United States Regiments & Batteries > Maryland > Third Maryland Infantry Regiment


The Third Maryland Infantry Regiment lost 8 officers and 83 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 4 officers and 130 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is is honored by a monuments at Antietam and Gettysburg.

1861
August –
February 16
Companies A, B, C, D and H of the Third Maryland Infantry Regiment were organized at Baltimore under the command of Colonel John C. McConnell. Attached to Dix’s Division, Baltimore, Md.
Summer Four Companies were organized at Williamsport and assigned as Companies A, B, C and I; Original Companies A, B, C and D were designated Companies D, E, F and G
1862
February 18 Colonel McConnell mustered out as unfit for the position of Colonel.
March 19 David P. De Witt appointed colonel.
May 7 Captain Joseph M. Sudsberg of the 2nd Maryland Infantry was transferred in and promoted to lieutenant colonel in the 3rd Maryland.
May 11 Companies E, F, H and I broken up and distributed among Companies A, B, C, D and G; two Companies originally recruited for 4th Maryland Infantry assigned as Companies E and H. Two Companies recruited for Dix’s Light Infantry were assigned as Companies I and K.
May 11-23 Duty at Baltimore, Md.
May 24 Moved to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va. Assigned to 1st Brigade, Sigel’s Division, Dept. of the Shenandoah
May 28-30 Defense of Harper’s Ferry
June Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Corps, Pope’s Army of Virginia; Operations in the Shenandoah Valley
August Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps, Army of Virginia
August 9

Battle of Cedar Mountain

August 16-
September 2

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia

August 21-23 Fords of the Rappahannock
August 24 Sulphur Springs
August 28-29 Plains of Manassas (Reserve)
August 30

Battle of Bull Run (Reserve)

September Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
September 1

Battle of Chantilly

September 6-22

Maryland Campaign

September 16-17

Battle of Antietam

The Third Maryland Infantry Regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph M. Sudsburg. It brought 148 men to the field, losing one man killed, 25 wounded, and four missing in the fighting that brought it to the corner of the Dunker Church.

From the first War Department marker for Stainrook’s Brigade on the Antietam battlefield, along Smoketown Road:

Stainrook’s Brigade, on the left of the Division, advancing in line south of the Smoketown Road, relieved the left of Crawford’s Brigade and engaged the Confederate Infantry in the East Woods.

Upon their retreat, the Brigade followed through the East Woods, across the open ground south of Mumma’s house to the ridge southeast of the Dunkard Church, where it was halted to replenish ammunition.

From the second War Department marker for Stainrook’s Brigade on the Antietam battlefield, near the Dunker Church:

After the Confederate right flank had been turned, Stainrook’s Brigade pursued through the East Woods, crossed the fields to the left of the burned out buildings of the Mumma farm, and halted behind the ridge a few yards east of this point where with the assistance of Monroe’s and Tompkins’ Rhode Island Batteries, it protected the right of French’s Division of the Second Corps, and repulsed several assaults of the enemy. About 10:30 A. M. the Brigade crossed this road and entered the woods on the left of the Dunkard Church, its left on the road directly opposite this tablet where it remained until noon when it was compelled to retire to the East Woods.

From Lieutenant Colonel Sudsburg’s Official Report for the 3rd Maryland Infantry at Antietam:

We rested from 3 o’clock a. m. in a field about 1 mile from the bridge over the Antietam. At 6.30 o’clock in the morning General Greene, commanding the division, marched us from this field in column by companies, and, advancing in a southerly direction, we reached a point about 1 mile from our starting place. We here met the enemy, who was in possession of a piece of woods. Deploying in line of battle, we here met our first loss; 3 of our men fell. After a short but severe contest, we drove the enemy out of this wood and across a newly plowed field. This woods was filled with the wounded and dead of the enemy, who had taken refuge behind one of the batteries in front and toward our left. Arriving at the farther end of this field, we halted for some minutes, in order to form again in line. Our left rested on a burning farm-house, said to have been the commissary store-house of the enemy, who had, before leaving, set fire to the same and thrown his salt in the well.

After again being formed, we advanced over a meadow toward the battery of the enemy, who had vigorously shelled us during our advance from the woods. Arriving behind the crest of a little elevation, we were ordered to lie down and await the arrival of a battery which had been ordered to our support, and of which a section shortly came up and unlimbered. A full battery, said to have been Knap’s, came up soon after and went directly into action. The enemy’s infantry advanced from the right, apparently designing to take our battery. We were ordered up, fixed bayonets, and charged forward past the battery, which in the mean time had given the enemy the benefit of two rounds of canister. We drove the enemy, who flew before us across the fields and across the road leading from Bakersville to Sharpsburg. On the other side of the road is a church or school-house, surrounded by woods. Charging through this piece of woods, we drove the enemy out, and held possession nearly two hours. The enemy occupied a corn-field in front of us, and, judging from his fire, must have been in strong force. In this woods I lost most of my men. I took 148 men into action. Our casualties amount to 1 killed and 25 wounded, some of whom have since died. Four were missing.

