Norway’s Human Contribution

When the Confederate States of America fired on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, Norway was a prosperous and growing town of 1982 inhabitants.  Norway sent down to the war more than a third of its adult male population.  Maine furnished thirty-two regiments for the war and the commanding officer for three of the regiments came from Norway.  There were five Lieutenants, and ten Captains from Norway, with a total of 44 different commissions in all.

Norway had one Brigadier-Genereal, two brevet Brigadier Generals, one brevet Major General, three Colonels, one Chaplain, one Assistant Surgeon and one Regimental Quartermaster.  No citizen of Norway enlisted either in the Cavalry or Light Artillery.  All but two enlisted in the Infantry.  These two enlisted in Heavy Artillery.

One of the very first soldiers to give his life in the Civil War was Sumner Henry Needham.  He was born in Norway, but had moved to Lowell, Massachusetts.  He was a member of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment.  He was killed by a mob as the regiment was passing through Baltimore.  Forty-four gave their lives for the cause.  Ten of them fell in battle and seven more died from wounds received in action.  Twenty-seven died from disease incident to military life.

Three Norway soldiers ready to leave for war in April 1861. L to R: Second Lieutenant Harry Rust, Captain George L. Beal, later promoted to General, First Lieutenant Jonathan Blake.


Norway Civil War Roster

Charles R. Atwood, Co B, 32nd Regt. (Killed at Petersburg, July 30, 1864)
Kenneth S. Bartlett, Co G, 10th Regt. (Wounded at Cedar Mt. Died at Culpeper Court House, Virginia)
Marcus Bartlett, Co G, 10th Regt. (Wounded at Antietam and died at Smoketown, Md.)
George L. Beal, Co G, 1st Regt. Colonel of Co G, in the 10th Maine Regt.
Fitzroy Bennett, Coast Guard
Frank L. Berry, Co G, 1st Maine, Co F, 17th Maine, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps
Jonathan Blake, Co G, 1st Regt. Captain of Co G, in the 10th Maine Regt.
Frank J. Bradbury, Co G, 10th Maine
Uriah W. Briggs, 1st Lt., Co F, 17th Maine, promoted to Captain
Ephraim H. Brown, Co F, 17th Maine
Hezekiah E. Brown, Co B, 32nd Maine, Co B, 31st Maine (transfer)
Caleb C. Buck, Co G, 1st Regt.
Edward W. Bumpus, Co F, 17th Maine (Died in service)
Granville M. Burnell, Co G, 29th Maine (Drowned on his way home to Norway)
Isaiah M. Burnell, Co F, 14th Maine (Died in service)
Sumner W. Burnham, Co C, 17th Maine
David L. Butterfield, Co G, 1st Maine, Co H, 23rd Regt.Lucius I. Bartlett, Co G, 10th Regt. (Imprisoned at Libby Prison)
Charles B. Callahan, Co G, 29th Maine
Asa G. Charles, Corp. Co F, 17th Maine
Philo S. Cherry, Co G, First Maine
Charles C. Cole, Sergeant Co F, 17th Maine. On Discharge served with Coast Guard
Horace Cole, Musician Co E, 5th Maine. Served in Navy as Engineer USSS Malvern

