History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 10

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co.
Number of Pages: 716

USA > Michigan > Clinton County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 10
USA > Michigan > Shiawassee County > History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan > Part 10

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In regard to the lists given in these pages of officers and men from these counties serving in the several regiments, it is proper to say that great care has been taken in transcribing them from the rolls in the adjutant-general's office, and in verifying them, when practicable, by surviving members of the regiments to which they have reference. If, notwithstanding this, they are found (as they doubtless will be, tu some extent) incomplete, it should be remembered that it is on ae- count of the neglect of officers whose duty it was to return full and complete recurds with the muster-out rolls filed in the adjutant-gen- eral's office.

MILITARY RECORD OF SHIAWASSEE AND CLINTON.

Israel B. Richardson, colonel ; IIenry L. Chipman, lieu- . tenant-colonel ; Adolphus W. Williams, major. In the afternoon of Thursday, June 6th, the Second Regiment, one thousand and twenty strong, embarked on three steamers (one side-wheel and two propellers), and at eight o'clock P.M. left Detroit for Cleveland, arriving there the following morning. From Cleveland it proceeded by railway, via Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Baltimore, to Washington, reaching the capital on the 10th.

The regiment made a stay of several weeks in the District of Columbia, its camp being named " Camp Winfield Scott." It was brigaded with the Third Michigan, First Massachu- setts, and Twelfth New York, the brigade-commander being Col. Richardson, of the Second Michigan. When Gen. McDowell made his forward movement towards Ma- massas, this brigade moved with the army into Virginia, and was engaged in the fight at Blackburn's Ford, July ISth, and in the battle of Bull Run, Sunday, July 2Ist. Iu the panic and disorder which ended that disastrous day the Second Regiment behaved with great steadiness, covering the retreat of the brigade towards Washington, for which it was warmly complimented by the heroic Richardson.

After Bull Run the regiment was encamped for some weeks near Arlington, and later in the season at Fort Lyon, Va., where it remained during the fall. About December 20th, substantial and comfortable winter quarters were con- structed at " Camp Michigan," three miles from Alexandria, on the Acotink Road. While this eamp was in process of construction an officer wrote that " Cabins are growing up on every side, adorned with doors and windows, procured by a process called ' cramping,' which is somewhere on the debatable ground between buying and stealing." Here the regiment remained until March, 1862, when it moved with its brigade and the Army of the Potomac to Fortress Monroc, and thence, up the Peninsula, to Yorktown and Williamsburg, at which latter place it took active part in the severe engagement of Monday, May 5th, sustaining a loss of fifty-five killed and wounded.

From Williamsburg the Second moved, with the army, up the Peninsula to and across the Chickahominy, and fought in the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31 and June 1, 1862. Its loss in that engagement was fifty-seven killed and wounded, though ouly seven of the companies were engaged.

In the retreat (or " change of base," as it has sometimes been ealled) from the York River Railroad to James River, the regiment fought at Glendale (or Charles City Cross- Roads), June 30th, and at Malvern Hill, July Ist. From the latter field it retired with the army, and moved to Har- rison's Landing, on the James, where it remained until the general evacuation of that position, August 15th, when it marched down the Peninsula, and was moved thenee, by way of the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River, with other troops, to the assistance of the imperiled army of Gen. Pope in the valley of the Rappahannock, during which campaign it took part in the fights of' August 28th, 29th, 30th, and in the battle of Chantilly, September Ist.

At Fredericksburg the Second was not actively engaged. It crossed the Rappahannock ou the 12th of December, but in the great battle of the next day was held in reserve, and 6

sustained only a loss of one killed and one wounded by the enemy's shells, but was, with the Eighth Michigan, among the last of the regiments of the army to recross to the north side of the river on the 16th.

