3rd
Regiment Michigan
Volunteer
Infantry
Regiment Michigan
Volunteer Infantry
1861-1866
View the | "Regimental Roster" |
The Third was organized at Grand Rapids and was mustered into service June 10, 1861, with an enrollment of 1040 officers and men. The Regiment left Grand Rapids June 13, 1861, for Washington D.C. to join the Army of the Potomac, and one month afterward took part in the action at Blackburn's Ford, Va.Colonel McConnell resigned Oct. 22, 1861, and Major Champlin was commissioned Oct. 28, 1861, then under his command the Third went into winter quarters at Alexandria, Va. until the following March, when it was assigned to General Berry's Brigade, Third Division, Third Corp, then entered upon the Peninsular Campaign of 1862 conducted by General McClellan.
The Regiment was engaged in the battle of Williamsburg, Va., May 5th, fought gallantly at Fair Oaks receiving a special commendation from General Berry commanding the Brigade, also from General Phil Kearney commanding the division for duty "Nobly Performed". The severe loss of 30 killed, 124 wounded and 15 missing attested to the conspicuous part that the Third took in the battle.
It engaged the Confederates at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30th then at Malvern Hill July 1st. During the entire campaign, the Third was marching or constructing fortifications, when not fighting the Confederates in the historic battles on the Peninsular Campaign. The campaign ended at the battle of Malvern Hill, when the Third with its Corp returned to take part in the disastrous campaign conducted by General Pope. At Groveton, near the old battlefield of Manassas (Bull Run), a severe engagement was fought with the Confederate Corp of General Jackson. General Longstreet arriving upon the field in time to relieve Jackson's troops and convert the campaign of General Pope into a retreat of the Union forces to behind the defenses of Washington.
During the months following, the Regiment moved with its Brigade to different points in Virginia, then in October with the Third Corp crossed the Potomac at Chain Bridge, then after marching through Maryland they crossed the river again reaching Falmouth Va., the 23rd. At this point it crossed the Rappahanock River and participated in the three days battle of Fredricksburg, recrossing it on December 15th, forming camp at Falmouth, Va. The Third crossed the Rappahanock River again at United States Ford on May 1, 1863 on the march to Chancellorsville, where it was in danger of capture or annihilation on account of the demoralization of the Eleventh Corp when overwhelmed by Jackson's Confederate troops, but by stubborn fighting the Third held its position with a loss of 63 killed, wounded and missing, when in good order re-crossed the river with the army when the order was given by General Hooker. The Third was with General Sickles Division during this engagement with the contest hand to hand, the slaughter great.
On the 11th of June the Third Corp started on a long and tiresome march in search of General Lee's army, coming in contact with it at Gettysburg, Pa. the 2nd and 3rd day of July. Sickles' Corp, in which the Third served, had an advanced line the second day of the battle, was assaulted by the Confederates, when a desperate conflict ensured. The Corp fell back to its original position, until it was strengthened by the Fifth Corp, whereby the Confederates were repulsed.
In this battle the Third lost 40 killed, wounded and missing.
After the battle of Gettysburg, the Third followed the retreating Confederate army to Williamsport, crossed the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry and marched to Manassas Gap.
On the 17th of August the Third moved to Alexandria Va., when it was then sent to New York City to quiet the disturbances caused by the draft riots.
From New York it was sent to Troy, N.Y., then returned to its Brigade at Culpepper, Va., where it arrived September 17th. In October the Regiment was at Auburn Heights, Manassas, Centerville, airfax Station and at Catlett's Station.
The Regiment was in camp at Warrenton Junction November 7th, at which time it commenced a series of marches, meeting the Confederates at Kelly's Ford. At Mine Run it charged the Confederates in their works, then moved to Brandy Station on December the 2nd. During the operations for the month, the Regiment lost 31 killed, wounded and missing.
On the 23rd of December, 207 members of the Regiment re-enlisted and returned to Michigan on Veteran furlough. After the Regiment returned from veteran furlough, it joined the Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Corp, crossing the Rapidan River on May 4, 1864, entering upon the Wilderness Campaign. It was then temporarily consolidated with the Fifth Michigan Infantry.
The Second Corp was commanded by General Hancock, always being where the heaviest fighting was, the Third sharing in all the movements and battles of the Corp.
