The 17th Maine Regiment was mustered in for three years' service on August 18, 1862, and were mustered out on June 4, 1865. Re-enlisted men and recruits transferred to 1st Regiment Maine Heavy Artillery in June 1865. Of the 1371 men enrolled in the regiment, 759 were killed or died of wounds, 163 died of disease, and 31 were in Confederate Prisons. The 17th Maine Regiment sustained the heaviest battle losses of any Maine Infantry Regiment.

They served in the following engagements:

• Fredericksburg, VA - December 13, 1862
• Chancellorsville, VA - May 1 - 4, 1863
• Gettysburg, PA - July 1 - 3, 1863
• Wapping Heights, VA - July 21 - 23, 1863
• Catlett's Station, VA - October 14, 1863
• Kelly's Ford, VA - November 7, 1863
• Mine Run, VA - November 26 - December 1, 1863
• Wilderness, VA - May 5 - 7, 1864
• Po river, VA - May 9 - 11, 1864
• Spotsylvania, VA - May 7 - 20, 1864
• North Anna, VA - May 23 - 27, 1864
• Totopotomy, VA - May 26, - 30, 1864
• Cold Harbor, VA - May 31 - June 12, 1864
• Jerusalem Plank Road, VA - June 22 - 23, 1864
• Deep Bottom, VA - August 14, 1864
• Poplar Spring Church, VA - September 30 - October 2, 1864
• Fort Hell, VA -
• Boydton Road, VA - October 23, 1864
• Hatchers Run, VA - December 8 - 9, 1864
• Deatonsville, VA - April 6, 1865
• Saylors Creek, VA - April 6, 1865
• Farmville, VA - April 7, 1865
• Appomattox, VA - April 9, 1865