11th Regiment Michigan Cavalry 1863-65

The recruitment of the Regiment commenced in August of 1863, it being mustered into the service of the United States on December the 10th., following, having on its muster roll 921 officers and men.

The Eleventh, under orders for the field in Kentucky, left its rendezvous, under the command of Colonel Brown, on the 10th. of December, 1863, proceeding via Cincinnati and Covington, reaching Lexington on the 22nd. of the same month

At this point, the Regiment was equipped for the field and ready for active service by the end of January, 1864. In February and March they were employed scouting in the Eastern portion of Kentucky, with headquarters at Lexington. In April, two squadrons were sent as escort for a large drove of cattle to Nashville, and another squadron on a like mission to Knoxville, Having a hard journey over the mountains, suffering considerably from the severity of the weather. The balance of the Regiment meantime made a reconnaissance in the direction of Pound Gap, when near West Liberty, a skirmish took place with a portion of Clay's command of Confederate Cavalry.

On April 28th., the Regiment moved to Louisa, Ky, on the Big Sandy River, arriving there on May 3rd, and with the 39th. Kentucky Infantry, the two regiments, constituting the 1st. Brigade, 1st. Division, Army of the Ohio, Military District of Kentucky, was employed in protecting the eastern part of the State from the incursions of raiding parties of Rebels from Virginia, and had been engaged with the Rebels at Pound Gap on May 17th., then at Hazel Green on the 20th.

On May 25th., the Regiment, moved with its Division up the river as far as Piketon, where it was ascertained that the Confederates, under Morgan, had entered the State through Pound Gap, when the entire command started in pursuit, when after three days and nights of forced marching, the Rebels were overtaken at Mt. Sterling, on the 8th. of June, followed on the 9th. with a severe engagement, resulting in the complete route and flight of the Rebels. The pursuit was continued, the Eleventh having the advance and pressing closely, followed them to Cynthiana, where on the 12th., the Rebels having made a junction with another body of troops, again gave battle. During this engagement, which was short, but severe, the Regiment took an active part and participated in a final charge, which completely destroyed the Southern line, scattering his forces in every direction. The pursuit was again continued, overtaking Morgan at Georgetown, attacking a portion of his fleeing command and capturing a number of prisoners.

After the engagement at Cynthiana, the Regiment rendezvoused at Lexington. On the 23rd. of August they moved to Camp Burnside, on the Cumberland River, and was employed, with other troops, in scouting and protecting the Southern border of Kentucky from the threatened invasion by General Wheeler' forces, being engaged at Point Burnside on the 30th.

The Regiment returned again to Lexington on the 19th. of October, 1864, after a worrisome march in which it had suffered many privations and hardships. On the 29th. they proceeded to Mt. Sterling and encamped.

In November, the Regiment was employed mainly in clearing that section of the country of guerrillas, and was engaged in skirmishes with them at Hazel Green on the 9th., McCormick's Farm the 10th., Morristown on the 13th., State Creek the 14th., then at Mt. Sterling on November the 16th. On the 17th. they were ordered to Crab Orchard, arriving there on the 20th., where it joined their Division and moved to the Cumberland Gap, East Tennessee. From there they marched to the Clinch River, and had a sharp fight on the 28th., then proceeded to Bean's Station, December 1st. The next day they made a scout to Morristown Russelville, Whiteboro and Cobb's Ford, skirmishing at the first two named points on the 2nd., at Cobb's Ford on the 3rd., then on the 4th. returned to Bean's Station, there to be engaged in scouting and foraging until the 11th., when they moved with the command, attached to General Stoneman' Expedition into North Carolina. The Regiment, along with another of its Brigade, charged into Bristol on the 13th., taking a large number of prisoners along with a large quantity of stores. Passing through Paperville, Va., on the same day, they arrived at Abington on the 15th., having skirmished with the Rebels at both places, then the next day, fought Vaughn's Brigade during the entire day, routing him and capturing all of his artillery, while taking 250 prisoners, reaching Marion during the night. The command having been engaged at Mt. Airey, entered Wytheville, at which place a large amount of stores were taken, then destroyed, the Regiment then proceeding to Max Meadow Station, being ten miles further in that direction than had been previously reached by any Union troops. There they destroyed a large arsenal, returning the same night to a point three miles South of Wytheville, then reached Marion on the 17th., when a detachment of the 11th., then forming a part of the Brigade of Colonel Brown, coming upon the Rebels at Breckenridge, charged his cavalry and opened the engagement, which continued with much vigorous fighting for 36 hours, during which, repeated and daring charges were made by both sides, until the Southern forces fell back in disorder across the mountains into North Carolina. A detachment of the 11th. Michigan, numbering 120 officers and men, held a bridge during the whole engagement, which was of much importance, being the key to the position of the Union troops. The bridge was stubbornly held under a severe fire from the force on the opposite side of the river.

