| 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! |
3rd Michigan Cavalry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Third Michigan Cavalry. — Cols., F. W. Kellogg, John K.
Mizner; Lieut. -Cols., Robert H. G. Minty, Gilbert Mayers, Thomas B.
Weir; Majs., Edward Gray, William S. Burton, Abel H. Foote, Thomas
Saylor, Lyman G. Wilcox, Gilbert J. Hudson, Edward B. Nugent, James G.
Butler. This regiment was organized at Grand Rapids and was mustered in
Nov. 1, 1861. It left the state Nov. 28, was stationed at Benton
barracks, St. Louis, during the winter, and then joined Pope's movement
against New Madrid and Island No. 10. Capt. John K. Mizner took command
as colonel on Mar. 31. The regiment was engaged at Farmington, Miss.,
and in the siege of Corinth, then joined Grant's forces in the campaign
of Mississippi, and fought at Spangler's mills, Bay Spring, and Iuka,
where it performed efficient work. Five privates captured 2 officers and
a stand of colors. In October it was engaged at the battle of Corinth
and the Hatchie river. During the remainder of the year it was in
actions at Hudsonville, Holly Springs, Lumpkin's mill, Oxford and
Coffeeville. In November Co. K made a daring trip. Communication between
Grant and Sherman had been cut off by the destruction of railway and
telegraph lines, the enemy's pickets extending to Memphis, and regiments
and brigades were unable to open them or clear the way for a dash. Capt.
Newell and his company advanced from La Grange to Moscow, made a circuit
of 17 miles by night, attacked and captured the pickets at Somerville,
and charged through a regiment. Finding the bridge burned at Wolf river,
the company plunged into and across the river, and being taken for
Confederates, pushed through a brigade and reached Sherman's
headquarters at Memphis. The regiment was engaged at Brownsville in
January and Clifton in February. At the latter point Capt. Newell of Co.
K and 60 men crossed the river after nightfall in an old flat bottom
boat and captured the Confederate Col. Newsom, 3 of his captains, 4
lieutenants and 61 enlisted men, with horses, arms and equipments. The
regiment was in engagements at Jackson and Panola in July, and at
Grenada in August was in the advance, destroying over 60 locomotives and
more than 400 cars. In October it participated at Byhalia and Wyatt's
ford on the Tallahatchie river. It was engaged in scouting and numerous
expeditions during November and December, meeting the enemy at Ripley,
Orizaba, Ellistown, Purdy, and Jack's creek, and on Jan. 1, 1864, went
into winter quarters at La Grange, Tenn., where 592 reenlisted as
veterans, received a furlough, and reached home Feb. 7. The regiment was
ordered to St. Louis, where it was on provost duty for about two months.
It reported at Little Rock May 24, and was engaged in scouting. It
assisted in driving Shelby beyond the river and in dispersing
guerrillas. During Nov., 1864, and Feb., 1865, it garrisoned
Brownsville, and in its scouting expeditions collected large droves of
cattle, supplying nearly all the beef required for the Department of
Arkansas. It was assigned to the 1st brigade, 1st division, 7th army
corps, which on the 14th of March was transferred to the military
division of West Mississippi and ordered to Mobile, where it engaged in
the siege. After the fall of that point the regiment was employed on
outpost duty. On the surrender of the enemy's forces east of the
Mississippi, the regiment was selected as escort of Maj.- Gen. Canby,
and received the formal surrender of Gen. Taylor's army. In May the
regiment moved to Baton Rouge, La., where it joined the Texas expedition
and reached San Antonio on Aug. 2. It was engaged in garrison and escort
duty and along the Mexican frontier until mustered out at San Antonio
Feb. 15, 1866. Up to Nov., 1863, the regiment had captured 2,100
prisoners and had marched 10,800 miles. Its original strength was 1,163:
gain, 1,397; total, 2,560. Loss by death, 414. |
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!
|