September 22 – December 10 Duty at Bolivar Heights
October Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Army Corps
October 8 Colonel DeWitt transfered to the 143rd New York Infantry.
October 15 Company F organized at Euston, Md. for 9 months
October 24 Lieutenant Colonel Sudsburg was promoted to colonel.
November 9 Reconnaissance to Rippen, W. Va.
December 2-6 Expedition to Winchester
December 10-14 Moved to Fredericksburg
December 14 At Stafford’s Court House
1863
January 20-24
“Mud March”
April 27

Chancellorsville Campaign

May, 1863 Assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac
May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment was temporarily commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert P. Robinson.

June 11 – July 24

Gettysburg Campaign

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The Third Maryland Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel Joseph M. Sudsburg. It brought 278 men to the field, losing one man killed and seven wounded.

From the monument on Culp’s Hill at Gettysburg:

Occupied this position in reserve. Late in the afternoon moved to reinforce the left of the line, returning about 9 p.m. and finding the works occupied by the enemy.

July 3d Under fire in reserve, until about noon. Then occupied the works in front and held them until relieved. Losing in killed Capt. Henry Fenton, Company G. Wounded 1 officer and 6 men.

July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee
July – September At Raccoon Ford
September 2 Company F mustered out.
September 24 –
October 4
Moved to Brandy Station, then to Bealeton and to Stevenson, Alabama. Attached to Army of the Cumberland; Guard duty on Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad.
1864
March – April Veterans left on furlough March and AprilNon-Veterans were assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland in the Western Theater.Veterans returned from their furlough to be assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac, in the Eastern Theater.
Timeline for old members in the Army of the Cumberland in the Atlanta Campaign
May 1 –
September 8

Atlanta Campaign

May 8-11 Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge
May 14-15

Battle of Resaca

May 19 Near Cassville
May 22-25 Advance on Dallas
May 25 New Hope Church
May 26-June 5

Battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills

June 10-July 2 Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain
June 11-14 Pine Mountain
June 15-17 Lost Mountain
June 15 Gilgal or Golgotha Church
June 17 Muddy Creek
June 19 Noyes Creek
June 22 Kolb’s Farm
June 24 Colonel Sudsburg was honorably mustered out when the regiment was consolidated to a battalion.
June 27

Assault on Kenesaw

July 4 Ruff’s Station, Smyrna Camp Ground
July 5-17 Chattahoochie River
July 19-20

Peach Tree Creek

July 22-August 25

Siege of Atlanta

August 26 –
September 2
Operations at Chattahoochie River Bridge
September 2

Occupation of Atlanta

Timeline for Veterans in the Army of the Potomac
April Regiment joined 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, Army of the Potomac
May 3 – June 15

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James

May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

May 8-21

Spotsylvania Court House

May 10 Nye River
May 12

Assault on Salient

May 21 Ox Ford
May 23-26

North Anna River

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

Totopotomoy

June 1 Assigned to the 1st Brigade, First Division, 9th Corps
June 1-12
Cold Harbor
June 1-3 Bethesda Church
June 16-18

First Assault on Petersburg

June 16

Siege of Petersburg begins

July Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps
July 30

Mine Explosion, Petersburg

August 18-21

Weldon Railroad

September Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps
September 29 –
October 2

Poplar Grove Church

October 27-28

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run

1865
March 25

Fort Steadman, Petersburg

The regiment was temporarily commanded by John F. Burch. Captain Joseph F. Carter of Company D was awarded the Medal of Honor for capturing the colors of the 51st Virginia Infantry Regiment. He had been captured during the battle, but escaped when the tide of battle turned and captured the colors and a number of prisoners. He was also awarded bu promotion to Brevet Major.

March 28

Appomattox Campaign

April 2

Assault on and fall of Petersburg

April 3 Occupation of Petersburg
April 3-9 March to Farmville
April 20-24 Moved to Petersburg and City Point
April 26-28 To Alexandria
May 23 Grand Review
May – July Duty in the Dept. of Washington
July 31 The Third Maryland Infantry Regiment mustered out