On the 13th of February, 1863, the regiment moved to Newport News, Va , and on the 19th of March took its route to Baltimore, and thence, by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road and steamers on the Ohio River, to Louisville, Ky., with the Ninth Army Corps, of which it was a part. The corps remained iu Kentucky during the months of April and May, and in June was moved to Mississippi to reinforce the army of Gen. Grant, near Vicksburg. The Second went into camp at Milldale, near Vicksburg, on the 17th, and a few days later was stationed at Flower Dale Church. On the 4th of July, the day of the surrender of Vicksburg, the regiment left Flower Dale, and moved cast towards the cap- ital of Mississippi, to take part in the operations against the rebel army of Gen. Johnston. It arrived in front of Jackson in the evening of the 10th, and on the HIth ad- vaneed in skirmish line on the enemy's rifle-pits, which were taken and held for a time. Superior numbers, however, compelled the Second to retire from the position, with a loss of eleven killed, forty-five wounded, and five taken prison- ers. On the 13th and 14th of July the regiment was again slightly engaged. On the 17th and 18th it was engaged in destroying the Memphis and New Orleans Railroad, in the vicinity of Jackson and Madison, and then moved through Jackson (which had been evacuated by the enemy) back to Milldale, where it remained till August 5th, when it marched to the river, and thence moved with the Ninth Corps, by way of Cincinnati, to Kentucky, and encamped at Crab Orchard Springs, in that State, on the 30th of August. Ilere it remained twelve days, and September 10th broke camp and took the road for Cumberland Gap and Knox- ville, Tenn., reaching the latter place September 26th. It moved from the vicinity of Knoxville, October 8th, and was slightly engaged at Blue Springs on the 10th. On the 20th it was again at Knoxville, but immediately afterwards moved to Loudon, and thence to Lenoir, Tenn., where, ou the Sth of November, its men commenced building winter quarters. The strength of the regiment at that time was reported at five hundred and three, present and absent.

The anticipation of passing the winter at Lenoir was soon dispelled by the intelligence that the enemy, under Gen. Longstreet, was moving up the valley of the Tennessee in heavy force, evidently having Knoxville as his objective point. Ou the 14th of November, the Second Regiment with its division (the First Division of the Ninth Corps) was ordered out to meet and repel Longstreet, who was reported to be crossing the Tennessee, below Loudon. He was found in force near lluff's Ferry, on the Holston, and the division fell back to Lenoir. Here a line of battle was formed, but on the enemy coming up, the retreat towards Knoxville was resumed, the Second Regiment, with its brigade, forming the rear-guard. On the 16th it again stood in line at Camp- bell's Station to resist the advance of Longstreet, who was pressing up with great vigor. A sharp engagement ensued, in which the Second lost thirty-one in killed and wounded. The position was stubboruly held till dark, when the retreat was resumed, and the regiment reached Knoxville at five

HISTORY OF SIHAWASSEE AND CLINTON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN.

o'clock in the morning of the 17th, after a march of nearly thirty miles through mud and rain, and a battle of several hours' duration, all without rest or food. It took position on a hill below the city, at Fort Saunders, where rifle pits were constructed, and where the regiment remained during the siege which followed. On the 19th and 20th it was slightly engaged, and on the 24th, under orders to attack a line of riffe-pits, it advanced under command of Maj. By- ington, moving several hundred yards across an open plain swept by a front and flank fire of musketry and canister. The line was carried, but could not be held ; the attacking force was dislodged and compelled to retire, with a loss to the Second Regiment of eighty-one killed and wounded ; this being very nearly one-half its whole number who were in the fight. Among the killed was Adj. William Noble, and Maj. Byington was mortally wounded.

In the morning of Sunday, Nov. 29, 1863, a force of the enemy, consisting of two veteran Georgia brigades of MeLaws' division, made a furious and persistent assault on Fort Saunders, but were repelled, and finally driven back in disorder, with a loss of eight hundred in killed, wounded, and prisoners, and three stands of colors. With the force inside the fort during this assault were Companies A, F, G, and II, of the Second Michigan. Their loss, however, was inconsiderable, being only five killed and wounded. From that time the regiment saw no fighting at this place other than slight skirmishes, and on Friday night, December 4th, the enemy withdrew from before Knoxville, after a siege of eighteen days' duration.

