"Forlorn Hope"

The First Maine Heavy Artillery was organized and mustered into the United States service August 21, 1862, with 37 commissioned officers and 969 enlisted men, making a total of 1,006. Prior to November 1, 1863, there were added 175 recruits; from November 1, 1863, to November 1, 1864, there were added 965, and after the latter date 54 more were added, making a total of 1,194 new men added to the 1,006 original members, or an even 2,200 in all.