1st Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 1st Regiment Maryland Volunteer Infantry was infantry
regiment
from in Union
service during the American Civil War
.
, Maryland
and 4 companies (A, B, C and D) were mustered into Union service on May 16, 1861. The regiment moved to Relay House on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
where additional companies (E, F, G, H, I and K) were mustered between May 25 and May 27.
The regiment's first commanding officer
was Col. John Kenly
, a Baltimore attorney
who had served in Mexican-American War as a major of volunteers.
forces operating in the Shenandoah Valley
. The regiment was station at Front Royal on May 23, 1862 when it was attacked by Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson's
Army of the Valley. Surprised and outnumbered, the 1st Maryland put up a stubborn rearguard action during which Col. Kenly was wounded. Union casualties were 83 killed and wounded, and 691 captured. The prisoners were paroled in September 1862.
The battle is notable in that the Union 1st Maryland had been attacked by their fellow Marylanders, the Confederate 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA
. This is the only time in United States military history that two regiments of the same numerical designation and from the same state have engaged each other in battle. After hours of desperate fighting the Southerners emerged victorious. When the prisoners were taken, many men recognized former friends and family. According to J. J. Goldsborough, who would go on to write the history the Maryland Line
in the Confederate Army:
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
from in Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
service during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 1st Maryland was organized at BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and 4 companies (A, B, C and D) were mustered into Union service on May 16, 1861. The regiment moved to Relay House on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
where additional companies (E, F, G, H, I and K) were mustered between May 25 and May 27.
The regiment's first commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
was Col. John Kenly
John Reese Kenly
John Reese Kenly was an American lawyer, and a Union general in the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, a Baltimore attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who had served in Mexican-American War as a major of volunteers.
Battle of Front Royal
In March 1862 the 1st Maryland was assigned to Maj. Gen. Nathaniel BanksNathaniel Prentice Banks
Nathaniel Prentice Banks was an American politician and soldier, served as the 24th Governor of Massachusetts, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and as a Union general during the American Civil War....
forces operating in the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
. The regiment was station at Front Royal on May 23, 1862 when it was attacked by Maj. Gen. Stonewall Jackson's
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
Army of the Valley. Surprised and outnumbered, the 1st Maryland put up a stubborn rearguard action during which Col. Kenly was wounded. Union casualties were 83 killed and wounded, and 691 captured. The prisoners were paroled in September 1862.
The battle is notable in that the Union 1st Maryland had been attacked by their fellow Marylanders, the Confederate 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA
1st Maryland Infantry, CSA
The 1st Maryland Infantry, CSA was a regiment of the Confederate army, formed shortly after the commencement of the American Civil War in April 1861. The unit was made up of volunteers from Maryland who, despite their home state remaining in the Union during the war, chose instead to fight for the...
. This is the only time in United States military history that two regiments of the same numerical designation and from the same state have engaged each other in battle. After hours of desperate fighting the Southerners emerged victorious. When the prisoners were taken, many men recognized former friends and family. According to J. J. Goldsborough, who would go on to write the history the Maryland Line
Maryland Line (CSA)
The Maryland Line in the Army of the Confederate States of America was made up of volunteers from Maryland who, despite their home state remaining in the Union, fought for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War...
in the Confederate Army:
- "nearly all recognized old friends and acquaintances, whom they greeted cordially, and divided with them the rations which had just changed hands".
Medal of Honor recipients
- Rank and organization: Corporal, Company H, 1st Maryland Infantry.
- Place and date: At Hatchers Run and Dabneys Mills, Va., 6 February 1865.
- Entered service at:
- Birth: Baltimore Md.
- Date of issue: 5 January 1897.
- Citation: Gallantly planted the colors on the enemy's works in advance of the arrival of his regiment.
- Joseph Stewart
- Rank and organization: Private, Company G, 1st Maryland Infantry.
- Place and date. At Five Forks, Va., 1 April 1865.
- Entered service at:
- Birth: Ireland.
- Date of issue: 27 April 1865.
- Citation. Capture of a rebel flag.