The Second marched from Knoxville, December Sth, and moved to Rutledge. On the 16th it moved to Blain's Cross-Roads, which was its last march in 1863. During the year that was then about closing the regiment had moved a distance of more than two thousand five hundred miles. It remained at Blain's for about a month, during which time it was " veteranized," the number re-enlisting as veterans being one hundred and ninety-eight. About the middle of January, 1864, it moved to Strawberry Plains, thenee to Knoxville, and to Erie Station, remaining at the latter place until February 4th, when it moved under orders to proceed to Detroit, Mich., and reached there twenty days later. Here the veteran furlough was given to those who had re-enlisted, and Mount Clemens was made the place of rendezvous. At this place the regiment received orders, on the 4th of April, to proceed to An- napolis, Md., to rejoin the Ninth Army Corps, which had, in the mean time, moved from Tennessee to Virginia to reinforce the Army of the Potomae. The regiment left Annapolis on the 22d, proceeded to Washington, and thence into Virginia, where, on the 5th of May, it crossed the Rapidan and joined the army, which was then moving into the Wilderness. For six weeks following this time the Second was, with its companion regiments of the brigade, so constantly employed in march, skirmish, or battle, that it is hardly practicable to follow the intricacies of the movements ; but the following statement of casualties during that time shows where and how it fought. The statement, which includes only the killed and wounded (and not the missing), is taken from the report of the regimental sur- geon, Richard S. Vickery, viz :

In the Wilderness battle, Mny 6th, killed and wounded .. ... 38

At Spottsylvania Court-House, May 12th, killed and wounded

At Ox Ford. North Anun, May 24th, killed. 1 Skirmish of May 27th ... 1 l'amonkey River, May 31st.

Skirmish, June 1st. Skirmish, June 2d

2 Battle of Bethesda Church, June 3d. 38

Cold Harbor and other actions, from June 4th to June 10th. 9

The regiment crossed to the south side of the James River on the 15th, reached the enemy's works in front of Petersburg on the 16th, and took part in the attacks of the next two days with the following losses in killed and wounded, viz. :

In battle of June 17th 91

In battle of Juno 18th. 83

Recruits to the number of five hundred or more had joined the regiment since the veteran re-enlistment,-other- wise such losses would have been impossible.

On the 30th of July the Second took part in the engage- ment which followed the explosion of the mine, and sus- tained a loss of twenty killed and wounded and thirty-seven missing. Having moved with the Ninth Corps to the Weldon Railroad, it there took part in repelling the ene- my's assault on our lines, August 19th, losing one killed and two wounded. On the 30th it crossed the Weldon Railroad, and moving towards the enemy's right flank, par- ticipated in the engagement of that date at Poplar Grove Church, losing seven wounded and twelve missing. It was then eneamped for about a month at Peebles' Farm, but moved, October 27th, in the advance on Boydton Plank- Road, losing seven wounded in that affair. It then re- mained at Peebles', engaged in picket duty and fortifying, till November 29th, when it moved to a point about ten miles farther to the right, on the City Point and Peters- burg Railroad, and there remained in the trenches during the winter. On the 25th of March it fought at Fort Steadman, and sustained severe loss. It again lost slightly at the capture of Petersburg, April 3d. It then moved to the South Side Railroad, eighteen miles from Petersburg, and remained nearly two weeks, but in the mean time the army of Lee had surrendered, and the fighting days of the regiment were past. It moved to City Point, and embark- ing there on the 1Sth, was transported to Alexandria, Va., from whenee it moved to a camp at Tenallytown, Md. On the 27th of May it was detached for duty in Washington City, and remained there for about two months. On the 29th of July (having on the previous day been mustered out of the service) it left by railroad for Michigan, and on the 1st of August it reached Detroit, and was soon after paid and disbanded, after four years and a quarter of hon- orable service.

OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE SECOND INFANTRY FROM CLINTON COUNTY. Field and Staff.

