matthew mckeon
Guest
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2005
Read an article in "Downeast" magazine yesterday.
The theme was that Maine took a serious hit economically and socially in the Civil War.
1. The major Maine industries, fishing, logging and ship building all suffered during the war years as large numbers of the labor force went into the armed forces. Wooden ship construction suffered badly, as the older style vessels were being replaced by steamers and iron hulled ships(although I think that would have happened anyway).
2. Maine lost population from 1860-70, the only time in the 19th century(and indeed, until late 20th century), as veterans abandoned rocky fields to greener pastures in the west and midwest.
Maine certainly contributed to the Union war effort. If Maine regiments were filled, many went to Massachusetts to volunteer there. One enthusiastic recruited wanted to form a regiment of outsized lumberjacks("we'll need larger uniforms then ever before!")
The theme was that Maine took a serious hit economically and socially in the Civil War.
1. The major Maine industries, fishing, logging and ship building all suffered during the war years as large numbers of the labor force went into the armed forces. Wooden ship construction suffered badly, as the older style vessels were being replaced by steamers and iron hulled ships(although I think that would have happened anyway).
2. Maine lost population from 1860-70, the only time in the 19th century(and indeed, until late 20th century), as veterans abandoned rocky fields to greener pastures in the west and midwest.
Maine certainly contributed to the Union war effort. If Maine regiments were filled, many went to Massachusetts to volunteer there. One enthusiastic recruited wanted to form a regiment of outsized lumberjacks("we'll need larger uniforms then ever before!")