MaineMilitia.com

The following was written by me, Michael P. Johnson Jr. (C) Copyright 1997. This history is a brief overview of this regiments service and does not do justice to it's fighting record or the brave men who served it. Click "More" to see the entire article.

The Sixteenth Maine was a Fighting Regiment
During the fall and early winter of 1862, the jeers and taunts from the other regiments was the only fighting the Sixteenth had. The regiment had left their knapsacks, tents, and overcoats in Washington when they began their march. The nickname, ìThe Blanket Brigadeî arose from the fact that a blanket was all that these Mainers had. From September 6, they weathered the rain, sleet, snow, and jokes, until their knapsacks and overcoats caught up with them just outside of Fredericksburg, on November 27, Thanksgiving Day.

December 12-13, The Battle of Fredericksburg, with 417 rifles, the regiment went in with General Franklinís grand division, on the left. The Sixteenth charged the embankment of the Fredericksburg & Richmond Railroad, taking two hundred prisoners. Then fired some sixty rounds into a second line of rebels in the woods. By the end of the battle, half the regiment was dead, wounded, or missing. The Sixteenthís losses amounted to half the losses of the whole brigade. The term ìBlanket Brigadeî had been shed.

The monotony of winter quarters near Belle Plain, was only broken by ìThe Mud Marchî of January 19-23, 1863. The Sixteenth suffered few casualties at Chancellorsville, but the results of the campaign disgusted many of the troops. On June 12, with 281 men and 32 officers, tents were struck and the army was started north. Lee was on the move. They reached Centreville on the 15th, Guilford on June 19th. They stayed there until the 23d. They arrived in Emmitsburg, PA. on June 29, 1863.

On July 1, The Sixteenth arrived in Gettysburg, PA., with General Robinson's division, and took up position in reserve near the seminary around 11:30 a.m. They began throwing up breast works immediately. At about 1:00 p.m. the regiment received it's orders to go in to battle, as all the reserves of the First Corps were being committed. The battle raged on for the out numbered First Corps and Eleventh Corps. At roughly half past three o'clock, the Eleventh Corps collapsed under the weight the Ewell was throwing at them. This left the First Corp's left exposed and forced to withdraw from the field.

General Robinson ordered Colonel Tilden of the Sixteenth to take up position near the Mummasburg Rd. and hold at all cost. At roughly 4 p.m., the Sixteenth took up position while the rest of the Corps withdrew from the field. Two Confederate lines pressed the regiment hard from two directions. The destruction of the unit was in site when Col. Tilden ordered the colors destroyed. The stars and stripes and the state flag were removed from there staves and torn to shreds. Many men carried the treasure of their shred of flag with them to prison.

With most of the regiment in prison, a detail of men were sent home to Maine for the purpose of securing recruits to fill out the ranks. By September, with men returning from hospital and prison and the new recruits, the regiment was once again ready for action.

The Sixteenth Maine participated in the movements commonly refereed to as the "Culpeper and Centreville", over the old battlefield of Bull Run. By November, the regiment numbered some 650 men. With a new stand of colors, the regiment had the look of it's earliest days. And the Mine Run campaign gave them a taste of it as well. Exposure, fatigue and hunger visited the ranks until General Meade took the army in to winter quarters near Kelly's Ford early in December.

March of 1864 brought changes to the organization of the army. The First corps was absorbed in to the Fifth corps. The Sixteenth became part of the Second division under General Robinson. Colonel Tilden also returned in March, after escaping from Libby Prison through the Rose Tunnel.

May 4, 1864 brought the beginning of the Battle of the Wilderness. Between May 5th and the 21st lost 21 killed, 118 wounded, and 40 missing presumed captured. Most of these casualties taking place at Laurel Hill. May 23rd saw the regiment at the engagement on the North Anna River. During Cold Harbor, the Sixteenth fought near The Bethesda Church.

On the 8th of June the regiment was transferred to the Third division of the Fifth corps and was engaged near Chickahominy River. On the 16th, crossed the James River, near Petersburg. On the 17th and 18th they participated in the assault near the Norfolk Railroad, later refereed to as "Fort Hell".

The Fifth corps spent some time in the entrenchment in front of Petersburg and various movements against the enemies right flank. On August 18th, participated with the First corps to extend the Union right to the Weldon Railroad. In repelling a front and flank attack for too long on the 19th, in attempting to withdraw found itself surrounded. 115 men taken prisoner, including Col. Tilden and Adjutant Small. Col. Tilden and Lt. Davies escaped while in transit to prison between Petersburg and Richmond. They slipped through Confederate lines and returned to their own brigade pickets on the 22nd.

The regiment was now assigned to the Second brigade, under General Baxter. It was positioned in Fort Wadsworth and remained until 5th December. On the 7th of the month, the Fifth corps marched to the North Carolina border to destroy the Weldon Railroad line.

On February 5th, 1865, the regiment fought at Hatcher's Run. One officer and seventy three men killed or wounded, including two color bearers. The end of March saw the Fifth corps assigned to General Sheridan's cavalry. The regiment was closely engaged at Five Forks on the 31st of March and was at Appomattox Court House for the surrender of Lee.

After a brief occupation of the south, the Fifth corps marched to Washington for the Grand Review. The Sixteenth was mustered out of federal service on the 5th of June, reaching Augusta on the 10th of June, and disbanded on the 16th of June, 1865.

All told, 1876 enlisted men and 86 officers served in the Sixteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry. 33 Officers and 409 men were mustered out at the end of the war. During the war the killed in action totaled 178. Died of disease 241. Discharged due to disability 276.