George Henry Nye

In 1860 he was a 32 year old factory overseer at Lewiston, Androscoggin County, ME. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Company K, First Maine Infantry (3 months service) on 3 May 1861 and mustered out with them on 5 August. He then enrolled in Company K, 10th Maine Infantry, and mustered as Captain on 4 October 1861. He was slightly wounded in action at Cedar Mountain, VA on 9 August 1862.

He commanded his Company in action at Antietam.

When I went into the fight at Antietam I never expected to leave the field alive, none knew my thoughts but the One above ... Capt. Furbish was killed close to me, some of his blood flew in my face. I wiped my face and merely looked to see who was killed, in a few seconds his Lieutenant [Wade] was killed, he was sitting on the fence close to my side, almost at the same instant one of my men was killed close behind me the ball could not have passed more than inch of me. The splinters were flying from the fence and trees.

He mustered out of the 10th Infantry on 7 May 1863, and was commissioned Captain, Company K, 29th Maine Infantry on 7 November 1863. He was promoted Major of the Regiment on 4 October 1864. He was wounded in the mouth at Cedar Creek, VA on 19 October, and was made Colonel on 17 December. He was honored by brevets to Brigadier General (25 October 1864) and Major General of Volunteers (13 March 1865).

By 1870 he was an agent for the Dwight Manufacturing Company at Chicopee, MA, and was then owner and superintendent of the Laurel Mills in Laurel, MD from 1877 - 1885. He afterward lived in Natick, MA and was in the insurance business.

Early War service from the Maine Adjutant General1. Further details from a bio sketch in the Maine Adjutant General's Report for 1864 and 1865 (1866), family genealogists, and the US Census of 1860-1900. His picture is from a photograph owned by Nicholas P. Picerno and posted as part of his article about the 10th Maine at Antietam for the Civil War Trust. It is the source also of the quote above, from a letter by Nye to his wife. His gravesite is on Findagrave, as is his memorial in Rome, ME. Thanks also to Nick Picerno for sharing the story of his burial:

His first wife is buried in the Rome Cemetery grave, she died in the mid 1880's In Laurel, Md.. He remarried and his second wife harbored great jealousy for George's continued affection for his first wife, Charlotte who he called Charley. His second wife insisted George Nye be buried in Arlington National Cemetery after he died in Roxbury, Mass in 1908. She absolutely did not want him buried next to Charlotte.

02/24/1828; Hallowell, ME

10/22/1908; Roxbury, MA; burial in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA