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1st Michigan Colored Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| First Michigan Colored Infantry (102nd U. S. Colored
Troops). — Cols., Henry Henry Barnes, Henry L. Chipman; Lieut. -Col.,
William T. Bennett; Maj., Newcome Clark. This regiment was organized in
the fall of 1863 and was mustered in Feb. 17, 1864. It left the state
March 28 and joined the 9th army corps at Annapolis. On April 15 it took
transports for Hilton Head, S. C. Col. Barnes resigned and was succeeded
by Capt. Chipman of the U. S. army. Detachments were employed on picket
duty for a month and the regiment then garrisoned at Port Royal and
Beaufort until Aug. 1, when it embarked for Jacksonville, Fla. It was
engaged at Baldwin with a force of cavalry, which it repulsed, and then
made a circuit of eastern Florida — 100 miles in 5 days. It built a fort
at Magnolia and then returned to Beaufort, reaching there on Aug. 31. It
was on picket duty by detachments at Coosa, Lady's and Port Royal
islands, that at Lady's island having a skirmish with a force that
attempted to land, under cover of night, driving them off. A detachment
of 300, with the troops under Gen. Foster, was engaged at Honey Hill in
November and joined in repelling a charge, maintaining a steady line and
fighting desperately, hauling off 2 pieces of artillery which had been
abandoned. A correspondent, speaking of the determination of the men to
continue fighting after being wounded, said : "Such bravery I never saw
before. I have known men to fight as well and bravely as ever men
fought, but never before have I known men to fight on after being
severely wounded." A detachment was also engaged at Deveaux neck in
December. The regiment came together at Deveaux neck Jan. 24, 1865, and
moved to Pocotaligo. It destroyed the railroad and built breastworks,
and a bridge across the Ashepoo river. It proceeded to Charleston neck
and took transports for Savannah in March, where it was for a time on
picket and fatigue duty. It returned by transport to Georgetown, the
right wing being ordered thence to Charleston neck, and made a daring
expedition to join Gen. Potter on the Santee river, through a country
held by the enemy, a distance of 70 miles. A large body of cavalry
attacked it on the way, but it was driven off after a vigorous fight.
The left wing left Georgetown with Potter's forces and was engaged in
several skirmishes. Near Manchester it joined in flanking the enemy,
driving him from the field in disorder. The two wings united and were
engaged in a spirited contest with the enemy at Singleton's plantation,
in which the regiment was victorious. Co. A, on picket, repulsed an
attack by a force of 200. The regiment returned to Georgetown and was
ordered to camp at Charleston neck. On May 7 it proceeded to Orangeburg
and was on provost and fatigue duty there until July 28, when it was
ordered to Winnsboro for similar service. It was mustered out at
Charleston Sept. 30, 1865. Its original strength was 895: gain by
recruits, 551; total, 1,446. Loss by death, 140. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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