Reynolds, John P., 1840-1919

Reynolds, John P., b. ca. 1841

Rank : Corporal

Regiment : 8th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Salem Zouaves). Co. I (1861)

Service : 1861 April 15-August 1

John P. Reynolds, Jr., was a 19 year old corporal from Salem who enlisted in the Salem Light Infantry during the Civil War. After the Zouaves mustered out, Reynolds enlisted in the 19th Massachusetts Infantry, a three-year regiment, and took part in most of the great battles fought by the Army of the Potomac in 1862 and '63. He rose to the rank of Captain before being discharged due to wounds in November, 1863.

The Salem Light Infantry, also known as the Salem Zouaves, was among the first units to respond to Lincoln's call for volunteers in 1861. On April 18th, just three days after Lincoln's call, the regiment left Massachusetts and was deployed at Annapolis, Md., and Washington, D.C. The Zouaves were attached as Company I of the 8th Massachusetts Regiment (the "Minute Men"), under the command of Captain Arthur F. Devereux, son of a former Adjutant General of the state, George H. Devereux. The Zouaves were formally mustered into the U.S. service as a three months regiment on April 30th and during the three months' campaign, they served at Annapolis, guarding the U.S.S. Constitution, at Relay House, Md. (May 11-June 26), and at Baltimore (June 26-July 29).

From the guide to the John P. Reynolds journal, Reynolds, John, 1861, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)