1850 U. S. census: Dennysville, Washington County, Maine, USA.
1860 U. S. census: Dennysville, Washington County, Maine, USA.
DEATH INFORMATION:
Buried at Section C, Site 2800, City Point National Cemetery, Building 2101, North 10th Avenue and Davis Street, Hopewell, Prince George County, Virginia 23860.
Grave is located in the fifteenth (15th) row from the back wall of the cemetery; nine (9) rows to the right of the obelisk (a large marble monument dedicated to the Army of the James) as you are in the parking lot; three (3) rows behind the left most magnolia tree which is the first magnolia tree to the right of the obelisk.
Killed in the Civil War in one of the "Final Assaults" in the Siege of Petersburg, Prince George County, Virginia, USA at a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point Railroad.
According to the 31st Maine Infantry Regimental History [The UNION ARMY A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 - Records of the Regiments in the Union Army - Cyclopedia of Battles - Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers, Volume I, Madison, Wis. Federal Publishing Company 1908, page 60], "(d)uring the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely." This should be where Charles Rice Lincoln died.
MILITARY RECORD:
Private U. S. Army (Union), Civil War, Company E, 31st Regiment, Maine Infantry.
History of the 31st Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, copied from Wikipedia:
31st Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry
Active April 17, 1864, to July 15, 1865
Country United States
Allegiance Union
Branch Infantry
Engagements
Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of Spotsylvania
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of the Crater
Service
The 31st Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry was organized at Augusta, Maine, in March and April 1864 and mustered into service on April 17, 1864, for a three-year enlistment. The regiment left Maine for Washington, D.C. on April 18, 1864, and was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac, in which it remained for the remainder of the war. The 31st commenced active campaigning on May 4, 1864, and took its first battle casualties two days later in the Battle of the Wilderness, where it suffered heavy losses. The regiment fought again at Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, again taking heavy casualties: 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing in action.[1]
The regiment fought in engagements at Totopotomoy Creek on May 31 and June 1. Between the 4th and 12 June, the regiment was before the Confederate works at Cold Harbor, then crossed the James River and fought in the Battle of Petersburg and then remained there for the remainder of the siege. In the July 30 Battle of the Crater, it was the first regiment into the Confederate works and lost heavily in the failed assault.[2]
The 31st was in support during the Second Battle of the Weldon Railroad, followed by the Battle of Poplar Springs Church on September 30. October 1864 was spent on picket duty and drill where it absorbed the 4th and 6th Companies of Maine Unassigned Infantry as companies L and M. On October 27, it was assigned to Fort Fisher, where they remained until the end of November when it was reassigned as the garrison of Fort Davis. The 31st Maine absorbed the 32nd Maine Regiment on December 12, 1864, adding 15 officers and 470 enlisted men to its ranks. The regiment remained in reserve from February 11, 1865, until the early morning of April 2, when it was chosen to provide the initial storming party of three companies for the assault on Fort Mahone. The regiment suffered heavy losses in the attack.. It participated in the occupation of Petersburg and spent the rest of the campaign gathering up prisoners and escorting them to the rear.
On April 29, the regiment marched to City Point, Virginia and sailed to Alexandria, Virginia, arriving at that city on the 27th.
The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23, 1865, and was mustered out of service on July 15, 1865.
The Regiment, and the Battle of the Crater in general, is portrayed in the film Cold Mountain (2003).
Total strength and casualties
1,595 men served in the 31st Maine Infantry Regiment at one point or another during its service. It lost 183 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds. 491 men were wounded in action, 176 died of disease, and 34 died in Confederate prisons, and 18 officer deaths, for a total of 411 fatalities from all causes.[3]
Commanders
Colonel Daniel White
See also
American Civil War portal
List of Maine Civil War units
Maine in the American Civil War
Notes
1. Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine for the year ending December 31, 1866, pp. 164-166.
Maine Adjutant General, 1866, pp. 164-166.
2. http://www.state.me.us/sos/arc/archives/military/civilwar/31meinf.htm Archived 2006-09-09 at the Wayback Machine 3. 3. State of Maine Civil War Website Page on the 31st Maine
External links
State of Maine Civil War Records Website
Brief summary of 31st Maine Regiment Infantry in the Civil War [https://civilwarindex.com/armyme/31st%20me%20infantry.html]:
31st Maine Regiment Infantry in the Civil War
Regimental History
Thirty-first Infantry. — Cols., Thomas Hight, Daniel White; Lieut- Cols., Thomas Hight, Stephen C. Talbot, Edward L. Getchell; Majs., Stephen C. Talbot, Daniel White, George A. Bolton. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Augusta, from March 1 to April 29, 1864, to serve for three years. The 4th and 6th companies of unassigned infantry, organized at Augusta in Oct., 1864, to serve for one year, were assigned to this regiment as Companies L and M. The 32nd Me. was consolidated with this regiment on Dec. 12, 1864, and the entire regiment was mustered out of service near Alexandria, Va., July 15, 1865. The men returned to Bangor on the 19th of the same month, where they were finally paid and discharged on the 27th. The 31st left the state for Washington April 18, 1864, and upon its arrival at Alexandria, Va., was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 9th corps. It at once marched to Bristoe Station, whence it was hastened to the front to aid in the concluding scenes of the conflict. The regiment almost immediately took part in the battle of the Wilderness, where it lost heavily in killed and wounded. From this time on it saw continuous hard service until the close of the war. In addition to the Wilderness it participated in the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church and Hatcher's run. For its gallantry at the furious engagement of Bethesda Church on June 3, Gen. Griffin, commanding the brigade, issued the following congratulatory order : "It also gives me pleasure to add my evidence to the well-known fact that the 31st Me. has made for itself a most brilliant record, and won for itself imperishable renown." The casualties of the regiment were enormous, as it was so constantly engaged. It lost at Spottsylvania Court House 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing. In the great battle of July 30, when the mine was exploded at Petersburg, the regiment was assigned an important position and was the first to enter the enemy's works. Its losses were 10 killed, 31 wounded and 47 captured. Again at the battle of Poplar Spring Church the regiment distinguished itself, and was the last to fall back when the enemy turned the right of the brigade and compelled a retreat. It lost here 5 killed, 15 wounded and 16 captured. During the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely. On the next day it participated in the pursuit of the enemy and on the 8th conducted a detachment of prisoners to Ford's station. On the 20th it embarked for Alexandria, Va., and was mustered out the following July.
