The history of the Fourth Regiment from September, 1862, to the date of its muster out, May 31, 1865, formed a conspicuous part of the history of the Maryland Brigade. Upon the arrival of the Fourth Regiment with the Maryland Brigade, near Wil- iamsport, Md., they assisted in expelling the enemy from Maryland.
Governor Curtain, of Pennsylvania, who had accompanied the hastily summoned . Pennsylvania militia to the front, complimented the Maryland Brigade for their prompt action in relieving his hastily levied raw and undisciplined troops, and in promptly attacking the enemy.
The Fourth Regiment of Infantry, with the Maryland Brigade, after the Army of the Potomac crossed the Potomac into Virginia, occupied Maryland Heights, opposite Harper's Ferry, Va., and went into winter quarters in December, 1862.
In April, 1863, the Fourth Regiment, with the Maryland Brigade, left Harper's Ferry and proceeded to West Virginia to repel the raids made by Imboden and Jones' Brigades of Confederate Cavalry, who attempted to capture the large depots of supplies gathered for the use of the Federal armies. After a short campaign in West Virginia, the brigade re-embarked by rail for Harper's Ferry.
The valued services of the Maryland Brigade in this campaign evoked a complimen- tary letter to General John R. Kenly, commanding brigade, from General B. F. Kelly, commanding First Division, Eighth Army Corps, of which the following is an extract: "When the rebel generals, Jones and Imboden, in April last, threatened to over- run the entire State of West Virginia, your prompt movement, under orders to the support of General Roberts at Clarksburg, alone saved from destruction much valuable public property, as well as that of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Your services afterwards, in aiding to drive the enemy from the State, were not less valuable and deserve great praise."
On the 30th day of June, 1863, the Fourth Regiment, with the Maryland Brigade, marched to Frederick City, Md., and formed a part of General French's Division, with instructions to keep up communication between Washington and the Army of the Potomac, then moving to attack General Lee's Confederate Army, invading Penn- sylvania.
On the 6th of July, 1863, the Fourth Regiment, with the First and Eighth Maryland Infantry Regiments, were ordered to make a forced march to, and recapture Harper's Ferry, which they did after a brisk engagement.
On the 10th day of July, 1863, the Fourth Regiment, with the Maryland Brigade, joined the Army of the Potomac, and became the Third Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps.
The Fourth Regiment marched with the Army of the Potomac to Warrenton, Va., in the latter part of July, 1863, and took an active part in the campaign that followed, under General Meade in Eastern Virginia, in the summer and autumn of 1863.
In March, 1864, the Fourth Regiment, with the Maryland Brigade, became the Third Brigade, Second Division, Fifth Army Corps.
On the 5th day of May, 1864, the Fourth Maryland Infantry Regiment, with the Maryland Brigade, took its place in line of battle at the Wilderness, Va., and actively participated in all of the ensuing battles, engagements, marches, sufferings and hard- ships incident to the movements of the Maryland Brigade, with the Army of the Poto- mac at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad and Five Forks, until the final surrender at Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865.
After the surrender of General Lee's Confederate Army at Appomattox, the Fourth Regiment marched to Arlington Heights, Va., where it was mustered out of the military service of the United States, May 31, 1865.
The casualties incurred by the Fourth Maryland Infantry Regiment during' the Civil War were as follows: Killed, 3 commissioned officers and 32 enlisted men ; total, 35 ; died of disease, etc., 1 commissioned officer and 72 enlisted men ; total 73, or an aggregate of 108 men.
The Fourth Regiment of Infantry during the war marched 1089 miles, and traveled by rail 649 miles, a total of 1738 miles.
In additition to the numerous engagements in which the Fourth Regiment of Infantry participated, the following named battles have been officially promulgated by the War Department, U. S. Army, in which this regiment bore an honorable part, viz.: Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, Hatcher's Run, Weldon Railroad, Chapel House.
Text courtesty of the Maryland State Archives, Archives of Maryland Online Project, Fourth Maryland Infantry
| 
| 
| 
| 
|