The command, with the Regiment in the advance, then made a rapid march to Saltville, Va., arriving there on the 20th.,and, after a severe engagement of over 12 hours, the place was taken, with a large amount of supplies and artillery. After destroying all of the salt works, along with the captured property, the command moved in the direction of Pound Gap, passing through Jonesboro and Morristown, Va., skirmishing almost the entire distance, arrived at that point on the 26th., having been engaged at the Clinch River, Morristown and McCormick's Farm.

Three-Fourths of the men having been dismounted, they were sent on foot down the line of the Big Sandy River, the others crossing the mountains. The 11th. then proceeded towards Lexington, Ky., arriving there January 2, 1865.

On the 19th. of January, 1865, the Regiment being stationed at Lexington, moved to Mt. Sterling, and was engaged at Hazel Green, Flemingsburgh, then in scouting the eastern portion of Kentucky. On February 23rd., they started to join Stoneman's command at Knoxville, reaching there via Louisville and Nashville, March the 15th., when they were assigned to the 2nd. Brigade, forming a part of the force on Stoneman's Expedition through East Tennessee, North and South Carolina and Georgia. The command left Knoxville March 17th., passing through Boon, NC on the 27th., crossed the Yadkin River on the 30th., passing through Mt. Airey on the 31st., Hillsdale the 1st, of April, then arrived at Christiansburg April the 3rd., where they destroyed a portion of the East Tennessee Railroad, passing through Danbury the 9th., Germantown on the 10th., arriving at Salisberry the 12th., where they engaged a superior force of Confederates, capturing 1800 prisoners, 22 pieces of artillery and destroyed a large amount of property, and also the railroad and telegraph lines leading to that point.

From Salisberry the command marched via Taylorsville on the 14th., passing Lenoir Station on the 15th., then was engaged at Morgantown on the 17th. On the 19th., they proceeded to Swananoa Gap, passing through Rutherfordville,then Hendersonville before arriving at Ashville on the 26th., taking at that point 200 prisoners, and capturing a large amount of supplies, including artillery. Passing again through Hendersonville, the command entered South Carolina, via Saluda Gap and Caesars Head, arriving at Anderson Court House on the 1st. of May. They destroyed the remnants of the Confederate Treasury, then moved to Carnesville, Ga., then Athens, then on the 11th., captured the cavalry escort of Jefferson Davis, near Washington. They moved to Hartwell on the 13th., the command guarding the crossing points of the Tugaloo and Savannah Rivers, on the 22nd. crossing the Savannah River, marching via Maxwell's Farm,SC, Greenville, Asheville, Strawberry Plains, Knoxville, to Lenoir Station, where they then proceeded by rail to Pulaski, where they were consolidated with the 8th. Michigan Cavalry on July 20th, then to be mustered out, returned home and disbanded.

During their term of Federal service, they were engaged at

: Pound Gap,Ky/ Hazel Green,Ky/ Mount Sterling,Ky/ Lexington,Ky/ Georgetown,Ky/ Cynthiana,Ky/ Point Burnside,Ky/ McCormick's Farm,Ky/ Laurel Mountain,Va/ Bowen's Farm,Va/ Saltville,Va/ Sandy Mountain,Va/ Morristown,Ky/ State Creek,Ky/ Clinch River,Tn/ Russellville,Tn/ Cobb's Ford,Tn / Bristol,Tn/ Paperville,Tn/ Abingdon,Va/ Wytheville,Va/ Mount Airy,Va/ Marion,Va/ Seven Miles Ford,Va/ Jonesboro,Va/ Flemingsburgh,Ky/ Boone,NC/ Yadkin River,NC/ Hillsville,Va/ Salem,Va/ Christiansburg,Va/ Jonesboro,Tn/ Danbury,NC/ Statesville,NC/ Salisbury,NC/ Swananoa Gap,NC/ Morgantown,NC/ Hendersonville,NC/ Asheville,NC / Ward's Farm,NC/ Caesar's Head,NC/ Pickensville,SC/ Anderson Court House,SC

Total Enrollment--1579..... Killed in Action--22..... Died of Wounds--6..... Died of Disease--114

Copyright © 1995, Don Harvey, Revised 14 June 1996