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
OTHER INFORMATION:
Private U. S. Army (Union), Civil War, Company E, 31st Regiment, Maine Infantry.
Two original letters survive, one from him to his Dennysville family, dated five days before he died, and one from George C. Crawford of the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION. A copy of the original of each of these letters has been filed with the Petersburg National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service). The originals currently are in the possession of Ruth Watkins (Pew) Jaynes and may be donated to a museum (name and place of museum unknown at this time) at a future date. The two letters are transcribed in full here:
LETTER NUMBER 1:
In front [east side of] Petersburg March 28th 1865
Dear Mother Sisters & Brother
I may have no better opportunity to write to you than the present time as I think that the campaign is about to open if it was not done so already.
Since midnight there has been very heavy firing on the right about six this morning there was some very hard artillery practice but it has eased off and things are quite quiet again only once in awhile hearing fire. I do not know that I ever heard such heavy firing before but once and that was at night at Ganges Mills [might be Gaines Mill, Hanover, Hanover County, Virginia, USA, near Cold Harbor, Hanover County, Virginia, USA] last spring.
We are all packed up for a move or fight just which is most convenient, but I am in hopes that it will not be either.
We are going to have a very pleasant day I should think the ground is drying very fast and we shall see the end of the rebellion before long.
I had a letter from Alice Tinkham and she says that they are all well at home. She seames [misspelled in original] to very much pleased at the prospect of your going from Dennysville but not more than I am. I hope to hear what you have duties (?) to do and where you think of going.
Enclosed you will find a Peach blossom & Ce [et cetera] looks rather strange for you where the only thing to be sean is snow banks. There has been a great many men gone by here to the right St. Childs [need to identify this man] has just gone from here he is on Brig. Gen. Griffins [Brigadier General Charles Griffin] Staff and he says that the rebs got Fort Stedman and captured the 14th N. Y. H. A. [14th New York Heavy Artillery], but that our men rallied and got back all that was lost and got a good many prisoners I hope that the rebs have got the whole of the 14th N. Y. prisoners for they are the biggest lot of cowards bounty jumpers deserters and fools that is in the whole Potomac army, but what can be expected of privates when our Genl. set the example Gens Mead [Major General George G. Meade] & Parke [Major General John G. Parke] if they were out of the way it would help our side as much as a victory. Every thing seems to be very quite now and if the report is true and I do not see why it is not there will not be any one hurt. Fort Stedman is on the right of our corps and one of the strongest on the whole line of the rebs could have held it it would have been a great victory for them.
Love to all
Your son
C R Lincoln
Co. E 31st Maine Reg.
Washington D.C.
I opened this letter to say that I saw about twenty five hundred reb prisoners that we captured this morning report says that their loss was about four thousand they were very happy lot of men glad to get into our lines at any cost and want to stay now they are here.
LETTER NUMBER 2:
U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION
[Letterhead]
Head Qrs. [Quarters] 31st Maine Vols.
Alexandria Va. May 16th 1865
Mrs. Lincoln,
Yours of 9th inst. [within the same month] was received last evening and I hasten to reply.
And will first say, that I sincerely sympathize with you in your affliction and loss, and devoutly pray our Gracious Father in heaven to grant you the consolations of his grace, and enable you to realize that “he doth not afflict willingly no grieve the children of men.”
“His grace is sufficient for you.” May you experience the truth of this in this time of sore trial and bereavement, and may God bless you and yours.
The prevailing opinion in the co. with which your dear son was connected is, that he was not brought alive to Div. Hospital. I have made inquires in the co. of the Sheahan boys [probably Edmund B. Sheahan and Henry Sheahan] and others – and can find no one who saw him after the charge was made.
His name is not on the record at Div. Hospital, and I can find no one among all the ward masters nurses & c. [et cetera] there who has any recollection of him; with a single exception.
A man from Penn. (a nurse) thinks some one of that name was brought in on the 2d and lived till about noon on the 3d of April. I can however find nothing reliable in reference to him, and in the absence of evidence in favor of your supposition and the accumulating evidence against it, I incline to the opinion that he must have fallen on the field of battle; and that his body was brought to the cemetery near Div. hospital on Monday 3d.
On our return from Burksville [Nottoway County, Virginia, USA], and on passing the cemetery April 23 I went in and found a large number of graves of men belonging to our regt. And among them one plainly marked C. R. Lincoln Co E.
I can find no trace of wallet, testament, or anything belonging to him.
I very much regret, Mrs. L. that I cannot give you all the information you desire. I am a parent and well know the interest and solicitude of parents in and for their children.
Again praying that the Divine presence and grace may sustain you in your deep affliction I subscribe myself your sympathizing friend.
