3rd Maryland Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, US
Alternate Designations
The Third Regiment of Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade, was organizaed at Cumberland and Hagerstown, Maryland from October 31, 1861, to May 20, 1862
Term of enlistment was for three years.
Companies A, B, C, D & H, were recruited from Allegany, County. Company E. was raised in Hagerstown, Company F. Baltimore, and Company G. Frederick County.
During it's organization the 3rd PHB was assigned to duty along the Upper Potomac as a part of General Lander's Division.
In March, 1862 the regiment was assigned to the Mountain Department and served there through June of 1862. The 3rd PHB engaged Confederate forces at Franklin and Wardensville, Virginia in May of 1862; and Moorefield, Virginia in June of 1862.
The 3rd PHB was transfered to the Middle Department in June, 1862. That September, the regiment was a part of the besieged garrison at Harper's Ferry, and participated in actions during the siege on both Bolivar Heights and Maryland Heights. When the garrison capitulated to Stonewall Jackson, the 3rd PHB surrendered, and was subsequently paroled and exchanged. They were then assigned duty guarding the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
In August of 1862 the three companies that constituted the 4th Potomac Home Brigade, that command failing to raise sufficient number of men to become a full regiment, were incorporated into the ranks of the 3rd PHB.
In April and May of 1864 two additional companies, I. & K. were raised at Ellicott's Mills and Monrovia; I. from Howard County and K. from Frederick County, and were assigned to the 3rd PHB.
The 3rd PHB was assigned to General Lew Wallace's Middle Department in July of 1864 when Jubal Early marched into Maryland and threatened Washington. Wallace transfered the 3rd PHB to Monocacy Junction, just east of Frederick. There, along with Wallace and General Rickett's ad hoc command the 3rd helped to delay Early's advance on Washington during the Battle of Monocacy.
When Early was driven back into Virginia the 3rd PHB particiapted in the persuit and engaged part of Early's rear guard during the encounter at Snicker's Gap on July 18, 1864. The regiment was then assigned to the command of General Phillip Sheridan, which Grant had sent into western Maryland and the Shenandoah to deal with Early's army there, and participated in Sheridan's subsequent campaign. The regiment participated in the battles of Bolivar Heights on August 6, 1864; Halltown, August 8, 1864; Charlestown, August 9, and Berryville, August 13, 1864.
The 3rd PHB was mustered out of service on May 29, 1865. A total of 1 officer and 8 enlisted men were killed in action; 1 officer and 73 men died from disease.
In Maryland the regiment participated in the persuit of Early back into Virginia, participating in a skirmish with his rear guard at Snicker's Gap on July 18th.
After Early's Raid, the 2nd PHB marched back to West Virginia. There, at the end of the original term of service, those veterans not wishing to re-enlist were mustered out of the army. Re-enlistee and recruits were organized into a smaller command. In March of 1865 the 2nd PHB was consolidated into three companies, A, B & C, and a fourth company, d, was organized and assigned to the command to serve for one year. The 2nd PHB mustered out of service May 29, 1865.
The regiment lost 1 officer and 9 enlisted men, killed in battle; 84 enlisted men died due to disease.
History provided by Gary Baker of the Association of Carroll's Sacred Trust
Published Sources
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Archival Sources
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