Civil War
The Maine State Archives holds one of the most extensive collections of Civil War records in the country. This collection includes documents from various Maine regiments, such as clothing books, post-war addresses, enlistment papers, and muster rolls.
During the war, municipal officials faced significant challenges as they were tasked with meeting federal and state quotas for volunteers from their cities and towns. They also had to establish and distribute bounties to encourage enlistment and ensure that eligible families of volunteers received "State Aid." The correspondence within the archives provides researchers with valuable insights into the logistical difficulties the war created for the State of Maine, as well as the hardships experienced by citizens and the dependent families of soldiers during this time.
Much of the Civil War Collection consists of incoming correspondence from officers of various Maine units, addressed to either the Adjutant General of Maine or the three governors who served during the Civil War. This correspondence offers a unique perspective on how the volunteer regiments functioned. The collection also includes field hospital reports and photographs of Maine’s officers.
During the war, municipal officials faced significant challenges as they were tasked with meeting federal and state quotas for volunteers from their cities and towns. They also had to establish and distribute bounties to encourage enlistment and ensure that eligible families of volunteers received "State Aid." The correspondence within the archives provides researchers with valuable insights into the logistical difficulties the war created for the State of Maine, as well as the hardships experienced by citizens and the dependent families of soldiers during this time.
Much of the Civil War Collection consists of incoming correspondence from officers of various Maine units, addressed to either the Adjutant General of Maine or the three governors who served during the Civil War. This correspondence offers a unique perspective on how the volunteer regiments functioned. The collection also includes field hospital reports and photographs of Maine’s officers.