Geo. C. Crawford
1860 U. S. census: Dennysville, Washington County, Maine, USA.
DEATH INFORMATION:
Buried at Section C, Site 2800, City Point National Cemetery, Building 2101, North 10th Avenue and Davis Street, Hopewell, Prince George County, Virginia 23860.
Grave is located in the fifteenth (15th) row from the back wall of the cemetery; nine (9) rows to the right of the obelisk (a large marble monument dedicated to the Army of the James) as you are in the parking lot; three (3) rows behind the left most magnolia tree which is the first magnolia tree to the right of the obelisk.
Killed in the Civil War in one of the "Final Assaults" in the Siege of Petersburg, Prince George County, Virginia, USA at a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point Railroad.
According to the 31st Maine Infantry Regimental History [The UNION ARMY A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 - Records of the Regiments in the Union Army - Cyclopedia of Battles - Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers, Volume I, Madison, Wis. Federal Publishing Company 1908, page 60], "(d)uring the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely." This should be where Charles Rice Lincoln died.
MILITARY RECORD:
Private U. S. Army (Union), Civil War, Company E, 31st Regiment, Maine Infantry.
History of the 31st Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, copied from Wikipedia:
31st Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry
Active April 17, 1864, to July 15, 1865
Country United States
Allegiance Union
Branch Infantry
Engagements
Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of Spotsylvania
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of the Crater
Service
The 31st Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry was organized at Augusta, Maine, in March and April 1864 and mustered into service on April 17, 1864, for a three-year enlistment. The regiment left Maine for Washington, D.C. on April 18, 1864, and was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac, in which it remained for the remainder of the war. The 31st commenced active campaigning on May 4, 1864, and took its first battle casualties two days later in the Battle of the Wilderness, where it suffered heavy losses. The regiment fought again at Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, again taking heavy casualties: 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing in action.[1]
The regiment fought in engagements at Totopotomoy Creek on May 31 and June 1. Between the 4th and 12 June, the regiment was before the Confederate works at Cold Harbor, then crossed the James River and fought in the Battle of Petersburg and then remained there for the remainder of the siege. In the July 30 Battle of the Crater, it was the first regiment into the Confederate works and lost heavily in the failed assault.[2]
The 31st was in support during the Second Battle of the Weldon Railroad, followed by the Battle of Poplar Springs Church on September 30. October 1864 was spent on picket duty and drill where it absorbed the 4th and 6th Companies of Maine Unassigned Infantry as companies L and M. On October 27, it was assigned to Fort Fisher, where they remained until the end of November when it was reassigned as the garrison of Fort Davis. The 31st Maine absorbed the 32nd Maine Regiment on December 12, 1864, adding 15 officers and 470 enlisted men to its ranks. The regiment remained in reserve from February 11, 1865, until the early morning of April 2, when it was chosen to provide the initial storming party of three companies for the assault on Fort Mahone. The regiment suffered heavy losses in the attack.. It participated in the occupation of Petersburg and spent the rest of the campaign gathering up prisoners and escorting them to the rear.
On April 29, the regiment marched to City Point, Virginia and sailed to Alexandria, Virginia, arriving at that city on the 27th.
The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23, 1865, and was mustered out of service on July 15, 1865.
The Regiment, and the Battle of the Crater in general, is portrayed in the film Cold Mountain (2003).
Total strength and casualties
1,595 men served in the 31st Maine Infantry Regiment at one point or another during its service. It lost 183 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds. 491 men were wounded in action, 176 died of disease, and 34 died in Confederate prisons, and 18 officer deaths, for a total of 411 fatalities from all causes.[3]
Commanders
Colonel Daniel White
See also
American Civil War portal
List of Maine Civil War units
Maine in the American Civil War
Notes
1. Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine for the year ending December 31, 1866, pp. 164-166.
Maine Adjutant General, 1866, pp. 164-166.
2. http://www.state.me.us/sos/arc/archives/military/civilwar/31meinf.htm Archived 2006-09-09 at the Wayback Machine 3. 3. State of Maine Civil War Website Page on the 31st Maine
External links
State of Maine Civil War Records Website
Brief summary of 31st Maine Regiment Infantry in the Civil War [https://civilwarindex.com/armyme/31st%20me%20infantry.html]:
31st Maine Regiment Infantry in the Civil War
Regimental History
Thirty-first Infantry. — Cols., Thomas Hight, Daniel White; Lieut- Cols., Thomas Hight, Stephen C. Talbot, Edward L. Getchell; Majs., Stephen C. Talbot, Daniel White, George A. Bolton. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Augusta, from March 1 to April 29, 1864, to serve for three years. The 4th and 6th companies of unassigned infantry, organized at Augusta in Oct., 1864, to serve for one year, were assigned to this regiment as Companies L and M. The 32nd Me. was consolidated with this regiment on Dec. 12, 1864, and the entire regiment was mustered out of service near Alexandria, Va., July 15, 1865. The men returned to Bangor on the 19th of the same month, where they were finally paid and discharged on the 27th. The 31st left the state for Washington April 18, 1864, and upon its arrival at Alexandria, Va., was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 9th corps. It at once marched to Bristoe Station, whence it was hastened to the front to aid in the concluding scenes of the conflict. The regiment almost immediately took part in the battle of the Wilderness, where it lost heavily in killed and wounded. From this time on it saw continuous hard service until the close of the war. In addition to the Wilderness it participated in the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church and Hatcher's run. For its gallantry at the furious engagement of Bethesda Church on June 3, Gen. Griffin, commanding the brigade, issued the following congratulatory order : "It also gives me pleasure to add my evidence to the well-known fact that the 31st Me. has made for itself a most brilliant record, and won for itself imperishable renown." The casualties of the regiment were enormous, as it was so constantly engaged. It lost at Spottsylvania Court House 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing. In the great battle of July 30, when the mine was exploded at Petersburg, the regiment was assigned an important position and was the first to enter the enemy's works. Its losses were 10 killed, 31 wounded and 47 captured. Again at the battle of Poplar Spring Church the regiment distinguished itself, and was the last to fall back when the enemy turned the right of the brigade and compelled a retreat. It lost here 5 killed, 15 wounded and 16 captured. During the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely. On the next day it participated in the pursuit of the enemy and on the 8th conducted a detachment of prisoners to Ford's station. On the 20th it embarked for Alexandria, Va., and was mustered out the following July.
