Name/Title
Benjamin Murray | Pembroke, Maine | Civil WarDescription
From: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/civil-war-colonel-general-15th-maine-440055641
Civil War General Benjamin Bixby Murray, Jr. (1828 – 1906) Murray was from Pembroke, Maine and enlisted on Dec. 6,1861, as a Captain, and commissioned into the 15 th Maine Infantry. He rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel and Colonel of the 15 th Maine, and was brevetted Brigadier General. Post war he was Adj. General of Maine, and a United States Marshal. The 15 th Maine formed a part of Gen. Banks' Red river expedition, during which it marched more than 700 miles in two months, and participated in the battles of Sabine cross-roads, Pleasant Hill, Cane river crossing and Mansura plains. Here’s a RARE 1874 Letter Signed by Murray on attractive “State of Maine, Adjutant General’s Office, Augusta” Letterhead to Lt. Henry A. Pratt enclosing a check for pay & travel for attending election of Major 1 st Regiment Maine Volunteer Militia. This HISTORIC DOCUMENT measures approx. 5 1/2” x 9” and is in VERY GOOD CONDITION, with paper folds –– PERFECT FOR FRAMING WITH A PERIOD CDV PHOTOGRAPH or ENGRAVING OF THE GENERAL!! Note that the picture of Murray is not included with the Autograph. A Rare Piece of American Military History/Memorabilia! <<::>> HISTORY of the MAINE FIFTEENTH INFANTRY (Three Years ) Fifteenth Infantry.--Cols., John McCluskey, Isaac Dyer; Lieut.-Cols., Isaac Dyer, Benjamin B. Murray, Jr., Pembroke; Majs., Benjamin Hawes, Franklin M. Drew, James H. Whitmore, John R. Coates. This regiment was raised principally in Aroostock county, and was organized at Augusta, Me., from Dec. 6 to 31, 1861, to serve for three years. It was mustered into the U. S. service on Jan. 23, 1862, and embarked from Portland March 6 for Ship island, Miss., at which date it numbered 962 men, rank and file. The regiment remained encamped at Carrollton, La., from May 19 to Sept. 18, during which time it suffered much from malarial diseases. In September it went to Pensacola, Fla., where it remained until June 21, 1863. Here the health of the men so improved that the number in hospital was reduced to less than one-quarter. During the first year of its service the 15th lost by desertion, discharge and death 329 men, although it had never been in battle. On its return to New Orleans in June, 1863, it joined Gen. Banks' expedition to Texas and rendered conspicuous service in the capture of Fort Esperanza, in Matagorda bay. While at Matagorda peninsula, from Jan. 17 to Feb. 28, 1864, three-fourths of the original members of the regiment reenlisted for another term of three years. Returning to New Orleans in March, the regiment formed a part of Gen. Banks' Red river expedition, during which it marched more than 700 miles in two months, and participated in the battles of Sabine cross-roads, Pleasant Hill, Cane river crossing and Mansura plains. In June, 1864, it was ordered to New Orleans, and on July 5 embarked on transports for Fortress Monroe, Va., where it arrived on the 17th. Six companies were then ordered to Bermuda Hundred, and the remaining companies participated in the campaign up the valley in pursuit of Early's army. The command was reunited at Monocacy Junction, Md., Aug. 4, when the veterans of the regiment who had reenlisted received a 35 days' furlough, returning to the field Sept. 27. In October it went to Martinsburg, where it remained until Jan. 7, 1865. The original members of the regiment who had not reenlisted were mustered out on Jan. 18, 1865, but the reenlisted men, recruits, volunteers, drafted men and substitutes forwarded from Camp Berry, Portland, were sufficient to reorganize the regiment, which was ordered to Washington in April, and went to Savannah, Ga., on June 4. On the 13th, it embarked on transports for Georgetown, S. C., where it was assigned to the 3d separate brigade, Department of South Carolina, and remained here until the date of muster out, July 5, 1866, whence the men went to New York, where they were finally paid and discharged. Source: The Union Arm... HIDE