine Run November 28-30. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Laurel Hill May 8. Spotsylvania May 8-!2, Po River May 10. Spotsylvania C. H. May 12-21, “Bloody Angle,” Assault on the Salient, May 12. Harris Farm, Fredericksburg Road, May 19. North Anna May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. 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. Demonstration north of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains August 14-18. Ream’s Station August 25. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Raid on Weldon Railroad December 7-11. Dabney’s Mills February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. South Side Railroad March 29. Boydton Road and White Oak Ridge March 30-31. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Jettersville April 5. Sailor’s Creek April 6. High Bridge April 6-7. Farmville April 7. Appomattox C. H. April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Burkesville April 11-May 1. March to Washington, D. C., May 1-15. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out at Bailey’s Cross Roads June 4, 1865. Recruits transferred to 1st Maine Heavy Aruntilery. Discharged at Portland, Me., June 10, 1865. Regiment lost during service 12 Officers and 195 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 159 Enlisted men by disease. Total 370.

Comments on this Post

One Response to “* 17th Maine Infantry”

1. Diana says:

   May 23, 2007 at 6:39 pm

   I’ve really been enjoying your posts about the monuments at Gettysburg. I wish that I’d had that information when we visited a few years ago.

   I’m also very glad to hear that you are in remission. Hang in there!