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
OTHER INFORMATION:
Private U. S. Army (Union), Civil War, Company E, 31st Regiment, Maine Infantry.
Two original letters survive, one from him to his Dennysville family, dated five days before he died, and one from George C. Crawford of the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION. A copy of the original of each of these letters has been filed with the Petersburg National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service). The originals currently are in the possession of Ruth Watkins (Pew) Jaynes and may be donated to a museum (name and place of museum unknown at this time) at a future date. The two letters are transcribed in full here:
LETTER NUMBER 1:
In front [east side of] Petersburg March 28th 1865
Dear Mother Sisters & Brother
I may have no better opportunity to write to you than the present time as I think that the campaign is about to open if it was not done so already.
Since midnight there has been very heavy firing on the right about six this morning there was some very hard artillery practice but it has eased off and things are quite quiet again only once in awhile hearing fire. I do not know that I ever heard such heavy firing before but once and that was at night at Ganges Mills [might be Gaines Mill, Hanover, Hanover County, Virginia, USA, near Cold Harbor, Hanover County, Virginia, USA] last spring.
We are all packed up for a move or fight just which is most convenient, but I am in hopes that it will not be either.
We are going to have a very pleasant day I should think the ground is drying very fast and we shall see the end of the rebellion before long.
I had a letter from Alice Tinkham and she says that they are all well at home. She seames [misspelled in original] to very much pleased at the prospect of your going from Dennysville but not more than I am. I hope to hear what you have duties (?) to do and where you think of going.
Enclosed you will find a Peach blossom & Ce [et cetera] looks rather strange for you where the only thing to be sean is snow banks. There has been a great many men gone by here to the right St. Childs [need to identify this man] has just gone from here he is on Brig. Gen. Griffins [Brigadier General Charles Griffin] Staff and he says that the rebs got Fort Stedman and captured the 14th N. Y. H. A. [14th New York Heavy Artillery], but that our men rallied and got back all that was lost and got a good many prisoners I hope that the rebs have got the whole of the 14th N. Y. prisoners for they are the biggest lot of cowards bounty jumpers deserters and fools that is in the whole Potomac army, but what can be expected of privates when our Genl. set the example Gens Mead [Major General George G. Meade] & Parke [Major General John G. Parke] if they were out of the way it would help our side as much as a victory. Every thing seems to be very quite now and if the report is true and I do not see why it is not there will not be any one hurt. Fort Stedman is on the right of our corps and one of the strongest on the whole line of the rebs could have held it it would have been a great victory for them.
Love to all
Your son
C R Lincoln
Co. E 31st Maine Reg.
Washington D.C.
I opened this letter to say that I saw about twenty five hundred reb prisoners that we captured this morning report says that their loss was about four thousand they were very happy lot of men glad to get into our lines at any cost and want to stay now they are here.
LETTER NUMBER 2:
U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION
[Letterhead]
Head Qrs. [Quarters] 31st Maine Vols.
Alexandria Va. May 16th 1865
Mrs. Lincoln,
Yours of 9th inst. [within the same month] was received last evening and I hasten to reply.
And will first say, that I sincerely sympathize with you in your affliction and loss, and devoutly pray our Gracious Father in heaven to grant you the consolations of his grace, and enable you to realize that “he doth not afflict willingly no grieve the children of men.”
“His grace is sufficient for you.” May you experience the truth of this in this time of sore trial and bereavement, and may God bless you and yours.
The prevailing opinion in the co. with which your dear son was connected is, that he was not brought alive to Div. Hospital. I have made inquires in the co. of the Sheahan boys [probably Edmund B. Sheahan and Henry Sheahan] and others – and can find no one who saw him after the charge was made.
His name is not on the record at Div. Hospital, and I can find no one among all the ward masters nurses & c. [et cetera] there who has any recollection of him; with a single exception.
A man from Penn. (a nurse) thinks some one of that name was brought in on the 2d and lived till about noon on the 3d of April. I can however find nothing reliable in reference to him, and in the absence of evidence in favor of your supposition and the accumulating evidence against it, I incline to the opinion that he must have fallen on the field of battle; and that his body was brought to the cemetery near Div. hospital on Monday 3d.
On our return from Burksville [Nottoway County, Virginia, USA], and on passing the cemetery April 23 I went in and found a large number of graves of men belonging to our regt. And among them one plainly marked C. R. Lincoln Co E.
I can find no trace of wallet, testament, or anything belonging to him.
I very much regret, Mrs. L. that I cannot give you all the information you desire. I am a parent and well know the interest and solicitude of parents in and for their children.
Again praying that the Divine presence and grace may sustain you in your deep affliction I subscribe myself your sympathizing friend.
Geo. C. Crawford
1850 U. S. census: Dennysville, Washington County, Maine, USA.
1860 U. S. census: Dennysville, Washington County, Maine, USA.
DEATH INFORMATION:
Buried at Section C, Site 2800, City Point National Cemetery, Building 2101, North 10th Avenue and Davis Street, Hopewell, Prince George County, Virginia 23860.
