19th
Regiment Michigan
Volunteer
Infantry
Regiment Michigan
Volunteer Infantry
1862-1865
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The Nineteenth Regiment was assigned to the Second Congressional District, to be recruited in the counties of Branch, St.Joseph, Cass, Berrien, Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Allegan. It's camp was at Dowagiac, with the Honorable Henry Gilbert as the commandant of the camp, who was charged with the organization of the regiment.Recruiting was commenced on July 15,1862, and was completed on September 5,1862. The Regiment broke camp on September 14th., and under the command of Colonel Gilbert, took its route to Cincinnati with 995 officers and men. It was assigned to the 1st. division of the Army of the Ohio, and was stationed in Kentucky during the months of October, November and December.
)n January 1,1863, the Regiment was stationed in Danbury, KY and belonged to Col. Colburn's Brigade, Baird's Division, Army of the Kentucky. This army having been transferred to the Department of the Cumberland, as a reserve Corp, the Nineteenth moved with the Brigade to Nashville, where it arrived on February 7th., proceeding thence to Franklin. On the 4th. of March, with 600 cavalry and 200 additional infantry, it took part with its Brigade in a reconnaissance in force. After a march of 4 miles, skirmishing commenced with Confederate scouts and advanced pickets, but with the southerners retiring, the Brigade encamped, the Nineteenth having lost one man wounded in the skirmishing. The march having been resumed on the following day, the Confederates were met in force at Thompkin's Station, nine miles from Franklin.
The Nineteenth, with others, fight stubbornly against immense odds, attack after attack is repulsed, struggling nobly without hope, defeat and capture inevitable, they surrender: the Colonel offers his sword; it is refused; the Confederate commander says, "An officer so brave, with a Regiment so gallant, deserves to keep his sword."
This was a very sanguinary engagement. At times the contest was severe and the fighting terrific.
Three charges were made by the South and gallantly repulsed. In one charge the Nineteenth captures the colors of the 4th. Mississippi and several prisoners. After an engagement of five hours their ammunition became exhausted, and the entire force surrendered, excepting a few, who succeeded in making their escape. The rebel force proved to be the entire cavalry of General Bragg's army, 18,000 strong under the command of General Van Dorn. The Nineteenth went into action with 512 officers and men, of which number 113 were killed and wounded. Those of the Regiment that had escaped, also those that were left behind in Franklin, were sent to Brentwood, organized with the remaining fragments of the Brigade, and placed under the command of an officer of another regiment. This force was soon surrendered by that officer to the Confederate General Forrest without firing a shot, on the 25th. of March. The enlisted men were soon paroled and sent north. The commissioned officers to be exchanged on the 25th. of May.
The Regiment was reorganized at Camp Chase, OH, and on the 8th. of June 1863, left Columbus, arriving at Nashville on the 11th. It took part in the advance on Tullahoma in June. On the 23rd. of July the Regiment was ordered to Murfreesboro, and went upon garrison duty inside the fortifications. Company D of the Nineteenth, commanded by Lieutenant F. Baldwin, numbering 50 men, having been stationed at a stockade on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, at Stone River, were attacked on the 5th. of October, by a force of Confederate cavalry and artillery under General Wheeler, but after a most gallant,however hopeless defence, having lost six in wounded, surrendered. The prisoners were immediately robbed of all possessions and promptly released.
October 25, 1863 the Regiment, then in the 2nd. Brigade, 3rd. division, 20th. Corp, wa ordered to McMinnville, TN, where it was employed in the construction of fortifications. The Regiment garrisoned the post at McMinnville until April 21, 1864. It here built several forts, constructed a railroad bridge, repaired a locomotive that the Confederates had tried to destroy when they abandoned this place, put a saw mill in operation, which made lumber for blockhouses and other construction and other purposes. April 30th., the Regiment, which had been ordered to join its division, arrived at Lookout Valley, whence it moved on the 3rd. of May, with the army, then entering the Georgia Campaign.
The Regiment made a demonstration on Buzzard's Roost, but was not engaged, then marched through Snake Creek Gap, to take part in the battle of Resaca, GA on May 15th. In ths action the Regiment participated in a charge on, with the capture of, a Confederate battery. It's loss in this charge was 14 killed and 66 wounded.
On the 19th, the Regiment made another charge at Cassville, losing 1 killed, 4 wounded. They were engaged again at New Hope Church on the 25th., losing an additional 5 killed, 47 wounded. On the 10th. of June they were engaged yet another time at Golgotha Church, losing 4 killed, 9 wounded. Then again engaged at Culp's Farm, with another 13 wounded. Following up on the retreat of the Confederates from this position, along with Kenesaw Mountain, they crossed the Chattahoochie River to participate in the repulse of the Confederates at Peach Tree Creek on the 25th. of July, losing 4 killed, 33 wounded. During the Seige of Atlanta, the Regiment suffered 2 killed, 6 wounded.
The Regiment then fell back with the rest of its Corp to Tanner's Ferry, then advanced on Atlanta, only to find it evacuated, there to remain on garrison until October 30, 1864.
Then on the 15th. of November, the Nineteenth, in the 2nd. Brigade,3rd. Division, 20th. Corp advanced with General Sherman on the March to the Sea, when after a long and fatiguing march, destroying much property and provisions, reached Savannah on the 21st. of December. Heading north the Regiment crossed the Cape Fear River, then confronted the Confederates at Averysboro, participating in an heroic charge, carrying the works, capturing the artillery emplaced there, losing 4 killed, with 15 wounded.
After the fall of Bentonville, and the surrender of General Johnston, the Regiment was marched, with its Corp, to Alexandria, VA, arriving there on the 18th. of May, to participate in the Grand Review in Washington on the 24th., thence to Jackson, MI on the 13th., where it was paid off and disbanded.
| Thompkin's Station, Tn | Nashville & Chattanooga R.R. | Resaca, Ga |
| Cassville, Ga | New Hope Church, Ga | Golgotha, Ga |
| Culps's Farm, Ga | Peach Tree Creek, Ga | Siege of Atlanta, Ga |
| Savannah, Ga | Averysboro, NC | Bentonville, NC |
ORGANIZATION
Organized at Dowagiac and mustered in September 5, 1862. Left State for Cincinnati, Ohio, September 14, and duty at Covington, Ky. until October 7.
Moved to Georgetown, Lexington, Sandersville and to Nicholasville, Ky., October 7-November 13.
Attached to 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of Ohio, October 1862, to February, 1863.
Coburn's Brigade, Baird's Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Cumberland to June, 1863.
3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Reserve Corps, Dept. of the Cumberland to October, 1863.
Coburn's unattached Brigade, Dept. of the Cumberland to December, 1863.
Post of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland to January, 1864.
2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland to April, 1864.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland to June, 1865.
| Total Enrollment | 1238 |
| Killed in Action | 54 |
| Died of Wounds | 41 |
| Died of Disease | 142 |
| Total Casualty Rate | 19.2% |
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