Id’d Civil War Period Pocket Bible – Lewis S. Tuttle Co. F 32nd Maine Infantry – POW and Died at Andersonville

Id’d Civil War Period Pocket Bible – Lewis S. Tuttle Co. F 32^nd Maine Infantry – POW and Died at Andersonville – This small pocket Bible was the wartime possession of Corporal Lewis S. Tuttle Co. F 32^nd Maine Infantry. Tuttle, a native of Saco, Maine, enlisted late in the war, in the Spring of 1864 and was with his regiment at the Battle of the Wilderness, then with the 32^nd Maine at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, a little more than a month after his enlistment; captured at Spotsylvania, Tuttle would be sent to the infamous Andersonville prison, in Andersonville, Georgia, where he would die in late November 1864. Interred in the Andersonville cemetery, his remains lie at the at Grave 12196; his headstone has a stone Dove perched on the top of the stone, thereby making Tuttle’s tombstone unique.

Published in 1862, this diminutive Bible, typical of the period, has a thin, checkered, black leather cover, with a closure flap; written in pencil, on the inside cover page of the Bible, is the following:

“L. S. Tuttle

Co. F 32 Me Reg

Saco County

of York”

On the back of this front cover page, also written in pencil, is the name “Carrie Tuttle”. We believe that this name is that of Corporal Tuttle’s wife who was named Caroline; we presume that “Carrie” was the name she went by.

The Bible’s black leather cover remains in very good condition; the interior is complete, with some slight weather induced toning.

Measurements: H – 3.75”; W – 2.5”

Lewis S. Tuttle

Residence Saco, ME; 29 years old.
Enlisted on 4/5/1864 as a Corpl.

On 4/5/1864, he mustered into “F” Co. Maine 32nd Infantry.
He died a POW on 11/30/1864 at Andersonville, GA

He was listed as:

• POW 5/19/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA

Buried: Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, GA
Gravesite: #12,196

(Died before transfer to 31st ME Inf)

Roll of Honor Information

Date of Death listed a 11/30/1864.
He was buried at Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, GA (Grave 12196).

Organized: Augusta, ME on 4/1/1864

Mustered out: 12/12/1864

MAINE 32ND INFANTRY Thirty-second Infantry.-Col., Mark F. Wentworth; Lieut.- Cols. John M. Brown, James L. Hunt, Maj., Arthur Deering. This regiment was raised in the counties of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc and York, and was mustered in at Augusta, from March 3 to May 6, 1864, to serve for three years. Such was the urgent demand for troops in the field, that six companies which had completed their organization left the state on April 20 for Washington, under the command of Maj. Deering. A few days later they were assigned to the 2nd brigade, 2nd division, 9th corps, and at once hurried to the front. They overtook their corps, which had preceded them by three days, on May 6, and were continuously under fire during the battle of the Wilderness, while engaged in building fortifications and changing position. At Spottsylvania Court House, they were under fire for eight days and rendered most effective service throughout the whole action, holding an exposed part of the line and making numerous charges, losing heavily in men and officers. On the 25th they crossed the North Anna river under fire, and on the 26th were joined by the remaining four companies of the regiment, which had completed their organization on May 6th, and left for the: front on the 11th. The following is a list of battles in which this regiment, or a portion of it bore an honorable part: Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, June 17 to July 30; Weldon railroad, Poplar Spring Church, Pegram farm and Hatcher’s run. The regiment charged most gallantly on July 30, when the Confederate works in their immediate front were blown up by Burnside’s mine,and was one of the first to enter the works. It came out of this sanguinary fight with but 27 men under Adjt. Hayes, the only officer left, the loss in this engagement being 11 officers and about 100 men killed, wounded and captured. It again met with fearful loss when it sharply engaged the enemy near the Pegram house on Sept. 30. The regiment remained at the Pegram house from Oct. 28 to Nov. 30, and then moved to near Fort Hayes, where it remained until Dec. 12, where, under orders from the war department, 15 of its officers and 470 enlisted men were consolidated with the 31st Me., on account of the reduced state of both regiments and all surplus officers of the 32nd were mustered out.

32nd Regiment, Maine Infantry

Overview:

Organized at Augusta March 3 to May 6, 1864. 6 Companies left State for Washington, D. C., April 20. 4 Companies left State for Washington May 11 and joined Regiment at North Anna River, Va., May 26. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to December, 1864.

Service:

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River, Va., May 3-June 15, 1864. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spottsylvania May 8-12. Spottsylvania C. H. May 12-21. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-19. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to December 12, 1864. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30. Weldon R. R. August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28. Consolidated with 31st Maine Infantry December 12, 1864.

Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 81 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 3 Officers and 114 Enlisted men by disease. Total 202.