USA > Michigan > Branch County > History of Branch county, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 16
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William A. Hull, Coldwater, 2d Heut .; enl. Oct. 12, 1861 ; 1st lieut., Feb. 8, 1>G2; captured at Murfreesboro', July 13, 1862; relensoil Dec. 3, 1862; capt., April 9, 1863; resigned Ang. 22, 1864, to enter gunboat service.
Charles W. Bennett, Quincy, 2d liout .; enl. Jan. 17, 1563; capt. in U. S. colored troops, Oct. 26, 1863; brevet major, Oet. 1865; must. ont June 14, 186G.
Rev. Joseph Wood, chaplain ; enl. Feb. 19, 1864; not musterod.
Robert Eberhard, Go. G; disch, by order Sept. 28, 1865.
Thomas A. Eberhard, Co. G; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Charles E. Gregg, Co. E; must. out Sept. 15, 1865. George Gregg, Co. E; minst, ont Sept. 15, 1865. Isaac Gould, Co. F; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. Dennis Blacken, Co. G ; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Joseph F. Hill, Co. B; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. William Hassett, Co. D; must. out Sept. 15, 1863. Henry Nessey, Co. D ; must. ont June 20, 1865. Parker Howes, Co. D; must. out June 20, 1865. Henry Hungerford, Co. D; must. out Jan. 21, 1865.
John S. Hmines, Co. D; must. ont June 20, 1865. Paches Hilliar, Co. G; disch. to enlist us veteran, Dec. 7, 1863.
Marion A. Howard, Co. H ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Charles Jordon, Co. G; died of disease at West Point, Ky., Dec. 1, 1861. John W. Klotz, Co. D; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. Henry C. Kenyon, Co. G; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
William Krapohl, Co. G; must. ont. Sept. 15, 1865.
John P Kidney, Co. G; must. out Sept. 15, 1865 ; came from Ith Inf. Frank Lester, Co. C; must, out Sept. 15, 1865. Fred. Luntz, Co. G; must. out Sept. 15, 1863. Fred. Lipstaff, Co. G; disch, by order, June 20, 1x65.
Charles P. Lake, Co. K ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Henry Lako, Co. K; disch. by order, Sept. 28, 1865. Fred. Miller, Co. 11; diod of disease at Coldwater, Mich., Feb. 14, 1864. George Mathews, Co. B; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Francis MeGurk, Co. @; must, ont Sept. 15, 1865. Alex. MeIntyre, Co. G; disch. by order, June 20, 1865. Daniel H. Mckay, Co. G; disch, by order, June 20, 1863. 0
Henry Melvin, Co. G ; disch. by order, June 20, 1865. Alvin Marks, Co. I; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
George 11. Nuwell, N. C. S. ; must, ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Lewis W. Nathana, Co. B; must. out Sept. 15, 1-65. Thomas L. Nixon, Co. H1 ; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. Andrew Nupher, Co. G; disch, to enlist as veteran, Dec. 7, 1868. Dewitt Pierce, Co. C; nmust, ont Sept. 15, 1865. Addison J. Peckham, Co. G; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Daniel G. Parker, Co. G; must. out Sept. 15, 1805. Joseph E Penner, Co. 11 ; died of disease at White Pigeon, Mich., Dec. 7, 1961. Riley Pierce, l'o. II ; must, ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Henry Robinson, Co. K ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865. Jeremiah Rhodes, Co. G; must, out Sept. 15, 1865. John Ross, Co. G; must, ont Sept. 15, 1865. Charles E. Rhodes, Co. F ; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. David Rodgers, Co. F; must. ont Sept. 15, 1x65. Simon Ream, Co. B; must, out Sept. 15, 1565. George Rogers, Co. B; must. out Sept. 15, 1865. Adams Need, Co. B; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. Barnard L. Rider, Co. K; died of disease nt Nashville, Tonn., May 21, 1863. James Reynolds, Co. G; died of disease at Murfreesboro', Tenn., July 13, 1862. William J. Sternbaugh, Co. G ; died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., June 13, '65. Barlow Smith, Co. G; disch, to enlist as veteran, Dec. 7, 1863.
