Regiments of the American Civil War

                   Morale could not have been any higher among the boys of the 1 st Michigan Infantry then it was as the final year of the war kicked off. The feeling was one of great responsibility, eagerness, and mindfulness that the war was nearing a close. In late December of 1864, the men learned of Sherman capturing Savannah, Georgia, and of General George Thomas defeating John Bell Hood at Nashville, whom they were well familiar. Then-Major Lockley also commented in his diary that the Confederate supply situation around Richmond was weak and reduced to one route, the Danville Road.             The first major engagement of the new year came in early February when Grant decided to extend his flank left. He sent Warren off towards Dinwiddie Court House, via Ream’s Station, which is about 7 miles southwest of Petersburg. On the 5 th of February t...

       1864 dawned cold and rainy for the 1 st Michigan Infantry, who were in winter quarters at Beverly Ford on the Rappahannock River, just northeast of Brandy Station, Virginia. The three-year veterans’ enlistments were up in 1864, and for any man that would re-enlist in a veteran unit, they would be granted a 30-day furlough. For that furlough to be granted, the regiment had to meet a certain number of re-enlistees. 212 men re-enlisted and were able to visit their homes for 30 days. They returned to camp at Beverly Ford in early April, where they were to prepare for the nearing campaign season. A shift in Army command moved General Ulysses S. Grant was placed in overall command of all Union Armies. General Meade commanded the Army of the Potomac, General Gouverneur K. Warren replaced Sykes as commander of V Corps, and divisions were combined, further restructuring the army. Charles Griffin commanded the 1 st Division, and Joseph Bartlett commanded the 3 rd Bri...

       At the Battle of Chancellorsville, the 1 st Michigan was placed on the River Road along with the rest of Griffin’s Division. According to Colonel Lockley, leading up to the battle the men were feeling quite excited. Many of the men had been on furlough and had returned home for a few days to Michigan, including Colonels Lockley, Abbott, and Whilttsey. During much of the battle the 1 st Michigan served as pickets and skirmishers for the V Corps, who was commanded by General George Meade. This means that they were detached and sent out in a loose formation in front of the main ranks of the army for the purpose of finding the enemy and judging their positions. In the case of Chancellorsville, the 1 st was sent in front of the defensive lines of breastworks built by the men during the night of May 2 nd . On the 3 rd , the men of the 1 st were deployed in the woods below Ely Ford Road and the Chancellor House. Throughout the morning they were engaged with BG He...

      On May 1 st in 1861, 798 men were mustered into Federal Service as the 1 st Michigan Infantry. In response to Lincoln calling for 75,000 men on April 16 th , Governor Austin Blair issued a proclamation calling for one regiment. Within no time, the call was answered by men, many of whom were enrolled in local militias. The first to answer the call were the men of the Detroit Light Guard. This prestigious company would form company A in the new regiment. The nine other companies are as follows: the "Jackson Grays" Co B; the "Coldwater Cadets" Co. C ; the "Manchester Union Guards" Co. D; the "Stuben Guard", the "Michigan Hussars", the "Burr Oak Guard", the "Ypsilanti Light Guard", the "Marshall Light Guard", and the "Hardee Cadets".  They arrived in Detroit and marched to Fort Wayne there.  Fort Wayne in Detroit, MI             The first was placed under the command of Colonel Orlando Boli...