Maj. Porter K. Perrin, St. John's ; com. April 1, 1864; disch. for disability, Nov. 23, 1864.

Company A.

2d Lieut. Jos. Berry, Duplain ; com. April 1, 1804; taken pris. July 30, 1864; died in rebel prison, 1865.

Geo. C. Bell, mustered out. Reason Craven, Duplain ; died of disease at Annapolis, Md., Oct. 30, 1864. Luke B. llicks, mustered out. Mioer Ilicks, mustered out.

THIRD INFANTRY.

Company B.

Ist Lient. Alex. Richards, St. John's; com. April 25, 1865; must. out July 28, 1865.

Company C.

Mortimer Doyer, died of disease at White Hall, Pa., Aug. 20, 1864. Sidney C. Johnson, must, out July 28, 1865.

Wm. J. Rogers, must. ont Aug. 17, 1865.

Company E.

2dl Lient. James II. Wellings, De Witt ; com. April 1, 1864; disch. Dec. 28, 1864 . Abram F. Kimball, must. out Ang. 9, 1865.

John F. Munson, must. out July 11, 1865.

Geo. Passmore, must. out July 28, 1865.

We. Schuler, missing in action.

As: Tillotson, died in action near Petersburg, Va., Aug. 1, 18G4.

Company F.

Jas. M. Birmingham, Duplain ; mustered out.

Company G.

Jerome L. Curtis, died of wounds at Washington, April 10, 1865.

Daniel C. Pierce, died of wounds, June 17, 1864.

Wm. B. Parker, amust. out May 15, 1865.

Company H.

Silas S. Babcock, died in div. hosp., March 19, 1865.

Geo. B. Morse, died in Washington, D. C., July 3, 1864.

Smitht Il. Stanton, died in action urar Petersburg, June 17, 1861.

Ichabod I. Towne, died in Washington, D. C., Nov. 11, 1864.

Abram White, must. ont June 22, 1863.

Juha H. Williams, must. out June 26, 1865.

Company I.

Emory Vance, disch. at end of service, July 21, 1864.

Company K.

2d Lieut. Orlando S. Perkins, St. John's; com. April 19, 1864; sergt. 27th Inf .; diach. Dec. 28, 1864.

Barzillai Coats, died at l'hiladelphia of wounds, July 30, 1864.

Sanford llayes, must. out July 20, 1863.

Caleb Hall, must. ont July 28, 1865.

Enoch Hand, must. out Oct. 10, 1865.

Isaac V. Jones, Bengal ; died in hosp. 9th Arory Corps, July 1, 1861.

Mathew Moore, died of wounds in 1864.

Corp. E. Teets, Greenbush.

SOLDIERS OF THE SECOND INFANTRY FROM SHIAWASSEE COUNTY.

Company C.

Andrew Allen, must, ont July 28, 1865.

Company E.

Orren C. Chapman, died of wounds at Washington, D. C., July 17, 1864. Frank Collins, must, out July 31, 1865. Sanford Hadden, disch. for disability. Sept. 18, 1864. George W. Keyes, must. out July 28, 1865. James D. Mills, died of disease at Washington, D. C., July 21, 1864.

Company F.

Dennis Birmingham, disch. for disability, May 12, 1862.

Company K.

Charles C. Loyoes, disch. by order, June 3, 1865.

CHAPTER V.

THIRD INFANTRY.

Organization of the Regiment at Grand Rapids-Battle of Bull Run -Peninsula Campaign-Seven Days' Battles-Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg-Service in New York-Mine Run -- The Wilderness and Spottsylvania-Cold Harbor-The New Third Infantry-Service in Tennessee, Alabama, and Toxas.

THE Third Michigan Infantry was recruited in the month of May, 1861, and had its rendezvous and camp of instruction at Grand Rapids. Clinton and Shiawassee Counties furnished to this regiment about seventy men, who were distributed among six of its companies, the larger number being found in Company G. Most of the Shiawassee men in the Third were originally members of

the " Ingersoll Rifles," which was raised by Capt. Quaek- enbush for the Fifth, but were transferred to this regiment on account of the " Rifles" being filled to considerably more than the maximum strength.

