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17th 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 18, 18621
Muster Out: June 4, 18652

Commander(s):

Brevet Brigadier General George W. West
Commander Image

Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Merrill
Charles B. Merrill 17th ME3

Lieutenant Colonel William Hobson
WilliamHobson17thME4

Major Erasmus C. Gilbreath (of the 20th IN)
Erasmus C. Gilbreath 17th ME 20th IN5

Major Charles P. Mattocks
Charles P. Mattocks 17th ME6

Captain John C. Perry
Commander Image

Captain Benjamin C. Pennell
BenjaminCPennell17thME7

Captain Edward Moore
EdwardMoore17thME8

 

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army9,10,11

  • Commander:
    • Captain John C. Perry (June 15-16, 1864)(wounded early morning of June 16, 1864)12
    • Captain Benjamin C. Pennell (June 16-17, 1864)(killed June 17, 1864)13
    • Major Erasmus C. Gilbreath (of the 20th IN)(June 18, 1864)14
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons: Springfield Rifles (.58 caliber) (June 30, 1864)15

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army16,17

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army20,21

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Merrill (July 31, 1864)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army23,24

  • Commander: Lieutenant Charles B. Merrill (August 31, 1864)25
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army26,27

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

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel Charles B. Merrill? (prior to October 12, 1864)31
    • Colonel George W. West (at least October 12-15, 27 & 31, 1864)32,33
    • Captain William Hobson (October 27, 1864)34
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army35 ,36

  • Commander: Captain William Hobson (December 31, 1864)37
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This regiment participated in Warren’s Stony Creek, or “Apple Jack” Raid to Belfield and Hicksford, Virginia in mid-December 1864.38

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union39,40,41

  • Commander:
    • Brevet Brigadier General George W. West (West commanded the Second Brigade temporarily, even though the 17th Maine was part of the First Brigade, when Brigadier General Byron R. Pierce took a leave of absence starting January 24)(also commanded the First Brigade temporarily in February when Brigadier General Regis de Trobriand took a leave of absence starting February 19)(January 1-24, 1865) (January 31 & February ??, 1865)42,43
    • Lieutenant Colonel William Hobson (at least January 18 & 31, 1865)44,45
    • Captain Edward Moore (February 28, 1865)46
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 2nd United States Sharpshooters was discontinued on February 20, 1865. Company “D” transferred to the 17th Maine Infantry.47
  • 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.48

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle:

First Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (March 1-?, 1865)49

Second Brigade | Third Division | II Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army (March ?-31, 1865)50,51

  • Commander:
    • Lieutenant Colonel William Hobson (March 31, 1865)52
  • Unit Strength: ~295 officers and men present for duty (April 6, 1865)53
  • Weapons:
  • Note: The 17th Maine transferred from 1/3/II/AotP to 2/3/II/AotP at some point between February 28 and March 31, 1865.  I do not know the exact date.  More research is needed.

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles54:

  • 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.

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. Charles B. Merrill image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 62, Page 3053.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    4. Carte de Visite of Lt. Col. William Hobson, 17th Maine Infantry. Neg #811. Digital image. Maine State Documents. Maine State Library, Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. ↩
    5. Erasmus C. Gilbreath (of the 20th IN) image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 114, Page 5873.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    6. Charles P. Mattocks image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 85, Page 4265.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    7. Carte de Visite of Capt. Benjamin C. Pennell, Co.B 17th Maine Infantry. Neg #963. Digital image. Maine State Documents. Maine State Library, Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. ↩
    8. Carte de Visite of Capt. Edward Moore, Co.C 17th Maine Infantry. Neg #921. Digital image. Maine State Documents. Maine State Library, Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. ↩
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 221 ↩
    10. 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. 544 ↩
    11. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), p. 194: The 17th Maine transferred to the First Brigade, Third Division, II Corps on June 1, 1864. ↩
    12. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), pp. 200-201: “Before we had opportunity to form the regiment, and move to a more secure position behind the works, we had lost one officer and several men.  Among the number, Captain John C. Perry, who at the time was in command of the regiment, was wounded in the knee by a fragment of shell.” ↩
    13. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), p. 202: “On the morning of Friday, the seventeenth (of June), we moved to the front, relieving a portion of the Eighteenth Corps, in the works captured by them from the enemy, in the attack of the previous evening.  Captain Benjamin C. Pennell, (Company B,) temporarily commanding the regiment, was killed by a sharp-shooter, while using a rifle borrowed from one of the men.” ↩
    14. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), p. 204: “Major Gilbraith (sic), of the Twentieth Indiana Volunteers, was assigned temporarily to the command of the Seventeenth.” ↩
    15. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 17th 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. ↩
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p,. 221 ↩
    17. 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. 544 ↩
    18. 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. 544 ↩
    19. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 17th 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. ↩
    20. 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 253 ↩
    21. 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 731 ↩
    22. 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 731 ↩
    23. 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” ↩
    24. 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 118: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
    25. 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” ↩
    26. 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. 1299. ↩
    27. 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 138: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    28. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 17th 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 154: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    31. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), pp. 238-239: This source implies Merrill was in charge prior to West reassuming command on October 12, but does not ever directly state it.  Further research is needed. ↩
    32. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), pp. 238-239: “On the twelfth of October, Colonel West returned from a leave of absence, on account of wounds received in the Wilderness, and took command of the regiment.  Lieutenant-Colonel Merrill having tendered his resignation, received notice of its acceptance by the War Department.  The regiment was relieved from Fort Hell on the fifteenth of October, and encamped on a sandy hillside, near brigade head-quarters, in compliance with a special request made by Colonel West…” ↩
    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. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), p. 242: “Colonel West’s wounds rendered it impossible for him to remain with the regiment, and during the day (BTC Ed: Oct. 27, 1864) the command devolved upon Captain Hobson.” ↩
    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. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60). ↩
    37. 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) ↩
    38. Calkins, Chris. “The Apple Jack Raid: For This Barbarism There Was No Real Excuse.” Blue & Gray Magazine Summer 2005: 18-25 (OOB on page 60). ↩
    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 326: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    40. 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 740: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    41. 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 64: “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)” ↩
    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 326: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    43. 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 740: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    44. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), p. 257: “Captain William Hobson was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel, vice Mattocks, whose commission had been revoked on account of his being a prisoner in the hands of the enemy, and consequently unable to accept the position. Colonel H. was mustered into his new grade on the eighteenth, and in the evening received callers and congratulations.” ↩
    45. 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) ↩
    46. 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 740: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    47. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    48. 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 64: “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)” ↩
    49.  A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    50. 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 568: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    51. 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 584: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    52. 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 568: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    53. Houghton, E.B. The Campaigns of the Seventeenth Maine (Short & Loring: 1866), p. 269: “The loss of the regiment…was one officer…and four enlisted men, killed; four officers…and twenty-three enlisted men, wounded.  The proportion of casualties, among the officers, was one in five; in enlisted men, one in ten.”: Applying the proportions mentioned leads to approximately 25 officers and 270 men PFD at the start of the day on April 6. ↩
    54. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

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