Maine

1862 · WRCAM55597 — Various locations mostly Louisiana 1862. 120pp. Contemporary sheep later leatherette backstrip title stamped in dark brown on front board reading "GUARD BOOK D. CO. 12TH. REG. MAINE." Some edge wear mild chipping and light scuffing to boards. Front hinge detached spine cracked. Occasional thumb-soiling to text. Still very good. A manuscript record book documenting an entire year of guard duty worked by various members of Company D 12th Maine Infantry Regiment Volunteers during the early part of the Civil War. The majority of time recorded in this book emanates from Louisiana while the 12th Maine Regiment was attached to Butler's Expeditionary Corps from January to March 1862. On their way to Louisiana the regiment travelled on the Steamship Constitution to Ship Island Mississippi serving there until May 4 1862. The Regiment then traveled to New Orleans for guard duty at the U.S. Mint until October 1862. While in New Orleans the Regiment took part in the expedition to Pass Manchaca from June 16 to 20 and the expedition to Ponchatoula from September 13 to 18. In October the Regiment moved slightly north to Camp Parapet in Shrewsbury Louisiana and served there until November 19 1862; the record book ends here. <br> <br> Each two-page opening of the ledger is pre- printed with a large column on the left for names and thirty-one numbered smaller columns for marking days served on guard duty. Most days have just one or two tick marks for any particular soldier indicating just one or two men were on active patrol mostly privates but also sergeants corporals musicians wagoners and others. The number of guard shifts worked by the regiment increased dramatically in May 1862 when they arrived at the U.S. Mint in New Orleans before falling off again the next month presumably after some relief arrived. In addition to guard duty service notations indicate reasons for absences such as "died at" "sick" "in confinement" "permanent detail" "enlisted for cook" "light duty" "in the woods" and "hospital." Notations from February 1862 indicate that James H. Andrews died onboard the Constitution on February 14 and two other soldiers caught sickness at Fortress Monroe. Another entry shows that S.G. Tracy "Died at Ship Island 12 of April 1862." Later in July Capt. H.W. Dunn is detailed for daily duty at the "Reding Press" in New Orleans. In August G.F. Drown is "Detailed as Nurse in General Hospital St. James Hotel N.O." <br> <br> Material from the Trans-Mississippi West is rare this early in the Civil War and also usually not as thorough as the present record book documents an entire year of service. A unique record of Civil War service for a peripatetic Maine volunteer infantry regiment serving in the Bayou State. hardcover books