Chancia M. Bickford

Company G, 4th Michigan Cavalry

Chancia "Cage", from Algansee, Michigan, enlisted as a Corporal August 4, 1862 for three years of service at age 21. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in Company E on August 24, 1864. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, on July 1, 1865.

He kept a diary while in the Civil War. One entry, dated Wed. May 10, 1865 reads :

"They caught Jeff Davis just before dawn this morning, and then they came back and we marched as far back as Abbeyville with them."

From The Red Book of Michigan; a Civil, Military and Biographical History, Charles Lanman, page 282.:

"On the 17th of September, Corporal Chancla (sic) M. Bickford and 17 men of the regiment, in a block-house, were attacked by the rebel cavalry under General Wheeler, numbering over 8,000, with artillery. Although the enemy shelled the block-house for over five hours, they could not force a surrender, and finally retired with a loss of 8 killed and 60 wounded. The corporal was promoted to be a commissioned officer, and the names of the men were honorably mentioned in general orders."

For additional family history see
"Bickford's of Michigan Web Page"

Ancestor of David Bickford
dbickford@pyramid3.net

08 March 2002