Charles F. Smith, Co. A ; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Armonus Springsteen, Co. E ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Itodolph Stickler, Co. F; must. out Sept. 15, 1805. Bernard Schlieting, Co. G; disch. Jan. 16, 1865, for pro. in 45th Wis. Vols.
James F. Schemerhorn, Co, G; disch, to enlist as veteran, Dec. 7, 1863.
Levi Sprague, Co. G; must. out Sept. 15, 1863.
Benj. F. Safford, Co. I; disch, by onler, June 20, 1865.
Calvin D. Smith, Co. 1; disch. by order, June 20, 1865.
Alex. Tracy, Co. 1 ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Thaddeus Vining, Co. 1: disch. by order, Sept. 28, 1865.
Michael Uurah, Co. B; died of disease at Gation, Mich., Sept. 1862.
B. E. Williams, Co. G; died of disease, June 1, 1864.
Henry Wiser, Co. G; died of disease at Chattanooga, Tenn., June 3, 1864. John Winsey, Co. G; died of disonse ut Lonisville, Ky., Dec. 12, 1864.
Ilenry C. Westfall, Co. B; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Ira M. Ware, Co. F; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. Wmn. 11. Withington, Co. G; must. ont Sept. 13, 1865.
Isaac Widemer, Co. G; minst. out Sept. 15, 1865. Carlos Whitmore, Co. G ; must ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Steward Wilcox, Co. K ; diach, by order, June 20, 1865.
Dyer Wood, Co. K; disch, by order, May 15, 1865.
Lanson C. Wilder, Co. K ; disch, by order, June 20, 1865.
Charles II. Yates, Co. G ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
James Allen, Co. F; must. out Sept. 15, 1865. Samuel E. Acker, Co. G; disch. March 14, 1865, for promotion in U. S. C. T. Heury Bennett, Co. B; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Petor Bohn, Co. G; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Dwight G. Bolster, Co. G; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Henry Bordenas, Co. G; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Charles W. Bennett, Co. G; in battles Stone River, Chickamauga, Nashville, etc .; promoted. (See officers.) Jackson Brown, Co. G; disch. by order, Sept. 28, 1865.
Howard Bradley, Co. G; disch, for disability, Sept. 24, 1862.
William E. Bennett, Co. K; must ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Eli Bowen, Co. K ; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Oren Bowen, Co. K; disch, by order, Sept. 25, 1863. James Barnes, Co. G; disch. for disability, Sept. 20, 1862.
Winton B. Brooks, Co. K ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Charles W. Babbitt. Co. K ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Reuben S. Babbitt, Co. K ; disch, by order, May 12, 1865.
James Callaghan, Co. B; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. Nelson O. Chroyl, Co. B; must. out Sept. 15, 1865. Lebaunah E. Corder, Co. B ; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. William Cannady, Co. B; must, out Sept. 15, 1×65. Lester 0. Chapman, Co. G; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865. Charles Conrad, Co. G ; died of disease at Coldwater, Mich., Ang. 15, 18G2.
Stillman Crandall, Co. 1; must. ont Sept. 13, 1865.
W'm. A. Clark, Co. D; died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 29, 1562. IIenry Crippen, Co. 1 ; must. out Sept. 15, 1865. Herbert B. Davis, Co. G; died of disease, April 1, 1861, at Chattanooga, Tenn. Isaac Doughty, Co. B; must, ont Sept. 15, 1865. William J. Dyer, Co. D ; disch. by order, Sept. 29, 1865. Melvin Dickinson, Co. C; disch. by order, Sept. 9, 1865.
Francis Duning, Co. F; must. ont Sept. 15, 1865.
Andrew Demarest, Co. G; must. out Sept. 15, 1865; disch. to enlist as veteran, Dec. 7, 1863. George W. Demarest, Co. G; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
Henry J. Dufres, Co. G ; disch, by order, Feb. 10, 1865. Lafayette Davis, Co. 1; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
James D. Edwards, Co. C; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
William Eberhard, Co. G; must. out Sept. 15, 1865.
HISTORY OF BRANCH COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
CHAPTER XIV.
ELEVENTH INFANTRY.