Horace Cole

William C. Cole, Co G, 29th Maine
William F. Cox, Co H, 23rd Maine, Co B, 32nd Maine. Taken prisoner. Discharged and later joined Co F, Maine Coast Guards.
James Crockett II, Co G, 10th Maine, Co G, 29th Maine
Alonzo B. Crockett, co G, 29th Maine
Grosvenor Crockett, Co G, 1st Maine, Co G, 14th Maine
Joseph Crockett, Co G, 5th Maine
Isaac C. Cross, Co I, 5th Maine Regt.
Alvin Davis, Co G, 14th Maine (Died in New Orleans)
James Danforth, Co H, 23rd Maine
Jere Dempsey, Co G, First Maine, Co G, 10th Maine
Charles W. Dinsmore, Co G, 10th Maine, transferred to 10th Maine Battalion, then to Co D, 29th Maine. Taken prisoner.
Horation B. Downer, Co D, 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. (Killed at Petersburg)
Claudius M. Favor, Sgt. in Co G, 1st Maine Co, 29th Maine. Later served as 2nd Lt in Captain Cobb’s Company at Fort McClary.
Joseph Faulkner, Co B, 5th Maine. (Dropped from rolls General Order 162)
Lucius D. Fisher, Co B, 30th Maine (1st Lt.)
Gilbert L. Fisk, Co H, 23rd Maine; Co B, 32nd Maine (Killed at Petersburg)
John F. Fitz, Corp. Co G, 1st Maine, Sgt. Co G, 10th Maine Co, 29th Maine
David Flood Jr., Co G, 14th Maine. Transferred to 14th Maine Battalion
Edward Flood Jr., Co B, 32nd Maine
Levi C. Fogg, Co H, 23rd Maine; Co B, 32nd Maine. Died in service
George Foster, Co G, 14th Maine (Reported missing)
Nathan Foster, Co H, 23rd Maine Co B, 29th Maine. Died in service
Wallace Foster, Co G, 1st Maine, Co G, 14th Maine, Co G, 29th Maine
William H. Foster, Co H, 23rd Maine; Co G, 29th Maine. (served as wagoner)
David F. Frost, Co B, 29th Maine. (Died in service)
Eliab R. Frost, Co I, 32nd Maine. (Died from wounds)
George W. Frost, Co G, 14th Maine (Died in New Orleans)
John C. Frost, Co G, 14th Maine
Mark F. Frost, Co H, 23rd Maine (Died in Service)
Nathaniel G. Frost, Co G, 32nd Maine
Weston Frost, Co G, 14th Maine
William E. Frost, Co H, 23rd Maine
Archelaus Fuller, Corp. Co G, 14th Maine. Transferred to 14th Maine Battalion
Albert C. Gammon, Co G, 10th Maine
Atwood Gammon, Co A, 29th Maine
Andrew P. Greenleaf, Captain Cobb’s Company at Fort McClary; Co A, 29th Maine (Killed at Cedar Creek)
Solomon Greenleaf, Co G, 10th Maine; transferred to Co B, 10th Maine; transferred to Co E, 29th Maine
William F. Hale, 1st Maine; 10th Maine
Charles Hall, Co G, 10th Maine
Nathaniel P. Hall, Co B, 32nd Maine
Charles L. Hathaway, Co H, 23rd Maine
Austin C. Hayes, Co G, 14th Maine (Killed at Baton Rouge)
John G. Hayes, Corp, Co G, 14th Maine (Died in New Orleans)
Henry Herrick, Co G, 14th Maine
Joseph H. Herrick, Co G, 32nd Maine; transferred to Co G, 31st Maine (Taken prisoner)
Francis W. Hill, Co F, 17th Maine
William F. Hill, Co G, 1st Maine
J. Frank Hobbs, Co G, 1st Maine; Co G, 14th Maine. Discharged as Captain.
Lorenzo D. Hobbs, Wagoner, Co B, 32nd Maine
Wellington Hobbs, Musician, Co G, 1st Maine; Co F, 17th Maine; Co H, 17th Maine, Captain (Killed at Petersburg)
David L. Holden, Co G, 14th Maine
Harrison B. Holden, Co G, 14th Maine (Died in New Orleans)
Benjamin G. Holt, Co B, 32nd Maine
Calvin Holt, Co F, 17th Maine (Died in service)
Daniel Holt II, Co G, 14th Maine
Albion L. Hutchinson, Co G, 14th Maine
Chandler Hutchinson, Co G, 14th Maine (Died in service)
Henry A. Hutchinson, Musician, Co H, 23rd Maine
William P. Johnson, Co G, 29th Maine
Asa D. Jordan, Co I, 5th Maine
Granville P. Jordan, Co G, 1st Maine
Isaac H. Jordan, Co F, 23rd Maine
Porter G. Jordan, Co F, 17th Maine
Timothy Jordan, Co G, 1st Maine
Amos C. Judkins, Co F, Coast Guards
Henry M. Judkins, Co B, 32nd Maine
Joseph E. Long, Co G, 29th Maine
Samuel Lord, Co I, 32nd Maine
Josiah P. Lovejoy, Co. G, 14th Maine
John H. Lovejoy, Co D, 16th Maine; Co G, 29th Maine (Killed at Cedar Creek)
Lewis Lovejoy, Co H, 23rd Maine; Co I, 32nd Maine