Grave is located in the fifteenth (15th) row from the back wall of the cemetery; nine (9) rows to the right of the obelisk (a large marble monument dedicated to the Army of the James) as you are in the parking lot; three (3) rows behind the left most magnolia tree which is the first magnolia tree to the right of the obelisk.
Killed in the Civil War in one of the "Final Assaults" in the Siege of Petersburg, Prince George County, Virginia, USA at a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point Railroad.
According to the 31st Maine Infantry Regimental History [The UNION ARMY A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 - Records of the Regiments in the Union Army - Cyclopedia of Battles - Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers, Volume I, Madison, Wis. Federal Publishing Company 1908, page 60], "(d)uring the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely." This should be where Charles Rice Lincoln died.
MILITARY RECORD:
Private U. S. Army (Union), Civil War, Company E, 31st Regiment, Maine Infantry.
History of the 31st Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, copied from Wikipedia:
31st Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry
Active April 17, 1864, to July 15, 1865
Country United States
Allegiance Union
Branch Infantry
Engagements
Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of Spotsylvania
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of the Crater
Service
The 31st Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry was organized at Augusta, Maine, in March and April 1864 and mustered into service on April 17, 1864, for a three-year enlistment. The regiment left Maine for Washington, D.C. on April 18, 1864, and was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac, in which it remained for the remainder of the war. The 31st commenced active campaigning on May 4, 1864, and took its first battle casualties two days later in the Battle of the Wilderness, where it suffered heavy losses. The regiment fought again at Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, again taking heavy casualties: 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing in action.[1]
The regiment fought in engagements at Totopotomoy Creek on May 31 and June 1. Between the 4th and 12 June, the regiment was before the Confederate works at Cold Harbor, then crossed the James River and fought in the Battle of Petersburg and then remained there for the remainder of the siege. In the July 30 Battle of the Crater, it was the first regiment into the Confederate works and lost heavily in the failed assault.[2]
The 31st was in support during the Second Battle of the Weldon Railroad, followed by the Battle of Poplar Springs Church on September 30. October 1864 was spent on picket duty and drill where it absorbed the 4th and 6th Companies of Maine Unassigned Infantry as companies L and M. On October 27, it was assigned to Fort Fisher, where they remained until the end of November when it was reassigned as the garrison of Fort Davis. The 31st Maine absorbed the 32nd Maine Regiment on December 12, 1864, adding 15 officers and 470 enlisted men to its ranks. The regiment remained in reserve from February 11, 1865, until the early morning of April 2, when it was chosen to provide the initial storming party of three companies for the assault on Fort Mahone. The regiment suffered heavy losses in the attack.. It participated in the occupation of Petersburg and spent the rest of the campaign gathering up prisoners and escorting them to the rear.
On April 29, the regiment marched to City Point, Virginia and sailed to Alexandria, Virginia, arriving at that city on the 27th.
The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23, 1865, and was mustered out of service on July 15, 1865.
The Regiment, and the Battle of the Crater in general, is portrayed in the film Cold Mountain (2003).
Total strength and casualties
1,595 men served in the 31st Maine Infantry Regiment at one point or another during its service. It lost 183 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds. 491 men were wounded in action, 176 died of disease, and 34 died in Confederate prisons, and 18 officer deaths, for a total of 411 fatalities from all causes.[3]
Commanders
Colonel Daniel White
See also
American Civil War portal
List of Maine Civil War units
Maine in the American Civil War
Notes
1. Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine for the year ending December 31, 1866, pp. 164-166.
Maine Adjutant General, 1866, pp. 164-166.
2. http://www.state.me.us/sos/arc/archives/military/civilwar/31meinf.htm Archived 2006-09-09 at the Wayback Machine 3. 3. State of Maine Civil War Website Page on the 31st Maine
External links
State of Maine Civil War Records Website
Brief summary of 31st Maine Regiment Infantry in the Civil War [https://civilwarindex.com/armyme/31st%20me%20infantry.html]:
31st Maine Regiment Infantry in the Civil War
Regimental History
Thirty-first Infantry. — Cols., Thomas Hight, Daniel White; Lieut- Cols., Thomas Hight, Stephen C. Talbot, Edward L. Getchell; Majs., Stephen C. Talbot, Daniel White, George A. Bolton. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Augusta, from March 1 to April 29, 1864, to serve for three years. The 4th and 6th companies of unassigned infantry, organized at Augusta in Oct., 1864, to serve for one year, were assigned to this regiment as Companies L and M. The 32nd Me. was consolidated with this regiment on Dec. 12, 1864, and the entire regiment was mustered out of service near Alexandria, Va., July 15, 1865. The men returned to Bangor on the 19th of the same month, where they were finally paid and discharged on the 27th. The 31st left the state for Washington April 18, 1864, and upon its arrival at Alexandria, Va., was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 9th corps. It at once marched to Bristoe Station, whence it was hastened to the front to aid in the concluding scenes of the conflict. The regiment almost immediately took part in the battle of the Wilderness, where it lost heavily in killed and wounded. From this time on it saw continuous hard service until the close of the war. In addition to the Wilderness it participated in the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church and Hatcher's run. For its gallantry at the furious engagement of Bethesda Church on June 3, Gen. Griffin, commanding the brigade, issued the following congratulatory order : "It also gives me pleasure to add my evidence to the well-known fact that the 31st Me. has made for itself a most brilliant record, and won for itself imperishable renown." The casualties of the regiment were enormous, as it was so constantly engaged. It lost at Spottsylvania Court House 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing. In the great battle of July 30, when the mine was exploded at Petersburg, the regiment was assigned an important position and was the first to enter the enemy's works. Its losses were 10 killed, 31 wounded and 47 captured. Again at the battle of Poplar Spring Church the regiment distinguished itself, and was the last to fall back when the enemy turned the right of the brigade and compelled a retreat. It lost here 5 killed, 15 wounded and 16 captured. During the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely. On the next day it participated in the pursuit of the enemy and on the 8th conducted a detachment of prisoners to Ford's station. On the 20th it embarked for Alexandria, Va., and was mustered out the following July.