The Third Regiment was mustered into the United States service, one thousand and forty-two strong (officers and enlisted men), on the 10th of June, 1861, under Col. D. MeConnell. Three days later it left Grand Rapids and proceeded to Washington, D. C., where it arrived on Sun- day, the 16th, and moved to the Chain Bridge, where it eneamped at "Camp McConnell." It was soon after assigned to the brigade commanded by Col. Israel B. Richardson, and first met the enemy at Blackburn's Ford, Va., on the 18th of July. On the 21st the regiment, with its brigade, was engaged in that famed confliet, the first battle of Bull Run. In the disaster of that day the Michigan regiments proved themselves to be among the bravest and most steadfast of the troops engaged. The army commander, Gen. MeDowell, said, in his report, that " Richardson's troops were the last to leave the field," and the correspondent of the New York Tribune who was pres- ent at the battle wrote to that journal an account of the fight, in which he said, " I was told that a few regiments, besides the three faithful oues of Blenker's brigade, had come in in fair order, and that they were the Second and Third Michigan and the Massachusetts First, of Richard- son's brigade." When the defeated and disorganized Union army fell back on Washington, this brigade served as rear- guard. It maintained its position at Centreville Heights until the morning of July 22d, and when all detachments and stragglers had passed to the rear, it deliberately took up the line of march to Washington, where it arrived in good order. Immediately afterwards the brigade was assigned to the duty of guarding the position at Bailey's Cross-Roads, and picketing other highways leading to Alexandria and Washington from the South. After assist- ing in the construction of the defenses of Washington, the Third went into winter quarters near Alexandria, Va., and remained there until March, 1862, when it moved with McClellan's army to the Peninsula.

At the battle of Williamsburg, fought on the 5th of May, 1862, Berry's brigade* of Kearney's division moved to the front through mud and rain, at double-quick, formed line under fire, and immediately charging a superior force of the enemy, recaptured a lost position and artillery, and did not stop until the enemy was dislodged and beaten back from his position. In regard to this fight, a New York Tribune correspondent said : " By confessions of rebel prisoners, eight hundred of Berry's men, mostly of Michigan regiments, drove back sixteen hundred of the enemy." At Fair Oaks, on the 31st of May, the Third particularly distinguished itself, losing thirty men killed, one hundred and twenty-four wounded, and fifteen missing. Among the wounded was its commander, Col. Stephen G. Champlin. The Prince de Joinville, an eye-witness of this battle, said : " As at Wil- liamsburg, Kearney comes to re-establish the fight. Berry's brigade of this division, composed of Michigan regiments

# Composed of the Second, Third, and Fifth Michigan, and Thirty- Seventh New York regiments.

IHISTORY OF SIHIAWASSEE AND CLINTON COUNTIES, MICHIGAN.

and an Irish battalion, advances firm as a wall into the midst of the disordered mass which wanders over the battle- field, and does more by its example than the most powerful reinforcement."

The Third was engaged at Savage Station and Peach Orchard, June 29, 1862; Glendale (or Charles City Cross- Roads), June 30th ; Malvern Hill, July Ist; and Grove- ton (or Second Bull Run), Aug. 29, 1862. In the latter battle it lost twenty men killed, besides a large number wounded and missing. Proceeding from Edwards' Ferry, Md., ria Warrenton and Falmouth, Va., to Fredericks- burg, Va., the regiment was engaged at the latter place Dec. 13, 1862, losing nine men wounded. At Chaneel- lorsville, on the 1st, 2d, and 3d of May, 1863, it sustained a loss of sixty-three men killed, wounded, and missing.