It was engaged in the desperate struggle of the Wilderness. Charging the Confederate works at Spottsylvania, where it captured a large number of prisoners with two Regimental colors. The Third was again engaged at the North Anna River on the 23rd and 24th of May, then at Cold Harbor, June 7th. On the 9th of June the men who did not re-enlist and some of the recruits who joined the Regiment after it was in the field, with some of the officers, proceeded to Michigan where they were mustered out. This action depleted the Regiment to such an extent that those who had re-enlisted were formed into a Battalion, then were attached to the Fifth Michigan Infantry. The order consolidating the Third and Fifth Infantry was issued by the Secretary of War on June 13, 1864.
On the 20th day of June 1864, the Third was mustered out of service and disbanded when paid, in Detroit.
| Blackburn's Ford,Va. | Bull Run,Va. | Yorktown,Va. |
| Williamsburg,Va. | Fair Oaks,Va. | Savage Station,Va. |
| Peach Orchard,Va. | Glendale,Va. | White Oak Swamp,Va. |
| Malvern Hill,Va. | 2nd Bull Run,Va. | Chancellorsville,Va. |
| Gettysburg,Pa. | Wapping Heights,Va. | Auburn Heights,Va. |
| Kelly's Ford,Va. | Locust Grove,Va. | Mine Run,Va. |
| Wilderness,Va. | Todd's Tavern,Va. | Po River,Va. |
| Spottsylvania,Va. | North Anna River,Va. | Cold Harbor,Va. |
ORGANIZATION
Organized at Grand Rapids, Mich., and mustered into State service May 21, 1861.
Mustered into United States service June 10, 1861.
Left State for Washington, D.C., June 13.
Attached to Richardson's Brigade, Tyler's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeastern Virginia, to August, 1861.
Richardson's Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861.
Richardson's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to August, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, to March, 1864.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps., to June, 1864.
| Total Enrollment | 1432 |
| Killed in Action | 110 |
| Died of Wounds | 65 |
| Died in Confederate Prisons | 15 |
| Died of Disease | 81 |
| Discharged from Wounds | 404 |
| Total Casualty Rate | 47.1% |
3rd
Regiment Michigan
Volunteer
Infantry Re-Organized
View theRegiment Michigan
Volunteer Infantry Re-Organized
| "Wartime Deaths" |
The history of the Third is separated into two sections as upon reorganization, other than name, it was in effect a completely different unit, seeing duty in the western theater of operations.The Third was re-organized in October 1864, at Grand Rapids, under Colonel M. B. Houghton, and was mustered into service the 15th of the month with an enrollment of 879 officers and men.
The Regiment left Grand Rapids October 20, for Nashville, Tenn. During the month of November the Third was stationed at Decatur, Alabama. It then moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where it was engaged in picket and scouting duty, remaining in the Murfreesboro area until January 16, 1865, when it moved to Huntsville, Alabama.
In February the Regiment was at Huntsville, when on the 16th of March proceeded to New Market, Tenn. afterward camping at Bull's Gap and Jonesboro. It was very efficient in driving out the numerous bands of guerrillas that infested that portion of the country, thus affording protection to the loyal people of Tennessee.
After the surrender of the Confederate army in the east, the Third proceeded to New Orleans, where it embarked and crossed the Gulf of Mexico to San Antonio, Texas, where it remained during the winter, doing provost duty, when in May 1866, it moved to Victoria, where it was mustered out of service.
The Regiment returned to Michigan being paid and disbanded at Detroit, June 10, 1866.
| Decatur,Ala. | Murfreesboro,Tenn. |
ORGANIZATION
Organized at Grand Rapids, Adrian and Pontiac, Mich., August 24 to October 12, 1864.
Mustered in October 15, 1864.
Left State for Decatur, Ala., October 20.
Attached to District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864.
1st Brigade, Defences of Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, Dept. of the Cumberland, to January, 1865.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, to June, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, to August, 1865.
Dept. of Texas to May, 1866.
| Total Enrollment | 1191 |
| Died of Wounds | 2 |
| Died of Disease | 78 |
| Discharged from Wounds | 32 |
| Total Casualty Rate | 9.4% |
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