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
OTHER INFORMATION:
Private U. S. Army (Union), Civil War, Company E, 31st Regiment, Maine Infantry.
Two original letters survive, one from him to his Dennysville family, dated five days before he died, and one from George C. Crawford of the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION. A copy of the original of each of these letters has been filed with the Petersburg National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service). The originals currently are in the possession of Ruth Watkins (Pew) Jaynes and may be donated to a museum (name and place of museum unknown at this time) at a future date. The two letters are transcribed in full here:
LETTER NUMBER 1:
In front [east side of] Petersburg March 28th 1865
Dear Mother Sisters & Brother
I may have no better opportunity to write to you than the present time as I think that the campaign is about to open if it was not done so already.
Since midnight there has been very heavy firing on the right about six this morning there was some very hard artillery practice but it has eased off and things are quite quiet again only once in awhile hearing fire. I do not know that I ever heard such heavy firing before but once and that was at night at Ganges Mills [might be Gaines Mill, Hanover, Hanover County, Virginia, USA, near Cold Harbor, Hanover County, Virginia, USA] last spring.
We are all packed up for a move or fight just which is most convenient, but I am in hopes that it will not be either.
We are going to have a very pleasant day I should think the ground is drying very fast and we shall see the end of the rebellion before long.
I had a letter from Alice Tinkham and she says that they are all well at home. She seames [misspelled in original] to very much pleased at the prospect of your going from Dennysville but not more than I am. I hope to hear what you have duties (?) to do and where you think of going.
Enclosed you will find a Peach blossom & Ce [et cetera] looks rather strange for you where the only thing to be sean is snow banks. There has been a great many men gone by here to the right St. Childs [need to identify this man] has just gone from here he is on Brig. Gen. Griffins [Brigadier General Charles Griffin] Staff and he says that the rebs got Fort Stedman and captured the 14th N. Y. H. A. [14th New York Heavy Artillery], but that our men rallied and got back all that was lost and got a good many prisoners I hope that the rebs have got the whole of the 14th N. Y. prisoners for they are the biggest lot of cowards bounty jumpers deserters and fools that is in the whole Potomac army, but what can be expected of privates when our Genl. set the example Gens Mead [Major General George G. Meade] & Parke [Major General John G. Parke] if they were out of the way it would help our side as much as a victory. Every thing seems to be very quite now and if the report is true and I do not see why it is not there will not be any one hurt. Fort Stedman is on the right of our corps and one of the strongest on the whole line of the rebs could have held it it would have been a great victory for them.
Love to all
Your son
C R Lincoln
Co. E 31st Maine Reg.
Washington D.C.
I opened this letter to say that I saw about twenty five hundred reb prisoners that we captured this morning report says that their loss was about four thousand they were very happy lot of men glad to get into our lines at any cost and want to stay now they are here.
LETTER NUMBER 2:
U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION
[Letterhead]
Head Qrs. [Quarters] 31st Maine Vols.
Alexandria Va. May 16th 1865
Mrs. Lincoln,
Yours of 9th inst. [within the same month] was received last evening and I hasten to reply.
And will first say, that I sincerely sympathize with you in your affliction and loss, and devoutly pray our Gracious Father in heaven to grant you the consolations of his grace, and enable you to realize that “he doth not afflict willingly no grieve the children of men.”
“His grace is sufficient for you.” May you experience the truth of this in this time of sore trial and bereavement, and may God bless you and yours.
The prevailing opinion in the co. with which your dear son was connected is, that he was not brought alive to Div. Hospital. I have made inquires in the co. of the Sheahan boys [probably Edmund B. Sheahan and Henry Sheahan] and others – and can find no one who saw him after the charge was made.
His name is not on the record at Div. Hospital, and I can find no one among all the ward masters nurses & c. [et cetera] there who has any recollection of him; with a single exception.
A man from Penn. (a nurse) thinks some one of that name was brought in on the 2d and lived till about noon on the 3d of April. I can however find nothing reliable in reference to him, and in the absence of evidence in favor of your supposition and the accumulating evidence against it, I incline to the opinion that he must have fallen on the field of battle; and that his body was brought to the cemetery near Div. hospital on Monday 3d.
On our return from Burksville [Nottoway County, Virginia, USA], and on passing the cemetery April 23 I went in and found a large number of graves of men belonging to our regt. And among them one plainly marked C. R. Lincoln Co E.
I can find no trace of wallet, testament, or anything belonging to him.
I very much regret, Mrs. L. that I cannot give you all the information you desire. I am a parent and well know the interest and solicitude of parents in and for their children.
Again praying that the Divine presence and grace may sustain you in your deep affliction I subscribe myself your sympathizing friend.
Geo. C. Crawford
1860 U. S. census: Dennysville, Washington County, Maine, USA.
DEATH INFORMATION:
Buried at Section C, Site 2800, City Point National Cemetery, Building 2101, North 10th Avenue and Davis Street, Hopewell, Prince George County, Virginia 23860.