On the 11th of June the regiment began a toilsome march via Centreville, Va., Edwards' Ferry, and Frederick City, Md., to Gettysburg. The roads were dusty, the heat intense, and the men suffered terribly. At Gettysburg, on the 2d and 3d days of July, 1863, the Third fought bravely, sustaining a loss of forty-one men, killed, wounded, and missing. Having followed the enemy to Williamsport, it marched thenee to Harper's Ferry, crossed the Potomac at Berlin, and moved forward to Manassas Gap. On the 17th of August, 1863, the regiment proceeded to Alex- andria, Va., and from there to New York City, whither it had been ordered to aid in the preservation of the public peace and in keeping down a mob during the then pending draft. Remaining there a few days, it proceeded up the Iludson to Troy, N. Y., where it was stationed two weeks. It then returned to its brigade in the Army of the Potomae, arriving at Culpeper, Va., Sept. 17, 1863.

On the 26th of November, 1863, the regiment took part in the Mine Run campaign, engaging the enemy on the 27th at Locust Grove, and on the 30th at Mine Run. With the army it returned to Brandy Station December 2d, having lost during the movement thirty-one men in killed, wounded, and missing. One hundred and eighty members of the regiment re-eulisted as veterans Dec. 23, 1863. They received a thirty days' furlough, and at the expiration of that time returned to their command.

From December, 1863, until the beginning of May, 1864, was a season of inactivity. On the 4th of the latter month the Third crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, ad- vanced to Chancellorsville, and during the three following days was in the midst of the terrific battle of the Wilder- ness, sustaining a heavy loss. It was also engaged at Todd's Tavern on the 8th and at Spottsylvania on the 12th, where it participated in the successful charge of the Second Army Corps. At the North Anna River it again encoun- tered the enemy, May 23d and 24th. The Pamunkey River was crossed on the 27th, and the advance continued towards Cold Harbor. During this month of continuous fighting the regiment sustained a loss of thirty-Que men killed, one hundred and nineteen wounded, and twenty-nine missing.

At Cold Harbor, on the 9th of June, 1864, the regiment, with the exception of the re-enlisted men and such as had joined since the original organization, and certain desig- nated officers, was ordered home for the purpose of being

discharged. The remaining officers and men-some three hundred and fifty in number-were formed into a battalion of four companies, and attached to the Fifth Michigan In- fantry. The order consolidating these regiments was con- firmed by the War Department June 13th, and on the 20th day of June, 1864, the old Third, which had been one of the first to take the field in defense of the government, was formally mustered out of the United States service.

THE NEW THIRD INFANTRY.

On the 18th of July, 1864, the President issued his proc- Jamation calling upon the loyal States for five hundred thon- sand more men. Volunteers from the several States were to be accepted for one, two, and three years, as they elected. Michigan's quota under this call was more than eighteen thousand, of which twelve thousand had to be recruited or drafted. Governor Blair determined to raise six new regi- ments of infantry, viz., the Third, Fourth, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-first, or one in each Congressional district, and in pursuance of this plan, issued his proclamation on the 21st of July, 1864. On the 29th of the same month orders were issued to reorganize the Third Infantry, and to Col. Moses B. Houghton (formerly lieutenant-colonel of the old organization) was intrusted the charge of raising the new regiment. Grand Rapids was named its place of rendezvous, and the Fourth District its field for recruiting.

The exigencies of the service did not permit the com- plete organization of all these regiments before the enforce- ment of the impending draft (Sept. 5, 1864), and seven companies, which had been raised for the Thirtieth at Pontiae, were distributed between the Third and Fourth, four companies going to the former and three to the latter, and the organization of the Thirtieth was abandoned. The Third, thus reinforced, completed its organization at once (October 15th), and, being mustered in with eight hun- dred and seventy-nine officers and men, left eamp for Nash- ville, Tenn., Oct. 20, 1864, going thence to Decatur, Ala. It remained at Decatur-having meanwhile a skirmish with the enemy at that point-until November 25th, when it was transferred to Murfreesboro', Tenn., and ordered to duty at Fortress Rosecrans.

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History of Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan, Part 10

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co. Number of Pages: 716

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D.W. Ensign & co.
Number of Pages: 716