United States Regiments & Batteries > Maryland
The Purnell Legion lost 7 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 24 enlisted men by disease, a total of 31. Company A is honored with a monument at Gettysburg.
About the Legion
The “legion” was an organization used on both sides in the early part of the Civil War, and was conceived as a combined arms organization incorporating infantry, cavalry and artillery in one unit. The Purnell Legion consisted of nine companies of infantry, two companies of cavalry (A and B), and two batteries of light artillery.
As the war went on the legion concept did not fit well into the large armies that were forming. The legions on both sides were broken up and their components assigned to their respective arms. The Purnell Legion split up in February of 1862 .
Company A
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1861
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| September to November |
Organized as a legion of nine companies of infantry, two companies of cavalry, and two batteries of light artillery by Colonel William Purnell, Postmaster of Baltimore, at Pikesville Arsenal, under special authority of the Secretary of War. Attached to Dix’s Division, Baltimore, Maryland. |
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1862
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| February | Colonel Purnell resigned and the Legion was broken up into a regiment of infantry, two independent companies of cavalry and Battery A and Battery B, Maryland Light Artillery. |
| July | Attached to Lockwood’s Brigade, District of the Eastern Shore, 8th Army Corps, Middle Department; Duty on the eastern shore of Maryland and in St. Mary’s County, Md. |
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1863
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| January | Attached to 1st Separate Brigade, 8th Corps |
| June | Attached to 3rd Separate Brigade, 8th Corps. The company was stationed at the Monocacy River Bridge outside Frederick, Maryland with a section of the 3rd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery. As Lee’s invasion of Pennsylvania unfolded it was withdrawing to Baltimore when it was almost overrun by Stuart’s cavalry raid. The company then attached itself to McIntosh’s Cavalry Brigade of the Army of the Potomac for safety, accompanying it to Gettysburg. |
| July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgCommanded by Capt. Robert E. Duvall. The company brought 78 men to the field and had no casualties. |
| July 14 | Near Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. |
| December | Attached to 1st Separate Brigade, 8th Corps |
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1865
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| July 28 | Mustered out |
Company B
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1861
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| September to November | Organized as a legion of nine companies of infantry, two companies of cavalry, and two batteries of light artillery by Colonel William Purnell, Postmaster of Baltimore, at Pikesville Arsenal, under special authority of the Secretary of War. Attached to Dix’s Division, Baltimore, Maryland. |
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1862
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| February | Colonel Purnell resigned and the Legion was broken up into a regiment of infantry, two independent companies of cavalry and Battery A and Battery B, Maryland Light Artillery. |
| July | Unattached, 8th Army Corps, Maryland and Delaware |
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1863
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| January | At Annapolis, Maryland. |
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1864
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| May | Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| May 28 | The company was dismounted. |
| June 7 | Joined Purnell Legion Infantry in the Army of the Potomac |
| June 7-12 |
Battles about Cold Harbor |
| June 16-19 |
First Assault on Petersburg |
| June 16 – October 26 |
Siege of Petersburg |
| June 22-23 |
Jerusalem Plank Road |
| July 30 |
Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve) |
| August 18-21 |
Weldon Railroad |
| September 29 – October 2 |
Poplar Springs Church |
| October 2-5 | Chapel House |
| October 7-8 |
Peeble’s Farm |
| October 26 | Mustered out. |
| November 17 | Veterans and Recruits transferred to 8th Maryland Infantry Regiment. |
Company C
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1862
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| September | Company C organized at Baltimore, Md. and attached to Defenses of Baltimore, Md., 8th Corps, Middle Department; At Camp Bradford |
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1863
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| January | Attached to 1st Separate Brigade, 8th Corps |
| February 5 | Moved to Harper’s Ferry, W. Va., then to Drummendsville, Virginia, and to Wilmington, Delaware, and duty there |
| June 3 | Attached to Separate Brigade, 8th Corps |
| July | District of Delaware, Middle Department |
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1864
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| May | Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| May 28 | The company was dismounted. |
| June 7 | Joined Purnell Legion Infantry in the Army of the Potomac |
| June 7-12 |
Battles about Cold Harbor |
| June 16-19 |
First Assalt on Petersburg, Va. |
| June 16 to October 26 |
Siege of Petersburg |
| June 22-23 |
Jerusalem Plank Road |
| July 30 |
Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve) |
| August 18-21 |
Weldon Railroad |
| September 29 – October 2 |
Poplar Springs Church |
| October 2-5 | Chapel House |
| October 7-8 |
Peeble’s Farm |
| October 26 | Mustered out |
| November 17 | Veterans and Recruits transferred to 8th Maryland Infantry |