Grave is located in the fifteenth (15th) row from the back wall of the cemetery; nine (9) rows to the right of the obelisk (a large marble monument dedicated to the Army of the James) as you are in the parking lot; three (3) rows behind the left most magnolia tree which is the first magnolia tree to the right of the obelisk.
Killed in the Civil War in one of the "Final Assaults" in the Siege of Petersburg, Prince George County, Virginia, USA at a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point Railroad.
According to the 31st Maine Infantry Regimental History [The UNION ARMY A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 - Records of the Regiments in the Union Army - Cyclopedia of Battles - Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers, Volume I, Madison, Wis. Federal Publishing Company 1908, page 60], "(d)uring the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely." This should be where Charles Rice Lincoln died.
MILITARY RECORD:
Private U. S. Army (Union), Civil War, Company E, 31st Regiment, Maine Infantry.
History of the 31st Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, copied from Wikipedia:
31st Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry
Active April 17, 1864, to July 15, 1865
Country United States
Allegiance Union
Branch Infantry
Engagements
Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of Spotsylvania
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Battle of the Crater
Service
The 31st Regiment Maine Volunteer Infantry was organized at Augusta, Maine, in March and April 1864 and mustered into service on April 17, 1864, for a three-year enlistment. The regiment left Maine for Washington, D.C. on April 18, 1864, and was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac, in which it remained for the remainder of the war. The 31st commenced active campaigning on May 4, 1864, and took its first battle casualties two days later in the Battle of the Wilderness, where it suffered heavy losses. The regiment fought again at Spotsylvania Court House on May 12, again taking heavy casualties: 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing in action.[1]
The regiment fought in engagements at Totopotomoy Creek on May 31 and June 1. Between the 4th and 12 June, the regiment was before the Confederate works at Cold Harbor, then crossed the James River and fought in the Battle of Petersburg and then remained there for the remainder of the siege. In the July 30 Battle of the Crater, it was the first regiment into the Confederate works and lost heavily in the failed assault.[2]
The 31st was in support during the Second Battle of the Weldon Railroad, followed by the Battle of Poplar Springs Church on September 30. October 1864 was spent on picket duty and drill where it absorbed the 4th and 6th Companies of Maine Unassigned Infantry as companies L and M. On October 27, it was assigned to Fort Fisher, where they remained until the end of November when it was reassigned as the garrison of Fort Davis. The 31st Maine absorbed the 32nd Maine Regiment on December 12, 1864, adding 15 officers and 470 enlisted men to its ranks. The regiment remained in reserve from February 11, 1865, until the early morning of April 2, when it was chosen to provide the initial storming party of three companies for the assault on Fort Mahone. The regiment suffered heavy losses in the attack.. It participated in the occupation of Petersburg and spent the rest of the campaign gathering up prisoners and escorting them to the rear.
On April 29, the regiment marched to City Point, Virginia and sailed to Alexandria, Virginia, arriving at that city on the 27th.
The regiment participated in the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23, 1865, and was mustered out of service on July 15, 1865.
The Regiment, and the Battle of the Crater in general, is portrayed in the film Cold Mountain (2003).
Total strength and casualties
1,595 men served in the 31st Maine Infantry Regiment at one point or another during its service. It lost 183 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds. 491 men were wounded in action, 176 died of disease, and 34 died in Confederate prisons, and 18 officer deaths, for a total of 411 fatalities from all causes.[3]
Commanders
Colonel Daniel White
See also
American Civil War portal
List of Maine Civil War units
Maine in the American Civil War
Notes
1. Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine for the year ending December 31, 1866, pp. 164-166.
Maine Adjutant General, 1866, pp. 164-166.
2. http://www.state.me.us/sos/arc/archives/military/civilwar/31meinf.htm Archived 2006-09-09 at the Wayback Machine 3. 3. State of Maine Civil War Website Page on the 31st Maine
External links
State of Maine Civil War Records Website
Brief summary of 31st Maine Regiment Infantry in the Civil War [https://civilwarindex.com/armyme/31st%20me%20infantry.html]:
31st Maine Regiment Infantry in the Civil War
Regimental History
Thirty-first Infantry. — Cols., Thomas Hight, Daniel White; Lieut- Cols., Thomas Hight, Stephen C. Talbot, Edward L. Getchell; Majs., Stephen C. Talbot, Daniel White, George A. Bolton. This regiment was mustered into the U. S. service at Augusta, from March 1 to April 29, 1864, to serve for three years. The 4th and 6th companies of unassigned infantry, organized at Augusta in Oct., 1864, to serve for one year, were assigned to this regiment as Companies L and M. The 32nd Me. was consolidated with this regiment on Dec. 12, 1864, and the entire regiment was mustered out of service near Alexandria, Va., July 15, 1865. The men returned to Bangor on the 19th of the same month, where they were finally paid and discharged on the 27th. The 31st left the state for Washington April 18, 1864, and upon its arrival at Alexandria, Va., was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 9th corps. It at once marched to Bristoe Station, whence it was hastened to the front to aid in the concluding scenes of the conflict. The regiment almost immediately took part in the battle of the Wilderness, where it lost heavily in killed and wounded. From this time on it saw continuous hard service until the close of the war. In addition to the Wilderness it participated in the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church and Hatcher's run. For its gallantry at the furious engagement of Bethesda Church on June 3, Gen. Griffin, commanding the brigade, issued the following congratulatory order : "It also gives me pleasure to add my evidence to the well-known fact that the 31st Me. has made for itself a most brilliant record, and won for itself imperishable renown." The casualties of the regiment were enormous, as it was so constantly engaged. It lost at Spottsylvania Court House 12 killed, 75 wounded and 108 missing. In the great battle of July 30, when the mine was exploded at Petersburg, the regiment was assigned an important position and was the first to enter the enemy's works. Its losses were 10 killed, 31 wounded and 47 captured. Again at the battle of Poplar Spring Church the regiment distinguished itself, and was the last to fall back when the enemy turned the right of the brigade and compelled a retreat. It lost here 5 killed, 15 wounded and 16 captured. During the winter of 1864-65 it garrisoned Forts Fisher and Davis until Feb. 11, when it was ordered to a point near Parke Station on the Army Line & City Point railroad, where it remained until April 2, when it assaulted the enemy's works and suffered severely. On the next day it participated in the pursuit of the enemy and on the 8th conducted a detachment of prisoners to Ford's station. On the 20th it embarked for Alexandria, Va., and was mustered out the following July.
