Draw the Sword

Location: Doubleday Avenue

Order of Battle: 1st Corps, 2nd Division, 1st Brigade

Number Engaged: 311; 9 killed, 59 wounded, 164 missing

Commander: Col. Charles W. Tilden (1832-1914)

Raised: Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, Penobscot, and Somerset counties.

Monument Specifications: Obelisk stands on low square base. There are reliefs on three sides, including a state coat of arms, draped flags, state seal, and corps insignia within an oak and laurel wreath. Monument indicates the first position held by the 16th Maine Infantry on July 1, 1863.

Dedication Date: October 3, 1889.

Main Inscription: 16TH MAINE INF’Y/1ST BRIG. 2ND DIV./1ST CORPS/JULY 1ST 1863, FOUGHT HERE/FROM 1 O’CLOCK UNTIL 4 P.M./WHEN THE DIVISION WAS FORCED/TO RETIRE BY COMMAND OF/GEN. ROBINSON TO COL. TILDEN./THE REGIMENT WAS MOVED TO/THE RIGHT NEAR MUMMAS-/BURG ROAD, AS INDICATED BY/A MARKER THERE, WITH ORDERS/”TO HOLD THE POSITION AT/ANY COST.”/JULY 2ND & 3RD IN POSITION WITH THE DIVISION ON CEMETERY HILL./CASUALTIES/KILLED 2 OFFICERS 9 MEN/WOUNDED 8 OFFICERS 54 MEN/CAPTURED 11 OFFICERS 148 MEN/STRENGTH OF REGIMENT/25 OFFICERS, 250 MEN

Other Monuments and Memorials: Marker, intersection of Doubleday Avenue and Mummasburg Road.

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

Regimental History ~ Dyer’s Compendium of the War of the Rebellion:

Organized at Augusta and mustered in August 14, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., August 19, and camp at Arlington Heights until September 6. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army Potomac, to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Corps, to June, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Corps, to September, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Corps, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.–March into Maryland September 6-16, 1862. Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Duty near Sharpsburg, Md., until October 28. Moved to Warrenton, Va., October 28-November 7. Forced march to Rappahannock Station November 11. Duty there until November 19, and at Brooks Station until December 11. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. “Mud March” January 20-24. 1863. At Falmouth and Belle Plains until April 27. Chancellorsville Campaign April 27-May 6. Fitzhugh’s Crossing April 29-30. 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. Bristoe Campaign October 9-23. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. 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 8-12. Spotsylvania C. H. May 12-21. North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 23. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. White Oak Swamp June 13. Before Petersburg June 16-19, Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23, 1864. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30 (Reserve). Weldon Railroad August 18-21. Reconnaissance toward Dinwiddie C. H. September 15. Garrison Fort Wadsworth until December 5. Warren’s Hicksford Raid December 7-12. Dabney’s Mills February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. White Oak Road March 29-30. Gravelly Run March 31. Five Forks April 1. Fall of Petersburg April 2. Sailor’s Creek April 6. Appomattox C. H, April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. At Black and White Station April 21-May 1. Moved to Manchester, thence marched to Washington, D.C., May 1-12. Grand Review May 23. Duty at Ball’s Cross Roads until June 5. Mustered out June 5, 1865. Recruits transferred to 20th Maine Infantry.

Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 172 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 257 Enlisted men by disease. Total 440.

Comments on this Post

One Response to “* 16th Maine Infantry”

1. Paul Miller says:

   November 16, 2008 at 7:26 pm

   I am looking for information on Augustus McCausland, who was with the 16th. Main. He was wounded at Gettysberg, and treated by my Gr. Gr. Grandfather Dr. John H. Wilson for a leg wound. A. McCausland survived the war and in 1909 recounted his ordeal in the National Tribune. He pointed out that he did not know who the Doctor was that saved his leg, Dr. Wilson came across the story and wrote to A. McCausland and stated that he belives he may be the one who treated him. They made arraingment to meet at the GAR reunion in Atlantic City, NJ in 1910. The two met as planed and Dr. Wilson asked if he could look at the old wound in order to be sure A. McCausland was the solider he treated. Dr. Wilson stated that as soon as he saw the injury it all came back to him, Dr. Wilson confirmed his surgical work.

   I would like to obtain a copy of the letter/story A. McCausland had published in the National Tribune in 1909 and or find any of his decendents.

   Sincerely,
   Paul Miller