wdyat24:

I have before me a printout of a page from the Kennebec Journal, Augusta Maine, Issue of Sept. 27, 1861 from the Microfiche Archives of the Maine State Library in Augusta.

On this page is an advertisement which reads (in part) as follows:
Recruits for 3d regiment.
___
200 Men wanted
To Fill Up the
THIRD MAINE REGIMENT
(etc.) - Signed by C.H. Howard (Col., First Commanding Officer of the 3rd Maine.)

We do it this way because, according to the preponderance of historical evidence our research has to date uncovered, they did. In an attempt to present a historically credible impression and honor the memory of these patriotic Mainers of the past, we do likewise.

See: Third Maine Infantry http://www.powerlink.net/mcgill/page4.html