The Fourth Alabama Painting by Don Troiani

First Brigade, Second Division

Brevet Major J Zeilin

Brevet Major J Zeilin, commanding Company A, United States Marine Corps Battalion

United States Marine Corps Battalion

MAJOR J G REYNOLDS

Company A: CAPT. J ZEILEN
Captain J Zeilen was brevet major on 21 July,1861.
Company B: CAPT. J H JONES
Company C: FIRST LT. A RAMSEY
Company D: SECOND LT. W H CARTTER
Second Lieutenant W H Carter commanded Company D by virtue of being the senior second lieutenant.

In late July, 1861, 110 seamen and 40 marines, under the command of First Lieutenant F A Parke, Jr., United States Navy, were ordered to Fort Ellsworth and laid platforms and mounted a naval battery of three 9" guns and five howitzers.

Sources

"You will be pleased to detail from the barracks four companies of eighty men each, the whole under the command of Major Reynolds, with the necessary officers, non-commissioned officers and musicians, for temporary field service under Brig. General McDowell, to whom Major Reynolds will report. General McDowell will furnish the Battalion with camp equipage, provisions, etc."

"So tomorrow morning will see me and five other Liuets. with 300 Marines (raw recruits in every sense of the term) on our way to Fairfax Court House to take part in a bloody battle which is to take place, it is thought, about Wednesday."

"Major Nicholson, the Staff Adjutant and Inspector, was assigned as Adjutant of the battalion."

"A battalion of four companies of the United States Marine Corps was ordered to duty with the Army of Northeastern Virginia on 15 July, 1861. Some of the Marines were enlisted as recently as 8 July but the majority of the battalion was enlisted during May and June."

"The Marine Battalion, the designated infantry support to Griffin's Battery, was collecting stragglers and would soon be ready to resume its assigned duty."

The United States Marine Corps in the Civil War: The First Year, by David M Sullivan

Notes

The United States Marine Corps Battalion, without being able to render much active service, was attached to Light Company D, Fifth United States Artillery, as its permanent support on 21 July, 1861. Major J G Reynolds was ordered to take four companies from the Marine Barracks in Washington for temporary field service wth the Army of Northeastern Virginia. Three musicians and one apprentice music boy were also assigned to the battalion.

The Military District of the Potomac was established on 25 July, 1861 by consolidating the Military District of Washington and the Department of Northeastern Virginia and redesignated the Department of the Potomac on 15 August, 1861. The United States Marine Corps Battalion was assigned to the United States Navy.

Report

OFFICIAL REPORT NO.36: Series I, Volume 2 (S# 2), Chapter IX, pp. 391–392
Major J G Reynolds, commanding battalion of United States Marine Corps