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 1
OTHER INFORMATION:
Private U. S. Army (Union), Civil War, Company E, 31st Regiment, Maine Infantry.
Two original letters survive, one from him to his Dennysville family, dated five days before he died, and one from George C. Crawford of the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION. A copy of the original of each of these letters has been filed with the Petersburg National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service). The originals currently are in the possession of Ruth Watkins (Pew) Jaynes and may be donated to a museum (name and place of museum unknown at this time) at a future date. The two letters are transcribed in full here:
LETTER NUMBER 1:
In front [east side of] Petersburg March 28th 1865
Dear Mother Sisters & Brother
I may have no better opportunity to write to you than the present time as I think that the campaign is about to open if it was not done so already.
Since midnight there has been very heavy firing on the right about six this morning there was some very hard artillery practice but it has eased off and things are quite quiet again only once in awhile hearing fire. I do not know that I ever heard such heavy firing before but once and that was at night at Ganges Mills [might be Gaines Mill, Hanover, Hanover County, Virginia, USA, near Cold Harbor, Hanover County, Virginia, USA] last spring.
We are all packed up for a move or fight just which is most convenient, but I am in hopes that it will not be either.
We are going to have a very pleasant day I should think the ground is drying very fast and we shall see the end of the rebellion before long.
I had a letter from Alice Tinkham and she says that they are all well at home. She seames [misspelled in original] to very much pleased at the prospect of your going from Dennysville but not more than I am. I hope to hear what you have duties (?) to do and where you think of going.
Enclosed you will find a Peach blossom & Ce [et cetera] looks rather strange for you where the only thing to be sean is snow banks. There has been a great many men gone by here to the right St. Childs [need to identify this man] has just gone from here he is on Brig. Gen. Griffins [Brigadier General Charles Griffin] Staff and he says that the rebs got Fort Stedman and captured the 14th N. Y. H. A. [14th New York Heavy Artillery], but that our men rallied and got back all that was lost and got a good many prisoners I hope that the rebs have got the whole of the 14th N. Y. prisoners for they are the biggest lot of cowards bounty jumpers deserters and fools that is in the whole Potomac army, but what can be expected of privates when our Genl. set the example Gens Mead [Major General George G. Meade] & Parke [Major General John G. Parke] if they were out of the way it would help our side as much as a victory. Every thing seems to be very quite now and if the report is true and I do not see why it is not there will not be any one hurt. Fort Stedman is on the right of our corps and one of the strongest on the whole line of the rebs could have held it it would have been a great victory for them.
Love to all
Your son
C R Lincoln
Co. E 31st Maine Reg.
Washington D.C.
I opened this letter to say that I saw about twenty five hundred reb prisoners that we captured this morning report says that their loss was about four thousand they were very happy lot of men glad to get into our lines at any cost and want to stay now they are here.
LETTER NUMBER 2:
U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION
[Letterhead]
Head Qrs. [Quarters] 31st Maine Vols.
Alexandria Va. May 16th 1865
Mrs. Lincoln,
Yours of 9th inst. [within the same month] was received last evening and I hasten to reply.
And will first say, that I sincerely sympathize with you in your affliction and loss, and devoutly pray our Gracious Father in heaven to grant you the consolations of his grace, and enable you to realize that “he doth not afflict willingly no grieve the children of men.”
“His grace is sufficient for you.” May you experience the truth of this in this time of sore trial and bereavement, and may God bless you and yours.
The prevailing opinion in the co. with which your dear son was connected is, that he was not brought alive to Div. Hospital. I have made inquires in the co. of the Sheahan boys [probably Edmund B. Sheahan and Henry Sheahan] and others – and can find no one who saw him after the charge was made.
His name is not on the record at Div. Hospital, and I can find no one among all the ward masters nurses & c. [et cetera] there who has any recollection of him; with a single exception.
A man from Penn. (a nurse) thinks some one of that name was brought in on the 2d and lived till about noon on the 3d of April. I can however find nothing reliable in reference to him, and in the absence of evidence in favor of your supposition and the accumulating evidence against it, I incline to the opinion that he must have fallen on the field of battle; and that his body was brought to the cemetery near Div. hospital on Monday 3d.
On our return from Burksville [Nottoway County, Virginia, USA], and on passing the cemetery April 23 I went in and found a large number of graves of men belonging to our regt. And among them one plainly marked C. R. Lincoln Co E.
I can find no trace of wallet, testament, or anything belonging to him.
I very much regret, Mrs. L. that I cannot give you all the information you desire. I am a parent and well know the interest and solicitude of parents in and for their children.
Again praying that the Divine presence and grace may sustain you in your deep affliction I subscribe myself your sympathizing friend.
Geo. C. Crawford
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