Recruited mostly from the Kennebec lumbermen; the men were of a large, powerful type, their average weight in one company being 170 pounds. The regiment was organized at Augusta, arriving at Washington June 7, 1861. It fought at First Bull Run, and a year later was engaged in another bloody contest on the same field. During 1862 it served in Birney's Brigade of Kearny's Division; it was in that command at Fair Oaks, where it made a gallant and successful charge, but lost nearly one-third of the number engaged; the loss was 8 killed, 71 wounded, and 3 missing. It participated in all the battles and marches of the Third Corps, becoming sadly reduced in number by deaths, wounds, and the sickness incidental to arduous campaigns. When it entered the field at Gettysburg, it numbered 14 officers and 196 rifles; of this number it lost 18 killed, 59 wounded, and 45 missing. Under command of Colonel Lakeman, it rendered good service in that battle; on the second day, in company with Berdan's Sharpshooters, it made an advance outside the lines which developed the enemy's position and elicited timely warning of the attack on. Sickles' Corps. The tenacity with which the Third Maine held that skirmish line at Gettysburg is worthy of note. The regiment did some more hard fighting in the Wilderness campaign, during which it fought in Hancock's Second Corps. Lt. Col. Edwin Burt was killed at the Wilderness, and Major William C. Morgan at the North Anna. While in line at Cold Harbor, the regiment was ordered home, and the recruits transferred to the Seventeenth Maine.