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1st Michigan Engineers
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| First Michigan Engineers. — Cols., William P. Innes,
John B. Yates; Lieut. -Cols. , Kinsman A. Hunton, Garrett Hannings; Majs.,
Enos Hopkins, Perrin V. Fox, Marcus Grant, Emery O. Crittenton, Joseph
J. Rhodes. This regiment was organized at Marshall and was mustered in
Oct. 29, 1861. It left the state Dec. 17 and reported to Gen. Buell at
Louisville. Cos. B, E and I, under Col. Innes, were ordered to report to
Gen. McCook, at Munfordville, then moved for Bowling Green, and on the
28th for Nashville. Cos. D, F and G, under Lieut. -Col. Hunton, were
ordered to report to Gen. Thomas at Lebanon. They took part in the
battle of Mill Springs, Ky., and joined the regiment at Columbia in
April. Cos. C and H, commanded by Maj. Hopkins, were ordered to report
to Gen. Nelson at New Haven, Ky., and joined the regiment at Nashville
in February. Cos. A and K, under Capt. J. B. Yates, were ordered to
report to Gen. Mitchell at Bacon creek, Ky., and accompanied the first
Union troops into Bowling Green after its evacuation by the enemy. The
regiment was ordered to Shiloh in April and built several bridges en
route with such rapidity that Buell was enabled to reach the field in
time to bring victory out of disastrous defeat. It received special
mention by Buell. Cos. A and K, under Maj. Yates, left Nashville with
Gen. Mitchell's division, going to Huntsville, Ala., and was employed
during May in running trains over the Memphis & Charleston and Nashville
& Decatur railroads. The other eight companies moved towards Corinth,
building roads and placing siege guns, and in June proceeded towards
Decatur, building bridges and trestles, and putting the railroad in
running order. In July the entire regiment was at Huntsville, actively
engaged in track replacing and bridge and trestle work. In August Co. E
was detached for fortification work at Huntsville. Cos. A, B, D, G and H
were sent to Nashville and occupied until the middle of September in
bridge building. C, F, K and I were sent to Stevenson and joined the
regiment at Gallatin. The entire regiment took up the march for Bowling
Green, thence for Louisville, and Cos. A, C and K took part in the
battle of Perryville, where they were joined by the others on Oct. 12.
The regiment moved to Nashville and went into camp at Mill creek, where
it built nine bridges. It was ordered to La Vergne Jan. 1, 1863, and
engaged in a skirmish. Its wagon train, in position of a half circle,
with hastily constructed breastworks of logs and brush, was attacked by
Wheeler's cavalry, numbering over 3,000, with a section of artillery,
and 315 officers and men fought this force for 5 hours, repulsing seven
assaults, the horsemen charging up to the very breastworks and the
enemy's artillery being constantly employed. The enemy drew off at night
with a loss of 50 killed and more wounded. By this repulse the rear of
the army and most of its baggage train was saved. A correspondent said
of it: "The scene was at times thrilling beyond description. The rebel
horde dashed their horses against the circular brush fence with
infuriated shouts and curses. * * * They were met with staggering
volleys. Horses and riders recoiled again and again until they
despaired, and soon swept away through the dense forests. * * * Truly,
this was one of the most gallant affairs of the campaign." A standard of
organization having been established in 1862, the regiment was allowed
12 companies of 150 each. From Jan. 1 to June 29, 1863, it was employed
in general construction and repair work in the vicinity of La Vergne,
Murfreesboro, Smyrna and Nashville, and on Oct. 31 was stationed at Elk
creek. Its excellent work in putting into position greatly needed
pontoon bridges at Chattanooga was specially noticed in orders. During
the winter, spring and summer, the regiment was constantly employed in
building trestle work, bridges, store houses, blockhouses and hospitals,
in saw-mill work at Chattanooga and Bridgeport, and along the railway
lines as far south as Decatur and Stevenson, Ala. It was ordered to
Atlanta Sept. 25, and in October 148 reenlisted as veterans, which with
the recruits enabled the regiment to maintain its full organization. It
was constantly employed on the Atlanta campaign and on the march to
Savannah, keeping up with the army, tearing up railroad track,
destroying bridges and building roads. On Jan. 26, 1865, it took
transports for Beaufort, S. C, and joined the march to Goldsboro, N. C,
during which it destroyed 30 miles of track, built 8 or 10 bridges and
made miles of corduroy road. Cos. L and M, detached at Stevenson the
previous summer, constructed defenses at that point assisted on the
defenses of the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad, on Nov. 28 were moved
to Elk River bridge, and were stationed in detachments along the line of
the road to Murfreesboro, building blockhouses. Most of these
detachments were at Fort Rosecrans during December. On Dec. 5 a
detachment from Co. L was captured, after 6 hours hard fighting, while
acting as train guard. Cos. L and M left Murfreesboro March 1, 1865,
moved by rail to New York, by water to Beaufort, N. C, and joined the
regiment at Goldsboro March 25. The regiment moved from Goldsboro to
Raleigh and from there to Washington. It participated in the grand
review and was then ordered to Nashville. It was mustered out, Sept. 22,
1865. Its original strength was 1,032: gain by recruits, 2,168; total
3,200. Loss by death, 342. Its entire service was arduous and of the
highest importance. Although not engaged in many battles as a fighting
regiment it was often under fire while engaged in constructing
fortifications, roads and defenses for the army or in the destruction of
railroads and public works used by the enemy. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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