Companies B, H. and D principally from Branch County-Where they were Raised, and their First Others-Muster of the Regiment -It goes to Kentucky-Sent to Tennessee in May. 1-62-Over the Mountains after Guerrillas-Back to Nashville-Sent to Lonisville. Ky., and Mounted-After John Morgan-On Foot Again-Back to Nashville-Building Fortifications-The Battle of Stone River- Col. Stoughton's Report-The Regiment's Loss-On Duty as Pro- vost-Guard-The Advance in June, 1863-Skirmish at Elk River- Fight at MeLemore's Cove-The Battle of Chickamauga-Trans- ferred to 14th Corps-The Victory of Mission Ridge-Pursuit of the Enemy-lessea, etc .- The Georgia Campaign of 1564-Mari- etta, Peach-Tree Creek. and Atlanta-Chasing Wheeler-Muster ont of the Old Regiment-New Organization-It goes to Chatta- nooga-Services in Tennessee-Its Return and Discharge.
THE 11th Michigan Infantry Regiment was raised in the summer and autumn of 1861. It was composed of men from Branch, Hillsdale, St. Joseph, and other southern eounties of the State, and had its rendezvous at White Pigeon, in St. Joseph County. where it was organized under authority received by Col. William J. May. its first commanding officer. Two of its companies-B and H- were made up almost entirely, and another-D Company- very largely, of men belonging to Branch County.
Company B was reernited at Quiney by Captain Melvin Mudge, assisted by Francis M. Bissell (afterwards its cap- tain) and others. It left that place on the 22d of August and reported at the rendezvous, where, on the 24th, it was mnstered into the United States service, with full ranks. by Captain H. Tilden. U. S. A. Its first officers were Mel- vin Mudge, of Quiney. Captain ; Jerome Bowen, of Butler, First Lieutenant ; Miles Warren, of Butler, Second Lieu- tenant.
The nucleus of Company H was formed at Coldwater at about the same time: it was moved thence to the ren- dezvous, and there filled by recruits arriving in squads from Coldwater and other parts of the county. The first officers of this company were: Captain. John L. Hackstaff. of Coldwater: First Lieutenant. Samuel C. Mills, of Cold- water : Second Lientenant, Leonidas E. Mills, of Coldwater.
Company D was largely recruited in Bronson and viein- ity. and in the early days of the organization was frequently mentioned as " the Bronson Company." The following were its first officers : Captain. Benjamin G. Bennett. of Burr Oak, St. Joseph Co. : First Lieutenant, John R. Keeler. of Burr Oak. St. Joseph Co. : Second Lieutenant. Theodore P. Kesler, of Brousen, Brauch Co. Afterwards. upou the promotion of Capt. Bennett and the resignation of the two lieutenants, the three offices were all filled by Branch County men.
The several companies of the regiment were mastered into the I'nited States service at different dates, from Au- gast 24 to September 11,-their term of enlistment being three years. The original field and staff officers of the regiment were as follows : Colonel, William J. May : Lieu- tenant-Colonel. William L. Stoughton ; Majer. Benjamin F. Doughty : Surgeon, Dr. William N. Elliott : Assistant Surgeon. Nelson 1. Packard : Chaplain, Holmes A. Pat- tison; Adjutant, Samuel Chadwick; Quartermaster, Addi- son T. Drake.
llaving received its armament (consisting of Belgian and other muskets of indifferent quality) the 11th Regi- ment broke eamp at White Pigeon on the 11th of Decem- ber, and about midnight took railway transportation and proceeded to Lonisville, Ky., where it was encamped for a short time in the southern suburbs of the city. From that place it was moved to Bardstown. Ky., in which vicinity it remained through the winter. suffering severely from sick- ness (measles and smallpox among the men. In the latter part of March the regiment removed to Belmont. Ky, where it was engaged in guarding the railroad. While at this place the men exchanged their inferior arms for Spring- field rifles. On the Ist of April the resignation of Col. May was accepted. and Lieut .- Col. Stoughton was pro- moted to the coloneley of the regiment.