Willard H. Mallett, Co C, 32nd Maine; transferred Co B, 31st Maine
Charles Matthews, Co G, 10 Maine
Charles H. McIntire, Co K, 30th Maine (Taken prisoner)
Andrew M. Merriam, Co G, 14th Maine
Frederick R. Merriam, Co G, 1st Maine
Ezra A. Merrill, Co G, 14th Maine (Died of wounds received at Cedar Creek)
James Merrill, Co M, 1st Maine Heavy Artillery (Killed at Petersburg)
James L. Merrill, Co G, 10th Maine
William D. Merrill, Co F, 17th Maine; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps.
William F. Merrill, Co F, Maine Coast Guards
Charles F. Millett, Co G, 10th Maine; Co F, Maine Coast Guards
Henry R. Millett, Co G, 1st Maine; 2nd Lt, Co G, 10th Maine; 1st Lt, Co G,29th Maine, Captain, Co E, 29th Maine
Fessenden Mills, Co C, 17th Maine, wounded at Gettysburg and died of wounds
Benjamin F. Morse, Co E, 10th Maine
David A. Morse, Co G, 14th Maine (Died at New Orleans)
Edward F. Morse, Co F, 17th Maine
Franklin B. Morse, Co G, 29th Maine
George E. Needham, Co G, 14th Maine (Died at Ship Island)
William O. Needham, Co G, 32nd Maine
Charles D. Noble, Co F, 17th Maine
Francis M. Noble, Co G, 14th Maine
Harrison Noble, Musician, Co G, 10th Maine, Co G, 29th Maine
William H. Noble, Co G, 14th Maine; Co H, 23rd Maine; Co B, 32nd Maine;transferred to 31st Maine
Amos F. Noyes, 1st Lt., Co G, 14th Maine; Capt., Co H, 14th Maine; Capt., Co B, 32nd Maine. During the summer of 1864 he commanded the 32nd Regt.
Joseph L. Oliver, Co F, Maine Coast Guards
Rufus C. Penley, Co I, 5th Maine
Albert E. Pike, Co F, Maine Coast Guards
Charles Pike, Musician, Co B, 29th Maine
Darius F. Pike, Co G, 10th Maine
Daniel Pike, Co G, 14th Maine (Died in prison)
Charles M. Pressey, Co G, 10th Maine (Killed at Antietam)
Leonard D. Randall, Co H, 23rd Maine; Co B, 32nd Maine; transferred to 31st Maine
Francis H. Reed, Co H, 23rd Maine
Calvin Richardson, Co H, 23rd Maine
Charles S. Robbins, Co C, 10th Maine
Jason F. Rowe, Co F, Maine Coast Guards
Henry Rust, Jr., 1st Lt., Co G, 1st Maine; Capt., Co G, 10th Maine; Lt Colonel of 13th Maine Regt., promoted to Colonel of 13th. Discharged as Brigadier-General
Luther L. Sampson, Co H, 23rd Maine
Freeman H. Shackley, Co H, 23rd Maine; Co B, 32nd Maine; wounded at Petersburg and died shortly after his return to Norway
Henry S. Shattuck, Co H, 23rd Maine
George W. Sholes, Co G, 1st Maine
William H. Smith, Co F, 9th Maine (wounded)
Josiah H. Smith, Co G, 14th Maine (Died in service)
Charles Thompson, Co G, 1st Maine, 10th Maine Regimental Commissary Sergeant promoted to Quartermaster. Quartermaster of 29th Maine Regt.
Osmond Towne, Co B, 32nd Maine (Died in service)
Cyrus S. Tucker, Co F., 17th Maine, detached as Brigade Saddler
Henry Tucker, Co G, 14th Maine
William W. Twombly, Co F, Maine Coast Guards
George W. Verrill, Co C, 17th Maine, promoted to 1st Lt., later to Captain of Co E, 17th Maine
William W. Virgin, Colonel of 23rd Regt.
Hannibal S. Warren, Co G, 1st Maine; Co F, 17th Maine
George Whitehouse, Co H, 23rd Maine
Benjamin F. Whitcomb, Co F, 14th Maine (Died in service)
Levi A. Whitcomb, Co F, 17th Maine (enlisted on quota for Paris). Reported missing following the battle of Chancellorsville
William W. Whitmarsh, Co G, 1st Maine; 2nd Lt., Co G, 10th Maine; Capt., Co G, 29th Maine
Orrington Wilkins, Co G, 14th Maine
Samuel S. Yates, Co G, 10th Maine. Served as wagoner
Charles A. Young, Co H, 23rd Maine

