Contributed by Scarborough Historical Society & Museum
Description
George Merrill was born in Saco in 1844. In 1862, when he enlisted to fight in the Civil War, he was five-foot-ten-inches tall, with hazel eyes and light hair, was single, and worked as a farmer.
Merrill enlisted in Augusta, in the 16th Maine Infantry, Company F, for three years. This regiment saw action for the first time at Fredericksburg, Virginia, when General Ambrose Burnside and the Army of the Potomac attacked General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
The 16th Maine was part of General John Gibbon's Division, which was on the Union left facing General Stonewall Jackson's Corps. They crossed the Rappahannock River on Saturday, December 13, 1862. The 16th Maine acquitted itself well in their first battle, breaking through the outer defense line of the Confederate Army. However, they had to retire when no support was given them.
The regiment suffered high casualties during that charge. One of those killed was George Merrill.
About This Item
- Title: George Merrill, Scarborough, ca. 1863
- Creation Date: circa 1863
- Subject Date: circa 1863
- Location: Scarborough, Cumberland County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 17.78 cm x 12.70 cm
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Maine--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Military service, Voluntary Recruiting & enlistment--Maine--Scarborough
- Military service--1860-1870
- Scarborough (Me.)--History
- Soldiers--Maine
- United States. Army. Maine Infantry Regiment, 16th (1862-1865)
People
Other Keywords
- 16th Maine Infantry, Company F
- Army of Northern Virginia
- Army of the Potomac
- Augusta, Maine
- Civil War
- Confederate Army
- Fredericksburg, Virginia
- General Ambrose Burnside
- General John Gibbons
- General Robert E Lee
- General Stonewall Jackson
- Rappahannock River
- Saco
For more information about this item, contact:
Scarborough Historical Society & MuseumPO Box 156, Scarborough, ME 04070-0156
(207) 885-9997
Use of this Item is not restricted by copyright and/or related rights, but the holding organization is contractually obligated to limit use. For more information, please contact the contributing organization. However, watermarked Maine Memory Network images may be used for educational purposes.
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