| If this website has been useful to you, please consider
making a Donation.
Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do
more research. Thank you for your support! |
13th Michigan Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Thirteenth Michigan Infantry. — Cols., Charles E.
Stuart, Michael Shoemaker, Willard G. Eaton, Joshua B. Culver; Lieut.
-Cols., Orlando H. Moore, Theodoric R. Palmer, Peter Van Arsdale; Majs.,
Frederick W. Warden, Joshua B. Culver, Willard G. Eaton. This regiment
was organized at Kalamazoo in the fall and winter of 1861. It was
mustered in Jan. 17, 1862, and left the state Feb. 12. Col. Stuart
having resigned, Col. Shoemaker took command. The regiment was ordered
to Nashville, where it formed part of Wood's division of Buell's army,
and was on the forced march for the relief of Grant at Shiloh, reaching
the battle-field on the second day. It was then engaged at Farmington,
Owl creek, and in the siege of Corinth. On June 2 it moved eastward with
Buell's army and was on fortification work and guard duty at Stevenson,
Ala., from July 18 to Aug. 21, when the post of Stevenson was placed
under Col. Shoemaker's command, the 13th Mich, with four companies from
other regiments and Simonson's Indiana battery being left as a garrison,
the post becoming a depot of supplies and for convalescents. On the 30th
instructions were received to leave, as the enemy was congregating in
force. The following morning a force of Confederate cavalry was seen
near the fort and scattered by the artillery, skirmishers following
until they came upon a heavy force, which fired upon them. The fort was
attacked at 10 o'clock, the fight continuing until 3 p. m.
Reinforcements arrived at that time and all stores, baggage and
convalescents were placed on trains for Nashville. The march for
Nashville was begun at 5 p. m., the 13th bringing up the rear and
keeping off the enemy's attack. Left far in the rear by the other
regiments and the artillery, the regiment joined its division on Sept.
3, after being given up for lost. Nashville was reached on the 6th. The
regiment joined in pursuit of Bragg, was engaged at Munfordville, the
battle of Perryville, and at Danville. It was stationed at Silver
springs, Tenn., in early November and on the 10th joined the forces that
drove the enemy from Lebanon. It was on train guard and picket duty at
Nashville until Dec. 26, being engaged in the meantime at Gallatin and
Mill creek. It moved on Murfreesboro with the 3d brigade, 1st division,
Thomas' corps, was on the skirmish line and in the desperate engagements
at Stone's river, losing 95 in killed, wounded and missing. When the
right wing was being driven back in confusion on the first day of the
battle the brigade to which the 13th was attached advanced to the
extreme right and formed in line of battle, becoming hotly engaged. The
battery supporting the regiment opened rapid fire, but the other
regiments of the brigade passed to the rear and thus forced it to take a
new position, from which it was again driven with a loss of 2 guns. All
the other regiments falling back a second time, the 13th was left alone
to meet two brigades. By a steady fire it checked the advance, dropped
back to a better position, then charged the advancing brigades with
bullet and bayonet, scattering them and regaining the lost ground,
retaking the 2 captured guns and capturing 68 prisoners. This gallant
act was accompanied by a loss of 35 per cent of its numbers engaged.
"Great praise is due this regiment" said the Nashville Union, "for the
unparalleled gallantry, both of officers and men, who are said to have
fought like heroes. Truly Michigan has reason to be proud of the troops
she has sent out." The regiment was stationed at Murfreesboro until June
24, 1863, when it was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 20th
corps, and advanced on Tullahoma, following Bragg after his evacuation
of that place. It was in an engagement at Pelham in July and was then in
camp at Hillsboro until Aug. 16, when the army advanced into Georgia. It
fought at Lookout valley, was in the engagement at Chickamauga making a
charge and losing 107 in killed, wounded and missing. The regiment was
organized as engineers in November, assigned to duty at Chattanooga, and
participated at Missionary ridge. It was stationed at Chickamauga in
December and January, and there 173 reenlisted as veterans aad were
furloughed home. They rejoined the regiment in April with over 400
recruits and the command was stationed at Lookout mountain during the
summer. It was relieved from duty as engineers, Sept. 25, 1864, and
assigned to the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 14th corps, joining it at
Rome, Ga. It marched to the sea, reached Savannah Dec. 16, and engaged
in the siege. It made the campaign of the Carolinas, being engaged at
Catawba river, Averasboro and Bentonville, sustaining in the last action
a loss of 110, its commanding officer, Col. Eaton, being among the
killed. It was in the grand review at Washington, and was mustered out
at Louisville on July 25, 1865. Its original strength was 925: gain by
recruits, 1,159; total, 2,084. Loss by death, 390. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us
Share this page with your friends!
|