Six documents of a Maine Civil War soldier's commission. Albion Witham was first commissioned in 1854 as a Third Lieutenant of Co. A of Light Infantry in the Second Brigade of the State of Maine Militia. Later in 1855 he was promoted to First Lieutenant then Captain. In April1861 war breaks out and Abraham Lincoln calls for volunteers. Maine is required to raise one regiment of infantry. This was done by reorganizing ten existing companies of the state militia, completed at Portland, Maine on 28 April 1861. The Companies were mustered into service on 3 May 1861 and a total of 779 soldiers became the First Maine Volunteer Infantry. Albion Witham was then commissioned by Governor Israel Washburn of Maine as Lieutenant Colonel. The regimental commander was Colonel Nathaniel Jackson. The First Maine was transferred to Washington, D.C. on 1 June 1861, where it remained until 1 August 1861, encamped on Meridian Hill. It spent its entire service in the Washington defenses and saw no combat. They were mustered out on 5 August 1861. Many soldiers in the regiment who wanted to remain in service reenlisted into the 10th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This lot includes three of Albion Witham's Maine Militia commission documents, signed by Governors Anson P. Morrill and William G. Crosby. A hand written order for Witham to report to Portland. (Written by Charles Shaw Aid de Camp dated April 27, 1861.) The commission document of Albion Witham as Lt Colonel of the 1st Maine infantry, dated 29th April 1861. Also included in the lot is a letter to Governor Washburn (unsigned) requesting that Lt Colonel Witham is given command of the next Maine regiment that is raised in Maine.