3rd Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 3rd Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, Hagerstown
, and Baltimore, Maryland beginning October 31, 1861 and mustered in on May 20, 1862 for three years under the command of Colonel
Henry C. Rizer. Companies I and K were organized at Ellicott's Mills and Monrovia, Maryland
in April and May 1864.
The regiment was attached to Railroad District of Western Virginia to January 1862. Lander's Division, Army of the Potomac
, to March 1862. Railroad District, Mountain Department, to July 1862. Railroad Brigade, VIII Corps, Middle Department, to September 1862. Harper's Ferry, Virginia, September 1862. Annapolis, VIII Corps to July 1863. 3rd Separate Brigade, VIII Corps, to October 1863. 1st Separate Brigade, VIII Corps, to July 1864. John R. Kenly's Independent Brigade, VI Corps, Army of the Shenandoah
, to August 1864. Kenly's Brigade, Reserve Division, West Virginia, to October 1864. Reserve Division, West Virginia, to April 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, West Virginia, to May 29, 1865.
The 3rd Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade mustered out of the service at Baltimore on May 29, 1865.
and Monocacy until July 1864. Operations against Early's invasion of Maryland July 1864. Frederick City July 7–8. Battle of Monocacy July 9. Pursuit of Early until July 30. Snicker's Gap July 18. Bolivar Heights August 6. Halltown August 8. Charlestown August 9. Berryville August 13. Duty in the District of Harper's Ferry, W. Va., until May 1865. Ordered to Baltimore, May 12.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Service
The 3rd Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade was organized at CumberlandCumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, Hagerstown
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
, and Baltimore, Maryland beginning October 31, 1861 and mustered in on May 20, 1862 for three years under the command of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Henry C. Rizer. Companies I and K were organized at Ellicott's Mills and Monrovia, Maryland
Monrovia, Maryland
Monrovia is a small unincorporated area located in the southeastern portion of Frederick County. The zip code for the area is 21770, and its coordinates are .- Education :Monrovia is a part of the Frederick County public school system...
in April and May 1864.
The regiment was attached to Railroad District of Western Virginia to January 1862. Lander's Division, Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
, to March 1862. Railroad District, Mountain Department, to July 1862. Railroad Brigade, VIII Corps, Middle Department, to September 1862. Harper's Ferry, Virginia, September 1862. Annapolis, VIII Corps to July 1863. 3rd Separate Brigade, VIII Corps, to October 1863. 1st Separate Brigade, VIII Corps, to July 1864. John R. Kenly's Independent Brigade, VI Corps, Army of the Shenandoah
Army of the Shenandoah (Union)
The Army of the Shenandoah was a Union army during the American Civil War. First organized in 1861 and then disbanded, it is best known for its recreation in 1864 under Philip Sheridan...
, to August 1864. Kenly's Brigade, Reserve Division, West Virginia, to October 1864. Reserve Division, West Virginia, to April 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, West Virginia, to May 29, 1865.
The 3rd Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade mustered out of the service at Baltimore on May 29, 1865.
Detailed service
Assigned to duty as railroad guard on Upper Potomac in Maryland and Virginia. Action at Grass Lick, W. Va., April 23, 1862. Wardensville May 7. Franklin May 10–12. Moorefield June 29. Siege of Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September 12–15. Surrendered September 15. Paroled September 16 and sent to Annapolis, Md. Duty at Annapolis and in the defenses of Baltimore until June 1863. Guard Washington Branch, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, June 28-July 10. At Annapolis, Relay Station, Annapolis JunctionAnnapolis Junction, Maryland
Annapolis Junction is an unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States.-Demographics:The ZIP Code for Annapolis Junction is 20701. 2000 Census for 20701*Population 40*Median age 31.5 years*Single family homes 6...
and Monocacy until July 1864. Operations against Early's invasion of Maryland July 1864. Frederick City July 7–8. Battle of Monocacy July 9. Pursuit of Early until July 30. Snicker's Gap July 18. Bolivar Heights August 6. Halltown August 8. Charlestown August 9. Berryville August 13. Duty in the District of Harper's Ferry, W. Va., until May 1865. Ordered to Baltimore, May 12.
Commanders
- Colonel Henry C. Rizer
- Colonel Stephen Wheeler DowneyStephen Wheeler DowneyStephen Wheeler Downey was a lawyer and politician in Wyoming.In 1861, Stephen Downey enlisted as a private in the 3rd Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, and successfully promoted to first lieutenant, lieutenant colonel, and colonel...
- Colonel Charles Gilpin
Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 83 men during service; 1 officer and 8 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 73 enlisted men died of disease.See also
- List of Maryland Civil War Units
- Maryland in the American Civil War