On or about the 3d of May the 11th moved by rail to Louisville, and thence by steamer ou the Ohio and Cum- berland Rivers to Nashville, Tenn., joining the command of Gen. Negley. There it remained on picket and ordinary camp duty for two or three weeks. and was then moved rapidly to Colombia, Tenn .. on account of a reported raid of the rebel Gen. John Morgan in that direction. The command remained at Columbia for some weeks, Capt. Mudge. of Company B. acting as provost-marshal of the town during that time. From Columbia the regiment moved to Pulaski, and soon afterwards to Murfreesboro'. Tenn .; thence under orders from Gen. Dumont it marched eastward across the mountains to the Sequatchie Valley in pursuit of guerrillas : but as only a few scouts were seen it soon moved back to Nashville, from which point it was dispatched by railroad to Gallatin. Tenn., being again in pursuit of the redoubtable John Morgan, with whose rear- guard a slight skirmish was had on the 13th of Angust. From this expedition the 11th moved to Bowling Green. Ky., and from there to Louisville. Here the regiment was mounted (though in a very indifferent manner), and marched (as mounted infantry ) once more in chase of John Morgan. who was reported to be in the vicinity of Frankfort. Ky. The regiment moved to that place, and also to Paris and Georgetown, but the rough riders of Morgan had escaped, and the 11th returned to Louisville, where it was dis- mounted, and, resuming its infantry status, proceeded by rail back to Nashville. There it was joined to the 29th Brigade, in the command of Gen. Negley : the other regi- ments of the brigade being the 21st and 69th Ohio, and 19th Illinois. The lieutenant-colonel and major of the regiment were then respectively Nathaniel B. Eldridge and Sylvester C. Smith ; promoted as such rice Stoughton. promoted, and Doughty, resigned (Aug. 18. 1862).
Ou the approach of Gen. Buell's army from the Ten- nessee River. on its way to Kentucky in pursuit of the invading forces of Bragy, the 11th was moved out to Murfreesboro' to meet the column. and after its passage through the town the regiment marched in its rear back to Nashville, where it became stationary for a time. While there Company B. under command of Second Lieut. F. M. Bissell First Lieut. Bowen being at the time on the sick list and Capt. Mudge absent on recruiting servicel, was ordered to commence the erection of a defensive work in the southern suburb of the town, this being the first
67
IHISTORY OF BRANCHI COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
movement made towards the fortification of Nashville. The work which was then commeneed by that company (and soon after completed under direction of Capt. St. Clair Morton) was the one known as Fort Negley, the principal one in the chain of works which afterwards en- circled the city.
At the opening of the campaign of Murfreesboro' by Gen. Rosecrans, the 11th moved with its brigade, Dee. 26, 1862. on the Murfreesboro' turnpike, reaching Nolansville the same night, and, during the succeeding four days, pas- sing Stewart's Creek and Overall's Creek to the bloody field of Stone River, where the regiment was to receive its initia- tion to the wild work of battle. What that work was, and how the brave men of the 11th performed it, is well told in Col. Stoughton's official report of that furious engage- ment, from which we extraet as follows :
'On the morning of the 31st of December heavy firing was heard on our right and front, and apparently rapidly approaching the position occupied by the 2d Brigade. The regiment was immediately formed and marched to the brow of the hill near brigade headquarters. The skirmish- ing soon after indicated the approach of the enemy to the right of this position, and my regiment was formed in line of battle under cover of a ledge of rocks about one hun- dred yards in this direction. The skirmishing continued with much spirit for nearly an hour, when a heavy roar of musketry and artillery announced that the principal attack of the enemy was being made on our left and rear. I immediately gave orders to change front on first com- pany, which was promptly executed under a heavy fire, and the regiment advanced in line of battle to the crest of the hill from which Shultz's battery had first been driven, and poured a well-directed and effective fire into the advancing columns of the enemy.
