United States Regiments & Batteries > Maine > 6th Maine Battery


The 6th Maine Battery lost 13 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 27 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1862
January 1 Organized at Augusta and mustered in under the command of Caaptain Freeman McGilvery, a ship master
January 1 Duty at Augusta until March and at Portland, Me.
April 1-3 Moved to Washington, D.C.; Camp at East Capital Hill and at Forts Buffalo and Ramsey, and at Falls Church, Va. Attached to the Military District of Washington
June Ordered to report to General Banks at Harper’s Ferry, W. Va.; Attached to 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Virginia; Duty at Harper’s Ferry, Cedar Creek and Little Washington, Va.
August Attached to 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army Potomac
August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain

August 16 –
September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

August Attached to Artillery, 1st Division, 3rd Corps
August 20-26 Fords of the Rappahannock
August 29

Battle of Groveton (Brawner Farm)

August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

September 1

Battle of Chantilly

September Attached to Artillery, 2nd Division, 12th Corps, Army Potomac
September –
October

Maryland Campaign

September 14
Battle of South Mountain

The battery fought at Crampton’s Pass.

September 16-17

Battle of Antietam

The battery was commanded by Captain Freeman McGilvery. It brought 85 men to field and was equipped with three Napoleons and one 3 inch Ordnance Rifle.

September – December Duty at Sandy Hook, Md. and at Harper’s Ferry, W. Va.
December 2-6 Reconnaissance to Winchester
December 27 Action at Dumfries
1863
January – May Duty at Dumfries
February 5 Captain Freeman McGilvery was promoted to major, and Lieutenant Edwin B. Dow took command of the battery. McGilvery was given command of a brigade of the Artillery Reserve, and would go on to the rank of Colonel commanding the 10th Corps Artillery Brigade. His finest hour was at Gettysburg, when his line of reserve artilley helped stop the Confederate assault on July 2.
May 27 At Falmouth
June Assigned to the 4th Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac
June – July

Gettysburg Campaign

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The battery was commanded at Gettysburg by Lieutenant Edwin B. Dow. It brought 103 men to the field serving four 12-pounder Napoleons, and suffered 13 wounded.

July 7-14 Pursuit to Williamsport, Md.
July 13 Frederick, Maryland
July 18 –
August 2
March to Warrenton Junction, Va. and duty there
September Assigned to the 1st Volunteer Brigade, Artillery Reserve
September 16 At Culpeper
October 12-22

Bristoe Campaign

October 12-13 Culpeper
October 14 Bristoe
November 7-8 Advance to line of Rappahannock
November 26 –
December 2

Mine Run Campaign

November 28-30 Mine Run
1864
April Attached to Artillery Brigade, 2nd Corps
May 3 Campaign from the Rapidan to James River
May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

May 8-21

Battle of Spottsylvania Court House

May 12

“Bloody Angle,” Spottsylvania C. H.

May 23-26

North Anna River

May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31

Totopotomoy

June 1-12

Cold Harbor

June 16-19

First Assault on Petersburg

June 16

Siege of Petersburg

June 22-23

Jerusalem Plank Road

July 27-28 Deep Bottom
July 30

Mine Explosion (Reserve)

August 14-18 Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom
October 20 Garrison, Fort Davis
October At Fort McGilvrey and Battery 9
November Artillery Reserve, Army Potomac
1865
March 15 At Fort Sampson
April 2-3

Assault on and capture of Petersburg

April 3 Ordered to Reserve Artillery at City Point
May 3 Ordered to Alexandria
June 4 Ordered to Augusta, Me.
June 7 The 6th Maine Battery mustered out