17th Maine Infantry Regiment

There are two monuments to the Seventeenth Maine Infantry on the battlefield of Gettysburg. The largest was dedicated in 1888 and is south of Gettysburg on DeTrobriand Avenue (top right). The other was dedicated in 1889 and is on Hancock Avenue in front of the Pennsylvania Memorial (bottom right). (see map)

The 17th Maine was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Benjamin Merrill.

From the front of the DeTrobriand Avenue monument:

130 killed and wounded

July 2, 1863.
17th Maine
Infantry,
3rd Brigade
1st Division
3rd Corps

From the left side:

350 engaged.
Lt. Col.
Chas. B. Merrill
commanding.
Wheat-field
July 2, 1863.
Pickett's Repulse.
July 3, 1863.

From a tablet on the left side:

The 17th Maine fought here in the Wheatfield 2 1/2 hours, and at this position from 4:10 to 5:45 p.m., July 2, 1863. On July 3, at the time of the enemy's assault, it reinforced the centre and supported artillery. Loss 132. Killed or mortally wounded 3 officers, 37 men. Wounded, 5 officers, 87 men.

Ths regiment of volunteers from western Maine was mustered into U.S. Service at Portland August 18, 1862, for 3 years. It took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, Auburn, Kely's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, Fredericksburg Road, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Jerusalem Road, Deep Bottom, Peeble's Farm, Fort Hell, Boydton Road, Siege of Petersburg, Hatcher's Run, Fall of Petersburg, Detonsville, Sailor's Creek, Farmville, Apomattox.

Aggregate actual strength in service 91 officers, 1475 men. Killed and died of wounds, 12 officers 195 men. Died of disease 4 officers, 128 men. Died in Confederate prisons, 31 men. Wounded not mortally, 33 officers, 519 men. Missing in action, fate unknown, 35 men. Total losses 357. Mustered out June 4, 1865.

From the Hancock Avenue marker:

Position of 17th Me. Inft'y July 3, 1863
Losing here killed 2 wounded 10.
This regiment fought in the Wheatfield
as shown by monument there losing 120.

See more information about the 17th Maine Infantry Regiment during the Civil War