" The firing continued with spirit and energy until orders came to retire. The fire of the enemy was apparently con- centrated upon this point, and was terrific. Men and offi- cers fell on every side. The regiment fell back about eighty yards, was again formed, and then delivered its fire upon the enemy as he advanced over the hill, then retiring to the cover of the cedar woods in our rear. Here some confusion was at first manifest. A large number of regi- ments had fallen back to this place for shelter, and the enemy's infantry and artillery opened upon us from all sides except from the left, towards the Murfreesboro' pike. Order, however, was promptly restored by our division and brigade commanders, and my regiment, with others, moved slowly to the rear, keeping up a steady fire upon the enemy. When nearer the cleared field to the right of the Murfreesboro' pike, the regiment was rallied, and held the ground for twenty or thirty minutes. It was then marched about half-way across the open field, when orders came to charge back into the cedars. My regiment promptly obeyed my orders, rallied on the colors, and charged into the woods with great gallantry, checking the enemy by the sudden and impetuous attack. After delivering one volley orders came to retire, and the regiment fell back in good order to the left of the Murfreesboro' pike. Here closed the active operations of that day.
"On the 2d of January we were again called into action.
In the afternoon of that day we were posted, as a reserve, in an open field in the rear of our batteries, on the right of the left wing of our army. Between three and four o'clock the enemy made a heavy attack with artillery and infantry on our front. My command was kept lying upon the ground, protected by a slight hill, for about half an hour. At the expiration of this time the enemy had driven back our forces on the opposite side of the river, one regiment crossing in great disorder and rushing through our ranks. As soon as the enemy came within range, my regiment with the others of this brigade, rose up, delivered its fire, and charged across the river. In passing the river my line of battle was necessarily broken, and I led the regiment forward to a fence on a rise of ground and reformed the line.
" Here the firing continued for some time until the enemy was driven from his cover and retreated through the woods. My regiment was then promptly advanced to the edge of the woods, and continued to fire upon the enemy as he fled in disorder across the open field in front to his line of intrench- ments. At this time the ammunition was nearly exhausted, and my regiment, with the others in advance, formed in line of battle, threw out skirmishers, and held our position until recalled across the river. The 11th was among the first to cross Stone River, and assisted in capturing four pieces of artillery, abandoned by the enemy in his flight.
". I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of the troops under my command. They fought with the bravery and coolness of veterans, and obeyed my commands under the hottest fire with the precision of the parade-ground."
The total loss of the regiment during those terrible days at Stone River was one hundred and eleven in killed and wounded and twenty-nine missing.
Upon the occupation of Murfreesboro' by the Union troops, after the battle of Stone River, Col. Stoughton was made provost-marshal of the town, and the regiment re- mained there on duty as provost-guard until June 24, 1863, when it moved forward with the army on the road to Tullahoma. It then formed part of the 2d Brigade, 2d Division of the 14th Army Corps, under Gen. George HI. Thomas. On the Ist of July it was engaged in a sharp and obstinate skirmish with the enemy at Elk River, Teun., where it suffered slight loss. After this fight it was encamped at Decherd, Tenn., until the general forward movement of the army in September, which resulted in the battle and defeat of Chickamauga. In this campaign the regiment moved with Thomas' Corps to Stevenson and Bridgeport, Ala., crossed the Tennessee River, entered Georgia, moved up the Trenton Valley, and thence crossed the mountains southeastwardly through " MeLemore's Cove" to Davis' Cross- Roads, or Pigeon Gap, where it was engaged with the enemy, and assisted in covering the re- treat of the divisions of Baird and Negley from Dug Gap, Ga.
A few days later (Sept. 19 and 20, 1863) the 11th took an active and prominent part in the disastrous fight at Chicka- mauga. In that battle it was under command of Lieut .- Col. Mudge, of Quiney, Col. Stoughton being then in command of the brigade. This brigade (the 2d) held a most important point in the line of the 24th Corps, when,
68
HISTORY OF BRANCHI COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
in the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 20, the hosts of the enemy, then fresh from the defeat and rout of the Union right wing under McCook, eame exultingly on to overwhelm the troops of the steadfast Thomas. The shoek was un- waveringly met and successfully repelled by the veterans of the 14th Corps. The 11th Michigan here fought with great gallantry and persistenee, repelling charge after charge of the enemy, losing eighty-three in killed and wounded, and being one of the last regiments to retire from the lost field, "when utter darkness elosed its wing" over the slaughter of the day. The following morning Col. Stough- ton took a position commanding the gap to the southeast of' Rossville, expecting each moment to hear the erash of rebel fusillades along his front. He, however, held the position through the day and the succeeding night, until four o'clock on the morning of the 22d (the entire Union army having in the mean time retreated, leaving this brigade alone on the outpost), when, hearing sounds which indicated that the enemy was preparing to advance, he quietly and suc- cessfully withdrew his piekets and moved the command with all possible speed to Chattanooga, which was reached without the loss of a man. The successful movement of the brigade, and the admirable eonduet of the troops composing it, were afterwards highly complimented by General Thomas.
