18th
Regiment Michigan
Volunteer
Infantry
Regiment Michigan
Volunteer Infantry
1862-1865
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| "Regimental Roster" |
The reverses of General McClellan in the Peninsular Campaign, causing a general alarm for the cause of the Union, induced the Governors of the loyal states to respond to President Lincoln's call on July 2,1862 for an additional 300,000 troops, 11,686 being the quota of Michigan, to put down the rebellion. As a result of this request the 18th. was recruited in the first district, comprising the counties of Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Monroe.The recruitment of the Regiment commenced July 15,1862, and on the 26th. of August was mustered into the service of the United States, leaving Hillsdale with an enrollment of 1002 officers and men, under the command of Colonel Doolittle, on September 4th. with orders to report to Cincinnati.
On the day the 18th. left camp at Hillsdale, and while waiting at Toledo on the march to the front, an elegant flag of the finest material and workmanship, arrived by express, which had been ordered made by the Hon. Henry Waldon, who had been charged by the governor with raising the Regiment. It was presented by Mr. Waldron in one of his best speeches, to which an eloquent response was made by Major J.W. Horner, on behalf of the Regiment, who assured the donor that it should never be dishonored while in their hands.
On the 1st. of November the Regiment was stationed at Lexington, KY, and remained at that place until February 21,1863, when it marched towards Danville, arriving on the 23rd. On the 24th., with the forces under General Carter, it retreated to the Kentucky River, skirmishing with the Confederate forces of General Pegram during the retreat. On the 28th. the Regiment joined in the pursuit of General Pegram, following the southern army as far as Buck Creek, making a long and rapid march, partly over rough mountainous roads. April 2nd. it returned to Stanford. On the 17th. they were ordered to Lebanon, thence proceeded by rail to Nashville, arriving there on the 14th. of April.
From the 1st. of November 1863, to the 11th. of June, 1864, the 18th. was employed as Provost Guard at Nashville. TN. On the 12th. of June the Regiment arrived at Decatur, AL., where it formed part of the garrison, although during the summer and fall it was engaged at times in scouting through the adjacent countryside. On the 28th. of June, being then in the 1st. Brigade, 4th. Division of the 20th. Corp, it formed part of a force which surprised the camp of Patterson's guard of the Confederate cavalry, at Pond Springs, AL, capturing all their camp equipage, including wagons, ambulances and commissary stores, with along with some prisoners.
On the 25th. of July the Regiment assisted in routing the same Brigade at Courtland, AL. In both of these expeditions the Regiment was in the advance, being the only infantry engaged. On the 1st. of September it left Decatur to reinforce the garrison at Athens, against a threatened attack by General Wheeler, then engaged in a raid through Tennessee. It arrived in Athens just in time to prevent the command of Confederate General Roddy, from attacking and pillaging the town.
The Regiment remained at Athens until the 8th., when it joined General Streight's Brigade, of General Steedman's command, then in pursuit of Wheeler's cavalry, and marched to Shoal Creek, within seven miles of Florence, AL. Being in the advance, it here overtook and skirmished with the Confederate rear guard. The pursuit being abandoned, the Regiment returned to camp at Decatur, September the 11th.
A detachment of the Regiment, numbering 231 officers and men, left Decatur on the 24th., with other troops to reinforce Athens once again. When within two miles of that place they were attacked by a force of Confederate cavalry, numbering as since ascertained of at least 4,000 men of General Forrest's command. After five hours of desperate fighting with this superior force, during which their ammunition was expended, the Regiment had succeeded in arriving within sight of the fort at Athens, but finding it in the possession of the Confederates, it surrendered. With the exception of a few who escaped, the entire command was either killed, wounded or captured.
On the 26th. through the 29th. of October, the Eighteenth, commanded by Captain E.M.. Hubbard, Colonel Doolittle being in command of the post at Decatur. participated in the successful defence of that place against the Confederate army under General Hood, while advancing on the army of Thomas at Nashville. During the attack a detachment commanded by Captain William Moore of the Eighteenth was sent out to dislodge a body of the southerner sharpshooters that occupied a line of rifle pits near one of the Union forts. The movement was successfully executed under a galling fire, the southerners being driven from their cover with 115 prisoners captured, with a loss to the detachment of only two wounded.
On November 1,1864, the Regiment, in command of Major Hulbard, was stationed at Decatur, where it remained doing garrison duty until the 25th., when the evacuation of the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, from Decatur to Stevenson, was commenced. Then it left Decatur, marching along the line of that railroad to Stevenson, a distance of 80 miles, reaching that point December 2nd., where it was employed building fortifications until the 19th. , when it was ordered back to Decatur, via the Tennessee River. On the 23rd. the Regiment landed at Whitesboro, then reembarked for Decatur, arriving there on the 28th.
It remained at Decatur, doing garrison duty, until January 11,1865, when it proceeded by rail to Huntsville, there engaged on Post duty. On June 20,1865, the Regiment was ordered to Nashville to be mustered out of the service of the United States, which was accomplished on the 26th., then on the 28th. left for Michigan, arriving at Jackson on the 2nd. of July. On the 4th. of July 1865 it was paid off and disbanded.
| Danville,Ky | Pond Springs,Al | Curtiss Well's,Al |
| Courtland,Al | Athens,Al | Decatur,Al |
ORGANIZATION
Organized at Hillsdale, Mich., and mustered in August 26, 1862.
Left State for Cincinnati, Ohio September 4.
Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio to November, 1862.
1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio to January, 1863.
3rd Brigade, District of Central Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio to April, 1863.
Garrison at Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland to June, 1863.
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Reserve Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland to October, 1863.
Unattached, Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland to January, 1864.
1st Brigade, District of Nashville, Dept. of the Cumberland January, 1864.
1st Brigade, Roussau's 3rd Division, 12th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland to April, 1864.
1st Brigade, 4th Division, 20th Army Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland to March, 1865.
District of North Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland to June, 1865.
| Total Enrollment | 1372 |
| Killed in Action | 11 |
| Died of Wounds | 2 |
| Died of Disease | 297 |
| Total Casualty Rate | 22.5% |
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