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Federal (USV)

Private

John R. Begg

(c. 1843 - ?)

Home State: Maine

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 7th Maine Infantry

Before Antietam

A laborer in Portland, ME, giving his age as 19, he enlisted on 24 April 1861 as a Private in the Portland Light Infantry - Company A, First Maine Infantry - for 3 months' service and mustered out with them, probably in July. He enlisted again, on 6 August 1861, and mustered as a Private in Company G, 7th Maine Infantry on 21 August 1861.

On the Campaign

He was severely wounded in action on 17 September 1862, losing an arm while carrying a regimental guidon. He and the other "guidon boy" George Williams were ordered to the rear prior to the charge that afternoon, but had "snuck back" to the unit.

The rest of the War

He transferred to Company F, date not given, and was detailed as a teamster at Gettysburg in July 1863. He was transferred to the First Maine Veteran Infantry on 21 December 1863 and mustered out with them on 28 June 1865.

References & notes

Casualty information from the casualty list.1. His actions at Antietam from Greek Cross.2. His service from the Adjutant General,3 the Card File,4 and Maine at Gettysburg (1898).

Birth

c. 1843; Boston, MA

Notes

1   Hyde, Thomas W., Casualties in the Seventh Maine Regiment in the Battle of Antietam, Lewiston Falls (Maine) Journal, 1862-10-02  [AotW citation 6663]

2   Hyde, Thomas Worcester, Following the Greek Cross or Memories of the Sixth Army Corps, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1894, pg. 100  [AotW citation 14233]

3   State of Maine, Adjutant General's Office, and John L. Hodsdon, AG, Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine for the Year ending December 31, 1862, Augusta: Stevens and Sayward, Printers to the State, 1863, Appendix D, pg. 270  [AotW citation 29294]

4   State of Maine, Maine State Archives, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Card Index, 1861-1865, Augusta (ME): Department of the Secretary of State, c. 2000  [AotW citation 29295]