In the reorganization of the army which followed the campaign of Chickamauga, the 11th became part of the 2d Brigade of Gen. King's (Ist) Division of the 14th Corps. It remained with the other troops of the army, beleaguered, in Chattanooga until the 25th of November, when it marched in its place with the line that moved to the assault of the frowning works of the enemy on Mission Ridge. Far above the Union army-then commanded by Gen. Grant-on those bristling heights were the Confederate forces of Gen. Bragg, their position, apparently almost im- pregnable by nature, being strengtliened by long lines of intrenchments with numerous redoubts, which seemed able to defy every attempt which could be made by the most desperate enemy.
No military achievement equal to the conquest of those lines had been accomplished in America since the army of Wolfe surmounted the lleights of Abraham and vanquished the legions of Monteahn before the walls of Quebec. But Wolfe made his way to the top of the heights by means of a night surprise, while at Mission Ridge the two armies were too large for that, and the Union forees were drawn out in broad day, with all the Confederate hosts as interested spectators. Yet when the order was given the long blue lines advanced steadily up the embattled steeps, sometimes elimbing by means of bushes, and firing as they went at the enemy (who from his vantage ground sent thousands of bullets throughout their devoted ranks), pressing on without a thought of retreat, and finally driving the foe in utter eon- fusion from all his rifle-pits, intrenchments, and redoubts, capturing thousands of prisoners and scores of cannon, and seizing the key-position of Georgia and the Southeast.
The 11th Michigan was one of the most active and valiant regiments in the great charge, and was one of the very first to reach the enemy's works. It had thirty-nine men killed and wounded, including among the former its gallant eum- mander, Maj. Bennett.
The 11th hastened in pursuit of the flying foe, and at Graysville it charged their rear, aiding in the eapture of Ferguson's Battery, with caissons and horses complete.
It was then stationed at Rossville, Graysville, and vicinity until the 7th of May, when it entered on Gen. Sherman's Georgia campaign. It was engaged at Resaca, Ga., May 14, and at New Hope Church on the 27th. At the last- named place it remained eight days in an exposed position, almost constantly under fire. Again joining the pursuit, it participated in a successful charge on the intrenehments near Marietta, having thirteen men killed and wounded. At Peach-Tree Creek, on the 20th of July, it lost eleven killed and wounded, and at the battle in front of Atlanta, on the 7th of August, it had fifteen men killed and fifteen wounded.
The regiment's term of service having now expired, it returned to Chattanooga, August 27, but three days after its arrival there, was ordered to join a column sent in pur- suit of the rebel Gen. Wheeler, who was then raiding in Tennessee. On this service it marched to Murfreesboro', and thence to Huntsville, Ala., but finding no enemy, it re- turned to Chattanooga, September 13, and on the 18th started for Michigan, leaving behind one hundred and fifty- two veterans and recruits with nnexpired terms. It was mustered out at Sturgis on the 13th of September, 1864.
ELEVENTH INFANTRY REORGANIZED.
It was determined, however, not to lose the name and prestige of a regiment which had won such renown, and even before its muster out, orders were issued by the Gov- ernor for its reorganization. This was not accomplished until the 18th of March, 1865, when the new 11th was concentrated at Jackson. The new regiment contained more than one hundred members from Branch County. About the 1st of April it proceeded to Chattanooga, where it was joined by the veterans and others who had been left behind on the return of the old regiment. By this time the fighting in the West was over, but the regiment was retained in Tennessee until the middle of September, mostly engaged in guarding railroads, ete., in the eastern part of that State. It was paid off and disbanded at Jackson, Mich., on the 23d of September, 1865.
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