Country United States Branch Infantry | Allegiance Union Engagements Battle of Gettysburg | |
Active September, 1861, to February 23, 1865 | ||
The 1st Regiment Eastern Shore Maryland Volunteer Infantry was organized at Cambridge, Maryland in September 1861. Their enlistments were for 3 years.
Companies A, B and C were recruited in Dorchester County, Companies D, E, F and G in Caroline County, Company H in Talbot County, Company I at Baltimore City, and Company K in Somerset County.
Once formed, the regiment was attached to Major General John Adams Dix's division of the Army of the Potomac. It was assigned to the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
The regiment was commanded by Colonel James Wallace, a slaveowning lawyer and state legislator from Cambridge. Wallace would resign his commission in December 1863 over the issue of arming African-Americans for the army.
In January, 1863, the regiment was attached to the VIII Corps.
When Lee invaded Pennsylvania, the regiment was attached to the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division of the XII Corps of the Army of the Potomac and sent north. The regiment arrived at the Battle of Gettysburg on the morning of July 3 and engaged the enemy on Culp's Hill. The regiment suffered 5 dead, 16 wounded, and 2 missing, out of 583 total men at the Battle of Gettysburg.