The Twenty-First Regiment Maine Volunteers was organized at Augusta, September 1st, 1862, was mustered into the United States service October 13th, and left the State October 21st. Arriving at Jersey City it was ordered to report to Major General N.P. Banks, Department of the Gulf; after which time it was quartered at East New York, and assigned to the Provisional Brigade composed of the Twenty-first, Twenty-Fourth and Twenty-Eighth Maine Regiments, under the command of Col. E.D. Johnson. After two months of efficient drill it embarked for New Orleans, where it arrived February 1, 1863, when it was stationed at Baton Rouge, and assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Army Corps.
At Baton Rogue the regiment was occupied in doing picket duty and in protecting the city from repeated attacks of guerrillas. On the 14th of March that regiment was among the first to approach the works of Port Hudson to co-operate with the fleet which passed those works on that memorable night. Again on the 21st day of May they met the enemy on Port Hudson plains, where they fought against superior numbers with courage well worthy of veterans; but their task was not yet accomplished, for then commenced the siege before the works of Port Hudson, where forty days the regiment figured conspicuously, although their numbers were greatly reduced by sickness and loss. On the memorable 27th day of May, when our troops were engaged in that terrible encounter, the loss of the Twenty-First was 74 killed and wounded, and again on the 14th day of June 14 more were taken from the ranks never to return. During this siege its term of service had expired, but it volunteered to remain until the taking of the place accomplished, which was done on the 9th of July, 1863, when the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Brigade of the Post Forces, Col. E.D. Johnson commanding. There they received compliments from Major General Banks for the efficient service which they gave during the campaign. July 25th the regiment embarked for Maine, where they arrived August 7th, and were discharged from the United States service August 25th. Although its term of service was only
nine months, yet eleven and a half months had expired before it returned to the State. During its absence it passed over the space of above four thousand miles in its various routes of travel. Final Record of Captain Samuel W. Clark’s Company H, Twenty-First Regiment Infantry, Maine Volunteers, showing the changes which have taken place since December 1st, 1862, date of the return published in Adjutant General’s Report for 1862, to August 25th, 1863, when mustered out of the United States service by Lieutenant F.E. Crossman, Seventeenth United States Infantry.
John B. Stevens re-enlisted in the Army in February 1864 and remained until July 1865, when he was discharged. He served a second time in Company C, 31st Maine Infantry. Below is the record of the service of the Thirtieth Maine Infantry from Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine for the Year 1864-1865.
This regiment, Lieut. Col. Thomas Hight commanding, left Augusta, Maine April 18, 1864, to join the national forces then marshaling in eastern Virginia, preparatory to the opening of the great campaign which it was hoped would effectually “wipe out” the rebellion.
At Alexandria, Virginia, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, and marched to Bristow station, where it remained a few days; on the morning of May 4th, broke camp, and on the 6th, participated in the battle of the Wilderness, in which the regiment lost heavily in killed and wounded; on the 8th, marched to Chancellorville; and on the 10th, skirmished with the enemy at Ny Run. On the 12th, was engaged in the battle of Spottsylvania, losing 12 killed, 75 wounded, and 108 missing. From the 12th to the 18th, was “under fire;” on the 21st, marched to the Po River; on the 22nd, to New Falls Church; on the 23rd, to the North Anna, crossing on the 24th, under fire of the enemy, and pressed him hard during the 25th and 26th. During the night of the 26th, recrossed the North Anna, and in two days reached and crossed the Pamunkey, and skirmished with the enemy on the 29th and 30th.
On the 31st of May and 1st of June, fought with the rebels at Tolopotomoy Creek. On the 2nd, marched to Bethesda Church, and on the 3rd, engaged in the great battle of that name, losing 15 killed and 39 wounded. June 4th, marched to Cold Harbor, and remained under fire and in frequent skirmishes until the 12th, suffering greatly from the shelling and sharpshooters of the enemy. On the 12th, commenced a long, weary march across the Chickahominy and the James, and on the 16th, skirmished with the enemy in front of Petersburg. On the morning of the 17th, in company with the 11th [New Hampshire] and 17th [Vermont] regiments, and supported by the remainder of the brigade, charged the enemy, drove him from his works at the point of bayonet, and captured six pieces of artillery and 600 prisoners. On the 18th, advanced our lines, and on the evening of that day sent out pickets in front of Petersburg. From that date, until the great battle of July 30th, remained constantly under fire of the enemy, losing largely in officers and men.
