Companies were formed within towns or from local regions. Friends, brothers, or sometimes fathers and sons joined and fought together.
Charles C.G. Thornton and Horatio Hight were the recruiting officers assigned to raise a company in Scarborough to serve with the recently formed 12th Maine Infantry.
Newly named colonel George F. Shepley of Portland was commander of the 12th Maine, which was known as the "Democrats and lawyers" regiment.
