17th Maine on May 3rd, 1864

[bAcK88]

For anyone interested, I found an image of the 17th Maine taken on May 3rd, 1864.

http://www.mainememory.net/bin/Detail?ln=4127&supst=zoom

Only days after this was taken, the 17th marched into the Wilderness with 462 men and marched out with 246.

[DougCooper]

Re: 17th Maine on May 3rd, 1864

Can anyone tell what Corps badges they are wearing? I cannot tell, and wonder if they have any on at all, as I cannot see any on the officers. I ask because the 17th ME began life in the 3rd Corps and then was consolidated in with the 2nd Corps for the Spring campaign. Many units of the old 1st and 3rd Corps were not happy about losing the lozenge and the diamond. We are considering using the 17th ME as one of the guiding impressions for the Wilderness NPS Living History event and it might be an interesting story to know what badge they were wearing in this photo.

[GrumpyDave]

Re: 17th Maine on May 3rd, 1864

A couple of those officers do not appear to be wearing any rank insignia. There's one to the right of the O.D.(our left) and one to the left of who appears to be the commanding officer(our right).

[roundshot]

Re: 17th Maine on May 3rd, 1864

To respond to Doug Cooper's corps badge question, there is a photo of Corporal Octavius C. Ingraham of Company A taken on March 3, 1864 which clearly shows a large cloth 3rd Corps diamond still being worn on his cap. This photo is in William B. Jordan's "Red Diamond Regiment. Ingraham was killed at Spotsylvania.

Also from OR Series I, Vol. 33, pp. 722-723, General Orders #10, March 24, 1864:" The First and Second Divisions of the Third Corps are transferred to the Second Corps, preserving their badges and distinctive marks . . . "