5th Maine Battery
Encyclopedia
5th Maine Battery was an artillery
battery
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
and mustered in for three years' service on December 4, 1861.
The battery was attached to 2nd Division, Department of the Rappahannock, to June 1862. 2nd Division, III Corps, Army of Virginia
, to September 1862. 2nd Division, I Corps, Army of the Potomac
, to May 1863. Artillery Brigade, I Corps, to April 1864. Artillery Brigade, V Corps, to June 1864. Artillery Brigade, VI Corps, to December 1864. Artillery Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah, to July 1865.
The 5th Maine Battery mustered out of service July 6, 1865 at Augusta, Maine.
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
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 5th Maine Battery was organized in Augusta, MaineAugusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
and mustered in for three years' service on December 4, 1861.
The battery was attached to 2nd Division, Department of the Rappahannock, to June 1862. 2nd Division, III Corps, Army of Virginia
Army of Virginia
The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. It should not be confused with its principal opponent, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Robert E...
, to September 1862. 2nd Division, I Corps, Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
, to May 1863. Artillery Brigade, I Corps, to April 1864. Artillery Brigade, V Corps, to June 1864. Artillery Brigade, VI Corps, to December 1864. Artillery Brigade, Army of the Shenandoah, to July 1865.
The 5th Maine Battery mustered out of service July 6, 1865 at Augusta, Maine.
Detailed service
Duty at Augusta until March 10, 1862, and at Fort Preble, Portland, Me., until April 1. Moved to Washington, D.C., April 1-3. Camp on Capitol Hill until May 19. Moved to Aquia Creek, then to Fredericksburg, Va., May 19-22. Moved to Front Royal, Va., May 25, 1862, and to Manassas June 17. At Warrenton July 4-22. March to Waterloo July 22, then to Culpeper August 4. Battle of Cedar Mountain August 9. Pope's Campaign in northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 20-23. Thoroughfare Gap August 28. Battle of Groveton August 29, and Second Bull Run August 30. Ordered to Washington September 7, to refit, and duty there until October 24. Moved to Berlin October 24, and then to Lovettsville October 30. Reconnaissance from Bolivar Heights to Rippen, W. Va., November 9. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. At Fletcher's Chapel until April 28. Chancellorsville Campaign April 28-May 6. Operations at Fitzhugh's Crossing April 29-May 2. Battle of Chancellorsville May 2-5. Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Rapidan Campaign May 4-June 15, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spotsylvania May 8-12. Ny River May 10. Spotsylvania Court House May 12-21. North Anna River May 23-26. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 17-19. Siege of Petersburg June 17-July 9, 1864. Ordered to Washington, D.C. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty at Strasburg until November 10. Near Winchester until December 28, and at Stevenson's Depot until January 10, 1865. At Frederick, Md., until April 4. At Winchester until June 21. Ordered to Augusta, Me., June 21.Casualties
The battery lost a total of 33 men during service; 2 officers and 16 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 15 enlisted men died of disease.Commanders
- Captain George F. Leppien
- Captain Greenleaf Thurlow StevensGreenleaf T. StevensGreenleaf T. Stevens commanded the 5th Maine Battery in the American Civil War. His battery is commemorated by a monument on Stevens' Knoll, named for him, on the Gettysburg Battlefield. It was among the first parts of the battlefield purchased for preservation.-Pre War:Greenleaf Thurlow Stevens...
- Lieutenant Edward Newton WhittierEdward N. WhittierEdward Newton Whittier was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Battle of Fisher's Hill near Strasburg, Virginia fought September 21–22, 1864...
Notable members
- Private John F. ChaseJohn F. ChaseJohn F. Chase was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. An artilleryman, Chase earned the medal by continuing to work his cannon despite intense Confederate fire at the Battle of Chancellorsville...
- Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient for action at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863 - Lieutenant Edward N. Whittier - Medal of Honor recipient for action at the battle of Fisher's Hill, September 22, 1864
See also
- List of Maine Civil War units
- Maine in the American Civil WarMaine in the American Civil WarDuring the American Civil War, the state of Maine was a source of military manpower, supplies, ships, arms, and political support for the Union Army...