In the battle of July 30th, celebrated by the explosion of the rebel fort, the regiment was assigned to an important position by Gen. Griffin, commanding the brigade. In connection with the 9th [New Hampshire] and 2nd Maryland regiments, all in charge of Col. White, it was the first to enter the rebel works. The regiment lost on that day, ten killed, 31 wounded and 47 taken prisoners, including the brave Colonel and six officers.
From that time that shattered and tinned ranks came out of that terrible conflict, until the battle of the Weldon Railroad, Aug. 18th, the regiment remained under fire before Petersburg, doing picket duty. On Aug. 18th, the corps was removed from before Petersburg and sent to the support of the 5th corps in taking the Weldon Railroad, remaining in the front lines till Sept. 14th, when relieved and allowed a few days of comparative rest.
On Sept. 30th, in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, the regiment, in command of Capt. Deane of Co. A, distinguished itself by being the last one to fall back when the rebels turned the right of our brigade and compelled a retreat. It lost on that day, five killed, 15 wounded, including one Captain, and 154 men taken prisoners. Being again attacked on the morning of October 1st, while on the picket line. Capt. Deane fell into the hands of the enemy. At this date, the regiment was so reduced in number, that 60 only reported for duty, without a commissioned officer, with the exception of Capt. George A. Bolton, who was on Gen. Griffin’s staff. The regiment was put in charge of a sergeant, until Capt. Bolton asked to be relieved from his position on the staff, and took command.
From the 1st until the 27th of October, the men were engaged mainly in drilling and on picket duty. At the grand onward movement of the 27th of October, the regiment was ordered to Fort Fisher in connection with the 45th [Pennsylvania] and a battery of six guns, the whole garrison being in command of Lieut. Col. Getchell. From this date until Nov. 29th, the men were engaged in drilling and performing picket duty, being meanwhile strengthened by the additions of Co. M, Capt. Rogers. On the 29th, the corps was ordered to relieve the 2nd Corps, when with the 17th Vermont and 56th [Massachusetts] regiments, it was assigned to Fort Davis, on the Jerusalem Plank Road, in front of Petersburg. During the month of December, the regiment received an accession of 15 officers and 470 men by the consolidation with it of the 32nd regiment Maine Volunteers.
On the 1st of January, 1865, the 31st regiment was stationed at Fort Davis, one of the many first in the line of works before Petersburg. Feb. 11th, was ordered to the left, and encamped near Parks Station on the Army Line and City Point Railroad, where it remained until April 2nd, when it was engaged in the assault of the enemy’s works. Early in the engagement, Lieut. Col. Getchell and Major Bolton were severely wounded, and the whole regiment suffered severely. April 3rd, the regiment marched through Petersburg up the South Side Railroad in pursuit of the enemy under Gen. R.E. Lee, arriving at Nottoway Court House on the 6th. On the 8th, a detachment of the brigade consisting of the 9th [New Hampshire] volunteers, 2nd [Maryland] and 31st [Maine] Volunteers, under Lt. Col. Taylor, 2nd [Maryland], received 8,500 prisoners from the front, and proceeded to Ford’s Station, where they arrived April 11th, and delivered up their charge, and at one returned to Burksville Junction. April 20th, received orders to march to City Point, arriving April 23rd. April 26th, embarked for Alexandria, and arrived on the 27th.
On the 4th of May, the command was taken by Capt. Sargent, who remained in that position until May 11th, when he was relieved by Lt. Col. Getchell, who in turn was relieved by Col. White. On the 15th, Col. White, being a paroled prisoner, was discharged by order of the War Department, when the command devolved on Lieut. Col. Getchell until June 7th, when Col. White was reinstated and again took command. On the 15th of July, the regiment was mustered out of the U.S. service, and arrived in Bangor on the 19th, with 38 commissioned officers and 650 enlisted men, and on the 27th was finally discharged.
Index cards that summarize both terms of service.
Burial Record for John B. Stevens. He is buried in Coss Hill Cemetery in Pittston, Maine.
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