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24th Michigan Infantry
in the American Civil War
Regimental History |
Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry. — Col., Henry A.
Morrow; Lieut. -Cols., Mark Flanigan, William D. Wight, Albert M.
Edwards; Majs., Henry W. Nall, Edwin B. Wight, William Hutchinson. This
regiment was organized at Detroit, was recruited mostly in Wayne county,
and was mustered into service Aug. 15, 1862. It left Detroit Aug. 29 to
join the Army of the Potomac, and arrived in Washington, D. C, Sept. 2.
It occupied a number of different camps, made many long marches during
September, October and November, and formed a part of the 1st brigade,
1st division, 1st corps. It crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg
Dec. 12, and during the 13th and 14th supported a battery, being
constantly under fire of the enemy's guns and losing heavily in killed
and wounded. At Port Royal the regiment made a brilliant attack,
capturing a number of prisoners and driving the enemy from the place.
The 24th again crossed the Rappahannock on April 29 and drove the enemy
from his works, capturing a number of prisoners with considerable loss
to the regiment in killed and wounded. It entered upon the Pennsylvania
campaign and during the first day of the battle of Gettysburg lost 22
officers killed or wounded, 71 enlisted men killed and 223 wounded, a
total loss of 316. The regiment marched from the battle-field in pursuit
of the retreating Confederates, crossed the Potomac and reached the
Rappahannock Aug. 1. During the summer and fall it made a number of long
marches, occupied important positions, and came in contact with the
enemy at Mine run, where it distinguished itself by driving him into his
works and capturing a number of prisoners. It went into winter quarters
at Culpeper until May 3, 1864, when it crossed the Rapidan and took part
in the desperate struggle of the Wilderness. In its engagements with the
enemy in the wilds of the Wilderness it captured the colors of the 48th
Va. infantry, together with a large number of prisoners, but at a cost
of 18 killed, 46 wounded and 42 missing. From the Wilderness the
regiment marched to Spottsylvania, where it was constantly under fire
until May 21, losing 11 killed and 39 wounded. In crossing the North
Anna the regiment was attacked, but repulsed the enemy with a loss to
the 24th of 3 killed, 8 wounded and 5 missing. In the advance upon Cold
Harbor it met with considerable loss, and after crossing the James river
made a successful assault upon the enemy at Petersburg, taking into
action 120 men and losing 38 in killed and wounded. The regiment
participated in the siege of Petersburg, meeting with considerable loss
from the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters. On Oct. 27 it was engaged
in the battle of Hatcher's run and took part in several expeditions
around Petersburg, and though reduced in number by constant losses,
still fought with spirit and vigor. Its last serious engagement was at
Dabney's mill in Feb., 1865, soon after which it was ordered to
Baltimore, Md., for special duty, and from that city it was sent to
Springfield, Ill., where it did garrison duty at a camp rendezvous.
While there it served as escort at the funeral of President Lincoln. On
June 19 it left Springfield for Detroit, Mich., where it was mustered
out and disbanded June 30, 1865. The 24th had borne on its rolls 2,054
officers and men, and its loss was 313, as follows: 12 officers and 118
men killed in action, 1 officer and 38 men died of wounds, and 2
officers and 142 men of disease. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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