Captian Cobb’s Company of Volunteer Militia

The company was enlisted for sixty days, it was mustered April 27th, 1864 and discharged 9 July 1864.

Benjamin G. Barrows, James G. B. Bradbury, Sylvanus Cobb Jr., George A. Cole, Charles B. Cummings, Arthur E. Denison, James C. Drew, William D. Earle Charles J. Edgecomb, Claudius M. Favor, James M. Favor, Edwin Fisher, Wallace Foster, William E. Frost,  Atwood Gammon, Abram Green, Andrew P. Greenleaf, Frank H. Hamlin, Joseph F. Herrick, Levi E. Holden, George F. Howe, George F. Leonard, Charles M. Mallett, Hiram Merrill, William A. Merrill, William F. Merrill, Charles F. Millett, Edwin J. Newhall, Benjamin H. Noble, Scott Partridge, Charles S. Penley, Isaiah V. Penley,  Frank H. Reed, Oliver Shackley,  Clarence M. Smith, Edward F. Stevens, Henry Tucker,  John Tucker, and Rodolphus Young.

Norway Men In Service Out Of State

Stidman Bennett, Wagoner in 1st Massachusetts Regt., died at Mt Pleasant Hospital.
E. Wright Bisbee was promoted to Capt. of his company in a Massachusetts regiment.
Aaron W. Brown served in a Massachusetts regiment and died at Falmouth, Virginia.
William A. Evans of the 28th Massachusetts was killed at Spottsylvania.
James L. Merrill, Sergeant in the U. S. Signal Corps. Died at Norfolk, Virginia.

Other Norway men who served in Massachusetts regiments were Henry O. Beal, Henry T. Merrill, James Merrill, Joseph H. Newhall, Charles E. Newhall, and Charles A. Smith. Stephen C. Yeaton served in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.  Daniel S. Morse enlisted in the regular army and Daniel Latham, George F. Latham, and J. C. Davis served in the United States Navy.

Surviving Veterans of the Civil War, 1924. Front row: Anson J. Holden, J.A. Noyes, Thomas Powers, George Seavey, Gardiner B. Wiley, Edward Kneeland. Back row: Daniel Austin, Albert B. Bassett, Winfield S. Cordwell, Charles C. Brackett, W. Frank Cox. Mr. Cox is the only soldier in the photo who enlisted in Norway. Photo taken in front of the Civil War Monument in Witherell Park, corner of Main & Lynn Streets

 

Service History of Maine Volunteer Regiments

First Maine Regiment of Volunteers – Company G. Used to defend Washington, D.C. during the First Battle of Bull Run.

