2nd Maine Cavalry

Organized at Augusta, Maine from November 30th, 1863, to January 2nd, 1864. Assigned to the Department of the Gulf January 11th, commenced leaving Augusta for Portland, to embark on transports for New Orleans, LA. Companies A and D, and about half of G, being the only portion of the regiment which had arrived at New Orleans, were ordered, on the 16th of April, to proceed to Alexandria, LA, where they arrived on the morning of the 21st. While assigned to duty with the 3d Cavalry Brigade, participated in the Red River campaign with engagements at Cherryville Cross Roads, Marksville, Avoyelles Prarie and Yellow Bayou, rejoining the regiment at Thibodeaux, June 1st. the main body of the regiment arrived at New Orleans, in detachments, on the 18th, 19th, 22d and 23d of April. On the 9th of August, the regiment embarked at New Orleans for Pensacola, FL, arriving on the 11th, and encamped near Barrancas, employed in fatigue duty, besides taking part in quite a number of raids, to Marianna, in September, and to Pollard, AL, in December. During the year, the regiment lost by deaths one officer and 278 enlisted men.

On the 23d of Febuary, 1865, Lt Col Andrew Spurling, with 300 men, attacked the enemy in considerable force at Milton, FL, and after a sharp encounter, completely routed them.

On the 19th of March, the regiment joined Gen. Steele’s command, concentrated at Pensacola, preparatory to the movement which resulted in the capture of Mobile and the opening of the State of Alabama to the advance of Federal Troops.

During the whole campaign, the regiment rendered efficient service, had several encounters with the enemy, destroyed a large amount of railroad and other property, besides opening communication with Gen. Canby, besieging Spanish Fort, and capturing a large number of the enemy.

After the fall of Mobile, a detachment of the regiment was assigned to the 16th Army Corps, being the only Cavalry with that body of 30,000 men. The detachment did efficient duty during the long march of nearly 200 miles to the city of Montgomery, AL. In August the detachment was ordered to return to Florida, and rejoined the regiment at Barrancas.

The regiment was then broken up into small detachments were stationed at various points throughout Western Florida for security.

By the 1st of December, the entire regiment was concentrated at Barrancas, and mustered out of the U. S. service on the 6th by Lt E. M. Schryver, Assistant Commissary of Musters. Twenty-five commissioned officers and about 116 enlisted men were mustered out and discharged in Florida, to become residents of the South, making oath of their intention to remain there, and receiving from the government, mileage in lieu of transportation.

The remainder of the regiment, comprising 14 officers and 500 enlisted men, embarked on the 8th for Augusta, ME, where they were paid and finally discharged on December 21st, 1865.

Death losses during service: Two Officers and 8 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded; 334 Enlisted men died of disease. Total 344.

Medal of Honor Recipient's

SPURLING, ANDREW B.
Rank and organization: LtCol, 2d Maine Cav.
Action: At Evergreen, Ala, 23 March 1865.
Entered service at: Maine.
Born: Cranberry Isles, Maine.
Issued: 10 Sep 1897.
Citation: Advanced alone in the darkness beyond the picket line, came upon 3 of the enemy, fired upon them (his fire being returned), wounded 2, and captured the whole party.
BVT BGEN Spurling is buried in Rose Hill cemetary, Chicago, Ill.

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William H Palmer