Fifth Maine Regiment of Volunteers – Company G (This was one of the regiments in The Army of the Potomac).  Mustered into service 4 June 1861.  First Battle of Bull Run, Peninsular Campaign, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, North Anna River.

Ninth Maine Regiment of Volunteers – Mustered into service 21 September 1861.  Service was mostly given in the south; South Carolina, Battle of Cold Harbor, Petersburg.

Thirteenth Maine Regiment of Volunteers – One Norway officer, Colonel Henry Rust Jr. was the commanding officer.

Tenth Maine Regiment of Volunteers – Most of the men whose duty terminated in the First Maine enlisted to serve in this new regiment.  Sent to guard and inspect railroad cars and lines on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Reconnaissance duties – Luray Court House, Sandy Hook, Flint Hill,Warrenton, Battle of Cedar Mountain, Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Guard duty at Maryland Heights.  Mustered out of service 8 May 1863.

Fourteenth Maine Regiment of Volunteers – Company G. Mustered into service in December 1861 for three years.  Battle of Baton Rouge, Siege of Port Hudson.  Returned to Washington D. C. to join Sheridan and his and his troops on the famous “excursions” into the Shenandoah Valley to meet General William T. Sherman.  Battles: Opequan and Cedar Creek.  Mustered out of service 28 August 1865

Seventeenth Maine Regiment of Maine Volunteers – Companies F and C. Mustered into service 18 August 1862.  Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (second day’s Battle), Wapping Heights (in pursuit of General Robert E. Lee), Locust Grove, Mene Run.  These battles and campaigns were carried on in connection with the Third Army Corps. The Third and Second Army corps were then consolidated, to be known as the Second Army corps.  Wilderness, North Anna River, Petersburg, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Richmond.  The Seventeenth Maine then returned to Washington, D.C. for the Grand Review at the end of the war.

Eighteenth Maine Regiment of Volunteers (Became the First Maine Heavy Artillery) – Defense of Washington, Spottsylvania Court House.  After Spottsylvania Court House the regiment became part of the Second Army Corps.

Twenty-Third Maine Regiment of Volunteers – William W. Virgin, commanding officer – Company H. Mustered into service 29 September 1862.  Duty: Guard the crossings of the Potomac.  Engaged in no major skirmishes.  Missed involvment in Battle of Gettysburg, because their enlistments were up on the 27th of June.

Twenty-ninth Maine Regiment of Volunteers – Company G. The commanding officer of the 29th Regiment was General George L. Beal.  Sabine Cross Roads, Battle of Fisher’s Hill, Battle of Cedar Creek, Battle of Opequan.  Regiment took part in the final Grand Review.  Later ordered to the south to assist in administration of military government and Freedmans Bereau. General Beal was military governor of the South Carolina Military District.

Thirtieth Maine Regiment of Maine Volunteers – Red River Campaign.  Regiment served mostly in the south.  After the war the Thirtieth Maine was on duty in Georgia until 20 august 1865 when it was ordered home to be mustered out of service.  Most of the men re-enlisted from the 13th Maine Regiment of Maine Volunteers

Thirty-first Regiment – Company B took part in the capture of Petersburg and took pursuit of the Rebel Army. Mustered out of service 15 July 1865.

Thirty-second Maine Regiment of Maine Volunteers – Mustered into service in February 1864.  This was the last regiment raised for service in Maine.  Most Norway men served in Company B.  The regiment was held in reserve during the Battle of the Wilderness and Cold Harbor.  Because of the large numbers of casualties suffered at Fort Hell (Battle of Petersburg) the Thirty-second was consolidated with the Thirty-first Maine Regiment.

Research and data by Donald L. McAllister
Published in the Annual Report of the Municipal Officers of the Town of Norway, Maine For The Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 1964

Thanks to Ben Tucker, III for providing this article.